Category Archives: Whisky Type

2025 Whisky Show Exclusives – Kanosuke, Tormore, Clynelish

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All whisky shows have “exclusives” bottled just for the event. 2025 Whisky Show was no exception! There were many on offer – including a “Lost in Time” series that we didn’t get a chance to try!

So what did we experience?

Inspired by the St George spirit from The Heart Cut that we tried at a Mainstage session about the future of Independent Bottlers, we went straight for their show bottle! As he poured, Duncan shared that he’s become a big fan of The Heart Cut, bottling some good stuff! He especially enjoyed their Cotswold and Milk & Honey expressions, which were not available at the show. So what about what we could try?

Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky Show 2025, this Kanosuke is the most recent expression from The Heart Cut.

Kanosuke 5 year (Nov 2019 / Apr 2025) Ex-Bourbon Quarter Cask 54% (The Heart Cut #21) 115 bottles

What did we think?

  • Nose – Fun, effervescent, fruity, apricot, a gentle honey, lightly herbal
  • Palate – Black tea, toasted marshmallows, delightful!
  • Finish – A lovely fragrant finish

This was a lovely dram – with the official tasting notes spot on! Here’s what they have to say about the liquid:

This whisky opens with big, ripe fruit – sun-warmed apricots that soften into honeycomb, lifted by a delicate, fragrant herbal note. On the palate, more apricots and juicy peaches layer with honeycomb that deepens into bittersweet caramel, reminiscent of the charred sweetness of toasted marshmallows, before easing into the refined bitterness of black tea. The finish carries the juiciness of stone fruit long and bright, with a whisper of lemon verbena to close.

Key Takeouts: Toasted Marshmallows, Honeycomb, Black tea, Lemon Verbena, Ripe Apricots.

A truly delightful treat to try!

We moved on to Sukhinder Singh’s distillery – Tormore. Our last experience was during an evening at my friend’s London home with Sukhinder, where we shared a Chorlton indie bottle – a Tormore 28 year. This wasn’t quite so old – more in the range of 15 years and was sampled from an official Pre-release for the 2025 Whisky Show.

Tormore Legacy Casks 2009 Vintage (May 2009 / May 2025) 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask #4046 55.1% 210 bottles.

  • Nose – We found it bursting with orchard fruits – lots of crisp green apples and pears! Then it shifted to reveal red berries, warm oak, and then caramel custard! After some time in the glass, there was a light floral element on top – sweet!
  • Palate – It had lots of currents, raspberries… rich and rewarding!
  • Finish – A hint of smoke and black tea

Though it was only a wee sniff and swish, we quite enjoyed it!

I spotted the 29 year Clynelish and got excited! My festival pick from the 2023 Whisky Show was the Clynelish 12 year (2011/2023) 1st Fill Barrel #880297 56.4%.

Clynelish 1993 29 Year Old (20 Oct 1993 / 20 Dec 2022) Bourbon Barrel #11080 49.6% (Càrn Mòr)

Duncan warned me this might not be quite what I was expecting….

  • Nose – I expected something joyful and waxy; instead, there were apples, but slightly past their prime, sweet
  • Palate – Initially, it seemed like it would be an easy-going, well-rounded dram, yet, then amidst all the red apples, the prick of spice became sharper

And that’s when it dawned on me. What about that classic Clynelish waxy trait? Where was the honey and heather? Then I learned it is GBP 775 / bottle? What….?! Oh my! Somehow, I stopped evaluating the whisky on its own merit and couldn’t get past the price tag.

After this trio of show exclusives, we noticed that the throng around The Heart Cut stand had lessened slightly, so we decided to make our move next door to further explore!

As always, it is good to reconnect with folks and share a dram or two, kibbitz over this and that, and slow down to enjoy good moments! (Yes that’s me with my regular tasting companion and Duncan, late of The Whisky Exchange).

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2025 Whisky Show – Gordon and MacPhail

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Over the years, I’ve looked forward to the Gordon & MacPhail stand at any whisky show. The folks there know their stuff and have remarkable stuff to share too! With 130 years in the business, one could count on both great insights and great liquid, making spending time there a real highlight.

And then came the announcement in 2023 that the team would cease independent bottling – stopping the purchase of new make spirit from 2024 – to focus on their distilleries: Benromach and The Cairn. Whilst they still have a prodigious amount of stock maturing, it was a clear signal of change. Backing this up, they were notably absent at London’s 2024 Whisky Show.

All to say – we were pleasantly surprised to see their return at London’s 2025 Whisky Show.

Having previously sampled the Auchroisk and Miltonduff from their Discovery line, and it being too early in the day for the peaty Ledaig, we went directly to the Connoisseurs Choice range. What did we try?

