Background

For those of us unable to attend Fèis Ìle 2023, Kilchoman was kind enough to put together a sampler pack and virtual tasting. Just one catch - that virtual tasting took place at 9 AM EST, and I like my day job. Full disclaimer, I tasted these meant to watch the tasting after the fact… anddddd still haven't. So welcome to my thoughts on these, unencumbered by any preconceived notions from Kilchoman!

Some details on each item in the tasting below, and then rolling right into the notes!

• Loch Gorm 2023 Edition - An annual oloroso cask release from Kilchoman, this edition comprises 22 casks: 8 distilled in 2013, 6 distilled in 2014, and 8 distilled in 2015.

• Cognac Matured 2023 - Distilled in 2016 and fully matured in 31 Cognac barriques. This will be their first fully matured in Cognac casks offering.

• Fino Sherry Cask Matured 2023 - The second Fino sherry matured release from Kilchoman. It’s matured for a minimum of five years in Fino sherry butts previously used by Jose y Miguel Martin.

• Fèis Ìle 2023 - This release was only available to buy at the distillery on Fèis Ìle Day and is made up of three casks, two bourbon and one sherry, distilled in 2011 & 2012. Those casks were then vatted together and bottled at cask strength.

Background

I don’t think a single whiskey has been recommended to me more than Aberlour A’bunadh, and it’s easy to see why! When I tell people I’m coming to Scotch from American whiskeys, and heavily sherried offerings have really been my gateway, this reasonably available, cask strength, and fully matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts offering is clearly top of mind for people to recommend!

A’bunadh means “the original” in Gaelic, and is meant as an homage to founder James Fleming. The legend of A’bunadh goes that, in 1975 as the second set of stills were being installed at the distillery, workers discovered a 1898 bottling of Aberlour wrapped in a newspaper from that same year about the distillery fire. Being the scholars they were, they decided to drink most of the bottle, you know for science, but saved the last bit to be analyzed so that Aberlour could try to recreate this very single malt. While Aberlour claims most of their offerings are at least twelve years and aged in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, A’bunadh is NAS and aged exclusively in Oloroso Sherry butts. They also have, in my personal opinion, one of the most annoying wax tops to open that I have ever encountered 😂. Let’s explore these two batches, 52 & 62, from 2015 & 2018, respectively!

Background

Front and center, a disclaimer- the bottle of Laphroaig 10 was provided to me by Beam Suntory at no cost, no obligation to review and with no strings attached. I thank them for their generosity in doing so.

First and foremost- I encourage you to read Jay and Nick’s entire breakdown on the Laphroaig journey here. It’s an awesome step by step tour through his and Nick Conti (owner of Green River Farms) trip to pick this cask. The result of what sounds like a fantastic trip: this 2014 heavy toast, virgin French oak cask.

I did not expect to win the lottery for this bottle! Mainly because I never win any lotteries, but also because I’m typically not the biggest seeker of peated whiskeys. On the other hand, while I have had a few casual pours of Laphroaig 10 before, I had never spent time with it and put pen to paper on my thoughts. With all that said, let’s review!

Background

It’s Spring Fling at Jack Rose and they put on a hell of a Brown Forman event to launch their new Benriach barrel- the excellently named “Friend’s with Benriach-efits”. As this tasting covered offerings from Brown Forman’s American Whiskey brands and Scotch brands, I figured why not do a simulcast review! In this edition we’ll be reviewing:

• Benriach Malting Season 2nd Edition

• Benriach 14 Year Cask Strength “Friends with Benriach-efits” Jack Rose Selection

• Glendronach 27 Year Cask Strength

Also included in the tasting was 1979 Jack Rose from a Distillery Decanter, Woodford Reserve Five Malt Stouted Mash, and 2022 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. Without further ado, let’s get to the reviews!

Background

Back with another SMWS review, this time an ex-bourbon cask Glen Spey playfully dubbed “Bath Time in the Classroom.” Hailing from the “Sweet and Spicy” profile, let’s see if that’s how the sip ends up!

SMWS “Bath Time in the Classroom” 80.36 (9 Years, 118.2 Proof)

Nose: Honeycomb, white grape, vanilla.

Palate: More honeycomb, graham cracker, vanilla wafer and dry oak.

Finish: LOT of spice, chili pepper and barrel spice. Honestly you also could have fooled me that this had some sauternes influence. Dried white grapes, and a dry, tannic finish.

Sub-par to Good (4.5/10)

Overall: This is a little uneven for me. I get the sweet and spicy profile, but the spice comes on HARD and a little abrupt. I love a ton of what I’ve had thus far from SMWS, but this one misses the mark a bit for me

Background

Doubling down at Jack Rose SMWS events this month, and this time was the Tasting Panel Experience. SMWS is on a traveling tour through Chicago, DC, New York, Seattle and then LA to taste through current casks and decide what should be bottled and what should continue to age. Tasting Panel Chairman Robin Laing and Society Director Tom Smith led us through the proceedings, with Robin occasionally breaking out in song. The goal is to taste through six offerings, score them, and I believe the collective top 3 will be bottled for the US market. Below are my thoughts on each of the pours!

Background

Ok! Going to skip a lengthy background given there were 9(!!!) pours that were covered at this tasting. Here’s what we will be reviewing!

• GlenAllachie 8 Year

• GlenAllachie 12 Year

• GlenAllachie 15 Year

• GlenAllachie Allview Liquors Single Cask 13 Year Ruby Port

• Kilchoman 100% Islay

• Kilchoman Machir Bay

• Kilchoman Sanaig

• Kilchoman Mid-Atlantic 7yr Ex-Bourbon Single Cask

• Bonus Pour Kilchoman Mid-Atlantic 9 Year Oloroso Single Cask

Let’s taste through these and see what stood out!

Background

Dystopian Deviant, barrel 24.162 from SMWS, a 13 year old Macallan aged in 1st fill ex-Oloroso Hogsheads.

SMWS “Dystopian Deviant” 24.162 (13 Years, 125.8 Proof)

Nose: Dates, plums, brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts.

Palate: Raspberry dark chocolate, fig newton cookies, plums, occasionally molasses. Rich and PACKED with flavor.

Finish: Cocoa nibs, blackberries, gently tannic. Long and delicious.

9/10

Overall: Just a TON of flavors packed into this pour. Deep, rich and dried fruits indeed. Tough to argue with this one, and I will mourn this bottle heavily when it’s gone!

Background

Going to skimp out on the background for this review because there are 7(!) whiskeys at hand for this March Outturn tasting, and one bonus pour (not in the Outturn) provided by CEO Andrew Dane who was on site for the tasting. Also the setup was really cool, as the whole tasting was done blind and semi-gameshow style, where everyone guessed the age, casks, flavor profile, and distillery for each pour. Big thanks to Tom Smith from SMWS for the excellent setup. Details on each along with notes below!

Background

Let’s start with the cask. I poured this bottle for a buddy recently who then asked, “Sooo, what exactly does PX Puncheon mean?”

While it’s likely terminology a good few reading a whiskey blow are comfortable with, I figured I’d start there for a quick bit of background before we hop into the review!

PX: Short for Pedro Ximénez (from the grapes used), it is an exceptionally sweet style of sherry typically originating from Spain. Usually the grapes are dried in the sun to concentrate the sweetness… making this essentially raisin wine 🙂.

Puncheon: The barrel used for the sherry and then subsequently this whiskey. A puncheon is typically made of Spanish Oak staves and holds about 132 US Gallons (as compared to a US Barrel, which holds about 50-53 gallons).

Ok now that we’ve done some book learnin’, let’s taste this!