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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

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Stories from November, 2012

Gin-tastic tasting! Bathtub Gin and the others

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Master of Malt , Gordon , Plymouth , Broker's , Williams Chase , Bombay

There are moments in the life of a man where he clearly needs a Gin. Just kidding! If eventually that moment arrives your can be sure that your mind is already beyond hope… but nevermind… I decided to taste a few Gins for Science’s sake.

The chaps at Master of Malt sent a sample of their new Bathtub Gin at Navy Strength ( Myth Busters like video included at the end of the article by the way! ) so I introduced my hand on the “other drinks” box and grabbed five more gins… there is no worse thing in this world that just having a only a single dram.

I have had these miniatures around for months and never find time to properly taste ( or dispose! ) them so this is a great time to measure what this crazy Professor Ampleforth has achieved with this Gin.

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Ageing with style: Master of Malt 30 years old 5th release

By Miguel in Tasting , Master of Malt

Just a few days ago I got a parcel with a small delightful surprise! As every year, and just in time for Christmas, Master of Malt has released their new 30 years old Speyside Secret Bottling.

If you know about previous releases ( 4th, 3rd ) the level was already quite high, and after tasting their delicious That Boutique-y Whiskies one can wonder if there is room for improvement.

Well, yes, there is!

“Absolutely delightful dram! Maybe a Glenfarclas? A bargain for its price whatever distillery it is source from. Highly recommended”

92
Master of Malt 30 Year Old Speyside (5th Edition)
This is the fifth edition of Master of Malt thirty year old Speyside Scotch Single Malt Whisky.

This edition is completed with a new bottle and label design whilst the distillery remains secret, as previous ones, and the whisky sherried. A truly amazing aged Speyside.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (92): more than average. honey, wood, spices, dates, citrus. Super stuff! Maybe Glenfarclas? Delicious nose in any case.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. honey, nuts, wood, cocoa, spices, cinnamon, citrus. Absolutely delightful.

Finish (91): longer than average. honey, wood, spices, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Master of Malt 30 Year Old Speyside (5th Edition) with 92 points over 100.

That Boutique-y Whiskies: Not only the labels are great

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Ardbeg , The Macallan , Aberlour , Master of Malt , Benriach , Caperdonich , Aultmore , Benrinnes

Master of Malt sent me some samples of their new range That Boutique-y and as I happen to have some samples too myself I decided to do a super tasting of this new ramge of whiskies!.
that-boutique-y-batch-1-whiskies

First thing that grab your eye on these whiskies is the precious labels they have created for each of them. And also the fact that the whiskies are bottled at cask strength. Looks like most of them are a vatting of several casks and there is no age statement in any of them but if they are as good as this first batch… :)

That Boutique-y Whisky Company

That Boutique-y Whisky Company bottles Scotch Single Malt Whiskies from a variety of renowned distilleries like Ardbeg, Macallan or Aberlour in limited batches. These whiskies are adorned with cultish comic-book style labels which feature prominent figures from the whisky industry upon them, as well as other little details for you to find!

The whiskies Batch 1

I have tasted several whiskies from the first batch and most of them are already sold out by the time you read this. On their webpage it is available right now a second batch of whiskies.

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Berry Bros Tweet Tasting: Perhaps best tasting of the year

By Miguel in Featured , Bunnahabhain , Isle of Jura , North of Scotland , Littlemill , Berry Bros

Incredible evening with Berrys Bros & Rudd Whisky, Steve Rush and the rest of the amazing panel of tasters with @OliverKlimet, @cowfish, @BBRrob, @weheartwhisky, @EdinburghWhisky and @themisswhsiky between others under the #BerrysWhisky hashtag. (By the way, follow me @whiskywardrobe if you aren’t already :) )

berrys-bros-rudd-tasting

This tasting has been quite an odyssey for me. The parcel was supposed to arrive home at beginnings of the week and it was Wednesday and it still haven’t arrived yet. I was starting thinking that I may miss the most incredible Tweet Tasting of the year so far.

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Japanese delights: Tasting Suntory Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Nikka Taketsuru

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Nikka , Suntory , Yamazaki , Hakushu , Hibiki

After all the buzz with Whisky Show 2012, I was desperately in need of more good whisky. I have sorted all my samples in a very nice way, which allows me to grab all of them easily for vertical tastings.

