Category Archives: Blends

Whisky Ladies Celebration! Blue Label, Auchentoshan, Laphroaig

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With Diwali just behind us, we came together for a different celebration! The Whisky Ladies November 2025 session just happened to bring together a recognition of a Presidential award, a marriage, and a birthday – what fun!

This theme of celebration was reflected in the whiskies as well:

  • Johnie Walker Blue Label Xordinaire Cognac Cask 40% ~GBP 200
  • Auchentoshan American Oak 40% ~Eur 27 (1L)
  • Laphroaig “The Cask Legacy” 48% (Laphroaig Cask Collection) ~Eur 122

All can be found in travel retail, and reflect quite different styles.

I think the last time I gave proper attention to Johnnie Walker was at a large music festival at Mehboob Studios in Bandra, Mumbai. They had a full set of options on offer, and whilst I took no notes, I was left with a solid reminder of why these blends are so universally popular.

Like many things, we often overlook the “ordinary” in pursuit of the “extraordinary”… so what did we think of their special XO cognac finished cask “Xordinaire”?

Johnie Walker Blue Label Xordinaire 40%

  • Nose – It greeted us with stewed peaches, pears, lots of crisp green apples, then some guava, and honey. As it opened up more, it shifted from fresh fruits to stewed fruits – particularly apples, and from honey to a darker treacle. Behind all of this, after the first sip, was a hint of marmite, leather, plus peppercorns…
  • Palate – It began quite fruity, then black peppercorns took centre stage. Overall, it was quite “thin” on the palate. On the 2nd sip, it became a bit nutty, bitter, and woody. One even found beetroot!
  • Finish – There, yet quite short
  • Ice – I know we typically eschew ice with whisky; however, the instinct to add was spot on! It brightened the whisky on the nose, brought out a pleasant caramel sweetness on the palate, and even a hint of cream.

Whilst it wasn’t “extraordinairy”, it was not bad at all. That said, we couldn’t discern much Cognac cask influence and were frankly shocked at the price tag! Surely it couldn’t actually be retailing in travel retail for Eur 230 / SGD 340 / AED 960 / INR 24,000??

Touted as the perfect whisky for non-whisky drinkers, I can certainly think of more affordable options for a neophyte consumer.

We moved on to another travel retail bottle – this time from Lowland distillery Auchentoshan.

Auchentoshan American Oak 40%

  • Nose – Delightful! Sweet candy, lemon, mosambi, bananas, heather, then began to shift into tobacco leaf, lots of vanilla, some date, clove, black pepper, and even a bit of date, chalk, with a faintly metallic element
  • Palate – Soft, very smooth, sweet yet also with a prick of spice, fruit, and coconut cream
  • Finish – Chilli, lemon rind, and a hint of almond – more specifically a Kashmiri mamra

While there was no need to add water, we set the glass aside and returned to find a creamy perfume, something almost reminiscent of Tutti Fruitti ice cream! Talk turned from desserts to food, and, like often happens with a companionable dram, merriment took over from the malt. In our books – that is a good thing indeed!

What does Auchentoshan have to say?

  • To the eye: Look for the vivid, bright gold colour when selecting your Auchentoshan American Oak. Wondering what gives whisky its colour? The delicate maturing process. As the single malt matures in the quality bourbon barrels, a new and complex colour and flavour profile is created over time.
  • To the nose: A vibrant bourbon infused vanilla and coconut with layers of zesty citrus fruit, making this Scotch Single Malt from Auchentoshan stand out from the crowd.
  • To the tongue: A refreshingly smooth whisky taste. Lively, with vanilla cream, coconut and white peach.
  • To the end: Crisp, with sugared grapefruit and a lingering hint of spice.

Overall, this one hit the spot for many of our ladies. And for the price-point? At around 1/10th the cost of the Johnnie Walker, the Auchentoshan would make a much better introduction to whisky for someone new to the spirit!

We then radially switched gears from a light, sprightly, easy-going Lowland style to Islay – and that too the peat beast Laphroaig! I admit upfront that it has been some time since I had a Laphroaig whisky. Their signature ashy style simply isn’t my preferred peat, so I’ve tended to skip over most opportunities to explore this distillery. Which is exactly why I welcome opportunities like this evening – to put my preconceived notions to the test!

Laphroaig “The Cask Legacy” 48% (Laphroaig Cask Collection)

  • Nose – Peaty! With that delicious bacon jam we often seek out! There was cedar wood, salty butter, ash yet citrus too, faint mulberry jam, even some custard apple? Some ripe figs, nutmeg… after the 1st sip we also found raisins, cinnamon, finding it became milder and mellower the longer it was in the glass
  • Palate – A proper Laphroaig. Ash. Yet also joined by jackfruit, apples, smooth yet oily.
  • Finish – Buttery, with peat, tobacco, a bit nutty – long and lasting

Like the other glasses, we set this aside to revisit and found it was indeed ashy, yet it was also quite nice, well-rounded, and overall rewarding.

Here’s what Laphraoig shares with their official tasting notes:

  • Colour: Deep, warming sunset orange.
  • Nose: Whiffs of our signature peat smoke with burnt apricot and raisins. ​
  • Palate: Broad and soft oak, rich caramelised dark fruit and a lively dried fruitiness.
  • Finish: Lingering nuts, peat and oiled wood.
  • Maturation: Aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels then new European oak hogsheads. ​

It was almost like this Legacy expression was taunting: “So you thought to dismiss us? Think again! People love us for a very good reason!” I felt properly “schooled” and really enjoyed this one.

