Monthly Archives: August 2023

An unexpected tasting – Drinks by the Drams 2022 Whisky Advent Calendar

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I absolutely LOVE sharing the joy of whisky exploration with others. A dram shared is a dram enjoyed. I also delight in helping folks discover something new. If I know what you have tried and liked, then chances are I can recommend something along those lines that takes one deeper into the world of whiskies.

Which is why an unexpected tasting last year was such a pleasure. It was a special treat – a complete surprise! An advent calendar with 24 minis was brought to a work offsite, where I found myself given an opportunity to introduce whiskies never before tried. It was an Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Drams – tracked down by some clever sleuthing by a colleague.

So what did we do? As only a couple colleagues that evening were whisky drinkers, I asked about preferred spirits. Using that as a bridge, I attempted to match inclinations and personalities with whisky profiles. Our evening covered drams from France, Ireland, Sweden, and Scotland… from standards to single cask to a blend of 14 countries!

What follows are simply light impressions of the different drams we sampled. What lasts are the memories of a moment well spent in fellowship over a dram or two.

Brenne Cuvée Spéciale French Single Malt Whisky

For our Italian colleague with a French heart, the obvious choice was the French whisky matured in Cognac casks. On the nose she found it light and fruity with honey, I described it as ‘bubblegum’, with more honey on the palate. There was a perfume – like a field of lavender. A lovely stylish dram for a singular woman.

Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey

Like many Irish whiskies, this was an amiable dram. On the nose, fresh citrus, and caramel with a nice honey sweetness, on the palate it was just as friendly with a spring-like quality and almonds on the finish. You may ask – who was Grace O’Malley? She was an Irish pirate queen – a charismatic leader from the nobility of County Mayo – whose story was the inspiration for a trio of gents (One Irish, two German) to create this brand. It will be interesting to see what these folks put out with their own liquid.

The Glenrothes 12 Year Old – Soleo Collection

For one, I thought perhaps a sherry dram might suit? I feared this may be a bit powerful – it was either going to be a hit or miss! She found it quite Christmasy, with some chocolate, and quite “warming”… and whilst not a whisky “convert”, found the experience interesting.

Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old – The Character of Islay Whisky Company

For the one colleague who has a fancy for Islay whiskies, I suggested this Islay. He described it as a “summer breeze” yet also peaty. And on the palate? Sweet caramel, smooth with smoke. I wasn’t familiar specifically with this whisky – however, I later learned later it is an anagram – Aerolite Lyndsay is literally just ‘Ten Year Islay”! So the mystery continues…

Mackmyra Björksav

Distinctly different from the clean Scandi style I’ve come to expect from Mackmyra. This one stood out as a clear favorite. On the nose, it was nutty, with fresh pine, forest, earthy, and sweet. Whereas on the palate it was warming, with a nice substance, more interesting the more time it spent in a glass. The name comes from “birch sap”, heralding the return to spring – quite apt. Pity there was only the wee dram!

World Whisky Blend from That Boutique-y Whisky Co

We also opened the World Whisky Blend from That Boutique-y Whisky Co – a delightful dram with a nice spice, herbal, a bit of eucalyptus and so much more! I was happy to have an opportunity to revisit this a few months later in Mumbai along with other TBWC expressions.

What else did the advent calendar have? Lots of other interesting drams which we divided up amongst all of us. Over the years, I’ve had a chance to try either the expressions or related ones of many in the Advent Calendar…

What about other Advent Calendar experiences? There have been a few…

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A dash of Islay – Bunnahabhain 10 year + Staoisha 5 year

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My explorations from a 2019 Whisky advent calendar are picking up pace! Each dram from this calendar was from a single cask, each unique, one-of-a-kind. This time I picked a pair of Bunnahabhains from Islay.

I decided to begin with the Bunnahabhain 10 year – anticipating that it would be without peat followed by the Staoisha 5 year. Named after Loch Staoisha on the Isle of Islay, when bottled as Staoisha, it is a signal that there is peat added to the mix.

Bunnahabhain 10 Year Old 2008 (cask 12663) 48% (Clan Denny, Douglas Laing)

  • Nose – That typically sweet, sour, and saline quality that greets you with most Bunnas! Alongside the fresh sea breeze comes sweet cake, a drizzle of honey, and a faintly nutty undertone with vanilla
  • Palate – Gentle and approachable, light spice joins tinned pineapples and more of that salt – quite pronounced
  • Finish – Continues with the sweet, spicy, and salty character…

A promising start and time to shift to the next expression…

Staoisha 5 Year Old 2013 (cask 940) 59.3% (The Single Cask) 258 Bottles

  • Nose – Now there is the peat! Smokey, fruity – especially the pineapple – which transforms from tinned to grilled – yum! Some bananas there too, opening into a medley of stewed fruits. Return to the nose again to discover that peat, sweet, with cinnamon, and spice. Also with a health dash of salt. Lovely!
  • Palate – Initially a mild bonfire of spice and peat that swiftly gentled. It was delicious – like warm sweet bread.
  • Finish – Cinnamon spice

There is no mistaking the peat in this one. It was really rather fabulous – a warm embrace.