  • Linkwood 15 year (2009 / 18 Nov 2024) Batch 24/036 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #22605907 53.8% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive) 329 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £127
  • Balblair 31 year (1993 / 29 Aug 2024) Batch 24/020, First Fill Sherry Puncheon Cask #1961 49.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 549 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £710
  • Tamnavulan 31 year (1991 / 12 Dec 2022) Batch 23/002 Refill Sherry Puncheon Cask #9040502 51.79% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 418 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £711
  • Glenrothes 16 year (2009 / 6 Jun 2025) Batch 25/016, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #19602410 55.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 2025 Whisky Show £138
  • Highland Park 17 year (2007 / 3 June 2025) Batch 25/017, 1st Fill Sherry Butt Cask #5358 59.9% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive) 606 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £156
  • Benromach 40 year (1982 / 2022) Cask #3024413 59.9% (G&MP Private Collection) 2025 Whisky Show £1950

Our tasting notes are a bit light as this was a sniff, swish, and spit – my typical approach to remain standing at Whisky Shows! Where possible, I’ve added additional insights from the bottle…

Gordon & MacPhail calls Linkwood “An unsung hero in the world of single malts.” I would tend to agree that this Speyside distillery produces solid drams with less attention. At the show, we tried a UK exclusive…

Linkwood 15 year (2009 / 18 Nov 2024) Batch 24/036 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask No 22605907 53.8% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice, UK Exclusive) 329 Bottles

  • Nose – What a delight! It was bright and fruity on the nose – think red apples, ginger with a bit of orange zest, joined by cherries and cake
  • Palate – It was much more powerful than the aromas! Rich and full-flavoured, we found stewed apples, mocha, peppers, and something a bit nutty.
  • Finish – Dry, with a nice oak and spice tail. Yum!

What did the G&MP folks have to say? Their official tasting notes shared:

Fruit cake and marzipan aromas intertwine with cherry and strawberry liquorice. Stewed fruit combines with autumnal spice and milk chocolate. A full finish with forest fruits and toasted oak.

There is also a related expression available for worldwide distribution.

Next up was an offering from Balblair, with the folks at G&MP sharing:

As a single malt, Balblair heads into a sweet, buttery territory, working extremely well in a variety of casks – from refill hogsheads to more robust puncheons. Balblair proudly sits in ‘The MacPhail’s Collection’ range, it is considered as a top class Highland single malt whisky.

My tasting companion and I bonded over a Balblair 38 year, so what did we think of the 31-year-old?

Balblair 31 year (1993 / 29 Aug 2024) Batch 24/020, First Fill Sherry Puncheon Cask #1961 49.5% 2025 (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – Outstanding! Orchard fruits, red berries, warming into dried fruits and dark chocolate
  • Palate – Fabulous! Wonderfully well-rounded, a touch of spice, very jammy, shifting into a delicious marmalade… I kept thinking of these marvellous
  • Finish – Strong, long, and mighty fine

Their official tasting notes from the bottle shared the following:

Roast coffee bean aromas lead to vanilla fudge and dried fruits. Sweet with light fruitcake, chocolate and Seville orange flavours balanced by charred oak. Full bodied, with a hint of pepper.

There is also a related expression available.

Next up was a less familiar Speyside. G&MP had this to say about the distillery:

Tamnavulin comes from the Gaelic meaning ‘mill on the hill’, it was built in 1966 as one of the newer distilleries during a period of several opening in the region. It was mothballed less than 30 years later in early 1995. The distillery has six stills and is completely computerised.

It is the only distillery positioned on the River Livet, from which the cooling waters are drawn. The distillery resumed production in 2007 and makes a whisky, which very much characterises the smooth, creamy qualities of the Speyside region.

The liquid we tried was distilled in 1991 – before it was mothballed.

Tamnavulan 31 year (1991 / 12 Dec 2022) Batch 23/002 Refill Sherry Puncheon Cask #9040502 51.79% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – Elegant, orchard fruits, caramel sweet, mmmm…. a dark chocolate fudge
  • Palate – Surprisingly dry! Tannins, good body, full and rich. And yes – blackcurrants, black pepper – exactly as we later read as tasting notes on the label!
  • Finish – Carried through

We were entranced – particularly the fabulous aromas caught our fancy! It may seem like a contradiction, however, it was “creamier” on the nose than the palate – for us at least.

What a treat to try this! I’m curious if the new avatar re-opened in 2007 will produce such liquid? Whilst I had purchased pre-COVID a bottle from their new stock, it was gifted to a dear whisky connoisseur in Mumbai to replenish depleted stocks in a time of shortage!

What did their official tasting notes on the bottle say?

Autumnal spice intertwine with aromas of apple and hazelnuts, vanilla fudge combines with blackcurrant flavours, balanced by black pepper. A full finish with lingering herbal influences.