And there you have it – a celebratory trio of whiskies for a most enjoyable evening!

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2025 Whisky Show – Compass Box

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At the 2024 London Whisky Show, we had such fun at the Compass Box stand. They were back in 2025 – so we had to stop by!

Now the secret of thriving at Whisky Shows is to pass over more than you pick! So, when we looked at the line-up at Compass Box, we knew we had to make a tough call – skip more than sip!

It was a popular stand – for good reason!  Always having an eye for a creative design aesthetic, this was on a royal scale!

What did we focus on this year?

  • Hedonism 2025 46% – GBP 85
  • Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 130
  • Brûlée Royal 2025 49% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 106
  • Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet) – GBP 270

Let’s get on with the tasting, shall we? Spoiler alert! The Brûlée Royal was my top pick!

Hedonism 2025 46%

Hedonism is one of those whiskies that gets a polarised reaction. People either love it or don’t. What you have to understand upfront is that this is a blended grain, with no malt whisky. This requires some recalibration of expectations.

My first experience with Hedonism more than a decade ago was mixed – I simply couldn’t get past a pronounced coconut oil! A few years later, I most associated piña colada with an edition, likely from around 2016 / 2017! Then came a chance to try their 15th anniversary edition – I found it more interesting, yet I was still not entirely convinced.

Fast forward to the  2025 / 25th anniversary edition. What did we think?

Well hello! It was incredibly approachable on the nose – bananas, caramel, cream, and a bit of coconut there too! The best was the palate – it was an easy-drinking whisky, balanced and fun. Nothing off, just fresh, sweet, smooth, and enjoyable.

The story behind this edition goes:

Created as our first whisky in 2000, Hedonism has always defied convetion. It pays homage to the tradition of grain whisky distillation in Scotland, while pushing the boundaries of Scotch.

The Hedonism label has always proudly featured the image of a woman – something Scotch whisky had never done before, so for each annual release we commission a different female artist to bring to life the strength that our original label illustration represented. This year, for our second release, Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati, who creates striking female portraits that invite you into a dreamlike world, has reimagined the Hedonism woman once again.

The Compass Box folks describe this special 25th anniversary edition as:

Initial waves of caramel and powdered sugar, leading into a heart of pure peach puree, cocoa and pear. Chocolate mousse arrives on the palate, joined by nutmeg-inflected custard and cinnamon. The finish freshens to white grape, Fuji apple and vanilla.

What went into this blend? Though all grains, it is also a blend of older Hedonism too! Cameronbridge (46.7% 1st fill bourbon, another 1st fill bourbon 11.6%, 1st fill Marsala Barrique 2.8%), Hedonism vatted in 2022 (11.9%), Hedonism vatted in 2023 (16.9), Girvan (10.1%). Curious to know more? Check out their Factsheet with all the details!

Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48%

Over the years, we’ve had a chance to sample their Flaming Heart 7th Edition and 15th Anniversary expressions. So what about the latest 25th Anniversary dram – their 8th edition?

Wow! This is indeed a departure! This is full-on peat with a big meaty nose, loads of peat and spice on the palate, finishing with even more peat and sweetness. This is no shy, retiring, nuanced dram. It is fun and fabulous, confident in its rocking character!

Their description of its flavour profile is:

Rich, oily smoke appears on the nose, supported by zingy spice. Hints of raspberry and apricot encircled by impressions of tarry rope. The palate is immediately dense as spices like clove, pink and black pepper and nutmeg arrive. Medicinal peat notes duke it out with bright and winey fruit. Finally, concentrated smoke that is at once woody and ashy with menthol and citrus oils.

This blend has a primary focus on peat with (48.1%), (35.5%), Williamson Islay Malt Blend (13.4%%), and a bit of (3%). Do check out their Factsheet full of more info!

Brûlée Royal 2025 49%

This was the new avatar – inspired by the Palace of Versailles chef François Massialot, who wrote in his 1691 cookbook Cuisinier royal et bourgeois a recipe for what became known as crème brûlée. The whole theme of the Compass Box booth this year was a nod to royal opulence!

Whilst we had a mere sniff and swish, we remarked that this was one deliberately delicious dessert-styled dram! We thoroughly enjoyed the burnt caramel aromas, with the palate fun and creamy, and the finish nicely closing the experience.

Compass Box’s official tasting notes share:

Immediate Crème Brulée, which opens to custard Danish and scorched sugar brittles. The palate is thick with clotted cream, honeyed malt and broiled peaches followed by custard & Tarte Tatin. Pannacotta & gentle nutmeg spice followed by silken jersey milk, toasted sugar and banana split.

This is a vatted malt with (53.3%), (39%), (7.2%), and a touch of (0.5%). Whisky geeks should check out their Fact Sheet for more details!

Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet)

We closed with the 3rd expression from their Extinct Blends Quartet. The idea here is to bring to our palate a time capsule. As I’ve also experienced, blends of earlier decades differ greatly from what is produced today.

We found it big, bold, yet balanced. Bursting with both pitted and tropical fruits, it was both lush and fresh, rich and rewarding. The finish was long and strong.

