January 2010
11 posts
1 tag
Tasting Notes: anCnoc 16
AnCnoc is a single malt scotch whisky produced by the Knockdhu distillery in the Eastern Highlands (er, Speyside). Typically anCnoc has been used as a component of blends; however, Knockdhu is making a concerted effort to raise the whisky’s profile and is increasingly releasing more of its stock as single malts. Knockdhu is distinctive in that it is one of the only (if not the only)...
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Tales from the Cask: The Tuthilltown Distillery...
Going back about a month, a great Christmas gift was bestowed upon me by the galfriend that fashions herself “LadyDrammer” (we’ll see if that name sticks; more drams might be necessary as upkeep). It was a visit, tour, and tasting at Tuthilltown, “New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition.” Not all that far from NYC, this Hudson Valley distillery is a quaint operation, converted from...
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Tasting Notes: Kilkerran - Work in Progress
Most whiskies in Scotland today tend to hail from the Speyside region (think Glenlivet, Glenrothes, Cragganmore, Mortlach , The Macallan etc.), but that wasn’t always the case. Back before railroads made Speyside accessible (and when Speyside distillers were still manufacturing illicit whisky), Campbeltown was a hotbed of whisky making. The region use to boast around 30 distilleries,...
2 tags
40 Whiskies Under $40: Glenfiddich 15 year old
The 15 year old expression from this classic Speyside distillery outside of Dufftown comes from whisky aged in one of three barrel types: new oak, sherry, and bourbon. All three are then married in the Solera vat, followed by further time in Solera tuns. Since the Solera vat is always half-full, your 15 year old has been extracted from a very convoluted mixture of differently-aged Glenfiddich....
3 tags
Tasting Notes: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection...
A Painted Red Pepper of a Dram
Signatory Vintage The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is found everywhere. Signatory was started in 1988 and they must have had some ridiculous connections to begin (if anyone who has tried to look into purchasing casks knows it’s not that easy). They remain one of the few fully independent bottlers. In addition, they purchased Edradour in 2002. Whisky...
2 tags
What's Next for the Whisky Blogosphere? Some...
It’s been over a week since Dr. Whisky posted his somewhat controversial take on what’s missing in the online whisky world. A week is an eternity in blog time, but I can’t shake this post, or the conversation that ensued. I feel like I need to respond in some way.
Dr. Whisky essentially called for the creation of a “Rotten Tomatoes” of whisky - an aggregator site...
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40 Whiskies Under $40: Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
With just its single set of stills, the northern-most distillery on the Scottish mainland has been working hard over the last decade to expand both its range of single malts and its reach to consumers. You can read all about this interesting seaside Highland distillery in recent reviews of its new 30 year old and Isabella Fortuna WK499 expressions. This standard 12 year old bottling, aged in...
2 tags
Finlaggan Old Reserve Islay Single Malt Whisky -...
In browsing the shelves of New York’s beloved Warehouse Liquor over the holidays, I came across something interesting: Finlaggan’s Old Reserve. It might have been a bit more expensive than I was able to get it for in California, but it was there, at a regular store, for $25.
As the picture to the right shows, I have not much left. And last night, I went to Trader Joe’s to...
5 tags
The SWAG of WhiskyFest 2009
Back in October, I was fortunate enough to attend WhiskyFest 2009 in San Francisco. I went for fun - and most of the notes I took from that night demonstrate the almost too much fun I had (I believe that writing “real good”, “really good” and “really quite good”, for some Highland Parks late in the night constitute the best tasting notes I have ever written). ...
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Tasting Notes: The Macallan 18
Beloved by collectors, and found on the shelf of every bar - from local dives to high-end restaurants - there are few names in single malt whisky bigger than The Macallan.
Legally distilling since 1824, The Macallan is a Speyside malt known for it’s big, creamy, and sherried whisky. The creaminess and rich flavors come from the unusually small stills in which the whisky is distilled, and a...
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Tasting Notes: The BenRiach Aged 12 Years
We here at the Whisky Party wish you all a happy and whisky-filled 2010. And with that, we’re back to work on our usual news, tastings, and musings about all sorts of whisk(e)y.
Next from our series of BenRiach tastings is the standard 12 year old expression. This, too, is available as a 5 cl miniature bottle in one of the BenRiach four-packs retailing for between $25-30. If you spent...