I’m no stranger to this distillery… here is a sampling of other Bunnahabhain‘s sampled over the years…. many of which have age statements:

And a few more “modern” expressions without an age statement:

From time to time, you can also find other whisky-related updates and activities on:

More Minis – Nc’Nean, Tipperary, Gulliver’s 47

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Continuing my wee whisky mini explorations, I turned to a combination of two different sets… mixing up countries and styles!

For Nc’Nean, this mini came after I’d already purchased a full bottle with thoughts to bring it back to Mumbai for the Whisky Ladies. I knew it would be young but had been impressed with meeting the women leading the way with this fresh new independent distillery – committed to sustainable production, carbon-neutral, using recycled glass for the bottles, and most importantly passionate about crafting a fine dram in harmony with our planet.

Nc’Nean Single Scottish Malt Batch 7, 46%

  • Colour – Light gold
  • Nose – How delightfully fresh, fresh barley, light orange citrus
  • Palate – Initially prickly then gentled, quite young and active, some ginger, tinned pineapple, honey sweetness with something a bit rustic, tannins belying a wine cask influence? If yes, it was subtle and balanced
  • Finish – Waxy, a touch bitter like roasted nuts, light spice, a touch of orange oil

The challenge with tasting minis is that sometimes it simply isn’t enough! I was glad that I have a bottle to explore another time at leisure with friends.

I then shifted gears from Scotland to the Emerald Isles…

Tipperary 8 year Red Wine Cask Finish, Cask RC00117, 59.5%

  • Colour – What colour! A bright ruby
  • Nose – Bold blackberries, spice
  • Palate – Brash, a bit harsh and spicy, with some strong oak undertones, tannins and juicy red berries, like chewy red gummy bears
  • Finish – Sweet and tart at the same time, oak spice chasing

If Nc’Nean had a subtle hand, here there was no mistaking the use of a red wine cask with the Tipperary. So heavy, I wondered if it could have been finished in a decidedly “wet” cask leaving some wine behind? There is nothing shy about this whisky!

Whilst the Irish distillery is undisclosed, the folks at Tipperary have started their own distillery and in time will be putting out their own whisky. In the interim, this bottling of another is retailing for Eur 68.

And then on to a third country – England – with a lightly peated dram from The English Whisky Company:

Gulliver’s 47 Single English Malt 47%

  • Colour – Pale white gold, nearly translucent
  • Nose – Fresh sea breeze and smoke, angel food cake, citrus, layers of soft peat
  • Palate – Delightful! Gentle sweet peat, apples, buttery, lovely malty, most
  • Finish – Sweet tobacco leaf, lingering cinnamon

I really enjoyed this one – rolling around the palate – the peat was subtle yet satisfying. A rather nice dram.

What more do we know? It was aged in bourbon casks from Jim Bean, with the brand inspired by Samuel Gulliver an explorer who brought wines, spirits and liqueurs from around the world back to 18th century Britain. You can find this for Eur 60.

What fun to mix and match tasting from two new distilleries and one brand with a distillery to be!

From time to time, you can also find other whisky-related updates and activities on:

Kirsch Scotch Whisky Adventskalender 2022

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In the spring of 2023 I was preparing for a trip back to India. Part of my preparations was to pick up a set of whiskies for our Whisky Ladies – more specifically That Boutique-y Whisky Company: World Whisky Blend, Cotswolds, Macduff, English Whisky Co. We rather enjoyed that exploration!

Along with it I also picked up another tasting set – Roggen (aka Rye) Revolution with whiskies from Denmark: Stauning Rye & El Clásico, Finland: Kyrö Malt Rye & Wood Smoke Rye, Germany: Stork Club Straight Rye & Full Proof Rye

Yet the ultimate was a rather remarkable set of 24 miniatures from Kirsh. As I still have a few minis from my 2019 Drinks by the Drams – Single Cask Advent Calendar, it will likely be a long time before I get around to tackling this set – however it is there ready and waiting to be explored.

