The Good Dram Show – Episode 614 ‘Blackadder’

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 614 – One Word… Legendary..! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Blackadder Raw Cask Chimera Blended Malt 61%
Blackadder Raw Cask Legendary Medium Toasted Fine Grain French Oak 59.2%
Blackadder Raw Cask Statement No12 Inchgower 1995 (20 year old) 57.6%
Blackadder Raw Cask Glentauchers 2012 (12 year old) 65.6%
Blackadder Raw Cask Smoking Islay Blended Malt 11 year old 59.5%
Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek Blended Islay 2012 (10 year old) 58.6%

https://blackadder.com

A Rarity Beyond Compare: Aberlour Unveils 50 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

11th November – Aberlour, the meticulously crafted Speyside single malt whisky, proudly unveils its first 50 Year Old whisky. This ultra-rare release, limited to just 20 bottles worldwide serves as a powerful testament to Aberlour’s unwavering commitment to unparalleled craftsmanship that has been honed over generations.  

The landmark, limited edition, 50 Year Old stands as a distinguished testament to five decades of patient maturation and the meticulous cask selection perfected by generations of Aberlour’s makers. It marks a pivotal moment in time, shaped by the careful guardianship of Aberlour’s Master Distiller, Graeme Cruickshank, and his team. 

The whisky itself presents a remarkable depth and complexity, inviting connoisseurs on a sensory journey. On the nose, it reveals a medley of soft fruits: ripe apricot, red apple and pear, accented by the fragrant sweetness of cantaloupe melon. These notes unfurl over a backdrop of toasted hazelnut, light meringue and marshmallow dipped in milk chocolate, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon bringing gentle warmth and a deeper whisper of toasted oak. The palate evolves into a symphony of sweet and tangy orange marmalade, intertwined with rich creamy vanilla fudge, followed by flavour notes of vanilla custard tart, their sweetness offset by the vibrancy of stem ginger soaked in syrup. It culminates in a finish that is both long and sweet, with a delicate hint of spice that lingers. 

Beyond the whisky, the commitment to exceptional craftsmanship extends to the presentation. Each decanter of the Aberlour 50 Year Old is housed within a stunning bespoke oak cabinet handmade by designer John Galvin, known for his award-winning contemporary work. Galvin draws inspiration from the very casks that nurtured this precious whisky for half a century. Meticulously constructed from twelve oak staves, each distinctive piece is a testament to time-honoured cooperage techniques, with its exterior carved to reflect the ridges and textures of natural bark, telling the story of the wood’s transformation.  

Adding to its heritage and collectability, each presentation case includes a unique milled granite plinth. This is hewn directly from the stone of the distillery’s historic, decommissioned warehouse, offering whisky collectors and appreciators an opportunity to own a piece of Aberlour history. 

Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour’s Master Distiller, says: “The Aberlour 50 Year Old is more than just a whisky; it’s a living legacy, a culmination of time, nature, and the unwavering dedication of our craftspeople. Each drop tells a story of five decades of careful nurturing, reflecting the unique character of our Speyside home and the deep expertise passed down through the distillery’s history. This is truly an expression for those who seek the exceptional and the storied.”  

The Aberlour 50 Year Old will be released on 11 November 2025 and will be available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange for £31,00. 

For more information about Aberlour and its distinguished portfolio, please visit www.aberlour.com or follow @aberlour on social media. 

Douglas Laing Scallywag Noir

ABV: 52.8% 70 cL

Booker’s Batch #4 – Phantom Pipes Batch!

There’s a story behind every batch of Booker’s® Bourbon and the last batch of 2025, Batch #4, the Phantom Pipes Batch, is no exception.

This one begins not with a barrel, but with a mystery: a maze of pipes discovered in the rafters of the Boston distillery that led…nowhere. Turns out, those “phantom pipes” were remnants of Booker Noe’s restless tinkering – an engineer’s playground born of determination, creativity, and a dash of good old-fashioned stubborn genius.

As Fred Noe recalls, “Dad was always connecting one thing to another, chasing the next great idea with whatever he had on hand.” Those pipes became a symbol of Booker’s way, not always the easy way, but the right way to make great bourbon.

That spirit of invention lives on in this batch. It’s bottled uncut and unfiltered at 126.4 proof after more than seven years in the rackhouses. It’s big, bold, and unmistakably Booker’s with rich vanilla on the nose, a full-bodied spice on the palate, and a long, lingering finish that reminds you why patience (and a little persistence) always pays off.

