ralfy review 967 – Redbreast 15yo @46%vol: (OSWA winner 2022)

ralfy review 966 Extras – Presentation & Price of whiskies in 2023 (a perspective)

ralfy review – 966 Signatory Vintage Indi: Bottler (Winner OSWA’s 2022)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 483: Glentauchers 13 Year Old 2009 Buds & Barrels

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a lesser known malt. Independent bottler Buds & Barrels launched this summery Glentauchers in its ‘sticky label’ range at the end of last year, from a refill sherry butt. I confess, when I first read it, I looked surprised for a moment, because Manny and I had also bottled a Glentauchers 2009 from the same cask type in May of the same year. And then a monkey on the label too? I won’t say anything else, but I’m going to taste it right away.

https://youtu.be/auElXK6Jn7g

https://youtu.be/syJ63A9uiug

Established in 1798, and still one of the oldest distilleries in Scottish history, the Tobermory distillery is home to peated and unpeated whisky. Ledaig is for those of you who prefer a distinctly west coast, peated, rugged, yet still sweet kind of whisky. Tobermory, I must say, it’s been a long time since I last tried it. It’s an ashamed thing to admit, but I know it has my full interest.

The label states ‘gentle, floral and unpeated’. This is true, no doubt about it. But inside this whisky are deeper, darker, more intense flavours than what I expected to find in a ‘lighter’ style of west coast single malt. This bottle honestly reminds me of salt, truffle, honey, candle wax, ginger, and vanilla. A very interesting and complex whisky for below £50 per bottle.

ralfy review 965 Extras – Opinion on new distilleries in 2023

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show, which I’ve titled ‘The Lowlands – Past & Present, which I think is self-explanatory.

https://youtu.be/NYW1tJN21io

ralfy review 965 – Ardnamurchan AD/10:22 @58.2%vol: (OSWA winner 2022|)

https://youtu.be/jGkqhEAmbio

The Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) distillery in county Donegal are one of a few in the area wanting to reestablish the rich, and sometimes illicit distilling history of western Ireland.

This is Silkie Midnight, a selection of Irish single malts vatted together, featuring cask selections of ex-bourbon, sherry, red wine, virgin oak and imperial stout casks, with 35% of this whisky being peated to 55PPM. On paper this all sounds like a wonderful thing. The bourbon, virgin oak and stout casks shine the brightest in this mix, but I do feel that there’s a masking of any character or style. So many casks on a younger whisky seems a little overkill for me, but this won’t impact my overall view of a new distillery in Ireland who are starting out on a strong foot.

When it comes to history and whisky nerd excitement, this place covers a lot of ground and doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Check it out when and where you can. Cheers!

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 482: Nc’nean Batch RA08

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries another Nc’nean. While the ‘normal’ batches continue unabated (at the time of filming Batch 18 was already a fact), Nc’nean launched two completely new batches in 2022 with a new system of numbering. In addition to this Batch RA08, there is also a Batch BU06. This first one (which is now also in my glass) was composed with 43% STR red wine casks, 55% former American whiskey barrels (the vast majority of which are first fill bourbon) and 2% oloroso sherry casks. Oh, yes, another small detail: the bottle is now not transparent green or opaque dark blue, but simply transparent – albeit with the same beautiful print.

https://youtu.be/9hCFep0KJac