This spring’s WhiskyFest events in Chicago and Washington, D.C. showcased the depth and breadth of the whisky world, offering whisky lovers the opportunity to taste hundreds of whiskies, rub shoulders with the leading distillers and blenders from Scotland, the U.S., and beyond, and create cherished memories.

Three generations of Russells—Eddie, Joanne, Bruce, and Jimmy—welcomed eager Wild Turkey fans at WhiskyFest D.C. (Photo by Peter Wagner Photography)

Master distiller Denny Potter was on hand to pour Whisky Advocate’s 2017 Whisky of the Year, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. (Photo by Peter Wagner Photography)

WhiskyFest Chicago—now in its 18th year—took over the Hyatt...

Rye has been a part of America’s distilling heritage since colonial times, yet gets only a fraction of the recognition of its better-known sibling, bourbon. For a time in the late 20th century, whiskey distillers barely made any rye at all, and finding a bottle on the shelf of a liquor store could be a challenge. But in recent years, rye has made a comeback, and whiskey lovers are discovering (and rediscovering) how delicious it is.

Bourbon has to be made of at least 51% corn, and similarly, rye has to contain 51% rye grain at a minimum. However, while...

One of the darker coloured whiskies in the Flora & Fauna series, and one that is still rather widely available: Dailuaine 16 Years . It is sherry matured.

Dailuaine 16 yo (43%, OB ‘Flora & Fauna’ +/- 2017)

Nose: a rather oily nose, with sweet malty notes, Demerara sugar and wax candles. Hints of cake and gentle fruits (yellow plums). A few nutty notes, candied ginger and whiffs of leathery. Something of Amontillado sherry. Fairly complex, I like it. Mouth: a bit too sweet and a bit too malty now, taking away some of the complexity. Plums and...

Benromach distillery celebrates a milestone today. In 1998 it was re-opened after being acquired and refurbished by the family behind Gordon & MacPhail . Happy birthday! This is celebrated with a Benromach 20th Anniversary bottling , a limited release of 3000 bottles, 400 of which will be sold at the visitor centre in Forres.

Although the packaging doesn’t stress it, this is actually a 1998 vintage (of course), matured in first-fill sherry and bourbon casks, both European oak and American oak. It comes in a slightly different Benromach bottle, nestling in an elegantly lined wooden box with a book.

While...

After being a bit distracted by the Old Pulteney 2004 we’re back at some more Octomores and today we’re checking Octomore 8.3.

Unlike Octomore 8.1 and Octomore 8.2, Octomore 8.3 is only 5 year old which is more or less in line with previous Octomore generations. The barley was grown in a single field at Octomore farm (Bruichladdich Distillery neighbors) and 56% of the whisky was matured in ex-Bourbon casks and 44% matured in European oak casks. 18,000 bottles at 61.2% were produced.

The 309 PPM (Phenols per million) figure for Octomore 8.3 is mightly impressive, and probably holds the unofficial...

Yesterday we celebrated our 70th Independence day and with such a round nice number our lively local whisky scene didn’t kept quiet. The Golan Heights Distillery released a special limited anniversary edition of their two grain whisky Golani that was finished in a Brandy cask.

The Golani spirit spent 2.5 years in red wine cask (like the regular Golani Vino) and then 50 liters were finished in a 50L cask which held Brandy (distilled at the distillery) for another 6 months. 70 bottles were released to the market bottled at 49.7%.

Golan Heights Distillery Golani Brandy Finish (49.7%, 250NIS/~€57 )...

This morning Diageo announced 9 out of 10 bottles of their Special Releases 2018. For the first time ever since the SP series was launched, there are no Port Ellen and Brora bottles in the list.

Instead we see four bottles destined to the regular consumers market. In addition to Lagavulin 12 CS and Caol Ila  15 Unpeated, we have a Cask Strength 8 Year Old Talisker and 14 Year Old Singleton.

The tenth bottle will be revealed later this year and the series bottles will probably be will during oktober 2018.

The current SP 2018 list:

• CARSEBRIDGE 48 year...

I reviewed Octomore 8.1 last week but I can’t really stop here so let’s head on to the next one in the series – Octomore 8.2.

Just like Octomore 8.1, it’s 100% Scottish barley peated to 167 ppm level and carries an 8 year old age statement.

The x.2 suffix in the series is reserved for wine maturation or finish, but this year it’s kind of extreme as the casks composition is complex. At first, the Octomore spirit spent six years in one of three different types of wine casks (all second fill casks):

• French Mourvedre
• Austrian sweet wines
• French...

