It is some 20 years now since Islay’s Bruichladdich distillery was reincarnated into the “Progressive Hebridean Distillers” that we know and love today. With industry legend Jim McEwan at the helm, the Ileachs have come to produce 3 distinct and revered brands from the same distillery: Bruichladdich remains the unpeated single malt that the distillery … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Port Charlotte – 10 Years Old
Talisker is one of the first names that scotch whisky drinkers will encounter on their spirit(ed) journey. Its name evokes mental images of the rugged Isle of Skye and their whiskies’ flavours make those images come to life. That might all sound a bit grand and romantic but that’s my impression of Talisker and it … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Talisker – Storm
Next time you’re up in Speyside, don’t go looking for the Cù Bòcan Distillery! Set the sat nav for Tomatin and you’ll get to where you need to be! That’s because Cu Bocan / Cù Bòcan (“coo-bock-can”) is a seasonal release made by the team at Tomatin. For just one week a year, within the … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Cù Bòcan – Signature
This whisky represents the third and final part of Highland Park’s Viking Legend series. The trilogy started with Valkyrie in 2017, followed by Valknut in 2018, and now this closing release of 2019: Valfather. Each release has been supported by heavy Viking imagery and mythology alongside designs from Danish designer Jim Lyngvild. The Valfather himself … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Highland Park – Valfather
In 2017, Wemyss Malts released the first limited edition batch releases of their 3 core range whiskies. The smokiest of these offerings is named the "Peat Chimney", following the blended-maltsters' pattern of two-word monikers for their whiskies. Following the success and sell out of the first batch, in early 2019 a second wave of the batch strength … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Wemyss Malts – Peat Chimney (Batch Strength No.2)
Back in 2009, the team at Douglas Laing & Co. unleashed a concept that had a big objective and a big name to live up to, for that is the year that Big Peat was born. The blended malt whisky features "A Shovelful of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore & … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – Big Peat
As with all Compass Box whiskies, the name of the game here is quality and transparency, even if the name of the whisky itself is "No Name". What is more unusual however is that, whenever Islay whiskies are used in blends, then the original distillery tends to hide its identity within a shroud of mystery … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Compass Box – No Name
whisky unplugged 