The club recently had the pleasure of tasting the Tomatin 1988, a single malt Scotch whisky that was aged for over 25 years in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in first-fill Tawny Port casks. This is a limited edition release of only 2500 bottles, and I must say, as the reviewer, it is one of the most exquisite whiskies I have ever tried.

The nose is rich and complex, with aromas of dried fruits, vanilla, honey, oak, and a hint of spice. The palate is smooth and creamy, with flavors of caramel, chocolate, orange, raisins, and nuts. The finish is long and sweet, with a touch of port wine and wood. The whisky has a beautiful amber color and a velvety texture.

The Tomatin 1988 is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and maturation. It is a whisky that deserves to be savored and appreciated. It is not cheap, but it is worth every penny. If you are looking for a special treat or a gift for a whisky lover, you can’t go wrong with this one. It is simply sublime.

The Talisker Port Ruighe is a non-age statement whisky that has been finished in port casks, giving it a reddish hue and a fruity twist. Here are my thoughts on this dram:

Nose: Rich and smoky, with notes of peat, salt, raisins, plums, and chocolate. A hint of spice and vanilla in the background.

Palate: Full-bodied and smooth, with a burst of peat smoke and saltiness, followed by sweet and sour flavours of port, berries, citrus, and dark chocolate. Some oak and pepper add complexity.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering smoke, salt, and fruit.

Overall, I really enjoyed this whisky. It has the classic Talisker character of peat and sea salt, but with an added layer of sweetness and richness from the port casks. It’s well balanced and complex, with a lot of flavour and depth. If you like smoky and fruity whiskies, you should give this one a try.

If you’re looking for a whisky that will blast your taste buds into orbit, look no further than Smokehead Sherry Cask Blast.

This is a peaty, smoky, sherry-finished whisky that is not for the faint of heart. It’s like drinking a bonfire with a splash of fruit juice. But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself and see if you can handle the explosion of flavors. Just be warned, this whisky is not for everyone. It’s for the smokeheads who love a challenge and a thrill. If you’re one of them, you’ll love this whisky. If not, well, you might want to stick to something more tame and boring.

If you’re a fan of Scotch whisky, you might have heard of Johnny Walker Island Green, a blended malt that showcases the flavors of four iconic Scottish islands. I had the chance to try this whisky recently and I was blown away by its complexity and richness. Here’s my review of this amazing dram.

The nose is fresh and fruity, with hints of apple, pear, lemon and honey. There’s also a subtle smokiness that comes from the peated malts of Caol Ila and Talisker. The aroma is inviting and enticing, making you want to take a sip right away.

The palate is smooth and creamy, with a burst of sweetness from the vanilla and caramel notes of Clynelish and Glenkinchie. The whisky is well-balanced, with a nice contrast between the sweet and the smoky elements. The peat is more pronounced on the palate than on the nose, but it’s not overpowering. It adds a layer of depth and character to the whisky, along with some spice and saltiness.

The finish is long and satisfying, with a lingering warmth and a touch of oak. The whisky leaves you with a pleasant aftertaste of smoke, fruit and honey. It’s a whisky that you can enjoy on its own or with some ice or water to open up the flavors.

Johnny Walker Island Green is a whisky that deserves to be savored and appreciated. It’s a whisky that showcases the diversity and quality of Scotch whisky, especially from the island regions. It’s a whisky that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves Scotch or wants to explore new expressions. Cheers!

May has had a little bit of everything in the weather department here: Rain, Sun, Hot, Cold – all the good things we expect here in Southern Ontario. I reminisce to those May 24 camping weekends which inspired this month’s Whisky selection.

I know what you’re thinking, Chad has gone and put a full-on smoldering campfire in my jar. Not so.
Just imagine My Name Is by Eminem or Genie in a Bottle or even Every Morning from Sugar Ray blasting out of your Sanyo ghetto blaster that has just chewed through 74 C batteries from a weekend of camping… that year was 1999.

So while you were sitting around the campsite trying to fight off hypothermia with a case of Molson Canadian a few packs of Players cigarettes; this spectacular dram was about to be laid to rest for the next 22 years.

Longmorn 1999 – 22 year old
Speyside Region
Bottled by Gleann Mor from their Rare find collection
Coming in at 54.3% ABV
Refill Bourbon Barrels

Longmorn distillery has been around since 1893 and mainly produces 15 and 16 year old single malts for sale in the UK among some other special edition releases. There are virtually no reviews and very limited information on this whisky. All I can tell you it’s smells delicious.

So, remember while you are sitting back relaxing in your camping chair or backyard listening to Vertical Horizon on your Bluetooth speaker this Friday, who would have thought we would all be where we are today in 2023 and how awesome it is that we get to enjoy a few sips of nostalgia with our closest friends.

Cheers!