Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 543: Trip to Speyside 2024 – part 1 of 4

In September 2024, Mark organized a trip to Speyside for 13 like-minded whisky aficionados. In a short 4-part series of Ramblings, you can find out where they went and what they experienced. In this first part, you’ll find them visiting or stopping by Tomatin, The Cairn, Balmenach, Tormore, Cardhu, Tamdhu, Knockando and Craigellachie.

https://youtu.be/YwRsbTMotHc

ralfy review 1049 Extras – So, what happened at distilleries in the old days ?

The Good Dram Show – Episode 569 ‘Samples for the next Gauntleys Bottling’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at the samples that I received for consideration to be the next Gauntleys of Nottingham bottling.

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 569 – The 1880 Collection No4: The Contestants..!

Filmed in The Revamped Study Nottingham

 Featuring

Glen Elgin 2013 (currently 11 years old) 63.5%

Glen Elgin 2011 (currently 13 years old) 57.4%

Linkwood 2012 (currently 12 year old) 58.3%

Ardmore 2016 (currently 7 years old) 61.5% 

https://youtu.be/187T8bf_sbU

Welcome to Octomore October!

We’re back in week two with Bruichladdich Octomore 15.2. Also peated to a level of 108.2 ppm and then bottled at 57.9% ABV. The 15.2 release is quite unusual for many reasons. Typically, this bottle range was only available through Travel Retail, so this is more of a first experience with one of the .2 releases. Another thing is the cask maturation on this liquid. We have primary ageing in second fill wine and bourbon casks, that alone would be very interesting. Then, we have a finishing process in first fill Cognac barrels.

Personally, I was quite disappointed by this release. I’m a fan of spirit driven whiskies, especially when they’re young and peated. But this does come across as a little acrid, almost vinegary, and just missing some building block from the start.

It’s a fun bottle of booze, but for the money you’d be better off buying the .1 release, or a few different bottles of heavily peated whisky from across Scotland.

ralfy review 1049 – A Historical Whisky Story.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 542: Nc’nean Huntress 2024 – Orchard Cobbler

The third release of the Huntress whisky by Nc’nean is called Orchard Cobbler, named after a fruit stew with some pastry on top. Lovely stuff, bottled at 48.5%, Mark tasted it at a wine domain in his neck of the woods. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/1cZy20cX5r4

ralfy review 1048 Extras – Energy Drinks and Single Malts.

ralfy review 1048  – Glenfarclas 15yo @46%vol: (2024)

The Good Dram Show – Episode 568 ‘October Round Up!’

Welcome to this week’s epsidoe of the show. In this episode I’ll be taking a look at a couple of Celebrity colaboratioss, those being Coachbuilt and Storyman along with a selection of releases from Teeling, Torabhaig, Stauning and Ardnahoe.

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 568 – The October Coincident, Celebs and Waffle ..!

Filmed in The Revamped Study Nottingham

Featuring

Coachbuilt Blended Scotch Whisky 46%

https://www.coachbuiltwhisky.com

Stauning Host 40%

https://stauningwhisky.com

Teeling Dark Porter Cask 46%

https://www.teelingwhiskey.com

Storyman Blended Scotch Whisky 46%

https://www.storymanwhisky.com

Ardnahoe Inaugural Release 5 year old 50%

https://ardnahoedistillery.com

Torabhaig Legacy Series: Chapter 3 ‘Cnoc Na Moine’ 46%

https://torabhaig.com

https://youtu.be/GP0vE10uKvI

Welcome to Octomore October!

Kicking things off this week with the new Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1 release. A five year old single malt, peated to a level of 108.2 ppm and then bottled at 59.1% ABV. Solely matured in first fill bourbon casks for a maximum sweet/smoky Octomore profile, it was quite the charmer and really did put across how different and special Octomore releases can be.

It’s admittedly been a while since I’ve tried or reviewed an Octomore release, but thanks to this handy little sample bottles, it makes everything a little cheaper! For the money, I still think that the 15.1 is a really good buy if you’re wanting that ‘Octomore thing’ that nobody else can seem to do in the peated whisky world.

Stay tuned over the next coming three weeks for two more Octomore reviews and something rather special and unique on week 4…see you soon!