Islay

Laphroaig 16yo Directors’ Cut by Douglas Laing (Whisky)

When a whisky legend like Fred Laing, who has been working in the industry for half a century (and counting), hand-picks a cask for a special occasion, you know that liquid greatness is inbound. And indeed, I cannot think of a better term to describe this 16-year-old Laphroaig, (more…)

Kilchoman VIP Tasting by Vibrant Stills and Hansemalt (Event)

Kilchoman VIP Tasting by Vibrant Stills and Hansemalt (Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Event)

A few days ago Norbert Meyer-Sand, the owner of a very cool online mailorder called Whisky Experience, invited me to accompany him to a VIP tasting with Kilchoman’s maltman Jamie Muir. Organized by Corinna Schwarz and Adam Dittrich of the distillery’s German importer (more…)

The SMWS “All Things Peaty” Tasting by Hansemalt (Event)

SMWS "All Things Peaty" Tasting (Hansemalt Scotch Malt Whisky Society Ardbeg Bunnahabhain Ardmore Bowmore Highland Park)

For several months, I was struggling with myself wether I should become a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society or not. Throughout this time I tried several bottlings of theirs and not once was I disappointed. In addition, my wife also enjoyed almost every SMWS dram (more…)

6 incredible XOP Whiskies by Douglas Laing, pt.2 (Review Flight)

Xtra Old Particular by Douglas Laing (Single Malt Grain Scotch Whisky North British Littlemill Macallan Cask)

Following up on last week’s blog post centering on a 55 years old grain whisky by North British, a 25 years old Lowlands jewel by Littlemill and a 40 years old Speyside masterpiece by Macallan, I am happy to review the remaining three expressions of the latest batch of XOP bottlings (more…)

Ardeg An Oa Tasting and BBQ at Spirituosen Wolf (Event)

Ardbeg An Oa Barbecue (Spirituosen Wolf Ambassy Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Peated)

With An Oa, which is named after the rounded peninsula in the Southwest of Islay that shields the Kildalton distilleries from the roaring waves and raging winds of the Atlantic ocean, Ardbeg has recently added the first new bottling to its core range in almost 10 years! (more…)

Bunnahabhain 8yo by Provenance (Review)

Bunnahabhain 8yo by Douglas Laing's Provenance (Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky Cask Bottling Peaty Tasting Notes)

For quite some time I turned a blind eye on the malts produced by Bunnahabhain Distillery for no specific reason. But then I read a review of a Bunnahabhain malt and from that moment on I knew I had to try it. Luckily, just a few days later I went to a whisky fair, (more…)