Currently, there are no Tamnavulin expressions listed as available directly from G&MP, however, The Whisky Exchange still has a few bottles of this one!

We followed with an expression from The Glenrothes distillery… Here’s what G&MP share about this distillery:

This single malt has become something of a cult whisky in the past decade or so, famed for its Battenburg cake flavours, and has grown decade after decade between the 1960s and 2000s, seemingly swerving all the pitfalls of the industry. Clearly a blessed spirit indeed.

What did we think?

Glenrothes 16 year (2009 / 6 Jun 2025) Batch 25/016, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #19602410 55.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – All the expected dark fruits, Christmas cake chock full of dried fruits, raisins, was in competition with an apple crumble with brown sugar and cinnamon
  • Palate – Hmm… not so balanced. Fruity, sweet, but somehow was a bit “much”

What was a playful interplay on the nose, just didn’t come together on the palate. Simply put, there was just too much going on and not enough harmony.

And the official tasting notes?

Fruitcake aromas combine with raspberry and cinnamon, stewed apples and raisin flavours complement demera sugar and a hint of aniseed. A full and long finish with forest fruits and spice.

Ahhh, the Orkney Islands and the venerable Highland Park! What do the G&MP folks have to say?

From its blustery home in Kirkwall, the distillery still utilises a small traditional floor malting set up to supplement its production and the peat is cut from Hobbister Moor, where due to the unforgiving weather conditions, no trees grow, meaning the peat has taken on a distinct floral character from the low lying plants and heather.

As a whisky, Highland Park is rich and honeyed, with a delicate-yet-dry smoky fragrance. A characterful and highly distinctive malt which is utterly adored by the global whisky community.

Highland Park 17 year (2007 / 3 June 2025) Batch 25/017, 1st Fill Sherry Butt Cask #5358 59.9% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive)

  • Nose – Yum! Salty peanuts, mocha with a hint of citrus too
  • Palate – Peat and sweet and fun!
  • Finish – Light spice and everything nice!

Whilst perhaps not as complex as my memories of the old Highland Park 18 year, this was a lovely example of what a Highland Park whisky can be!

What did the folks at G&MP have to say?

Fragrant raisin aromas complement peanuts and tangerine peel. Apple and raspberry are followed by fudge and a hint of coffee bean. A medium length finish with lingering spice.

We closed with a special dram from Gordon & Macphail’s own distillery – Benromach – with whisky distilled before their purchase in 1993.

Benromach 40 year (1982 / 2022) Cask #3024413 59.9% (G&MP Private Collection) 

  • Nose – Rich, complex, plums, coffee, cloves, ginger, zest of an orange peel
  • Palate – Bold, heavy, tannins, cherry, and black pepper spice… this is one serious dram! Just let it roll around, enveloping with full flavours!
  • Finish – Spicy, smoke, and very, very long…

Wow! This was one powerful dram. We drained our wee sample to the last drop and enjoyed the remaining aromas in our glasses.

What a brilliant finish to a fabulous line-up from Gordon & MacPhail. Whilst I’m glad they still have a decade or more of stock, I still hope that in a few years, there is a renewed commitment to maturing and bottling the best the whisky industry has to offer!

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2025 Whisky Show – Arbikie’s Field to Bottle Rye

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Our 2025 London Whisky Show tastings were beginning to pick up pace! From a ‘breakfast dram’ to our Lochside Dream Dram, Elixir’s Single Malts of Scotland offerings to a remarkable flight with Glen Grant’s core expressions – including the more mature drams, then a short pit stop in our home country India with Amrut… it was time to delve into something new!

There has been talk for some time of Rye’s revival. Certainly, Canada and the US remain dominant players. New craft distilleries are popping up all over – particularly in the US and Europe. More recently, we’ve enjoyed meeting the Finnish gents behind Kyrö Malt Rye, Denmark’s Stauning Rye, Germany’s Stork Club Rye…

In the midst of all of this, is there also a “Rye-naissance” in Scotland? Technically, a “Scottish Rye” doesn’t exist as a separate category and falls under “Grain” whisky. A pioneer in bringing a focus specifically on Rye is Arbikie.

Now, I must admit, before we stopped by their stand, we knew very little about this new Highland distillery – Arbikie.

Now, I must admit, before we stopped by their stand, we knew very little about this new Highland distillery – Arbikie. Their philosophy is straight-foward yet challenging with a Field to Bottle approach:

Today, our distillery sits a stones throw from our fields with an incredible Distillery Experience overlooking them.

We’ve always farmed with absolute respect for the land. The addition of a distillery has not changed our commitment to minimising any environmental impact. Provenance and traceability at Arbikie doesn’t stop with just our crops and water. We use juniper in our spirits – so we grow our own juniper. We use honey – produced by the bees on our farm. We use solar power, and our distilling from start to finish uses negligible miles for its production. The primary waste product from distilling is recycled wherever possible as feed for cattle.

