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

ralfy review 1082 Extras – The REAL history of hoochers.

ralfy review 1082 – Loch Lomond 14yo @ 46%vol:

The Good Dram Show – Episode 596 ‘Woodrow’s of Edinburgh & Curious Whiskies’

Episode 596 – A Curious Woodrow Episode of the Show!

Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Warehouse Blend (Batch 2) 50%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Glen Elgin 2009 (15 year old) 63.6%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Arran 1997 (28 year old) 57.8%
www.woodrowswhisky.com

Curious Whiskies Jura 2009 (15 year old) 46%
Curious Whiskies Craigellachie 2009 (15 year old) 46%
Curious Whiskies Dirt Turf Blended Islay Malt Scotch 46%
www.curiouswhiskies.com

Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, 40%

THE REVIEW

Where do you start with Macallan 12 Year Old? A foundation product of epic proportions that is responsible for getting so many of us into the whisky game. That’s still valid for new and experienced whisky drinkers, however, these days, things are much more expensive, and much more…corporate.

Given the price tag for this bottle across the world and how it’s still in such huge demand, why is this? Anyone who spends any time at all in the whisky space is exposed to Glenallachie, Glendronach, Edradour, Speyburn, and countless other single malt whiskies that lead you down this sherried path.

So given the current state of the worlds finances, why is Macallan 12 still outselling most of its counterparts when it comes to cases across the planet? The release of very premium, NAS art statement bottles, the constant partnering with high level brands like Bentley, the need to be the brand at that level of luxury – but why should a consumer in the modern world really care about that? Especially given the amount of independent and other large conglomerate whiskies that are as good but cheaper.

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ralfy review 1081 Extras – Not All Vintage whisky is good.

ralfy review 1081 – A ‘liqueur’ scotch whisky @43%vol: (Auction Vintage)