Their tasting notes:

Vanilla arrives first on the nose, followed by a medley of different honeys. Fudge, apricot and pineapple lead to fresh fig. A rich and very complex palate with sultana, apricot again and hints of smoky woodiness. A long and sweet finish, with a pleasing weight.

With Metropolis, the focus is on the urban of yesteryear. What more do we know?

Metropolis uses some of our rarest and most mature stocks. It centres around nutty and biscuity single malt from the Aberlour Distillery, aged in re-charred American oak barrels. This is supported by citrusy and vanilla-accented single malt from the Miltonduff Distillery. A blended grain parcel and a hint of herbal smoke courtesy of malt whisky from the Bowmore Distillery complete the complex recipe.

Our whisky guide shared that the Bowmore stock was more than 20 years old! For more details, check out their Fact Sheet.

And there you have it! Quite a range this year. Whilst my favourite was the Brûlée Royal, I really enjoyed the opportunity to try the Metropolis. The Flaming Heart shift in character to full peat was a departure, but it worked. The biggest surprise? How much we enjoyed the Hedonism!

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That Boutique-y Whisky Co Blends

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In early 2019, I decided it would be fun to invest in a special tasting set for those quiet times between tasting sessions. My choice was to go super unique with the That Boutique-y Whisky Company 2018 Advent Calendar. 

Then my life changed with a move from India to Germany, followed by the world changing with COVID. Fast forward to the fall of 2025, when I was packing and unpacking and repacking between Germany, two homes in India, and Canada… I found myself on our Maharashtra farm contemplating a potential weekend getaway in Manitoba and remembered this delightful box full of quirky and curious drams!

My Manitoba getaway companion is a fellow whisky lady plus our fabulous cottage host, who also enjoys a good dram or two! As I would be just missing her birthday, I decided to pack a few drams to enjoy together in a quiet celebration! Even better – they could be considered an early “appetizer” for the 2025 Whisky Show in London coming up the following weekend! I remembered a brilliant exploration of special blends with TBWC at the Whisky Show in 2022 plus an exceptional 45 year blended grain featured in Paris Live!

What did I pick?

After so much time, it was tough to track down official bottle images and tasting notes; however, I could find a few insights into what the good folks at TBWC had to say about two expressions!

I decided to start with the Japanese and Scottish blend… with no idea what to expect! Here are our impressions, splitting a wee 30 ml mini between three!

Blend of Scottish and Japanese malt and grain whiskies 21 Year Old (2018) Batch 1, 43%

  • Nose – Oh my! Lots of bananas, caramel, ripe fruits, a sweet tropical fruit bowl, and warm vanilla cream. As it opened, it even had a caramel buttery quality.
  • Palate – Light chilli spice plus chai masala – mostly cloves, joined by coffee mocha, chased by nutty nougat
  • Finish – Lingers with an espresso tail, hint of wood

Overall, we enjoyed this one. It had a nice balance between sweet and spice. Nothing complex, and one described it as particularly promising on the nose, hints of sherry cask; however, it “flatlined’ after some time.

Whilst I couldn’t find tasting notes in That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s archive, Master of Malt has this to say:

The very first bottling of Blended Whisky made using malt and grain whisky from Scotland and Japan is here! This 21 year old expression is a globe-spanning delight, with oodles of vanilla and cooking spice notes alongside a deft touch of smoke. Also, the label is generally just rad, so that’s a plus.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

  • Nose: A very malty nose opens with Seville orange marmalade and buttered burnt toast. There’s some vanilla, juicy toasted barley and a touch of donuts underneath. Charred oak and red chilli add warmth and savoury spice throughout.
  • Palate: Nutmeg and clove add a drying spice which contributes depth to butterscotch and hazelnuts. There’s a subtle tropical fruit note underneath.
  • Finish: Medium length, with touches of burnt oak.

Next, we turned our tasting towards a young Scottish expression… I began with what was their #4 expression – the youngest of the bunch!

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 4 B1.jpg

Scottish Blended Malt #4 6 Year Old (February 2018) Batch 1, 53.6%

  • Nose – Fresh and light, youthful apple cinnamon, lemon drops, bay leaf, slipping into wet leaves, dark molasses treacle, and more vegetal elements
  • Palate – Sour mash, pepper, with the sense that it simply wasn’t really ready to be bottled
  • Finish – Limited

Alas, a massive disappointment after a potentially interesting nose. Now, in fairness, we were three people sampling from a 30 ml miniature. However, given that is the 10 ml Whisky Show pour, we certainly should have enough to get an impression!

What do the folks at TBWC have to say?

This time it’s almost exclusively a single malt from one of our more recently built Scottish distilleries that’s been ‘teaspooned’ (that to say, an imponderable amount of another well-loved single malt has been added). All hail Superspoon who is out to save the world!

Tasting notes:

  • Nose: Sourdough bread mix and waxy floral notes. It’s a little herbal/vegetal at first, damp grass, buts sweetens with time giving butterscotch. Hints of cinnamon too.
  • Palate: Cream soda, dessert wine grapes and some bramley apple tartness. A hot peppery kick then sweetening with vanilla buttercream.
  • Finish: Sweetened chocolate malt, with a hint of barrel char.

After a youthful 6 year, I thought it would be nice to shift back to something a wee bit more mature… This just so happens to be the 1st Blended Whisky expression from their 3rd batch. What did we think?

