I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to spend today’s prices for new Port Ellen releases… easily € 600 even from independent bottlers. No matter how rare they now are, that’s well above my personal limit.

Luckily we have a small stock hidden away, bought in better times. Like this one, a Port Ellen 1982 single cask bottled by Douglas Laing for The Nectar in 2009.

Port Ellen 26 yo 1982 (56,2%, Douglas Laing OMC for Daily Dram 2009, refill hogshead, ref. 4900, 193 btl.)

Nose: quite vibrant. One of these Port Ellens that strike a nice...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/port-ellen/port-ellen-1982-dl-omc-for-daily-dram/

There is an undulating, skinny ribbon of asphalt running along the north shore of Loch Sunart. It’s barely wide enough for one vehicle, let alone two, but it stretches all the way out t o the most westerly point in mainland Great Britain. In this stunning locale, distilling is set to commence at the brand new Ardnamurchan Distillery in Glenbeg, Lochaber. The independent bottlers Adelphi Distilling Ltd will finally see their dream realized and join the rank of those who can proudly call themselves distillers. This is no farm distillery by any stretch of the imagination. Underneath the twin pagodas,...

Läs mer http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2014/05/23/first-glimpse-ardnamurchan/

In Denmark they have this fun little store called Noorbohandelen. They are located in Nyord, almost 2 hours drive south of Copenhagen, but they also have a small shop in Copenhagen. They describe their concept like this: Noorbohandelen is unique for its exquisite selection of quality spirits from all over the world, all offered by […]...

Läs mer http://www.whiskysaga.com/noorbohandelen-danish-independent-bottler/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/A-superb-old-Tomintoul-and-compadres.html

Diurachs are the inhabitants of the Isle of Jura – their symbol is stamped on the bottle. Like the people, the whisky is said to have a strong character.

Most official Jura releases now have a nickname. Jura 10 Year Old is Jura Origin . The limited 12 Year Old is called Jura Elixir . The peated versions are Superstition and Prophecy . Jura Duirach’s Own is the 16 Year Old.

Jura Diurach’s Own is first matured in American white oak and spends the last two years in Oloroso sherry casks ( Amoroso actually). We’re trying the European version at...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/jura/jura-diurachs-own/

Lauder’s Finest Scotch Whisky, NAS, 40 % I am ready try another fairly priced blended scotch today. Lauder’s Finest Scotch Whisky does have me rather skeptical though.  They call their product ‘finest’, which really should not be necessary if it really is… The ABV is 40 %, and the whole presentation is – well, let’s […]...

Läs mer http://www.whiskysaga.com/lauders-finest-scotch-whisky/

The first Speyside Whisky Festival was staged in 1998, and from its low-key beginnings the event has blossomed into a five-day springtime extravaganza, celebrating all aspects of distilling in Scotland’s most productive whisky-making region. This year, visitors from 31 different countries participated in a remarkable total of some 370 events, as the Festival raised the curtain on Scotland’s designated ‘Whisky Month.’

Come in, walk around.

Festivities commenced at the ‘Touch of Tartan’ opening dinner at Glen Grant distillery in Rothes, where, according to his billing, Charlie MacLean offered a touch of “Hollywood glamour,” as guest of honor, thanks to his...

Läs mer http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2014/05/22/spirit-of-speyside-festival-review-2014/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Tasting-new-Lochside-and-obscure-guests.html

With the Islay Festival of Malt and Music rapidly approaching, the island’s whiskies have been much on my mind. A little while back, we took delivery a big box of chocolate from the folks at Bowmore, along with instructions to give them away free with their whisky. While we obviously thoroughly endorse such actions, we also made sure we did some quality control, and did some tasting of the chocolate. We are professionals.

In short: it is very nice and we’re giving away a bar with every bottle of Bowmore Darkest 15 year old .

It’s really rather tasty

The...

Läs mer http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2014/05/bowmore-darkest-and-chocolate/

Min kjære mann gikk Box Whiskyakademi i augusti 2013. Han var svært fornøyd med uken på Box Destilleri i Ådalen, i Sverige. Jeg angret veldig på at jeg ikke ble med den gangen… Allerede i oktober 2013 meldte jeg meg derfor på til Box Whiskyakademi uke 19 2014! Søndag Jeg gikk akademiet sammen med en kamerat, Tor. […]...

Läs mer http://www.whiskysaga.com/box-whiskyakademi-en-morsom-og-laererik-uke/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/A-trio-of-brand-new-indie-Dalmore.html

Long John Special Reserve, NAS, 40 % Time has come to try the Long John blended scotch whisky. This is an old product, dating back to 1825. Long John has been produced at the Tormore Distillery since it was opened in 1958. Before that time the production was done at the Ben Nevis distillery. The brand […]...

Läs mer http://www.whiskysaga.com/long-john-special-reserve/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Laphroaig-from-one-extreme-to-the-other.html

This Ardbeg 21yo was finished for three months in a tiny 50 litre Pedro Ximénez cask. It’s part of the Darkness! series by Master of Malt, but… well… it isn’t dark at all. They say it has taken over the dark character of the sherry cask though. Another funny thing is the low ABV – I suppose it’s cask strength, which probably means the cask had to be emptied due to exceptional angel’s share?

Darkness! Ardbeg 21 yo (40,1%, Master of Malt 2014, P.X. finish, 50 cl.)

Nose: majbe not a classic sherry influence, but rather a deep sweetness coating the usual...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/ardbeg/ardbeg-21years-darkness-px/

Suntory I recently visited Suntory’s Distillery in Yamazaki. I had great expectations before I travelled to Japan, and the distillery managed to surpass them all. As a whisky enthusiast it is a magical moment to see the still room with all the stills in different shapes. Now, 2 months later I attended Philipson Söderbergs Suntory whisky tasting […]...

Läs mer http://www.whiskysaga.com/suntory-intro-distilleries-whisky/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Quick-verticales-today-Dufftown.html