Category: Review

Review

[Review] The Half Century Blend 50-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky

This is my first 50-year-old whisky, breaking my previous oldest-whisky record by a solid decade. It’s a blended scotch, bottled by the appropriately-named Blended Whisky Company in 2017. I couldn’t find any info on the composition of this blend, but no matter. Let’s give it a try! Nose: Very mellow. Musty notes of old leather and old furniture. Some vanilla buttercream and that particular old-grain … Continue reading [Review] The Half Century Blend 50-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky

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Review

[Review] Imperial 19 1976 Signatory Vintage

Despite a relatively small sample size, Imperial has become one of my very favourite Speyside distilleries. It delivers the tropical and waxy goods regularly, and despite closing in 1998 it doesn’t (yet) have the same dead-distillery premium on it as many of the bigger names. This Signatory bottling from 1976 will be the oldest vintage Imperial I’ve ever tried. Colour: Straw. Nose: Sweet and fatty. … Continue reading [Review] Imperial 19 1976 Signatory Vintage

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Review

[Review] Talisker Surge

This is Talisker’s latest duty-free exclusive bottlings. It has a snazzy purple label, but it surpass the high bar set by Talisker 10? Nose: Strong, with some volatile character. Peppery peat – applewood-smoked BBQ, with that vinegary Carolina-style hot sauce. Green apples, lemon, and interestingly some strawberry. Slightly greenish-grassy. Palate: Light texture. Arrives with green apple, gooseberry, strawberry, and torched grass. Peppery and slightly acrid peat smoke … Continue reading [Review] Talisker Surge

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Review

[Review] Amrut Spectrum 004 (2021 Release)

This is the most recent batch of Amrut Spectrum, bottled in 2021. I’m extremely excited to try this whisky – Amrut is one of my favourite distilleries (without any “not located in Scotland” qualifier!), and the original Spectrum from 2015 remains one of my top whiskies of all time. Confusingly, both that release and this new one are numbered “004”, as are a number of … Continue reading [Review] Amrut Spectrum 004 (2021 Release)

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Review

[Review] Fettercairn 12, Fettercairn 16 2022, Fettercairn 18

The other night I finally got to try the line of official bottlings from the Fettercairn distillery. Up to now I had only tried independent bottlings, which are generally good and aren’t too hard to find. An East Highland distillery, Fettercairn has a particular tropical character that comes from cooling rings on top of the stills, as well as a characteristic earthy funk. I can’t … Continue reading [Review] Fettercairn 12, Fettercairn 16 2022, Fettercairn 18

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Review

[Review] Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Strength

So when I was in Chicago last year I missed out on grabbing a few American whiskies I had my eyes on in favour of some clearance deals at Binny’s, which in hindsight was probably a mistake. One of those whiskies was a Binny’s pick of Jack Daniels Barrel Strength Single Barrel, a whiskey that I’ve heard great things about even with the reputation Jack … Continue reading [Review] Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Strength

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Review

[Review] Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel 2014

Thanks to fellow TWS member TOModera for letting me try this one! Of the many bourbons I’ve tried and enjoyed over the past year, Wild Turkey has definitely been one that I can come back to. One, because its inexpensive compared to the Heaven Hills and Sazeracs of the world and, two, because those inexpensive products like the 101 Proof Bourbon and Rare Breed can … Continue reading [Review] Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel 2014

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Review

[Review] Knockdhu 9 Year 2010 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

Going back to an old review I did when this bottling hit the Alberta market back in April. It’s interesting to think back on now that Cadenhead’s has decided to replace the Small Batch series with their new “Cadenhead’s Original Collection,” which will all be bottled at 46% ABV, to whether or not this is a negative move or not towards enthusiasts. Personally I like … Continue reading [Review] Knockdhu 9 Year 2010 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

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Review

[Review] William Larue Weller 2016

This series of reviews comes from a tasting held by my friend Mark at his place (Editor’s Note: This was held back in December 2019 before the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic happened. It is still VERY not safe to do large-scale tastings yet but hopefully that changes by next Christmas!), big thanks to him for hosting and putting out some great whiskies and to the individuals … Continue reading [Review] William Larue Weller 2016

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Review

[Review] North Star Spirits Vega 22 Year Old Blended Malt

I recently purchased a few whiskies that a friend grabbed for me out West, two of which were split and one I kept for myself out of curiosity because it was a pretty good deal for a 22 year old blended malt at cask strength aged in what appears like sherry casks. It’s also a blend from a newer IB called North Star Spirits who … Continue reading [Review] North Star Spirits Vega 22 Year Old Blended Malt

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Review

[Review] Glen Scotia 8 Year Old (1980s-1990s Bottling)

So it’s coming closer and closer to a year since I’ve been to Campbeltown. And while most would crave to venture back to Springbank and Glengyle and Cadenhead’s, I really yearn to go back to Glen Scotia again because for what it is it was a great distillery experience with some very underrated whisky, especially the unpeated stuff. So with that being said, it’s time … Continue reading [Review] Glen Scotia 8 Year Old (1980s-1990s Bottling)

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