We explored most of the Ryes on offer, skipping over the Chilli Vodka and Artists Edition… Whilst not confirmed, these are all likely 2025 editions.

The lovely lass at the booth led us through the expressions – beginning with their starting point – The Original.

Arbikie The Original Highland Rye 1794 48%

What did we find?

  • Aroma – Lots of cereals, black tea, some tight berries, a bit feinty, quite unique
  • Palate – Rather nice, peppery, more of the cereals – lightly roasted this time – joined by fruits, like apple in a crumble
  • Finish – Follows through, whilst not very long, it worked well

And that chocolate that they had to accompany the Rye’s? Perfection! It paired very well and brought out a hint of marmalade in the Rye too.

Here’s what they have to say:

We combine our unique use of rye with new charred American oak, and leave this lively oak to do its magic. The result is a highly original whisky that fires the imagination and the senses with exciting flavours and aromas. The new charred American oak barrel complements the flavours of the rye, wheat and malted barley grains-imparting rich colour and deep flavour.

What more do we know? From the bottle, they shared that they use a Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%) from their own fields.

Next up, we shifted into their sherry expression – more specifically with a PX cask.

Arbikie The PX Highland Rye 1794 48%

What did we think?

  • Aroma – Remember those cereals with The Original that had a hint of marmalade hiding? Well, it was quite pronounced with the PX, joined by some sweet spices like cloves, dark honey, or perhaps maple syrup?
  • Palate – Warm fruity and really rather nice
  • Finish – Not much but nice

Here’s what the Arbikie folks shared about their PX Rye:

As with THE ORIGINAL, we combine our unique use of rye with new charred American oak, and leave this lively oak to do its magic. With THE PX we don’t stop there. The spirit is then matched with PEDRO XIMÉNEZ casks, a traditional Andalusian Sherry Wine, adding an exciting flavour dimension to our characterful and rich Original 1794.

What more do we know? It has the same grain/malt break-up as The Original with Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%). Basically, it was The Original with a 6 month PX finish!

We were enjoying our experience so far, but what about their Peated expression? Whilst a bit early in the day for peat, our guide explained that they used an ex-Laphroig cask rather than peated barley for a lighter approach.

Arbikie The Peated Highland Rye 1794 48%

What was our experience?

  • Nose – How is this possible? There is EVEN MORE marmalade here! Think a heavy had with orange rind joining the cereals and some salted caramel
  • Palate – Softer than expected, a subtle peat, cereals remain with spice
  • Finish – Carries through with a puff of smoke

Exactly like The PX, they use The Original as their base for The Peated expression:

The journey of The PEATED Rye begins in our fields. We sow the crops from our land and this blend begins with Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%)…

The spirit is then matched with casks previously used to mature PEATED ISLAY whisky, adding an exciting flavour dimension to our characterful and rich Original 1794.

I’ve come to really appreciate the influence of an ex-peaty cask over peated barley. And, again, – the dark chocolate is a great combination with the Rye!

We closed our flight with their Distiller’s Edition No 1.

Arbikie Distillers Edition  No 1, 5 year Cask Strength #53, 73, 76, 77 59.7%

What did we find?

  • Nose – Subtle, that consistent cereal quality, is there also a hint of peat too? And that lovely marmalade, roasted caramelised pineapples and oranges, sweet spices
  • Palate – Sweet, spice, think black tea with cardamon, cloves, and black pepper with loads of milk and sugar, joined by a hint of peat
  • Finish – To be honest, I didn’t make a note!

Here’s what they have to say:

This series adds a unique element to our 1794 Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky. It will feature limited releases of inspiring and deeply flavoured editions of our rye whisky, chosen by our expert distillers. Each edition will possess its own nuanced flavour and character.

This first edition of our Distillers Cask Strength Series features a hand-picked combination of four 5-year-old casks, chosen to accentuate the complexity and depth of our estate grown rye coupled with the influence of the selected casks.

This original meld creates aromas of chai tea, baked oranges, crème brûlée and smoke.
On the palate are complex layers of chai tea, caramelised pears, baked oranges and smoke. A truly unique experience not to be missed – with only 966 bottles created.

What more do we know? The 4 casks were also a combination of ingredients too: Magnifico Scottish Rye, Zulu Scottish Wheat, and Concerto Scottish Malted Barley.

Overall, these four expressions were a rather good introduction. And whilst I’m still not a major Rye fan, it is nice to see a single farm estate pull together quite credible results with everything local!

