21 Terms Every Whisky Lover Needs To Know.

Click here for the Esquire article: Whiskey Term & Defintions

Just add water!

Click the link for the full story: Why Whisky Pros Add Water

That's Not Lagavulin!

Click the link: That's not Lagavulin

A new addition the the Laphroaig range is now available in the US! Introducing Laphroaig Select.

Click the link for more info: Laphroaig Select Scotch Whisky

Laphroaig Select takes its name from the special selection of American and European casks, chosen for their unique character that they give during maturation. Our Inspiration for our new Global expression has been take from history – 70-80 years ago, the time of the last family member owner of the distillery, Ian Hunter. Ian was one of the biggest influences in the history of Laphroaig indeed he was one of the first distillers to travel to bourbon county in the USA to identify new sources of casks that would give him greater consistency as well as new flavours. He later married this ‘new’ style of Laphroaig with his traditionally matured (European cask) Laphroaig.

Inspired by his early work , we have used Oloroso sherry butts, straight American white oak (non-filled with bourbon), PX seasoned hogsheads, Quarter Casks and finally of course first fill Bourbon Casks. This varied cask maturation technique enabled us to create 6 new flavour combinations that were then tested with our FOL’s to choose their favourite style and indeed name. 

Glenlivet Distillery to expand NÀDURRA into a range of cask finished Single Malts.

Here at the Malt Research Institute, Glenlivet's Nàdurra is by far our favorite in the distillery's range of Single Malts, so this sounds like exciting news! More cask strength whiskies from Glenlivet, with no chill-filtering, and now with different cask finishes? You guys had us at Nàdurra!

Click the link for the full article: The Glenlivet Nàdurra expands into a range of cask experiences.

Ten Of The World's Oldest Distilleries!

Who knew the top three aren't even in Scotland. In fact, one of the top three is in the U.S.

Click the link for the complete list: Ten Of The World's Oldest Distilleries!

Whisk(e)y News: Is A Whiskey Shortage Coming?

Click on the link for the full article: The Great Whiskey Shortage

Whisk(e)y News: Diageo using colorful labeling to attract younger consumers. Good idea or bad?

Click the link for the full article: The Singleton attracts youth with colorful releases

The Scotch Whisky Guide - Gentleman's Gazette

Click the link for the full article: Gentleman's Gazette Scotch Whisky Guide

This is one of the best articles we've read, on defining what Scotch whisky is! Share it with your whisky loving friends. 

Whisky Wisdom #8 Chandler Quote

I actually posted this via mobile to the Malt Research Institute Facebook Page first, linked here: Raymond Chandler on whisky.

Happy Halloween!

Bowmore 12 Year Old

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Islay 

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 40%

Notes:After my first exposure to peated whisky, with Talisker 10 went so well, I decided to try one from the isle of peated whiskies, Islay. My first pick was this Bowmore 12, and frankly, it was a bit of a disapointment. It had the peat I was looking for, but it was less integrated, with none of the harmony of flavors the Talisker had. It was complex enough, with many different tastes and smells to enjoy, but it didn't please the palate (at least my palate) like the Talsiker did, and the low ABV (40%) didn't help it at all! As I later learned, at this price range the younger 10 year olds from Ardbeg and Laphroaig are much more enjoyable! Coming back to this one again hasn't changed that opinion. I would recommend both of the aforementioned 10 year olds, over Bowmore 12, as a proper introduction to Islay's peated whiskies. Don't completely discount Bowmore though! More recently, I've tried other expressions in the Bowmore Range, with much better results!

Note: Both of the examples of Bowmore 12 I've tried, were pre Rachel Barrie taking over as Master Distiller. Now that she has had some time to oversee Bowmore's operation, this part of the Bowmore range might have improved from the two older bottlings I've tasted. When I see a bottle with the new packaging, I'll have to try this expression again.

Nose:Pretty standard ex-Bourbon cask honey, a lemony citrus, and bonfire smoke.

Taste: Smokey peat, baked apple, a little salty bite, then some allspice, pineapple and dark chocolate. 

Finish: The finish is long, with the chocolate and peat lingering.

My Personal Ranking: 80/100

Plans to reopen Rosebank Distillery

Click on the link to read Peter Ranscombe's full story via The Scotsman: Mothballed Rosebank Distillery Set To Reopen.

More can be found on the plans to reopen Rosebank in this article from Drinks Business Review: Arran Brewery To Reopen Rosebank Distillery

Edradour 10 Year Old

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Highland

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 43%

Notes: What can you say about Edradour that hasn't already been said in any other review? Compare it's limited production to the massive output of the bigger distilleries? Been done! Talk about how it's one of the smallest, yet most picturesque distilleries in Scotland? Well, based on that information and the many photos I've seen of this little farm distillery, that does put it at the top of my "distilleries to visit" list, but it's information that has been covered many times in almost every other review.  

