Archie Rose is an Australian distillery that produces fantastic whisky and is very transparent about their process, which is a feature I really appreciate.

Back in 2020, I tasted Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky for the first time, and what a delightful experience it was, but that’s not the one we’re discussing today.

It’s one of the experiments they did, released in 2019: an Ironbark Smoked Rye Malt Whisky.

The interesting thing about how this Rye whisky acquired its smoky flavor is that it wasn’t through malt smoking, but by adding smoke to the water used to dilute the finished matured rye whisky.

So, they made a regular Rye New Make, which was then aged in Virgin American Oak with a char #4. They let it rest for 2½-3 years. Large pieces of ice were melted in an oven over an Ironbark fire. Ironbark is the bark from eucalyptus trees, and its smoke was infused into the water in this process. This water was then used to dilute the whisky from cask strength to 40% ABV.

There aren’t many instances where whisky gets its smoke notes this way, and it’s quite different from the more traditional method. One might debate whether flavor is added in this process or if it would be the same as using water that has passed through peat, imparting a smoky flavor to the whisky.

I would say it has given a delightful smoky flavor and a different smoke taste. It’s gentler and rounder, and the flavor is, of course, different because the smoke from eucalyptus bark brings different smoke notes than, say, peat smoke.

It’s wonderful when experimentation leads to discoveries, either by accident or out of curiosity.

🆅🅴🆁 🅻🅻

It’s an interesting rye whisky and a great experience. I hope I get the chance to taste it again someday, though unfortunately, there’s probably not much likelihood of that happening. I don’t think they’ve produced it more than once.

Is there room for a new player on the field?
In my opinion – always, and if they start out playing the good taste game they might just stay in the game for a long time.
This is how I feel about The new kid on Isle of Skye – Torabhaig.

Isle of Skye now have two distilleries operating and sending whisky on the marked. Talisker which has a special place in my heart and now Torabhaig which has made a pretty good impression with this first release.

Torabhaig 2017 The Inaugural Release is an NAS whisky, but if the distillery started distilling in 2017 and bottled late 2020 or start 2021 it will be just 3 years old. Some times peated whisky at the age of 3 can give you at hard kick in the nose and mouth but you don’t feel that with this one. It is pleasant and easy to drink and I think many would guess it to be older. You are not flipped over by complexity but you get at tasty well balanced whisky that is easy to fall in love with.

The peat level, the PPM is measured two time in this one and it is pretty cool that Torabhaig has done that. Not many go through the trouble find the actual ppm in the bottle. Usually we only get the ppm measured in the malt after it has been dried and this will show a higher ppm than the finished whisky that you will savour.
The ppm in The Inaugural Release is about 55-60 measured in the grain and ending up at 16 ppm in the bottle.

The transparentsy from Torabhaig distillery about what is used to make the whisky is high, so you are informed on the packaging that the whisky is made with Concerto malted barley and fermented with Pinnacle MG+ yeast. So if you want to be a little geeky you can be that here

For a little conclusion I will say this is a pretty good first release and I am looking forward to see what this will grow to be. I think, in time, some of the more known peated brands will have to step up their game if they don’t want to end up on the replacement bench.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (4/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a barrel Proof Straight Bourbon meaning you get all the flavours of Wild Turkey and there is no water added.

Even at a abv of 58.4% this is a really smooth bourbon in my taste. It has a quick burn on the nose but the it turns into toffee sweetness with the lovely vanillas of the wood. The casks are charred pretty heavily and this makes all the sweetness and smoothness come out.

Wild Turkey has the same mash bill for all their bourbons, being: 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% barley and they use almost the same yeast strain as used in the start of their bourbon production era. The yeast is one of the secrets Wild Turkey have and the water used comes from the Kentucky River. The water is naturally filtered though Limestone. This removes the iron from the water. To much iron in the water gives the whiskey a bad and bitter taste.
So with the same mash bill for all the different bourbons from Wild Turkey you get the different taste flavours from the length of storage and where in the barrel houses they have been stored.

