Whisky Review: Lark Small Cask Aged Cask Strength

Tasting Notes: Lark Small Cask Aged Cask Strength Style: Malty and Spicy Nose: Beneath the cask strength spice lies lemon, honeycomb and egg custard notes. Then it opens up to an ocean deep of malt aroma, so abundant and dense… More creamy honey sweetness, hints of (peat?) smoke and vanilla candle scent burning slowly at…

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Whisky Review: Glenfiddich Aged 30 Years

Style: Orchard Fruits, Dignified and Complex Nose:  Elegant aroma diffuses in softly, a beautifully knitted medley of red apples, resins, black tea leaves and caramel notes generate a light, bright but dignified vibe. Dry smoke and white pepper wraps around sweet creamy malt. A nice and complex nose. Palate: A drier than usual introduction on…

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Whisky Review: Johnnie Walker Green Label Aged 15 Years

  Style: Delicate and Complex Nose: Vanilla cream with brushes of Jasmine flower on the nose. A quick punch of spice lights up the tempo, followed by light-hearted cedar wood and grassy notes unveiling a solid malt at the heart. Drying smoke and white pepper lurking at the bottom of the aroma. A very busy…

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Dram Review: The Macallan 18 Years Old (Youngest Whisky Distilled In 1986)

[43.0%・18 Years Old・Bottled in 2003・Official Bottling・General Release] You could say I was born to a different era.  Gone were the days where Macallan exclusively aged their stocks in Jerez sherry casks, casks that were filled with new make made from golden promise barley. In a country where a Macallan with an age statement is seen…

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Whisky Review: Glenfarclas Special Relase 2007 Selected by and Bottled for “Whisky & Wisdom”

Style: Young and Complex Nose: Distinct ginger shreds tapping at the front with a big bite of chocolate mud cake. A few minutes the dram blossoms with tasty raisins and dried apricots aroma. Tea fruit cake undertone buoyed up by a pinch of clover and cinnamon spice. Palate: Rich dark plums and raisins load the…

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Dram Review: Black Gate Cask #016 Exclusively Bottled for The Oak Barrel

[66.0% • Original Bottling • Bottled in 2016 • No Age Statement  • Single Cask Release of 32 Bottles] As a Black Gate fan, it gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to officially announce that Mr. Brian Hollingworth and Mrs. Genise Hollingworth are releasing the single cask #016, exclusively for The Oak Barrel Sydney Whisky…

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“Malternative” Review: Gelas Single Cask Double Matured Bas-Armagnac

I don’t exactly know who coined the term “malternative”, I presume it’s Mr. Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun. It appears to be a term that most people associate with rum; quite possibly “the next up and coming spirit” seeing how well the recent Caroni releases were received. However, as whiskies continue to surge in prices, it’s really…

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Interview with Mr. Cameron Syme of Limeburners

It is no secret that I have a lot of love for Limeburners – musky, powerful and unique Australian whisky which makes the best night cap for me. I was delighted to chat with Mr. Cameron Syme briefly at a Limeburners masterclass ahead of the Whisky Fair 2016 which will be held on 27th August…

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Dram Review: Octomore Edition 07.3

[63.0%・5 Years Old・Distilled in 2010・Bottled in 2015・Official Bottling・Limited Release] How does one appreciate an Octomore? It really is a take it or leave it affair with by far the most peated whiskies in the world. I will admit that to me personally the Octomore has often proven to be a challenging series. However it’s obvious that beneath the…

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Whisky Review: The Balvenie Double Wood Aged 12 Years

Tasting Notes: The Balvenie Double Wood Aged 12 Years Style: Sweet and Creamy Nose:  A creamy introduction with nice vanilla ice cream and peppermint sprinkles. The sweetness opens up with a good ten minutes and we have fat butterscotch tiramisu, an adorable flow of maple syrup dripping over. The tone dropped slightly towards the end…

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