Cù Bòcan is the name of a legendary dog-like creature that has stalked residents of the remote Highland village of Tomatin for centuries. It gave its name to the recent Tomatin Cù Bòcan , a lightly peated whisky (15 ppm) matured in a combination of bourbon, sherry and virgin oak casks.

Tomatin distillery only produces peated spirit during one week of the year, good for about 60.000 litres. The peated part of the whisky is aged 8 years, but the whole composition doesn’t have an age statement).

Tomatin Cù Bòcan
(46%, OB 2013, 18.000 btl.)

Nose: sweet and citrusy....

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/tomatin/tomatin-cu-bocan/

Läs mer http://www.edinburghwhiskyblog.com/2014/03/05/an-illogical-ageist/

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Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/The-Good-Guys-are-always-on-the-White-Horse.html

Angus Dundee started as a blending company in London but in recent years they’ve acquired distilleries like Tomintoul and Glencadam , and they launched labels like Old Ballantruan . They also sell independent bottlings under the names Mackillop’s Choice and Montgomerie’s Rare Select.

Today’s dram is a 27 years old Dalmore 1986 . Sister casks #3090 and #3096 have been bottled in the Mackillop’s series. What’s interesting is that you rarely see independent Dalmore. Most blenders tend to exchange new spirit though, so this maj have been an exchanged parcel.

Dalmore 27 yo 1986 (46%, Montgomerie’s Rare Select...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/dalmore/dalmore-1986-montgomeries/

Diageo have announced further details and pricing for the forthcoming release of four new Mortlach expressions. First revealed here in early december, the new range – which sadly means the demise of the much-loved Flora & Fauna 16 Years Old expression – comprises Rare Old (43.4%, no age statement); Special Strength (49%, non-age, non-chill filtered, Travel Retail exclusive); 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old (both 43.4%).

Rare and Old

Coming alongside a major expansion of the distillery, this is a big play for Diageo. Dr. Nick Morgan, the company’s head of whisky outreach, described the launch as “positioning Mortlach...

Läs mer http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2014/03/04/mortlach-more-news-and-the-price/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Ben-Nevis-ups-and-downs.html

Läs mer http://www.jewmalt.com/distillery-focus-westland-distillery-american-single-malt-whiskey/

The eighth release of the hugely successful Balvenie Tun 1401 found its way to Belgium at the end of 2013.

Batch 8 brings together the largest number of casks in the series so far, 9 American oak bourbon casks and 3 European oak sherry butts. One of them was filled in 1991, two in 1981 and 1982, but all the rest is 1970’s whisky. It’s the darkest Tun 1401 I’ve come across, a first hint of its character?

Balvenie Tun 1401 (50,2%, OB 2013, batch 8, 2.700 btl.)

Nose: it seems immediately different from the others. Rather...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/balvenie/balvenie-tun-1401-batch-8/

Arran 1996 17 YO Single Cask, 17 år, 51,1 % På Whisky-Meet 2014 i Bergen fikk jeg gleden av å nyte nok en nydelig whisky fra Arran. Det var nemlig Arran 1996 17 YO Single Cask. Whiskyen ble destillert i 1996 og tappet på flaske i 2013. Denne kom fra bourbon-tønne nummer 546. Nose (22/25): […]...

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Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Bunnahabhain-grouped-fire(null)

The last whisky I’ll review from the GlenDronach single casks batch 9. The 1991 and 1992 were not very convincing, let’s hope the 1993 cask #5 can fulfil its promises.

GlenDronach 20 yo 1993
(53%, OB 2013, oloroso cask #5, 645 btl.)

Nose: excellent. Lots of fresh figs and juicy plums, with a bright top note of orange blossom and rose petals. A slightly rummy / brandy-like aroma as well. Soaked raisins. Lovely pipe tobacco and cigar boxes. Hints of incense. Almonds and cake. Soft hints of those chocolate-covered coffee beans. Mouth: rich, initially sweet but growing drier and...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/glendronach/glendronach-1993-cask-5/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Sunday-malternatives-another-bag-of-rum.html

The Yamazaki Puncheon is matured in American oak puncheons (large 480 litre casks, often even larger). Larger casks, so slower ageing and supposedly elegant and spirit-driven. While puncheons are usually seasoned with sherry or rum, apparently the ones Yamazaki used had previously contained bourbon whiskey. I hadn’t heard of bourbon puncheons before.

It has been released in 2011 and 2012 already, and the 2013 version is said to be the final release.

Yamazaki Puncheon
(48%, OB 2013)

Nose: fresh and fruity, with lots of American oak influences indeed. Pears, peaches and vanilla, with nice hints of pineapple and banana....

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/japan-whisky/yamazaki-puncheon-2013/