Sampling — Page 4

Sampling The New Welsh Witch ‘Lammas’ Vodka – Spellbindingly Good!

September 16, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Jade Garston & the new Welsh vodka named Lammas!

Award-winning Welsh distillery Wild Moon is expanding its range of Premium Spirits with a unique Vodka!

Based in Wrexham, North Wales, the distillery was founded by Jade Garston, our Welsh Witch has been brewing up a new vodka bursting with natural flavours. Inspired by Welsh pagan folklore, this vodka is the 6th premium spirit to be released by the distillery.

The new vodka named Lammas after the next phase of the Wheel of the Year celebrates the first grain harvest, a time for gathering in and giving thanks for the abundance of crops.

The family run distillery has been creating spirits since 2019

The family run distillery has been creating spirits since 2019 and with 3 of their spirits recognised and awarded by the Great taste awards amongst other awards bodies, Jade and the team have high hopes for their new triple distilled vodka.

The Wild Moon distillery is the only distillery that is female owned and inspired by the lunar cycle. The new vodka is made using distilled Welsh water from the Ffynnon Beuno Welsh mountains, tying in with Celtic paganism roots of the Welsh Witch Spirit collection. Their process involved trickling the vodka through reiki charged crystals such as aquamarine, amethyst and moonstone crystals for energy cleansing to balance and complete the process. Each bottle is hand-corked and waxed in a distinct apothecary style that the brand is known for.

Our new vodka is an exciting addition to our collection, it’s been in the making for some time and we’re really pleased to launch it to the public.

We’re passionate about constantly creating new drinks that people love and all of our spirits have their own unique processes to make them stand out from the crowd. Being hand crafted in small batches in our North Wales distillery means we can ensure care and attention to every detail and we can remain true to our values.

We’re excited to see what our customers think of our new vodka, I love our new vodka and my mixer of choice is a refreshing botanical cola.

You’ll start seeing our vodka in bars and pubs around you soon, sitting proudly alongside our gins and rums, I can’t wait, it’s a really exciting time for the Wild Moon Distillery
– Jade Garston: Distiller

Welsh Witch products are distilled using Welsh water, then bottled, labelled and hand-waxed in our very own Wild Moon Distillery in North Wales.

Jade Garston’s passion for excellent flavours, nature and all things witchy was a marriage perfect to brew her Welsh Witch magic. Starting with their signature gin in December 2019, the brand has gone from strength to strength, becoming a staple spirit in may bars and restaurants around Wales and surrounding areas.

I’ve been lucky enough to try the new vodka and many thanks to Wild Moon (@welshwitch_craftspirits) for sending me a very generous sample – a whole bottle no less!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Welsh Witch Lammas Vodka (40%)

Welsh Witch products are distilled using Welsh water, then bottled, labelled and hand-waxed in our very own Wild Moon Distillery in North Wales.

The distillery uses folklore inspired botanicals and bases their products around the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year.

Nose: Powerfully herby and botanical with sweet lemon and shades of sherbet.

Palate: Sweet lemon, herby, spicy with hints of liquorice.
Adding ice gives it a fresh crispness and astringent quality.
Mixing with Tonic gives a long, refreshing, sweeter, lighter drink.

Overall: A very morish Vodka with some great flavours – a big contrast to some of the other one-dimensional vodkas that are out there – often easily forgotten – Lammas, on the other hand, will always keep you coming back for more!

The SMWS Whisky World Record Attempt – Grab Your Tasting Pack!

September 13, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Up to 1,250 members of the worldwide whisky club will come together online!

Saturday 30 September 2023 at 2pm

“All Together Now” – The SMWS Aims To Taste Their Way To A New Whisky World Record!

Grab your Tasting Pack!

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is gathering members from around the world in a bid for the world’s biggest online whisky tasting!

As they approach the milestone of 40,000 members around the world, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has announced it will attempt to set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most participants in an online whisky tasting event.

The online whisky tasting will take place on Saturday 30th September 2023

Up to 1,250 members of the worldwide whisky club across the UK, USA, Japan, China and Australia will come together online and take part in the three-dram tasting for around 45 minutes on Saturday 30th September 2023.