MSRP: $99.99 | Age: 7 years, 6 months, 15 days | Proof: 126.4

Booker’s “Phantom Pipes Batch” is made up of barrels from five different production dates. The youngest barrels in the batch are aged 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days at a proof of 126.4.

The breakdown is as follows:

• 22% came from the fourth floor of 7-story warehouse 3
• 11% came from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse 1
• 30% came from the sixth floor of 7-story warehouse G (Waterfill)
• 9% came from the third floor of 7-story warehouse O
• 28% came from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse 4

Johnnie Walker X Robert Wun
2026 Lunar New Year

Limited Edition Blue Label

70cl · 40% ABV

Lunar New Year 2026 celebrates the Year of the Horse, marking an exciting new collaboration between Johnnie Walker and renowned haute couturier Robert Wun. This year’s limited edition designs bring to life a bold, fashion-led interpretation of the Zodiac animal, symbolising progress, vitality, and a relentless drive to push boundaries. The Horse is a symbol of strength and forward momentum — perfectly echoing the spirit of Johnnie Walker.

£229.95

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Single Grain Whisky

Aged for 4 years in hand picked oak barrels,
our NEW Single Grain Canadian Whisky is here!

*While quantities last. Available online & in our Tasting Room

SHOP NOW

Our latest ‘Heresy’ small batch blended malt has landed. Batch 34: Smouldering Mojo is the first Society release of a peated Islay whisky matured in casks previously used for smoky, fruity mezcal. This mesmerising marriage of Mexican and Scottish flavours delivers salty, rugged, coastal elements and delightfully earthy and herbal tones. If sticky-sweet, smoky and tarry notes are your thing, then this whisky is for you. Want to know more about Mezcal? Our whisky quality manager, Julien Willems, has all the details in his latest feature, which you can read on our new Unfiltered website.

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

LEGACY DE FORGE TO AUCTION E.H. TAYLOR, JR. SINGLE BARREL, PROCEEDS BENEFIT WHITE OAK INITIATIVE

The auction supports White Oak Initiative’s mission of sustainable oak forest management and white oak regeneration

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 24, 2025) – Legacy de Forge, a new global e-commerce platform powered by BlockBar for purchasing some of the world’s most coveted bottles, today announces it will host an online auction offering the opportunity to purchase one rare barrel of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. The winning bidder will join the Sazerac Barrel Select team for a private barrel selection experience, with proceeds supporting the White Oak Initiative’s (WOI) vital work to protect and restore America’s white oak forests.

Founded in 2017, WOI was established as an advocacy group and catalyst for sustainable oak forest management, with a focus on white oak regeneration. This work is critical to the bourbon industry, as not only tradition, but federal law requires that bourbon be aged in new, charred oak barrels, with white oak being the most common. In support of this mission, Sazerac aims to honor bourbon’s heritage while helping safeguard its future by auctioning a single barrel of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. – a tribute to Taylor’s enduring legacy of integrity and innovation.

“Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr.’s pioneering vision continues to inspire and guide our industry today,” said Elizabeth Wise, Chair of the White Oak Initiative and Chief Global Government Affairs Officer for Sazerac. “Much like white oak saplings that grow straight and tall to eventually be transformed into bourbon barrels that add flavor and color to our uniquely American spirit, Taylor had foresight and purpose. Through this auction, we’re honoring Taylor’s standards for excellence while supporting the White Oak Initiative’s critical work to ensure bourbon’s future.”

The auction winner will receive:

• A private barrel selection experience at Buffalo Trace Distillery for the winner and seven guests;
• Personalized bottles from the selected Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. single barrel, along with the barrel itself;
• A VIP, behind-the-scenes tour of Buffalo Trace Distillery;
• A one-night stay in Stagg Lodge for the winner and seven guests, including a dinner with a private chef.

“The future of America’s bourbon industry is inseparable from the future of its white oak forests,” said Jason Meyer, Executive Director, White Oak Initiative. “This auction celebrates that connection and the shared commitment of partners like Sazerac to ensure white oak continues to thrive for generations to come.”

The auction began on November 21 at 10am ET. All bids must be received by 11:59pm ET on December 1. Bidding begins at $20,000, and those participating may bid as many times as they want. Those looking to participate in the auction must have a registered account on Legacy de Forge. To create an account and participate, please visit legacydeforge.com/release.

About the White Oak Initiative

Founded in 2017 by the University of Kentucky, the Dendrifund and the American Forest Foundation, the White Oak Initiative brings together industries, universities, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, private landowners, conservation organizations and trade associations that are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests as well as the economic, social and environmental benefits they provide. To learn more about the White Oak Initiative, visit whiteoakinitiative.org.