Curious about other Rye tasting experiences? Here are a few notable ones over the years:

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Chorlton’s Balblair 16 year (2025) 55.8%

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The Bombay Malt & Cigar club began over a Balblair 38 year from 1966… and continues to have a soft spot for special drams from this Highland distillery. When my most recent purchase from Chorlton arrived in Mumbai in time for my October 2025 hosting, I simply had to include it in my session!

Balblair 16 year (Spring 2025) hogshead 55.8% 271 bottles

  • Nose – Honeysuckle, peaches, bananas, sweet pastry, a “French Fancy” in a glass, joyful and bright, a hint of mineral, then moves more into berries and herbs
  • Palate – Starts off a bit prickly, quite active, and calls out for some water
  • Water – Do please add, it then became a marvelous mess of Madeira cake, marmalade, joined by minerals in a lovely way – delicious!
  • Finish – Dry, very wood forward

This too was another beautiful Balblair. It was “dessert in a glass”! Bright, fruity, classic, more than able to hold its own.

Here’s what David shared on his website about this Balblari:

I’m delighted to present the first Chorlton bottling from one of my favourite distilleries! Reliably the fruitiest Highlander this side of Hector McDram.

The nose is enticing and a little idiosyncratic, with honey, dessert wines, rose petals, blackcurrant branches and fruit cordials. The texture on the palate is remarkable – chewy and dense, while somehow also light and lively. Taste-wise I find cherries, Gewürztraminer, oranges and limes, and a blackberry pie with cinnamon and brown sugar. A drop of water has green apple sweets and citrus popping out.

This is a wonderfully fruity, floral and complex whisky. What a spirit!

I bought this whisky online in the UK directly from David in April 2025 for £95 + 8 shipping (Eur 120). Which puts this into a pricier category for me, except for special treats. 

Curious about other Balblair experiences? Read on…

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2025 Whisky Show – Glen Grant Flight Part 2

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At London’s 2025 Whisky Show, I was reminded of the importance of refreshing our whisky tasting range – including stalwarts. Til date, I’ve mostly shared tasting notes on rare and elusive Glen Grant expressions. If it is a 12-year-old expression, then it must be from the 1970s! If it’s a young 5-year-old, well then, it was bottled 50 years ago! Or perhaps it was matured for a “mere” 60 years or 64 years before being bottled?!? Let’s be honest, these were all incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences! Ones that I would never be able to repeat.

So, what about us normal folks who don’t mind the occasional indulgence that is still somewhat accessible? Enter the special yet still available mature Glen Grant expressions with their current core collection:

  • Glen Grant 21 year (2024) 46% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 252)
  • Glen Grant 25 year 46% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 699 aka 1 Dream Dram Token)
  • Glen Grant 30 year 55% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 1250 aka 3 Dream Dram Tokens)

Glen Grant 21 year (2024) 46%

With 20% Oloroso, this was bound to have a sherry touch, yet more restrained. What did we think?

  • Nose – Bright, nuanced, complex yet incredibly well-balanced between the warm, juicy fruits (think peach or nectarine), gentle baking spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice), and caramel
  • Palate – Delicate, elegant, and well-rounded. The fruit shifted from sunny orchards to humid tropics.
  • Finish – Soft, toffee sweet, lovely!

It was like the first sunlight – the rays gently warm, the light gradually increasing… A delight to the nose and palate.

What do they have to say?

The exquisite palate of 21-Year-Old whisky presents a soft, welcoming mouthfeel, with an explosion of rich tropical fruits and creamy butter notes, followed by a long, luxurious finish of caramelised crème brûlée.

Would we agree? Yes indeed!

Glen Grant 25 year 46%

Increasing the sherry quotient to around 40% had a clear influence on this expression.

  • Nose – Loads of dark fruits, dusky, dusty, then brightens into candied sweet
  • Palate – A wonderfully full mouthfeel, roll it around, savouring the soft fruits, some melted chocolate, delicious!
  • Finish – Simply stunning

As for Grant & Sons, they share the following about this expression:

The Glen Grant 25-Year-Old promises discovery and delight. With velvety smoothness and definitive notes dried stone fruit and toffee. Sweet aromas open up to rich dark chocolate flavours and a lingering warm spice and soft smoke finish.

We would certainly agree.

Glen Grant 30 year 55%

Whilst this isn’t yet widely available, a teaser was available at London’s Whisky Show.

  • Nose – Subtle at first, with soft fruits, gradually opening in the glass. It was a “comfort” dram, we were enveloped in a warm blanket of welcome aromas – fruity, sweet, and more!
  • Palate – Soft, with a hint of mineral, like the shavings of a graphite pencil, then the fruits came forward, followed by gentle sweet spices, a deeper undertone
  • Finish – Simply beautiful. An incredibly long finish

Here is what Glen Grant has to say about this upcoming expression:

A rare and exquisite 30-Year-Old whisky. It reveals a rich and complex bouquet that, after its rich and distinctive finish, will leave you longing for more. Uniting The Glen Grant’s delicate, fruity character with a deeper, darker profile.

