Building your own whisky library

We all know the feeling: We’ve gone down to the dregs of a great bottle of malt and we wish we could preserve it. Well, why don’t we? It’s actually really simple to do so and there are two ways:

1: Some people always buy three bottles (or more). One to drink, one to keep and one to swap. This is the best case scenario but obviously doesn’t work for everyone given the massive investment, money-wise and in storage space required.

2: Just decant some into sample bottles and build your own archive.

Let’s explore the possibilities of option number two a little further: Continue reading “Building your own whisky library”

January 6, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Speyside 1995 18y by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Speyside
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 18
Limitation: 738 bottles
Casks: 1 Sherry butt & 1 hogshead
Alcohol: 62,8%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Red gold / light amber
The nose is… overwhelming at first. Yes, the alcohol is definitely noticeable. Sweet cough lozenges, caramellised ginger sticks, orange oil, rubber, wood spices and dark fruit puree in the background. Continue reading “Tasting: Speyside 1995 18y by Cadenhead’s”

December 31, 2014October 7, 2016

2014 in review, my personal awards and what’s coming in 2015

A look back on 2014

With the sound of (early) fireworks outside I’m sitting down with a wee dram to recap the year 2014. What a great year it’s been! It was the first year of writing my own whisky blog and the response from you guys has been overwhelming! Thanks to everyone who commented on facebook or twitter and thanks for the great conversations and laughs we shared along the way!

In the past year I’ve managed to publish 38 thorough tasting notes on my blog. Actually, they’re more than just tasting notes, they’re in-depth whisky reviews, but I like the sound of the term tasting notes much more. I’ve also managed to write a few articles and travel blog entries. I’ll admit, I planned to do much more articles (and tasting notes), but there’s only so much time, too many other hobbies and activities taking up the time. But I already have plans to focus more on my whisky blog and the article side of things next year. But more on that later on. Continue reading “2014 in review, my personal awards and what’s coming in 2015”

December 24, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Littlemill 1989 24y by Archives

Dram data:
Distillery: Littlemill
Bottler: Archives
Distilled: 10.1989
Bottled: 02.2014
Age: 24 years
Limitation: 178 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead #42
Alcohol: 53%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: pale gold.
The nose is alive and kicking, it doesn’t seem like a 24-year-old dram at the first glance. Definitely not a first-fill cask, which emphasises the distillery’s character. A wee bit spirity, freshly mown grass, hay, clove, white pepper, real bourbon vanilla pods, hints of citrus, apples, malt and a slightly dusty note in the background. Continue reading “Tasting: Littlemill 1989 24y by Archives”

December 23, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Ardmore Traditional Cask

Dram data:
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2011-ish
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: Quarter Cask Finish
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Gold. Not too unnatural looking, I guess this is a case of using E150 to create batches consistent in colour.
Ah yes, this is a peated malt indeed. The nose immediately gives it away. Not too much smoke and not too little. I’d put this at Longrow ppm levels. Mainland peat too, it’s more of the bonfire than the iodine, phenolic Islay style. But what else is there besides the peat smoke? Continue reading “Tasting: Ardmore Traditional Cask”

December 22, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss Peat Chimney 12y

Dram data:

Distilleries: undisclosed
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 06.07.2011
Age: 12 years
Limitation: unknown
Price at the time of purchasing: ca. 35€
Cask: –
Alcohol: 40%
Chill filtered / Coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: The usual artificial amber from too much E150(a).
On the nose it is smoky, all right. That’s the first impression I get. What kind of smoke? I’m guessing Islay by the hints of phenols and iodine. However before I really get to nose it, the smoke has already disappeared into the background, mingling with sweeter notes lying underneath. Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Peat Chimney 12y”

December 13, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Laphroaig Select

Dram data:
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 28€
Casks: multiple (quarter, PX, European – fresh American oak finish)
Alcohol: 40%
Chill filtered, probably uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: pale gold.
The nose screams “Islay” long before the glass has even reached your nostrils. The distinctive peat smoke immediately hits you once the cork is off the bottle. Let’s get a bit closer to the nose then. It’s Laphroaig, all right, all the necessary components are there: The signature iodine smoke, brine, salt, clams, seaweed. Continue reading “Tasting: Laphroaig Select”

December 9, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Mortlach 1988 25y by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Mortlach
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1988
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 25
Limitation: 576 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Sherry Cask
Alcohol: 56,8%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: golden amber
The nose immediately emits lots and lots of dark, mysterious, moody character. I don’t usually visually depict a malt, but this is an old, wise, yet loving and caring old man sitting in his leather armchair. Weird how our sense of smell can bring up these kinds of visual images. Continue reading “Tasting: Mortlach 1988 25y by Cadenhead’s”

December 2, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glengoyne 1996 18y Rum Cask Finish by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Glengoyne
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1996
Bottled: October 2014
Age: 18
Limitation: 210 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Rum Cask finish since 2007
Alcohol: 54,6%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: pale straw.
The nose is very light and a wee bit perfumey on first contact. 18 years in wood, they say? Must have been some rather weak casks. Glengoyne spirit is light in character, but this is even lighter. Continue reading “Tasting: Glengoyne 1996 18y Rum Cask Finish by Cadenhead’s”

November 27, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glendronach 18 Allardice

Dram data:
Distillery: Glendronach
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 27.11.2012 (LF11329)
Age: 18
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 68€
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: deep cherry red.
The nose on this dram speaks volumes. Sherry, sherry, sherry. Am I drinking Oloroso or is this a malt? Pure Oloroso goodness. If you don’t like in-your-face sherried drams, stop reading right here. Continue reading “Tasting: Glendronach 18 Allardice”