Kat modelling the soon-to-be-sought-after TWE Golden Ticket

‘I think,’ he said quietly, ‘I think … I’ll have just one more of those chocolate bars. The same kind as before, please.’

‘Why not?’ the fat shopkeeper said, reaching behind him again and taking another Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight from the shelf. He laid it on the counter.

Charlie picked it up and tore off the wrapper … and suddenly … from underneath the wrapper … there came a brilliant flash of gold.

Charlie’s heart stood still.

‘It’s a Golden Ticket!’ screamed the shopkeeper, leaping about a foot in the air.

If, like...

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This brand-new bottling in the Fishes of Samoa series from Archives says ‘distilled at a Kildalton distillery’ on the label. Those are the Southern distilleries on Islay (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Port Ellen).

Even though the distillery remains undisclosed, it’s mostly Ardbeg which often refers to the nearby Kildalton Cross (e.g. Ardbeg Kildalton ).

Kildalton 7 yo 2007 (54,4%, Archives ‘Fishes of Samoa’ 2014, hogshead #9396, 170 btl.)

Nose: high-strength and quite medicinal. Tarry notes and wet wool. Heather and hay. A little lemon skin and hints of apples. A bit of marzipan as well. Very clean, quite...

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The Whisky Advocate Awards are less than two days away!

The 21 ^st Annual Whisky Advocate Awards will be announced right here on the Whisky Advocate blog beginning this Friday, december 5 ^th . As the awards are announced, they will automatically be published to the Whisky Advocate Facebook page and the Whisky Advocate Twitter feed (@whiskyadvocate).

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 21st year, the program is simply about the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not...

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Clynelish 1990 24 YO Cadenhead Authentic Collection, 44,7 % I received a very nice birthday gift from a Swedish friend. It was a sample of an unspecified whisky! A blind tasting! It always sharpens my senses. I tasted the whisky and made a guess…which turned out to be all wrong. Wow, it is hard to […]...

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december’s Malt of the Month certainly fits the criteria – a stunning whisky that is often overlooked – Port Askaig 19 Year Old Cask Strength . Introduced by independent bottler Speciality Drinks in 2009, the range is named after Islay’s main port and encompasses a range of small-batch whiskies at various ages from undisclosed distilleries on the island. Initially bottled at 45.8%, the cask-strength edition of the 19 Year Old was released in augusti 2011, the extra alcohol adding complexity and intensity.

Port Askaig 19 Year Old, 50.4%, £74.95 until 31 december (usually £99.95).

Nose : Intense salty, maritime character, backed up by sour...

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Kavalan released an ex-bourbon expression for their Belgian importer The Nectar . I’m not sure why it doesn’t say Solist on the label, as far as I can tell it is a single cask release?

There’s also a new brandy cask release for TastToe (59,4%).

Kavalan ex-bourbon (54,8%, OB for The Nectar 2014, cask #B091103031A, 193 btl.)

Nose: starts a bit woody, but in a fresh way. A lot of vanilla, hints of caramel and banana. Fresh coconut. A bit like light American whiskey, if not for the tropical touches (pineapple, mango). Some toasted oak and ginger. Mouth: really...

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The brand new Lowland distillery Kingsbarns is now officially open. The distillery is owned by the Wemyss family, who also run the independent bottler Wemyss Malts. Here is the official press release for this happy occasion: The Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre officially opened its doors to the public on Monday 1 december. The first visitor […]...

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Bruichladdich 1990 23 YO Black Art 04.1, 49,2 % Magic time! I finally get to try the latest arcane potion from the master alchemist Jim McEwen. Bruichladdich 1990 23 YO Black ARt 04.1 is the latest installment in his series of unholy potions. It is said that no one  really knows what Jim has put […]...

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Ah, another one of these GlenDronach 1993 single casks distilled in januari of that year. This time Oloroso butt #23 bottled for Whiskybase in The Netherlands.

As a side note, I’ve heard all remaining casks from 1993 are officially ‘on hold’. None of them will be bottled for clubs or stores, all that is left will only be used for the official releases.

GlenDronach 21 yo 1993 (52,1%, OB for Whiskybase, Oloroso butt #23, 681 btl.)

Nose: rich and expressive. A kind of juicy plum and bramble aroma, with rummy overtones. Cinnamon. Big nutty notes (roasted chestnut, walnut)...

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We’ve been fighting it, but now december’s upon us, it is officially Almost Christmas. With this curious state of being comes a number of things: tinsel becomes more appropriate, Christmas songs become legitimate radio fodder, and we launch our (now) yearly Fine Spirits and Whisky Advent Calendar .

After the success of last year’s competitions, we couldn’t not do it again, so another 24 bottles have been chosen and hidden behind the virtual doors of our advent calendar. The deal is the same as last year:

Each day at midnight, a new prize will be revealed. Go to the  advent calendar page ...

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Campeltown Loch Blended Whisky, NAS, 40 % This is a quite young blended whisky from Springbank. It contains about 40 % Maltwhisky (mainly Springbank and Longrow) and 60 % grain whisky. It has no age statement, but from what I have gathered it is 5 years old. My wife recently reviewed the Campbeltown Loch […]...

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Caroline first met Cara Laing when she was a young, very capable marketer at Whyte & Mackay. She then went on to do good things at Morrison Bowmore before joining the family firm, Douglas Laing & Co., in 2013. She works alongside her father, Fred Laing, as head of brands marketing, looking after all aspects of marketing and communications; and she’s still young! This has been a momentous eighteen months; she also got married and became a Keeper of the Quaich.

What’s the view from your office window? Truthfully!

The sun is shining, rather unusually and I can see my...

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Smooth Ambler is spirits company founded in 2009 in West Virginia, USA. Their brand is an ensemble of different things. They’re best known for “scouting” bourbon and rye whiskeys from external stocks, in a series named Old Scout , but they’re also producing spirits in their own still (gin, vodka, wheated bourbon). It’s not a temporary solution: they’ll continue this ‘independent bottler’ story, even when their own stock is mature enough.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old is a straight bourbon whiskey produced by MGP in Lawrenceburg (Seagram’s at the time). It contains 60% corn, 36% rye and 4%...

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Compass Box Flaming Heart – Release 4 (2012), NAS, 48,9 % I only recently discovered the blending wizards at Compass Box. I have since reviewed a couple of their whiskies, and now want to share my views on the Compass Box Flaming Heart – Release 4. The Flaming Heart is a limited Edition release from […]...

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Aberfeldy 1980 Flora & Fauna cask strength, NAS, 62 % I wrote about Clynelish 1980 15 YO Flora & Fauna cask strength on Wednesday. Today I am lucky enough to be able to give you my tasting notes on another cask strength release from Diageo’s Flora & Fauna bottling series. Well, I said this was a […]...

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The chaps at Master of Malt come up with some of the most refreshing ideas in the world of spirits. A classic for this time of the year are the Advent Calendars , available in different themes and price categories.

This Christmas, they’re promoting the Drinks by the Dram Dramcrackers . They’re sold in a package of six Christmas crackers (€ 48). You pull them apart, they generate a huge explosion (well, not quite…) and your reward is a 3cl sample of an interesting spirit or liqueur, with tasting notes. AND a paper party crown. AND a crap joke....

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