Whisky Party

This is it folks.  The final Best in Blog of the year.  Enjoy and see you in 2010.

Tasting Notes From Bloggers We Trust:

• Whisky for Everyone very much enjoyed the Benriach 10 “Curiositas” peated single malt.
• Ruben at Whisky Notes found the 1977 Brora 21 (Rare Malts) similar to its’ 20 year old sibling.  A Mortlach 22 (Rare Malts) is good but “not quite the sherry bomb” you’d expect.  And he found this 1971 Glenury Royal 23 (Rare Malts) “full, fruity and spicy.”
• Whisky Intelligence says that Stranahan’s Colorado Whisky (2yo) is mature for its age.
• Whisky Intelligence likes this Madeira aged Imperial 14 yo from Duncan Taylor.
• Whisky Fun tastes two Caol Ilas, two Glenlivets, and three Port Ellens on Christmas.
• Finally, Whisky Intelligence says that SMWS 43.15 (aka Port Ellen 26 from 1982) is sensational.

Whisk(e)y News on the Web:

• Whisky Cast closes out the year with a look at bourbon and beer.
• John Hansell wants to know about any independent whisky festivals you’ve frequented.
• Whisk(e)y Apostle is giving away a very nice cocktail making set to one lucky subscriber.
• Whisky Magazine is closing its “Whisky for Sale” forum.
• On January 1, 2010 the UK VAT will increase to 17.5%.

The talk of the town (er, whisky blogs) this week is Kilchoman. The first official bottling has shipped, and tasting notes are in.  The bottling is three years old with a sherry finish, and reviews indicate potential that has not yet been reached.

• Whisky Intelligence thinks it is quite mature for its age.
• Scotch Hobbyist was only slightly less impressed with the youngster.
• Ruben at Whisky Notes is even less generous, but thinks it will hit its stride in a few more years.
• Singlematl.tv has video of the official product release.

Tasting Notes From Bloggers We Trust

• Whisky Notes reviews the Dalwhinnie 15, calling it a “good middle of the road dram.”
• Whisky For Everyone samples Clynelish 10 from Provenance.  The verdict is “lovely but less rich” than previous expressions.
• John Hansell has notes on the insanely priced Gold Bowmore.  I kind of don’t care how good it is – I’ll probably never have the opportunity to taste it.
• Less out of reach is this 42 year old Strathisla.  For only $205, that’s actually affordable.
• Whisky Intelligence reviews the new Dalmore 12, calling it a “grand” and “different” dram.  They’ve also got notes on a Ben Nevis 8 year old from Duncan Taylor’s Battlehill line.
• Whisky Fun has a go at four old expressions of Mortlach, including two official bottlings.
• Drink Hacker takes a shine to the Hibiki 12 year old.
• Edinburgh Whisky has a roundup of the Benromach range.
• The Malt Imposters sink their teeth into a tiny bottle of Macallan 12.
• Whisk(e)y Apostle tries Crown Royale blended Canadian whiskey.
• Cask Strength has a roundup of Glen Grant tasting notes.
• Finally, Drink Hacker enjoys some Deanston 12, calling it a good scotch for any novice.

Whisk(e)y News on the Web

• John Hansell has a video of his visit to the Maker’s Mark distillery.  Some pics as well.
• Get an online preview of the latest edition of Malt Advocate magazine.
• Douglas Laing is releasing new bottlings in both its Provence and Old Malt Cask lines.
• Compass Box is relaunching their Spice Tree expression.  It will hit the US next month.
• SingleMalt.tv is the place to go for coverage of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
• In the shadow of Kilchoman, Benromach 10 also saw its offical launch recently.
• John Hansell got his tasting notes listed on the back of a single cask bottling of Bowmore.  Pretty cool.
• Four Roses Bourbon is doing 10, very unique single cask bottlings.

Apologies for the lack of tasting notes lately.  I’d meant to write up both the Michel Couvreur Pale Single-Single and Glenkinchie 10 at the end of last week, but caught a bug and I’ve been on antibiotics the last few days, which means no drinking allowed (and I hate to taste and spit.  Seems like a waste given my limited resources).  I’ll try to get one of those up tomorrow if I’m feeling better.  In the meantime, you’ll just have to visit some of these excellent whisky blogs to get your fill of tasting notes.

