*Please note, this review is on the "old" version of Black Bottle. In late 2013, the brand was re-formulated. To me, as a descriptor, the word black conjures up all sorts of alluring, dark, rich, brooding, occasionally awesome, occasionally evil, occasionally both...stuff. Among far too many to list are: the Black Forest (the tree'd kind … Continue reading Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky – Review
Top Whisky-type stuff List of 2012…
Well, 2012 is pretty much in the books. According to some idiots the world was supposed to end on December 21st...if it did, no one told me about it, so here I am, trying to put together another year-end list at the last minute. It's been another fairly crazy year for me, and while whisky … Continue reading Top Whisky-type stuff List of 2012…
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2013 – Book Review
Wouldn't it be great if, once a year, there was a book released, an almanac let's say...damn near a gazetteer...hell, a yearbook, that took a look at the year that was in malt whisky and provided insightful commentary, facts and figures, and historical info and production data on every malt whisky distillery in the world? … Continue reading Malt Whisky Yearbook 2013 – Book Review
SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part III
*A sincere thank you to the good folks at the SMWSA for the sample. Part three of three taking a look at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America's 2012 Holiday Outturn. I saved my favorite of the five for last. I'm not sure about their title of this one, though, it struck me more … Continue reading SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part III
SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part II
*A sincere thank you to the good folks at the SMWSA for the samples. Here's part two of three taking a look at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America's 2012 Holiday Outturn. This time around, it's the two youngsters of the group, one I liked quite a bit, the other...not so much. SMWSA Cask … Continue reading SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part II
SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part I
*A sincere thank you to the good folks at the SMWSA for the samples. The excellent Scotch Malt Whisky Society needs no introduction, nor does their equally as excellent U.S. branch, fittingly called the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America (but if they do, please follow their links). I thought I'd forgo the lengthy chin-wagging … Continue reading SMWSA 2012 Holiday Outturn…Part I
The Arran Malt 14 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. The Isle of Arran's lone distillery, producing the appropriately named The Arran Malt is one of Scotland's newest distilleries. Founded in 1993 and producing spirit by 1995, Arran the distillery has combined traditional distilling practices, interesting limited edition bottlings outside of its core range, … Continue reading The Arran Malt 14 Year Old – Review
The Yamazaki SIngle Malt Whisky, Aged 18 Years – Review
There are times that I think the story of Suntory's Shinjiro Torii and Nikka's Masataka Taketsuru and his Scottish wife Rita would make for a great movie. Unfortunately, if Hollywood ever got their hands on it, Tom Cruise would probably force his way into one of the title roles and there'd be a lot of … Continue reading The Yamazaki SIngle Malt Whisky, Aged 18 Years – Review
Master of Malt 1982 Inchgower 29 Year Old – Review
Thanks to the excellent people at Master of Malt for the sample. As far as I can tell...or at least as far as my prerequisite 10 minutes of google-ing can tell me, the name Inchgower means "the goat's isle". The only mention I found of this was from a book entitled "Geographical Etymology: A Dictionary … Continue reading Master of Malt 1982 Inchgower 29 Year Old – Review
Whisky Related Stocking Stuffers, 2012 style
I hate to be busting out the Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving gets here, but what the hell, stores begin putting up Christmas stuff in, like, April now, so I don't feel too bad. Plus, I'd like to help you get a jump on your holiday shopping...mostly because I didn't get that many presents last year … Continue reading Whisky Related Stocking Stuffers, 2012 style
THE CASKS 