TASTING NOTES
HANYU JACK OF DIAMONDS 1988
The Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Hanyu Jack of Diamonds, distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2008, originally bought as an investment and accidentally opened, gets a tasting here and a rare write up. Clearly, most of these are being collected!
BALBLAIR 1997 VINTAGE
The Balblair packaging shown here silhouttes the vista of a crocodile sleeping in the waters, while the whisky itself is sweet, balanced, delicious and is anything but a croc! The real story is inside.
LAGAVULIN 1991 – THE DISTILLERS EDITION
The Lagavulin 1991 Distillers Edition Special Limited Release Double Matured 16 Year Old Islay Malt, finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks is reviewed here and defined as the Johnny Depp of whiskies.
AUCHENTOSHAN THREE WOOD
The Auchentoshan Three Wood whisky has proven itself a complex whisky which portrays much of the bourbon and sherry influences of the three wood finishing, perhaps differentiating it from the more standard Auchentoshan whiskies.
SHINE ON GEORGIA MOON CORN WHISKEY
Well, after having last ventured to sample Highland Park 18 years old scotch whisky, and run the risk of a headlong early meeting with the perfect whisky, I feel we are on safer ground now. No chance of this one prompting the premature cry of “that’s all folks!” and the closure of the Grainmash quest. [...]
HIGHLAND PARK 18 YEARS
Ok, Happy New Year 2009, and time for me to review the best whisky in the world as pronounced by F.Paul Pacult in June 2005. Not being a world authority on whisky, just yet, tonight dear Highland Park 18 Years Old, you are just going to have to settle for good old fashioned grainmash opinion. [...]
BUSHMILLS MALT 21 RARE - MADEIRA CASK FINISH
Now after the comprehensively thorough introduction to Japanese malt whisky provided by the Hanyu Eight of Spades, which saw me invest in both King of Spades and the Ace of Spades, I return to the Bushmills distillery but this time to sample their “top of the range” regular production whiskey. Bushmills Irish Whiskey 21 the [...]
HANYU 2000 EIGHT OF SPADES
Smoking! This one is absolutely smoking. I have heard and read a lot about Japanese whiskies, and this is the first one I am reviewing. It’s setting a standard in smoke. Let’s be clear, if you want a smoky whisky, this one fits the bill. It demands to stay on the front of your [...]
GLENFIDDICH 15 YEARS - DUTY FREE
This one is going to keep me company on a sleepless night. It’s October and having just bought my first Japanese to review, I first need to get through this beautiful bottle and this settling long night of mindfulness. I am in good company. I have to stress that this is the straight 15 (presumably [...]
THREE SHIPS 5 YEARS WHISKY
My girlfriend was in Cape Town at the beginning of the year. When she asked me what I might like as a present, I suggested a bottle of whisky. Knowing absolutely nothing about South African whisky, and indeed very little about whisky really, I saw no reason to ignore any country in my quest. She [...]
