Best in Blog #18: Tasting Notes and Whisky News on the Web
We’re a little heavier on the news and lighter on the tasting notes in today’s edition, but it’s not all bad as the news is rather interesting. Slainte.
Tasting Notes from Bloggers We Trust:
- Lucas at Edinburgh Whisky raves about the Laphroaig 18. I can’t wait until this hits the states, though I agree with him that the price point is unreasonably high considering when compared to the now-discontinued (and perhaps my favorite) Laphroaig 15.
- Ruben at Whiskey Notes reviews the barolo-aged expression of the limited edition Jura Paps trio. He gives it a decent grade, particularly on the nose.
- Putting his new ratings system to the test, Scotch Hobbyist reviews Bunnahabhain 12, calling it the “perfect summer scotch.”
- Whisky Intelligence pays tribute to Tobermory, with reviews of Tobermory 10, Tobermory 10 (Murray McDavid fresh sherry), and Tobermory 12 (Duncan Taylor).
- Whisky Fun gives great reviews to four Bowmores.
Whisk(e)y News on the Web:
- Glen Fiddich is launching a 1975 Vintage Reserve in order to celebrate 40 years since the start of the Scotch tourism industry boom. Of note in this article from Whiskey Intelligence is the fact that each year’s vintage reserve is selected by amateurs from a limited number of high quality barrels. In previous years, whisky journalists and coopers have selected the final product. Maybe next year it will be some intrepid scotch bloggers (hint, hint)?
- An online campaign was recently launched to protest Diageo’s closing of the Johnny Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock. As someone who works in online organizing as my day job, this is a halfway decent campaign, showing more online acumen than most distilleries.
- Dalmore has announced a new range of single malts.
- Highland Park is now on Twitter and Facebook.
- John Hansell announces that Whisky Fest San Francisco will feature a very rare bottle from Jura. He also notes that Suntory will launch their blended whisky, Hibiki 12, in the US this fall.
- Whiskey Grotto presents a history of the Old Fashioned.
- Want your own whisky? The recently reopened Glenglassaugh Distillery is selling Octave casks of New Make Spirit. The casks cost £500 and will yield 60 bottles after they age for 3 years.
- The Famous Grouse’s Master Blender is retiring after a 2 year transition process. The Herald actually interviews John Ramsay, who has interesting things to say about the blending and tasting process.
- A new Ardbeg expression will come on the U.S. market in September, and John Hansell wants you to guess what it is. My money is on Corryvreckan, which I’ve heard will replace the excellent Airigh Nam Beist. I’ve already purchased my final bottle of the Beist to prepare for its discontinuation.
- Our friend Scotch Hobbyist has developed a new ratings system that I am quite frankly rather jealous of. If anyone out there wants to help us out with some design work for something similar, let us know.
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