ralfy review 1118 – Glen Scotia 12yo @46%vol: (blue label)

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a special Johnnie Walker Black Label. We all know Johnnie Walker, and the Black Label remains one of the world’s best-selling blends. In recent years, quite a few variants of this popular whisky have appeared on the market. One of these is the Triple Cask Edition, which—true to its name—is a vatting of their whisky matured in three different types of casks: bourbon, sherry, and… rum!

https://youtu.be/bD3CXnm7vyI

Redbreast Moscatel Finish, 46%

THE VIDEO

The Iberian Series from Redbreast has been one that has seemingly showed off the beauty and complexity of NAS whiskies. So many time when I worked in whisky retail, people would come in with screenshots of different releases, wanting to source a few bottles of them.

This is the Moscatel cask finish. Moscatel wine seasoned casks from Bodegas Quintapenas that were used in the final six months of the liquids maturation. Prior to that, there is a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks maturing this classic Midleton spirit.

The thing that baffled me the most was how lime-driven this whiskey is. Lime is such an unusual thing for me to come across in whiskey, but there’s been such a run of Irish releases recently that ladened with that aroma. Above this powerful citrus note is toffee, hazelnuts, macadamia, fresh butter and dark chocolate – classic notes and aromas from the wonderful world of Redbreast. A really nice expression that takes the classic brand into a slightly different light. Personally, this would be an incredible regular addition to the range.

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The Good Dram Show – Episode 625 ‘Another Viewers Choice!’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. It’s yet another viewers choice episode, with the samples kindly sent by Ian Sunderland. A big thanks for those. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 625 – Dr Sunderland… I Presume..! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Glenglassaugh ‘The Family Silver’ 1973 (25 year old) 40%
www.glenglassaugh.com

Lombard Jewels of Scotland Glen Keith 1985 (30 year old) 41.9%
www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/lo

Springbank Hazelburn 10 year old 46%
Springbank 10 year old ‘Open Day 2024’ 57.1%
www.springbank.scot

Highland Park ‘Single Cask Series’ 2005 (14 year old) 57.8%
www.highlandparkwhisky.com

Cadenhead’s Enigma 2008 (15 year old) Blended Campbeltown Malt 48.2%
www.cadenhead.scot

Filmed & Edited by Chris Goodrum

ralfy review 1117 Extras – The alcohol risk that waits for us all !

ralfy review 1117 – Isle Of Arran 10yo @50%vol: (Optic Local Barley)

Johnnie Walker Red Label 1985 vs 2025

THE VIDEO REVIEW

Johnnie Walker Red Label, a bottle that has crossed all of our eye lines at some point. 

Today we’ll be comparing a 1985 bottling versus a modern day bottling of the blend. What could the differences be? Are older whiskies actually better? Time to find out.

The expression was first released in 1906 under the name ‘Walker’s Special Old Highland’. The expression ran alongside a whisky with a white label and one with a black label. As the whiskies were commonly referred to by the colour of their labels, Johnnie Walker decided to implement a rebrand. As such, in 1909, ‘Walker’s Special Old Highland’ was renamed ‘Red Label’. The iconic Striding Man logo was introduced in the same year.

Johnnie Walker Red Label has been the top-selling blended scotch whisky in the world since 1945, even during the period between 1977 and 1983 when the expression was absent from the UK domestic market.

This whisky can contain up to 35 separate whiskies from both malt and grain distilleries, as well as the 1985 bottling no doubt containing some Paxarette, while the modern bottling definitely has E150A caramel colouring. Comparing them both side by side is quite interesting purely based on colour. The ’85 is a little lighter, but the closeness in colour is still quite a marvel.

ralfy review 1116 Extras – The education of ‘slow sipping’.

ralfy review 1116 – GlenWyvis ‘The Drover’ @ 46.5%vol:

ralfy review 1115 Extras – Our experience sees changes in brands over time. (like Bowmore 😐)