Glenlivet Cipher, NAS, 48 % There’s always something (strange) going on in the marketing departments around the world, so also in the whisky industry. Back in 2013 Glenlivet released a whisky called Alpha, with no tasting notes, no cask details and an opaque black bottle. Now they are at it again. You see the Glenlivet Cipher is […]...

Braes of Glenlivet 1989 23 YO cask #689015, 54,9 % The name Braes of Glenlivet is the old name for Braeval Distillery. The Braes of Glenlivet 1989 23 YO cask #689015 was released by Speciality Drinks Ltd, the company behind The Whisky Exchange. Braeval Distillery is owned by Chivas brothers (Pernod Ricrad), and was established as recently […]...

Lagavulin 1999 The Distillers Edition (2015), 16 YO, 43 % I often go on about high ABV this and high ABV that. Yes, I happily admit I very often prefer a high ABV whisky, at least 46 % ABV or higher, and with no chill-filtration. But on occasion I do rave about a lower ABV […]...

Crowdfunding seems to become more and more popular day by day, so why not use it to fund a whisky distillery. Sall Whisky in Denmark aim to do just that. They are the first whisky distillery, at least in the Nordics, to try this approach, as far as I know. Now, you might argue that a […]...

Mackmyra Moment Rimfrost, NAS, 53,2 % OK, then, here is the fifth release in the Moment Series from Swedish distillery Mackmyra. The Mackmyra Moment Rimfrost was launched on 2011-12-01, in a limited run of 1492 bottles. This whisky has been matured in ‘small casks’ and it is made from the unpeated ‘Elegant’ recipe. That’s about all […]...

Westland American Oak, 2 YO, 46 % In Seattle, Washington, USA, you can find the Westland Distillery. It turns out these Americans make great single malt whiskey! And they are nerdy! And they are transparent, sharing a lot of cool info online. It is very rare to find this much details on a whisky: Grain bill: […]...

Glenturret Peated Edition, NAS, 43 % I believe this is my first ever review of a whisky from Glenturret distillery; guest blogger Tone reviewed the Glenturret 10 YO a while back. So, the Glenturret Peated Edition is a relatively new addition to the core range of this small highland distillery (production 340 000 litres per […]...

Friday 16 september 2016 – our third and last day on Islay. How could this day possibly be as good as day 1 and day 2? Well, Rachel (Wild and Magic Islay) sure knew how to spoil us with some lovely distillery visits this day as well. As the day before she picked us up after […]...

Hyde 6 YO No. 4 President’s Cask, 46 % Here at Whisky Saga we have previously tried two releases from Hibernia Distillers Ltd in Ireland (this and that). Their products are released under the label Hyde, and so far this is a very young distillery sourcing their spirit elsewhere (more here). The Hyde 6 YO No. 4 […]...

Mackmyra Moment Urberg, 7 YO, 55,6 % I have recently worked my way through all the releases in the Special Series from Mackmyra. Time now to do some homework on older releases in the Moment Series from Mackmyra. This is a series that is still ongoing, and has seen 19 releases so far. To catch […]...

Jim Beam Double Oak, 43 % The Jim Beam Double Oak was recently added as a new core expression to the Jim Beam line-up. This is what they say about Jim Beam Double Oak on the official website: “[..] unblended bourbon whiskey that was aged a second time in a new American white oak cask, following […]...

After the amazing day on Islay visiting Laphroaig Distillery: Could day 2 possibly be better? Lagavulin Distillery Rachel (Wild and Magic Islay) picked us up after breakfast Thursday 15 september 2016. The first stop that day was Lagavulin Distillery where Sara (at 09:30am!) took us through five glasses of Lagavulin, each paired with different chocolates. […]...

Mackmyra Special 09 Vildhallon, 46,1 % I have now arrived at the second to last Special release from Swedish distillery Mackmyra. The Mackmyra Special 09 Vildhallon was released on november 1, 2012. Here is what the distillery themselves say about the release: Mackmyra Special 09 is an elegant Swedish Maltwhisky with intense berry and fruity […]...

Islay Malt 7 YO Cadenhead, 58,6 % This is a single malt from a single cask. The whisky was distilled at an undisclosed Kildalton distillery on Islay, which means it is from either Ardbeg, Laphroaig, or Lagavulin. This will be an ongoing product, as far as I know. This means that the ABV (and most likely […]...

Bruichladdich 2003 12 YO – Norsk whiskyforbund Cask #2, 56,6 % This is the second whisky bottled for the Federation of Norwegian Whisky Societies (Norsk whiskyforbund). The first release was a really nice GlenDronach (see review). The Bruichladdich 2003 12 YO – Norsk whiskyforbund Cask 2 was bottled by independent bottler Adelhi. This cask (cask #1335) […]...

After planning our trip to Islay for one year, seven Ladies finally arrived last Wednesday morning, the 14th september 2016. We flew from Glasgow to Islay and because of the wind the plane had to make an extra turn around half the island. We felt lucky to enjoy the sight of Islay from above. It […]...

Mackmyra Special 10 Kaffegök, NAS, 46,1 % Here it is then, the 10th and last release in the Mackmyra Special Series. The Mackmyra Special 10 Kaffegök was released on maj 2, 2013. This release was limited to 10 000 bottles. Here’s the official description of the whisky: “It has been finished on casks that have previously […]...

Kings County Distillery Bourbon, NAS, 45 % While Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery (makers of the Hudson whiskey) was the first distillery in New York State since prohibition, Kings County Distillery is the first distillery to operate within the borders of New York City since the Prohibition era, producing corn whiskey and bourbon whiskey. Kings County Distillery is […]...

Bunnahabhain 1976 39 YO Small Batch, 49,4 % Today I bring you a fairly new small batch release from independent bottler Cadenhead. The Bunnahabhain 1976 39 YO Small Batch is made up from three sherry butts, with a total outturn of 648 bottles. You can buy the Bunnahabhain 1976 39 YO Small Batch in Norway at NOK […]...

Balvenie 12 YO Single Barrel First Fill, 47,8 % We are seeing more releases from Balvenie distillery in Norway now. This is great, I think. Balvenie was an early favourite of mine when I first started exploring whisky in the late 1990s. Today I am looking more closely at the Balvenie 12 YO Single Barrel First Fill […]...