Kirsh Scotch Whisky Advent Kalendar 2022 

  1. Sherry Blended Malt 44.2% (Berry Bro’s)
  2. Black Bull Peated Edition 50% – Also received as a “bonus” dram
  3. Inchgower 13 years (18 Feb 2008/29 June 2021) Cask No S801500/S801502 46% (Signature)
  4. The Spaniard 43% (Compass Box) – Previously tasted in 2018
  5. Glasgow 1770 Peated 46%
  6. Glen Spey Dimensions 11 years 54.8% (Duncan Taylor)
  7. Edradour 10 year 40%
  8. Glencadam American Oak Reserve 40%
  9. Ballechin 15 year SBCS 59.4% (Germany exclusive)
  10. Nc’Nean Organic 46% – Tried with another mini set
  11. Unnamed Speyside 12 year (23 Feb 2009 / 29 Nov 2021) Cask DRU 17/A197 #6 46% (Signature)
  12. Raasay 46.4%
  13. Speyside Blended Malt 44.2% (Berry Bro’s & Rudd) – A teasing taste at London’s Whisky Show 2022
  14. Benrinnes 9 year (30 June 2021 / 4 Juen 2021) Refill Butt 307210, 46% (Signature)
  15. Caol Ila 10 year Reserve Cask Parcel No. 7 48% (Single Malts of Scotland) Angel’s share 13.3%, selected by Oliver Chilton
  16. Pulteney 12 year (27 May 2008 / 27 April 2021) Sherry Finish (33 months) Cask No 16, 56.6% (Signatory)
  17. Artist Blend 43% (Compass Box) – Curious it it’s more like the Glasgow or Great King Street or Experimental expressions?
  18. GlenAllachie 15 year 46% – Tasted as part of a special online tasting with Juliette 
  19. Askaig 8 year 45.8% – Let’s see how it compares with earlier expressions
  20. Glen Moray Small Batch 12 year (2021) 46% (Berry Bros & Rudd)
  21. Ben Nevis 7 year (17 Oct 2013 / 6 Aug 2021) Hogshead Cask No 420 + 425 46% (Signatory)
  22. Glencadam Reserva Adnalucia 46%
  23. Old Ballantruan Speyside Glenlivet ‘The Peated’ 50%
  24. GlenAllachie (2009) Cuvee Cask Finish 55.9%

Curious to know more? Me too! However, don’t be surprised if I take a year or more to crack open and share tasting notes.

PS – I purchased this for 76.75 plus shipping.

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A pair of single casks – Glen Spey and GlenAllachie

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A few years ago, I enthusiastically purchased a Whisky advent calendar – all single casks, each unique. This was my special “welcome to Germany” gift. Slowly but surely over the years, I’ve opened a couple more, typically a pair at a time.

After a bit of a break, it was high time to crack open a few more… this time a pair from Speyside…

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Jan 1997/Nov 2018) cask 12952, 51.1% (Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular), 256 bottles

  • Nose – Waxy, coconut oil, raw banana peels, barley mash, light spice… after some time, a hint of salty toffee
  • Palate – Started off with a real spicy chili kick, a bit sweet and sour
  • Finish – Bitter with the spice lingering, tapering into sweetness
  • Water – Brings out a spicy fruity mix – jackfruit

Not sure what I was expecting, however, the more I sipped, the more I enjoyed it.

Douglas Laing tasting notes:

The nose is sweet and lively with chocolate covered coconut, juicy barley and gentle spice. The palate reveals layer on layer of vanilla alongside creamy toffee and warm sponge cake, and the long finish has a mellow oak quality, with marshmallows and caramelised sugar.

Remarkably, Master of Malt still has it in stock – for a ‘mere’ Eur 220!

GlenAllachie 13 year (25 Oct 2005 / 13 Jun 2019), Cask 901062, 65.1% (Lady of the Glen) 368 bottles

  • Nose – Such a bouquet! Fruity, floral, then creamy, nutty, malty, yummy! Reminded me of juicy fruit gum! Then shifted into old over-ripe fruits, mascarpone
  • Palate – Resinous, herbal, then chocolaty, nutty, buttery, stewed fruits
  • Finish – Long, strong with a bit of nutty bitterness
  • Water – Definitely add! Brightens and lightens without losing the spike kick

What a character! There is something also a bit different about this one. I’m not sure if it was the Marsala finish or something else, but it’s tough to pin down… and that’s what makes it fun.

What more do we know? It was matured in a single bourbon hogshead and then finished in Marsala Wine Butt from Sicily.

The folks at Master of Malt had this to say:

  • Nose: Floral malt, vanilla biscuits, and milk chocolate Maltesars, with caramelized nuts.
  • Palate: Apricot jam on fresh toast with lots of melted butter, vanilla cream, and nougat.
  • Finish: Dried fruit, namely more apricot, with toasted walnut and vanilla pod.

Would I agree? Certainly!

Once upon a time, this whisky retailed for Eur 96, however suspect you won’t find it so easily now.

From time to time, you can also find other whisky-related updates and activities on: