Three GREAT Peated whiskies for 2023

ralfy review 954 Extras – What to buy next ?

ralfy review 954 – AnCnoc 12yo @ 40%vol

Drumshambo Single Pot Still Whiskey, 43%

https://youtu.be/YbAq_0Ak9XM

The Shed Disitllery in Ireland have long been a favourite of my family, but mainly for gin…turns out they also have a whiskey!

A single pot still whiskey comprised of malted barley, unmalted barley, and Irish barra oats! All working wonderfully together, along with barrel influences from Kentucky and Spain, this rich, creamy, Pot Still spice whisky is a true contender to take the place of some high-ranking bottles from across Ireland.

Bottled at 43%, natural colour and un-chill filtered, at roughly around what Redbreast now want for their 12YO, this thing is stepping into the boots of a rather big brand and taking, for me, quite abit of its limelight.

But with all things fun and new in Irish whiskey, this product is very much at the front of the queue. Hopefully, you’ll agree too!

My NEW Book

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 472: Tomintoul 16 Year Old

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a standard Speysider. Tomintoul is a young (°1964) and lesser-known distillery that is quietly working to put itself on the map. Although they still supply the vast majority of their production for the blends of Whyte & Mackay, they also bottle single malt. In May 2021, Mark participated in an online masterclass, organized by importer Cinoco, and this was in the line-up. It charmed without being really great. But for 50 EUR you do have an honest entry-level malt, made of mainly first fill bourbon-aged and only a little sherry-aged Tomintoul.

https://youtu.be/Va5IEx-HC5A

Three GREAT malts for 2023

ralfy review 953 Extras – Degrees of filtration.

Ralfy review 953 – Bunnahabhain 12yo @56.6%vol: (2022 Edition)

https://youtu.be/VhfHvY47PX4

It isn’t often that I get to review two 40YO whiskies in the same year! But here we are, this time with a rather unusual Benriach 40YO Octave finish. Distilled in 1976, recasked in 2011 and then bottled in 2017 – this whisky has spent its whole life in ex-bourbon casks in some way, shape, or form. The octave cask it was finished in was constructed from refil and first fill bourbon staves. Producing 137 bottles, ten of them are available as a unique set, along with a 40YO peated BenRiach via Blockbar. Please see the link below for further information on this rather limited release.

BLOCKBAR