Well, it is almost that happy time again. New whisky will wash over the shores of Norway. On Friday mars 1 we will see 36 new releases, as listed below.

An exciting, and very expensive, series of Rare Casks from Bruichladdich this time around. Also exciting to see a Rye from Sweden (Spirit of Hven’s Hvenus). Looking forward to tasting this in a few days. We will now also see the release of the first three bottlings from That Boutique-y Whisky Company in Norway.

As always I’ve added links to any reviews already published here on Whisky Saga.

“Basisutvalg” -...

Lordly, NAS, 40 %

Well, this is rather special. Lordly is a blended whisky, made from whisky produced in Scotland and in France. The blend has received a finish in cognac casks that previously held De Luze Cognac.

The company behind this product is Maison Boinaud, a compnay that has produced cognac for 24 generations. They are today the largest land owner in Grand Champagne, and own brands like De Luze, Naulin and J. Dupont.

The bottle for Lordly is very easy to spot due to the rather extravagant stopper. It is all summed up with the subtitle Just for...

Spirit of Hven Hvenus Rye Whisky, NAS, 45.6 %

There seems to be something of a rye revolution going on, or a rye-volution as some call it. Quite a few distilleries in Scotland have started dabbling in rye, and the same goes for many other European distilleries. Time then to review to the first Swedish rye whisky, the Spirit of Hven Hvenus Rye Whisky.

The mash bill is given as 78.6 % rye, 11.9 % wheat, 4.8 % corn and 4.8 % barley. Furthermore it has been aged for three to six years in American oak. A total of 42...

Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, NAS, 40 %

So here it, finally. The follow-up to the Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition (see review ). The Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is the result of another collaboration between Midelton Distillery and the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork, Ireland.

Jameson shipped off a few casks to the brewery, which used them to age IPA beer, then the casks were returned and were used to give a beer-y finish to Jameson whiskey.

The official info is gathered here .

You can buy the Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition in Norway starting mars 1 at NOK 420 (10766601)....

Nikka Days, NAS, 40 %

This is a brand new blended whisky from Nikka. It is made from single malt and grain made at both of Nikka’s main distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo. It is a slightly peated whisky. The official info can be found here .

The Nikka Days is expected to be released in Norway and Sweden shortly, but for now you have to order it from La Maison du Whisky at around € 40 .

Nose : Soft maltiness. Vanilla and mild summer fruits. A touch of toasted oak.

Taste : Medium body and sweetness. White pepper. Bitter-ish...

Although whiskey has just four simple ingredients: water, grain, yeast, and oak, it can get complicated. To understand the term ‘barrel proof,’ for instance, you must understand the oak barrel’s role—to house the whiskey as it matures, imparting pleasurable flavors and also eliminating undesirable ones. Then there’s proof, which is simply a measure of alcohol content equal to twice the percentage of alcohol by volume. For example, a 100 proof spirit is 50% alcohol.

Although it is not part of the federal government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, the term ‘barrel proof’ is officially defined. In 1979, the Federal...

Irish whiskey is a rich and diverse style, encompassing many grains, techniques, and flavors. The whiskey often hits its apex through blending with this rich palette—and right now might be considered the golden age of Irish blends .

An Irish Whiskey Blend for Every Taste

If you want to get deep into the fundamentals of Irish whiskey, check out Instant Expert . For a quick-and-dirty summary of the different whiskeys that go into blends, and where they typically originate, use this guide.

The Four Types of Irish Whiskey

Legally, Irish whiskey can fall into one of four categories.

Single Malt...

With many new whiskies to look forward to this week, there’s one that will be out of reach for everyone but a single lucky (and wealthy) bidder.

Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson has collaborated with chef Massimo Bottura to create a one-of-a-kind 49 year old whisky that will be available only via a Sotheby’s online auction from april 25-maj 9. The lot will also include dinner for two at Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, and the proceeds will benefit his non-profit community organization Food For Soul. The Dalmore L’Anima 49 year old (“l’anima” is Italian for “soul”) is a...

Bidding has opened on Hart Davis Hart’s mobile-only auction of fine and rare spirits , which the Chicago-based wine auction house claims will be the largest spirits-only auction in U.S. history . Just over half of the 1,656 lots are American whiskey, roughly a third are scotch, and the remainder are Japanese and other world whiskies and miscellaneous spirits. Hart Davis Hart (HDH) predicts the mobile-only auction will realize $1 million–1.6 million over the two day sale mars 14-15. Bids must be placed using the HDH app or website, with no in-person bidding.

Online auctions can be a great way...

When we think about cocktails, the base spirit usually comes to mind first. But the Sazerac began with its bitters.

In the late 1700s, Antoine Amédée Peychaud immigrated to New Orleans from Haiti, bringing with him a recipe for bitters. When he opened a pharmacy in the 1830s, he began serving his bitters medicinally with sugar and cognac.

“Eventually people began asking for Peychaud’s bitters about town,” says cocktail historian Elizabeth Pearce , author of Drink Dat New Orleans. “One place [that had them] was the Sazerac Bar, located in the 100 block of Royal Street.” This bar combined the...

Blake Borah estimates he had about 50 bottles of whisky in his Harlem studio apartment before adding three more when the 36 year old was selected as the winner of Whisky Advocate’s 2018 Top 20 sweepstakes. For Borah—who is the beverage director at New York City restaurant Barn Joo —a love of whiskey started in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky when he got a job bartending at The Oakroom in the Seelbach Hotel .

“They had a very nicely curated bourbon and whiskey selection. This is when I was first starting out, and I was just doing bartending, so I...

If Canada isn’t yet on your must-visit list, it should be. Not only is the country home to some of the best spots for whisky tourism— many just a short jaunt across the border —Canada also keeps some of its best bottles for the home market. Take a trip and scoop a few up—use these suggestions to make your shopping list. (Prices in Canadian dollars.)

Canadian Classics

Start here for prime examples of Canadian-style whisky.

Canadian Rockies 21 year old —92 points, $110 Lush, creamy corn whisky from Highwood Distillers, Canada’s last privately owned traditional distillery. With a maple leaf...

Picture the cool creaminess of butter slathered over fresh bread, browning to a sizzle in a hot pan, or dripping from a glistening ear of corn. A slightly oily, mouth-coating quality is the calling card of a buttery whisky, but the tasting experience can span the aromas and flavors of butter as well.

The buttery textural sensation that appears in many types of whisky is derived from diacetyl, a compound that arises naturally from yeast activity during fermentation that can accumulate due to the action of bacteria in the washback. Distillers aim to keep the level of diacetyl in check:...

Scotland’s coastal regions are home to some of the country’s finest single malt whiskies: from Old Pulteney, crafted in the far north of Scotland and influenced by the North Sea, to the Orkney Islands-based Highland Park, to the eight operational distilleries on the isle of Islay. The influence of the coast and the bodies of water beyond is inescapable, leading to whiskies that show a range of salty and briny flavors . And—because salt enhances and amplifies flavors—these whiskies are especially suited to pairing with food.

“Coastal scotches like Old Pulteney pair well with this scallop dish because of the...

It’s a mixed bag of whisky and whiskey this week.

First up, MGP Distillery has unveiled a new brand called Eight & Sand. The whiskey is a blended bourbon, which includes both straight bourbon and other unspecified American whiskeys. It’s hitting shelves in a dozen states for $30.

Want to taste whisky from a long-dead distillery? Littlemill 40 year old, distilled in the waning days of the 1970s, is available from Loch Lomond Group . Just 250 bottles are being released, including 23 coming to the U.S. for the hefty, but round, price of $10,000.

Two new whiskies from Germany are...