Funny story. Wait, not really. Funny. Maybe sad. I’m fascinated by different casks. I’m intrigued by anyone who is trying new and different things in life. Why? Because while I may not always agree with the mentality behind a business/individual who does something different, I can tip my hat (if I wore one) to them for attempting something different. Yes, sometimes the road less traveled… Continue reading Arranpocalypse (Part 1)
Talisker 25, 2017 Release, 45.8% ABV, £168 with shipping (UK auction) Nose: Prune juice, apple juice, apricot, honey, vanilla, sweet smoke, leather, old dusty books, sea air, and salt water. Taste: Salt and brine, more peat heavy on the palate vs the nose. There’s a musty oak-smoke element, and a really nice cherry chocolate liqueur/dark chocolate note. Finish: Long. Decent complexity. Chocolate and peat notes … Continue reading Talisker 25
Last whiskey reviewed in Ireland. Wanted to have more, but finally had to tap out. Hit my budget for the trip, ladies and gentlemen. And since I’m going out with a bang, and since we’re at the Bison Bar & B.B.Q., and since they were nice enough to give me a tour of their smoker in the kitchen (super cool!), I decided to do a… Continue reading Midleton Dair Ghaelach Tree 9
Still at The Palace Bar. Having my last dram before we go eat at a BBQ place that my wife and I would like to try. Don’t worry, they have whiskey too. Just not as much. And I’ve decided that for my last couple whiskies in Ireland, I need to go big before I go home. You know, that old saying that I didn’t just… Continue reading Midleton Single Pot Still Virgin Oak Cask 83785
My 2 cents on Non Age-statement (NAS) Scotch Whisky. I feel like this review is an appropriate time to weigh-in on the discussion. There is a lot of hate in the whisky community towards distilleries for not disclosing the age of their product. Some even flat out boycott purchasing a bottle without a number on the front. Being relatively new to the game, I just … Continue reading The great debate: Corryvreckan or Uigeadail?
Macallan 10 Years Old (Sherry), 40% ABV, £66 including shipping, (Review: Drinks by the Dram 3cl sample) Nose: Classic Macallan-like sherry, cherries, strawberry jam, raisins, plums, fudge, and chocolate. Taste: Everything I got from the nose was on the palate, with a little more chocolate, added oak, and spice. Finish: Medium length. Thoughts: I would be hard pressed to distinguish this from the current 12 … Continue reading Macallan 10 Years Old (Sherry)
My wife was searching for an old Dublin snack that sadly isn’t around anymore, Monster Claws, the potato crisp you eat off your hands like some sort of monster, presumably. We couldn’t find those, however we did find L. Mulligan Whiskey Shop. After going through their extensive (and fairly priced) whiskies, I noticed a whiskey by the name of Prizefight. I assumed it was American… Continue reading Prizefight Whiskey
Last review (from this trip) at Dingle Whiskey Bar. I’d go back if I could. Actually, if they want to fly me out, I’m down to do a bunch more reviews. Damn pesky ocean in the way. As I said before, the Teeling: The Revival series was created in celebration of being the first distillery to have launched in Dublin proper in 125 years. I… Continue reading Teeling 14: The Revival Vol. 3
I’m at The Palace Bar. Why did it take me so long to show up here? Geez, I’m bad at this vacation thing. You’d almost think I’ve been on too few of them. Oh well, first world problems. At the time of drinking this dram, I’m sitting in a Victorian pub that has every Midleton Rare year every made. The walls are high, and they… Continue reading Dunville’s Very Rare 10
This is the fourth and final category in our TWS Whisky Awards: Cask Strength Canadian Whiskies. In our previous three parts, we covered 1. under aged & non-whiskies; 2. Canadian Single Malts; and 3. Canadian Whiskies. There were only two bottles in this category, and you’ll find the notes and rankings below, along with a wrap-up of the series. Black Fox Spirits Wheat Spirit Cask Strength … Continue reading TWS Whisky Awards 2017: Cask Strength Canadian Whiskies & Wrap-up
In this, the third part of our TWS Whisky Awards, we look at some whiskies that fall within the more classical Canadian Whisky category. In Part 1, we looked at some under-aged spirits and non-whiskies, and in Part 2 we evaluated some Canadian Single Malts. Here are the bottles, descriptions, tasting notes and rankings of the five Canadian Whiskies we evaluated: Last Mountain 100% Wheat … Continue reading TWS Whisky Awards 2017: Canadian Whiskies
In the first annual TWS Whisky Awards, we evaluated four categories of Canadian whiskies and spirits. In Part 1, we looked at under-aged spirits and non-whiskies. In Part 2, we’re evaluating four Canadian Single Malts. Maison Sivó L’Essence du Single Malt – Franklin, QC This bottle from Sivó is an in-progress single malt made from Quebec malted barley, which undergoes a 4 day fermentation before … Continue reading TWS Whisky Awards 2017: Canadian Single Malts
Toronto Whisky Society 