Glen Scotia 15YO

THE REVIEW

I feel like this video should come with a small warning. That warning is that I don’t believe that Springbank is the best Campbeltown whisky all of the time.  Glen Scotia has released such incredible whiskies over the years I’ve been drinking them, and even before when they came in highland cow-covered bottles.

A salty, sweet, spicy, tropical, oaky, incredible expression of this very unique area of Scotland and all of the wonderful things it has to offer.

Glen Scotia is always at the forefront of my mind when it comes to great standard releases, fun experiments, festival release bottles, all of the exciting things that whisky drinkers want, but products that are also available and pushing the ability for more and more people to get involved with whisky for Campbeltown.

ralfy review 1084 – Ardmore 15yo @53%vol: (Decadent Drams)

Decadent Drams was conceived of as our new ‘all encompassing’ brand. As a home for all our whiskies below a price point of roughly £350, and especially as the home for all our other spirits and drinks that we offer in our ever-expanding selection. It’s a series with playfulness at its heart, where we will take a completely fresh approach with the label design for each new release. The inspiration might be drawn from the flavour profile of the bottling, or perhaps something to do with the history or culture associated with a particular producer or distillery. We’re casting a wide net with a view to offering a diverse and high-quality series that is visually arresting, humourous, playful, mischievous and very fun.  

Decadent Drams is our most regular and diverse series, the one you’ll see most often from month to month. Over the months and years ahead, you’ll find it populated with all manner of amazing and delicious whiskies, spirits and drinks…  

The Malt Mark for review 1083.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 567: BenRiach 14 Year Old 2010 Berry Bros & Rudd for GOS

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, loves BenRiach. Recently, the Sales Development Director of independent bottler Berry Brothers & Rudd, Mike Harrison, was in the country. Mark was fortunate enough to meet him—and taste quite a few delicious things—at the excellent Bar Terroir in the heart of Ghent. But the day before, the born storyteller had given a tasting with Ruben Gos in Heers, the strong man behind the drinks’ shop GOS. And Ruben had even selected a barrel for the occasion to bottle for his shop. It became this BenRiach 2010 (thus from the Billy Walker era) which yielded 120 bottles at cask strength. More than half of those bottles were sold at the tasting. Mark considers himself lucky to have gotten one.

https://youtu.be/cZSB6SbDGQ8

Speyside (GL) Signatory 100 Proof Exceptional Cask 16 Years Aged – Whisky Folk Review

ralfy review 1083 – Glen Scotia Malt Fest: 2025 9yo @54.3%vol:

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 566: Balvenie 14 Year Old The Week of Peat

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a special Balvenie. Only one week per year does Balvenie (excuse me: The Balvenie) distill a whisky from smoked malt. The peat, by the way, comes from the Speyside. The idea came from Ian Millar, a former distillery manager, after he spent a week on Islay. David Stewart, the legendary master distiller who retired a few years ago, thought it was a great idea because he had tasted Balvenie from the 1940s and 1950s, which were produced with peated malt. He was eager to replicate that.

https://youtu.be/IJlYrjWthus

The Good Dram Show – Episode 597 ‘Isle Of Raasay’

THE VIDEO REVIEW

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at Rassay’s Oak Species Maturation Series tasating pack along with a new collaboration with the Arbikie distillery. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 597 – A U.S.P Doesn’t Have To Be All Marketing! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Isle of Raasay Oak Species Maturation Series: Quercus Humboldtil 2021 (4 year old) 50.7%

Isle of Raasay Oak Species Maturation Series: Quercus Petraea 2021 (4 year old) 50.7%

Isle of Raasay Oak Species Maturation Series: Quercus Robur 2021 (4 year old) 50.7%

Isle of Raasay Oak Species Maturation Series: Quercus Muehlenbergii 2021 (4 year old) 50.7%

Isle of Raasay ‘Made with Arbikie Barley 2025’ 50.2% raasaydistillery.com

Tomatin 14YO, 40%

I am ashamed to admit that I’ve never purchased a bottle of Tomatin single malt before. That might shock some and not others as there is so much choice in the world of whisky. This bottle was kindly sent to me form the folks at Tomatin due to its release in the US coming up quite soon. That aside, I am absolutely baffled by the amount of flavour that is kicking around in this bottle of whisky. It is easily one of the most complex and understated bottles of single malt whisky that I’ve ever tried. Layered with beeswax, honey, apricot, peach and dark chocolate. This bottle of Tomatin is something that has totally blown me away in regards to the flavour it has, and the way it delivers that flavour. This is outstanding and I apologise to Tomatin for not paying the brand as much attention as it clearly deserves.

THE REVIEW

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 565: Spey 18 Year Old

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries the Spey 18 Year Old. In early 2025, Mark took up a new role at ING, his employer since 2000. At the end of 2024, he said goodbye to a fantastic team he had worked with for over 3 years. During his farewell drink, he received this bottle as a gift. What a fantastic present! It had been a decade since Mark last tasted this. That was a 2014 bottling. This is a slightly more recent release, from 2015, and thus a 1997 vintage. By the way, the distillery is in the process of moving from its current location to Laggan, near the dam of the same name.

https://youtu.be/D95adw1CVkU