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Ardbeg 10

September 14, 2023 Scotland

Name: Ardbeg 10

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, coal, smoke

Taste: Smokey peat, spices

Ardbeg 10 is a Highland scotch from the Islay region in Scotland that I like to put into a category I call “Big Boy Scotch”. Ardbeg is considered by some people in the whisky world to be the peatiest of all the scotches. I can think of a few other scotches out there that can compete for that title but with heavily peated scotch is truly a matter of individual taste. The name “Ardbeg” is Scottish Gaelic for a “small promontory”. A promontory is defined as “a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water”. See map below.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I like to start my tasting experiences with 10 to 12-year-old scotches so I can get a feel for the baseline flavor profile. Plus, and this is an important point since I self-fund this operation, they more affordable! Some people just like to jump to the much older and aged scotches. I never found this helpful in the learning process of tasting. It is hard to graduate upwards and gain appreciation for what you are drinking if you start with the best first. Also, many people are uneducated shits that want to look cool in the company of others. When it comes to heavily peated scotches I do not see the need to go to the oldest or most expensive bottle you are learning or developing a taste for peated whisky.

Ardbeg produces other expressions that range in price and quality. These expressions are, but not limited to the following; An Oa, Blasda, Corryvreckan, Supernova, Uigeadail, Rollercoaster, Alligator, Ardbeg Day, Kelpie, and Grooves. Some of the prices of these are very high and I look forward to the Rabbie Burns Tasting in 2019 to sample some of these expressions.

Price around $55 and a very good scotch if you like peated whisky. It is also a great scotch to warm you in cold winter weather.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Hendrick’s Gin

September 7, 2023 Scotland

Name: Hendrick’s Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper, cucumber, flowers

Taste: Juniper, cucumber, rose flowers, fresh tasting finish

Hendrick’s Gin is known as the “Cucumber Gin” and is manufactured by William Grant & Sons at the Girvan Distillery in Scotland. It was released in 1999 and is bottled at 44% abv. The are 11 botanicals in the gin; chamomile, elderflower, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root, and orris root. After the gin is distilled it is then infused with rose and cucumber. The taste is very different than the usual suspects like Bombay or Tanqueray.

I have only enjoyed this gin in two ways. In a martini or with tonic water. Below are my thoughts base on the photo in the review.

Regular Tonic: Clean and smooth tasting. Lighter than cheaper tonics.
Cucumber Tonic: Fresh tasting with medium strong cucumber flavors. Lighter than the regular tonic water.
Hendricks & Tonic w/ lime wedge: Gross. Lime does not mix well with the gin flavors.
Hendricks & Regular Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Fresh and clean nose, very light and summery. The quinine seems to overpower the finish. Tastes good.
Hendricks & Cucumber Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Very cucumber nose and taste. Not much quinine taste, little too syrupy for me but not bad. Tastes good, but very strong cucumber taste.
Martini Up w/ cucumber slice: Light and refreshing with clean cucumber taste. Easy to drink but comes off as a one and done cocktail. Not a repeat drink like a Bombay Sapphire.

Other expressions: Obrium, Midsummer Solstice, Absinthe, Amazonia, Lunar, and Neptunia.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the cucumber taste or to experiment in summer cocktails.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenfarclas 12

August 17, 2023 Scotland

Name: Glenfarclas 12

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemons, flowers, light wood

Taste: Malt, light smoke/oak, sherry, fresh citrus

Glenfarclas 12 is a Speyside Scotch from Ballindalloch, Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 1790’s and is now owned by the Grant Family. The name translates to “valley of the green grass”. There is a wide range of expressions and ages along with varying levels of reserves from the distillery. The older scotch that is released is known as “Family Casks” which is a collection of 43 single cask bottles from the 1950’s to early 2000’s. I have not seen that collection on the shelves but I bet that collection is not cheap. Next time I am in London I will see if Harrod’s sells the complete package.