The record-setting attempt is taking place during ‘The Gathering’, the flagship event in the Society’s year-long series of 40th anniversary activities for its growing community of members around the world.

Founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by maverick Pip Hills, the SMWS started out as a small group of like-minded whisky lovers who shared a passion for single cask whisky. Now owned by the Artisanal Spirits Company, but with Hills, now 82, at the heart of its 40th-year celebrations, the Society is now the world’s largest whisky club, with almost 38,000 members in more than 20 countries across the globe.

The groundbreaking online whisky tasting event will take place across the world at 2pm. It will be live-streamed from The Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh, the spiritual home of the SMWS, The first dram will be hosted by SMWS Master Ambassador, John McCheyne, the second by Tom Smith, Senior Director of SMWS USA, and the third by Matt Bailey, Director of SMWS Australia.

Partnering with video production company GLO to live-stream the tasting via Zoom, the Society’s world-record bid will see their members taste three Society drams during the online event.

The drams to be sampled are:-

Cask No. 55.78 What a Spread!, a 13-year-old rich and sweet bottling from a Speyside distillery, with tasting notes of “spiced toffee, creme brulee and a touch of fresh oak”
Cask No. 39.244 Tutti Frutti in a Wooden Bowl, an 11-year-old whisky from the SMWS Juicy Oak & Vanilla flavour profile.
Batch 15 Smokus Fruticosus, a blended malt comprised of malt whiskies from the islands of Islay & Orkney.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has come a long way since Pip Hills and his friends started exploring the amazing array of flavours in single cask whisky in Edinburgh in the early 1980s.

Now, 40 years later, the Society has almost 40,000 members around the world, including around 18,000 here in the UK, so what better way to celebrate that by bringing so many of our members together to go for this world record.

We’re delighted to be playing our part in this world record attempt – we’ll certainly have fun trying to do it!
– Madeleine Schmoll: Event host and Social Media and Community Manager at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society UK

Madeleine Schmoll is the event host for the record breaking attempt!

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)

• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• ASC owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.

Sampling Three Bourbons And A Whiskey – Made In A Way Only A Rebel Can!

September 12, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Three Bourbons & A Whiskey!

Rebel Bourbon (and Whiskey!) was our sampling delights for last Wednesday nights @TweetTastings – once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire.

And it was a cracker!

On the sampling menu was:-

Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Rebel Straight Rye Whiskey

Rebel Bourbon Tawny Port Finish

Rebel 100 Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Finish

If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #RebelBourbon on X (Twitter)

So, what did I think?

Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!

Tasting Notes – Rebel Bourbon 100 Kentucky Straight (50%)

This member of the Rebel family is bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV, compared to its standard Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is bottled at 40% ABV.

Rebel 100, which is a wheated bourbon comprised of a mashbill of wheat, corn and malted barley, was matured for at least 4 years in new charred American white oak barrels.

Nose: Lots and lots of orange and syrupy sweetness. Toffee and apple and a little woodiness also getting cherry and furniture polish.

Palate: Love the spicy blood orange! Syrupy sweet with cola and toffee mixed in – perfect for adding ice to!

Finish: Dry peppery finish.

Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Tasting Notes – Rebel Bourbon Straight Rye Whiskey (45%)

ABV: 45%
Age: NAS
Casks: American white oak barrels

Rebel Straight Rye Whiskey, has been produced using a mashbill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malt.

Nose: Very vanillary – cream soda like! Fainter orange flavours than the Kentucky Straight with toffee, some lemon and faint polish.

Palate: Subtler than the previous whiskey but there’s stronger creamy vanilla, sweet liquorice and faint blackcurrant.

Finish: A fruity spicy hit at the end with some more forest fruit flavours and a dry finish.

Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Tasting Notes – Rebel Bourbon Tawny Port Finish (45%)

ABV: 45%
Age: NAS
Casks: Initially matured in American white oak barrels before being finished in Tawny Port casks

Rebel Bourbon Tawny Port Finish, which was the brands third limited-edition cask finish release, launched in 2021, and is exclusive to the UK and select European markets.

