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

ralfy review 940 Extras – Nailing down good malts.

https://youtu.be/Gj8k34xR-k0

As a firm lover of Green Spot, Yellow Spot, and nearly all of Midleton’s ranges – out of the starting blocks, I must say that despite this being an anniversary whiskey, I’ve found it a little disappointing. But is that a surprise?

Gold Spot celebrates 135 years of Mitchell & Sons as a whisky merchant, and the relationship that has been shared between Mitchell & Sons of Dublin and Midleton Distillers. Building on a base of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, the intricacies of weaving in the powerful flavours of port and Bordeaux wine casks into the flavour of Gold Spot would have been a monumental task. Bottled at 51.4% ABV, a promising thing on paper but the flavours are muted The scents and tastes are ginger, apricot and loads of tea, but there isn’t a particular drive of it being memorable.

If that was the intention then that’s totally fine. But as with some other recent anniversary bottles (Ardbeg) this is, for me, a bit of a let down. But I also felt this way about Red Spot and Blue Spot. I haven’t reviewed those, but I wasn’t thrilled by them, which is odd given my love for Redbreasts core range. Perhaps the variable cask influences are cancelling out some fun?

ralfy review 940 – Teaninich 12yo @54.2%vol (Thompson Bros:)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 456: Milk & Honey Apex Cognac Casks

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a kosher whisky from Israel. Apex means top, with which the Master Distiller of Milk & Honey, Tomer Goren, wants to indicate that these whiskies are among the best of what he has already created. There are currently several expressions: Cognac, Rum, White Wine, Pomegranate Wine, Peated STR Cask and the acclaimed Dead Sea. Today Mark tastes their Cognac Cask, which is actually their Classic which was given a finish on former casks of an undisclosed small cognac house.

https://youtu.be/RYJFmF50eU8

ralfy review 939 Extras – Explaining ‘sensations’ in malts.

ralfy review 939 – Benromach 10yo @43%vol: (2022)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 455: Milk & Honey 2018 Single Cask for the Barrel Baron

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a single cask from… Israel! He had the privilege of tasting this from Marcel in November last year. Not that Marcel needed Mark’s opinion to decide whether or not to bottle it. This whisky speaks for itself from the first to the last drop. But how nice that The Barrel Baron – who after all can still be considered ‘a new kid on the block’ – has gotten hold of this beautiful cask.

https://youtu.be/-KRPGRsV0pU

https://youtu.be/lmWqMUR4fVo

Midleton Dair Ghaelach, a special bottle for another special occasion in 2022. A blend of pot still whiskies, aged between 14-28 years old, matured in American oak and then finished in Irish virgin oak that have been seasoned in sumptuous Spanish sunshine.

Hitting 10,000 subscribers is a fairly monumental occassion in YouTube world, there is no other way to phrase it other than, thank you. Thank you to every single one of you who allow me to just chat about whisky for abit, two days a week. Here’s to another 10,000!!

Welocme to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at some relatively recent releases from Glencadam, Nc’ Nean and Tomatin.

https://youtu.be/YXVvA-okOJU