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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 481: Old Rhosdhu 29 Year Old 1993 for The Roots

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a 29-year-old malt! Belgian bottler The Roots selected a hogshead from the Loch Lomond distillery that was filled in 1993 with a spirit type that they produced between 1966 and 2000. The malt was given the name Old Rhosdhu. The hogshead, on which this malt lay dormant for almost three decades, yielded 222 bottles at cask strength. The malt was neither colored nor chill filtered.

https://youtu.be/HhT7VF3zMv8

ralfy review 964 Extras – Why is Springbank Distillery so important ?

ralfy review 964 – Springbank 12yo Cask @53.2%vol (OSWA Winner 2022)

https://youtu.be/G2aI9TxNGeU

It’s been so long since I’ve reviewed a Loch Lomond product that the time has come! Aged for a majority of its life in ex-American Oak, and then being finished for a short period in Limousin Oak casks, this is a rich, volumous, and very flavourful single malt. Encompassing all parts of the flavour chart, including that subtle smoke that the standard Loch Lomond is famous for. This is another epitome of classic Highland style.