Whisky Reviews

Old & Rare

  • Rare Batch 36 Rare Batch 36 Rare Batch 36 Old & Rare 11 April 2018

    Rare Batch 36

    Angus MacRaild argues in favour of Port Ellen’s allure with three extremely rare bottlings.

  • Rare Batch 35 Rare Batch 35 Rare Batch 35 Old & Rare 28 March 2018

    Rare Batch 35

    An impressive, well-matured 1960s trio of single malts from Jura, Springbank and Tamdhu.

  • Rare Batch 34 Rare Batch 34 Rare Batch 34 Old & Rare 14 March 2018

    Rare Batch 34

    Some well-aged drams from Bruichladdich, Dalmore and Deanston are plucked from the vaults.

  • Rare Batch 33 Rare Batch 33 Rare Batch 33 Old & Rare 28 February 2018

    Rare Batch 33

    Three old bottlings that demonstrate the variety available in whisky’s back catalogue.

  • Rare Batch 32 Rare Batch 32 Rare Batch 32 Old & Rare 14 February 2018

    Rare Batch 32

    Tasting a fascinating ‘70s Aberlour, a historic ‘40s Kilbeggan and a surprising ‘80s Fettercairn.

  • Rare Batch 31 Rare Batch 31 Rare Batch 31 Old & Rare 30 January 2018

    Rare Batch 31

    Head back in time with a 1960s Glenugie, 1950s Balblair and a rare 1930s Glamis single malt.

  • Rare Batch 30 Rare Batch 30 Rare Batch 30 Old & Rare 02 January 2018

    Rare Batch 30

    Tripping on fruity old Glenugie, fragrant 1960s Glenlochy and a flabby 1940s blend.

  • Rare Batch 29 Rare Batch 29 Rare Batch 29 Old & Rare 05 December 2017

    Rare Batch 29

    An early Aberlour bottled for the Italian market, plus ‘ghost’ malts from Brora and Lochside.

  • Rare Batch 28 Rare Batch 28 Rare Batch 28 Old & Rare 14 November 2017

    Rare Batch 28

    There’s a contemplative air as Dave Broom tastes old Glen Grant, Springbank and Tomatin.

  • Rare Batch 27 Rare Batch 27 Rare Batch 27 Old & Rare 24 October 2017

    Rare Batch 27

    Three more of Port Ellen’s legendary annual releases, all from 1979, come under the spotlight.

  • Rare Batch 26 Rare Batch 26 Rare Batch 26 Old & Rare 25 September 2017

    Rare Batch 26

    Dave Broom revisits three legendary Port Ellens, but wonders if the liquid is worth the hype.

  • Rare Batch 25 Rare Batch 25 Rare Batch 25 Old & Rare 22 August 2017

    Rare Batch 25

    Dave Broom gets to know three rare whiskies: a 1990 Ardbeg, 1977 Brora and 1967 Highland Park.

  • Rare Batch 24 Rare Batch 24 Rare Batch 24 Old & Rare 26 July 2017

    Rare Batch 24

    The first SMWS bottling of Longrow, plus a lesser-spotted Inchgower and a Tomatin from the 1970s.

  • Rare Batch 23 Rare Batch 23 Rare Batch 23 Old & Rare 05 July 2017

    Rare Batch 23

    A 1970s Glen Flagler bottled for Italy, a celebratory Glen Ord and a fresh 1980s Glen Spey.

  • Rare Batch 22 Rare Batch 22 Rare Batch 22 Old & Rare 15 June 2017

    Rare Batch 22

    A 19-year-old Aberfeldy Manager’s Dram, 1930s 12-year-old Longmorn and 25-year-old Talisker.

  • Rare Batch 21 Rare Batch 21 Rare Batch 21 Old & Rare 24 May 2017

    Rare Batch 21

    This batch features a 25-year-old Ardbeg, 38-year-old Bowmore and 21-year-old Port Ellen.

  • Rare Batch 20 Rare Batch 20 Rare Batch 20 Old & Rare 02 May 2017

    Rare Batch 20

    A 10-year-old Army & Navy Glen Grant, 27-year-old Glen Grant and 1969 Longmorn.

  • Rare Batch 19 Rare Batch 19 Rare Batch 19 Old & Rare 05 April 2017

    Rare Batch 19

    Two Scotch and one Japanese, featuring a 1971 North of Scotland, 1949 Strathisla and 1979 Yamazaki.

