Review

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…)

Brugse Whisky 4yo Naranja by The Barrel Baron (Review)

Brugse Whisky 4yo Naranja by The Barrel Baron (Tasting Notes Review at BarleyMania)

My first and only visit to Bruges in Belgium happened over ten years ago and lasted just a few days. Nevertheless, the city’s claimed its place in my heart forever! So when I learned much later that Bruges had its own whisky distillery – a father and son operation (more…)

Handfill Raven 4yo German Whisky w/ Tawny Port Finish by Thousand Mountains (Review)

Handfill Raven 4yo w/ Tawny Port Finish by Thousand Mountains from Sauerländer Edelbrennerei (German Single Malt Whisky Review at BarleyMania)

Among whisky brands here in Germany, Thousand Mountains by Sauerländer Edelbrennerei has a most excellent reputation. Still, I only just got to know them properly a few months ago, when I spent some real quality time at their stand at Hanse Spirit 2024. Of the many great drams (more…)

Fary Lochan Saeson 1 – Danish Single Malt Whisky (Review)

Fary Lochan Saeson 1 (Danish Single Malt Whisky Review at BarleyMania Blog)

For many craft distilleries from the Nordic countries, setting foot abroad isn’t all too easy. No doubt: Their locally-sourced, hand-made whiskies are truly excellent in many cases. But the prices which usually lie beyond the 100 Euro barrier for a 0.5 litre bottle (more…)

The Nine Springs 8yo German Whisky by 16 States (Review)

The Nine Springs 8yo German Single Malt Whisky by 16 States (Tasting Notes by BarleyMania Blog)

The Federal Republic of Germany consists of sixteen constituent states which are home to no less than 250 whisky producers. Half of these are dedicated whisky distilleriers. The rest prioritizes other spirits such as fruit schnaps, but fills the occasional cask of malt or rye (more…)

GlenWyvis Batch 1 / Vintage Distillation 2019 (Review)

GlenWyvis Vintage Distillation 2019 Batch One (Single Malt Highland Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes BarleyMania Blog)

I always like it when a young whisky takes a certain pride in its age rather than trying to hide it. After all, the time spent in the barrel is but one of many factors that influence the outcome of the final product. In fact, one might argue that the chosen ingredients, (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…)

Cley 4 Years Old “Palo Cortado Finish” (Review)

Cley DIstillery 4yo Palo Cortado Finish

Palo Cortado is a comparatively rare type of sherry that we don’t see in the whisky world all too often. Sure, every now and then there is a release that says “Matured in a Palo Cortado cask” on the label. But in comparision to Oloroso or PX, for example, those bottlings are few and far between. (more…)

Turntable X Starward Collaboration Drop 01 (Review)

Turntable X Starward Collaboration Dram 01 (Scotch Australian Blended Whisky)

Whisky, like music, connects people even if they are oceans apart from each other! With their recently released Collaboration Drop 01, Scottish indie bottlers Turntable Spirits have given that claim whole new level of truth. Taking it literally rather than just figuratively, they teamed up (more…)