Category Archives: Blends

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!

Are you in the area? Interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer events? Just comment here with the best way to reach you.

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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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2024 London Whisky Show – Watt Whiskies

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One of the more interesting experiences at the 2022 Whisky Show was being introduced to the colourful Watt Whiskies. The next year, we skipped as you simply can’t do everything. However, we had to stop by in 2024.

Once again, Kate Watt walked us through our options. As it was still early in the day, I suggested something lighter to ease into the day. Although it sounds counterintuitive, after two lighter drams, Kate then pointed us toward a lightly peated whisky followed by a blend.

Glen Moray 11 year (2008) Oloroso Hogshead 54.6% Watt Whisky – May 2024 Release. 318 Bottles

  • Nose – Loads of white fruits, fresh and inviting
  • Palate – Candy sweet yet with an interesting depth too, a nice lip-smacking dram of tropical fruits
  • Finish – Lovely and soft

Glen Moray is known to be an easygoing, affordable dram—light, smooth, and fruity. This was no exception—except as an independent bottle—not quite as affordable! The challenge is that my “benchmark” for Glen Moray has all been from independent bottlers.

It was a rather pleasant place to begin our Watt exploration. Yes, there is sherry from its 14-month finish in an Oloroso Sherry cask, however, it is more like the icing on a cake rather than deeply infusing the full cake.

And how do the Watt’s describe it? Sherry, milk chocolate, orange sherbet and pineapple sweets.

Would I agree based on my scant sniff & swish notes? Yes!


Invergordon 26 year (1997) Hogshead 52.3% Watt Whisky – May 2024 Release. 258 Bottles.

We then moved on to a grain… suitably aged for 26 years. This was my 3rd experience with Invergordon – the 1st was a 28-year-old with a mixed reaction, the 2nd a 44-year-old from TBWC – wow!

How did the Watt offering fare?

As it was a simple sniff and swish, there were limited impressions – clearly a grain, we struggled to get past the “spirit” to find other elements. On the palate, it was also very active with a touch of leather mixd in with some lightly nutty element.

Toffee apples, honeycomb, peaches & marzipan.

We didn’t find all the elements described by the Watt’s, however we also spent only a little time with it – just the way things can be a bit unfair in such a setting.

Glen Spey 14 year (2008) Hogshead 54.8% Watt Whisky – September 2024 release, 267 Bottles

  • Nose – A big burst of flavour! Sour, fruity, almost like beer or balsamic vinegar. Which sounds strange but was actually quite interesting…
  • Palate – Oily, more of that heavy balsamic – like a sweet reduction, sweet and sour… we described it as “khatta meetha” and reminded me a bit of those Chinese dried sour plums, even had some ginger too, then a curl of smoke…
  • Finish – The smoke took on a dry ash element then like a puff of smoke was gone

This was one unique dram – I completely understood why Kate insisted we try it – even though we were not yet ready for something with a bit of peat. Where did that come from? Whilst it was initially matured in a Hogshead, it was finished for 14 months in an ex-Islay cask.

What did the Watt’s have to say? Ginger, waxy, butterscotch then ashy.

Not a typical Glen Spey – something very different happened here and made for a remarkable experience.

Blended 18 year (2003) Hogshead 56.3% (Watt Whisky – November 2021 release) 345 Bottles

And for our close, we were offered a blend which was revealed as “Inver House” stock aka Balblair, Old Pulteney, Speyburn… Which basically meant it was up my alley!

    • Nose – Subtle, a creamy creme brulee,
    • Palate – No push-over on the palate, substance with a marvelous mouthfeel – think a rich mild chocolate or choco cereal, roasted nuts, caramel with sweet spices
    • Finish – Long, strong, ginger candy sweet

Yum! We both quite liked this one! After the unique Glen Spey, this blend held its own and was like the perfect desert after a satisfying savoury meal.

How did the Watt’s describe it? Toasted almonds honey, cloves, dried fruits and ginger.

Yes, I would agree! And there you have it – four distinctly different drams from Watt Whiskies – well worth stopping by to explore!

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Canada’s Shelter Point – Shelter Point 7 year (2020) Single Cask #5 43%

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It was an evening devoted entirely to Shelter Point – exploring the contrasting yet converging characters of different expressions. After our calibration dram and Montfort 151 Single Grain, we progressed to a triple grain – with both unmalted and malted barley plus rye. We had no idea what to expect, however the dark copper, almost amber should have been a clue we were in for a potent dram!

Shelter Point 7 year Single Cask Triple Grain (malted & unmalted barley, rye) Edition #5 ex-bourbon with French Oak cask finish (2020) 43% 288 bottles

  • Colour  – Dark copper, edging into coffee
  • Nose – Heavy and potent, lots of molasses, prunes, rum raisins, very sweet, robust
  • Palate – Flat coca-cola and grape jelly! Chocolate and initially a bit unbalanced until it settled down with all elements in harmony. There was coffee, full-flavoured, burnt caramel, rich, spicy and creamy
  • Finish – From coffee, shifted to English breakfast tea, lingering long and surprisingly intense

Wow! This one really packs a lot of flavour! At only 43% there was a lot going on. One remarked how it reminded of a dark “bock” lager beer. Some folks are fans, others are not. Other comparisons were made to coffee liqueur. The bottom line is that this blend has a lot to say and worth paying attention to!

What do the fab five folks at Shelter Point have to say?

