Celebrating her birthday a few weeks early, Squadlateer Elise brought along a few Scottish whiskies as well as a selection from her native Canada – including Jim Murray’s whisky of the year, Crown Royal Northern Harvest rye – and some food pairings.
Arran Robert Burns (43% abv) [BUY]
Alberta Premium Dark Horse (45% abv)
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (40% abv)
Crown Royal Black (45% abv)
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 (46.85% abv) [BUY]
Springbank 1997 Sherry Wood (52.3% abv) [BUY]
Chichibu 2009 The Floor Malted (50.5% abv) [BUY]
In his now traditional January visit, Berry Bros’s Rob Whitehead yet again brought us along a bundle of brilliant bottles, some of which had arrived only hours before at the company’s venerable London store.
Littlemill 1992 (Berry’s Own Selection) Cask 10 54.9% [BUY]
Strathmill 1991 (Berry’s Own Selection) Cask 2447 46% [BUY]
Strathcylde 1988 (Berry’s Own Selection) Cask 62188 53% [BUY]
Speyburn 1988 (Berry’s Own Selection) Cask 2114 52.3% [BUY]
Glen Garioch 1993 (Berry’s Own Selection) Cask 781 57% [BUY]
J. Nismes-Delclou 1937 Armagnac 40% [BUY]
In his second appearance, Whisky Don Enrico Gaddoni looked back to his homeland for inspiration, and brought with him a range of whiskies bottled specially for the Italian market. Six great whiskies from six different independent bottlers whose releases rarely make it back to the UK.
It was that time of the year again, where we celebrate our smashing Whisky Squad colleague Billy by drinking his whisky.
Glenlivet 18yo Cask Strength (1978) 60.2%
Canadian Club Small Batch Sherry Cask 41.3% [BUY]
Inchmurrin 12 yo 46% [BUY]
Springbank Local Barley 16yo 54.3% [BUY]
Laphroaig 18yo 48% [BUY]
Ledaig 7yo Sherry Cask 59.4% [BUY]
St Patrick’s Day was an excellent excuse to share some of the fantastic spirits distilled on the Emerald Isle, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. A very special Whisk(e)y Squad with a few recent releases and some old favourites!
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition 40% [BUY]
Glendalough Poitin Sherry Cask 40% [BUY]
Jack Ryan Beggars Bush 46% [BUY]
Tullamore Dew 15 yo 40% [BUY]
Green Spot Chateau Léoville Barton 46% [BUY]
Teeling Revival 46% [BUY]
Now we are 6!! To celebrate, our three intrepid hosts go head-to-head-to-head to compete for the Whisky Squad cup. This year in a first, Billy took the crown, with Elise and Joel coming along in a close heat!
Nikka Taketsuru 43% [BUY]
SMWS G7.8 Sweet Seduction in a Car Wash 59.5% [BUY]
Benromach 15yo 43% [BUY]
Starward 43% [BUY]
Clynelish 1995 17yo Sherry Cask 56.2% [BUY]
Edradour Ballechin 10 yo 46% [BUY]
An evening of nice whiskies. No frills, no fuss, just tasty drams.
Johnnie Walker Green Label (43% abv) [BUY]
Cardhu 12yo (40% abv) [BUY]
Ardmore 12yo Port Wood Finish (46% abv) [BUY]
Glen Garioch 1999 (56.3% abv) [BUY]
Ardbeg Corryvreckan (57.1% abv) [BUY]
Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1998 (43% abv) [BUY]
Another turning of the tables – the attendees emailed in suggestions, we picked six and then challenged everyone to guess if their whisky had been chosen. An excellent evening with some great drams and fabulous prizes!
Chivas Regal 18yo (40% abv) [BUY]
Kavalan Classic (40% abv) [BUY]
Mortlach Rare Old (43.4% abv) [BUY]
Ailsa Bay (2016) (48.9% abv) [BUY]
Lagavulin 8yo (48% abv) [BUY]
Lagavulin 16yo (43% abv) [BUY]
Across the sea to Mexico and not a whisky in sight. This was an evening of exploration, looking at the wonderful world of agave spirits – there’s much more to them than bottles of dodgy Tequila. We tried Tequila, mezcal and the little known raicilla, led through them by Tom Bartram from Speciality Brands.
You can read all about it in the news section.
