https://youtu.be/wfOgpZ7byPw

Lochindaal.

A name that some of us may not know. A former distillery, lost to the intensity of the many whisky downfalls over the decades. A name that is now the property of Bruichladdich and something that I can’t wait to try more and more of.

As part of a private bottling, this particular whisky offers points of frustration and utter joy. The taste and the smells are incredible, literally some of the best I’ve ever had in my life, upto this point. It, in a way, has redefined what a peated whisky can be for me and that in itself is something very special.

But it is very limited, it’s probably sold out by this point, but it is soooooo good that I can only shout about it and bring a little more attention to this style of Bruichladdich. Lochindaal, along with a style of Laddie called Rhinns, seem to only be available for private cask purchase styles. Would it be good to see more of it in regular bottles? Yeah! Would flippers ruin it? Absolutely.

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show, in which I’ll be reviewing some of the spring 2022 releases from independent bottler James Eadie.

https://youtu.be/AmPbT0_JVKI

It’s English whisky time on this weeks episode of the show, so I’ll be taking a look at some bottlings form the spirit of Yorkshire distillery, White Peaks distillery and the Copper Rivet distillery.

https://youtu.be/tmLBagPCHXg

https://youtu.be/DfaoZcVKTt0

Hibiki, as a brand, has become unstoppable. Never before, in my era, have I seen a blended whisky fight for the top spot of ‘most sought-after whisky in the world’.

Now there are many factors to this:

– Well made whisky.

– An incredibly designed bottle.

– Stocks from two of the most sought-after whiskies in the world: Yamazaki & Hakushu.

– An award winning reputation of its own.

– No real marketing campaign at all…apart from a sole reference in Lost in Translation.

One could argue that with a bottle that pretty you don’t need a marketing campaign. It’s memorable enough already.

Established as a brand in 1989, outside of Irish whisky, no other product has seen sales growth like Hibiki. Growth which was so incredible that they discontinued their 12YO in 2015, then their 17YO in 2017 – rounding into 2020 with just a 21YO occasionally available, a 35YO rarely available and this, Japanese Harmony. A NAS Japanese blended whisky with huge appeal but with a varying price tag and dwindling availability of its own.

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ralfy review 922 – Extras – Seven reviews with mixed results.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 438: Supersonic 7 Year Old 2013 ‘Mach 2’ Blended Malt North Star Spirits

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries another release by North Star Spirits. His friend Manny came to visit not so long ago and brought Mark a bottle of this Supersonic ‘Mach 2’. Mark had tasted the Supersonic ‘Mach 4’ a few months earlier and thought it was fine, so he was looking forward to this one. The difference in ABV is considerable. This is 10% lower at 50% ABV. That’s not a punishment. It is also significantly lighter in color.

https://youtu.be/wdZHpNzDP-g

ralfy review 922 – Clynelish 14yo @ 46%vol: (2022)

https://youtu.be/bvT3ha44nJI

The world of blended malts is becoming bigger and more relevant to all kinds of whisky drinkers, and the key market leader of this style, in the UK anyway, is Monkey Shoulder. A combination of Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie single malts, all produced by The William Grants family on their sprawling spot in Speyside.

I’m asked about this whisky weekly, I see it posted everywhere on whisky social media groups, and it is on most bar menus as a neat serve or a good cocktail. However, after having tried it and assessed it…I don’t really get it.

The smell is pure Speyside, it’s toffee, lemon, apple and clean greenery. The finish has a nice malty creaminess with a slow build of spice. But the palate is pretty dissapointing. However, this bottle is less than £30, sometimes less than £25, so to be too harsh on it is beside the point. The key market is is raising is an important one and for that we must thank it.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 437: Ben Nevis 6 Year Old 2015 Adelphi

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a feisty Ben Nevis. His whisky buddy Manny brought a bottle with him on his last visit. It involved a very young Ben Nevis that spent barely 6 years on a very active 1st fill oloroso sherry butt. The cask still yielded 588 bottles after 6 years, at a devilishly high ABV of 62.2%.

https://youtu.be/DW3R-KDOqSc

ralfy review 921 – When packaging goes wrong.