Our taster bottle for July was aged and bottled by the cask-gobbling beast that is Gordon & MacPhail, a 20 year-old Macallan distilled in 2004, marketed under the modified name of “Speymalt” due to the independent bottling.
This one promised to be fantastic, a big sherry bomb at 59.1%, and did not disappoint. Chocolate was the word of the day during this sampling. Good Macallan is hard to come by at an affordable price these days, so we’ll take it! Sourced from Alberta, with some still available at the low low price of $500 +tax. Darn Lovely!
This single cask bottling of Ardmore Single Malt whisky is brought to you by one of the greats in the independant bottling world, Gordon and Macphail. Here are the details:
Bottled at Cask Strength 55.5%
1 of 223 Bottles
Filled using Refill American Hogshead in 1998
Bottled Jan 26, 2021 at 22 Years of aging.
Notes from Gordon and Macphail: Citrus and crystalised violet aromas gives way to milk chocolate. Flavours grapefruit and brazil nuts lead to sured meats. A medium bodied finish with a lingering spice.
There’s not a whole lot of notes out there on this exclusive bottling as it’s one of only 223 bottles of this specific version. I must agree with our club members that this was a delight to try out and share. A very unique and interesting whisky that doesn’t taste as “hot” per say of a normal cask strength bottling. You didn’t need a drop of water to enjoy the full flavours and aromas of this offering. I would say great job all around to the finishing and bottling from the team at Gordon and Macphail.
From our experience you just can’t go wrong with with these independant bottling offerings!
A little about Ardmore:
The Ardmore distillery sits at the highest point of the Northern railway line, 600 feet above sea level. Close to the small village of Kennethmont, the proximity to the railway line allowed founder Adam Teacher to transport materials from Glasgow to this remote corner of Aberdeenshire, helping the distillery flourish.
Almost unchanged from the moment he made his dream a reality, the water is still drawn from the naturally rising springs that sit on the 1,500 foot tall Knockandy Hill.
Those who live on the rugged fringes of the Highlands embrace the freedom of the great outdoors and The Ardmore® brings together the power of nature in every drop that travels from our distillery.
Our April 2025 taster was quite the interesting dram, and one that’s a little more rare and hard to find here in Ontario. This is the Glen Keith 25 Years Old single malt whisky distilled in the Speyside region. This is a bottle of their “Special Aged Releases” series that was bottled in March of 2023. This is one of 1460 bottles from this version that indicates it was matured in 1st fill American oak barrels and comes in at 43% abv.
From the landmark distillery Glen Keith ,which was the first to be built in Speyside region in the 20th century. The tall copper stills used to distill this twenty five year old Whisky imparts distinctively Speyside flavours. On the nose there is a syrupy sweetness; akin to toffee apples and spiced ginger marmalade. This is followed by tangy gooseberry jam and vanilla custard on the palate. The finish is long, smooth and sweet. Tasting Note by The Producer Nose Notes of toffee apple with spiced ginger marmalade. Palate Tangy gooseberry jam and vanilla custard. Finish Long, smooth, and sweet.
Tasting Notes
Nose: A delicate bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, honeycomb, and soft vanilla, underpinned by gentle floral notes and a whisper of oak.
Palate: Lusciously smooth with layers of stewed apples, toasted almonds, and creamy toffee. Hints of citrus zest and nutmeg add a refined spice, while the oak maturation lends depth and structure.
Finish: Long, warm, and impeccably balanced, with lingering notes of dried fruit, vanilla bean, and a soft malt sweetness.
This bottling was easy on the palate and packed some great flavours! I would highly recommend sourcing out a bottle of this for one of the best values in a 25 year old single malt available in Canada.
A delightful release from Kilbeggan that is matured in three different cask types (Bourbon, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and American Oak). This premium blend delivers a characterful Irish whiskey with rich notes of summer fruits and vanilla, leading into an oak spice finish. We sourced this one for approx. $65 CAD.
Bottled at 43% abv.
Pictured on the right below:
This was just a great flavourful whiskey! Well done a nice easy drinker with a little punch of dry sweetness. Thanks for a nice affordable whiskey from Kilbeggan!
Welcome to bottle tasting #2 from March 2025 tasting. We continue our celebration of St. Patrick’s month with a non-chill filtered Teeling Single Malt Whiskey. This bottling comes in at 46% abv. and was placed into the bottle in September 2021. I think it was available at our local LCBO for approx. $70 CAD.
From our in-house whisky ambassadors notes (thanks Mike):
In recognition of St.Patrick’s day we will be tasting a whisky from the oldest distillery in Dublin.
Teeling Single Malt.
Crafted by the innovative Teeling Whiskey Company in Dublin, stands out in the Irish whiskey landscape. Distilled primarily from corn (95%) with 5% malted barley, it’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley. Awarded “World’s Best Grain Whiskey” at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards, cementing its reputation for quality. A bold choice for those exploring beyond classic single malts, Teeling Single Grain marries Irish tradition with inventive cask finishing. Its vibrant fruitiness and approachable sweetness make it a standout for both novices and connoisseurs.
Pictured below in the center:
What a fantastic whiskey! Amazing flavour all around with this version. Just be careful because they are so smooth. Another winner from our friends at Teeling!
As part of our March triple tasting we dove into a “brand new to the club” whisky from Waterford. The Waterford Organic Single Malt whisky is an all organic offering that is branded as single farm origin.
From Waterford website:
“Using 100% Irish barley, widely considered to be the world’s finest, our Single Farm Origin series is an uber-provenance range of limited edition natural whiskies that explore Irish terroir one farm, one place, at a time. They are expressions of precision and rarity, showcasing barley flavours derived from individual Irish farms and harvests.”
Quite the interesting distillery, but sadly during our research about this bottling we’ve learned they have closed down. It appears that they are still selling of the remainder of their inventory, and will continue to use up the any previously distilled whisky in future releases. Good news for those who might be looking to try this one out. You still have time!
Pictured below on the left hand side:
Sadly I didn’t take many notes on the whisky, but I have to leave the reader with this; it was one of the most unique Irish whiskies I’ve ever tried. Very smooth, earthy with some cereal sweetness. Backed by a nice lingering mouth feel. Worth a try as we sourced the bottle for approx. $90 CAD. Very reseasonable for a unique Irish Single malt whisky. What a great way to kick of March!
Arran distillery is one of few distilleries on the Isle of Arran, nestled in a firth between the west coast of the Scottish mainland (near Glasgow) and the 40-km-long Kintyre Peninsula that is home to Campbeltown.
The distillery was founded in 1994, however, its construction was not completed until 1995 due to a delay related to nearby nesting golden eagles, which are a protected species in Scotland. It opened in 1995 and we have the pleasure of trying one of its first 25-year offerings, Arran 25. This bottle boasts a beautifully designed wooden case, and the whisky is held in the classic Arran-style bottle, slightly wider at the top than the bottom. 46% ABV and sourced from Alberta for an all in-cost of $630 CAD. We liked it, as well as the price for 25 year-old whisky!
Distiller’s tasting notes:
Nose: rich oak, gentle nutmeg. Baked ripe figs, sultanas and black cherries.
Palate: fruit cake with toasted almonds and cinnamon. Zesty oranges and mandarins mellow perfectly with manuka honey, muscovado sugar, baked apricots and an interesting white pepper note.
Finish: creamy and spicy with dark chocolate, walnuts and dark fruit compote.