About Sazerac

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world.

Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.

Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Hawk’s Rock Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.

To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.

Craigellachie Distillery, located in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside region, is known for producing a bold and distinctive single malt whisky that stands apart from the region’s typically lighter style. Often described as a robust single malt, Craigellachie whiskies feature notes of tropical fruit, toasted malt, and a hint of sulphury depth, creating a complex and satisfying profile.

13 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

Was £54.95

Now £49.95

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17 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

Was £119.95

Now £99.95

ADD TO BASKET

19 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

£199.95

ADD TO BASKET

23 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

£299.95

ADD TO BASKET

View More Craigellachie

Our Final Whisky Releases Of 2025 Are Here

(Think of us as clever little elves)

Let us brighten up your dark nights, warm the cold evenings and excite your tastebuds. It’s our last whisky release of the year and it’s been worth waiting for. Islay, Speyside, somewhere in the Highlands, France, and the Gulf Stream are our inspirations. Each one was chosen because it offers something unique, something you will find hard to get elsewhere. Oh, and we’ve also got something new you might not have been expecting.

Bruichladdich

As independent bottlers occasionally we get the opportunity to purchase something special. Really special. This falls into that category. We’ve been sitting on it for a wee while now and it’s everything we dreamed it would be. In fact the only disappointment is there are only 140 bottles of it available. It’s a 22 year old from a single bourbon cask, filled on the 25 May 2003. We bottled it last month. We used a 20 micron filter instead of the usual finer ones so you can get the full cask experience. This isn’t one to miss.

Longmorn

Smooth is an overused word in whisky and one we normally try and avoid, but that’s not going to stop us using it to describe this rather wonderful 11 year old Longmorn 2014. We can’t think of a better adjective that helps conjure the taste of this smooth Speyside. We don’t get too much Longmorn and that’s a shame because we rather like it. It’s like Pierce Brosnan and Steve McQueen had a lovechild, it’s that smooth.

Ssshhh…

Can you keep a secret? We’re terrible at it, which is why we leave Easter Eggs (ask a teenager) on the label and description. Legally we’re not allowed to tell you which exciting distillery near Brora this 2011 cask strength comes from. But we can’t stop you guessing.

Mid Atlantic Twang

Do you know someone who went to live in America and developed a stupid accent after about half an hour there? Is there anything more annoying than a half British/half American accent? Well OK, there probably is, but for the purposes of this let’s agree it’s quite grating and we require compensated for having to put up with it. Well, for the first time, we might have something that’s half from here and half from there and is actually rather good. Some clever people in Invergordon decided to distil an authentic American bourbon in Scotland. The result is excellent, however as it wasn’t distilled in America it’s not a bourbon. Likewise, although it was expertly created in Scotland it’s not a whisky, pitched enzymes during fermentation are verboten. So it’s not a whisky and it’s not a bourbon, but it is really good. We’ve called it a High Rye Scottish Spirit and there are only 299 bottles of it available.

Liberte, Egalite, Brandy

Amongst an abundance of exceptional whisky a man in a beret is valiantly raising a tri-color, with an obedient poodle by his side. It would be a crime to overlook a 31 year old vintage French brandy and yet many people do. We are so fortunate to be able to bring this to you. This is the best of French distilling, more impressive than 100 men in lycra cycling round France while taking performance enhancing drugs. No performance enhancement was required for this, it’s cask strength and natural coloured.

…Now For something Completely Different

A big part of what we love about what we do is finding those hidden gems, the spirits that don’t conform, that have aged differently, trodden their own path. Yet we’ve always recognised that arguably the greatest challenge every blender faces is consistency. Creating a spirit that is not only great but consistently great, every barrel matching the one before. A wee while ago we decided we wanted to put our skills to the fore too. So we’re proud to introduce you to our first ever core expression – The Little Brown Dog Aberdeenshire 12 Year Old Single Malt.

As sometimes happens in life not everything went to plan. While we’re delighted with the whisky, it’s exactly what we were aiming for and we’re really excited to hear what you think of it, the labels weren’t going to arrive in time for us to launch this year.

Soooooo…. we’ve made some temporary labels and bottles until the real ones are ready. The whisky is excellent, the label, well, maybe it’ll be a collector’s item one day. Maybe.

As a gesture of goodwill if you purchase a bottle we’ll give you a £5 off another bottle with the correct label on it when we get them next year. We’re really getting the hang of this capitalism lark.