Nose: Not giving up it’s secrets easily this one …. a faint, porty colour to this whiskey and after a while there’s some woody toffee, maybe a little cherry. There’s the usual orange and some creamy chocolate.

Palate: Very sweet, creamy chocolate with orange, bags of smooth spice and some menthol – a happy surprise after the ‘shy’ nose!

Finish: Sweet spicy finish with some porty additions.

Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Tasting Notes – Rebel Bourbon 100 Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Finish (50%)

ABV: 50%
Age: NAS
Casks: Initially matured in American white oak barrels before being finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks

Launching in the UK this autumn. RRP: £40.00

Only 6,000 bottles are being produced!

Nose: ‘Tis a woody one for sure … apple and some cherry pie with a vanilla pastry!

Palate: Sweet pastry with fruit filling including vanilla, orange and hints of lemon and cherry – a sweet woodiness with gentle spice and kinda morish!

Finish: A healthy spice finish tops off a cracking bourbon!

Available to buy from these Merchants:-

My Favourite On The Night

1. Rebel 100 Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Finish
2. Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The Sauvignon Finish took me by surprise actually – I wasn’t expecting this to be my favourite but I found the menu of flavours intoxicating!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for a great evening and @ChapmanPoolePR for sending the samples.

And of course, Rebel Bourbon (@ChapmanPoolePR), without whom!

My fellow Tweet Tasters on the night were:-

@TheWhiskyWire @1_womans_whisky @LeaskPatrick @redessa @PadWhisky @whiskyrover @GascoyneNick @Whisky_And1 @neatdrams @whiskeychap @KingsofYearron @whiskyRubhach @drinkersite @ocdwhisky @MaltWhitson @dramofwar @WhiskyWings @sprungatom @Whisky_Rich @FiShoop @mynameisgone @whiskytip @exploringwhisky

Sampling Cihuatán ‘Alux’ Rum – A Gift For The Gods – And For You To Enjoy As Well!

August 9, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Cihuatán ‘Alux’ Rum

Highfern Ltd, Cihuatán Rum’s UK importer, now has a new expression for the UK: Cihuatán Alux rum!

Cihuatán Alux is a 15 years old limited edition rum finished in former oloroso sherry and cognac casks!

Cihuatán Rum from El Salvador marries the age old craft of Rum distilling with an innovative forward thinking approach inspired by their Mayan forbears, to create an exciting collection of cask aged Rums.

The Cihuatán Alux is a 15 years old limited edition rum finished in former oloroso sherry and cognac casks.

The name, Alux, is inspired by the Mayan legend of the Aluxes, the guardian gods of the land. To celebrate the harvest and give thanks to the Aluxes the Mayan would hold a feast.

Cihuatán’s master blender Gabriel Ayalaya has blended this limited edition rum to reflect the flavours of the feast with hints of cashew nuts, ginger, cinnamon, roasted corn and chocolate.

The Rum is beautifully presented with hand numbered bottles and a fractal label design which incorporates symbols of the Aluxes, with a macaw, a jaguar, corn and cacao.

Watch an intro on youtube

Many thanks to highfern.com (@HighfernLtd) for sending me a sample!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Cihuatán Rum (43.2%)

Nose: Citrus aromas abound with lemon and orange at the forefront. This is coupled with stewed fruits and toffee.

Palate: Creamy chocolate with strong coffee, sweet nuts and rich cane sugar.

Finish: A gently spiced finish with pepper that grows with time and there’s some of that citrus lemon and orange at the end.

Overall: This is NOT you’re ordinary run o’ the mill rum. No. Instead it’s a classy delight with plenty of depth of aromas and flavour!

Cihuatán Rum is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Highfern Ltd
Master of Malt

Once again, many thanks to Robert at highfern.com (@angelsnectar) for sending me the sample!

· Highfern Ltd is the proprietor of Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt and Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and the UK importer of Langatun Swiss Single Malt Whisky, Strane London Dry Gin, and Cihuatán Rum.

