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….
Tag: Islay whisky
Bowmore Aged 25 Years
I’ve long been a fan of Bowmore, and it’s been a while since I last reviewed one of their expressions, so when the opportunity came to sample this 25‑year‑old, I couldn’t have been more pleased. Let’s dive in. This expression was matured in a combination of American oak ex‑bourbon casks and European oak Oloroso sherry…
Laphroaig Aged 33 Year Strong Characters Donald Johnston
I enjoy a good daily sipper as much as anyone, but what I love even more are those special whiskies reserved for meaningful moments—occasions you want not only to remember, but to honor with something truly exceptional. The Laphroaig 33-Year-Old Strong Characters: Donald Johnston just might be one of those whiskies. A few years ago,…
Laphroaig Elements 3.0 Small Batch Whisky
I’m a long‑time fan of Laphroaig, and their latest release happens to be the third entry in the Elements series: Laphroaig Elements 3.0 Small Batch Whisky. This edition highlights an experiment in their kilning process, where peat was burned hotter and for a longer duration than usual. I should note up front that I haven’t…
The Citizen’s 3rd Annual Burns Night
My whiskey journey started many years ago, and throughout that time, Citizens has been one of our go‑to spots in Boston for trying new pours. We’ve been coming here since it first opened in 2010—back when it was Citizens Public House & Oyster Bar. It’s where I tried Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year for…
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19-Year Small Batch Release: Batch TB/03-10.10.01/21.BL
This past Christmas, a friend surprised us with an incredible gift: the Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19-Year Small Batch Release (Batch TB/03-10.10.01/21.BL). Before this, we had the pleasure of enjoying Batch TB/02-18.09.00/20.JT, so naturally, I’m excited to see how this release compares. But first, a few additional notes before diving in. Traigh Bhan (pronounced “tri-van”) is…
Bruichladdich Organic 2003 Anns An T-Seann Doigh
Over Thanksgiving weekend, we had the chance to sample Bruichladdich Organic 2003 Anns An T-Seann Doigh—a whisky I’d never encountered before. ‘Anns An T-Seann Doigh’ translated from Gaelic as ‘in the traditional way.’ This was Bruichladdich’s first organic release, distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2009. It’s likely no longer available, but I couldn’t resist…
Ardbeg Anthology 14-Year: The Unicorn Tale
I’ve always been a big fan of Ardbeg—so much so that it was the very first distillery we visited on our trip to Scotland. That said, some of their recent releases haven’t quite hit the mark for me—not because of flavor, but because of price. There are exceptions, of course (BizarreBQ was fantastic and I…
Jura Bourbon Cask
Curious about what happened to Jura Journey? It’s been replaced by Jura Bourbon Cask, a low-ABV expression that now serves as the gateway to the Jura range. But how does it measure up? Let’s dive in and find out. Nose: vanilla, coconut and light peat Palate: fruits, toffee, coconut and vanilla Finish: fruity with notes…
Update: Ardbeg Anthology 13 Year: The Harpy’s Tale
With the return of cooler weather, we finally polished off our bottle of Ardbeg Anthology 13 Year: The Harpy’s Tale—over a year after cracking it open. Would I buy it again? Read on for my thoughts, but first, let’s revisit the tasting notes. Nose: salt, peat and sweetnessPalate: smoke, woody, balsamic and light sweetnessFinish: smoke…
UPDATE: Ardbeg BizarreBQ
A couple months ago, we finally finished our bottle of Ardbeg BizarreBQ after having it for nearly two years. Now, it’s time for me to provide an update on my overall impressions. But first, here’s a brief recap on the notes and a reminder, Ardbeg’s Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden teamed up with Christian Stevenson…
Port Askaig 17 Years
We’ve been experiencing a particularly rainy April so far, making it perfect weather for enjoying whisky. In light of this, let’s shine a spotlight on this Port Askaig 17 Years. Port Askaig is a small village situated on the northeast coast of Islay. The Port Askaig brand was established in 2009 by Elixir Distillers, an…
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