Other expressions that you can find in the market for regular people: 8,10,12,15,17,18 (travel retail), 21, 25, 30, 40, 60, 105 (cask).

I have seen the 105 and the 15, 30 in a couple of stores, but not the rest of the years. I have sampled the 25-year-old, but it was about four years ago in Munich, Germany at 3am. So I do not really remember if it was good, but I think was good. I have learned since then not to drink good scotch late at night or that early in the morning.

The 12-year-old is a good baseline and worth the money. I do not see many people drinking, buying, or ordering Glenfarclas. I am not sure why that is, but it is worth trying to see if you like it.

Priced around $60 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

August 10, 2023 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 12 Year Old

Color: Golden brown

Nose: Vanilla, green fruit, light oak

Taste: Sweet wood flavor, caramel and vanilla.

Coming out of the Highlands of Scotland this Single Malt Scotch has been aged 12 years in combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Aging the whisky in these casks is nothing new in technique or in the market place, but it gives a good finish to this scotch as it does with most whiskies. Tomatin 12 is medium-bodied and its finish has a bit of a cream wood taste. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it and my notes put it between “ok to good”. I consider this scotch “good to very good” when you look at the price.

If you need a scotch that tastes good, is very well priced, and you know your friends will drink it like spring water, this would be the scotch to purchase. You can kill a bottle while at the same time not murder your wallet.

I would definitely keep this one on the bar at home or show up to a party with one or two bottles in hand. Priced around $35-40 it is a very good value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

John Barr

July 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: John Barr

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, oak wood, lemon, honey, vanilla

Taste: Malt, honey, vanilla, rough finish

John Barr Whisky is a brand I had not heard of so I bought a nip. I will not waste your time with with a lot of words. Fuck me sideways, this shit if dreadful. It taste like shit.

Priced around “who gives a fuck?” and “do not buy this piss poison shit whisky.”

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

June 1, 2023 Scotland

Name: Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, light wood, flowers, citrus, white pepper

Taste: Malt, lemon, vanilla, honey, light oak

Chivas Regal was created by James & John Chivas in the early 1800’s in Scotland. The Strathisla Distillery in Speyside region is now the source of all production and the distillery has changed ownership over the years. Chivas is a popular and leading blended whiskey in European and Asia markets. It is somewhat popular in the US market but Johnnie Walker and Kentucky Bourbons are the front runner for blends. Chivas has a very long history so if you are interested in learning more I recommend you look it up. I can only write so much in one review.

Chivas 18 is a blended scotch whiskey, bottled at 40% abv. It has a medium body and has a nice balance. It is an easy drinker and smooth tasting. It is good for a summer scotch and can be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

I have had Chivas a few times over the years in peoples home mainly in Europe but when visiting the “A Hero to you and me Both” Sam Dean and he had this bottle to knock back around his fire pit in the back yard.

Other expressions: 12, Extra, Extra 13, 18, Royal Salute 21, 25, Brothers’ Blend, Ultis, Mizunara, The Icon, and XV.

Priced around $65 and a good summer drinker.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Speyburn 10

April 13, 2023 Scotland

Name: Speyburn 10

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, light wood

Taste: Sherry, malt, honey, cedar wood

Speyburn 10 Year Old is produced by Granty Glen Valley which is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1897 and is currently owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, which is owned by Thaibev from Thailand. The Inver House Distillers also have Old Pultney, Knockdhu, Balnair, and Balmenach under their control.

This medium bodied whisky is aged 10 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 40% abv. On my first taste it was very sweet on the palate. On the second taste the sweetness is still there, but a smoother quality malt flavor comes out on the finish.

This whisky is very nice to enjoy neat or on the rocks in warmer weather. I was not familiar with this whisky, so I took a chance on the bottle price vs. age, and it was worth it. It reminds me of Tomatin 12 for price and taste, but higher quality.

