Ledaig 10 Cask Strength

THE REVIEW

What happens when you make an already great bottle of whisky even better? Well, you get a cask strength Ledaig 10!

We’ve all been waiting for so long for an official release of this stunning bottle of whisky from the Isle of Mull, and it’s everything you could want from it. It is a explosive, smoky, medicinal, layered, sweet, citrusy, over-the-top flavour bomb that drops definition and style in every sip.

When I first opened this bottle I was a little worried as it was a little quiet. Happy to report that it is know the equivalent of driving a convertible car through a hail storm whilst having a fist fight with some sort of Scottish peat demon that wants to incapacitate you.

That sound good enough?

(ledaig/tobermory)

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 575: Scotland 2025 – 6 of 6 – Uile-Bheist Distillery

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, travels to Scotland. This is part 6 of a 6-part series about his trip to Scotland this year. He has arrived in Inverness for his last day. But he won’t leave without first visiting the new Uile-Bheist Distillery in the heart of this city. After an unexpected extra treat—a Classic Vehicle Show in the center of Inverness—he enjoys a final dram at Fort George. What an incredible journey it has been in sun-soaked Scotland. Next year, they’ll be back! Enjoy the beautiful scenery.

https://youtu.be/Y5tFRKrqSeA

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 574: Scotland 2025 – 5 of 6 – Ben Nevis, Dalwhinnie & Tomatin

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, travels to Scotland. This is part 5 of a 6-part series about his trip to Scotland this year. In this video, he takes the ferry from Skye to the mainland and passes by the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous from the Harry Potter films. Then he heads towards Fort William, where he visits the Ben Nevis distillery. He continues his journey to the Dalwhinnie distillery, passes by the Centre of Scotland Stone, and on the way to Inverness, he makes a brief stop at the Tomatin distillery. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.

https://youtu.be/89gUi1E0P9U

Johnnie Walker Black Label, 40%

THE REVIEW

In the world of massive brand deals and the still premiumisation of Scotch whisky, here we have a constant that hasn’t changed much in the space of the whisky industry. A combination of so many different flavours from across all of Scotland, malts and grains, aged for a minimum of twelve years and blended to create this multitude of balance, style, and timelessness.

As you can tell, Black Label is a favourite of mine. The story of how this whisky hooked me is an important one and is included in this video, but please do share your stories with me, even if they don’t include Black Label in any way.

This bottle has the history to put many other brands to bed, and indeed without this bottle, the Scottish whisky industry, along with many others wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful or important as it currently is.

(johnniewalker)

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 573: Scotland 2025 – 4 of 6 – Talisker The Wild Blue

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, travels to Scotland. This is part 4 of a 6-part series about his trip to Scotland this year. In this video, he tastes the new Talisker The Wild Blue at the distillery in Carbost and then heads to another distillery on the Sleat Peninsula: Torabhaig. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.

https://youtu.be/-IHhfTeTHWA

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Balvenie 12YO Double Wood, 40%

THE REVIEW

A brand that still sits on the lips of so many people, but is it still for all of the right reasons?

Balvenie, in my opinion, has had its modern reputation built on its ease of drinking and an affordable price tag. The first point is certainly questioned in this video as I feel I’ve been disappointed on two separate occasions by batches of this particular product. The second point is that this is now getting to that £50 a bottle price tag in the UK. For that money, so many other approachable and more complex offerings of whisky are available.

This isn’t meant to be a rant at Balvenie, but I think this brand has been in the sliding doors situation in whisky, where some brands have driven into the high value category, whereas others have stayed in the good value area.

I’ve worked in specialist whisky retail for a decade, and since the price increases in the Balvenie range came in, even before, I wasn’t seeing people rush to buy bottles off any of the shelves, top or not. Although Balvenie 21YO remains popular, in the same vein as Glenmorangie Signet, for reasons that go beyond my understanding.

That did turn into a Balvenie rant, didn’t it? Anyway, let me know your views on what is happening with Balvenie. If your opinion mirrors mine, what can they do to get back in the good books? If it doesn’t what do you love about this distillery?