All posts by Mark Buchholtz

Mac-Talla Strata 15 Year

15 year old single malt from the Mac-Talla range, titled Strata, as a reference to the various rock formations across Islay’s shores. The whisky is also from Islay, though the distillery remains a mystery. Drawn from a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, it’s a flavoursome dram with fruity, spice, and whiffs of mineral-rich smoke.

Nose Rock pools and sea shells, juxtaposed by redcurrant and toffee pennies.

Palate Rounded barley with waves of soft smoke, dotted by chocolate, vanilla, cassia, and salted butter.

Finish Very subtly grassy, still with vanilla and coastal peat smoke at the fore.

Inchdairnie RyeLaw


RYELAW

A RYE WHISKY THAT QUESTIONS HISTORY

£114.99 inc VAT & delivery

RyeLaw is a single distillery Fife Rye Scotch Whisky made from malted rye and barley. It is hammer milled, mashed, outdoor fermented, precision distilled and matured in new charred oak casks at InchDairnie Distillery in Fife.

RyeLaw is the world’s only precision distilled malted rye Scotch whisky.

About: We are a Fife distillery that builds on malt whisky tradition, while actively exploring and pushing the limits of Scotch whisky. From grain to bottle, we take an innovative approach to flavour, and engineer our whiskies with a strong purpose: to excite palates.

Highland Park 21 2022

This latest release of our 21 Year Old opens with enticing aromas of espresso coffee, dark chocolate, marmalade on toast and crushed coriander seeds. Notes of tangy ginger and oriental spice driven by first-fill, sherry seasoned European oak hogsheads marry sweet citrus and cedar notes from ex-bourbon barrels, while refill casks diffuse any lingering oak and deliver an intriguing layer of complexity. This, and all bound in an aromatic cloud of our trademark heather-infused peat smoke.

Created from only 14 casks, all laid down in 2000 and earlier years, our 2022 release is a superb example of the expert craftsmanship of our Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, who has selected three distinctive cask types and married them to perfection, creating a mature whisky of exceptional quality and character.

Glengoyne Legacy Series: Chapter 3

It’s the third installment of Glengoyne’s The Legacy Series, and this one celebrates the distillery’s original excise manager Sir Arthur John Tedder. Tedder lived on site after taking up the role in 1889, enabling him to keep a keen eye out for any illicit whisky leaving the warehouses! This single malt is bottled from a selection of ex-sherry casks chosen from the Glengoyne warehouses, where they presumably remain under heavy guard by Sir Tedder’s predecessors. A delicious reminder of the importance of attention to detail, demonstrated masterfully as ever by the folks at Glengoyne.

Notes from the club on the Glengoyne Legacy Series Chapters 1-3:

Chapter 3 was the outright favourite of the series, followed closely by Chapter 1. It’s amazing how the different subtleties of the various cask finishes lead to a variety of different flavours from the same distillate. Once again these value oriented whiskies gave a full tour of the range of finishes and taste profiles from this fantastic distillery. Certainly add it to your lists if you are still able to find the Legacy series near your. A must purchase!

Glengoyne Legacy Series Chapter 2

It’s the second chapter in Glengoyne’s Legacy series! This one was dedicated to Peter Russell, chairman and founder of Ian Macleod Distillers, which bought Glengoyne in 2003. A trio of casks make up this fruity expression, specifically 48% was aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, with 17% in first-fill sherry casks and 35% in oak refill casks.

It’s a deliberate contrast to Chapter One, which was matured in first-fill European oak oloroso sherry casks as well as refill casks. This is a great example of how bourbon casks can make Glengoyne distillate shine and a fantastic demonstration of the distillery’s wood management policy.

Beam Suntory 7 Bottle Guided Tasting – #1 – Auchentoshan 21

September saw us have a guided tasting with the representatives from Beam Suntory.

There was an extensive selection including Scotches, Japanese, Irish and American to try and sample.

Here is the featured list:

Auchentoshan 21 Year Old

Highland Park Valknut

Glen Garioch Founders Reserve

Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino Cask

Hibiki Harmony

Kilbeggan 18 Year Old

Bookers Small Batch Bourbon