Signatory vintage Benrinnes 25 year old, refill bourbon. Port Charlotte BC07 12 year old, first-fill bourbon.
A slightly sulphury and vegetal Benrinnes, with notes of pear drops, rhubarb and custard, autumn leaves and dried apple. The PC has notes of oak smoked salmon, nori, mango, banana and fresh mint.
40yo Ardmore in refill hogsheads
A subtly smoky, salty, dark fruit and fresh herb filled Ardmore with @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com.
36yo Cragganmore in refill casks
A funky yet fantastic Cragganmore, I thoroughly enjoy this distillery. I poured a dram for myself and a friend then @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com immediately chipped in with ‘where is mine’.
Balmenach 27yo in Refill Casks Clynelish 20yo 200th Anniversary
More from the same distilleries with @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com. An oily Balmenach and a more tropical Clynelish.
Balmenach 26yo in Refill Casks Clynelish 21yo in Refill Casks
@whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com and I got very lucky with our mystery malts, now it’s time to try them.
Following on from @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com’s selection, there was no topping it for age statements so I have chosen what I believe to be some of the best whiskies in this collection.
Lindores The Casks of Lindores II Hazelburn 8yo Fresh Bourbon Bruichladdich Micro Provenance Single Pauillac Wine Cask #2157 10yo Living Souls Torabhaig 7yo bourbon cask
I set the theme of 12 and under for @distilling-wisdom.com for this evening and these were his first 4 choices. Young, lively, vibrant whiskies like these are a real treat. #whisky
Lagavulin 26 SMWS SM'OAK! (Laphroaig) 25
Nightcaps, have to save some energy for tomorrow! The Lagavulin is in the kill zone, it's been a great dram. The SM'OAK! is one of my favourites, hickory smoked BBQ ribs. Tomorrow's theme is over 30s which should be interesting! #whisky
Ending the evening strong with some familiar, yet impressive, drams. @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com over to you for the first drams tomorrow.
Myself and @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com starting with these four drams today. Starting with an old Glen Garioch back from when they ran lightly peated whisky, then Aldunie (teaspooned Kininvie), a single cask Speyburn and finally 23 year old Aberfeldy. My first time trying Kininvie.
Back home for the holidays, I haven’t tried this particular Lochlea before but I’m excited for it. The Glenrothes I tried at a whisky festival, I’m refreshing my memory of it with @whisky.vanjaarsveldt.com.
Not on this occasion, though there will be an opportunity to at a later date.
A beautiful distillery to visit, sat in the middle of its own farm and growing their own barley. A carefully crafted spirit, yet they have not been afraid to continue to work on it. I am excited to see how Lochlea develops and what releases they come out with next.
Finished a few bottles, both with some sentimental value. However, I found a gem of a bottle as well. This Clynelish will be sorely missed with its typical waxiness, honeycomb and some beautiful earthy notes. The Benriach is like smoky bacon and maple syrup a deliciously rich dram.
Working through some truly outstanding whiskies tonight. The first four are all single cask samples.
I started this years spirit of speyside festival by visiting the often overlooked Dailuaine. A fascinating distillery due to its versatility and quirkiness as a site. Producing multiple spirit styles depending on supply needs, yet all of them having great quality.
Some beautiful drams this evening. The Knockando spirit is exceptional and still holds through despite its time in sherry and the Macallan has a beautiful array of floral and fruity notes.
Only the Lagavulin is heavily peated. The Dalwhinnie is a medium level of peat but that’s only because of when it was made they don’t use peated malt anymore. Benrinnes is unpeated.
All wonderful in their own ways. The Dalwhinnie is one of the best I’ve had, sweet aromatic smoke, distinct notes of clove and nutmeg, fruit punch followed notes of cut grass and ash. The Benrinnes is full of liquorice, icing sugar and green apples, with a lingering earthiness.
I’ve uploaded a new post onto my blog about the intricacies of mashing in malt whisky. Check it out at distilling-wisdom.com
Comparing two major distilleries within Japan. These take very different approaches with the Hakushu showing off their fruity yet funky spirit with this release, whilst the Yamazaki plays with various cask types to create depth.