I want to talk about something else. I've noticed that many independent bottler's are buying up some of the smaller, less well known distilleries, and I think this is a good thing! With the global demand for whisky going through the roof, it's getting harder and harder for independent bottler's to find available casks from other distilleries. Many of these smaller blending houses and indie bottler's are buying their own distilleries, to insure that they have something to trade, and something to fall back on as it gets harder and harder to buy casks from other distillers. The benefit to us, is these new owners are often increasing output, improving the quality of the casks and cask management, and are usually offering a wider range of product from these distilleries than the previous ownership did. They also tend to release their whisky at higher than the industry minimum of 40ABV, and without added coloring. 

Edradour is now owned by Signatory, a well known and respected independent bottler, and Edradour's production, while small, has become quite diverse. This review covers the standard 10 year old. This is the whisky that helped me to decide to focus my reviews on full bottles of whisky, not on small samples! I noticed over the course of several weeks, as I worked my way through the bottle, that my opinion of this whisky changed quite a bit. At first I was somewhat underwhelmed by this Single Malt. It seemed pretty one dimensional and had a slight dairy flavor I didn't particularly like. When I mentioned this to someone over at Whisky Connosr, one of the wise whisky veterans advised me to give it a couple of weeks. He said, that despite all of the concern over oxidation, in some cases a little oxidation is just what a whisky needs to open up, and he claimed Edradour was one of those. Taking his advice, I tried again, and he was right! The off putting dairy note had now become a mouth coating buttery flavor, and the complexity was better too. On my first impression, I would have given this whisky an 80 score at best. By the time the bottle was empty, I would have scored it much higher. My final score averages the overall experience. 

Nose: Apricots, vanilla, carmel, and a hint of peat. 

Taste: Almonds, some honey, lemon/lime citrus, spice, and that wonderful creamy butter.

Finish: Surprisingly long and sweet, with hints of spice and peat that linger. 

My Personal Ranking: 83/100

Special Note: Most of my reviews will cover standard bottle sizes 700-750ML. On occasion I have acquired smaller half size bottles (350ML) and and a beautiful boxed sampler set (each bottle 50ML) from Compass Box, that I plan to review. On those rare occasions, I will note the size of the bottle being reviewed. That being said, I will never write a review based on a sip at a tasting event, or from a travel sized (airline size) bottle!

Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Speyside

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 43%

Notes: Macallan is one of the bigger whisky distillers in Scotland. It is a Speyside distillery, and is among the world's top three best selling single malt whiskies, behind Glenfiddich and Glenlivet. For many years Macallan was known for maturing all of their whisky exclusively in Sherry casks. However, in 2004, Macallan introduced their "Fine Oak" range of whisky aged in American Bourbon oak casks to market along side their "Sherry Oak" range. 

The 12 year old Sherry, is the youngest offering from Macallan in the US market, along with another 12 year old from the "Fine Oak" range. In other markets the 10 year old is the standard entry level offering. 

Nose: A hint of smoke at first, then toffee and baked apple. 

Taste: The toffee flavor follows the nose, while the smoke gives way to cinnamon spice and apple, and a hint of cherry. This is a very well balanced single malt. 

Finish: After the sherry fruit flavors fade, the toffee remains, ending on a slight note of smoke.

My Personal Ranking: 84/100

Glenrothes Vintage 1998 (Bottled 2010 - 12 years)

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Speyside

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 43%

Notes: I have to give credit to Glenrothes for their clever marketing on Facebook. I had never heard of Glenrothes, but I was drawn in by their marketing and their simple packaging. I loved the look of that fat little bottle with the small label on it that looks handwritten. I was also intrigued by the fact that unlike most distilleries that release whisky by age, the folks that bottle Glenrothes, choose to release their offerings by vintage like wine makers do. 

I saw one of these cool little bottles, Vintage 1998, in it's simple minimalist box, sitting on the shelf of a local liquor store. Remembering their clever use of social network marketing, I decided to try it out. Having never tried any other vintages, I didn't know it at the time (but now know), this was the first release from Gordon Motion, who had replaced Glenrothes Malt Master and industry legend John Ramsay. Thankfully, if this bottle is any indication, Mr. Ramsay's carefully tended casks have been left in good hands!

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, with faint notes of lemon and pineapple. 

Taste: Caramel, cinnamon spice, followed by ripe pineapple and tangy green apples. Not terribly complex, but nicely balanced. 

Finish: Once the taste of the fruit fades, the honey and vanilla flavors remain, giving this a nice finish.

My Personal Rankin: 84/100 

Slainte!

World Whisky: Australian Malt Whisky

James Stuart Geary shared an entertaining and informative video on The Tasmanian whisky industry on the M.R.I. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MaltResearchInstitute

You can check out this video by clicking the link: Single Malt, The Tasmanian Whisky Industry (Reporter: Pip Courtney)

While I've had no personal experience with whiskies from Australia, I am looking forward to exploring this growing source of Single Malts soon!

Someone with far more expertise in whiskies from "The Land Down Under" is my friend and fellow blogger "SquidgyAsh, The Whisky Fiend"!

A fellow "Yank living in Aussie land", he has written extensively on the Whisky Industry of his adopted home country. He has also reviewed whiskies from all over the world, and just returned from Scotland, where he got to explore some of the most iconic places a Scotch Whisky lover could dream of visiting. Lucky bastard! 

