Reviews

Whisky is art - this sentence is more than just an empty phrase when it comes to the exclusive Ralph Steadman Collection from Cask 88. Not only is matured Scotch bottled here, but a piece of creative expression is brought into the bottle at the same time. Each bottling in the series features hand-drawn artwork by the legendary artist Ralph Steadman. The Arran is about the distilling process and the introduction of the spirit safe: "The application of intense heat to a complex chemical concoction is an indispensable process essential to whisky making. A critical moment in its history in Scotland was the introduction of spirit safes, a physical lock to protect against widespread excise avoidance."

The Nc'nean Distillery in Drimnin on the Morvern Peninsula stands for radical sustainability in whisky production. 100% renewable energy, certified organic barley and innovative cask experiments - the concept is well thought out. Organic Batch 5 represents this philosophy as the flagship of the regular bottlings, even if it comes across as a no-age statement.

Let's forget the marketing blah-blah from Diageo for a moment - Mortlach is actually a damn good distillery. The unusual 2.81-fold distillation usually turns boring Speyside fare into complex, meaty whiskies. The "Beast of Dufftown" deserves respect. But with the Midnight Dusk, someone obviously forgot to pass this memo on.

Ben Nevis is a distillery that is no longer an insider tip among connoisseurs. Independent bottlings in particular often enjoy a certain reputation, as they reveal interesting facets of this Highland distillery. Today we have a 24-years Ben Nevis from Zanzibar in our glass - a bottling with character?

There are moments in the life of a whisky lover that give you pause. Moments when the glass in your hand doesn't just contain a drink, but tells a story that is so different from anything you expected. The Caol Ila 11 Years Ambrosial Feast from the Diageo Special Releases 2024 is just such a moment.

Some whiskies are for drinking, others for savouring - and then there are the whiskies that simply go perfectly with a good cigar because they hardly differ from it in taste.

Teaninich is one of those Scottish distilleries that rarely appear as an original bottling - making the releases from independent bottlers all the more exciting. Zanzibar has taken on Teaninich, which was distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2023, and bottled it at a whopping 60.2 % ABV.

The Allt-a-Bhainne 2006 A Dreamy Nighttime Drink (Cask 108.34) from the renowned Scotch Malt Whisky Society encapsulates the quintessence of the Speyside region in an impressive single malt matured for 14 years. With a powerful alcohol content of 64.4% ABV, this whisky is not for the faint-hearted, but an experience for connoisseurs who want to engage with complex worlds of flavours.

Young whiskies with over 60 % ABV can either be real insider tips or completely impetuous alcohol clubs. The Glen Spey 2015/2023 from Sansibar with 60.1% ABV lies somewhere in between. Sometimes it is round and pleasant, sometimes you wonder whether it could have done with a few more years in the cask.

Australian whisky has received more and more attention in recent years - and for good reason. The climatic conditions ensure accelerated maturation, which often leads to intense and unique flavour profiles.

Do you remember how we used to talk about "sherry bombs"? If you've been around the whisky world for any length of time, you'll remember when a really sherry-heavy whisky was automatically considered a flavour grenade. The Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 12 with its 58.2% vol. is such a whisky that makes me think - not because it's bad, but because it perfectly shows how our perception has changed over the years.

Who says that royal whiskies always have to be meek and polite? The Royal Brackla 12 years from the Scottish Highlands region thoroughly dispels such prejudices. This bottling from the traditional distillery in Cawdor proves that even with an alcohol content of just 40%, there can be plenty of steam in the kettle.

The whisky landscape of the 21st century is increasingly characterised by producers from outside the traditional whisky nations. Israel, a country that could hardly be more different from Scotland or Kentucky in terms of climate and culture, is establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with on the global whisky scene. At 61.2% vol., the M&H APEX White Wine from the Milk & Honey Distillery presents itself as a fascinating object of study for analysing how Mediterranean conditions and innovative cask maturation influence the sensory characteristics of whisky. The M&H Distillery in Tel Aviv operates under completely different climatic conditions than traditional whisky producers. The average temperatures of 20-30°C and the low humidity significantly accelerate the maturation process. This leads to a more intensive exchange between the distillate and the cask, which is reflected in the high viscosity and flavour complexity observed.

