1x309 - whisky review 247 - Ballantines 12yo Scotch whisky

. . . a competent performer on the flavour-front.

1x310 - whisky review 248 - White Horse 12yo

... a young-tasting Blended Scotch with a lively history.

1x311 - whisky review 249 - Whyte and Mackay 13yo

. . . a robust blended Scotch and a big seller in the bars of Glasgow.

1x312 - whisky review 250 - Black Bull 40yo

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1x313 - whisky review 251 - Essentials on Collecting Whisky

. . . what you really need to know about collecting Whiskies Check out http://www.whiskyfun.com/war.html & http://ymlp.

1x314 - whisky review 252 - Great King Street Blend

. . . a Compassboxwhisky.

1x315 - whisky review 253 - Compass Box Peat Monster

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1x316 - whisky review 254 - Compass Box Hedonism Grain Whisky

. . . a refreshingly innovative blended grain scotch whisky.

1x317 - whisky review 255 - Carsebridge Grain Scotch Whisky

. . . Grain Scotch properly matured can be excellent as an option.

1x318 - whisky review 256 - Invergordon Grain Scotch (Bladnoch Forum)

. . . a good example of well-aged Scotch at a good price because it is not a fashionable whisky.

1x319 - whisky review 257 - Old Pulteney 12yo

. . . an underrated classic Malt . . .

1x320 - whisky review 258 - Old Pulteney Single Cask No: 30

. . . a challengingly salty/bitter malt which provides an education to the taste buds.

1x321 - whisky review 259 - Old Pulteney 17yo

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1x322 - whisky review 260 - Clynelish 14yo

. . . a colourful, characterful Single malt from the North East Highlands.

1x323 - whisky review 261 - Craigellachie 14yo

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1x324 - whisky review 262 - Laphroaig 18yo

smokey, peaty, but oak-tamed too.

1x325 - whisky review 263 - Recommended Spirits of Mexico (& Jose Cuervo Reposado)

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1x326 - whisky review 264 - Ocho Anejo Tequila 2007 Vintage

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1x327 - whisky review 265 - Sotol Hacienda de Chihuahua (Anejo)

. . . an unusual and exotic spirit from the northern deserts of Mexico.

1x328 - whisky review 266 - Mezcal Del Maguey Chichicapa

. . . a hugely flavourson traditional Mezcal from one single village source.

1x329 - whisky review 267 - tequila and tea

. . . a taste-practical option to cocktails and sweet mixers when drinking tequila or any other flavour-spirit.

1x330 - whisky review 268 - Oban 14yo (Highland Region)

. . . a decent West-coast Malt, from the charming town of Oban.

1x331 - whisky review 269 - Cragganmore 12yo (Speyside Region)

. . . a typical, and decent quality Speyside Malt featuring fruit/floral complexity.

1x332 - whisky review 270 - Glenkinchie 12yo (Lowland Region)

. . . a decent and representative Lowland-style Malt which neatly presents the characteristics of this area of Scotland.

1x333 - whisky review 271 - Highland Park 18yo (Island Region)

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1x334 - whisky review 272 - Laphroaig 10yo (Islay Region)

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1x335 - whisky review 273 - Glen Scotia 19yo Indi: (Kintyre Region)

. . . the other, invisible, Campbeltown Malt makes a guest appearance.

1x336 - whisky review 274 - Buying whisky at auctions

. . . a few pointers on what to consider buying at a Whisky auction. ...

1x337 - whisky review 275a - Identifying fake auction whiskies.

. . . first of a two part examination of how fake whiskies are created and how to spot fakes. (it can be difficult so be cautious).

1x338 - whisky review 275b - examples of fake_tampered whiskies

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1x339 - whisky review 276 - Advice on Whisky Auctions from Angus

. . . Whisky Specialist Angus introduces the appeal of antique whiskies and offers advice on buying at auctions.

1x340 - whisky review 277 - Three best malt whiskies for beginners

. . . three available and affordable Malt whiskies which provide a range of flavours along with quality for a new whisky drinker.

1x341 - whisky review 278 - recommended malt whiskies for 2012

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1x342 - whisky review 279 - Auchentoshan Valinch

. . . . a contemporary version of Auchentoshan at cask strength, young age and non-chillfiltered.

1x343 - whisky review 280 - GlenDronach 12yo 'original'

. . . . a decent sherry-style Malt with a young-spirit vitality, and should not be overlooked.

1x344 - whisky review 281 - Port Charlotte AnTurasMor

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1x345 - whisky review 282 - Recommended Vintage Single Malts

. . . three classic and not-quite forgotten Single Malts from the last Century which are still affordable and available. . . . and tasty too.

1x346 - whisky review 283 - Lochside 1981 30yo Malt (BB&R)

. . . an intact smell and taste of Scotch Whisky history, and all in a bottle.