Like previous older Glen Grant expressions, this was the gift they kept on giving. Long after our glass was empty, we could revisit simply by sniffing the glass. As we knew this would be a hard act to follow, it was clearly time to take a wee lunch break before heading back into the fray!

Curious to know more? Check out the Glen Grant Whisky Flight – Part 1

As for other older expressions? I’ve been so fortunate to try a few rare and mature drams:

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Dream Dram – Lochside 46 year from 1964

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A highlight of London’s Whisky Show is access to 1000+ whiskies – including rare and old! For our first Dream Dram of 2025, we decided to splurge and go for something both! Lochside shut many years ago, making its liquid increasingly rare. And at 46 years of age, this dram indeed qualified as something mature.

I’m often asked… “Which is your favourite distillery?” Of course, that’s patently unfair as it depends on the mood, maturation, and so much more. However, whilst I’ve only had a few experiences with Lochside, it shot way up to the top and has remained there ever since.

This bottle was incredibly unique – a single blend – where both grain and malt were produced at Lochside. Even more unusual, the grain and malt were not put together later in life. Instead, from 1964 they co-mingled in the same cask, maturing for 46 years, leading to an outrun of only 139 bottles.

We found this bottle at The Whisky Exchange’s Old & Rare booth for three Dream Dram tokens, which puts it in the GBP 2,000 – 2,999 range per bottle.

Lochside Single Blend 46 year (1964) Cask 8790 42.1% (The Whisky Exchange) 

  • Nose – Sweet, green leaves, fresh, aloe, soft and nuanced, faintly floral, candy floss, growing fruitier as it opened, joined by caramel, and then behind came a creamy nutty nougat. As it further evolved, the aromas shifted into strawberries and cream, topping a fluffy angel food cake
  • Palate – Prickly initially, then the strawberries came out… the next sip was warm, gentle, and utterly lovely
  • Finish – Incredibly long, simply stunning

I fully admit to being biased; however, this will be another treasured Lochside moment!

This yet again reinforces my pre-disposition towards anything from this closed distillery – including when the malt is combined with the grain!

If you are curious about my other brushes with Lochside check out the following posts:

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Whisky Ladies September 2025 – Slyrs Amontillado 46%

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For the last 5+ years, Bavaria has been my home! I can vouch for it being about much more than beer steins and lederhosen! There are a few interesting whisky distilleries and this one – Slyrs – is tucked away on the shores of Lake Schliersee. Founded in 1999 by Florian Stetter, this alpine distillery keeps experimenting — from classic American oak to wine, rum, and fortified-wine finishes. With 25 years of experience, there have been hits, misses, and some that lie in between!

One of its newer and more intriguing creations – SLYRS Amontillado Cask Finish – kicked off our Whisky Ladies September 2025 evening. Amontillado is a dry sherry, darker than Fino but lighter than Oloroso, and is known to be gentler, with a nutty style… we were intrigued how it would work with the often bold Slyrs approach!

What did we think?

Slyrs Amontillado Cask 46%

  • Nose – It greeted us with rum raisin, stewed boozy plums, cherries, a heavy mulled wine, with generous sweet spices of cloves, allspice, and cinnamon. From Amarula liqueur to overripe apples, there were loads of fruit! Over time, it also revealed a rich dark chocolate, slightly bitter coffee, and then as it opened, caramelised pecans or roasted almonds with a dusting of salt, converging into a fresh out of the oven pecan pie! Beneath all of this, however, was something faintly musty, a touch of mildew…
  • Palate – Lots of sweet and spice, like chewing Big Red cinnamon gum! Hearty, with the full range of black, white, and green peppercorns, joining green and red chillies. Yet it wasn’t too spicy either! Instead, there was a hint of orange zest, more dried fruits, bread, and a salty tang too – think of a vegetarian bacon jam.
  • Finish – It was dry, a bit bitter, with lots of red wine tannins, almost a balsamic vinegar quality

The aromas were complex, think Rumtopf — that wonderfully boozy German tradition of layering seasonal fruits with sugar and dark rum to create a lush, jammy preserve. This SLYRS captures that same spirit: rich, stewed fruit sweetness laced with warming spice and just enough alcohol kick to keep things lively.

For all of us, the nose was the most interesting part. By contrast, the palate was fairly straightforward, with nothing really standing out. And the finish? It had mixed reviews.

Think of this like a Bavarian alpine hike ending at a Spanish tapas bar! Overall, it received a positive reaction from the Whisky Ladies. A far cry from our inaugural experience with Slyrs 51 nearly 10 years ago! In short – it was a great winter dram, with a slightly indulgent, old-world vibe, like something your grandmother would pull from the pantry at Christmas.

