Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Two-Glen-Keith.html

Glenfarclas 105 is one of the first whiskies I ever reviewed on this blog ( see here ). Around 2008 it used to be one of my favourite daily drams. It never hurts to revisit this kind of stuff, batches are replaced often anyway (although Glenfarclas doesn’t advertise them so it’s impossible to recognize them).

As you know Glenfarclas 105 is their popular high strength expression, it refers to 5 over proof which is 60% alcohol. Since +/- 2010 it comes in an updated (wider) bottle and packaging.

Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB 2013)

Nose: intense sherry, with plenty of...

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Elijah Craig is a Kentucky straight bourbon produced by Heaven Hill distilleries. The Baptist minister Elijah Craig is credited for having invented the usage of new, charred casks for the maturation of bourbon whiskey.

This expression was bottled for The Nectar in Belgium.

Elijah Craig 12 yo (47%, OB ‘full barrel’ for The Nectar 2013, 94 Proof)

Nose: a medium dry nose with lots of sawdust and a typical rye note. Nicely balanced with sweeter corn and pastry notes. A little orange marmalade. Almonds and raisins. Quite a lot of mint as well. Mouth: again on the dry side,...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/usa-bourbon/elijah-craig-12-years-nectar/

“I can’t stand the stuff” my cab driver said as we hung a left a little fast, pressing me tight into the door. “It’s so strong.” It’s a frequently heard refrain when a whisky drinker gets talking about libations with a stranger. So it got me thinking as I rattled around the backseat. You can divide whiskies up by country or by region. Sure, you can split them up by cereal or cask type. Then again, there’s another dividing line. Most whiskies sold in the world today are still bottled at 40% ABV. And they call that the hard stuff!...

Läs mer http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2014/01/10/iron-drams/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Two-naked-Glenburgie.html

Every whisky deserves a second chance, so even though we’ve had a disappointing Deanston 1997 very recently, we’ll see if this one from the Archives / Fishes of Samoa series is more attractive.

Deanston 15 yo 1997 (55,8%, Archives ‘Fishes of Samoa’ 2013, hogshead #1959, 327 btl.)

Nose: grassy notes (wet hay) with overripe apples. A little dirty, with decomposing leaves, closely related to the Asta Morris cask in that respect. A lot of butter, some mashy / porridgy notes, some nutty notes too. Heather honey. A slightly sharp, spicy tingle as well. Mouth: sharp and grainy at first,...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/deanston/deanston-1997-archives/

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Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Young-guns-from%20the-Glens.html

This is a very rare bottling. The Whisky Connoisseur , from what I’ve found, was part of a whole series of mail order / web companies (Scotland Direct, Scottish Gourmet, The Home Gift Shop…) run by Arthur J.A. Bell.

During the 1990’s they seem to have bottled quite a lot of single malts, mostly with concealed (but always consistent) names. My miniature says The Ellisland but the backlabel mentions ‘containing Old Pultney’ (sic). Here’s a list of their naming conventions  in case you’re interested.

In 2009 the company was nominated for the award of best online outlet by Whisky Magazine...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/old-pulteney/old-pulteney-1974-whisky-connoisseur-ellisland/

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I tried a 3yo Glentauchers bottled for Càrn Mòr and I thought it was rather promising. Now a cask from the same period has been bottled in the Archives series, a Glentauchers 2005 .

Glentauchers 7 yo 2005
(52,5%, Archives ‘Fishes of Samoa’ 2013, sherry butt #900392, 167 btl.)

Nose: gristy at first, but it becomes sweeter and fruitier over time. Oranges, raisins and tinned pineapple. Red apples. Still youngish (hints of cake, muesli and pear drops) but again quite nice. Rather creamy too, with some almond cream. Soft cinnamon and buttery fudge in the background. Mouth: malty and...

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/glentauchers/glentauchers-2005-archives/

Läs mer http://www.whiskyfun.com/2014/Young-Laphroaig-and-very-young-Laphroaig.html

Convalmore distillery is located in Dufftown and it has been mothballed since 1985. Although it was owned by DCL (later Diageo) until the end, the site is now part of William Grant & Sons, who use it as a warehouse for Glenfiddich and Balvenie whisky.

Diageo now released this European refill cask matured Convalmore 1977 . It rounds off our series of reviews from the Diageo Special Releases 2013 . Yes, they can keep the Port Ellen, thank you.

Convalmore 36 yo 1977
(58%, OB 2013, 2980 btl.)

Nose: fairly restrained, even a little quiet, considering its alcohol volume....

Läs mer http://www.whiskynotes.be/2014/convalmore/convalmore-36-years-1977-2013/