Whisky Posts

Woodford Reserve

After mentioning it in last week's post, it only seems right to give the bottle that re-introduced me to bourbon a post of it's own. A couple of years ago we were on holiday with a friend who had spent some time in the States and on noticing this in the local supermarket, ...

Old Fitzgerald 1849

Another step in my exploration of international whiskies takes me to the US, home of bourbon. I have to confess that my introduction to bourbon was about as rocky as my introduction to scotch – in this instance it was a miniature of Jim Beam in a fresher's pack at university. I obviously drank ...

Nikka Pure Malt Red

Continuing the Japanese theme, we move on to the other major producer – Nikka. Nikka was founded by Masataka Taketsuru, one of the team who helped set up Suntory's first distillery in Yamazaki so it appears that the Japanese whisky industry is as incestuous as the Scottish! This is the Nikka Pure Malt Red, ...

The Yamazaki 18 Year Old

We recently booked a holiday to Japan for later this year, and this is my first proper exploration into their whisky in preparation for the trip - and courtesy of some friends with excellent taste in Christmas presents. I know very little about the Japanese whisky scene, so any hints and tips will ...

Ardbeg Supernova 2010

It seemed appropriate to try something a bit special for Burns Night, so I've dug into my dram collection to find something suitable. And what could be better than the enormous Supernova - Jim Murray awarded it Whisky of the Year when it was released in 2010, and who am I to argue with ...

The Peat Monster

I'm not entirely certain how I feel about the idea of the Peat Monster. On the one hand, as you've probably noticed I'm quite a big fan of the peaty side of the whisky world – I drink more Islay than just about anything else. On the other, if somehow feels like more ...

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Christmas has been good to me (although arguably less good to my liver) and my tasting cupboard is overflowing. Among my overflow is a nice collection of miniatures, of which this is one. The Auchentoshan Three Wood is a Lowland whisky which as been matured in three different casks – starting life as most ...

Glenbridge 40 Year Old

As this is the first post of 2012, it only seems right that we have something a little special to start the year. This whisky is the same age as me, and it comes from ... Aldi. My extraordinarily lovely wife got up at some ridiculous hour (something she never voluntarily does) to stand ...

Glenfarclas 12 Year Old

A Highland single malt today, from my "I wonder where this came from" pile – everyone has piles like that, right?! I have to confess I've not really come across Glenfarclas before; I'm not sure that's any criticism of the whisky – more likely that my Islay obsession has blindfolded me to a lot ...

Bowmore Mariner 15 Year Old

So, back to Islay and this time to Bowmore. I was lucky enough to stay right next door to the distillery the last time we were in Islay; there are few better places to be of an evening than looking across Loch Indaal with the Bowmore distillery behind you and Bruichladdich across the water. ...