However, don’t leave it in your glass too long! That mildew element we found towards the end? Let’s just say it became more pronounced, going from inviting to frankly a bit funky!

Curious what the folks at Slyrs have to say?

  • Colour: Golden yellow sparkling
  • Aroma: Fruity with apple, green hazelnuts, and a hint of vanilla.
  • Taste: Strong, spicy, fiery.
  • Finish: Slightly salty finish with a long finish.

As of September 2025, it was still available – a 375 ml bottle goes for around Eur 45.50.

We then moved on to:

  • Baltech Wismaria 43%
  • Miyagikyo Grande 48%

For a few ladies, this was the “hit” of the evening! Personally, I quite enjoyed being happily surprised and look forward to my next Slyrs experience – with a Marsala expression waiting in my whisky cabinet!

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Gordon and MacPhail’s Auchroisk 10 year 43%

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I had a plan. It was a good plan. A deliberately selected quartet of Gordon & MacPhail Discovery series was bought for a future session. And then plans changed.

With the move from Germany back to India, I needed to radically reduce my carefully constructed whisky collection. It was a tough choice which to let go…. I knew this Auchriosk was great value for money, so more likely to find a friendly buyer… With a sigh, it joined the list of closed bottles available for new homes.

I was exceedingly fortunate that the new owner is a friend who generously opened it for us! I had a feeling this would be a classic quality dram. The reality? Read on!

Auchroisk 10 year Bourbon Cask 43% (Gordon & MacPhail Discovery) GBP 57

  • Colour – Pale straw
  • Nose – Happy times! Honey, vanilla, crisp Granny Smith green apples, faintly floral… As it opened up, it became creamier, even more floral – delightful!
  • Palate – Gentle, refined, balanced, malty with sweet mashed bananas, a hint of black pepper, and oak to give substance
  • Finish – Long, lovely, and elegant….
  • Water – Even fruitier and floral – like frollicking in a meadow!

This was a classic summer dram. A perfect example of quality ex-bourbon cask maturation. Whilst not complex, it had a lovely fruity floral quality, joined by creamy vanilla pudding. We absolutely loved it! And settled in to simply enjoy. It was just perfect for our Nürnberg August evening.

Here is what the folks over at Gordon & Macphail have to say;

  • Colour: Lightest Yellow
  • Aroma: Vanilla is followed by apple and poached pear, toasted almonds give way to pineapple and hints of lemon blossom.
  • Taste:  Sweet and creamy honey combines with ripe banana and zesty orange. Apricot comes to the fore, balanced by cracked black pepper.
  • Finish:  Medium-bodied finish with lingering tropical fruit and oak.

What a treat! I’m so lucky that I didn’t miss sampling this Auchriosk!

If you are curious about other Auchroisk tasting experiences… read on:

As for the quartet from Gordon & Macphail Discovery series? I had originally planned the following:

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Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic 44%

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Our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers’ April evening was a mix of offerings. We began our explorations with a curiosity – a Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic. We then moved on to a trio of cask strength single cask expressions from Taiwan – specifically the Kavalan Solist Trio of Sherry, Vinho Barrique, and Port. We closed our tasting with The Six Isles Scottish blend, comparing their standard expression with their special Port edition.

So… why was the Glenglassaugh a curiosity? I’ve shared below my mixed experience with this distillery. From a stellar example of the original spirit from 1965 with a remarkable 40 year to a lasting impression of the early expressions from the new distillery, that they were brought out just a little too, well, early! 

A fellow whisky explorer in Nurnberg also had similar mixed experiences. Which is exactly why he purchased this special edition Octaves Classic, to see what Rachel Barrie could do with smaller batches with higher spirit / wood contact possible with Octaves.

The result? Read on…

Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic Batch 2, 44%

  • Nose – A distinctive metallic edge, followed by some exotic fruits, then chocolate and vanilla. Some sulfur too.
  • Palate – Harsh at first, tingling and prickly, peppery, quite wood forward, then as it settled, it revealed fruits – mostly tropical – becoming a bit sweeter and smoother the more time it spent in the glass
  • Finish – A bit bitter initially like coffee, then warmed up

Let’s just say that we weren’t exactly won over!

What more do we know? Not much. Whilst this expression is no longer on the official Glenglassaugh Distillery site, it was a combination of Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez, and Amontillado Sherry Cask Octaves.

Whilst I’m happy to have a chance to revisit this revived distillery a decade after my initial experience, it still isn’t a priority for future explorations.