Single cask edition 5. Whisky is poetry, but it’s also alchemy. Here at Shelter Point we’re always in search of the perfect elixir. This whisky journey began when we married together a blend of malted barley, unmalted barley and rye whisky. Aged in an ex-bourbon cask, then finished in French oak, this seven-year-old whisky is a bottle of gold at the end of the grainbow.

Tasting Notes

On the nose you get a slight spice and vanilla note. The palate is filled with caramel and honey. The satisfying finish is a delicious combination of a slight spiciness, chocolate and salted caramel.

Whisky Facts

  • Still: Custom-designed copper pot still
  • Base: A blend of Rye, Wheat & Malted Barley (That’s it. Nothing else)
  • Distillation: Small-batch, 3x distilled
  • Spirit: Natural colour and non-chill filtered
  • Alcohol Content: Bottled at 43% Alc.Vol

I purchased it directly from the distillery in 2020 for $78.25 + taxes. I later brought it from Canada to Germany, to open it in Nurnberg in June 2024.

Shelter Point Quintet sampled by the Nurnberg’s Whisky Explorers:

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Not your ordinary blend! Wemyss Nectar Grove 46%

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In the world of whiskies, Wemyss has created a space for whisky curation since 2005. Known for their core range of The Hive, Spice King, and Peat Chimney, an interesting array of limited editions, plus a special range of single casks. The last I tried was an absolute delight –  the Summer Breeze Lnkwood 20 year (1995/2015) Cask #20877 46%. 

For our evening of “Not your ordinary blend!“, we were treated to a limited edition “Nectar Grove”. What I particularly appreciate about the contributor is how he carefully researches what he brings, and also opens it just before so he gets an initial feel for the whisky before sharing it with the group. In this case, he remarked how he had expected more honeyed “nectar”. Once he got past his preconceived notion, began to really appreciated the dram.

As for us? Read on!

Wemyss Nectar Grove Blended Malt Scotch Whisky with Madeira finish 46%

  • Nose – For me, the first whiff was quite prominently bananas! As in loads and loads of ripe bananas. This was later joined by peaches and apricots. Fruity candies. Most pleasant and inviting. Curiously we did not find honey and the more time it spent in the glass, the more we began to realize this is no lightweight, behind the sweetness a faintly bitter edge. Perhaps a little coconut too? Interesting.
  • Palate – Has body yet isn’t heavy. Think vanilla whipped cream rather than a heavy sauce. The fruit remains – now more nectarines or yellow plums. There is a clear ginger spice with more of that bitter woody element creeping in… together with a burnt brown sugar sauce, the caramel
  • Finish – Very dry and wood-heavy with a cinnamon chaser

Overall we found it well crafted with the different elements well integrated. Whilst it is not complex, it isn’t boring either.  At one point, we discussed how on the nose it has the illusion of peat smoke – there was no doubt – there is zero peat but perhaps the rechar cask played a more active role? We also speculated on how the Madeira cask fit into the equation – what it brought to the table? Perhaps some of the dryness yet also contributes to the rather nice ginger spice.

A limited edition, here is what the folks over at Wemyss have to say:

Nectar Grove is an exclusive Limited Edition small batch, hand-crafted Scotch whisky with a beautifully succulent character. A blend of fine single malts has been filled into hand-selected ex-Madeira wine casks to marry with the oak for a rich, warm finish.

  • Nose Aromas of sun-baked peaches, dried apricot and succulent nectarines.
  • Palate Orange oil, sumptuous rich vanilla and caramelised sugar.
  • Finish A warm finish of complex spices, toasted saffron and crystallised ginger.

Would have to say, these tasting notes are apt and this is certainly one worth trying. Retailing in Germany for around Eur 46, this is certainly value for money!

So what made its way into our theme of “Not Your Ordinary Blend“?

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Not your ordinary blend! Glenalba 30 year PX 41.1%

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Is it really possible to get a 30-year-old whisky for under Eur 60? Impossible, right? Well, not at all if you are shopping in Lidl and don’t mind trying a Scottish blend – where it even occasionally goes on sale! (PS other places sell for ~300 Eur?!)

The theme of the evening was “Not your ordinary blend!“, and our Glen Alba contributor shared that we should begin with the oldest offering. The reasoning was both the style and that it was the only traditional “blend” of the evening – meaning a combination of grain and single malt. Given the price, it is assumed there must be a fair amount of grain and only a little single malt, however, that’s a secret only the blender would know!

What did we think?

Glenalba 30 year PX Blended Scotch Whisky 41.4%

  • Nose – Sweet honeycomb, joined by some raisins, plums, and other dark fruits, some vanilla cream and milk chocolate, light and sweet
  • Palate – Smooth, well rounded, and much more substance than anticipated, robust yet balanced, like sipping sweet flavourful syrup, with a marvelous mouthfeel
  • Finish – Long, strong with a touch of oak and nutmeg
  • Revisit – When we returned after tasting other whiskies, we found it to still be quite pleasant with pine nut joining the aromas

Overall we were really happy with this one. Sure it’s not a sophisticated complex whisky and we described more the experience than distinctive elements – yet the palate was frankly “superb.” The PX finish likely added a little bit of “oomph!”

We pronounced it a “pleasant Sunday or Holiday dram.” Something easy to drink, uncomplicated, and enjoyable.

What else did we try in our theme of “Not Your Ordinary Blend“?

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