1x347 - whisky review 284 - Coleburn 1979 30yo (Mackillop's Choice)

. . . a long-gone Speyside Distillery near Elgin known for it's contribution of malt to Johnnie Walker Red Label, . . .

1x348 - whisky review 285 - Port Ellen 21yo (Laing's OMC)

. . . a decent version of a fashionable "Dead Distillery" Islay Malt which benefits from being not too long in cask, so the still signature is intact, and the peat influence is still fresh.

1x349 - whisky review 286 - Chat with Serge from Whiskyfun

. . . an informal chat with Serge Valentin, the proprietor of WhiskyFun and stalwart of the MaltManiacs. Someone who shows just what the internet was invented for, the articulate and intelligent freedom of speech.

1x350 - whisky review 287 - Water with your whisky

. . . often highlighted and marketing-featured as an important component of making whisky, but dismissed as unimportant when added to a glass of whisky by the drinker ! ...

1x351 - whisky review 288 - requested whisky reviews and 3 big questions

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1x352 - whisky review 289 - Old Parr 12yo Scotch

. . . after an unpromising first impression, a growingly complex and rewarding Blended Scotch of character and substance.

1x353 - whisky review 290 - Naked Famous Grouse

. . . naked by name, but not by smell and taste experience, a very modern and 'engineered' Scotch.

1x354 - whisky review 291 - Johnnie Walker Double Black

. . . the standard Black Label with extra wood-sweet and dollops of decent smokiness. A variation on the theme that will work in Bars but will never top the excellent Green Label.

1x355 - whisky review 292 - Gin

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1x356 - whisky review 293 - Introducing Young Islay Malts

. . . with increased demand and limited supply, Distillers are marketing younger aged whiskies as 'special releases' some are special, some are most certainly NOT ! I offer advice on choosing.

1x357 - whisky review 294 - Caol Ila Moch

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1x358 - whisky review 295 - Kilchoman Sherry Cask 2012

. . . a substantial fresh-sherry raw-peat monster from Islay's only Independent Distillery.

1x360 - whisky review 297 - St Georges American Malt Whisky

. . . way out west, they're giving Scotch a Californian twist with a young Single Malt which represents character and quality in the arena of World whiskies. Should get better too over the next few years.

1x361 - whisky review 298 - Sullivan's Cove Bourbon cask (60% vol:)

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1x362 - whisky review 299 - Three Ships 10yo African Malt Whisky

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1x363 - Absinthe (whisky review 300)

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1x364 - whisky review 301 - Cigar advice

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1x365 - whisky review 302 - Whisky & pipe smoking

. . . excellent for smoking versatility, variety and whisky-company, a traditional smoking pipe is hard to beat . . .

1x366 - whisky review 303 - Bankrowburn

. . . quite simply the rarest Independent bottling of Springbank EVER and due to 'provinance' now the most expensive bottle of Whisky in the World ... ever ! . . .

1x367 - whisky review 304 - Yoichi 15yo Japanese Malt

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1x368 - whisky review 305 - Hakushu 'heavily peated' @ 48%

. . . an unusual version of Japanese Malt being similar to some scotch peated whiskies like Ardmore. . . . .It is young tasting and different.

1x369 - whisky review 306 - Karuizawa 1990 @ 56.1 %

. . . rather expensive, collector's gold-dust Malt from Japan, hyped up by the fact that the Distillery is deceased ! For the drinker, this is a good sherry monster and not too refined.

1x370 - whisky review 307 - vintage whisky advice with Angus

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1x371 - whisky review 308 - marking and writing on whisky bottles

. . . some practical advice on marking, signing or just writing messages on bottles and bottle labels, every little bit of advice can lead to greater wisdom eventually.

1x372 - whisky review 309 - Deanston 12yo

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1x373 - whisky review 310 - Tobermory 10yo @ 46.3%vol

. . . only five years ago, the bargain-basement Malt in the British supermarkets, but now is completely re-born as an interesting, quality, craft malt.

1x374 - whisky review 311 - Your Solera Bottle

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1x375 - whisky review 312 - Bell's Decanter Advice

. . . arguably the most un-collectable collectable whisky at the auction houses.

1x376 - whisky review 313 - Crawfords 3 Star

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1x377 - whisky review 314 - create your own Whisky Liqueur

. . . it's easier than you might think, and the results can be excellent.

1x378 - whisky review 315 - AD Rattray's 19yo malt-blend Batch No: 1

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1x379 - whisky review 316 - Blue Hanger Blended Malt (Edition 6)

. . . another good example of a malt-blend which offers better value for money for a canny whisky drinker.

1x380 - whisky review 317 (1_2) - Greenfields 5yo Pure Malt Whisky from 1960's

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1x381 - whisky review 317 (2_2) - concluding review of Greenfield's 1960's Scotch

. . . the delight of some old bottles of spirits is in the complex detail of smell and taste after one opens the bottle after many years of being sealed.

