Islay

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…)

“Siebert’s Birthday Dram”: Caol Ila 8 Years Old w/ Oloroso Finish (Review)

Header image of Caol Ila 8yo Oloroso by Siebert's Whisky Welt

And the party goes on … in late May 2023, Munich-based specialist whisky shop Sieberts Whiskywelt – run by expert drammers Marcel and Başak – celebrated its fifth anniversary. While the on-site festivities are mostly over now, the commemorative birthday bottling, (more…)

An evening with Robin Laing and Bruichladdich – hosted by Flickenschild (Event)

Impressions from an evening with Robin Laing and Bruichladdich in Itzehoe, Germany hosted by Flickenshild Whisky Merchants

When whisky bard Robin Laing asked the audience “How many of you have Bruichladdich as their favorite distillery?”, several hands went up – including his own. And indeed, whether you are a die-hard fan or an occasional sipper, one thing you can hardly deny: The legendary Islay unit (more…)

Williamson 6yo Islay Blended Malt Whisky by Dram Mor (Review)

Header image of Williamson 7yo Blended Malt Islay Scotch Whisky by Dram Mor

A cask is ready when it’s ready. Sometimes, it takes several decades for the spirit inside to reach its peak. And sometimes, it only takes a few years. In the end, I don’t think that I could ever overstress the much-quoted statement that “age is just a number”. (more…)

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2022 – Warehouse 1 (Review)

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2022 at BarleyMania Whisky & Whiskey Blog

To celebrate friendship and togetherness within its global community, peaty giant Laphroaig releases a new Cairdeas bottling every year. The limited edition whiskies always go up for purchase on “Laphroaig Day”, i.e. the day of the annual Feis Ile festival (more…)

Ardbeg Ardcore Launch Day Tasting at Getränke-Paradies Wolf (Event)

Ardbeg Ardcore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Launch Day Tasting at Getränke Paradies Wolf in Hamburg

Put on your torn Sex Pistols shirt and dust off that old leather jacket, fellas. ‘Cause Ardbeg’s new Feis Isle bottling Ardcore is a celebration of all things punk – the music, the aesthetics, the attitude. The whisky, which is said to “punkture your palate and trash your taste buds”, (more…)

2x Whisky by Whic: Bunnahabhain 12yo & Secret Highlands 13yo (Review Flight)

2x Single Cask Scotch Whisky by Which (Islay Highlands Independent Bottler Whisky Tasting Notes Blog)

Every now and then, the fine folks at Whic.de send me a whisky sample. Usually, I try to make sure that the received drams don’t stay with me too long before I try them. Nevertheless, I end up being late most of the time. It is not my fault though. After all, the vast majority (more…)

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky – Alchemy Series: “The Taste Experiment” (Tasting)

Black Bottle Blended Whisky (Alchemy Series Virtual Tasting Experience Distell BarleyMania Blog)

In ancient days, keen alchemists mingled so-called lower metals in a futile attempt to create solid gold. The technique was known as transmutation. Today, skilled craftsmen bring together water, barley, yeast, and oak in order to produce liquid gold. The process is called whisky making. (more…)

2x Scotch Whisky from The Uncharted Whisky Co. – Loch Lomond 14yo & Secret Islay 30yo (Review)

The Uncharted Whisky Co. - Secret Islay 30yo & Loch Lomond 14yo (Independent Single Malt Cask Bottling Tasting Notes BarleyMania)

Not too long ago, I had my first touchpoint with the new Scottish indie bottler The Uncharted Whisky Co., when I reviewed their GlenAllachie 13 Years Old here on my blog. Now the company’s German importer DeinWhisky.de has send me two more samples to check out: (more…)

2x Whisky by Whic: Secret Islay & Ardmore 10yo (Review Flight)

2x Single Malt Scotch Whisky by Whic (Secret Islay Ardmore Peated Blog Tasting Notes BarleyMania)

The recent launch of Batch 1 of the Whic Islay Single Malt Whisky constitutes a huge milestone in the evolution of the Northern-German whisky dealer and bottler: Whereas all of Whic’s previous releases were single casks, this one will be a permanent addition (more…)