He's a very prolific reviewer, so there's plenty to read. Please visit his blog: http://squidgyashwhiskyfiend.blogspot.com.au

Talisker 10 Year Old

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Island (Skye)

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 45.8%

Notes: Talisker 10 year old, is the first real peaty malt I ever tasted. When I first opened it up and nosed the bottle, I thought I had made a horrible mistake. It was so smoky and medicinal! My first taste didn't change that impression, though I did find the peppery flavor to be surprising, and the sweetness of the malt came though after the initial peat assault to the senses. Over the course a several weeks, I kept coming back to this bottle, and found the more I drank it, the more I liked it. Now it's one of my top single malts! 

As a movie buff, I've noticed that Talisker has been featured in at least two of the James Bond films. Both times I found Talisker on screen, it was featured in M's office. She clearly has taste, but Bond seems to appreciate it too. In Fleming's books, he ordered whiskies far more times (either straight or in a cocktail) than he ordered the movie staple of the well known "shaken not stirred" vodka martini. I think it makes more sense for Bond to be a Scotch drinker, as Fleming seemed to favor whisky, and if so, a big bruiser of a single malt like Talisker fits the bill perfectly! 

Nose: The first thing that hits you is the peat smoke and sea air. Eventually, that gives way to a some citrus and spicy notes.

Taste: There's a briny flavor that dominates, but that gives way to a complex mix of malty spice, a tart lemon like citrus, and that little bit of hot pepper that is so unlike anything else. 

Finish: The pepper and the peat smoke remain, but the citrus lingers too and now has settled into a sweeter orange flavor.

My Personal Ranking: 90/100

Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Speyside (Dufftown)

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 43%

Notes: The Balvenie distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons, who also own the Glenfiddich distillery, but the whisky from each of these respected distilleries is remarkably different. In fact, this particular 12 year old, reminds me more of Dalmore's 12 year old, than Glenfiddich's more Apéritif styled 12. Both the Balvenie 12 and the Dalmore 12 have been aged in Bourbon casks and Sherry casks. Both have similar notes of orange and vanilla. Both are remarkably complex for their age. Where they differ, seems to come from the the unique personalities of their master blenders, who are both icons in the Scotch industry. Where the Dalmore 12 is bold and intense like it's blender the congenial and anyways entertaining Richard Paterson, the Balvenie DoubleWood is more subtle and smooth, much like Balvenie's Malt Master, the modest and more reserved David Sewart. 

I have to note that I love Balvenie's packaging. Their bottle is simply elegant. It has a classic old world look to it's simply shaped bottle, with it's still shaped neck, natural wood capped cork, and parchment styled label. I actually prefer this kind of packaging over the more modern styled bottles and labels some distributor's are going to. 

Nose: Vanilla and orange, with a hint of honey.

Taste: A fruity orange that gives way to flavors of cinnamon, baked apples and raisins. 

Finish: The finish is remarkably long for whisky of this age, with the raisins and a hint of vanilla fading last. 

My Personal Ranking: 86/100

Slainte Mhath!

Dalmore 12 Year Old

Whisky Type/Region: Single Malt Scotch Whisky/Highland

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 40%

Notes: This is the first single malt I bought on my own, without recommendation. I was in a local grocery store, looking at their surprisingly well stocked liquor section, and came across this oddly shaped bottle with a little painted stag's head and a parchment styled label. The Dalmore 12 Year Old.   

I had never heard of this stuff, but it looked interesting, so I picked it over the more familiar Glenlivet and Glenfiddich offerings on the shelf. Now this was the older late 90s bottling, where the blend had a 60/40 bourbon cask to sherry cask finish, and I loved the complexity and unique flavor this single malt had.

At the time, I wasn't aware of my family's clan history and connection to this distillery. I just liked the packaging, and loved the balanced whisky that came in it. Having done some research, I now know that members of clan MacKenzie owned and operated the Dalmore distillery for over 100 years, until they sold it to Whyte and Mackay in 1960. I'm happy to note that Dalmore's connection to clan MacKenzie continues today, with special releases like "Dalmore MacKenzie" and "Dalmore, Castle Leod" and the latest "Dalmore Cromartie. Some of the proceeds from the sale of these releases goes to a fund to maintain the upkeep of historic Castle Leod.  

This review is on the current version of the 12 year old, with the much bigger stag's head, and a smaller, simpler label! This is the new Dalmore 12, with a 50/50 blend of single malts aged in bourbon and sherry casks. 

Nose: A very citrus note of orange, followed by a little bit of chocolate and vanilla. 

Taste: The orange is still there, but mixed with a malty spice kick, and a hint of dark chocolate and carmel from the Bourbon barrels that comes through, to mix with the fruit from the sherry casks. 

Finish: The orange continues, with faint flavors of vanilla and carmel remaining after everything else fades away.

My Personal Ranking: 86/100 (In this price and age range, this is one of the best!)

Slainte Mhath!