*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the samples. Though Glen Keith is a relatively young distillery, its shortish history is peppered with curiosities. Founded by Seagrams on the site of an old grain mill in 1957, the distillery not only produced whisky, but also functioned as something of a research lab. … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1996 Glen Keith 19 Year Old – Review
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Westland Peated American Single Malt Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Westland Distillery for the sample. Conventional whisky wisdom says that peat as a flavor is at its most pungent when a whisky is young, let's say under 12 years. Once a malt starts edging up into those delightful late teens, things begin to balance out and that once dominating peat starts to … Continue reading Westland Peated American Single Malt Whiskey – Review
The Exclusive Malts 1997 Deanston 17 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the samples. Deanston is one of those relatively rare single malts that is more or less widely available, yet oft-overlooked. They don't have a large core range, and they don't trot out tiresome, expensive, heavily marketed special releases a couple of times a year. … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1997 Deanston 17 Year Old – Review
Westland American Single Malt Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Westland Distillery for the sample. Seattle's Westland Distillery is something of a rarity in the American Craft Distilling scene. A great many small, new distilleries are excited about the prospect of making a whiskey, but the time and financial patience needed to see that whiskey come to fruition also means that more … Continue reading Westland American Single Malt Whiskey – Review
Head-to Head! Two Young Laphroaigs From The Exclusive Malts
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the samples. My incompetence and negligence has afforded me an interesting opportunity to taste two very similar single malts side by side. Towards the end of 2013, The Exclusive Malts released to the US market an 8 year old Laphroaig, distilled in 2005. I received a … Continue reading Head-to Head! Two Young Laphroaigs From The Exclusive Malts
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.
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
Usquaebach Reserve Premium Blended Scotch Whisky – Review
Sincere thanks to JA and Usquaebach for the sample. In my previous post about Usquaebach's Old Rare Blend, I forgot to mention a curious historical tidbit the brand highlights on their website. According to Usquaebach, the Old Rare blend was served at two U.S. presidential inaugural dinners - Nixon's first in 1969 and George Bush … Continue reading Usquaebach Reserve Premium Blended Scotch Whisky – Review
Usquaebach Old Rare Blended Scotch Whisky – Review
Sincere thanks to JA and Usquaebach for the sample. Obviously, the most striking thing about Usquaebach's Old Rare Blended Scotch Whisky is the ceramic flagon that the whisky is sold in. One sees quite a few glass bottles on liquor store shelves, but flagons...not so much. The word "flagon", of course, is derived from the 15th century Middle French … Continue reading Usquaebach Old Rare Blended Scotch Whisky – Review
THE CASKS 