1x382 - whisky review 318 - Maxime Trijol XO Cognac

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1x383 - whisky review 319 - Cadenhead's Maison Guerbe cask Cognac 8yo

. . . . quite simply a hidden gem of the spirits world.

1x384 - whisky review 320 - Clos Martin Armagnac (folle blanche) 1986

a well aged modern-tasting quality Armagnac well worth the effort of tasting and helped by about 25years of sensitive maturation.

1x385 - whisky review 321 - Darroze 40yo Terroire Cask Armagnac

very big quality nose followed by a very complex quality taste. . . . simply a rare experience.

1x386 - whisky review 322 - Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins

. . . essentially Springbank's quartercask maturation using smaller than usual casks to mature the spirit faster. With this version, it works producing a chameleon, complex ten year old whisky which seems older and more mature.

1x387 - whisky review 323 - Royal Salute 21yo Scotch

. . . a very good example of a 'presentation' whisky where the smell and flavour are designed to suggest rather than impose an consumer experience.

1x388 - whisky review 324 - Glenfiddich 12yo Scotch re-reviewed

. . . a timely return to one of the most recognisable of Scotch malts which shows signs of quality improvement . . .

1x389 - whisky review 325 - Laphroaig 1998 12yo BB&R (Indi: bottling)

As some 'batch discrepancies' appear with some official bottlings by Distilleries, always worth checking the on-line review circuit for Independent bottling options. Some bottlings are poor, however real stars can also be found.

1x390 - whisky review 326 - Bladnoch 20yo @ 46%

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1x391 - whisky review 327 - Octomore 05_1

. . . at 169 ppm, this is regarded as the most heavily peated Scotch whisky ever produced. The peating level does not translate into phenolic power of flavour but rather phenolic complexity.

1x392 - whisky review 328 - Paul John Malt Whisky

. . . a very good example of the growing diversity of quality malt whisky from across the World.

1x393 - whisky review 329 - whisky of the year 2012

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1x394 - whisky review 330 - GlenDronach 1993 19yo Single Cask 487

. . . a very good 'craft produced' sherry-matured single malt scotch, proving oloroso is not always sugar-sweet confectionary.

1x395 - whisky review 331 - Sherry and Whisky

. . . some varied information on how sherry relates to sherry-matured whiskies.

1x396 - whisky review 332 - Longmorn 30yo (Gordon & Macphail)

. . . a very substantial Independent bottling of a hard-to-find Speyside classic by the name of Longmorn, the blenders must-have malt.

1x397 - whisky review 333 - Chivas Regal 18yo

. . . for such a large volume blend this is decent quality with several malts showing well in the mix.

1x398 - whisky review 334 - Johnnie Walker Swing

. . . a less well known JW blend which is increasingly the best JW option of flavour-chasers.

1x399 - whisky review 335 (1_2) - Buchanans 12yo

. . . this trad-blend took me by surprise with it's quality. Great complexity for the age and readily available in South America.

1x400 - whisky review 335 (2_2) - Buchanans 12yo revisited

an update on whisky review 335 (1/2) providing new information and a fresh story relating to the previous review.

1x401 - whisky review 336 - Cutty Sark Storm

. . . . an engaging, contemporary blended scotch with plenty of flavour.

1x402 - whisky review 337 - Introducing Three Dead Distilleries

. . . a trip into a scotch sub-culture of dead/demolished/mothballed Distilleries, and there are plenty of them out there.

1x403 - whisky review 338 - Rosebank 14yo Signatory

. . . . a dead-distillery (more realistic than the nicer sounding "silent stills") which offers a great flavour range, but carries a bit too much 'heat' from poor distillation.

1x404 - whisky review 339 - Brora 23 yo Signatory 46%

. . . a less familiar version of what is now a 'cult' distillery. If they ever revive Brora the purchase premiums will probably be rather like Lagavulin.

1x405 - whisky review 340 - Dallas Dhu 24yo (Cadenhead)

. . . a scotch which comes from a small speyside Distillery which is now a non-productive museum. Shame really, such a wasted resource and employment opportunity.

1x406 - whisky review 341 - Benriach 12yo 'Horizons'

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1x407 - whisky review 342 - Dalmore 21yo (Signatory)

. . . not an official bottling of Dalmore, this Independent bottling is non-chillfiltered, naturally coloured and cask strength, so it's just more naturally presented than standard official bottlings.

1x408 - whisky review 343 - Tomatin Decades

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1x409 - whisky review 344 - Information on Whisky Maturation and Finishing

February 27, 2013

. . . a broad grey area of whisky production which includes additional-maturation, double-maturation, secondary-maturation, 'finishing, 'ACE'ing' and any other style of cask-swap designed to add flavour to whisky.