Celebrate National Bourbon Day With “Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight” & 10% OFF From Whisky Me!

June 14, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon!

It’s National Bourbon Day!

And to celebrate Whisky-Me have kindly sent me a sample of Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon to try!
Cheers @whisky_me_! and @yellowstonebourbon

The original family recipe was resurrected in 2010

Named after the Yellowstone National Park, award-winning Yellowstone Select Bourbon is a small batch of four and seven-year aged straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey made with locally grown white corn, rye, malt and limestone water.

First produced by Master Distiller, Steve Beam’s ancestors in 1872, Yellowstone was Kentucky’s biggest selling bourbon in the 1960s. The original family recipe was resurrected in 2010 by Steve Beam and his brother Paul Beam with the first barrel filled in 2015.

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon (46.5%)

Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a delicate fusion of flavours from seventh-generation distillers, this straight bourbon features a handpicked blend of 4- and 7-year-old bourbons, for an exclusive small-batch whiskey that honours its deep family origins.

Yellowstone Bourbon is crafted at Limestone Branch distillery, Kentucky which has been around since the start of the Kentucky bourbon business.

Yellowstone Select: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Distillery: Limestone Branch
ABV: 46.5%

A great Bourbon with a little bit of everything!

Nose: Gorgeous, sweet, stewed fruits with toffee. Then a real blast of tropical fruitiness shows itself plus a little chocolate.

Palate: Lovely sweetness and satisfying mouthfeel. Superb tropical fruits with mango coming out on top!

Finish: Prominent orange with some chocolate and coffee. Warming, spicy and slightly medicinal with a dry tannin finish. Interestingly, adding some water adds some Ginger flavours …

Overall: A great Bourbon with a little bit of everything. Fruity, sweet and with a powerful spice and dry finish!

Enjoy 10% off your Whisky Me purchase!

To enjoy 10% off your Whisky Me purchase – valid on all subscriptions, and all Yellowstone products – use this link and your discount will be applied automatically at the checkout!

Sampling The Kilchoman Cognac & Fino Sherry Cask Whiskies!

June 2, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Kilchoman Cognac & Fino Sherry Cask Matured Expressions!

Sampling the Kilchoman launch Cognac and Fino Sherry Cask Matured Expressions!

Kilchoman have welcomed their first ever Cognac cask matured release as part of their 2023 Limited Editions. 32 casks were chosen by Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Robin Bignal, Production Manager, for their exceptional quality.

In addition, The 2023 limited edition Fino Sherry Cask Matured release is Kilchoman’s second ever release to be matured in ex Fino sherry casks. Anthony and Robin hand-selected a total of 20 Fino Sherry Butts of which the spirit was distilled in 2018.
(You can read the full story on both drams via this link.)

Kilchoman has kindly sent me a sample of each dram to try. (Thanks kilchomandistillery.com / @Kilchomanwhisky!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Cognac Cask Matured (50%)

The Kilchoman spirit was filled into Cognac casks sourced from Tonellerie Bossuet (France) in 2016 and left to age in dunnage warehouses for a minimum of six years.

32 CASK VATTING
15,100 BOTTLES
50% ABV 50PPM

Nose: A sweet peaty and fruity nose with lots of apple.

Palate: Apple pie with creamy pastry! Sweet peat and moist, oaky earthiness.

Finish: A warming spice (to warm the cockles!), fruity with a little smokey antiseptic that grows with time and then finishing off with tobacco dryness.

Tasting Notes – Fino Sherry Cask Matured (50%)

The Sherry butts were purchased from Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin (Spain) for their impeccable standard. Aged for a minimum of five years.

20 CASK VATTING
15,650 BOTTLES
50% ABV 50PPM

Nose: Somewhat reticent on the nose but there’s smokehouse aromas with peat and woodsmoke.

Palate: Sherbet sweetness with toffee and antiseptic flavours.

Finish: Spicy pepper, muted smoke, licorice and dark chocolate.

Once again, many thanks to kilchomandistillery.com (@Kilchomanwhisky) for sending me these drams!

