Reviews

The Aberfeldy 40 Years 1983/2023 from Malts of Scotland is a whisky that makes connoisseurs' hearts beat faster. As a genuine Highland whisky, it not only carries the typical elegance of this region, but also embodies the deep, mature experience of four decades of cask maturation. At 47.20%, it displays an impressive balance between strength and finesse, which is reflected in every sip.

The northernmost mainland distillery of Scotland returns with a whisky that radiates both groundedness and finesse: the Wolfburn 12 Years. Matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, it presents itself as a classic Highlander with a modern twist. Bottled at 46.0% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural in color, it steps into the glass without disguise. But what does this really mean in practice? Let’s take a closer look.

The Old Pulteney 12 years is a single malt whisky from the Scottish Highlands, more precisely from the Pulteney Distillery in the coastal town of Wick. With a maturation period of 12 years and an alcohol content of 40% vol., it is considered an accessible classic that is particularly interesting for whisky newcomers.

Och Aye the Coo – the name alone makes you smile. While other whiskies boast grandiose names such as "Royal Salute" or "Macallan Rare Cask", this little Scot comes across like a friendly farmer from the Highlands who has made his cow talk. "Och aye" means "oh yes" in Scottish Gaelic – and "the Coo"? That's simply the Scottish way of saying cow. So you could say: "Oh yes, the cow!" What a charmingly down-to-earth way to name a whisky.

There are whiskies that invite reflection, others that astonish. And then there are those that smile at you sweetly – only to throw a ginger bomb onto your palate a second later. The Glen Moray 2007/2021, bottled by Malts of Scotland, belongs to this third category – a surprising and exciting release from the Glen Moray distillery, located in the Speyside region near the Highlands. Aged for 14 years in a bourbon cask, bottled at a bold 56.3% ABV, non-chill filtered, natural colour – just the way we purists like it.

Whiskies tell stories. Some shout, with drums and fanfare. Others whisper – and yet their echoes linger in memory. Oban The Macleans Young Teddy (2023) belongs to the latter. A limited edition from the storied Oban Distillery in the Scottish Highlands – boldly bottled at 50.8% ABV, but without an age statement. And perhaps that’s the first clue: this whisky doesn’t aim to impress with numbers but with character.

The Blackwater distillery from Ireland presents us here with a whisky at 48.5% vol. that stubbornly refuses to reveal its age. Perhaps it is still too young to talk about it? At this price, you would think that at least a few years could be written on the bottle, but no - the secret of eternal youth reigns here.

The Skellig Six18 Distillery Exclusive 2024 Ruby Port Finish is definitely not your average Irish whiskey. At 6 years old and a proud 58.70 % vol., this Irish whisky comes with flavours that I have never experienced before. And I really mean that!

The Best Drinking Friends Release No. 3 dates back to 2018 and was bottled in 2024 - a fine period that has given the whisky enough time to develop. As an independent bottling, it has the typical character of an Irish whisky without being boring or predictable. The Great Northern distillery may not be the best-known address in the whisky world, but that is precisely what makes such discoveries so exciting.

There are whiskies that can be read like open books - every page a new surprise, every twist a new chapter. The Liberator Port 'n' Peat - Storehouse Special Batch 18 is one such whisky. An Irish spirit released by Wayward Irish Spirits from the Great Northern distillery to tell us a story that oscillates between sweet dreams and earthy truths.

Mario Rudolf and his team at St. Kilian have come up with something very special for this anniversary whisky. 60 years of Scorpions - that literally cries out for a whisky that is just as uncompromising as the rock legends themselves. And what do you do when you want to create a whisky with bite? You take German beech-smoked malt and mature it in ex-tequila barrels. A combination that looks like a daring experiment on paper, but in practice tells a story that you won't forget in a hurry.

Something fascinating is currently happening in the rolling hills of the German whisky landscape: Tradition meets rebellion, artisanal perfection meets untamed rock energy. The St. Kilian Scorpions - Rock Believer is more than just a whisky - it is a liquid homage to one of the greatest German rock bands of all time and at the same time a manifesto for the quality of German distillery craftsmanship. This extraordinary collaboration between the St. Kilian distillery in Rüdenau and the Scorpions is proof that innovation and respect for tradition can go hand in hand. Like a perfectly arranged song, this single malt combines German winemaking tradition with the powerful energy of rock'n'roll.