Scotland | NYC Whiskey Review

The Ivy Buchanan Street, Glasgow

May 21, 2025 Scotland

The Ivy Buchanan Street is located in Glasgow, Scotland and is a wee gem of place if you are visiting Glasgow and walking the central area. The food is British styled with some other creative methods thrown in to mix it up. The decor is more Parisan than British and the staff is very professional and efficient. There is indoor and outdoor seating (weather permitting) and a downstairs and upstairs bar.

I highly recommend you drop in for. lunch, drink, or a coffee if you are shopping on Buchanan or

Location: 106 Buchanan St, Glasgow G1 2NB, United Kingdom

Dress Code: Smart casual

Website: https://ivycollection.com/restaurants/the-ivy-glasgow/

Hours:

Monday: 8:30am – 12:00am
Tuesday: 8:30am – 12:00am
Wednesday: 8:30am – 12:00am
Thursday: 8:30am – 12:00am
Friday: 8:30am – 1:00am
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00am
Sunday & Bank Holidays: 8:30am – 12:00am

Special Note: Very clean single stall bathrooms upstairs near the second bar.

If you like it, drink it!

Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 14

May 14, 2025 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 14

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, sherry, port, flowers, honey

Taste: Malt, port sugar, dark fruit, honey flowers

Tomatin distillery is located in the Village to Tomatin which is South of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 16^th century for local purchases of jugs for farmers and then was later fully established as Tomatin in 1897.

Tomatin 14 has a nice balance and soft taste on the first tasting. As I sipped more I grew to really enjoy this expression for the age and the price point . The whisky is 100% malted barley, natural color, non-chilled filtered, aged 14 years in ex-bourbon/ex-port barrels, and bottled at 46% abv. Tomatin 14 is more of summer styled scotch as it is a little sweet, but not too sweet. It is a far better expression than the 12 year old and much better on the wallet than the 18 year old.

Priced around $75+ and worth money if you like summer styled flavor profile. I will be picking up a bottle this summer.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Horse Shoe Pub – Glasgow, Scotland

April 23, 2025 Scotland

The Horse Shoe Pub is located in Glasgow, Scotland and is a short walk from Glasgow Central Station in the City Center. It opened in 1884 by Cavalry Captain John Scouller and has not changed much in over since its opening. As summer approaches I assume people will be traveling to Scotland for a vacation, and I am going to be reviewing a few places I recommend this Spring.

The Horse Shoe is a simple, no frills, Glasgow pub. Not many people or travel guides, sites, or tv shows will recommend it to you, but I will. It is a local’s type of place and it is where you can experience the “real Scotland” as I like to call it. Glasgow is the “real Scotland, trust me on this one. This pub holds a special place in my heart. It was my grandfather’s local pub and I estimate he started going in the 1920’s. When I was wee-boy and visited Scotland, he did not take me there, but I wish he had and that there was a picture, but it did not happen. However, I do have a picture to share below.

This picture below was taken in 1969 before my parents’ wedding in Glasgow. The man getting kissed is my grandfather (aka Pappa) the man giving the kiss is my slightly drunk father (aka Dad), to the far right is my grandfather’s son (aka Unkie Greg), and to the left is my grandfather’s brother Tommy. I will be raising my pint to Papa & Dad next time I am there and I hope to have my son with me.

Location: 17-19 Drury Street, Glasgow Scotland
Hours: Monday to Sunday 11am-12am
Payment: Cash & Credit Cards
Food: Lunch, Dinner, late night snacks
Reservations: Available

If you are in Glasgow this year, make your way to the Horse Shoe Pub for a pint.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig Oak Select

February 12, 2025 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig Oak Select

Color: Gold

Nose: Oak, peat, iodine, white flowers and fruit

Taste: Oak, peat, iodine, white flowers and fruit

Laphroaig Oak Select is (and I am quoting from their site) the “most laid-back expression lets our signature flavors of medicinal peat smoke and seaweed shine, leaving plenty of room for notes of red fruit, lime and a floral finish”. I would call it the “Bud Light of Laphroaig” as it is just a light version of Laphroaig 10.

