Arran 17 yo (46%, OB 2023, sherry hogsheads + bourbon barrels, 12.000 btl.)
Arran
Lagg Corriecravie Edition (55%, OB 2023, Oloroso cask finish)
Lagg Kilmory Edition (46%, first-fill bourbon barrels)
Arran 21 yo 2001 (55,3%, OB ‘Premium Cask’ for Whisky in Leiden 2023, bourbon cask #2001/061, 145 btl.)
Glen Scotia 5 yo 2016 (56,7%, OB for Whisky in Leiden 2023, first fill Oloroso hogshead, 247 btl.)
Millstone 3 yo 2019 – Heavily Peated (51,2%, OB for Whisky in Leiden 2023, PX cask #2548, 356 btl.)
Caol Ila 9 yo 2014 (52,9%, Murray McDavid ‘Benchmark’ for Whisky in Leiden 2023, Sauternes finish, 163 btl.)
Speyside Single Malt 29 yo 1992 (44,8%, Vintage Bottlers 2022, bourbon cask, 266 btl.)
Ben Nevis 26 yo 1996 (47,1%, Vintage Bottlers 2022, bourbon hogshead #416, 252 btl.)
Islay Single Malt 32 yo 1990 (52,1%, Vintage Bottlers 2023, barrel, 242 btl.)
Arran 24 yo 1997 (51,6%, Vintage Bottlers 2022, sherry cask, 235 btl.)
Port Charlotte 21 yo 2001 (48,7%, Vintage Bottlers 2022, rum barrel #260, 259 btl.)
Zaubertrank Blended Malt (46%, Signatory Vintage for Whisky Druid 2022)
Balmenach 10 yo 2011 (46%, Douglas Laing Provenance 2021, refill butt #15276, 867 btl.)
Highland Single Malt 28 yo ‘Pride of Sponge’ (46,1%, Whisky Sponge 2022, refill hogshead, 59B, 286 btl.)
Arran 8 yo 2013 (48,2%, Greatdrams 2022, bourbon hogshead, 269 btl.)
Glenrothes 20 yo 1997 (48,2%, Whisky-Fässle 2018, sherry butt)
Dailuaine 25 yo 1997 (48,8%, Whisky Sponge 2022, refill hogsheads, 365 btl.)
Strathearn 8 yo 2014 (49,8%, Thompson Bros ‘Spirits Angels’ 2022, virgin American oak cask #17, 58 btl.)
Blair Athol 32 yo 1989 (52,2%, The Whisky Blues 2022, hogshead #5774, 217 btl.)
Cooley 8 yo (58,6%, Whisky AGE 2022, ref. 0011, 210 btl.)
Glen Garioch 12 yo 2009 (62,4%, Pin-Xin Wine Shop 2021, cask #653)
Secret Orkney 17 yo 2004 (49,4%, WhiskyNerds 2022, Butt #13, 248 btl.)
Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength – Sherry Cask Matured (58,1%, OB 2022)
Arran 18 yo (46%, OB 2021, L07 09 21)
Bowmore 21 yo ‘Aston Martin’ (51,8%, OB ‘Master’s Selection’ 2021, 12.000 btl.)
Arran 25 yo 1996 (50,2%, OB for the UK 2021, first fill sherry hogshead #905, 265 btl.)
New and upcoming whisky releases from Bimber (WhiskySponge), Arran, Craigellachie, Glen Moray, Glenfiddich and more…
Arran 20 yo 2001 ‘Premium Cask’ (55,5%, OB 2021 for Billy’s Whisky Barrel + Oldies & Goldies, bourbon cask #2001/010, 147 btl.)
Arran Drumadoon Point 23 yo (49,5%, OB ‘The Explorers series Vol.4’ 2021, ex-sherry puncheons, 9000 btl.)
Arran 24 yo 1996 ‘Premium Cask’ (53,4%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2021, cask #757, 273 btl.)
New whisky (and cognac) releases this week from The Whisky Jury, The Whisky Exchange and Tobermory.
Arran Sauternes Cask Finish (50%, OB 2020)
New and upcoming releases from Glenfiddich, Compass Box, Highland Park, The Arran and more
Arran 25 yo (46%, OB 2020, 3000 btl.)
Arran Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy’ (56,2%, OB 2019)
Whisky news: Arran 25 Years / Bushmills 28 Years Cognac cask / Watt Whisky
Ardbeg Scorch / Black Bowmore 1964 DB5 / Arran Harmony vol.3
Highland Park Cask Strength / Arran Kildonan & Pladda Island / Tullibardine Artisan / Tullibardine 12 Years
Arran Sherry Cask ‘The Bodega’ (55,8%, OB 2019, first-fill sherry hogsheads)
Arran Barrel Reserve (43%, OB 2019)
Arran 10 yo (46%, OB 2019)
Arran 5 yo 2013 (54%, Fisherman’s Retreat 2018, Yalumba Octavius cask, 191 btl.)
Port Charlotte 10 yo 2008 (54%, Fisherman’s Retreat 2018, Haut-Brion cask, 360 btl.)
Arran 21 yo ‘Lochranza Castle’ (47,2%, OB ‘The Explorers Series’ 2019, sherry hogsheads + Amontillado finish, 9000 btl.)
Rock Island (46,8%, Douglas Laing ‘Remarkable Regional Malts’ +/- 2019)
Rock Island 10 yo (46%, Douglas Laing 2019)
Rock Island 21 yo (46,8%, Douglas Laing 2019, 4200 btl.)
