Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 531: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a nice bourbon. Brief introduction: The Woodford Reserve Distillery is located in Versailles, Kentucky, on the spot where historians believe Elijah Pepper began distilling whiskey in 1812. This is where the sour mash was used for the first time. The distillery was first called Oscar Pepper Distillery (1838), then renamed Labrot & Graham Distillery and was sold in 1941 to Brown-Forman, who closed it in 1968 and sold it in 1971… but bought it all back in 1993 and launched Woodford Reserve in 1996. Since 2000, the building has been a National Historic Landmark. In the glass is the so-called Double Oak, where the bourbon was finished on a ‘New Heavily Toasted, Lightly Charred Barrel’ after a regular maturation.

https://youtu.be/4xwOKeBFs38

I WON A BOTTLE OF LONGROW!

Longrow 2024 Pinot Noir, 57.1%

Well, I entered a ballot and won the opportunity to buy it…and here it is!

The 2024 release of Longrow Red has been matured for four years in ex-bourbon casks, then transferred into single estate French Pinot Noir casks for three years.

Bottled at 57.1%, natural colour and non chill filtered, this is first cask strength Longrow that I’ll ever get to work with in a bottle. Seeing how it develops and opens over time. When it was first cracked it had no sweetness at all, thankfully it has gained some nice red fruit and caramel notes – with the smoke playing a rather subtle role further back on the palate.

Check the video out and tell me what you think about this years release. Is it better or the same, or worse as others?

Big thanks to Royal Mile Whiskies for putting on a ballot so I could get this!

Cheers!

ralfy review 1033 Extras – Learning from Experience.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Turntable Spirits, 59.1%

The folks at Turntable whiskies have done it again, this time naming their cask strength blend after one of my favourite songs, from one of my favourite bands. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger is bottled at 59.1% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered. But upon my first sip of this, I would never have believed it to be just over 59% ABV. The breakdown of ingredients will give you a look into how this thing glides across your pallet with the elegance and complexity of a Daft Punk mix.

26% 1st fill Oloroso Tamdhu.

21% 1st fill Bourbon Dalmunach.

18% 1st fill Bourbon Mannochmore.

22% 1st fill Bourbon Girvan.

13% Ex-marsala Girvan.

All of this culminates in a ridiculously easy drinking blend, at cask strength, that is laced with some of the peachiest, milk chocolate, nutty sherry driven style. This could be one of the best blended whiskies that I’ve ever had the privilege of trying.

ralfy review 1033 – Mortlach 11yo @48.2%vol: (Signatory)

Big Bad John’s Northern Promise Single Malt Batch 1 

The Unbottling

Adam and Andrew hang out in the legendary BBJ’s to show off the brand new collaboration between The Strath and Fermentorium Distillery. Discover the unique story behind this historic new release that’s been 70 years in the making.  Order your bottle right now!

PREORDER Big Bad John’s Northern Promise – Single Malt Batch 1

Turntable Spirits: One Way or Another Blended Whisky, 46%

One Way or Another Blended Whisky

I’m back again with some of the nicest blends I’ve ever been able to try from the folks at Turntable Spirits. One Way Or Another is a 46%, natural colour, non-chill filtered blend that comes in at 78% grain and 22% malt whiskies. Lathered in sweet salted caramel, banana, walnuts, some fresh lemon zest sprinkled – this stuff is a must-have for those of us with a sweet tooth.

The breakdown of contents goes as so:

30% 1st fill bourbon Strathclyde.

21% Ex-red wine Invergordon.

15% Ex-marsala Cameronbridge.

12% Ex-madeira Cameronbridge.

22% 1st fill bourbon Linkwood.

All of this stuff combined gives us a rich yet light approach to a blended whisky that is much more transparent than some of its rivals. With a generally nicer approach to naming, labelling, and sound.

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 560 – Sometimes Less Is Definitely More..!

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show, in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of bottlings form the Speyside Distillery. Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Speyside Distillery Trutina Cask Strength Batch 4 59.4%
Speyside Distillery ‘Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2024’ 15 year old Single Cask 46%
Speyside Distillery Limited Edition 18 year old 46%
Speyside Distillery Tenne Cask Strength Batch 2 58.36%
Speyside Distillery Trilogia Limited Edition 46%
Speyside Distillery Fumare Cask Strength Batch 3 57.5%

ralfy review 1031 – Glen Scotia Double Cask @46%vol: