Hang those stockings with care, people! Adorn that tannenbaum! Fire up that minora! Light those kinaras! Unsheath that Festivus Pole! Break out the lutefisk, the tangyuan, the latkes, the roast beast, the bûche de Noël, the vánoční rybí polévka, the Dundee cake, and the pasteles de hojas. Pour the gløgg, the cola de mono, the jiuniang, the ponche, and the whisk(e)y! … Continue reading Whisky-Related Stocking Stuffers for 2015
Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky (2015) – Review
"And every time I thought I'd got it made It seemed the taste was not so sweet" - Changes, Bowie. It seems that whenever a consumer product experiences a surge in popularity, as whisky has the last several years, there's always a few brands that decide to completely overhaul their product. I suppose it's an attempt to somehow cash … Continue reading Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky (2015) – Review
Whiskey On Ice 2016
Last April, Minneapolis played host to the first big whisk(e)y show held in the Twin Cities in a long time, if not ever. With its unique venue and diverse pour list, Whiskey On Ice's inaugural run was great success. Thankfully, the event is returning in April of 2016 with another afternoon full of golden liquid … Continue reading Whiskey On Ice 2016
Bent Anchor Irish-Style Poitín – Review
*Thanks to BC for the sample! Just for fun, let's get local and let's get weird for a moment. Here in Twin Cities, we have a great fish and chips/Irish pub food place called The Anchor Fish & Chips. We also have a fine place called Bent Brewstillery which, as you might guess, is a taproom, … Continue reading Bent Anchor Irish-Style Poitín – Review
2015 Whisky Jewbilee – Chicago
Remember those dashing, young-ish, arguably somewhat handsome gentlemen who started not only the Single Cask Nation whisky society, but the large-scale Whisky Jewbilee expos as well? Of course you do. Especially if you're on the East Coast where they've tended to ply most of their trade. For those of us in the Midwest, we've not … Continue reading 2015 Whisky Jewbilee – Chicago
The Exclusive Malts 1984 Invergordon 30 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. As the British Empire dwindled after World War II, England itself began to re-build and revive. By the 1950's, the country experienced a period of relatively intense prosperity. A welcome by-product of all this prosperity was an uptick in demand for whisky. … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1984 Invergordon 30 Year Old – Review
The Exclusive Malts Speyside 1991 23 Year Old – Review.
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Another expression from the Creative Whisky Company's Exclusive Malts range, this one is a 23 year old, presumably matured in an ex-bourbon barrel, and hails from an...unidentified Speyside distillery. Speyside is home to, shall we say, more than a few distilleries, making it … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts Speyside 1991 23 Year Old – Review.
SMWSA Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza – Fall 2015
The traveling road show of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America, The Whisky Extravaganza, has long been one of my favorite large-scale whisky shows. With their focused pour list in often relatively elegant venues, if you're a fan of Scotch whisky and one of these Extravaganzas is coming your way, I definitely recommend attending. To … Continue reading SMWSA Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza – Fall 2015
The Exclusive Malts 2007 Balmenach 8 Year Old, Port Pipe Matured – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Having not yet had the pleasure of visiting, I had no idea that Cairngorms National Park was the largest national park in the entire United Kingdom. By all accounts it's a fairly rugged region containing five of the UK's tallest mountains, the River … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 2007 Balmenach 8 Year Old, Port Pipe Matured – Review
The Exclusive Malts 1995 Highland 20 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. In the literature from the importers and other reviewers and sellers, I've seen this one listed as the 1995 "North Highland" 20 Year Old. As you can see below in the bottle shot, the label just says "Highland" and dispenses with all … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1995 Highland 20 Year Old – Review
THE CASKS 