Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 382: Auchentoshan 26 Year Old Darkness Master of Malt

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries something special. Darkness is a series from Master of Malt in which the whisky is finished for at least three months in small sherry octave casks. In their own words: ‘subtlety, poise and elegance have no place here.’ The small casks obviously mean there is a lot of contact between the spirit and the wood. Let me do the test with my favorite Lowlander that matured for no less than 26 years on a bourbon cask before hibernation some three months on the small sherry cask.

https://youtu.be/aVRuQfVfNZo

ralfy review 875 – Glengoyne 10yo @ 40%vol: (2021)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 381: Glasgow 1770 Release No 1 – Triple Distilled

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries one of the first releases from the The Glasgow Distillery Company. It was founded in 2014 and can be found about 1.5 kilometers to the west of the city center. It takes its name from the old Glasgow Distillery that was operational near Dundashill from 1770 until the early 20^th Century. While their single malt was maturing, they created cashflow by releasing sourced malts under the Prometheus banner as well as produce the Makar Gin, G52 Vodka, Banditti Club Rum and Malt Riot Blended Malt. But now their own Glasgow 1770 Single Malt is ready. The first release is triple distilled.

https://youtu.be/malPwVMK-Ug

https://youtu.be/lLCHVshU9n4

Finally got hold of one! The second public single malt release from the Ardnamurchan Distillery; a fine release at that.

A mixture of 50% unpeated and 50% peated barely, in a combination of ex-bourbon and Oloroso casks, this second release is a HUGE whisky in regards to its depth of flavour and its natural presentation. Seriously, for young whisky (sub seven years) – this is an incredible expression of the west coast of Scotland.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 380: Glentoshan 5 Year Old Pure Malt

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a golden oldie Glentoshan. What? Yup. This Pure Malt from the 1970s appeared as Glentoshan on the Italian market. Glen Grant was the most popular malt – and is still very popular – so then-owners of Auchentoshan decided to launch their triple distilled malt with ‘Glen’ in the name. It worked. Glentoshan sold very well. Some cases were recently discovered in an Italian basement and Mark was able to secure 6 bottles. But would it still be tasty? The screwcap was tight, the tax seal in perfect condition and the fill level was in the upper neck. Very well preserved, so Mark’s hopes are high.

https://youtu.be/QE_IKQax_Jc

ralfy review 874 Extras – BigCliveDotCom whisky tamper !

This weeks episode of the Good Dram Show https://youtu.be/rsr3Nfp4SgQ features Longrow.

ralfy review 874 – Laudale 12yo @46%vol: (Adelphi Glen Elgin)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 379: Big T 1960 vs 2000s

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, does a head-to-head. Big T is a blend with Tomatin as its fingerprint malt. Today Mark puts a release from the 1960s head-to-head with a recent release. It will not come as a surprise that they are very different.

https://youtu.be/zOkrNAJr1t0

https://youtu.be/k9lLfGd0NqY

Buffalo Trace is a product that is very close to my heart. Bourbon as a whole is, but Buffalo provides me with an extremely fond memory.

This whisky, this distillery, is drenched from head to toe in physical history and almost tells the story of Bourbon perfectly through most of its range.

Harrison Blanton, Albert Blanton, Edmund H. Taylor, George T. Stagg. Let alone the brands they now produce in William Larue Weller and Pappy Van Winkle. The worlds most awarded distillery, a distillery that made me excited about American whisky when I was just starting out, as indeed it should for you.

Now, cocktails are a decisive thing. I never used to make them at home, the magic of a well put together menu and a bartender working their magic on a house serve was a spectacle on a night out which is slowly coming back.

But as the popularity of the Old Fashioned continues to rise, and the Highball has its Spring and Summer revival. Cocktails at home should be easy and comfortable. Here we want to show you how easy and tasty they can be, I mean it’s me making them. If I can do it, so can you!