Scottish Blended Malt #1 18 Year Old (2018) Batch 3, 47.3% 1,049 Bottles

  • Nose – Lightly fruity, soapy and floral, summer Scotch, vanilla, yet then becomes oddly musty or dusty, like a neglected wood closet
  • Palate – Different – from the sprightly aromas, we weren’t anticipating something quite so “charged up”. Lots of pepper and a few flashes of fruit, imbalanced
  • Finish – Stays, but doesn’t say much – a bit peppery and then perhaps sweet

I managed to track down a photo from Batch 3, however, try as I might, I could only find tasting notes for this expression from Master of Malt, who had this to say:

It’s another brilliant blended malt Scotch whisky from That Boutique-y Whisky Company! As you can see on the label, all those whisky fans are admiring the glory of the teaspoon, in reference to this being a “teaspooned whisky”. It’s made almost completely with malt whisky from one distillery, along with just a tiny bit of malt whisky from another distillery. This way it may no longer have which distillery it came from on the label, nor can it be sold as a single malt. However, they do then to be rather brilliant value for money, hence those rather charmed whisky lovers!

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

  • Nose – Rich with honey and poached pear, alongside a good helping of mature oak. Slowly but surely dried fruit and fresh peels take control of the nose.
  • Palate – Honeycomb, milk chocolate, sultana, stem ginger and black pepper.
  • Finish – Continued peppery malt, tempered by the return of the honeycomb and some floral air.

Next up, we continued to the Blended Whisky 2nd expression, also a few years older. Given the earlier ones were a wee bit disappointing, we hoped for something a bit more up our palate “alley”.

Blended Whisky #2 22 Year Old - Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company).jpg

Scottish Blended Whisky #2 22 Year Old (May 2022) Batch 3, 41.8% 1,650 Bottles

  • Nose – Yummy! Chocolate, mocha, rum raisins, caramel – more specifically salted caramel pretzels
  • Palate -The espresso follows through, heavier than the nose, dark red fruits
  • Finish -A touch of marmalade joins a gentle sweet spice finish

We remarked that this was like Hallowe’en candy, preparing for Christmas. Really quite delicious and one we fully appreciated!

Here’s what TBWC have to say:

This right here is our Blended Whisky #2, which is rather different to Blended Whisky #1. There’s no massive sphere here, but the disembodied glove has returned! This time, it looks to have discovered a massive, soft planetoid. It’s another one of those metaphors!

Tasting note:

  • Nose: Honey, oak, vanilla pod and chocolatey cereal.
  • Palate: Cherry, spiced rum, thick caramel and a hint of earthy pear.
  • Finish: Menthol, freshly baked bread with chocolate spread, orange oil.

In closing, we progressed to the 3rd TBWC Scottish Blended Whisky expression, from their 1st Batch.

blended-whisky-3-23-year-old-batch-1-that-boutique-y-whisky-company-whisky.jpg

Scottish Blended Whisky #3, 23 Year Old (2018) Batch 1, 48.2%

  • Nose – Mellons, complex and mature, nuanced, layered, creamy hot milk chocolate, salted caramel, walnuts, cherries, buttery, vanilla pods, rich fruits
  • Palate -Soft and silky, a great mouthfeel, joined by warm honey, soft fruits
  • Finish – Melting in your mouthmilk chocolate, long with a hint of smoke curling at the end

Gorgeous. Finally. The kind of dram that envelops you in a warm, comforting blanket by the fire and be lulled to sleep. It was both a class act, beautiful, and yet at the same time unpretentious and comfortable. The sample was simply too little as we would have loved to settle down to enjoy it for the rest of the evening.

Here are the original TBWC tasting notes:

The disembodied gloves from Blended Whisky #1 and #2 continue to explore the deep reaches of space on the label of Blended Whisky #3! On this label, they’ve found something rather curious indeed – a length of chrome which seems to go on forever… Metaphors? Metaphors!

Tasting note:

  • Nose: Rich and fragrant, with old oak furniture and red grapes on the vine. Intense orange oil later on.
  • Palate: Honey’d cereals, dark chocolate and crumbly biscuits. A little bit of vegetal oak in there.
  • Finish: Very long, with further indulgent notes of dark chocolate and cigar box.

What an interesting quintet! Whilst we were clearly partial to the 4th and 5th, less enthused about the 2nd and 3rd, it was well worth doing!

We closed our evening moving into a different direction – still a blend but this time a mix of malts from 6 Isles. As the temperature dipped, the fire burned, shifting into a peaty expression was just right!

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Contrast and compare – The Six Isles Standard vs Port

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Early May in Nurnberg can be glorious – everything goes from grey to green, the sun often comes out, long days, warm but not sweltering. Whisky sipping is still possible, just veers more towards brighter, lighter styles away from heavy peats or dense sherries.

By a remarkable coincidence, a tasting companion brought a Six Isles Port expression to our evening, along with a 20 ml sample from an Advent Calendar. One sample alone was insufficient for a tasting… that was when I remembered I had the same Advent Calendar with another sample and also one from my Canada stash too! And this is how we had sufficient to try both the original and Port finish!

