Whisky Party

Tasting Notes from Bloggers We Trust:

• Scotch Hobbyist compares the inaugural and Autumn 2009 releases of Kilchoman.
• The Whiskey Exchange reviews Pride of Strathspey 1938 vintage – aka a very old Gordon & MacPhail bottling of Macallan.
• Whisky Host does a head to head of 6 different Ardbegs.
• Whisky Fun tastes three young Ardbegs.
• Amrut NAS (Peated Batch), Amrut NAS (Cask Strength) and Amrut NAS (Fusion) are all reviewed by Whisky Intelligence.
• Whisky for Everyone reviews Caol Ila 12 – calling it a “well rounded, smoky whisky from an underrated distillery.”
• John Hansell has three new scotch reviews up this week: Arran Peacock, Smokehead, and a single post on Glen Grant 10 and Glen Grant 16.
• Three reviews from Whisky Notes: Springbank 18, Glen Grant 1974, and Glen Albyn 1974 (Clydesdale).
• Whisky Israel does a comparison of Octomore 2.1 and Octomore 2.2 “Orpheus.”
• He also tastes Oban 18 and AnCnoc 16.

Whisk(e)y News on the Web:

• Master of Malt has an interesting look at bottling and packaging trends in the whisky industry.
• For those headed to South by Southwest this year, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey will be sponsoring a music stage at the festival.
• Whisky Cast interviews popular scotch/video blogger Ralfy.
• Jura Prophecy and the Dalmore 18 are headed to the US.
• The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is setting up an affiliate program for craft distillers.
• Malt Maniacs have updated their Malt Monitor.
• Whisky Host interviews the folks at BenRomach.

Another week, another Best in Blog.  We’ve got a pretty stable list of sources we’re pulling from for these roundups, but we’re always interested in more.  If you think we’re leaving anyone out, let us know.

Tasting Notes from Bloggers we Trust:

• Sheer genius or criminal waste?  The folks at Cask Strength have pooled together about 16 Feis Ile bottlings into their own vatting.  Dubbed Black Betty, here’s their tasting notes on the home-made blend.
• Whisky Exchange gets a sneak-taste of the Kilchoman 3 year old.
• Whisky for Everyone had a busy week.  Here are reviews of Tomintoul 16, Jim Beam White Label, Canadian Club, and Glendronach 12.
• Whisky for Everyone drank a lot this week, but he’s got nothing on Whisky Intelligence, who put together notes on Old Pulteney 12, Benriach 12,  Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 6 year old and 2001, Arran 4, and Octomore.
• Whisky Notes looks at Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist.
• Whisky Fun tastes three Glen Scotias and a Brora.  He trashes the Glen Scotias, but the Brora gets top marks.  He also takes a look at three Glen Grants, and three new bottles from The Glenrothes.

Whisk(e)y News on the Web:

• Scientists in Glasgow are attempting to determine how whiskies acquire their distinctive flavor.
• The Single Malt Whisky Society of America has announced its fall schedule.  I’m a little pissed that they won’t be coming to New York.  WTF?
• Buffalo Trace Distillery just acquired E.H. Taylor Bourbon.
• Following on my continued exploration of whisky collecting, here’s an interesting take from Whisky-Pages questioning the ethics of collecting.
• Proposals are currently in the works for a new whisky distillery in Scotland.
• Glenfiddich is getting ready to launch a 15 year-old Distillers Edition.
• Read about the Swede who owns the largest Benriach collection in the world.