Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 329: Ardbeg BlaaacK

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, discovers the latest Ardbeg Feis Ile release. For Ardbeg Day 2020 the Islay distillery launched a sheep theme. Ardbeg claims to be very different from all other distilleries on the island and therefor calls itself the black sheep. Well, well, the boys and girls of the marketing department really earn their keep. Still, it is a very interesting release, as the malt got a finish on Pinot Noir wine casks from New Zealand. Next to this limited edition Ardbeg also released a Committee Only bottling with cream colored label and at cask strength. I’ll try the 46% release, readily available for us mere mortals.

https://youtu.be/6ixZSB86bi0

ralfy review 836 – Glenfarclas 25yo @ 43%vol:

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 328: Ardbeg 5 Year Old Wee Beastie

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, encounters a Wee Beastie. You have to admit it: Ardbeg has guts. For as long as Mark can remember the Ten was (and is!) the entry level malt – and a very good one too! An absolutely brilliant Ardbeg. And while they added the An Oa (a NAS release) to the core range only recently, it is now joined by one with an age statement… but a very young one, just 5 years. In traditional (is it?) Ardbeg Style, they gave it a resounding name: Wee Beastie. It’s a vatting of both bourbon and oloroso sherry casks and upon release it was priced between 35 and 45 EUR, but in some markets it was markedly more expensive.

https://youtu.be/0o66dQlV5Zo

https://youtu.be/4b7XbTG98Ac

Established in 1749, Justerini & Brooks got their foot in the door through wine trading, but who doesn’t love whisky? Creating their own in-house blend for the world, it gained fame through smart pricing and advertising during WW2, as well as after whilst also starring in multiple movies and television shows. This is a blend that is still wonderfully put together and affordable. Like peated whisky? You’ll dig this. Cheers!

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 327: Kilchoman Rum & Port

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, puts two Kilchoman on different cask types next to each other. The first is a rum-finished single cask for Belgium, which goes head-to-head with the Port Cask matured from 2014. Both are bottled at cask strength, but could not be more different, of course.

https://youtu.be/UQe_iJY5GKQ

ralfy review 835 Extras – Wee Beastie all sold out !

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 326: Kilchoman Triplets

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, puts three bourbon cask matured Kilchoman head-to-head. He makes no secret of the fact that this is how he loves Kilchoman, but is happily surprised by how different the casks taste. The triplets are the Machir Bay 10^th Anniversary release, the Original Cask Strength 2009 and a single cask from 2007 for Belgium, all at cask strength.

https://youtu.be/NswF3w13h4E

ralfy review 835 – Glencadam 21yo @ 46%vol

ralfy review 834 Extras – The art of adding water to whisky.

https://youtu.be/4elGzp33awQ

A foundation of whisky; to a certain degree, you could even call it a powerhouse product. Selling around two million cases per year as well as featuring in numerous songs, TV shows and films, Canadian Club is no slouch when it comes to reputation. Now, this isn’t a whisky that is setting ridiculous standards in the modern world, but given current circumstances, it’s a cheap and readily available option for when you don’t want to break your wallet in half. Cheers!