For those unfamiliar with this blend, The Six Isles celebrates Scottish island whiskies, embracing the maritime sensibility with light peat. The distilleries are fairly clear from most of the Islands via their descriptions:

  • Arran brings harmony with its Lochranza distillery
  • Jura distinctiveness – obviously Jura!
  • Mull is dramatic and colourful in its landscape and harbour – Tobermoray / Ledaig
  • Skye is a land of mountain ranges, rugged characterful – Talisker
  • Orkney in the far north with honey, wood smoke – Highland Park (likely not the Scapa)
  • Islay brings the wisp of peat smoke, with the distillery a mystery

This is a “pure” or “blended malt” with no grain whisky. Below is a picture of their old label for the standard expression…

The Six Isles 46%

  • Nose – Aromatic smoke, gentle, clear maritime stamp with the spray of sea salt – one taster even found a bit of Agave!
  • Palate – Whilst most enjoyable, it is a bit “light’ or superficial, missing a bit of depth
  • Finish – Short yet entirely pleasant

Overall, we pronounced it a good blend – the peat tobacco was light, keeping this more in the vein of a summer dram than one reserved for a cold winter day.

One tasting companion quipped, “It arrives like an Arran and leaves like an Islay“.

Six Isles Port Finish 48%

  • Nose – Similar vein as the standard, yet with more substance… a hint of port in the aromas, yet quite subtle… some fruit, a bit of vanilla
  • Palate – Caramelised bacon, very sweet and fruity – a bit citrusy with melons too, more pronounced tobacco as well
  • Finish – A nice cinnamon peat on the finish

We found this sharper with more depth than the standard expression. The extra 2% strength likely added to its character – everything had just a dash more “Ooomph!”

Here’s what they have to say about their Port finish:

  • Nose: Fragrant smoke, orange peel and cranberry, bonoffee tart and fresh dill
  • Palate: Red fruits and cream, a hint of vanilla, watermelon, grapefruit and soft peat smoke
  • Finish: Short, crisp and sweet with a mild lingering peat

After reading their tasting notes, I would tend to agree! Above all – what fun to compare these two expressions side by side!

PS – Both the Port expression and photos come courtesy of a Nurnberg International Whisky Explorers club!

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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 – 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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Whisky Show 2024 – Decadent Drinks

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London’s Whisky Show brought many delights. One was time spent at Decadent Drinks – the folks behind the irreverent Whisky Sponge – which has “retired” as a brand! We didn’t quite get through the full range – yet we definitely covered a gamut from light to heavy moderately aged to mature!

Glen Garioch 21 year (2003 / 2024) 1st fill bourbon hogshead 55.1% 1 of 248 bottles (Decadent Drinks)

Our explorations began in the highlands… 

  • Nose – Fruity, juicy, then shifts into hazelnut chocolate nougat
  • Palate – Lovely fruits n spice n everything nice! Waxy, with a roll around the palate kinda substance
  • Finish – Almost a hint of copper 

What a wonderful way to begin with fruity fabulousness. Yum!

Aberlour 33 year (1989 + 1991 / 1999) Ed No 29, Refill Hogsheads 49.7% (Whisky Sponge) GBP 365

  • Nose – Gorgeous sherry! Unlike some heavy sherry drams – this was not “in your face” – instead just beautiful dark fruits
  • Palate – More elegant and refined than your typical Abelour, lovely balance
  • Finish – Sweet and long

A proper “grown-up” whisky! Sometimes Aberlour with its devotion to full-on sherry can be a bit much – this was incredibly nuanced and complex. Just wow!

Glen Grant 31 years (1993 / 2024) 52.7% 129 bottles (Decadent Drinks – Whisky Land Chapter 3)  GBP 595

  • Nose – Surprisingly strong – rich fruits and how!
  • Palate – What fun! Prickly ginger spice, buttercream
  • Finish – Sponge cake

If the Glen Grant 12 year old from the 1970s was elegance and refinement, this was the crazy cousin showing very different colours!

Notable Age Statements Blend 17 year 53% (Decadent Drinks) GBP 95

As a play on NAS – No Age Statement – the folks at Decadent Drinks have a series of Notable Age Statement whiskies!

  • Nose – Classically elegant
  • Palate – So balanced, sherry berry 
  • Finish – Don’t laugh – but my tasting companion dubbed this quite a “bitchy” finish!

What more do we know? This is what the folks at Decadent Drinks have to say:

This bottling is composed of a 1st fill sherry butt of 2001 blended malt and a 1st fill sherry butt of 2006 Aultmore. The resulting, multi-vintage mix was bottled with slight reduction at 53%.

This is our attempt to create an older style, sherry matured malt whisky profile. Designed to be easy, fruity and highly drinkable with plenty of classical, earthy and elegant sherry character.

Ardnamurchin 7 year Ed No 100 57.9% (Whisky Sponge – final edition)
  • Nose – Sherry joined by glazed maple with a hint of peat
  • Palate – Sweet and a bit sharp – young and brash, then it settled down to become super fruity and juicy, stewed fruits
  • Finish – Quite active
This was a whisky of contrasts – active and sharp then balanced, vacillating in between quite different characters. It was almost as though it had a kind of identity crisis!
 
It all made sense when I looked up more details. Here is what they had to say: 

This is Whisky Sponge Edition No.100. It’s a 2016 and 2017, 7 year old Ardnamurchan small batch.  It’s a potion that Angus cooked up in collaboration with the good folk at Ardnamurchan Distillery. It’s a mix of 1st fill and 2nd fill, peated and unpeated sherry octaves. We mixed them all together and married them in a refill sherry butt for over six months until the whole potion turned 7 years old, then we bottled it with slight reduction at 57.1%. For those of you that deify transparency, here’s the recipe…  

  • 2017 – Unpeated 1st Fill Sherry, Peated 1st Fill sherry, Peated 1st Fill Sherry, Peated Refill Sherry 
  • 2016  – Unpeated Refill sherry, Unpeated Refill Sherry, Unpeated Refill Sherry, Unpeated 1st Fill Sherry 

We wanted to celebrate and mark the final edition of Whisky Sponge with a whisky that was excellent quality, one that was collaborative and that we’d had a role in creating and making unique to us, and that was modern in the best sense and looked to the future. We feel we have succeeded in this – we hope you agree.  

