Whisky Reviews

Old & Rare

  • Rare Batch 76 Rare Batch 76 Rare Batch 76 Old & Rare 09 October 2019

    Rare Batch 76

    A mixed bag of single malts, regions and styles, including Glenlossie, Jura and Laphroaig.

  • Rare Batch 75 Rare Batch 75 Rare Batch 75 Old & Rare 09 October 2019

    Rare Batch 75

    A Karuizawa triptych illustrates the enduring excellence of this cult Japanese single malt.

  • Rare Batch 74 Rare Batch 74 Rare Batch 74 Old & Rare 25 September 2019

    Rare Batch 74

    Three 1960s blends take Angus MacRaild from a soapy stupor to waxy, peated pleasure.

  • Rare Batch 73 Rare Batch 73 Rare Batch 73 Old & Rare 11 September 2019

    Rare Batch 73

    A royal pair – Highland Queen and King's Ransom – are attended by a millennium blended malt.

  • Rare Batch 72 Rare Batch 72 Rare Batch 72 Old & Rare 28 August 2019

    Rare Batch 72

    A 1940s White Horse bottled for the US joins a rare Aultmore and an ‘austere’ Clynelish.

  • Rare Batch 71 Rare Batch 71 Rare Batch 71 Old & Rare 14 August 2019

    Rare Batch 71

    Dusting off three rare Signatory bottlings of Craigduff, Kinclaith and Rare Ayrshire/Ladyburn.

  • Rare Batch 70 Rare Batch 70 Rare Batch 70 Old & Rare 31 July 2019

    Rare Batch 70

    A trio of Islay whiskies from Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Port Ellen impress Angus MacRaild.

  • Rare Batch 69 Rare Batch 69 Rare Batch 69 Old & Rare 17 July 2019

    Rare Batch 69

    Three less heralded whiskies, including single malts from Ardmore, Glendullan and Millburn.

  • Rare Batch 68 Rare Batch 68 Rare Batch 68 Old & Rare 03 July 2019

    Rare Batch 68

    Angus MacRaild samples a trio of 1970s whiskies from Dallas Dhu, Macallan and Scapa.

  • Rare Batch 67 Rare Batch 67 Rare Batch 67 Old & Rare 19 June 2019

    Rare Batch 67

    A ‘thrilling’ 1980s Dailuaine joins a ‘60s Bruichladdich and an unusual Caperdonich.

  • Rare Batch 66 Rare Batch 66 Rare Batch 66 Old & Rare 05 June 2019

    Rare Batch 66

    A trio of Islay whiskies, including the oldest Caol Ila ever bottled, deliver high scores.

  • Rare Batch 65 Rare Batch 65 Rare Batch 65 Old & Rare 22 May 2019

    Rare Batch 65

    Angus MacRaild visits Balblair, Pulteney and Tomatin with three drams distilled in the 1960s.

  • Rare Batch 64 Rare Batch 64 Rare Batch 64 Old & Rare 08 May 2019

    Rare Batch 64

    An elegant post-war Glen Grant, an opinion-dividing ’70s Ledaig and waxy ’60s Tullibardine.

  • Rare Batch 63 Rare Batch 63 Rare Batch 63 Old & Rare 24 April 2019

    Rare Batch 63

    Exploring a Gordon & MacPhail trio of 40% abv whiskies, including two Glens and an Ardbeg.

  • Rare Batch 62 Rare Batch 62 Rare Batch 62 Old & Rare 10 April 2019

    Rare Batch 62

    Three more rare Moon Import whiskies from Dalmore, Glen Garioch and North British.

  • Rare Batch 61 Rare Batch 61 Rare Batch 61 Old & Rare 27 March 2019

    Rare Batch 61

    Moon Import’s revered Costume Series gets an airing in this week’s rare whisky reviews.

  • Rare Batch 60 Rare Batch 60 Rare Batch 60 Old & Rare 13 March 2019

    Rare Batch 60

    An ‘80s Ballantine’s, ‘60s Glen Albyn and ‘70s Glenlivet deliver impressively high scores.

  • Rare Batch 59 Rare Batch 59 Rare Batch 59 Old & Rare 27 February 2019

    Rare Batch 59

    Exploring more affordable rare whiskies with 1980s Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie and Longmorn.

  • Rare Batch 58 Rare Batch 58 Rare Batch 58 Old & Rare 13 February 2019

    Rare Batch 58

    A ‘gutsy’ ‘90s Sherried Bowmore, alongside textbook examples of ‘70s Bruichladdich and Caol Ila.

  • Rare Batch 57 Rare Batch 57 Rare Batch 57 Old & Rare 30 January 2019

    Rare Batch 57

    Three ‘70s and ‘80s bottlings from cult distilleries Brora, Glenlochy and Glenugie.