Sometimes you come across a whisky that literally takes you back to the Stone Age - in the very best sense. The Talisker 8 Years Tidal Churn from the Diageo Special Releases 2024 is just such a candidate. It invites you on a geological expedition where every sip tastes like an open history book. The name "Tidal Churn" says it all. Tidal churn describes the wild churning of the sea by the tides - exactly what this whisky does in the glass and later on the palate.

Imagine it's the year 2010, Barack Obama is president, the iPad has just been invented and somewhere in the Scottish Speyside, a young GlenAllachie New Make is slumbering away in an American bourbon cask. 14 years later, in 2024, this whisky comes back to life - at 62.4% vol. and with a story to tell that takes us on a journey between continents and worlds of flavour.

Regional exclusives often hold a special charm. The Glenlivet 13 Years 1st Fill American Oak, crafted specifically for the French market, showcases how even within the classic Speyside style, intriguing variations can arise. Matured in first-fill American oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV, this whisky promises an easy-drinking experience. But what makes it stand out?

With the special release Double Trouble – Peated, St. Kilian celebrates the 40th anniversary of a cult film, yet keeps the true protagonist in focus: the whisky. Known for its experimental spirit and bold cask choices, this German distillery delivers another striking example. Aged in rare Ramandolo sweet wine casks from northern Italy, this peated single malt masterfully balances power and refinement.

Braeval - a distillery that is often overshadowed by its more famous Speyside neighbours, even among whisky connoisseurs. This is mainly due to the fact that official bottlings are virtually non-existent. Instead, most of the production ends up in blends. Fortunately, there are independent bottlers such as Sansibar that make it possible to enjoy such hidden treasures as single malts.

While other countries are still debating whether they can distil whisky at all, the Danes are simply marching through and demanding premium prices for their Danish whiskies. And you know what? They have the courage to do it. At 47.80% vol. and without an age statement, this Danish whisky presents itself like a rebellious teenager: young, untamed and damn self-confident. Incidentally, the Heather Edition does not mean that heather has been thrown into the barrel here (although that would come as no surprise with the Danes), but that this whisky is intended to capture the rough, windswept landscape of Denmark in the glass.

Award-winning and rightly celebrated! The Eiskeller whisky 12 years single cask cask 4 from the Lambertus Bräu und Brand distillery has made history: As the winner of the German Whisky Awards 2025 in the prestigious "Single Malt Cask Strength (unpeated)" category, it came out on top against over 100 German whiskies. Organised by the Verband Deutscher Whiskybrenner e.V. and blind-tasted by a jury of experts, this award is the accolade for German whisky. Anyone looking for an exceptional German single malt that not only meets international standards, but exceeds them, should definitely read on. This whisky is a shining example of what German distilleries are capable of - and why they increasingly deserve the attention of the whisky world.

Who would have thought that the Rhineland - actually known as a white wine region - is home to a German whisky that can hold its own against its Scottish relatives? The Steinkeller 12-years single cask whisky from the Lambertus Bräu und Brand distillery impressively proves that German distillers have long been capable of more than just schnapps and grain.

When it comes to honest, unadulterated whiskies, the Wolfburn Langskip is a real insider tip at a very good price. The still young Wolfburn distillery, based in the far north of Scotland near Thurso, brings a statement to the glass with this strong representative that experienced connoisseurs in particular will appreciate: blunt, direct, sweet - and full of character.

The young Wolfburn distillery in the northern Highlands has ventured into an elegant cask experiment: eight years of maturation in cognac casks, an unusual choice that combines character and charm. The result is a fruity, malty single malt that arouses curiosity - especially on the nose.

Wolfburn, the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland, is known for its handcrafted and elegant whiskies. With the Vibrant Stills Sauternes Cask 2016/2024, they've once again delivered something exciting. Aged for 8 years – first in ex-bourbon, then in first-fill Sauternes wine casks from France – this release offers bright fruitiness with structure. Bottled exclusively for Germany, it’s definitely worth a closer look.