Monthly Archives: March 2025

Whisky Lady – January to March 2025

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Rewind the clock a few months to when we rang in the new year on our farm in India. It was an opportunity to escape Mumbai’s hustle and bustle, the pollution and population, to relax and reflect, thinking back on different experiences and explorations.

Whisky-wise however, all the adventures were urban! In Mumbai, we brought together the Whisky Ladies and Bombay Malt & Cigar gents in January, after a few years of hiatus. It was such fun to gather, consider, and enjoy. We selected a trio of easy-drinking Welsh Penderyn’s followed by a new American entrant – 10th Street STR Dragon. Whilst we didn’t specifically intend it to be an exploration of Port, it turned out to be a clear theme.

We decided then and there to revive our annual combined session, and I offered to supply the Whisky Ladies side in 2026 with a quartet of gorgeous Chorltons. I mean, who could resist? (PS I still need to confirm which will make the final cut!)

It was also my turn to host the Bombay Malt & Cigar gents’ whiskies, for which I decided to go for a Scottish whisky regions theme :

Also, before leaving India in January, I cleaned and re-organised my whisky cabinet, putting together tasting set options for future evenings.

Back in Germany, we revived the Nurnberg International Whisky Tasting group with a late January 2025 session. It was a nice distraction from the cold, grey weather, exploring 3 blends and a special Finnish single malt! Dewar’s Japanese, Woven Homemade, Green Spot Bordeaux, Teerenpeli 10 year. 

Later in March, we joined a special charitable event of delicious Ethiopian feed and African whiskies, organised by the good folks at Hawelti. It was such an interesting variety of spirits, grains, and single malts – what a treat!

  • Projekt 3 Ethiopian Beer spirit
  • Project 4 Acacia barrel, rum finish
  • Boplas 5 year Single Grain 43.6%
  • Heimer 2021 grain 43%
  • Three Ships 12 year Single Malt 46.3%
  • Ondjaba triple grain 54.8% from Namibia
  • Bains 18 year Oloroso 50.5%
  • Projekt 01 10 year Strathmill 65.7%

I also took time to continue to catch up on tasting experiences from the 2024 London Whisky Show – largely from Day 2 – September 8, 2024. Here are a few stalls we visited:

  • Glenfarclas 15 year – a perfect calibration dram!
  • Whisky Auction – for our Dream Drams of Brora 1981 and Glen Grant 12 year from the 1970s
  • Decadent Drinks – Whisky Sponge, Solstice & Equinox, Notable Age Statements and more!
  • Ichiro’s Malt blends – a nice wander through their collection
  • Ardnahoe – Welcome to Hunter Laing’s Islay Distillery
  • Hunter Laing – First Editions and Old Malt Casks from Auchroisk, Ardmore, Craigellachie to a Glen Grant 25!
  • Mainstage with festival picks
  • Introducing a new English distillery with Wire Works 
  • Woven Blends – What a fabulous experience with a special blend made just for my tasting companion and I!
  • Cardrona – A couple whiskies and the most wonderful Vodka – The Reid!

Plus a couple of stragglers from Day 1 that were published in 2025:

It was well worth the trip to London! And we have already bought our tickets for 2025!

As for what next? Let’s see what unfolds…

Curious to know more? Check out a few more summaries:

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Whisky Show 2024 – Cardrona

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 We were coming to the close of our 2nd day at London’s Whisky Show 2024. We had explored so many interesting whiskies that when a whisky industry insider shared his favourite of the festival was a vodka – we did a double take – vodka? Really?

However we thought, “What the heck? Why not give it a go!” We then learned the vodka in question came from New Zealand. Like many newer distilleries, Cardona produces multiple spirits – vodka, gin and whisky – we were at a Whisky Show after all! 

The Reid single malt vodka 44% NZD 122

  • Nose – Beautiful! A lovely floral aroma – like wandering past a rose bush. The sweet essence was entrancing. It was a floral and fruity perfume with pears and bananas
  • Palate – Soft on the palate… the bananas were joined by caramel and tinned pineapples
  • Finish – Candy floss, loads of flavours lingering

We had no idea what to expect. And were blown away – it was simply spectacular. It is hard to describe why exactly it captured us so completely – it just did. Simply wow!

