I’m a fan of Balvenie, and one of the whiskies I hadn’t gotten around to trying yet was their 12 Year DoubleWood. When I spotted it in a 50ml mini, I had to pick it up. Minis are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to sample a whisky without committing to a full…
Category: Speyside
Glenfarclas 10 Year and 105 Cask Strength
Glenfarclas isn’t a new brand to me. I’ve previously sampled their 12 Year and really enjoyed that expression (you can read the full review here on this platform, or through the link in my bio). Recently, I had the opportunity to try both their 10 Year and their 105 Cask Strength, so let’s talk about…
Benriach 12: The Smoky Twelve
Benriach is another brand I haven’t featured much on the blog, so I figured we’d get better acquainted, starting with their Smoky Twelve. Founded in 1898 by John Duff, the Speyside distillery got off to a rough start, falling victim to the Pattison Crash just a couple of years later and closing its doors in…
Craigellachie 13 Years
Craigellachie is a distillery I don’t believe I’ve featured on the blog before, so it’s about time I changed that. Located in the heart of Speyside, between the whisky towns of Rothes and Dufftown in Banffshire. Its name is Gaelic and roughly translates to “rocky hill.” What helps Craigellachie stand apart from many distilleries? They…
Oceanus Hibernicus
I hadn’t heard of this brand until recently, when I found myself staring at a bottle at my local Total Wine. The packaging immediately caught my attention. What really intrigued me, though, was the fact that it blends Scotch and Irish whiskeys, something I don’t recall seeing before, and at $35, the price felt right….
Glenfiddich x Aston Martin F1 16-Year Single Malt
I’ll admit, I’ve never sat through an entire Formula One™ race—but there’s no denying how iconic the sport is. Glenfiddich has teamed up with the Aston Martin Formula One team to craft this special 16-Year expression. Time to buckle up and find out if this bottle takes the checkered flag. Nose: sweetness, toasted oak and…
Balvenie French Oak 16-Year
I recently had the pleasure of sampling The Balvenie French Oak 16-Year, and it was truly a remarkable experience. This expression spends 16 years maturing in American Oak before finishing in French oak casks that once held wine from the Charentes vineyards. The result is a whisky that beautifully marries tradition with a touch of…
Tamnavulin Double Cask
This Double Cask marks my second encounter with Tamnavulin. Back in September, I explored their Sherry Cask edition—a delightful introduction to the brand. So how does this one measure up? Let’s dive in. A quick refresher on Tamnavulin: nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains near the River Livet, this Speyside distillery began its…
Tamdhu 12-Year, 15-Year and 18-Year
I was genuinely excited to discover this sample pack, especially since I hadn’t explored this distillery much before. Priced at just $19.99, it included three expressions: a 12-Year, 15-Year, and 18-Year. The distillery, originally established in 1897, was unfortunately shuttered in 2010. Thankfully, Ian Macleod Distillers revived it in 2012, staying true to its heritage…
Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition
Happy first day of fall! My favorite season has officially arrived, and I’m kicking it off with a Single Malt Scotch that’s new to me—Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition. I recently attended a tasting event at Norfolk Wine and Spirits in Norfolk, MA, where this was one of the featured selections. So… was it any good?…
The GlenAllachie 15-Year-Old
Master Distiller Billy Walker, with over 50 years in the industry, is at the helm of this Speyside GlenAllachie Distillery after taking over the distillery in 2017. This expression, which happens to be my introduction to the distillery, was released in 2019 in addition to its core range. This one however, was finished off in…
Glen Moray Sampler Review
The warmer it gets outside, the less I want to drink whisky, so I saw this sampler and thought it would be better than buying full bottles. Plus, I wasn’t sure I was going to like them, but spoiler alert, they were way better than I thought. Elgin Classic: smooth, simple, vanilla and honey. It’s…
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