*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the samples. The history of the Ben Nevis distillery is long, marginally interesting, and surprisingly international. It is certainly one of the older Scotch distilleries, having been founded in 1825 by a man named Long John McDonald. Not surprisingly, Long John McDonald is … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1996 Ben Nevis 17 Year Old – Review
Exclusive Malts
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
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 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 Exclusive Malts 1997 Ledaig 17 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. I'm not sure you could ever say that the pronunciation of Scotch Distillery place names was a hotly debated subject, especially for those non-Scots who are just looking for an easy way to correctly say something without breaking their jaw. Still, for every Dailuaine, Glen Garioch, and … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1997 Ledaig 17 Year Old – Review
The Exclusive Malts 2004 Tomatin 10 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. In the beginning of 2014, a great many red-blooded, whiskey-drinking Americans were saddened, incensed, and apparently betrayed somehow to find out that Japanese beverage giant Suntory, was buying Beam Inc. Such was the outrage that the quintessentially American Jim Beam brand was now … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 2004 Tomatin 10 Year Old – Review
The Exclusive Malts 2004 Speyside 10 Year Old Port Cask – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Port, or Porto, or if you want to get really fancy, Vinho do Porto, is Portugal's contribution to the world of fortified wine. Portuguese Port is produced solely in the north of the country, in the Douro valley. Along with Italy's Chianti, … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 2004 Speyside 10 Year Old Port Cask – Review
The Exclusive Malts’ The Exclusive Blend 1991 21 Years Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Alas, poor blended scotch! It's still pretty much the reason the Scotch industry exists in the first place, being responsible for nearly 90% of all Scotch whisky sold, and despite this boom in brown spirits, it still doesn't quite get the respect it … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts’ The Exclusive Blend 1991 21 Years Old – Review
The Exclusive Malts 2000 Craigellachie 12 Year Old
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Some Scotch distilleries seem to live more on the peripheries of whisky history than on the center of the stage. There are those that were not designed by the leading architect of the day, that spent as much time mothballed as they … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 2000 Craigellachie 12 Year Old
The Exclusive Malts 1991 Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to SF and the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. While watching the recent documentary on Los Angeles' Sound City, I almost passed out in shock when I realized that 1991 was 22 years ago. It's not that 22 years is such a long time, it's just that the 22 years in … Continue reading The Exclusive Malts 1991 Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old – Review
THE CASKS 