ralfy review 1050 – Caol Ila 8yo @57.1%vol: (Wilson & Morgan)

Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream

This is unlike last week when I was able to wax-lyrical about a truly brilliant cask maturation. I’m afraid that this is the exact opposite.

From the mass PR send out for this bottle (never a good sign), through to my own naivety of thinking this could actually be a good product. A few years ago, I was able to get ahold of a sample of The Tale of Cake. That looked exciting, and it wasn’t. Another example of poor cask matured spirit in a fancy box.

Let’s start with the taste profile. Glenmorangie in ex-bourbon casks is one of the most solid foundations in Scottish whisky. So what went wrong with this? For me, this whole thing tastes so bitter. I’m so unsure how they’ve managed to concentrate such powerful bitter notes, with the smallest hint of pineapple. It’s such a two-dimensional flavour for nearly £80 a bottle. This thing contains one of the fruity, peachy, and coconut notes that the bottle, blurb, and box won’t stop talking about.

Now for the marketing side of it. ‘High vanillin and bourbon casks.’ Vanillin naturally occurs on American oak. The char levels will dictate how powerful those notes come through. Now, these casks could have higher concentrations of vanillin, but you can’t taste it anywhere on this whisky. This entire thing is the epitome of putting rhinestones on a turd. You do get a unique ice cream swirled punt at the bottom of the bottle. At this point I’m running out of any saving grace for this thing.

I spent £80 of my own money on this, and it’s just so upsetting. Is this a showing that Glenmorangie can’t even get the basics right now.

I’ve never seen such a poorer attempt at trying to flog some below par liquid as something that should be delicious, decadent, and indulgent in a glass situation. Instead, what we have is a palid, weak liquid, wrapped in a reused champagne style of box from one of LVMH’s other brands.

ralfy review 1051 Extras – Discounted options & Inflated options.

ralfy review 1051 – Tamnavulin red wine cask finish @40%vol:

Turntable Blending House With Alasdair Stevenson – The Unbottling

Adam finally gets to try the full lineup of Turntable’s excellent blended Scotch whiskies. Plus our local members can come and try them right now in store!

THE VIDEO

The Good Dram Show – Episode 571 ”Claxton’s Whisky’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at some new releases from Independent bottler Claxton’s. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 571 – Rummaging In Warehouse Number 1..! Filmed in The Revamped Study Nottingham

Featuring

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 8) Tobermory 2010 (13 year old) 50.5%

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 8) Mannochmore 1990 (34 year old) 44.7%

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 7) Speyside 1998 (25 year old) 53.8%

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 7) Tobermory (Ledaig) 2011 (12 year old) 53.2%

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 8) Caol Ila 2013 (10 year old) 58.3%

Claxton’s Warehouse Number 1 (Series 8) Campbeltown Blend 2016 (8 year old) 51.8%

www.claxtonsspirits.com

Bruichladdich 16YO Chateau D’yquem Cask

https://youtu.be/2F0QpiwM_iE

Where do I even begin with this.

A cask strength Bruichladdich, fully matured in an ex-Chateau D’yquem cask, and is something that even Bruichladdich themselves didn’t have much information on.

When I was first given this bottle I was convinced that it was peated. There was something earthy and smoked about it. After some time open, as well as a sample in the glass, that smokiness was put to bed. This is definitely unpeated Laddie stock.

Between the variety of sweet and savoury flavours you can attain from unpeated Bruichladdich distillate, then the insane push of Chateau D’yquem influence. This is one of the best things I’ve ever had the privilege of smelling.

It is expensive, let’s not skip around that. It’s £220 per bottle and is only available from one retailer that is linked HERE. But this is one of the most impressive unpeated Islay whiskies I’ve had, it is precisely what I want and in some cases demand from Bruichladdich.

SMWS Canada At The Strath 2024

Welcome to the Canadian branch of the world’s biggest and best whisky club!

THE VIDEO

ralfy review extras 1050 – Police Investigating Whisky Cask Investment Company.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 547: Caol Ila 2012 for Whivie’s 15^th Anniversary

On October 28, 2009, Mark’s website and blog were born. That’s 15 years ago, and it deserves a celebration! Those who know Mark a bit might guess that he long hesitated between an Auchentoshan and a Caol Ila, but when this cask crossed his path about half a year ago, the die was cast. Very pale, clean, and maritime, it captivated him from the very first sip. Limited to 100 bottles. Here’s to the next 15 years!