Compare prices for Kilchoman!

Kilchoman is available to buy from these Merchants:-

About Kilchoman

Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have been joined by their three sons; George, James and Peter.

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022

Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this.

The 2023 award season is now underway and Kilchoman has already secured awards for both Machir Bay and Sanaig.

◼ San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 – Machir Bay was awarded a Gold while Sanaig was awarded a Double Gold.

2022 Awards

◼ The IWSC 2022 competition – Machir Bay scored 98 points and was awarded ‘Gold Outstanding’. 100% Islay 12th Edition was also awarded a ‘Gold Award’ and scored 95 points.

◼ The International Spirits Challenge 2022 and The USA Spirits Rating 2022 – Machir Bay and Sanaig were both awarded Gold Medals.

◼ The Spirits Business Scotch Masters 2022 – Sanaig received the most prestigious ‘Master Award’ and Machir Bay was awarded Gold

Sampling Mays “Flavour Hunter Festival Discovery Pack” – The SMWS Does It Again!

June 1, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The “Flavour Hunter Festival Discovery Pack”

It was grand to be part of the recent SMWS virtual tasting event, sampling five festival whiskies from this year’s Rare Releases – truly the grand finale of an outstanding month of whisky discovery!

In addition to being ably hosted by Madeleine Schmoll, Olaf Meier and Bob Wenting, we were also treated to music from Skye Musician Donnie Livingstone followed by a society Quiz!

What a night!

The five 25ml drams sampled were:-

Distillery G16 Dark ‘N’ Stormy Crème Brûlée
Distillery 24 Massive oak extraction
Distillery 93 Lock, stock and two smoking funnels
Distillery 3 The finesse of a fragrant furnace
Distillery 53 Blowtorched Mexican mousse

The SMWS very kindly sent me the above collection to try on the night. Thanks SMWS!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Dark ’n’ stormy crème brûlée

CASK NO. G16 Lowland
1st fill #4 char 24 month air seasoned Oak with toasted head barrels
6 years old
29th April 2016
1 of 1300 bottles
50.00%

Nose: Fruity sweetness with lots of apple, tropical fruits and sweet spice and peach.

Palate: Quite oily with cane sweetness that goes dry quickly. There’s tropical fruits and orange as well.

Finish: Savoury and peppery with chilli thrown in for good measure!

Massive oak extraction

SMB . 24
Speyside
1st fill & refill Spanish oak and American Oak PX barrels and hogsheads
14 years old
13th October 2008
1 of 2554 bottles
63.00%

Nose: A brilliant colour on this one! The nose is creamy with stewed fruits, sherry hints and some wood with leathery aromas.

Palate: Creamy sherry with a heavy sweetness and even heavier spicy hit that is gorgeous!

Finish: The finish ends with coffee and caramel with dark chocolate – very nice!

Lock, stock and two smoking funnels

SMB. 93
Campbeltown
1st fill barrel ex bourbon
8 years old
16th September 2014
1 of 1276 bottles
60.2%

Nose: Lovely sweet, smokey wisps that tantalises the taste buds! This is joined by sweet nuts creamy biscuit.

Palate: Light but oily mouthfeel with medicinal, peaty aromas coming through followed by sweet chocolate.

Finish: A smooth dram with antispetic flavours taking hold now, adding to the sweet peated finish which also has some added pepper.

The finesse of a fragrant furnace

SMB. 3
Islay
2nd fill bourbon & Spanish Oloroso Hogsheads
18 years old
16th February 2004
1 of 1173 bottles
56.9%

Nose: Fruity peatiness with added furniture polish and old wood – bit of a dusky, old library vibe to this one!

Palate: Liquid sweet smoke with tropical fruits, pineapple chunks and then it gets really peachy!

Finish: More antiseptic flavours with some peppery spiciness to finish. Not as massively smokey as some drams can be.

Blowtorched Mexican mousse

CASK NO. 53.446
Islay
1st fill American oak PX Hogshead
14 years old
27th May 2008
1 of 234 bottles
57.7%
Buy now: £95.00

Nose: Subtle smoke with a sherried side note to it, some cherry and it’s also more antiseptic than the other drams.

