Ever since tasting Tomatin's seasonal Cù Bòcan whiskies last year, I have bought bottles for both myself, and - the ultimate test - for friends, and have even converted a seasoned whisky drinker to "unlocking the unusual". You can see my notes on the Signature release here. I realise that I got so wrapped up... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Bladnoch – 10 Years Old
The Bladnoch distillery was founded in 1817 and, has been producing single malt whisky on and off - thankfully mostly on - from the farm site since, on the banks of the River Bladnoch. Following nearly a century of initial family ownership, the site has then changed hands numerous times in its second hundred -... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Highland Park – 18 Years Old (Viking Pride)
In 2017, the good folk at Highland Park really doubled down on promoting their Viking roots as part of their Orcadian history. The chunky, rectangular bottles were replaced with a new bottom-heavy curved design, laden with embossed markings inspired by the Viking carvings at Orkney’s Urnes Stave Church and assorted Viking paraphernalia. With that rebrand,... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Dà Mhìle – Tarian
For St David’s Day, I wanted to post about a Welsh whisky. And no, it’s not from THAT distillery. Whilst THEY have been flying the flag for Welsh whisky for some 20+ years now, it was Dà Mhìle distillery that actually resulted in Wales being declared a whisky making nation. Come again? Well... European legislation... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Royal Brackla – 7 Years Old (The Whisky Cellar)
This post is about two things: 1) a whisky, and 2) the brilliance of independent bottling. We'll come to the whisky in a moment, but for me, one of the most beautiful things about independent bottling is that you can capture, sample or explore a rare cask or expression which may otherwise be kept behind... Continue Reading →
Tasting Notes: Talisker – Storm
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 →