I have not found anything about where in the barrel house the Rare Breed has been stored, neither have I found very much on the age, but one of Wild Turkey’s keystones of maturation is that they age more than the minimum and usually also more than five years. It is said that Rare Breed is a mix of barrels that have aged for 6-12 years.

The distillation is continuos and also distilled twice. This is to give more smoothness as well. When they fill the new barrels with the new make it enters at 114 proof which is 57% abv. but hey it is bottled at 58.4% ?
Something does not match…. The short story could be one of two: 1) It actually was filled at a higher abv or 2) When storing in high temperature, water tend to evaporate quicker than alcohol which raises the abv.

A quick conclusion for this Rare Breed is that you get a very good bourbon at a good price. A fantastic taste and it is lovely to nose. I would sip this one neat any time.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (5/6)
In my opinion this is good value for the money

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

Something happens over time from the first batches to the PX Cask we taste today.

Mosgaard has experimented with the different casks and are doing a great job with small 50 liter casks and it is interesting to follow.
This Pedro Ximenez Cask is first matured in new french oak casks and finished in PX casks. Being matured in the small 50 liter casks things happen faster and new wood give power to the tannins in the french oak and colour.

I have tasted Mosgaard whisky from some of the french oak matured that has only matured in these and some of them are absolutly fantastic, one has been released, but only in a very limited numbers. But my point is that the combination of the spices from the french oak combined with the sweetness from the PX cask is a brilliant combination.
In my opinion this PX Cask batch is much more balanced than earlier batches – they were also good but this is beautiful.

It is understandable it won Berlin International Spirits Competition (BISC) Gold medal 2020 and World Spirits awards Gold 2020

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (5/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish is a whisky I feel a little double with. On the one hand I really like it and on the other hand there are things that repel me.
It’s different, which I like. It is easily drinkable and gives some flavor nuances that are not in other port wine cask-aged whiskies, I also like that.
One of the points where it has some turn off for me, is a perfumed scent which has tones of universal glue. The taste is a bit the same, but to a somewhat more subdued extent.

Port Cask Finish is the first release in the Concertmaster Series.

The name Concertmaster comes from the founder of Kavalan Mr. Tien-Tsai Lee’s passion for Classical Music and he has used other music termes to name Kavalan’s whiskies, like Solist and Conducter.
The concertmaster leads the entire string group, mediates the contact between conductor and orchestra and performs solo violin passages in an orchestral work. This is the finish of the whisky taking the lead in taste.

It has no age statement and you will see that in many of Kavalan’s whiskies. The warmer weather means that evaporation is somewhat greater in Taiwan than e.g. Denmark and Scotland. This contributes to a faster maturation of the whisky.
In Scotland, the angels share is approx. 2% per year and in Thailand it is between 10-12% and can reach as high as 15%, so a lot disappears in a few years, which also means that they can not store for many years.
With the faster maturation, it is said that the maturation in Taiwan will be equivalent to multiplying the years on the barrels by 2.5. So in this case where the whisky is approx. 4 years old, with the increased maturation rate, it would be comparable to a Scotch whisky of about 10 years.

With the maturation in both ex-bourbon and port wine casks you get at whisky with the vanilla notes and the notes from sweet ruby and the more dry tawny port. It says that also Vintage port casks have been used, but I don’t know which influence this will give other than it looks good on the lable – but I am also just a happy whisky drinker, so what do I know about Vintage Port

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (3/6)
_{Maybe I have been a little hard in my judgement, but at some point I wanted to give it only 2 two but then again there is something about it I like. I will definitely drink it again.}

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

This is a fun whisky, because just like I bought it, took pictures and tasted it, there was released new rules for Japanese whisky on February 16, 2021.
So is this a Japanese whisky or not…

The Kaikyo distillery is relatively new. They have been producing alcohol since 2016, but have apparently only been licensed in 2017. hmmm although the Yonezawa family how has the distillery have been brewing Sake since 1856 and began distilling Spirits in 1917.
The location of the Kaikyo distillery is in the town of Akashi, at the historic Akashi Sake Brewery. Okay why is it not named “Akashi Distillery”? Well a good reason for this is that there already is a distillery by that make whisky and sake that is called Akashi. It is produced at the Eigashima Shuzo – White Oak Whisky Distillery only about 10 km from Kaikyo Distillery.
So Kaikyo calls their whisky Hatozaki so no one will get confused. I have read that this will change when they release the first Single Malt whisky – Then it will be called Kaikyo Whisky.

