*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Unless you find yourself in a dark, fragrant whisky warehouse fairly often, standing in front of a barrel with a pipette in one hand and a nosing glass in the other, there are just a few bottled opportunities to taste whisky (or whiskey, for … Continue reading Blackadder Raw Cask 1998 Laphroaig 12 Year Old – Review
Islay
Blackadder Raw Cask 1996 Caol Ila 14 year old – Review
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. There is a tendency, and it may well be my own, to over-romanticize parts of the Scotch whisky world, especially the part called Islay. We've all seen those great pictures of the Laphroaig or Ardbeg distilleries, stark white against the inclement weather of the … Continue reading Blackadder Raw Cask 1996 Caol Ila 14 year old – Review
Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release – Review
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. So it seems that back in the good ol' days, if you consider the good ol' days to be right around 1600 A.D., there was a little dust-up between Clan MacDonald and Clan Maclean... Islay's answer to the Hatfields and McCoys, if you … Continue reading Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release – Review
Ardbeg Alligator – Review
Alligator... Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Superorder: Crocodylomorpha, Order: Crocodylia, Family: Alligatoridae, Subfamily: Alligatorinae, Genus: Alligator (all due taxonomic credit goes to François Marie Daudin). There are currently only two species of Alligator, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis) which is smaller and nearly extinct, but very adept at … Continue reading Ardbeg Alligator – Review
Chieftain’s 1998 Ardbeg 12 Year Old – Review
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. Ardbeg's recent history (thanks, Tim!) is a litany of ownership changes, dis-heartening shutterings, sporadic periods of production, and ultimately, it's re-emergence as one of the finest distilleries out there today. Thanks, I'm sure, to the financial clout of its parent company (Glenmorangie was sold … Continue reading Chieftain’s 1998 Ardbeg 12 Year Old – Review
Kilchoman Winter 2010 Release
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. "If you speak to older people on Islay who have worked in distilleries they will generally agree that the best whisky is made in cold weather . I would agree with that but preferably without going to the burst pipes stage." - John MacLellan, … Continue reading Kilchoman Winter 2010 Release
Kilchoman Single Cask Release, The Whisky Shop Edition – Review
I hate to gloat, especially since friends and family back in the Midwest received an early snow this past weekend, complete with power KO'ing fury and wet, slushy stuff that I'm sure made driving fun, but we've had an exceptional past several days here in San Francisco. Sunny, temps in the mid-70's, not much wind...in … Continue reading Kilchoman Single Cask Release, The Whisky Shop Edition – Review
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round III
Round III of notes from a recent Bruichladdich tasting: Bruichladdich 1989, 19 Year Old "Black Art" Right off the bat, let me mention that Black Art has perhaps the coolest packaging of any spirit I've come across. Granted, it's not very traditional as far as Scotch goes, nor does it do much to show off the … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round III
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round II
Round II of notes from a recent Bruichladdich tasting focuses on 3 uniquely finished expressions: Bruichladdich 16 Year Old, Cuvee E, Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes Cask Sauternes is Bordeaux's exceptional trademark sweet wine, and Chateau D'Yquem stands far enough above the others to earn the ranking of Premier Cru Supérieur. Sauternes is the best-known example … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round II
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round I
Bruichladdich is a relatively young distillery in many ways. Originally opening in 1881 it survived several moth-ballings and ownership changes until finally in late 2000, new owners, including the owners of the Murray McDavid independent line, took over and began the transformation of the distillery into one of the most innovative in the world. Today, … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round I
THE CASKS 