  • Rare Batch 56 Rare Batch 56 Rare Batch 56 Old & Rare 16 January 2019

    Rare Batch 56

    A trio of 1960s and ‘70s Signatory malts from Campeltown, Islay and the Highlands.

  • Rare Batch 55 Rare Batch 55 Rare Batch 55 Old & Rare 02 January 2019

    Rare Batch 55

    Kicking off the New Year with a diverse trio of illustrious Cadenhead Dumpies.

  • Rare Batch 54 Rare Batch 54 Rare Batch 54 Old & Rare 19 December 2018

    Rare Batch 54

    A rare Karuizawa and cult whiskies from Laphroaig and Royal Brackla astonish MacRaild.

  • Rare Batch 53 Rare Batch 53 Rare Batch 53 Old & Rare 05 December 2018

    Rare Batch 53

    Three full-bodied 1940s and ‘50s whiskies bottled for the US take Angus MacRaild’s fancy.

  • Rare Batch 52 Rare Batch 52 Rare Batch 52 Old & Rare 21 November 2018

    Rare Batch 52

    A trio of early releases from the SMWS, including Glendullan, Glen Esk and Inchmurrin.

  • Rare Batch 51 Rare Batch 51 Rare Batch 51 Old & Rare 07 November 2018

    Rare Batch 51

    Three ‘70s whiskies from Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection: Allt-a-Bhainne, Auchroisk and Imperial

  • Rare Batch 50 Rare Batch 50 Rare Batch 50 Old & Rare 24 October 2018

    Rare Batch 50

    A ‘totally stunning’ 1974 Caol Ila sizes up to a magnificent Mortlach and 1930s blend.

  • Rare Batch 49 Rare Batch 49 Rare Batch 49 Old & Rare 10 October 2018

    Rare Batch 49

    Three old Glens demonstrate the breadth of styles being made in Speyside in the 1970s.

  • Rare Batch 48 Rare Batch 48 Rare Batch 48 Old & Rare 26 September 2018

    Rare Batch 48

    Three spirit-driven 1970s single malts from Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Glenlivet.

  • Rare Batch 47 Rare Batch 47 Rare Batch 47 Old & Rare 12 September 2018

    Rare Batch 47

    Angus MacRaild finds solace in three affordable vatted malts from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

  • Rare Batch 46 Rare Batch 46 Rare Batch 46 Old & Rare 29 August 2018

    Rare Batch 46

    Tasting three 1970s and 1980s Sherried beauties from Aberlour, Bowmore and Bruichladdich.

  • Rare Batch 45 Rare Batch 45 Rare Batch 45 Old & Rare 15 August 2018

    Rare Batch 45

    Three blends from the 1920s-50s have Angus MacRaild dreaming of a bygone era.

  • Rare Batch 44 Rare Batch 44 Rare Batch 44 Old & Rare 01 August 2018

    Rare Batch 44

    From the sublime to the downright disgusting, three rare whiskies from the ’60s and ’70s.

  • Rare Batch 43 Rare Batch 43 Rare Batch 43 Old & Rare 18 July 2018

    Rare Batch 43

    A trio of Gordon & MacPhail gems distilled around the time of the Second World War.

  • Rare Batch 42 Rare Batch 42 Rare Batch 42 Old & Rare 03 July 2018

    Rare Batch 42

    A high-octane tasting of Auld Niblick, Macallan ‘As We Get It’ and MacPhail’s Pure Malt.

  • Rare Batch 41 Rare Batch 41 Rare Batch 41 Old & Rare 20 June 2018

    Rare Batch 41

    Three rare Japanese morsels are examined, but not all of these Eastern drams show promise.

  • Rare Batch 40 Rare Batch 40 Rare Batch 40 Old & Rare 06 June 2018

    Rare Batch 40

    Three more affordable old bottlings: a mysterious malt, a rare Inverleven and a thumping Lagavulin.

  • Rare Batch 39 Rare Batch 39 Rare Batch 39 Old & Rare 23 May 2018

    Rare Batch 39

    Three accessible old whiskies, including Bruichladdich, Pride of Strathspey and a Reliance blend.

  • Rare Batch 38 Rare Batch 38 Rare Batch 38 Old & Rare 09 May 2018

    Rare Batch 38

    Three modern-era ‘legends’ are reviewed, from Balblair, Bunnahabhain and Springbank.

  • Rare Batch 37 Rare Batch 37 Rare Batch 37 Old & Rare 25 April 2018

    Rare Batch 37

    Three legendary (and rightly so) SMWS bottlings, including the very first from the society.

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