  • Rare Batch 18 Rare Batch 18 Rare Batch 18 Old & Rare 13 March 2017

    Rare Batch 18

    From the vaults Dave Broom has chosen a 16-year-old Convalmore, plus 10- and 30-year-old Laphroaigs.

  • Rare Batch 17 Rare Batch 17 Rare Batch 17 Old & Rare 22 February 2017

    Rare Batch 17

    A 17-year-old Cragganmore, 34-year-old Glenturret from Berry Bros and 25-year-old Rosebank.

  • Rare Batch 16 Rare Batch 16 Rare Batch 16 Old & Rare 30 January 2017

    Rare Batch 16

    A rollercoaster ride with a duty free Aberlour, a beautiful Brora and a disappointing Talisker.

  • Rare Batch 15 Rare Batch 15 Rare Batch 15 Old & Rare 03 January 2017

    Rare Batch 15

    All Ardbegs, including two 27-year-old Old Malt Cask bottlings, plus a 32-year-old release.

  • Rare Batch 14 Rare Batch 14 Rare Batch 14 Old & Rare 15 November 2016

    Rare Batch 14

    A 16-year-old Glenallachie, Glenmorangie Artisan Cask and Hudson’s Bay 1670 Blended Scotch.

  • Rare Batch 13 Rare Batch 13 Rare Batch 13 Old & Rare 18 October 2016

    Rare Batch 13

    A 10-year-old Laphroaig, 12-year-old Springbank and a 1930s Whyte & Mackay 10-year-old blend.

  • Rare Batch 12 Rare Batch 12 Rare Batch 12 Old & Rare 03 October 2016

    Rare Batch 12

    A 1970s trio featuring a Cardhu 12-year-old, Glen Ila 5-year-old and Strathconon 12-year-old.

  • Rare Batch 11 Rare Batch 11 Rare Batch 11 Old & Rare 06 September 2016

    Rare Batch 11

    A rummage through the vaults has brought Aberlour, John Begg and Ladyburn treasures to light.

  • Rare Batch 10 Rare Batch 10 Rare Batch 10 Old & Rare 18 August 2016

    Rare Batch 10

    Two peated treats from Port Ellen and Talisker, plus a ‘funky’ but fine Glen Grant.

  • Rare Batch 9 Rare Batch 9 Rare Batch 9 Old & Rare 13 July 2016

    Rare Batch 9

    Two cult brand bottlings plus an often overlooked malt have surfaced from the archives for tasting.

  • Rare Batch 8 Rare Batch 8 Rare Batch 8 Old & Rare 09 June 2016

    Rare Batch 8

    Three of the somewhat less heralded ‘Glens’ this time: Glen Garioch, Glen Elgin and Glengoyne.

  • Rare Batch 7 Rare Batch 7 Rare Batch 7 Old & Rare 19 May 2016

    Rare Batch 7

    A delve into the Islay vaults nets a 1980s Bruichladdich, a recent Bowmore and a quirky Port Ellen.

  • Rare Batch 6 Rare Batch 6 Rare Batch 6 Old & Rare 27 April 2016

    Rare Batch 6

    In preparation for the Speyside whisky fest, Dave has chosen three rare Speysiders from the vault.

  • Rare Batch 5 Rare Batch 5 Rare Batch 5 Old & Rare 15 March 2016

    Rare Batch 5

    Dave Broom retastes his first Port Ellen, while two rare Macallans are raised from the archive.

  • Rare Batch 4 Rare Batch 4 Rare Batch 4 Old & Rare 09 February 2016

    Rare Batch 4

    Including an aged double act from Islay’s Kildalton coast, plus a venerable Whyte & Mackay blend.

  • Rare Batch 3 Rare Batch 3 Rare Batch 3 Old & Rare 12 January 2016

    Rare Batch 3

    Macallan, Springbank and Port Ellen all feature in our latest selection from the whisky vaults.

  • Rare Batch 2 Rare Batch 2 Rare Batch 2 Old & Rare 08 December 2015

    Rare Batch 2

    Three cracking whiskies here – if you can find them – from Glenury Royal, Caol Ila and Glen Grant.

  • Rare Batch 1 Rare Batch 1 Rare Batch 1 Old & Rare 18 November 2015

    Rare Batch 1

    Verdicts on a release from mothballed Convalmore, a cult Bowmore – and a Talisker Oddbins special.

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