It was quite an interesting experience!

Ledaig 29 year (1995/2024) 52% (Decadent Drinks – Westie Sponge 4)

  • Nose – Coffee, cinnamon, sweet spices, cakey
  • Palate – “I’m here now!” Big, bold, brilliant flavours! Sherry and coffee, cherry, chewy… lightly peated
  • Finish – Long and strong

Westie Sponge is a series devoted to the Western Highlands and Islands – which naturally needed to include this Ledaig from Tobermory distillery from Isle of Mull. 

Bowmore 20 year (2004) 53.3% 171 Bottles (Decadent Drinks – Whiskyland Chapter Two)

  • Nose – Fresh and bright, a delightful sea breeze, perfume then dark fruits, lush
  • Palate – Sweet peat, fruity in perfect harmony, elegant and well-rounded
  • Finish – Lingers

What more do we know? It is a refill hogshead from 2004. In some ways it was an un-Bowmore-like Bowmore – less forceful and more restrained. Lovely.

Ardmore 22 year (1997 + 2000) 53% (Decadent Drinks – Whisky Sponge – Equilibrium 3rd Edition) GBP 215

  • Nose – Love it! Peat and sweet
  • Palate – Perfect balance of peat and sherry, unctuous mouthfeel, meaty yet soft too
  • Finish – Marshmallows and cherry

The deep ruby hues (without any added colour!) means there has been some serious contact with an ex sherry cask! Here’s what else they have to say:

For this final bottling in the Equilibrium series, we took a refill matured 1997 and sherry finished 2000, medium peated highland malt and married them together in a 2nd fill sherry hogshead. That mix was then bottled as this 22 year old with a few degrees reduction at 53%. 

The result is the softest of the three Equilibrium bottlings in terms of peat level, and probably the richest in terms of sherry character. But overall, this is a wonderful, complex and beautifully quaffable sherry and peat influenced dram, one where age and time have also worked some pretty delicious tricks…  

Mortlach 16 year (2007) 48.5% (Decadent Drinks – Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition)

  • Nose – How extraordinary? There was a distinctive chaat masala aroma of black salt! Tangy, tropical fruits
  • Palate – Sherry edge, no lightweight at all. Oily, big and bold. Fruity and full. More of that chaat masala too!
  • Finish – Coffee

It was muscular without being heavy-handed. 

Miltonduff 11 year (2012)  1st Fill Sherry Hogshead 48.5% (Decadent Drinks – Equinox & Solstice Winter Edition) GBP 110

  • Nose – Rich yet not overpowering, juicy fruits then shifts into a mocha sundae, creamy eggnog 
  • Palate – Think of a delicious black forest cake with dark cherries, yet restrained too
  • Finish – Beautiful

A clear Speyside hero in its best form. 

Thank you Elise from Fredericton New Brunswick for making our time with Decadent Drinks so rewarding!

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Nurnberg Whisky Explorer’s 2025 kick off!

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In 2025, our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group abandoned all pretense of mostly monthly gatherings and opted for the more realistic goal of quarterly connects.

Our first session had no designated theme – the choice was entirely up to our four contributors. The result was a terrific combination of distinct drams, each bringing their unique voice to the chorus, with no competition or unfavourable comparisons.

So what did we explore?

  • Dewar’s 8 year Japanese Smooth 43%
  • Woven Homemade 46.4%
  • Green Spot Château Léoville Barton Bordeuax Finish 46%
  • Teerenpeli 10 year 43%

Interestingly, three were blends – two of Scottish origin and one Irish – closing with a special Finnish single malt. For me, it was an evening of mostly revisits – albeit nearly a decade later! Which made it such fun to experience anew!

Dewar’s 8 year Japanese Smooth Mizunara Wood Finish 43% ~Eur 21

Dewar’s is such a well-known blend. And yet, joining the standards are a few expressions that play with different elements – enter the Dewar’s finished in Japanese Mizunara Wood. What did we find?

  • Nose – Warm, honey with a hint of vanilla, shifting into a fresh citrus
  • Palate – It had a prickly spice, oak, a dash of sweet dry spices like cinnamon, and lots of vanilla
  • Finish – Hint of wax or a touch of salt depending on who you asked, quite dry

With a name like “Japanese Smooth”, we anticipated something silky soft with a nuanced floral element, maybe even a bit of light fruit? The mizunara wood finish certainly made this an interesting Dewar’s expression, however, was it floral or fruity? Not so much.

Setting aside preconceived notions, it was just the right way to start our evening and well worth trying. Even with the revisit, after sampling the other three, it held its own.

Woven Homemade 46.4% ~Eur 38 8120 bottles (500 ml)

Imagine entering an apothecary shop… or bringing together a couple of chemist with a wild array of options.. all about crafting an interesting experience. That’s what you can expect with a Woven whisky blend.