Yeah, very nice, but when you just want to have a few drams it doesn’t look such a good decision. I have still to think about how to sort them in a better way. ( Any ideas btw? )

I have take thirteen japanese single malts and blended whiskies to taste. They have been there in a box around three months for me to find a few spare hours to taste them. Well, today is the day!.

suntory-yamazaki-nikka-taketsuru-tasting-whisky

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Whisky Tasting Sessions 2012-07

By Miguel in Featured , Ben Nevis , Glen Garioch , Glen Keith , Bladnoch , Aultmore , Glen Scotia

Almost finishing the year and we are already on the 7th tasting session.

Again six nameless whiskies presented in a stunning box, Jean Marie know how to do the job really.
Pretty bizarre distilleries on this set, but that’s the main reason I joined this tasting sessions; the chance of tasting new different stuff.

The samples

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Ferrari or Maserati? Springbank Cask 129 or Cask 482?

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Springbank

What do you prefer a Ferrari or a Maserati? a BMW or a Mercedes? The lovely Springbank from cask 129 or the one 482?

Master of Malt has a similar problem to choose a cask for Springbank for their Single Casks bottles range. And instead of flipping coin and choosing one they shared with several bloggers the decision.

And I have to say it has been a really hard decision. Both casks are fantastic, one of them is full of raw fruity and vanilla power and the other is a serene subtle well-matured single malt. What to choose?! Oh why?! I prefer the …

Oh! You better read the tasting notes and help me decide.

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Isle of Jura: Tasting five single malts from 10 to 30 years old

By Miguel in Tasting , Isle of Jura

Just a few meters far from Islay, there is an small island with just one hotel, one road and one distillery. It is called Jura.
Being so near Islay one could think that Diurach would embrace a similar style but nothing is most far from truth. With an style on their own Jura whiskies are more citrusy and spicier than Islay single malts although they have also their small measure of peat.

jura-whisky-10-superstition-prophecy-16-30-camas-as-staca

As Jura distillery is going to release really soon a new expresion of their 30 years old whisky: Camas An Staca and they were so nice to send me a sample I decided to retaste the whole range. My previous contact with Jura whiskies was a bit disappointing and after talking with other bloggers about it I came to the conclusion that my miniatures could be corrupted. So I ordered a new set of samples, this time from Master of Malt and proceeded to the tasting as it should be.

So here is the tasting.

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Tasting Compass Box Flaming Heart vs Peat Monster

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Laphroaig , Caol Ila , Compass Box , Tobermory , Ardmore

When visiting London for TWE Whisky Show, I meet Chris Maybin, Comercial director of Compass Box. Chris gave me a sample of the new Compass Box Flaming Heart 4thbatch to taste it at home.

compass-box-chris

Well, finally I arranged a free evening for tasting it when I saw @WhiskyLassie asking how it compared against Compass Box Peat Monster. Also I have a pending task of tasting the old recipe of Peat Monster with Laphroaig and Ardmore against the new recipe using Caol Ila, Ledaig and Ardmore.

A great tasting was starting to appear before me.

compass-box-flaming-heart-peat-monster

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New Johnnie Walker whiskies: Double Black, Gold Reserve and Platinum

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Johnnie Walker

I will tell you a secret, I am not a big fan of Johnnie Walker whiskies.

Being from Spain, I am used to have at hand a wide amount of great deluxe whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red Label, Chivas Regal 12 years old or the epitome whisky! Johnnie Walker Black Label. Grin. Sad grin. I want to cry! Really!.

As you can imagine the first time I tasted a single malt I was hit with all the strength of seven centuries of awesome creations. Now I really understand why the little man in Johnnie Walker’s bottles keep walking…

Anyway, while my visit at The Whisky Show 2012 I had the chance of tasting at Diageo stand the three new Johnnie Walker’s proposals: Double Black, Gold Label Reserve and Platinum Reserve.

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Macallan Gold: How much it changed from old 10 years old Sherry Oak?

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , The Macallan

Macallan has released a new range of non age statements to replace their Sherry and Fine Oaks whisky bottles from 10 years old to 18 years old.

macallan-gold-10-years-old-sherry-oak-cask-strength

A bold move? Looking for the best quality? Running out of stock? Age matters? Who knows…

This new Macallan Gold is the initial entry on the new range of bottles, and it is already about £8 more expensive that the old Macallan 10 years old Sherry Oak. But the question is: Is it better?

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