ralfy review 1010 – Arran 10yo @46%vol: (OSWA winner 2023)

Phil will return next week….

ralfy review 1009 Extras – My controversial Whisky for 2024

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 517: Nc’nean Quiet Rebels ‘Gordon’

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries the new Nc’nean. This is the third release in Nc’nean’s Quiet Rebels series, all of which were created by a distillery employee. It started with the Annabel, named after founder Annabel Thomas, followed by the Lorna, named after the master distiller Lorna Davidson and now it’s time for the Gordon, named after Distillery Manager Gordon Wood. Gordon chose a malt that was made with STR red wine casks, ex-sherry casks and ex-Rivesaltes casks. Rivesales is a French fortified dessert wine from the Longuedoc-Rousillon, a so-called vin doux naturel.

https://youtu.be/fimopkdY0sc

ralfy review 1009 – MacLeans Nose Blended Scotch @ 46%vol:

The Good Dram Show – Episode 538 ‘Affordable Blends’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. As we are all skint after Christmas I’ll be taking a look at some ‘affordable’ blended whiskies. Are they worth it? Episode 537 – Yes Minister, It’s Whisky On A Budget Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring Politician Blended Scotch Whisky 40%, Black Bull Blended Scotch Whisky ‘Peated Edition’ 50%, Old Perth Original Blended Malt Whisky 46%,  Eden Mill Guardbridge Blended Malt 46%, Gleann Mor Blended Irish Whiskey 43%, and  Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky 46%

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 516: Auchentoshan 9 Year Old 2014 Old Particular for GOS

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries another Auchentoshan. GOS is a whiskyshop in Heers, Belgium which is still a rather a long drive for Mark, but luckily the shop owner Ruben also ships his bottles, so it was easy peasy for Mark to get some bottles of this stuff to his house. It’s a young Auchentoshan, drawn from a refill barrel, that was bottled especially for the shop in the Old Particular series by Douglas Laing.

https://youtu.be/XB8U1A6sZ7c

Macallan-Glenlivet 18YO Cask Strength

https://youtu.be/YdoIbuUPro4

A Macallan of years gone by, from which year I’m unsure, but nonetheless, bottled at cask strength by Cadenhead’s as an 18YO from a single sherry cask – I mean, what’s not to like? Well, this had some off notes for me, especially towards the end of the tasting, but the smell and start to the taste are simply wondrous! It’s somewhat classic in regards to sherry barrels and Macallan, but it’s a breath of fresh air to taste a Macallan of years gone by. I hate to sound like that kind of person, but if Macallan still tasted like this, for a reasonable price, the world would simply look no further.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 515: Auchentoshan 31 Year Old 1991 Whisky Sponge

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, sips another one of his favorite Lowlanders. Whisky Sponge – AKA Angus McRaild – is a lovely man with a great sense of humor and a way with words. He bottled this cask of Auchentoshan from 1991 with Decadent Drinks with the words ‘If you are a fan of Auchentoshan, please be aware, this whisky may have too much flavour and charisma for you’. Probably the best Auchentoshan he ever tasted, largely due to the fact that it is very unlike Auchentoshan. His words, not Mark’s. Have to check that out, right?

https://youtu.be/Rz_16XcUz6s

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 514: Auchentoshan 13 Year Old 2007 La Maison du Whisky

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, sips his favorite Lowlander. This dark Auchentoshan – a vatting of two so-called 1^st use sherry butts – was bottled by La Maison du Whisky, a famous French importer, in their so-called Artist Collective Series. This is release 5.6, a 13 years old Auchentoshan from 2007 at 48% with a great label by French artist Théo Guinard.

https://youtu.be/z4cN_20qigc