Tapatio Blanco (40% abv) [BUY]
Ilegal Joven (40% abv) [BUY]
Real Minero Barril (49.9% abv)
Derrumbes San Luis Potosi (43.5% abv) [BUY]
Derrumbes Michoacan (46% abv) [BUY]
La Venenosa Sur (47% abv) [BUY]
Back by popular demand, we went around the world to find weird and wonderful whiskies that are not available to purchase in the UK. From a Scottish blend matured in Japanese oak casks to whisky from the newest distiller in Taiwan, not yet available outside of the country, it was a whistlestop tour of some of the most exciting spirits available today.
Thanks to squad regulars Ed and Rob, who brought along some extra bottles to try – New Zealand’s Oamaruvian and a special edition Armorik.
Chivas Regal Mizunara (40% abv)
Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish (43% abv)
Lot 40 (43% abv)
Swiss Highland Ice Label 2009 Edition (59.1% abv)
Nantou Omar Bourbon Type (46% abv)
Nantou Omar Sherry Type (46% abv)
We were joined by Chris Hoban of Raasay and Borders Distillers, to hear tales of distilleries to come and try a few independently bottled drams. Full details of the evening are here.
R&B Raasay While We Wait First Release (46% abv)
R&B Borders Single Grain First Release 51.7%
The Tweeddale Blend Batch 5 (46% abv) [BUY]
Montechiari Cabernet (13.5% abv) [BUY]
R&B Borders Coffey Malt Sample ?%
R&B Borders Coffey Wheat Sample ?%
A session that disappeared…
Picnic recipes and pairings are all here for you to make at home.
Bulleit ’95’ Rye (45% abv) [BUY]
Longrow Peated (46% abv) [BUY]
Dalmore 15yo (40% abv)
Aberlour 16yo Double Cask (43% abv) [BUY]
Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve 10yo 45% [BUY]
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye 7yo 49.5% [BUY]
Another three drams from the past and their most up to date equivalents. How have things changed over the years – for the better or worse..?
Spoiler alert: a bit of both.
Teacher’s (40% abv)
Teacher’s (1970s) (40% abv)
Dalmore 12yo (40% abv) [BUY]
Dalmore 12yo (1990s) (43% abv)
Peat Monster (46% abv) [BUY]
Peat Monster (1st Edition) (46% abv)
We upped the ticket price, went on a whisky hunt and came back with £1000 of whisky to taste. Not a bad evening’s drinking…
Glenmorangie Milsean (46% abv) [BUY]
Mannochmore 25yo Special Releases 2016 (53.4% abv) [BUY]
Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter (46.5% abv) [BUY]
Lock, Stock and Barrel 13yo (50.65% abv)
Talisker Neist Point (45.8% abv)
Laphroaig 1996 Masterpieces (50.6% abv)
No whisky list this month, as we brought along loads of bottle ends and other bits and pieces – everyone chipped in £20, drank loads of whisky and the proceeds all went to charity. We raised £600!
Full details here.
An evening of whisky and food pairing with Mariella Romano from Speciality Drinks! We matched up a bunch of great drams from the Elements of Islay range with doughnuts from Crosstown.
Br6 (Elements of Islay) (50.4% abv) [BUY]
Ma1 (Elements of Islay) (54.2% abv) [BUY]
Bw6 (Elements of Islay) (55.2% abv) [BUY]
Oc3 (Elements of Islay) (60.3% abv) [BUY]
Pl4 (Elements of Islay) (61.2% abv)
Lp4 (Elements of Islay) (54.8% abv) [BUY]
Our traditional year ending Christmas session. Everyone brought a bottle, there was raffling and all the proceeds went to charity – £250 for Shelter.
Aberlour 10yo (40% abv) [BUY]
Penderyn Madeira Finish (46% abv)
SMWS 128.6 – Rumbling, reverberating, resonances (59.9% abv)
Old Pulteney Lighthouse Collection – Duncansby Head (46% abv) [BUY]
Balvenie Doublewood 12yo (40% abv) [BUY]
Strathclyde 2005 (Old Particular) (50.9% abv) [BUY]
English Whisky Single Grain ?
Redbreast Mano a Lamh (46% abv) [BUY]
Potter 26yo (Cadenhead) (58.3% abv)
Clynelish 1997 Cask #6467 (Boisdale) (46% abv)
Royal Lochnagar 10yo Manager’s Dram (57.2% abv) [BUY]
SMWS 73.76 – Spice Apple Tea (60.4% abv)
SMWS 53.235 – Smoke and Mirrors (51.3% abv)
Bowmore Feis Ile 2014 (56.1% abv)
Ardbeg Uigeadail (54.2% abv) [BUY]
Caol Ila 2004 (Gordon & MacPhail for Soho Whisky Club) (58.9% abv)
Laphroaig PX (48% abv) [BUY]
