Reviews

Malts from three German distilleries (Swabian Alp, Black Forest, Lake Constance) were married together. Some of these were previously matured in former Islay casks and the oldest of the three components was allowed to mature for over 12 years in bourbon casks. The malt was then finished in ex-Tawny port casks.

It's that time of year again. On the last Saturday in June, we celebrate the Day of the German Whisky. The St. Kilian Distillery is hosting its Whisky Festival for the second time. With great anticipation, we take this opportunity to closely examine the special edition from last year's festival. This time, it's the popular Hungarian oak from St. Kilian. The relatively small 95-liter casks impart a very rich color to this single malt, despite an aging period of just under five years.

The Glentauchers distillery in Speyside is one of the lesser-known but not exactly small distilleries. This is primarily because there is no visitor center, and most of the production is used in blended whiskies. Besides its own core range bottling, there are occasionally independently bottled Glentauchers malts. Today, we sampled the 11-years from the 100 Proof series by Signatory Vintage. The latter is very popular with us, and we were looking forward to this dram.

The Mac-Talla Red Wine Barriques is a limited edition, bottled at 53.8% by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. It is a single malt from an unnamed distillery on the Scottish island of Islay. The 24 married casks were pre-filled with wines from the Bordeaux region in France.

Our dear neighbors from the Netherlands typically favor genever, often aged, over whisky. While genever shares the idea of using malted barley in its production, the additional distillation with juniper drastically alters its character. However, today we're trying a genuine Dutch whisky. Unchill-filtered and aged in ex-Bourbon and ex-Port wine casks.

Laphroaig is arguably one of the most well-known Islay single malts. From supermarket shelves to independent single cask bottlings, Laphroaig whiskies are recognized and beloved across all market segments. Although we've enjoyed several of their malts in the past, they have been unusually absent from our reviews. Following the trend of limited editions, the distillery offers special "collector's editions" under the Cairdeas label in limited quantities. Today, we're trying the 2024 "Cask Favourites" – a 10-years combination of Triple Wood and PX Sherry casks. We're eager to see if the quality matches the hype.

With a finish in Tawny Port barriques, this Scotch shows an interesting development that does not reveal a classic port wine colour in the glass. But what about the inner values of this Mannochmore Port Finish bottled by Murray McDavid?

The Westfalian is releasing its first 12-years whisky today. With the cask number TW8 (yes, the 8th cask filled), the single grain is one of the first casks filled in the founding year 2012. The New Make matured in an ex. Ben Nevis Sherry Hogshead and only contains 266 bottles, as it is, as always, a cask-strength, uncoloured and unfiltered single cask bottling.

Lagavulin is one of the most renowned names among Islay Single Malt Whiskies. Naturally, Diageo delves deep into the marketing bag of tricks (see Offerman Edition) to not only maintain this status but to aggressively expand it. Nevertheless, Lagavulin 16 remains a benchmark and one of our absolute favorites. A few years ago, the half-aged sibling, Lagavulin 8, was added to the standard range. Heavily peated and without sherry cask aging, this whisky aims to establish a younger and more purist standard. Today, we’re tasting to see if the “little Laga” can impress in terms of quality and flavor.

The Royal Brackla bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) matured for 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before the 3-year finish began in a 1st fill PX hogshead made from American oak.

The Arcadian series from Waterford represents a visionary interpretation of the "Garden of Delights", and the Organic Gaia 1.2 is an outstanding example of this philosophy. Unconventional farmers who prioritise quality and taste over profit have played a central role in this. Gaia, the divine mother of the earth, was chosen as the patron saint for this unique whisky, which is made from 100% organically grown barley - the first of its kind in Ireland.

The St. Kilian distillery never fails to surprise us with an endless series of single cask releases. They are consistently adventurous, continuously exploring new avenues to create unique single malts. Today's "David's Choice" comes from a cask that caught David Haynes' attention during a tasting session in Bunker City. This whisky matured for 6 years in a fresh chestnut wood cask. Today, we'll see what effect this unusual wood had on it. Note: David Haynes is one of the masterminds behind St. Kilian distillery and personally co-responsible for its planning.

"Coffey grain whisky and aromatic unpeated Miyagiko malts, as well as a hint of coffee malt whiskey and Yoichi malts" come together in this new blend. Packaged in deliberately light-coloured packaging, this blend is perfect for the summer months - or to brighten up dark winter days.

While the USA traditionally allows freedom and creativity in whisky production, Balcones adheres to Scottish tradition with its Texas single malt. With the use of 100% malt, particularly Golden Promise, and a maturation period of four years, this whisky promises a US malt with a Scottish soul.

Port Askaig is a ferry harbour on the Scottish island of Islay. Bottlings under the name are independent bottlings from various distilleries on the whisky island. In principle, you are forced to do a blind tasting without a resolution. Blogs and forums contain hints and guesses, but nobody really knows which distillery you have in your glass.

A highly exciting cask selection was made for the Isle of Raasay Batch R02. Single malts from first fill ex-rye whiskey, virgin Chinkapin oak and first fill Bordeaux red wine casks were married together. Some were initially filled with peated, others with unpeated New Make before being bottled after around 3 years.

Balcones Baby Blue is made from roasted baby blue corn and is matured for a time that is probably well under two years. Although exact details of the ageing time are not available, it is assumed that the whisky is aged in barrels for at least six months. The use of small casks and the unique Texas climate significantly characterise the character of this corn spirit.

The Wolfburn Distillery is one of the youngest distilleries in Scotland and has made a name for itself for its exciting whiskies since it was founded in 2013. The Wolfburn Love Potion is a marriage of Oloroso sherry hogsheads and full bourbon casks, bottled at 46%.

The Isle of Raasay Core Batch R0.01 is an exciting addition to the distillery's portfolio. With a double award at the Scottish Whisky Awards, the team shows that they can produce outstanding whisky.

The colour of this whisky is inviting and speaks for its maturity. The 12/2006 - 04/2022 bottling has a quota of 9,000 bottles and is not at all as rare as we are used to from bottles from the Springbank distillery. Nevertheless, the price is - well... Fortunately it has come back a little over the last few months.

This small batch single malt whisky from Israel was matured in ex-bourbon casks and then aged for six months in pomegranate wine casks. A type of cask that we have never come across before.

Glenlivet is globally renowned and enjoys massive popularity among both connoisseurs and beginners alike. In the distillery's lineup, there's a Travel Retail expression, which, one might aptly say, is likely targeted towards impulse buyers at airports. The Distiller's Reserve has matured without an age statement in three types of casks. Sherry and American Oak are familiar to us. However, the label doesn't disclose what exactly is meant by "Traditional Oak."

The Gilors Sherry Duett from the Henrich distillery is a marriage of a PX sherry cask and an Oloroso sherry. After maturing for 7 years, it is bottled at 46.4% strength.

As the name suggests, this single malt from the Taiwanese Kavalan distillery was matured in ex-bourbon casks - more precisely in first fill ex-bourbon casks. The Solist series is Kavalan's product range for cask strength bottlings.