Priced around $40 and nice summer scotch for the price. I look forward to trying more expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

“Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

April 5, 2023 Scotland

Name: “Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

Color: Clear and green

Nose: Vodka, olives, smokey peat

Taste: Vodka, olives, smokey peat

As we all know the statement above is correct, but this vodka martini receipt caught my eye and was worth a try at home.

You take quality olives (regular or stuffed blue cheese) and marinate them in a mason jar with Ardbeg Whisky for a few days in the refrigerator. I was told it creates a nice flavor profile and I was pleasantly surprised at the with the results. I am not a vodka guy, but the touch of smokiness and whisky flavor in the olives translates nicely to the vodka.

It is worth a try if you like vodka martinis or want to mix it up a little for home cocktails. I do not think a lot of bars are going to have them at the ready for your drink. In a pinch, you could ask the bartender to place a couple of drops of Ardbeg in you finished martini.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10

February 23, 2023 Scotland

Name: Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Barley, peat, flowers, wood, smoke

Taste: Smoke/peat, wood, green grass, lemon

Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10-Year-old is from the Bruichladdich Distillery in Islay, Scotland. If you are not familiar with this distiller, I recommend you either buy some of their whisky, or watch the documentary, “Scotch: A Golden Dream” on Amazon Prime to learn more about the history of Bruichladdich. Note, there a very good comment from the distiller on being titled a “Master” and how that is used by the marketing departments. Personally, I am getting very tired of people using the term “master” and “expert” in their titles. It makes you sound like a asshole.

The Heavily Peated is bottled at 50% abv and is matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks, then a second fill bourbon cask, and a final fill in French wine casks. This expression has a nice body, balance, and is easy to drink. It has a nice citrus and green grass finish on the tongue after each sip. Unlike its competitors (Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin) the Heavily Peated has a softer finish without being over powering.

The Heavily Peated is arriving on my home bar just in time for the approaching winter weather. I always pick up some peated scotches in November. I can only drink them when I come in from the cold, never in the summer. I will still be getting one of my traditional “big boy scotches” but this one will be on my bar this year and next.

Priced around $65 and well worth the money if you like peated whisky. I have yet to be disappointed by Bruichladdich.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Talisker 25 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

December 25, 2022 Scotland

Name: Talisker 25 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Color: Light gold

Nose: Malt, honey, sandalwood/oak, bake spices/cinnamon

Taste: Malt, warm honey cream, spice, flowers, light seagrass

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good dram!!! See you all again with new reviews in 2023!

Talisker Single Malt Whisky is a well-known and classic Scotch Whisky. The distillery was found in 1830 and is located in Carbost, Isle of Skye. I was in Glasgow a few months ago and I made my required trip to The Pot Still for a dram. On this trip I decided to treat myself to something nice. It was a toss up between Octomore or Talisker 25. Since they were both around the same price I decided to continue on my Talisker tasting experience. The price per dram was 25 GBP, approximately $40 USD.

The 25 year old is bottled at 45.8% and seemed a little hotter and less smooth than the 18 year old. However, it has been a few years since I have had the 18 so my memory might be a little off. I added a few drops of water and it opened up nicely. It was very smooth, but it was a little too smooth. The whisky lacked the bite on the tongue that I enjoy in my single malts. That rough taste that some people do not enjoy is what I enjoy the most about scotch. It is an excellent expression and a very enjoyable whisky, but for a price versus value of taste vs your budget, the 18 is the better value at $200+

Me at the Potstill 2022

Other expressions are: 10, 18, 25, 30-year-old, Storm, Skye, Dark Storm, Distiller Edition, 75 North, Port Ruighe, and Neist Pint. The 25 year old is on the upper level of the expressions.

Price ranging from $600-$800 and worth the money if you like the softer flavor profile or you have a lot extra money laying around.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Ardbeg 10

Hendrick’s Gin

Glenfarclas 12

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

John Barr

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Speyburn 10

“Ardbeg Olive” Vodka Martini

Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10

Talisker 25 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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