Archive for July, 2009

A Quick Dram: Balvenie 14 yo Golden Cask

A wee treat from Sam “Dr. Whisky” Simmons. Thanks!
Balvenie 14 yo Golden Cask
Rum casks finish
47.8% ABV
£45 (Travel Retail only)
Colour: Pretty, orangy
Nose: Sweeeet. And the more water you add the sweeter it gets. Banana muffin, apple juice, cherries, nougat. Unusual.
Palate: More oak influence than expected but still an ocean of sweetness and deliciousness. Toffee, fruit and [...]

Competition rant follow up…

When I was publishing a few bitter words yesterday about the International Wine and Spirit Awards, I did not know (I swear!) that Mark Reynier had already fired out a post on his own blog concerning exactly the same thing (read it here). We even came up with very similar titles! Despite our disagreements with [...]

And the winner is… well… everyone! IWSC 2009

So yeah, the Alpha and Omega of all the booze competitions, the one and only, glorious and true International Wine And Spirit Competition announced its results sometime last week.
Some ‘particularly successful’ distillers boasted their awards, special awards, best in class awards, trophies, special trophies and super special trophies on their websites and in press releases.
That’s [...]

Made in Scotland

A few days ago STV aired a show called ‘Made in Scotland’ aiming at highlighting the great achievements of the nation. The greatest of them all is obviously whisky and it comes as no surprise that it features strongly in the programme. You can catch the thing up here, but what we give you today [...]

A Quick Dram: 1.126 (Glenfarclas 40 yo)

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling 1.126
Glenfarclas 40 yo
Distilled: Mar 1965
Bottled: Aug 2005
57.6% ABV
Available to the SMWS members
Colour: bull blood/leather
Nose: Treacle, leather sofa, book cabinet, old linen tablecloth, milk chocolate. It’s musty and heavy, complex and gorgeous. Peaches and limes with floral overtones with water.
Palate: Hits sweet with a dominant flavour of fruit candy, transforms [...]

Tasting at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Since coming back from our holidays, Lucas and I have been quite keen to get another Edinburgh Whisky Blog tasting arranged. We both had our hearts set on one particular venue and… we’ve got it!
The venue of choice: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in the Vaults in Leith
Date: Wednesday 12th of August
Time: 7pm.
They are going [...]

Euan brings news (and whisky) from Isle of Arran!

Our dedicated co-editor and field reporter, Euan, visited Isle of Arran distillery (once again) and brought us a handful of news, tips and opinions:
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So as I found myself on the Isle of Arran once again (every year since my entrance into the world) I thought I would head on up to the distillery. Now I [...]

GlenDronach Releases Single Cask Batch One

Press release from 17th July 2009:
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The new owners of GlenDronach Distillery have selected five vintages for their first series of single cask bottlings since taking over the distillery last year.
In Batch One they have singled out malts from 1971, 1972, 1992, 1993 and 1996 in ages ranging from 38 to 13 years old.
All five are [...]

Whisky, cigerettes and wild wild women

Edinburgh Whisky Blog would like to pay tribute to the Oldest man in the world, Henry Allingham, who sadly passed away at the mighty age of 113. A World War 1 veteran, Henry was one of the original members of the RAF. He was much admired as a man who enjoyed life, fought for his [...]

A Quick Dram: Laphroaig 18 yo

Originally I wanted to taste it alongside the 15 yo, but somehow, before I managed to purchase a bottle, the stocks were exhausted. Never mind. I remember the 15 very well, a comparison is inevitable and the bar is pretty damn high.
Laphroaig 18 yo
Islay
48% ABV
Available here for £63.99
Colour: Laphroaig Trademark Colour. Browny with green glitter.
Nose: [...]