Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada July 2024 Outturn

THE VIDEO

Join Adam and Taryn as they once again introduces us to another epic set of SMWS releases at The Strath. Check out the SMWS page on The Strath’s webstore, where you can buy bottles and tickets to upcoming events – http://strathliquor.com/smws

ralfy review 1035 – Breath of the Highlands 12yo @52.7%vol: (Adelphi)

The SPEY Trilogia, 46% ABV

https://youtu.be/3QwHVryo5tA

I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t tried much from The SPEY distillery. Between chasing bourbon unicorns to open, strange Scotch bottles, indies, and all that stuff, this passed me by. But thankfully not anymore!

A combination of three of their own single malts, married together in a finish of first fill Tawny port, with that little bit of peat smoke ruminating throughout it. This is quite a bottle for the summer, and a refresher on the idea of port casks for me. I’ve rarely gotten on with them, besides rum casks, they’ve always been my ‘this never really works’ in the whisky world.

Anyway, this is a limited release of just 6,000 bottles, which for a distillery this small and under the radar is quite a small amount of anything.

Have you tried anything from SPEY before? Is there something I should pick up?

ralfy review 1034 Extras – The true value of Independent bottlers.

The Good Dram show is on hiatus during the redecoration of the set and will return in a few weeks.

In the interim please visit the site to catch up on previously published reviews

ralfy review 1034 – Glentauchers 14yo @50%vol: (Cadenhead)

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.