Kaikyo Distillery has it’s name from The Akashi-Kaikyo bridge which is not far from the distillery.
With a free span of 1,991 meters, the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge in Japan is the world’s longest suspension bridge and thus 367 meters longer than the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark, which is the world’s third longest with a 1,624 meters free span. The bridge was opened on April 5, 1998 (The Danish bridge opened June 14, 1998)

The name on the whisky – Hatozaki is from a nearby Lighthouse – well not just any Lighthouse, but Japans oldest stone lighthouse that was taken in service back in 1620.

So far so good.

In 2016 by Mossburn Distillers & Blenders, a Scotch Whisky company buys Kaikyo Distillery installed two new pot stills stills made by Scottish Forsythes. Now Kaikyo was ready for future distilling.

There is also a Hatozaki Blended whisky. Maybe I will tell about that in the future, but now it is time to focus on this Hatozaki Pure Malt.

Hatozaki Pure Malt what is this? This is where Mossburn comes into the picture. Hatozaki Pure Malt is a 100% malt whisky sourced from Japanese whiskies, Scottish and from North America – So according to the new Japanese laws on Japanese whisky, this is not a Japanese whisky.

Kaikyo has barrels of whisky from other countrys maturing at the distillery and blend these to get the Pure Malt and the blended of course.
The taste in Hatozaki Pure Malt is young. We don’t get an age statement, and that is fine with me, but we don’t get to know what actually is in the bottle either.
Mossburn is an Independent bottler and distiller that own Torabhaig Distillery on the Isle of Skye. They started distilling in 2017 as well, maybe there is young Torabhaig in this blend? It can be many other sourced whiskies and I don’t think there is very much original Japanese whisky in the blend as there is shortage of Japanese whisky in general.

It is said that all whiskies in this blend is between 5-6 years old and the casks used are Ex-Bourbon casks, Ex-Sherry casks and Mizunara barrels.

Anyway Hatozaki Pure Malt has been vatted in small batches of 20 caskes. This can be 200 – 500 Liter casks and is vatted i a special two stage proces.
First the master blender hand picks all the casks he want to use. Then he makes two Foundation blends and fill this each foundation into one cask to rest. After a periode of time he then marry the two foundations into one and let it rest for a periode of time.
Voila and you have Hatozaki Blended whisky.

In my opinion you need to give this whisky some air before sipping. This will take some of the alcohol burn when you nose. Then it becomes more fruity. It is grassy, malty, light smoked, some vanilla and pear.
The taste is reminding me of something Scotch I have tasted but in a younger version. Maybe that is just an illusion I have knowing that Mossburn is involved in some way.

Well, my conclusion is that is a okay whisky that in some ways get me thinking of a mix of Chivas Regal 12 year old and Label 5 but with more power and more maltyness. Not bad at all, I think I had expected a more round and smooth whisky. I think this one just have to grow with me. Now that I have the bottle it might change me with time – let’s see

Hatozaki Blended Whisky is the same whisky as USA Hatozaki Finest whisky.
Hatozaki Pure malt whisky is the same as USA Hatozaki small batch.

Maybe in 2022 or 2023 Kaikyo Distillery will release a single Malt from the distillery. Some from the first runs in 2017. I think that can be exiting.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (3/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

It is a beast of a fabulous Whisky in the Laphroaig core range. Lore has released the 18 years old. I really enjoyed the 18 years old but this one is a fine replacement when it comes to that.

Knowledge passed down from generation to generation has given Lore the name and the richness.