  • Nose – Began with lemon custard and butter, warm biscuits, green apple, slightly sour apple sauce
  • Palate – Start creamy, buttery, some rosehip, nutty oil, then shifts into becoming very dry
  • Finish – From lemon drop candy, to nutty butter, increasingly bitter over time

Very distinctive and unique. One described it as “effervescent” reminding him of a children’s fizzy medicine – brausetabletten. For all of us, it was remarkable how its character changed, Really quite interesting from an Apple martini to creamy nutty to dry and bitter. This was no “easy” blend – instead, it challenged us – in a good way. With the revisit, it also retained its specific character.

What more do we know? Only that it is a blend of two Speyside whiskies  (41.78% and 29.99%) and a Lowland grain (28.23%), likely blended 14 May 2023 with 70 days “marrying” period. In character, it was evaluated by the folks at Woven as somewhere between Balanced and Complex. And yes – we appreciated the other options – Fresh and Exploratory. And finally, it has a clear “nod” to BNJ – a bit of a cult whisky blend in some circles that also boasts a high malt portion.

You can find more details here: Woven Homemade.

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton Bordeaux Wine Finish 46% ~Eur 55

We then moved from Scotland to Ireland. This was no ordinary Green Spot! A year ago, our contributor brought the standard edition — a pleasure to revisit! This time, it was the Green Spot expression finished in Bordeaux casks…

  • Nose – It began with melted caramel, tobacco leaf, and tannins, warm and heavy, the longer it remained in the glass, the more prominent the brown sugar aroma became
  • Palate – Very pronounced red wine influence! There was an interesting undertone of oak and tannins, rich, rolling around in your mouth
  • Finish – Long finish, dry

The red wine cask was so prominent, that we speculated they must have finished in a rather “wet” cask, leaving a fair amount of Château Léoville Barton to mingle with the whiskey. Or as one whisky aficionado quipped “This is how wine should taste!”

Truth be told, as we tasted, I didn’t immediately remember being introduced to this expression some six years earlier at an Irish evening in Mumbai! This Is why it is such fun to have random evenings – you never know what will turn up and with it a fresh perspective too.

Teerenpeli 10 year 43% ~Eur 73

For me, the true treat of the night was an opportunity to revisit the Teerenpeli 10 year. It captivated my fancy in 2016 during a Whisky Ladies European focused tasting. How did I discover it? Its launch was at the 2015 London Whisky Show and came to me as a strong recommendation from the lads at TWE. What did we think?

  • Nose – Fruity, with a dusky, earthy element, a puff of smoke, a hint of coastal sea air, chased by vanilla
  • Palate – Incredibly smooth – like sliding into silk pajamas, then being enveloped in a soft velvet lightly peaty embrace, it has a subtle citrus peat, rich and well-rounded with a light heat of pepper
  • Finish – Carries on the warm embrace, with a touch of sea salt

This bottle was purchased by our contributor during a memorable trip to Finland nearly a year ago – just for our wee group to try. And it did not disappoint.

There was such a lot going on – so rewarding! The kind of single malt that evokes an emotional connection, memories of a special lebkuchen with citrusy sugar glaze, or enjoying a sunset outdoors from a porch on a cool fall evening, kept cozy and warm in a fuzzy blanket.

Above, for me, it was such a special treat to revisit – thank you!!

What more do we know? It gains its specific character from Finnish barley malt matured in 85% bourbon and 15% sherry casks. Since I last tried it, they not only refreshed the packaging, Teerenpeli also updated their official tasting notes to:

  • Nose – Butterscotch, vanilla, slightly oaky
  • Palate – Rich maltiness, fruity, smooth vanilla 

Would we agree? Certainly! You can find out more here: Teerenpeli 10 year.

PS Our contributor also highly recommends another Finish spirit – Artic Blue gin.

And there you have it – an evening exploring four distinct drams. Unlike some evenings, all were “hits” with narry a “miss”. Each brought something interesting to expand and challenge our collective tasing journeys. And that is exactly why such tasting evenings are so much fun!

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Whisky Show 2024 – Compass Box

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We are no strangers to Compass Box blends! So at the 2024 London Whisky Show, we were clear that we needed to make time to check out some of their latest expressions. We had no idea what kind of treat we were in for – thanks in large part to a most enjoyable exchange with Alex Driver – Whisky Educator for Compass Box.

Crimson Casks 46%

Wow! Spice and sherry! Think of a heavy rich Christmas pudding – chock full of soaked dried fruits and sweet spices. And on the palate? Full-bodied, plummy, yummy, spicy and fun. Closing with chocolate, toffee, and raisins with a hint of ginger. In short – it’s quite an addition to their range. It made me think of a cross between  Compaass Box’s Spice Tree and The Story of the Spaniard.

What more do we know? There is a lot of Glen Moray and a “distillery near the town of Aberlour” hint hint! AThis blend is part of the new core range – available for ~Eur 85.

  • 26.9% single malt from the distillery near the town of Aberlour aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (11-month finish).
  • 19.7% Glen Moray single malt aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (four-year finish).
  • 14.5% Benrinnes single malt aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
  • 11.3% Glen Moray single malt aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt (four-year finish).
  • 8.4% single malt from the distillery near the town of Aberlour aged in a first-fill oloroso sherry-seasoned butt.
  • 7.3% Highland malt blend aged in a custom French oak barrel (heavy toast).
  • 6.1% Teaninich single malt aged in a first-fill sherry butt.
  • 5.8% Glen Moray single malt aged in a refill hogshead (Spanish red wine barrique).

