Review: The Singleton of Glen Ord Celebratory Bottling
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
The Singleton of Glen Ord – Celebratory Bottling “The Singleton” is a Diageo brand umbrella that covers various distilleries, and Singleton of Glen Ord sadly isn’t one that’s so well known in the UK (although it is elsewhere in the world). That may start to change as Diageo have launched a renewed Singleton visitor “experience”, based at the Glen Ord distillery north of Inverness. To celebrate the new visitor centre launch they’ve released a special distillery only bottling, although to be fair it’s not easy to find Singleton of Glen Ord anywhere else other than at the distillery, at least in ..read more
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TAMDHU CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DUO OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL RELEASES
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
Tamdhu Single Malt Scotch Whisky is celebrating its 125th anniversary year with two limited edition launches at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. As the first in-person Speyside Whisky Festival since 2019, there is great excitement for the occasion, so Tamdhu is delighted to be able to celebrate its very own historic milestone as the whisky world descends on Scotland’s North East. As per tradition, the brand will release two ‘festival exclusive’ bottlings – the first is the next chapter in the much-loved Dalbeallie series, the second is an exclusive cask strength limited ed ..read more
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Review: Ardbeg Wee Bestie
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
Ardbeg Wee Bestie – 47.4% abv Info: Ardbeg’s latest permanent expression. Five year old matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Colour: Ripe straw golden. Nose: Barley, toffee and mossy wet peat. Hints of beach fire embers. Palate: Oily mossy damp sweet peat, grassy barley, hints of creamy toffee. The sweetness shows the distillery character well; the younger age meaning there’s still plenty of sweet new make distillery spirit left undominated by wood. Finish: Hints of tannin right at the end, along with those lasting barley and peat notes. Long finish, but didn’t overly wa ..read more
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Review: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2012
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2012 / 8yo Info: Produced using barley grown on Islay in 2011 by eight farmers from western and central farms on the island, which was dried, malted and distilled in 2012. Unpeated, matured in a combination of first-fill American oak barrels and French wine casks. 8 years old, 50% abv. Around £55 (via Bruichladdich’s website). Colour: Light summery barley tones in the sun. Nose: Slightly spirit lead, but sweet and moreish. Earthy (but not peaty) barley notes with hints of creamy vanilla and nuts. Palate: Creamy and easy (considering the highish abv), sweet and full o ..read more
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Review: Bruichladdich The Ternary Project
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
The Ternary Project Info: A mix of roughly 3rds (30%, 40%, 30%) of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore. It’s a NAS, but dates (and I’m giving vaguely informed guesses here) are roughly 28+yo, ~20yo and ~13yo respectively. 4000 bottles, ballot only (closed). £275. 52.1% ABV. Ex-sherry, ex-bourbon and ex-wine casks. Colour: Lovely deep autumn gold. Nose: Initially I’d describe it as a sweet and sour nose; lovely and sweet with rich fruits, but balanced with salt and peaty hints. With time fabolous old hessian and dunnage warehouse notes come out. Palate: Oily and warming, lightly spiced t ..read more
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Quick Review: Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Release
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Release 2017 Info: Ardbeg’s Feis Ile 2017 Committee Release, matured in casks made from virgin Black Sea oak and more traditional bourbon casks. 51.7% abv. Colour: Fairly ripe straw. Nose: Fairly strong, salty and coastal with oaky peat smoke. Palate: Thick and oily, spiced charred peat and maple & bacon. Finish: Spiced and very long, oak, smoke and tar coal hints. Thoughts: Fun and slightly different, however I’d like a little more sweetness from this, maybe a hint of sherry maturation. Available: Sold out, likely only available at auction sites. My own sample as p ..read more
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Quick Review: Auld Acquaintance Blended Whisky
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
Auld Acquaintance Blended Whisky Info: From Gleann Mór Spirits, 46.1% ABV. Colour: Lightly ripening barley. Nose: Barley, hints of smoke, sweeties, red apples, toffee and tobacco. Palate: Lead by oils and cream, followed by light spices with smoky hints. Finish: Spiced and lengthy, sweet and easy. Thoughts: A fairly robust blend where the high percentage (at least 50% we’re told) of malts shines through to give it great flavour. Available: Various places online including Amazon for around £35, very reasonable. Thanks to Gleann Mór Spirits for the sample ..read more
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Quick Review: The Scalasaig Island Hopper
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
The Scalasaig Island Hopper Info: A blended malt featuring a variety of peated whiskies from the likes of Orkney and Islay, married together in first-fill Spanish sherry casks. 43% ABV. Colour: Dark golden, very autumnal. Nose: Pungent, mossy, hessian. Also some lightness there with citrus notes coming though the gentle smoke. Palate: Sweet, fairly spicy, rich and intense. The mossy peat comes though as if near a bonfire on a beach. Finish: It seems to get sweeter as it goes on, which it does for quite a long while, very moreish. Some cask tannins and grass / barley at the end. Thoughts: It’s ..read more
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News: The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
2M ago
The GlenDronach Distillery has announced the release of The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated; a peated expression of the Highland Single Malt, which is best known for its unpeated sherry cask maturation style. Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie has crafted The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated from a marriage of the finest Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry and port casks. This peated expression is bottled at 48% ABV and, as is the case for all The GlenDronach expressions, is non-chill filtered and absorbs colour naturally over time from the Spanish oak in which it resides. Dr. Rachel Barrie said: “T ..read more
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Review: The Singleton of Glen Ord Celebratory Bottling
Somerset Whisky Blog
by Steve Prentice
1y ago
The Singleton of Glen Ord – Celebratory Bottling “The Singleton” is a Diageo brand umbrella that covers various distilleries, and Singleton of Glen Ord sadly isn’t one that’s so well known in the UK (although it is elsewhere in the world). That may start to change as Diageo have launched a renewed Singleton visitor “experience”, based at the Glen Ord distillery north of Inverness. To celebrate the new visitor centre launch they’ve released a special distillery only bottling, although to be fair it’s not easy to find Singleton of Glen Ord anywhere else other than at the distillery, at least in ..read more
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