Here’s what the folks at Cardona have to say about their vodka:

Decadently rich, The Reid Single Malt Vodka is the best vodka you will ever taste. It was awarded Gold at the World’s Best 50 International Awards in New York. On the nose, The Reid is delicately nuanced with pear drops, lemon, toffee and malt biscuits. On the tongue, the Reid is weighted and balanced. Exquisite neat, with water, or mixed into a crafted cocktail.

Cardrona 7years Full Flight Solera 62.8% NZD 175

  • Nose – Quite active, light lemon
  • Palate – Banana and spice
  • Finish – Cayenne finish

In fairness, after the incredible vodka, it was a tough act to follow. They shared it spent five years in ex-Bourbon barrels before maturing another two years in Sherry. Whilst the website indicates Oloroso however at the Whisky Show, the folks mentioned PX cask.

This is what the folks at Cardona have to say about this expression:

Full Flight is the final expression of The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky coming of age. Aged for seven years in a marriage of specially selected ex-Oloroso Sherry butts and ex-Bourbon barrels, Full Flight is decadently rich and delivered at natural cask strength. Dark fruits on the nose, and sticky treacle in the mouth.

Cardrona The Falcon 52% NZD 353

  • Nose – A powerhouse on the nose
  • Palate – In some ways it is more refined than the Full Flight, however still has a kick!
  • Finish – Peppery

To be honest, we were clearly into whisky show fatigue by this point. I later counted it up – much more than 60 drams were sniffed, swished, and sampled over the weekend. How could we truly do justice to our final whisky of the event?

So I turned to check out what the folks at Cardrona have to say about this dram: 

An exquisite trinity of three hand-selected casks, drawn from some of our oldest stocks and reduced to 52% abv. 

Burnt toffee. Vanilla cream. Sun-scorched nectarine. Pepper.

Whilst the whiskies were a bonus, it truly was the vodka that was the star of the show!

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2024 London Whisky Show Mainstage Festival Picks!

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For the 2024 Whisky Show, a new approach to the Mainstage sessions was introduced. Rather than be in the midst of the chaos and cacophony of the show floor, a room was set aside and one had to book a seat in advance. It was exactly like a masterclass – except it was included in the standard ticket price. 

I signed us up for Sunday’s Festival Picks with Dawn Davies and Billy Abbott from The Whisky Exchange with Dave Broom. 

As Dave was double booked, his festival pick was where our tales began. 

Boann Irish Pot Still Madeira Cask 47%

  • Nose – Light, fruity, young and fresh, the sour mash shifted into a lovely honeydew melon then cantaloupe
  • Palate – Oily with spice, creamy oats, and candyfloss, with the madeira cask bringing a sweet fruit and nuts element
  • Finish – Lingers and lingers

Talk turned to slightly ribald comments about the bottle being “ribbed” for ones pleasure… Then to discussions of nanotechnology, reverse chill condensation, increased copper contact, inverse temperature, blend of malted and unmalted barley, single pot still and more…. 

Glenglassaugh Sandend 50.5% GBP 54

Billy shared how he was highly impressed by a Chichibu, however as it had sold out, turned his attention back to Scotland – selecting a new expression from Gleglassaugh.

I’ve had a mixed experience with Glenglassaugh – the early days were a bit bumpy however they have indeed improved significantly. Still a far cry from the original which is something to experience if you have a chance!

Again another ripped bottle! 

  • Nose – Off to a promising start! Fruity – think orchard fruits, delicate and sweet, chased with honey, opens up more over time… revealing grapefruit, with sea salt
  • Palate – Spice and nice with substance, salted caramel, quite mineral, a bit rough even, then mellows out and becomes more accessible
  • Finish – Companionable spice

Billy remarked how this is an affordable dram he pronounced also has high “drinkability.” And how he sees a clear continued space in the industry for more traditional-styled whisky like this one.  

Here’s what they have to say:

Glenglassaugh Sandend is inspired by the crescent beach of Sandend Bay where the distillery resides. Enriched in bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks, over time the lush flavour of Glenglassaugh Sandend brightens into waves of tropical sweetness, infused with a crack of sea salt.

Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still 51% ~GBP 94

We closed with Dawn’s pick from Japan. Kanosuke have two distilleries – Hioki is the one responsible for Mellowed Kozuru shochu. 