This expression is non aged stated, but is matured in Oloroso sherry butts, ex-Bourbon quarter casks and Pedro Ximenez sherry hogsheads and then finished in virgin American oak barrels. It is botted at 40% and has the appearance of the classic green bottle with a white label.

Laphroaig Oak Select is fine but it is a just a light version of the 10 year old. Less peat and bite on it. Whisky like Laphroaig is not for everyone, this expression would be a good way to easy someone into what I refer to as “Big Boy Scotch”. It works nicely in a hot toddy and I am going to try it in a cocktail.

Priced around $50 and worth it if you like Laphroaig.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Oban 14

February 5, 2025 Scotland

Name: Oban 14

Color: Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, light oak, honey

Taste: Malt, dry wood, honey, flowers

The Oban distillery is located in the West Coast of Scotland in the port of Oban. It was established in 1794 and is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. I have not had Oban in years, and I received this bottle from my good friend Sam for the birth on my son. I will admit, I need a drink now and then during that first month of fatherhood.

Oban 14 flavor profile is very nice and well balanced, but it falls a little flat for me. I am not overly impressed with it for the age. At 14 years I was expected a little more richer tasting flavor profile for a single malt that is medium light in body. Oban is a smooth drinker but come as at a higher price point. This price is likely due to the small size of the distillery and the low volume production.

Oban Expressions: 14, 18, 32, Little Bay, Distiller’s Edition, and The Soul of Calypso.

Priced around $75 to $100 and priced a little on the high side for the flavor profile

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Highland Park 12

January 15, 2025 Scotland

Name: Highland Park 12

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, sugar orange, light smoke

Taste: Malt, white fruit, honey-spices, orange, light smoke

Highland Park distillery is located in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands in Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1798 and has changed ownership several times. This expression appears to be part of their Viking or Valhalla Series. If you did not know, the Scottish & Irish descent from Vikings.

Highland Park 12 is a highland single malt, aged for 12 years, and bottled at 43% abv. The bottle design is their “Viking Honour” which is park of their Viking themed whisky expressions Odin, Thor, Loki, and Freya.

This whisky is a medium-light drinker with honey orange flavors on the front of the profile. It is very easy to knock back a few of these on ice. I drank it during the wintertime, but it strikes me as more of a summer whisky. It is very drinkable and priced well.

Other expressions: Highland Park 12, 18, 21, 24, 54 Cask Strength Release No. 5, and Cask No. 1494.

Priced around $50 and worth it if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Rusty Nail Cocktail

November 27, 2024 Scotland

The Rusty Nail cocktail is said to have originated in the 1960’s at the 21 Club in NYC and was rumored to be heavily enjoyed by the Rat Pack. The first and last time I had a Rusty Nail was in 2008 in Los Angeles at The Dresden Bar made famous from the movie Swingers. I figured since I was in an “old school place” I should have an “old school cocktail”. I remember it being good, but a little too sweet for me. At the time I had just stared drinking whisky on the regular.

Now in 2024 (16 fucking years later….sigh) I re-introduced myself to this old school cocktail and my opinion has not really changed. I used Monkey Shoulder Scotch which is a little on the lighter side so I am wondering how Johnnie Walker Double Black or a peaty whisky would pair with the Drambuie.

The Rusty Nail

2 oz Scotch
1 oz Drambuie
Serve on ice
Orange peel optional

I will try this one again with a stronger whisky. It is not my preference for a cocktail, but I can see this making a nice sweet after dinner drink. However, I would prefer a brandy, cognac, or a very good single malt.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jura Seven Wood – 2019 Review

October 10, 2024 Scotland

Name: Jura Seven Wood (2019 Review)

Color: Light brown

Nose: White floral, green grass, spice

Taste: Vanilla, barley, clean/fresh flowers, oak

2024 Revisted Notes:

Yesterday I reviewed Jura Seven Wood in 2024. I discovered I had previously reviewed this whisky during a visit to the Potstill. I was surprised to see my review below. I believe either I was drunk or my taste in whisky has evolved.

