Deanston 13 2006 Cream Sherry Finish

Thanks to /u/devoz for this sample. Amongst my whisky group there’s no one you would call a fan of Deanston. Rather you’d point out we’re all quite Deanston intolerant. Not quite to a level of the Deanston racist but when Deanston is poured it’s followed by the phrase “this is one of the good ones”. So when […]

Rosebank 20 1981 Rare Malts Selection

A few years ago we saw a backlash to Rosebank whisky. This was because certain independent bottlers were announcing they had the last casks of Rosebank, releasing them, and then finding out these were heavily finished. During a similar time the distillery went from being mothballed (2002), then there were plans to build a new […]

Three Dusty Scotch Blends

Thanks to scotchguy_TO and dramfine for these samples. Those closest to me will tell you I’m constantly annoyed by nostalgia. Viewing the past with rose coloured glasses has hurt countless generations. It leads people to love the past without noting the injustices done and the inequalities there. I never would want to go back to any of it. Enter […]

Highland Park 21 1990 Signatory Vintage Cask Strength

Thanks to cake_my_day for this sample. We’re about at the tail end of a recent deluge of Highland Park (“Orkney”, “Kirkwall”) in the independent bottler market. Why? Probably because they needed to make space in a warehouse, and you may as well sell off some casks. As we’re at the tail end, the best, seemingly, has been […]

Springbank 12 1996 Manzanilla

Thanks to xile_ for the sample. Springbank. If Macallan is what the average person buys as prestigious then Springbank is the whisky nerd version. The price is high, it’s only getting higher, and the quality is there. I walk in and someone has more than one Springbank, then they’ll be like “Why are you in my house” […]

St. Magdalene 33 1982 Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old / Linlithgow 25 1982 Murray McDavid Mission Gold

In the before times (which is now my favourite annoying inside joke we all have), for my birthday I did a few whisky related things: I’d go out to a pub with a good whisky selection, and I’d review any birth year whisky samples I had. I won’t bore you with the extreme details, however […]

Port Ellen 16 1980 Gordon & MacPhail Spirit of Scotland

Thanks to RaunchyJowls for the sample. There are some whiskies that people assume are going to be perfect. We’ve been spoiled, if you will. If you have been drinking back to the 90s, this happened with old Ardbeg. You got used to 70s Ardbeg, then the company ran out eventually. If you were buying in the early […]

Glentauchers 17 1998 Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength

One of the things I love about whisky (and a variety of my other hobbies) is that it can push you just a bit outside your comfort zone. I prefer to write about distilleries I’ve drank from a lot. Then I can kinda ramble. But it also means I have to try very hard when […]

Glenlivet 10 2006 Signatory Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Thanks to /u/bradbobaggin for sharing this sample with me. We’ve all had Glenlivet at some point. It’s really a turning point for whisky nerds. If you tried a standard release of Glenlivet (be it the old age stated, or the rum aged one from this summer, or a NAS release) you either decided it was inexpensive and […]

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020

I’m always a year or more behind when it comes to Cairdeas releases. Not only are they not easy to get your hands on (as we’re starved for similar quality whiskies here in Canada), but I like to take my time with these bottles. That’s a lie I have too much to write, I am […]