North Port/Brechin 1970 G&M, 40%

Closed distilleries still carry a mystique for a lot of us whisky drinkers, but some are better than others. Some are more interesting historically. Some are lauded in the correct manner, but where’s does North Port sit in all of this?

A Highland distillery that once shadowed Glencadam and the owner of numerous different names over the century and a half that it existed, it is one of the lesser known ‘lost’ distilleries that now sits in Diageo’s record books of stock that they just don’t know what to do with.

This sample was purchased by Mark Littler for the purposes of this review, and you can also find a written review on his website blog.

ralfy review 1013 Extras – When spirits cross borders.

One of the many surprises at the 2024 Victoria Whisky Festival was the unannounced sneak preview launch of these two incredible single-cask Westlands, handpicked by the team at The Strath. Discover the whole story of how these unlikely bottles came to be, and hear the panel’s reactions to tasting them again for the first time since their epic trip to Seattle.

Buy a bottle of each right now online here –

CASK 1337

CASK 6625

ralfy review 1013 – Wild Turkey Rare Breed 58.4%vol: (OSWA winner 2023)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 520: Glen Scotia 10 Year Old 2010 Limited Batch Release

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, goes to Campbeltown. In 2021, Glen Scotia launched this so-called Limited Batch Release, 1918 bottles strong, for his northern neighbours in The Netherlands. The malt, distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2021, was given a heavy charred finish, which means as much as finished in heavily charred casks. Mark got a serious bottle remnant as a gift from his buddy Manny.

https://youtu.be/ojWBO8DrLeQ

The Good Dram Show – Episode 542 ‘Thompson Brothers’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a few Independent releases from Phil and Simon Thompson. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 542 – I Say, Tin Tin, It’s Remarkably Good..! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Thompson Brothers Sutherland Blended Malt 5 year old ‘2023 Edition’ 48.5%

Thompson Brothers Lowrie’s Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky 45.7%

Thompson Brothers Inchmurrin 2014 (9 year old) 48.5%

Thompson Brothers Blair Athol 2006/2011 (12 year old) 50%

Thompson Brothers Glenrothes 2011 (11 year old) ‘Error 502 Series’ 57.1%

Thompson Brothers Croftengea 2006 (16 year old) 50%

THOMPSON BROTHERS

Review ~ Johnnie Walker Red Label 1970’s & Clynelish 14YO

https://youtu.be/2Ir6AX2Xhtg

Here’s a fun one this week! Thanks again to Mark Little LTD for sending me these really cool miniatures, some of which I’ve always wanted to buy or try. A 1970s bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label bottle at 70 proof. This thing was a little more 2D than I wanted it to be, but it’s still a pretty cool bit of whisky history.

A bottling of original Clynelish 14YO Flora and Fauna release, the pre-Clynelish 14 that we all know of today, bottled at 43% rather than the 46% we’re now accustomed to. This was a little different from what I was used to.

Holyrood Distillery Arrival — The Unbottling With Calum Rae

After an action-packed and incredibly delicious Victoria Whisky Festival, we keep the whisky train rolling with this wonderful single malt that made its BC debut at the festival. Calum Rae (along with the Rob & Kelly Carpenter) joins Adam Bradshaw in the studio to chat about all things Holyrood, explain the concept behind the Arrival Single Malt, and even give a sneak preview of the future. Don’t forget to join The Dram Association for free to save 10% on this bottle while it’s being featured, as well as to have the opportunity to come down to The Strath and try it for just $5.

Buy a bottle right now online here 

ralfy review 1012 – Campbeltown Loch Malt Blend (OSWA winner 2023)

ralfy review 1012 – The Art of Up-Blending.