With whisky matured between 7 to 21 years in a combination of first fill sherry butts and quarter casks you get a spicy peated whisky with a salty mineral taste.

I know there are many opinions on the non age statement Lore vs. price and that it has released the 18 year old, but let it go, just enjoy Lore it is a very enjoyable whisky with a good Traditional Laphroaig taste, a nice deepth of taste.
Maybe not the richest of the rich Laphroaig’s I have tasted but it is nice and I favour it and will recommend it.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (5/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 – 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

If this is what we are met with at all entry level whiskies around the world, it will be difficult to choose which whisky to have in the bar cabinet and there will be fierce competition in the market.

It is interesting to taste all the different whiskies that are on the market such as blended whisky, malt whisky and grain whisky, but it is not all that just call in as Paul John Nirvana, which is a soft and pleasant dram with a good aroma and taste, while at the same time, not having to think long about complexity and so on.

With Nirvarna, you get a wonderful and comfortable dram where you probably have to hold back to make sure the bottom of the bottle is not reached too quickly – It is lemonade for adults.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (4/6)
For an entry level whisky this is in my opinion a good value for money whisky and I will recommend it.

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 – 𝙈𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

A bird taking off from the snow covered landscape leaving a fine blended whisky for us to sip.

The Famous Grouse has been the most favourite blended whisky in Scotland for years and for a good reason. It is a delicate blended whisky.

In 2018 two releases in a new Cask Series of Famous Grouse hit the marked. First intended for the Marked in the UK but has grown to larger markets.

The Cask Series is the regular blend finished in different cask. The first was a Bourbon Cask finish and the Second release is this Ruby Cask.

When I opened the bottle for the first time and sipped, my thoughts was that the finish had not helped the “Original” and I set the bottle a side.

One day my wife served a whisky to me and it was pleasant with just a little of this characteristic sent of a blended whisky, the grains, but it was also mild, round, with notes of raisins a little hint of heather peated smoke.

It had been a longe time since I last have had a Highland Park 10 year old single malt and something reminded me of this. I knew I didn’t have the Highland Park 10 on my shelf so it couldn’t be this and the grain sent tricked me.
I took a sip and had a mild raisin tasting whisky in my mouth a very pleasant taste. Normally I would take a guess on what was in the glass, but this time I simply asked my wife and she answered; Famous Grouse.

This could not be true and I said she was joking. She just gave the bottle.

I was surprised, I admit. It tasted totally different from what I had tasted the first time. Of course it hadn’t changed but it had gotten a little air and my taste buds were in a different mood.

The port finish have made an impact on the whisky and I think the Ruby port suits it very well. More sweetness with dried fruits and vanilla than the original and lets hope Edrington keeps this one in the range.

A surpriser in the blended range.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (4/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 – 𝙈𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩

Mosgaard makes excellent whisky and they dare to experiment with different types of cask, which I like.
Another thing that is interesting is that they go a step further than many in making special casks like this cask which is composed of staves from old Ruby and Tawny Port wine casks. The casks are made from the large casks cut down to 50 liter casks and the staves are mixed between the Ruby and Tawny casks.

Firstly this gives a rather distinct taste when the whisky has as this much contact with the wood as it does in these smaller casks.

The combination of the two types of port gives a good mix of the drier and the sweeter port.

I’m not sure how old it is, but I think it’s just a little over 3 years old. The nice thing about it is that it tastes a lot older.

The maturation in 50 liter casks is faster, and in round figures, a storage for 3 years in a 50 liter cask will correspond to the whisky having been approx. 12 years in a 225 liter barrel.

You get a really delicious desert whisky with this Port Wine Cask. A treat for the palate and there is a nice aftertaste that lingers for a long time.

𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮: (5/6)

🅼🆈 🆁🆃🅸🅽🅶 🆂🆈🆂🆃🅴🅼

– 𝙀𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧
– 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙮 – 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛
– 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 – 𝙈𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚
– 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙙 – 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮
– 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣
– 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