Tasting Notes by Bloggers We Trust:

• Dr. Whisky is back in full-swing with mediocre reviews of Bruichladdich’s Resurrection Dram, and better reviews of an “enjoyable” Craftman’s Choice, Maltmen’s Edition from Bowmore.
• At Edinburgh Whisky, Lucas tastes a Single Malt Whisky Society bottling of a Glenfarclas 40.  How good is it?  He compares it to Beyonce, and says there is “no such thing as a too-old Glenfarclas.”
• Scotch Hobbyist jams to some jazz while drinking a dram of Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition.
• John Hansell says that the Balvenie 17 Madeira Cask is the “most deftly balanced whiskies” he has tasted.
• Whisky for Everyone reviews a 15 Year Dimple Blended Whisky and Cardhu 12.
• Whisky Fun tastes two unusual Springbanks, and four old Ardbegs.
• Ruben at Whisky Notes tastes a Caol Ila 26 from Duncan Taylor, and Glenugie 1982 from Douglas Laing.
• Whisky Intelligence tries a Clynelish 11 from Murray McDavid, Ian Macleod’s Isle of Skye 8 year old, and Ardbeg Blasda (NAS).  He’s not a fan of the Ardbeg (I thought it was ok if not complex, and overpriced).

Whisk(e)y News on the Web:

• The BBC reports that thousands took to the streets this week in protest of Diageo’s decision to close the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock.
• Whisky for Everyone explains about additives in whisky.
• John Hansell asks if you’ve ever tasted a “bad” whisky (as in major defects in the process, not stuff you just dislike).  Some really interesting conversation in the comments.
• Details on a very interesting private collection of whisky that is going up for sale.
• Whisky Intelligence has the goods on some unique offers from Single Malts Direct.
• 2 Drams celebrates the oft-derided blended whisky.
• Meet John Walker, the bluest of Johnnie Walker Blue whisky.  Only $3,000 a bottle (proceeds go to charity).
• Read all about the specially crafted Dalmore that Richard Paterson will be unveiling at Whisky Fest San Francisco.
• A recipe for Bourbon Ball Milkshakes.
• The latest edition of Whisky Cast is live.
• Jim Beam revenues are up thanks to higher prices.
• More on Glenglassaugh’s sale of its whisky by the Octave cask.

Interesting week so far.  Diageo’s decision to move their bottling plant, and Knob Creek’s shortage of product seem to be on everyone’s mind this week.  On the tasting front, independent bottlings of uncommon malts abound.

Tasting Notes From Bloggers We Trust:

• Finally, a Michael Jackson story I can get behind.  Cask Strength reviews the blend created out of the late-Michael Jackson’s whisky collection.
• Whisky for Everyone tries a Littlemill 19 from Douglas Laing.  Littlemill is a closed Lowland distillery, and this is one of only 333 bottles.  Also on tap is a 15 year old from the recently reopened Glencadam distillery (highland).
• Whisky Fun tries two Glenglassaugh, three Old Pulteneys, and four very old Macallans. Bonus points for writing what may be the only whisky blog post to also mention Bootsy Collins.  Who knew that Bootsy went so well with Glenglassaugh?
• Whisky Intelligence reviews an Auchentoshen 8 year old from Duncan Taylor/Battlehill.  He also has high marks for a Finlaggin Islay “Old Reserve” (no age statement).
• An interesting mix this week from Ruben at Whisky Notes: a Redbreast 12 irish whiskey, Talisker 12 (Friends of Classic Malts), and Tomatin 1976 (Scotch Single Malt Circle).

Whisk(e)y News on the Web:

• Everyone knows that the whiskey business is tough.  It can take almost a decade to properly age good spirit, and forecasting demand that far out is an exercise in fortune telling at best.  Knob Creek fans are now finding that out, as the distillery has run out of product even as demand continues to grow.
• Is Diageo’s decision to move their bottling plants from Kilmarnock to another part of Scotland going to ruin Scotch whisky? There’s a great discussion happening now at the Malt Advocate blog on the subject.  Personally, I agree with Kevin Erskine (The Scotch Blog)’s assessment.
• John Hansel says that the latest Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will hit the shelves soon at a price of $40.  Jefferson’s Bourbon is also getting ready to release a limited edition “wheated” bourbon priced at $90 a bottle.
• Duncan Taylor is relaunching their Rare Old Range.