Palate: Sweet and the smoke is there in peaty spades – very smokehouse! Some fruit cherry sweetness makes a nice balance!

Finish: Very smooth with appetite sharpening smokiness and the antiseptic is pleasing the senses!

My favourite on the night:

I love peated drams but I’ve fallen for Distillery 24 – Massive oak extraction. A Very smooth dram, “Dangerously so”, as Bob Wenting said and he is spot on!
You could spend a few hours getting to know this whisky and you would probably still be only part way there!

Many thanks to the SMWS (@SMWSUK) for sending me such a fine collection of drams and for hosting a fantastic sensory evening.
The SMWS does it again!

Sampling Angels’ Nectar Sherry Cask Edition – Aged 6 Years – But Tastier Beyond Its Years!

May 12, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition – Aged 6 Years!

Angels’ Nectar Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition – Single Malt Scotch Whisky!

Once again, Robert from Highfern.com has kindly sent me an Angels’ Nectar sample to try from their range of whiskies!

This is a limited edition of just 2,244 bottles

It is their Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition and many thanks to highfern.com (@HighfernLtd) for sending it to me!

Inspired by the Angels’ share, Angels’ Nectar showcase contrasting styles of Scotch Whisky with a series of small batch releases. The latest release, distilled in Highland Perthshire, is a single malt which has been matured for six years in former oloroso sherry casks, and bottled at 46%.

It is a limited edition of just 2,244 bottles!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition – Aged 6 Years (46%)

Distilled in 2015 at a distillery in Highland Perthshire, this single malt has been matured for six years in former oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%.
£60.00

Nose: Very fruity port wine aromas with sherry and sweet orange. It is then joined by creamy, yeasty biscuit and some toffee.

Palate: Quite woody with berries and sugary, stewed fruits. A little later there is port and creamy biscuit.

Finish: A satisfying, peppery finale with a short dry finish.

Overall: I always look forward to these limited edition drams. They have a great and varied variety of flavours and they always throw up a few surprises!

I suggest you steal a march on those Angels and get your share before they do!

Angels’ Nectar is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Angels’ Nectar is also available from: Brodie Countryfare, Robertsons of Pitlochry, Speyside Centre & Whiski Shop

· Highfern Ltd is the proprietor of Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt and Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and the UK importer of Langatun Swiss Single Malt Whisky, Strane London Dry Gin, and Cihuatn Rum.

Sampling Lakes Distillery: The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’ – A Quality Whisky With Bags Of Fruity Flavour!

April 28, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’

The latest Whiskymaker’s Edition, ‘Iris’ has been released and is a true departure from The Lakes’ classic sherry-led signature style!

‘Iris’ is a quality whisky with bags of flavour!

Inspired by the stunning Himalayan town of Gulmarg, which means “meadow of flowers,” this bold expression represents The Lakes’ spirit of adventure as it ventures into the creation of intensely tropical and modern flavour profiles.

Iris is a lively and uplifting experience that turns up the sensory volume to the max, transforming the mundane into a vibrant display of colours, aromas and flavours.

With its fruity and floral notes, including freshly-harvested red apples, juicy pears, and fragrant honeysuckle, ‘Iris’ is a spectrum of flavours bottled at 56% ABV and non-chill filtered, and it is available at The Lakes Distillery and select whisky retailers worldwide!

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Lakes Distillery: The Whiskymaker’s Editions ‘Iris’ English Whisky (56%)

Nose: Crisp apple and plump, summer fruits with some white wood. There’s also toffee coming through at the back and hints of tropical fruits for company.

Palate: A creamy palate of fresh apple and those plump, summer fruits joined by honeydew melon and tropical flavours.

Finish: Sweet spices with some punchy black pepper which gives a tasty counterpoint to the sugary fruitiness.

Overall: A very morish quality to this dram with the lighter fruits and heavier spice combining perfectly. Ideal as a perfect Summer evenings dram – or just great anytime when you fancy a quality whisky with bags of flavour!

