Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 458: A Trio of Lindores

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries two releases from a new Lowland distillery. Last summer the long-awaited first release of Lindores appeared (at least the one that was made available to the general public), a vatting of bourbon, sherry and wine casks. At the end of the year another bottling was released: The Casks Lindores ‘Bourbon’. And just now we got our hands of the 1494 Members Release that contains malt that matured on quarter casks. That makes for a very interesting head-to-head tasting.

https://youtu.be/_hmffM6vSYE

ralfy review 942 – Blair Athol 11yo @ 51.6%vol: single cask (Simply Whisky)

The second episode of the Good Dram Show for this week https://youtu.be/ajJDM8yQcVc features a selection of bottlings by Duncan Taylor Whiskies

https://youtu.be/GSB5Vb4hIz8

I’m pretty sure everyone I’ve ever met enjoys Bunnahabhain, I’m pretty sure of that?

The 18YO is a full maturation of ex-sherry casks and Bunnahabhain’s slightly salty spirit. Excellent companions! The unique way that sherry and Bunnahabhain’s spirit mix together makes for a very special style of whisky, and it isn’t something that is classically sweet and overly decadent.

It has balance of sweet, savoury, nutty, that all collide in the most wondeful way.

Much has been said about Bunnahabhain’s batch quality in the last few years, but having had the chance to try a few batches of the 18YO, the style seems more consistent in their older stocks. Prices are rising and this is now an allocated product on UK shores. But with the rising insanity of 18YO prices, and the way whisky is being gobbled up by anyone who can quote Peaky Blinders lines in your face, Bunnahabhain maintains a relative calm.

There’s two episodes of the Good Dram Show this week! Here’s the first https://youtu.be/seUy2rvFAYM part 2 of my look at Annandale Distillery featuring the peated Man O’ Swords range.

ralfy review 941 Extras – Your chill-filtration challenge !

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 457: BenRiach 14 Year Old 2008 Art Malts

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a very limited BenRiach. Art Malts, aka Mark’s good friend Steven Ver Eecke, does it again…  only 36 bottles of this 14-year-old BenRiach saw the light of day. And will you look at that color! This is from a bourbon barrel, mind you. Amazing. Mark got to taste it in preview at the cozy festival When Whisky Meats BBQ (no typo). He hurried to order it. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/N8B-Ul8J2vw

ralfy review 941 – Benromach 2012 Cask strength @60.2%vol:

https://youtu.be/WlHTDMqccuw

I’ve always enjoyed Highland Park, no matter what state or bottling it was given to me in. My joy at hearing they’d released a cask strength that didn’t destroy my bank account was unbridled and I bit the bullet at the first retailer who listed it…sold out. Batch 2 came along, much easier to get, but once I’d opened it I kind of forgot I owned it. Never glowing praise for any type of purchase.

Overall, I enjoy this whisky. It has notes at 63% that no Highland Park I’ve had before does, also, if you choose to add water then it becomes a more classic expression. But, and I’m not normally one to get hung up on this, why didn’t you age state it? Even if it had a huge 4YO age statement, I’d’ve still bought and enjoyed it, but a little integrity appears to be missing, as is batch 3 of this release, where is it?

Highland Park, despite their premium rise, have fallen in the eyes of those who once loved it as an accessible and fun mix of all flavours. Despite me enjoying this bottle, the brand is becoming very…limited.

Welcome to the first of two episodes of the show featuring Annandale distillery. This weeks episode takes a look at their un-peated range, Man O’ Words.

https://youtu.be/9LKuokQWPfQ