  • Nose – Sour cherries, cranberries, bright, beautiful, sweet polish
  • Palate – Very oak forward, varnish, very distinctive and different

Dawn shared that what makes this whisky so singular is that it is actually produced in a Sochu pot still – hence it is a bit of an un-whisky like whisky. She described the result as being a cross between Irish and American though Japanese! 

The selection of whiskies was intended to be both available and more accessible. Everyone can pick as their favourite an outrageously rare dram. Finding one that stands out which is affordable takes a different approach.

I’m a big fan of this new format. We can really enjoy the “Mainstage” aka masterclass and will certainly be checking out which ones we can catch in 2025!

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Whisky Show 2024 – England’s Wire Works

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After some mighty fine drams from all over Scotland at London Whisky Show 2024, it was time to turn to a new English distillery – Wire Works.

Wire Works Caduro 46.8%

  • Nose – A bit harsh at first, then revealed rose petal, sweet peat, and sherry
  • Palate – Soft peat, savoury, salty, elegant
  • Finish – Salty finish with a bit of sage

Overall we found it quite savoury and vegetal.

Wire Works Bourbon 53.4%

  • Nose – Melons, a hint of peat, more sweet than peat though
  • Palate – Yum! This works – back to the basics with bourbon. A nice oily quality, creamy quality.
  • Finish – A touch of spice

There was a lovely texture to this one. No hiding the whisky character with finishes – it shone through clearly. 

Wire Works Moscatel 53.6%

  • Nose – Citrus fresh
  • Palate – A bit sour, surprisingly creamy, nutty, like marzipan, quite interesting sweet and sour
  • Finish – Savoury

There was a distinctive aamchor element to this whisky! Aamchor is a dried mango powder that adds a nice tartness to dishes. Overall we described this dram as quite khatta meetha – in other words sour and sweet. 

Wire Works Madeira 53.6%

  • Nose – Fruity, sweet. much more subtle than the Moscatel, dark cherries
  • Palate – Juicy and well rounded
  • Finish – Quite a dry finish

The Madeira has personality. From a fruity juicy palate to dry finish, this was a nice way to finish our explorations of Wire Works.

Our previous experiences with whiskies from England were primarily with Cotswold, 

Cotswolds

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Whisky Show 2024 – Woven Whiskey Makers

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My father was a chemistry professor. Growing up, we regularly visited him at the University of Manitoba’s chemistry lab. The smells, the beakers and flasks, bunsen burners and goggles, white lab coats, and more. These things were all familiar friends by association. 

There is something about Woven’s approach to whisky blends that reminded me of my father tinkering in the chemistry lab. Leading enquiring young minds through the mysteries of chemical equations.

In terms of experience, hands down, the folks at Woven Whisky Makers were at the top at the London Whisky Show 2024. A year earlier, they were already making waves, however, their approach to the 2024 show fully lived up to their ambition to create fun experiences!

It was a treat to explore a few of their blends. Clearly, they are enjoying the journey too! 

Woven Homemade (2024) 46.4%

I had tried their 2023 avatar and quite liked it, however, it did not make even close to the same impression as what I tried in 2024.

It was fun and fruity on the nose with toffee and something else. The palate was super balanced with a long finish – sweet and salty caramel – think salty butterscotch – yum! In some ways, it reminded me a bit of a brighter and slightly sharper Benjamin Keuntz’s Aveux Gourmands 46%.

Woven Hemispheres 50.4% GBP 55

Look up into the night sky on the prairies and one becomes keenly aware of just how small and insignificant we are… The immense sky seen from the flat land can inspire awe – especially on nights when the northern lights dance overhead.

The thinking behind this blend is simple – just two ingredients from two different hemispheres – 26% Thomson Distillery Manuka Smoked Single Malt and 74% North British Single Grain. So what was the result? We found it lightly medicinal, a puff of smoke… curious and contradictory. Citrus and herbs, and sweet wood. Interesting. 

What do they have to say?

HEMISPHERES is a blend of two whiskies, worlds apart. 
 
A tiny New Zealand maker of Manuka smoked Single Malt meets one of Scotland’s largest distilleries; urban, yet elegant.
 
When we tasted the herbal, smoky single malt being produced by Thomson Whisky at their tiny site just outside Auckland, we knew we had found something special. Their Manuka-smoked distillate is a living response to their unique natural environment, and as we connected with these good folks and their fresh perspective on smoke, we realised we’d found kindred spirits.