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are also available to buy from:-

THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Sampling Fettercairn’s ‘Warehouse 14’ Limited Edition Whisky – The Last – But Certainly Not Least – Of Their “Warehouse Collection” Releases!

April 20, 2023 by Gary Leave a Comment

Fettercairn’s ‘Warehouse 14’ Limited Edition Whisky – The Last – But Certainly Not Least – Of Their “Warehouse Collection” Releases!

Fettercairn Distillery has released the fifth and final instalment of their ‘Warehouse Collection’, Warehouse 14. It is an experimental Limited Edition release, opening the doors to Warehouse 14 for the first time in the Collection’s journey!

The previous four releases in the Collection have been from Warehouse 2, but for this final release, Fettercairn has looked to a warehouse at the opposite side of the distillery. Warehouse 14 looks out on to the Cairngorms and is more exposed to the elements and changing seasons which has undoubtedly helped to shape this very special final release.

Fettercairn Warehouse 14 will complete the Warehouse Collection

Warehouse 14 has been crafted using a handpicked selection of first-fill and second-fill ex-Bourbon barrels. This release was initially created as an experiment in the unique Warehouse 14 by Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass and the Distillery Team. The recipe was finished in a mix of three different beer barrels – stout, dark ale and pale ale – each offering different flavour characteristics that enhance Fettercairn’s tropical house style.

Fettercairn’s signature house style, abundant with tropical fruit flavours and soft spice, is created by the unique cooling ring, which ensures only the purest vapours rise and produces the distinctive tropical characteristic, remains a feature of Warehouse 14 on the nose and on the palate.
For more information, my previous blog post on this release can be found here.

Fettercairn kindly sent me a sample of the ‘Warehouse 14’ to try. A hearty Cheers to fettercairnwhisky.com (@FettercairnWh) for the opportunity to sample this dram and also for sending some Joe & Seph’s tasty olive oil, sea salt and black pepper gourmet popcorn to go with it!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Fettercairn ‘Warehouse 14’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky (51.2%)

Limited Edition release, Non-Chill-Filtered and Natural Colour.

Nose: Sherbet sweet with apples and light tropical fruits which steadily grows over time. Creamy aromas with some woody notes add to a very inviting tasting ahead!

Palate: Initially there is creamy sweet tropical fruits and chocolate but it’s also quite spicy, peppery and savoury which comes to the front from an early stage.

Finish: The tropical fruitiness comes back much stronger at the finish and it’s very welcome! The spice is still there you can also add a little toffee as well. The finish is short and dry.

Overall: This dram has a higher ABV than the other warehouse releases and it’s very welcome! It gives more scope to the dram and opens up more tasting opportunities.
A satisfying finish to the collection!

Fettercairn Warehouse 14 completes the Warehouse Collection and is available at an RSP of £70. Available on a Limited Editon basis in limited selected markets including UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Going forward Fettercairn is continuing their 18 and 16 Year Old annual releases as well as planning for next years 200 year anniversary which is in June 2024 (the oldest barrel in their warehouse is from 1962.)

Compare prices for Fettercairn!

Fettercairn Whiskies are also available to buy from these Merchants:-

“A satisfying finish to the collection!”

About Fettercairn – www.fettercairnwhisky.com

Fettercairn Distillery is a hidden gem – a Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery located in the heart of a thriving agricultural community, Aberdeenshire – ‘The Garden of Scotland’.

A spark of whisky making ingenuity is what makes Fettercairn special. A sense of wonder has been a constant theme back to 1824, as illustrated by our beautiful copper cooling ring, which produces a uniquely tropical style of new make spirit, and our Scottish Oak Programme from which we developed our Fettercairn 18 Year Old Scottish Oak.

Today we continue to take a progressive outlook and make new unexpected journeys in flavour led whisky making. We invite curious whisky lovers and connoisseurs to explore and enjoy Fettercairn Single Malt.

About Gregg Glass- Master Whisky Maker – Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year, Scotland 2023

Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker.

Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.

Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.

Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio.

Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay

Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte & Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte & Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.

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