Whisky Reviews

Caol Ila 10 Year Old “Unpeated Style” – Review

~ The Casks ~ 4 Comments

I don't think there's any doubt that Islay malts are the rock stars of the Scotch world at the moment. I mean, Auchentoshan's good stuff, but you don't see huge, frenzied leaps in web traffic when they put out a cleverly named NAS special release. Extremely over-sherried, or over-heathered bottlings are not exactly pouring out … Continue reading Caol Ila 10 Year Old “Unpeated Style” – Review

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey – Review

~ The Casks ~ 1 Comment

Apparently, big things are happening at the Kilbeggan Distillery. Owned today by the proudly independent Irish distiller Cooley, Kilbeggan claims to be the oldest distillery in the world, being founded and officially recognized back in 1757.  It functioned through a few ownership changes until failing sales forced its closure in 1957. Cooley resurrected the Kilbeggan … Continue reading Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey – Review

George Dickel Barrel Select Tennessee Whisky – Review

~ The Casks ~ 3 Comments

Okay, before any of the whisky grammar police start yammering at me for spelling Tennessee whisky without an "e", let me just point out that it was old George Dickel, himself, that wanted to spell it like that. He was trying to make the point that his whisky was as smooth as any Scotch whisky, … Continue reading George Dickel Barrel Select Tennessee Whisky – Review

Chieftain’s 1982 Port Ellen, 25 Year Old – Review

~ The Casks ~ 10 Comments

Dear Port Ellen, You probably don't remember me, we just met, and it was a pretty short meeting, but I remember you. I've heard about you from the other whisky bloggers, they all say you're something special. When I saw you from across the room, I couldn't take my eyes off you. I waited patiently … Continue reading Chieftain’s 1982 Port Ellen, 25 Year Old – Review

Bargain Bin Fridays #2 – Cluny Blended Scotch Whisky

~ The Casks ~ 14 Comments

Installment #2 of the utterly painful, foolhardy, and somewhat disheartening Bargain Bin Fridays brings us to the shores of Scotland to sample "a superior blend of the finest distilled Scotch whiskies aged in oak casks & specially selected for their superior quality and rich flavors". This is the heady mantle worn by Cluny Blended Scotch … Continue reading Bargain Bin Fridays #2 – Cluny Blended Scotch Whisky

The BenRiach 12 Year Old – Review

~ The Casks ~ 3 Comments

The histories of some distilleries read like juicy soap operas, others like business seminar success stories, and then there are those, like BenRiach's that are kind of quick reads, a little dull and mildly depressing until the end, when, just before you nod off into your nosing glass, you hear tell of rosy tidings for … Continue reading The BenRiach 12 Year Old – Review

Octomore 2.1 – Review

~ The Casks ~ 6 Comments

For good or for ill (mostly for ill) Americans have this sad, misguided little notion that bigger and/or more extreme is better , especially when it comes to food or pretend food products. There's a new line of "bold" Doritos out there that promises an artificially produced heat hitherto unknown in the natural food world. There … Continue reading Octomore 2.1 – Review

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review

~ The Casks ~ 2 Comments

It's hard to say if anyone has ever come to blows over the eternal question, "Are Bison Buffalo?". In 1997, at Cheyenne's annual Buffalo Days celebration, noted historical biologist Norman "The Helix" Bergstrom was hit from behind with half a plate of funnel cake after he loudly stated the probably accurate, though publicly unpopular aphorism … Continue reading Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review

Springbank 10 Year Old – Review

~ The Casks ~ 1 Comment

For the relatively uninitiated (like me), Campbeltown malts in general and Springbank in specific (which makes up most of the Campbeltown whiskies anyway, so...) hold a certain romantic appeal. They're like the bison (bison bison) of the whisky world, at one time so prevalent, traipsing their woolly bottles across the great plains of the Kintyre … Continue reading Springbank 10 Year Old – Review

Bargain Bin Friday!!! 75 South Blended Whiskey – Review

~ The Casks ~ 23 Comments

Boldly going where everyone else probably has the good sense not to go. I saw this bottle on the bottom shelf at Safeway not too long ago with a sale sticker reading "$5.99". Six dollars for a bottle of whiskey. One wonders if you could buy an empty glass bottle for that kind of money. … Continue reading Bargain Bin Friday!!! 75 South Blended Whiskey – Review