2019 Review Below:

Jura Seven Wood was the Pot Still whisky of choice a few weeks back when I was in Glasgow, Scotland for my cousins wedding. Nothing puts a smile on my face than going to The Pot Still in Glasgow and sampling whisky!

If you have never heard of Jura it hails from the Island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland.

The scotch is finished in seven different types oak wood barrels. All the barrels are first fill ex-bourbon which are the following; American Oak, Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Troncais, and Limousin barrels. Jura Seven Wood is bottled at 42% abv with a medium body profile.

If you have not sampled Jura before I recommend you start with Jura 10. A few years ago I saw a “Jura Brooklyn” but I did not try it due to its high price (approx. $75). It looked very gimmicky and marketing to me in the windows of liquor stores in NYC.

Price around $80 and it has nice balance of flavors but is not very complex. It tastes like regular Jura with a special release styled finish for a little extra marketing.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jura Seven Wood – Revisited Review (2024 vs 2019)

October 9, 2024 Scotland

Name: Jura Seven Wood – 2024 Review

Color: Copper

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, oak, citrus

Taste: Malt, iodine, dry wood

Jura Distillery was founded in 1810 and is located on the Island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland. The distillery has changed hands may times over the years and is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay.

Jura Seven Wood marketing material states that the whisky is pulled from seven types of casks of differing wood. These woods are American White Oak, Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles, and Les Bertranges. The other six are French Oaks and I have only heard of Limousin. With this method of blending and the the whisky being 42% abv you would expect something different, no? Well, it is different, that is for sure.

On my first taste was Jura Seven Wood came off very weak and I was not impressed. On my second taste it was weak and now dry. Upon my third taste I got a medicine iodine taste and I was done. A week later I sampled it again and I found it even worse than I remembered. Some reviewers praise this expression, but I found it rough, cheap, dry, and medical a dirty finish. You know, like tasting shit.

I do not know how much labor it takes to extract whisky out of seven casks, blend it, bottle it, and sell it at the current market price. But it must cost some money and the price point comes off to affordable. I feel Jura literally got the bottom of the barrels and put this expression together.

Priced around $60-$75 and tastes like shit. I do not recommend it like I did in 2019.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jura Journey

October 3, 2024 Scotland

Name: Jura Journey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, cedar wood, earth, citrus

Taste: Malt, cedar, lemon, white fruits

The Jura Distillery is located on the Island of Jura in the Inner Herbrides off the West Coast of Scotland and is adjacent to Islay. The distillery was founded in 1810 and has changed ownership many times over the last 200+ years.

The first time I experienced Jura was about 10 years ago at the Pot Still in Glasgow when my cousins’ husband recommended, I give it a try. When I got back to NYC, I tried to find other expressions from Jura but only saw Jura Brooklyn in the stores. I never got a chance to try it, but looking back, I doubt it would have been anything special. Unfortunately, I do not see Jura on the shelf or in the bars very much.

Jura Journey is in in the Signature Series, bottled at 40% abv, non-chilled filtered, and aged in white oak ex-bourbon barrels. Overall, it is well balanced and has a very nice taste. It has a little sweetness on the finish.

Jura Expressions have a large range of 26 single malt whisky’s and they classified under Signature, Travel Exclusive, and Rare & Limited Series.

Priced around $50 and good stuff. I will look to try more Jura as I find it.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Ivy Buchanan Street, Glasgow

Tomatin 14

Horse Shoe Pub – Glasgow, Scotland

Laphroaig Oak Select

Oban 14

Highland Park 12

The Rusty Nail Cocktail

Jura Seven Wood – 2019 Review

Jura Seven Wood – Revisited Review (2024 vs 2019)

Jura Journey

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