Nectarosity 46%

After a celebration of sherry casks, we moved on to something a bit softer. From the initial whiff – I knew this was my kind of blend! Lovely! Soft toffee, creme brule, warm and inviting – like freshly baked goey pastries. On the palate, it led with sunny peaches, honey sweet, and fruity. It closed with butterscotch and a hint of nutty butter. Delicious! This was truly a dessert dram!

What more do we know? This is how Compass Box describes their process for Nectarosity:

Special American oak barrels are deployed twice. First to impart sweet spice to grain spirit, which finishes maturing in other casks. Once ‘prepared’, the barrels age malt whisky. We expertly blend these two characterful whiskies with selected others to dial up the fruit and toffee notes.

As we sniffed, swished, and sipped, Alex shared how the blend reflects key components like Clynelish, Linkwood, Cameronbridge, Girvan, and Balmenach. It is available for quite a reasonable Eur 65.

Celestial 56%

From accessible and enjoyable to exceptional and rare – we entered the hallowed territory of extinct whiskies – the fifth and last of the series. Inspired by Whitehorse from the 1960s, this was a singular experience.

We were anticipating a peaty powerhouse, knowing it drew heavily from Ardbeg and Caol Ila, however, it was initially a bit shy in the glass, needing a bit of time to warm up before rewarding with citrus and peat. On the palate, there were many layers – different styles of peat, one on top of the other and yet exceedingly well integrated with none being too much. From herbal peat to cinnamon sweet peat, briney coastal peat to toast and butter, bonfire to smoked meats, charred pineapple to leather, it simply worked! For all the variety, it was a subtle combination rather than a cacophony. Even the finish was a slow, long, lingering…

Compass Box describes it as having “[a] ghostly peat note, abundant cask sweetness verging on gingerbread and stem ginger in syrup, and a floral fruitiness.”

This expression is – for quite obvious reasons – a bit heavier on the pocketbook. Last seen for around Eur 365, it likely won’t be available for much longer.

We closed with an experiment – a blend of blends from a special collaboration between Woven and Compass Box. It even had an Indian connection with some Paul John! It was a teasing treat – enough to convince us that such a collaboration is worth further exploration!

Curious about other Compass Box experiences? There have been more than a few! Including a couple of evenings devoted just to Compass Box!

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Whisky Show 2024 – Rediscovering Japanese Whiskies

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It has been years since I’ve spent time properly exploring Japanese Whiskies. And yet, once upon a time, the Hakushu 18 year was a “standard” in my whisky cabinet. More than a decade ago it was already out of my affordability category – now more in the price range of $1,000 a bottle – goodness! And whilst Suntory and Nikka may dominate, Ichiro’s is equally at the forefront. 

So when we bumped into a Sharing Angel at the London Whisky Show 2024 – who just so happens to be a MASSIVE Japanese whisky fan – we were in terrific company with her friend Umi to wander through Ichiro’s offerings!

Where did we begin?

Umi first invited us to explore the Chichibu’s 2024 London Edition 10 Cask 50.5% – the 7th in their series of special London releases using 10 casks which are a minimum of 10 years. Described as being mostly ex-bourbon barrels, there was also one red wine cask thrown into the mix. We sampled from bottle 1919 of 1920 – with this edition sold out. To give a feel for the price – past The Ten have ranged from GBP 500 – 1000.

For us, what always matters most is what’s in the glass! It greeted us with a subtle lemony aroma – sweet and slightly tart. On the palate, it began as a light, sprightly, and frankly just “yummy!” dram. There was a refined elegance, reminding one of a rare perfume. And yet, beneath the lemon meringue were darker fruits. The finish was a contrast – telling us that this dram is not a lightweight! Clear substance – almost a resinous quality – lingering and rewarding as it remained long and strong.

We found it a beautiful, well-crafted whisky in a traditional or classic style. We were quite pleased with our initial sampling and yet were ready to move on…

Umi then shared a very special bottle that wasn’t officially released! Chichibu 11 year 2011 Coedonado Cask # 3304 58.6%.  It was from Chichibu I (as there are now two Chichibu distilleries), matured in a 1st fill American Oak barrel that previously contained Coedonado beer. Yes that’s right – beer! The bottle we tried was from 15 Aug 2024. What did we think?

Oh my! If the earlier Chichibu had subtle lemon, this was a rich lemon custard tart with some cool lemon sorbet on the side. And the palate? Insanely beautiful. It was chock full of tropical fruits, laced with an elegant perfume. The finish just pulled it all together. Exceptional, and truly amazing. It was a delicious dessert in a glass! Umi described it as achieving their classic 70s style through the most surprising of casks.

I obviously could not find more details online about this particular expression. However, I did discover there was an adjacent release from Cask 3301 for The Whisky Exchange’s 20th anniversary which sold for GBP ~1,500.

We closed our Chichibu exploration with On The Way – which harkened back to their early days when 5 years was a milestone. This expression is known to be a multi-vintage vatting of Chichibu whisky distilled at various times since opening in 2008. 

I missed making tasting notes beyond “shows why Chichibu belongs in the list of top notch world distilleries.”

We were hooked! No question, we were back to being Japanese whisky fans! Now if only we could afford such indulgences!

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