Unlike previous years, my wife's aunt and uncle joined us on our Speyside trip, which meant a bigger AirBnB was in order. Instead of our regular base in Aberlour, this time we stayed near Elgin, and so our closest distilleries were Benriach and Glen Moray. I had visited both in the past without doing a … Continue reading Glen Moray distillery visit (May 2024)
Category: Whisky Tasting Notes
Deanston distillery visit (May 2024)
A stop at Deanston has now become a staple of our annual road trip to Speyside. Their tastings at Warehouse 4 offer great value for money for something that not many distilleries provide - namely, a chance to try true single cask whisky extracted straight from the cask in the atmospheric surroundings of the dunnage-style … Continue reading Deanston distillery visit (May 2024)
Glenallachie distillery visit (May 2023)
Having walked the woodland path to Glenallachie from Aberlour last year and hand-filled a bottle (an excellent 2012 finished in a Languedoc red wine cask), it was time for a more extensive experience of the distillery. Glenallachie offers a variety of tours - the Glenallachie Experience for £25, the Premium Experience for £35, and the … Continue reading Glenallachie distillery visit (May 2023)
The Glenlivet distillery visit (May 2023)
A year after our first visit to Speyside, we did the same road trip again, with a focus on different distilleries this time. The pre-booked events were a warehouse tasting at Deanston on the way up, a tour and tasting at Glenallachie, and a single cask tasting at the Glenlivet. I confess I ignored the … Continue reading The Glenlivet distillery visit (May 2023)
Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir Finish (50%, OB 2019)
I always find Deanston to be a distillery with a distinctive character (current Master Blender Brendan McCarron identifies it as waxiness, I normally find a lot of ginger biscuits and honey in most Deanstons) that nevertheless remains a 'chameleon malt' of sorts, able to take all sorts of different maturations and finishes. This one has … Continue reading Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir Finish (50%, OB 2019)
Deanston 13 (Distilled 2007, 65%, Signatory Cask Strength Collection 2020)
For a self-proclaimed Deanston fan, I haven't reviewed any spectacular examples on this blog so far. Time to change that. This Deanston was matured for 13 years in a first-fill sherry butt, and bottled at an eye-watering 65% ABV. I first tried it in December 2020 in a tasting by the Blind Tasting Consortium. It … Continue reading Deanston 13 (Distilled 2007, 65%, Signatory Cask Strength Collection 2020)
Deanston Kentucky Cask Matured (40%, OB 2021)
The Deanston Kentucky Cask was a recent addition to the Deanston range - I believe it came out in 2020, or mabe late 2019. Deanston already have a budget-friendly no age statement bottle in the much-loved Virgin Oak, but the Kentucky Cask is aimed at a different share of the market: issued at 40% ABV … Continue reading Deanston Kentucky Cask Matured (40%, OB 2021)
Glen Grant 12 (48%, OB 2019)
It's fashionable these days to dunk on Glen Grant, especially since a certain disgraced whisky reviewer declared the 18 year-old the best Scotch whisky a few years ago. Ralfy, for example, only gave 72 points to the 15 year-old Batch Strength, which can only mean he really hated it as he rarely scores anything less … Continue reading Glen Grant 12 (48%, OB 2019)
Speyside Road Trip Postlude: Aberfeldy
After the brief stop at the Arctic climes of Dalwhinnie, it was time for the planned activity of the day: a tour and tasting at Aberfeldy. I had booked the Connoisseurs' Tour, which seemed good value at £26.50 (I see it's now up to £30 - not sure if that's permanent or whether it's due … Continue reading Speyside Road Trip Postlude: Aberfeldy
Speyside Road Trip Bits and Pieces (Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Tormore, Dalwhinnie)
The bulk of the whisky-related activities of our final day in Speyside was all done by lunchtime (Glen Grant, Benriach and Glen Moray). Since most distilleries close to visitors between 4 and 5, we felt compelled to try and squeeze in as many as possible, so we drove from Elgin to Dufftown, where Glenfiddich, Balvenie, … Continue reading Speyside Road Trip Bits and Pieces (Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Tormore, Dalwhinnie)
The Daily Dram 