Great Islay Swim Explorer’s Cask – Quarter Cask Single Cask Nation

Creating things is difficult. You don’t want to just change something slightly: You want to make something new. You want to be the Beatles, not Oasis, if you will. We’ll see who that angers. But you also have to ask the old question: Maybe this hasn’t been done before not because you’re an artistic genius, […]

Compass Box The Peat Monster Arcana

Thanks to /u/the_muskox [+7] for sharing this sample with me. I’ve written recently about peat being the proverbial milkshake that brings all the whisky nerds to the yard. Yes, I’m that old to make that quote. So if you’re a maker of a peated offering, what do you do? You are under the gun to continuously grow the […]

Proper No. Twelve

Thanks to whomever found devoz and handed him a sample of this for me… I think? I know next to little about the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) or MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in general, nor will I pretend to understand it. I can’t watch people do sports because I’d rather take part in a sport, even if […]

Old Perth 2 Ways [2200th whisky review]

Thanks to /u/the_muskox [+7] for these samples. It’s interesting looking back at my reviews, what I’d change, what I wouldn’t In the past few weeks there have been very vocal comments from whisky nerds on the Scotch subreddit. This is a sign of the subreddit growing, and if I’m being blunt it’s always been there. The old bogeyman […]

Ledaig Hebridean Mulligan 23 1997 Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask

Thanks to /u/the_muskox for this dram. Peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter and chocolate. Peanut butter and chicken satay. Heck, peanut butter and just about everything works, except for sex for some. Not everyone has a sex tarp nor likes to have to break out the jif when they want to bone. What does all of the […]

Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye

Thanks to my buddy Rob who poured this (and the original Basil Hayden) as part of a recent whisky tasting we had (we all socially distanced and stayed outside and were all fully vaccinated). Experimentation is a good thing. I can frankly say that as someone who lives in Canada, where you can experiment and […]

Paradigm 5 First Edition / Paradigm Canadian Heritage Series 19

Thanks to my friend Martha for pouring this at a recent whisky tasting (we all socially distanced and stayed outside and were all fully vaccinated). It’s been awhile since I reviewed Canadian whisky. I could say something negative there that’s faintly funny while being mean, so I think I’ll keep going. If you’re in London, […]

Johnnie Walker 18

Thanks to my buddy for pouring this as part of a Johnnie Walker vertical at a recent whisky tasting (we all socially distanced and stayed outside and were all fully vaccinated). Average person asks you about whisky. In their head they barely know that Irish Whiskey and Bourbon and Canadian Whisky and Rye (both of […]

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 […]

Blue Hanger Berry Bros. & Rudd 6th Release / 9th Release

Thanks to ScotchGuy_TO for sharing the 6th Release. It makes sense for an independent bottler to make blends. You’re not going to just buy amazing casks. The people who buy from distilleries and sell to IBs probably package the very good casks with bad casks. Now you can have a cheaper line out there. But will it […]