Whenever The Whisky Exchange has a new single cask exclusive it is quite a thrill. Usually Sukhinder Singh does his magic and conjure some uniqe and good (or interesting at least) cask. I had my issues with their last Kilchoman exclusive but this time he actually managed to get Old Pulteney Distillery to bottle him a sherried Old Pulteney.

How rare is it? I can’t recall any fully matured sherried Old Pulteney from the last few years besides this one and the LMDW bottling. and to boot – this single cask is a first fill sherry cask (a sherry butt...

Earlier this month the first official bottlings from the Speyside based GlenAllachie distillery were launched – a series of six single casks bottlings from 1991, 1990, 1989 and 1978 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the distillery.

We knew it’s only a precursor to the real deal – a standard core line up is to be established and we know from the distillery website to expect 10, 12, 15, 18 and 25 year old expressions. But now we have more solid information on those expressions, thanks to the new labels that popped up at the Federal Database.

Based on the...

Last oktober I reviewed the Balvenie Peat Week 2002 14 Year Old which I quite liked but I neglected to review its sibling Peated Triple Cask 14 Year Old which is an exclusive offering for Travel Retail market so it’s time to fix that.

The Balvenie Peated Triple Cask 14 was matured in three (hence the Triple brand) different cask types: first it was matured in first-fill bourbon, then in refill bourbon and finally in sherry casks.

Let’s check it out and see how it compares to the Peat Week 2002.

The Balvenie Peated Triple Cask 14 Year Old (48.3%, £71.79...

Currently we’re having here a short spell of rainy days and a bit colder weather (unfortunately just a bit) which is refreshing to have in april after yet another too dry winter. Let’s use the occasion to check out a heavily peated whisky, Bruichladdich Octomore 8.1.

This Octomore 8.1 is peated to 167 ppm level, was d istilled in 2008 using only Scottish barley. The casks used for this expressions are all  first fill american oak casks. According to Bruichladdich casks from Buffalo Trace, Clermont Springs, Four Roses, Heaven Hill & Jack Daniels were used here and the long list...

The label for the forth installment in Glenfiddich Experimental series has popped up in TTB database and is called Fire & Cane .

This is a peated Glenfiddich spirit (most likely 22 ppm) that was finished in Rum casks (like the 21 Year Old Reserva Rum Cask Finish). This label partially surprised me as I expected a PX finish to be #04 but I not truly surprised from the appearance of a peated Glenfiddich in the series as I predicted it following the visit of Struan Grant Ralph, Glenfiddich Ambassador, a few months ago (See my in depth review of...

We’re in the midst of Passover holiday which means no whisky for me at the moment so let’s explore something else today – Rum.

It’s been ages since I reviewed Rum on the blog, but I explore Rum in my local (and great) Rum club and even have a few rum bottles at home. A while ago I got a surprise in the mail – a Rum sample from a Nils, a Dutch friend who also also operates as an independent bottler, bottling Whisky and Rum under ‘The Duchess’ brand name.

It’s their second Rum release, a 10 year old...

Herno London Dry Gin 40.5%

Tasted: Nov 2016

Nose: A big hit of juniper, sweet rose petals, cardamom and citrus. Lovely intensity with some subtle barky spice notes.

Palate: Very juniper orientated but intense and fresh with a touch of citrus, orris, cinnamon sticks and cassia bark.

Finish: Long and citric with lingering orange/ lemon peel and spice.

Conclusion: Complex And well balanced. Great, tongue tingling finish.

Herno Navy Strength Gin 57%

Tasted: Nov 2016

Nose: Fresh, citric and junipery with a touch of cereal spirit beneath. Balanced with lemon verbena, coriander, cassia and perfumed juniper.

Palate: Soft and surprisingly...

While pondering the pricing on high-end bottles and anticipating future releases from Old Montreal Distillery , take a few moments to read up on this week’s newest whiskies.

The latest Orphan Barrel bourbon is launching, and it will be familiar to fans of the brand. Rhetoric 24 year old follows up on the previous four releases at 20, 21, 22, and 23 years old with one more year of age and a tiny bump in proof to 45.5% ABV. It also has gone up a bit in price to $130. Quantities are limited.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Trace Distillery is also re-releasing...

Examine some whiskies from Whisky Advocate’s 2017 Top 20 . Number 3,  Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades —a mix of bourbons aged between 10 and 20 years—costs $150. Yet number 10,  Glen Moray 18 year old, comes in at just $90, while number 15, Kentucky Peerless Straight Rye —a 2 year old craft whiskey—is $125. Meanwhile, Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old hit the market last year at $1,800, while Michter’s Celebration —a 33 year old bourbon—has a recommended retail price of $5,000. They’re all whiskies, made from grain and aged in barrels—so why such a massive disparity?

How...