Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 512: Paul John Christmas Edition 2023

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, wishes you a Merry X-mas. Just like last year, he had the honor and pleasure of discussing this Christmas Edition of Paul John live on Instagram with none other than their Global Brand Ambassador. Nice, right? For this new – their sixth already and this time completely unpeated – Christmas Edition they have used two types of casks: Ex-Bourbon for maturation and then a Single Vintage Colheita Tawny Port cask for the finish. FYI: Colheita is a port wine made from single-vintage grapes aged in barrels for at least 7 years.

https://youtu.be/Uw3rKSBtlD8

Ardnamurchan Rum Cask Finish, 55%

https://youtu.be/etZWUrwJyK0

It’s no lie that I’ve been a huge admirer of Ardnamurchan. Since those first few releases of sweet, salty, softly peated single malts, they’ve been at the top of my list for exciting new releases and I’m yet to be let down.

The sherry cask was delicious, and this rum cask is equally as good. Some have said that it hasn’t quite hit the same spot as the sherry, of course it hasn’t, it’s a totally different style.

These Jamaican rum casks that have imparted a banana, hazlenut, toffee syrup feel to this saline style of whisky are wonderful, and as good, if yet different to the sherry cask release.

ralfy review 1007 Extras – Three bits of advice for 2024

ralfy review 1007 – Craigellachie 13yo Armagnac finish @46%vol:

The Good Dram Show – Christmas Episode 536

Welcome to the 2023 Christmas Episode of the show. This weeks episode features a number of peated whiskies including the infamous Floki Sheep Poo Reserve and the less infamous Gauntleys 10 year old Staoisha.

Featuring

Angus Dundee The Double Peat Blended Malt 46%

Dewar Rattray ‘Cask Collection’ Williamson 2011 (6 year old) 61.1%

Floki ‘Icelandic Young Malt – Sheep Dung Smoked Reserve’ 47%

The 1880 Collection: The Officers Mess Bottling No3 Bunnahabhain Staoisha 2013 (10 years old) 57.1%

Longrow 2007 (10 year old) Cage Bottling 58.3%

Cadenheads Cask Strength Ardbeg 1993 (26 year old) 53.7% 

THREE Excellent complex single malts for 2024

Daftmill 15YO, 55.7% 2022

https://youtu.be/_boKfY5sO_Q

A YouTube Daftmill review? What in the secondary market is this?

No, seriously though, this was bought with the intention to open, and I rarely win ballots, so when Berry Bros and Rudd told me I’d won last year, I was thrilled.

Fifteen years in refil bourbon casks, cask strength, natural colour, non-chill filtered, and one of the oldest releases from the farmyard Fife distillery, this is as juicy, fruity and oily as you could want.

Of the four/five Daftmill liquids I’ve tried, they are such a refreshing, literally and historically, thing to happen to lowland whisky for a long-old-time.

This bottle has a sad story behind it…well, somewhat of a sad story as to why it was opened early, but nonetheless, it’s open now.

Cheers!

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