11-16 Years

Fary Lochan 11yo – Nettle Smoke #01 (Review)

Fary Lochan 11yo Nettle Smoke #01 (Tasting Notes at BarleyMania Whisky Blog)

At this time tomorrow, the new year 2025 will already be upon us. So today, I’m ushering out the old year with a review for a special bottling from one of my absolute favorite distilleries, namely Fary Lochan from Danmark. The drop in question: their recently released Nettle Smoke #01. (more…)

Caol Ila 11yo “53.482 – Spellbound” by The SMWS (Review)

Caol Ila 11yo "Spellbound!" with Sherry Finish by The SMWS (Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes BarleyMania)

In the summer of 2023, my pal and namesake Tobi formed a heavy metal band called Alatar together with my twin-brother Flo. The first song they ever did together was a catchy old-school banger called “Spellbound”, which instantly – pun intended – put me under its spell. (more…)

PURE.WHISKY: Ardmore 11yo from an ex-Laphroaig Oloroso Sherry Cask (Review)

Pure Whisky: Ardmore 11yo from an ex-Islay cask formerly used by Laphroaig Distillery (BarleyMania Whisky Blog)

Okay, fellas, let’s address the elephant in the room right away: This 11-year-old Ardmore from new German indie bottler PURE.WHISKY is an absolute banger of a dram! Ah, no. While this statement is totally true, that’s not the proverbial elephant. (more…)

Ardmore 13yo “The Iron Collar” by Whisky of Voodoo (Review)

Ardmore 12yo "The Iron Collar" from Whisky of Voodoo by Brave News Spirits

For me, Ardmore is one of those hidden champions that usually don’t get as much praise as they’d deserve. Especially when drawn from carefully selected casks and bottled in natural strength, the distillery’s medium-peated Highlands whisky has a tendency to shine extra-bright. (more…)

Mannochmore 13yo “Chapter Five: Hound” by FABLE Whisky (Review)

Mannochmore 13yo "Chapter Five: Hound" by FABLE Whisky

This year on Halloween, I am thrilled to take you on a field trip to the weather-beaten cliffs of Clanyard Bay, fifty-or-so miles north of the fabled Isle of Man. There, one of my favorite whisky tales takes place: “The Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay”, which forms the frame narrative (more…)

North British 13yo “Blood Moon” by Whisky of Voodoo (Review)

North British 13yo "Blood Moon" by Whisky of Voodoo via Brave New Spirits

For me, one of the highlights of the first Whisky of Voodoo outturn by venturous indie bottlers Brave New Spirits was “Coven of Resurrection” – a 13-year-old grain whisky from Cameronbridge with a finish in a 1st-fill red wine cask. Since that one really made my jaw drop, (more…)

Cameronbridge 13yo “Coven of Resurrection” by Whisky of Voodoo (Review)

Courageous and creative indie bottlers Brave New Spirits picked their name for a reason. After all, the Glasgow-based whisky mavens often release bottlings that have colorful designs, curiosity-raising names, and out-of-the-ordinary maturation histories. Whereas their latest outturn – Cask Noir – took inspiration from the hard-boiled detective movies of the 1940s and 1950s, (more…)

3x Single Cask Whisky Bottling by Flickenschild: Auchroisk & 2x Caol Ila (Review Flight)

Header image of 3x Single Cask Scotch Whisky by Flickenschild (2x Caol Ila & 1x Auchroisk)

The new three-piece range of single cask bottlings by Flickenschild has a simply yet evocative name: “Slainte”. Graced with stylish illustrations by North-German artist Mats Matthée, each member of the trio cuts a mighty fine figure – both on the outside and on the inside. (more…)

Liber 15 Years Old “El Diablito Sulfuroso” (Review)

Header image of Liber 15yo "El Diablito Sulfuroso by The Caskhound (Spanish Single Malt Whisky PX Sheery Cask)

Finally … it’s Halloween! On the scariest, spookiest, and most spine-tingling night of the year, I take you down to the fiery pits of hell! Guarded by demons and enshrouded in the reek of brimstone, there waits for us a whisky whose torrid character and fiery temper (more…)

Dailuaine 11yo “Chapter Three: Moon” by FABLE Whisky (Review)

Header image of Dailuaine 11yo by Fable Whisky from Scotland (BarleyMania)

For as long as I can remember, I have felt attracted to the dark, the grotesque, and the obscure. No matter in what form it appears – e.g., a gothic novel, a fright flick, or a horror-themed heavy metal album – I always find the supernatural highly intriguing. (more…)