HEMISPHERES brings these different worlds of whisky together; Scotland and New Zealand. Tradition and modernity. But it’s also a reminder that no matter what the distance or perceived differences, in whisky and in life, there’s much more that connects us than separates us. 
 
This is an oily, smoky and herbal Blended World Whisky with notes of orange, clove and honey that celebrates ever-expanding horizons of flavour. 

Woven Superblend (2022) 46.1% GBP 50

Inspired by BNJ, this blend brings together distilleries from around the world. 

We found it very light, whilst a bit hard to pin down to something specific, it was warm and welcoming. On the palate, there was delightful spice, well balanced and enjoyable, an oily element. and closed with a gentle sweetness.

This is the story about Superblend:

Superblend is a blend of whiskies of different origins. We start with whisky from Scotland. But that’s not where this journey ends. 
A new breed of distillery from England. Germany’s largest Single Malt Distillery. An experimental project in the USA. A maverick Irish producer with rebellious spirit. Each cask chosen solely on flavour. This is whisky, free from all geographical constraints. Blended across borders.
The result is a rich, textured. blended world whisky that is so much greater than the sum of its parts.
 
I’ve included the composition here – with its fascinating mix of different geographies and distilleries. 
 
  • SCOTLAND MALT: Loch Lomond Single Malt (6 Years) 23.9%, Campbeltown Single Malt (5 Years) 6.52%, Speyside Blended Malt (Peated) (9 Years) 4.35%
  • SCOTLAND GRAIN: Highland Grain (Wheat Base) (3 Years) 21.74%, Highland Grain (Malted Barley) (3 Years) 15.22%, Loch Lomond Organic Grain (Wheat) (22 Years) 4.35%
  • WORLD WHISKY: The English Distillery Co. Single Malt (9 Years) 2.17%, George Dickel Sour Mash (USA) (11 Years) 2.17%, MGP Indiana Bourbon (USA) (7 Years) 6.52%, St Killian Single Malt (Germany) (3 Years) 5.43%, Irish Whisky (undisclosed distillery) (13 Years) 7.61%
That’s quite a mix making for a rather interesting Woven blend.

Woven Experience N.20 “Friends in the North” (2024) 47%

What a remarkable blend – it was full of fresh pine and cedar on the nose. Quite frisky on the palate with a clean clear style that I have come to associate with Scandinavian whiskies. The finish was straightforward with a hint of saline.

Here is what they have to say about their Nordic blend:

We’d heard the stories. Scandinavian whisky makers, each crafting their own vision of excellence, creating flavours and lore. Our journey began with a question: Is there a ‘Nordic Style’? But what we found was something richer, something profoundly more human, and more delicious than we ever imagined. 

Each distillery told its own tale of remoteness, isolation, and invention. After polite introductions, we geeked out on mind blowing stories delivered in a cool, matter of fact fashion – ‘it’s just how we do it’. 

Four countries, countless flavours. Not one single thread, but a tapestry of warm welcomes, proud traditions, experimental whisky making, and unexpected delights.

We set out to craft a whisky. What we created were friends, and we can’t wait for you to meet them. 

This is Experience N.20 // Friends in the North – composed of:

  • Kyrö Distillery (FIN) Rye (Alder Wood Smoke) 20.58%
  • High Coast Distillery (SWE) Unpeated Malt 4.80% 
  • Agitator Distillery (SWE) Chateau Margaux 10.43%
  • Agitator Distillery (SWE) Lightly Peated 6.86%
  • Feddie Ocean Distillery (NOR) Ex Islay Qtr Cask 9.33%
  • Feddie Ocean Distillery (NOR) Ex Bourbon13.72%
  • North British (SCO) Single Grain 34.29%
There were a few familiar distilleries like Finland’s Kyrö, Sweden’s High Coast (previously Box) and Agitator, however, North British and Freddie Ocean Distillery are new to me! A most intriguing blend and well worth exploring!

And then our super special blends – made just for us! Like the shelves of the chemistry lab’s “store” of my childhood, behind a curtain was an array of different bottles filled with different elements.

We were invited to share answers to various questions which revealed our distinct whisky preferences before a blend was made based on these choices.

My festival pick for 2024 was Woven’s Homemade. After inquiring, I learned that it would become available in Germany later in October, so if I was a bit patient, I could have it conveniently delivered to my door for a few bobs less. Sign me up!

What else did we try from Woven?

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