What about other Glenglassaugh experiences? Read on…

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Introducing 10th Street American Single Malts

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These days, a Canadian enjoying an American whisky is considered highly unpatriotic! However, back in 2024 when this trio came to me, we were still cordial neighbours. Setting politics aside, it has been some time since I was intrigued by whisky from “south of the border,” like 10th Street….

10th Street is the brainchild of a IIT grads from India who built successful careers in San Jose, California. Over the years, they discovered a mutual love whisky and, like all good Silicon Valley stories, started tinkering with making their own spirits until the experiments evolved from curiosity into a business!

I brought the 10th Street Triple Cask to a January 2025 evening with the Whisky Ladies and Bombay Malt & Cigar gentlemen. I then took a sample to Nürnberg to try alongside two minis.

10th Street Triple Cask “Dragon” STR Single Malt (2024) Barrel No 476 55.6%

  • Colour – Deep ruby red, almost like coffee
  • Nose – Jackfruit, perhaps even a hint of citrus to start? Another thought dragon fruit. Bottom line, there was fruit but not your typical orchard or tropical fruits. Grainy, jeera powder, more like rye than whisky at first, then opens to sweet bananas, walnuts, rum cake, loads of ginger… over time the bananas became overripe. It then shifted into a caramel custard… and finally a lovely floral aroma emerged – apple blossoms on a warm sunny day…
  • Palate – I’m awake now! Powdered garam masala, cinnamon, and black pepper. Lots of body, syrupy chocolate-filled liqueur – Williams pear? Oily with a great mouthful. The spice was joined by something almost like chewing on coffee beans.
  • Finish – When first opened, we experienced a big flavourful finish with great staying power… however, in the sample tried months later the finish was much shorter
  • Revisit – We set this aside and returned to candy floss on the nose with fruits and nuts on the palate. Yum!

One person remarked that the aromas reminded him of a beef brisket! Another thought the finish was like breathing “thick air”. We particularly enjoyed how the nose evolved and the contrast of sweet aromas with a substantial body.

Here’s what the folks at 10th Street have to say:

We were not surprised that our Triple Cask was crowned the best whisky at Whiskies of the World, beating several renowned whiskies. You can learn more about the competition here. First released in the 2024, the year of the Dragon, our pot still distilled, non-chill filtered single malt has spent time in three different casks. After aging in STR casks, it was finished in Wine Casks followed by Port Casks. The result is a delicious whisky with complex layers and a lingering finish. Enjoy the Dragon.

Tasting Notes: The nose is rich and aromatic, with prominent notes of dried fruit, caramel, and toasted oak. Subtle hints of spice, dark chocolate, and a touch of citrus add depth to the aroma.

This whisky is full-bodied and intense on the palate, delivering bold flavors of toffee, dark chocolate, and roasted nuts. The influence of the triple cask aging adds layers of spice, charred wood, and a slight smokiness, balanced by sweeter notes of vanilla and honey.

What fun! This was certainly an interesting start. A few months later in Nürnberg, I sat down to revisit the Triple Cask “Dragon” together with the Port Peated and STR. Here is what my tasting companion and I found…

10th Street STR Single Malt 56.2% 

  • Nose – Cloves, semi-dried dates, baklava, raisins, red licorice, cranberries, aamchor, a hint of herbs like a mix of fresh mint and basil
  • Palate – Nice and spicy, a bit sour like sour cherry or plum – it reminded me of li hing mui, some oak, as it continued to open, it became sweeter and sweeter, revealing a Linden flower honey
  • Finish – Like on the palate, it sweetened the more as it lingered, then shifted into something a bit sour and herbal

I couldn’t help myself – though I was tasting in Germany, I kept having associations with distinctly Indian elements – from raw mango powder (aamchor) to a bit sour (khatta) and also Chinese with li hing mui. Fascinating!

10th Street Port Cask Peated Single Malt 58.2%

  • Nose – A sea salty maritime peat, balsamic, kalamata black olive brine – think of a delightfully dirty martini! Over time, the balsamic element disappeared to be replaced by smoked meats, and then finally, a hint of port emerged
  • Palate – Surprisingly soft, a lovely cinnamon peat, dry yet balanced, a gentle sweet peat
  • Finish – Here we have a finish where the peat lingers

There are so many different kinds of peat. This one clearly fell into the more ‘maritime’ category. And like all the 10th Street expressions, we found it sweetened over time.

Whilst the STR and Port Peated expressions were interesting, we returned to the “Dragon” Triple Cask – enjoying both the complexity of its aromas and leisurely sipping.

You can tell this is a passion project combined with engineering precision. No shortcuts. Deliberately narrow cuts. Experimentation? Sure! The technical geek side mingles with artistry. Focusing purely on the domestic US market – that too only a few states – it will be interesting to see how 10th Street continues to evolve in the coming years. In the interim – bravo for a solid start!!

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