We walked from Aberlour to Glenallachie. Then we arrived at Glenallachie, look. I got a bottle there. And how about Strathisla. How about it. #homeofchives OK, so the above was just the template text I used while we were arranging the photos, but my wife remarked that it was an accurate and succinct description, so … Continue reading Speyside Road Trip Day 2, Part 1: Glenallachie & Strathisla
Tag: Speyside
Speyside Road Trip Day 1: Aberlour
The drive from Dundee to Aberlour was very pleasant overall. We decided to stick to the motorways on the East of Scotland, before turning West at Aberdeen. It took about two and a half hours including a stop, and we arrived with about half an hour to spare before my tasting at 2pm. The location … Continue reading Speyside Road Trip Day 1: Aberlour
Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB 2018)
After the Aberlour A'bunadh more than doubled in price, the Glenfarclas 105 has become the undisputed leader in terms of bang-for-your-buck cask strength sherry bombs. Unlike the A'bunadh this one used to carry an age statement too, with earlier batches stating (quite discreetly at the back of the label for some reason) that they were … Continue reading Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB 2018)
Glenfarclas 25 (43%, OB 2016)
Ah, Glenfarclas... The last bastion of sanity when it comes to whisky prices. If you happen to read this in the future when the Glenfarclas 25 costs more than your mortgage, it's worth noting that, at the time of writing, this is still (sometimes) available for just under £100, when its similarly aged competitors are … Continue reading Glenfarclas 25 (43%, OB 2016)
Tomintoul 25 (43%, OB 2020)
We continue the individual reviews of the Angus Dundee mystery dram tastings with the Tomintoul 25 year-old. This one was matured mostly in refill bourbon casks and is priced in the £200-250 range, which is quite expensive even for its age. I believe older versions used to be bottled at 40% ABV, but this has … Continue reading Tomintoul 25 (43%, OB 2020)
Tomintoul 14 (46%, OB 2020)
Unlike most other distilleries nowadays, Tomintoul has an abundance of age statements - the entry level 10 year-old, the staple 16, the various 12 and 15 year-old finishes and peated expressions, and the more high-end stuff at 18 years old and above. What they mostly have in common is the presentation - 40% ABV for … Continue reading Tomintoul 14 (46%, OB 2020)
Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 53 (59.7%, OB 2015)
Sometimes looking at past orders can make for depressing reading. I bought this bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh in November 2015, and paid £28.55 for it in a flash deal. Nowadays it retails for almost £100, and we're lucky if we can find it at around £60 on offer. The whisky itself doesn't need much of … Continue reading Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 53 (59.7%, OB 2015)
Benriach 17 Septendecim (46%, OB 2018)
This was bought in 2018 but probably bottled earlier - I believe it was discontinued a while before that. Benriach of course recently revamped their core range: gone are the fanciful (sometimes misspelled) Latin descriptions (Heredotus Fumosus anyone?) and the capital R in the BenRiach - it's all about clarity and simplicity now. I always … Continue reading Benriach 17 Septendecim (46%, OB 2018)
Glenrothes Whisky Maker’s Cut (48.8%, OB 2020)
When Glenrothes changed hands from Berry Brothers & Rudd to Edrington in 2018, the range underwent a revamp: vintages were replaced by more conventional age statements (Balblair followed suit in early 2019), and the core range focused heavily on sherry cask maturation. The prices of the younger bottles are quite reasonable. However, I did have … Continue reading Glenrothes Whisky Maker’s Cut (48.8%, OB 2020)
Aultmore 12 (46%, OB 2019)
Aultmore seems to be the most discreet out of Dewar's portfolio of malts. Craigellachie has a more divisive love-it-or-hate-it profile, Aberfeldy is the designated home of the Dewar's blend, and Royal Brackla is the most premiumised of their brands, which leaves Aultmore without any distinguishing characteristics marketing-wise. Like Craigellachie, Aultmore is bottled at 46% with … Continue reading Aultmore 12 (46%, OB 2019)
The Daily Dram 