Arran 12 yo 2006 (53,6%, OB Private Cask for Whisky Shop Zammel, sherry hogshead #800463, 315 btl.)
Arran 21 yo (46%, OB 2018, first edition, 9000 btl.)
Arran 21 yo 1996 (50,2%, The Whisky Exchange – Whisky Show 2018, 217 btl.)
Arran 10 yo (46%, OB +/- 2018)
Upcoming whisky releases this week from Arran, The Whisky Exchange, Bunnahabhain, Red Spot and Ailsa Bay
Arran 10 yo 2007 ‘James MacTaggart’ (54,2%, OB ‘Master of Distilling’ 2017, first-fill bourbon, 12.000 btl.)
Arran 18 yo (46%, OB +/- 2017) – 86/100
Tomatin travel retail / The Arran Smuggler’s series ‘High Seas’ / Jameson Caskmates / anCnoc Stark
Arran 18 yo 1997 (54,3%, OB ‘Limited Edition’ for The Whisky Fair 2016, sherry hogshead #913, 225 btl.) – 87/100
Arran 19 yo 1996 ‘The Chosen One’ (54,7%, OB for Whiskysite.nl 2016, sherry hogshead #1390, 312 btl.) – 89/100
Arran 18 y 1996 ‘The Island of Fidra’ (50,6%, Morrison & MacKay for Lockett Bros 2015, bourbon hogshead #1300, 200 btl.) – 88/100
Arran ‘The Bothy’ Quarter Cask (55,7%, OB 2015, Batch #1, 12.000 btl.)
New: The Smuggler’s Series
Arran 14 yo 2000 ‘Private Cask’ (55,7%, OB for Whisky in Leiden 2015, sherry hogshead #128, 202 btl.) – 87/100
Arran batch #3 (51,5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company 2014, 728 btl., 50 cl) – 84/100
The Arran ‘Orkney Bere Barley’ 10yo 2004 Cask Strength (56,2%, OB 2014, bourbon barrels, 4890 btl.) – 86/100
Arran 17 yo 1996 (54,9%, Malts of Scotland 2014, sherry butt, ref. 14029, 612 btl.) – 83/100
Arran 16 yo 1997 ‘Private Cask’ (50,1%, OB for Limburg Whisky Fair 2014, sherry hogshead #518, 246 btl.) – 86/100
Arran 17 years (46%, OB 2014, 9000 btl.) – 86/100
Arran Millennium Casks (53,5%, OB 2013, 7.800 btl.) – 86/100
Arran 16 yo 1996 (55,7%, OB Private Cask for Jan Vissers 2013, oloroso sherry hogshead, 174 btl.) – 89/100
Arran 16 years (46%, OB 2013, 9000 btl.) – 87/100
Arran batch #1 (49,1%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company 2013, 211 btl., 50 cl) – 85/100
Arran 16 yo 1996 (55,4%, Master of Malt 2012, refill sherry hogshead, 218 btl.) – 80/100
Arran 12 yo 1999 (54,8%, Single Cask Nation 2011, cask #6, Pinot Noir finish, 277 btl.) – 83/100
Isle of Arran 14 yo 1997 (46%, Maltman 2012, cask #747) – 85/100
Isle of Arran 16 yo 1995 (53,2%, The Whisky Agency & The Nectar 2012, refill hogshead, 188 btl.) – 88/100
Arran 12 yo 1998 ‘The Westie’ (46%, OB 2011, 6000 btl.) – 84/100
Arran Machrie Moor (46%, OB 2011, 9000 btl.) – 70/100
Arran 14 yo (46%, OB 2010) – 85/100
Arran 1998 (56,5%, OB 2008, bourbon cask #700, 223 btl.) – 84/100
Arran 12 yo (40%, Master of Malt 2008) – 86/100
Master of Malt – online whisky retailer with independent whisky bottlings
Arran 8yo ‘Pomerol finish’ (50%, OB 2009, bordeaux wine cask, 9420 btl.) – 65/100
Arran Peacock 12yo 1996 (46%, OB 2009, 6000 btl.) – 85/100
This year’s whisky festival in Gent was a success. There was definitely a lot more people than last year, which was not always a good thing. It was hard to reach the stands and there was not always the opportunity to get into details with the people behind the desk.
The whiskies were interesting. Let’s list some of the things I’ve tasted. No actual tasting notes, the situation is just not ideal. Sorry for having some incomplete references.
Amrut Single Cask (46%, Blackadder 2008, ref. BA 2/2008, 279 btl.)
This one must be a sister cask of the one that won a gold medal in the “non-plus-ultra daily drams” category of the 2008 Malt Maniacs Awards (ref. 1/2008). Very good, huge fruitiness (peach, oranges, pineapple) with vanilla. Rather weak attack but quickly regains its strength, with a long finish. Quite complex, very balanced and nicely ‘different’ in style.
BenRiach 20y (43%, OB 2008)
BenRiach 20y (43%, OB 2008)Fresh and fruity. Vanilla. Some ‘dirty’ notes as well, hints of smoke and cow stable. Good Speyside whisky. I would like to taste this again some day, it looked like I didn’t get the full complexity. At € 65, excellent value for money.
BenRiach 13y Maderensis Fumosus
(46%, OB 2008, Madeira finish)
Heavily peated, but the sweet wine finish works well here and adds some fruity notes. Citrus flavours, coal, some salty liquorice. Smokey finish with hints of sweet candy. Nice, could be an interesting replacement for my bottle of BenRiach Arumaticus Fumosus which is almost empty.