It’s time to reveal the final bottle of the Diageo Special Releases 2018 – Cladach .

What is Cladach

For the second year in a row, Diageo have dropped a secret bottle into the line-up, only revealing it on the day of the launch party. It’s a blended Maltwhisky.

While last year’s Collectivum XXVIII was a blend from all of Diageo’s operating Maltwhisky distilleries, Cladach is a bit more selective. The name means ‘coastline’ in gaelic and it was created using whisky from Diageo’s coastal distilleries: Inchgower , Clynelish , Talisker , Oban , Caol Ila and Lagavulin...

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, before getting ‘finished’ in casks that were seasoned with a proprietary blend of Caribbean rums.

Its predecessor was called Cuban Selection but I suppose that was problematic for US sales.

The Balvenie 14 yo ‘Caribbean Cask’ (43%, OB +/- 2018, rum cask finish)

Nose: sweet, with buttery vanilla cake and yellow apples up front. Some creamy coconut, honey and toffee. Apricots and bananas. Golden raisins soaked in rum. Light leafy oak in the background. Rather fruity but I’m not...

Glenrothes Soleo Collection

A few months ago we already announced the fact that The Glenrothes would ditch the vintage concept in favour of a classic age statement collection. While this is hardly ground-breaking, it’s quite surprising that all expressions are entirely sherry cask matured . Too bad the ABV is still very low.

Five expressions have popped up in stores:

• Glenrothes 10 Years (40%)
• Glenrothes 12 Years (40%)
• Glenrothes Whisky Maker’s Cut (48,8%)
• Glenrothes 18 Years (43%)
• Glenrothes 25 Years (43%)

In Spring 2019 they will also launch a Glenrothes 40 Year Old . I hope to look into the...

Gordon & MacPhail is celebrating the 50th birthday of the Connoisseurs Choice with the release of 37 new bottlings from 23 different distilleries.

For the occasion the Connoisseurs Choice range is ‘enhanced’ with a series of single malts aged 30 years and above, which come in a bulkier version of the new bottle, presented in a wooden presentation box. From seven initial bottlings we’re now trying the Mortlach 1987 , a 31 year-old bottled from a refill sherry hogshead .

If this is refill, then how long was the original whisky inside, two weeks?

Mortlach 31 yo 1987...

This is part two of our review of the new Highland Park travel retail line-up, which focus on important animals of the Viking culture. In the first part I looked at Highland Park Spirit of the Bear and Highland Park Wings of the Eagle

Highland Park Loyalty of the Wolf is a 14 year old matured in American oak sherry casks and bourbon barrels.

Highland Park 14 yo ‘Loyalty of the Wolf’ (42,3%, OB 2018, travel retail)

Nose: rather sweet and malty, plenty of cake aromas, vanilla custard and apples. Light ginger and pepper in the background, as...

Italian Car Series is a range of whiskies bottled for Jan Vissers who owns the Single Maltwhisky Shop in Zammel, Belgium. He’s an Italian car freak and the labels feature drawings of old Ferrari Formula-1 cars.

I’m a bit scared of the outrageous ABV (67% after 11 years), but here goes…

Glenlivet 11 yo 2007 (67%, Signatory Vintage – Italian car series #4 2018, first-fill sherry hogshead #900201, 312 btl.)

Nose: syrupy fruits, lots of blackberries, cherries and raspberry jam. Walnuts, chestnuts, figs, raisins. Lots of cinnamon pastry. A bit of vanilla sugar as well. Some fragrant...

Last week John Glaser was making a small tour in my part of Europe, presenting some of the latest Compass Box releases and explaining the philosophy of the brand.

The event was taking place at the beautiful Bar Burbure in Antwerp, already indicating a focus on cocktails and bartenders, but luckily there was something in there for this slightly geekier whisky blogger as well.

It is very entertaining to hear how he started blending in his London kitchen, how the recipes are now designed by more blending wizards than John alone, where the name Compass Box comes from, how he...

Fettercairn 12 Year Old is part of the new Fettercairn core range launched in augusti 2018. This was matured in standard American oak bourbon casks and more or less the only accessible expression, the next in line is already 28 years old and around € 600… Talk about upscaling.

Fettercairn 12 yo (40%, OB 2018)

Nose: nicely fruity, with nectarine and tinned pineapple. Not too much vanilla. Hints of meadow flowers and mint. Behind this bright side there is also a hint of roasted nuts and a light meaty touch. Mouth: rather weak (unsurprisingly) but pleasantly rounded. Oranges,...

Teeling 27 Year Old – Whisky Exchange exclusive

The Whisky Exchange has just bottled a Teeling 27 Year Old single cask , distilled in 1991 and bottled at 48.9% from sherry cask #6838 (though not too heavy, or so it seems). It promises to display these wonderful notes of tropical fruits, with added complexity from the sherry. Available only from The Whisky Exchange .

Whisky Advent Calendars – Drinks by the Dram

Drinks by the Dram , the sample service from the Master of Malt group, has presented its Advent Calendars. There’s the classic Whisky Advent Calendar which...

Murray...

Edrington Group , the parent company of Macallan , Glenrothes , and Highland Park scotch, announced that it has formed a “strategic partnership” with Wyoming Whiskey . The Kirby, Wyoming craft distiller’s bourbon and other whiskeys will become part of Edrington’s portfolio, which also includes The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark blended scotches, Brugal rum , Partida tequila , and Snow Leopard vodka ; Edrington will handle all sales, marketing, and distribution. Other terms of the deal—such as the size of the stake, price, or whether it includes the potential for full acquisition in the future—were not disclosed, although president and...