Batch 10: Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter 1
Five new Balvenie whiskies pay tribute to malt master David Stewart. But are they any good?
Five new Balvenie whiskies pay tribute to malt master David Stewart. But are they any good?
A trip through Islay with Ardbeg's new 19-year-old, a wine-cask Kilchoman and Lagavulin 10.
It’s a feast this week with Octomore 10, Rosebank Jealousy and a Sherried single grain.
A 2002 anCnoc, four James Eadie bottlings – all under 10 years old – and a 20-year-old Longmorn.
Jameson Triple Triple, GlenAllachie’s Wood Finish range plus Loch Lomond’s latest releases.
The Islay Fest continues with Scarabus, Aerolite Lyndsay and a smattering of Fèis Ìle drams.
Compass Box’s No Name No. 2 and Whyte & Mackay’s Light join four indie bottlings.
High scores and diverse styles are the highlights of this week’s six-strong single malt offering.
Festival part two, including Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Jura, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.
Bowmore, Glenmorangie, Hazelburn and a ‘troika’ of Bruichladdich conclude 2016’s new whisky notes.
A Tamdhu trio vie with Glenlivet’s Winchester malt and Whisky Works’ newest releases.
Four Islay whiskies, including Ardbeg and Bunnahabhain, plus Glenlivet and Aultmore from the SMWS.
A double dose of Scotch whiskies each from Bowmore, Islay Mist and Laphroaig.
Method and Madness’ acacia and cherry wood-matured whiskeys meet four Adelphis.
It’s all about BenRiach this week, with Temporis 21-year-old, plus five single cask bottlings.
Dave Broom revisits some of the whiskies he found most intriguing from the first 99 batches.
New whiskies including Highland Park Valkyrie and a trio of bargain-priced Lidl single malts.
A rich and sweet theme including three Dalmores, Highland Park, Glenrothes and Auchentoshan.
Dave Broom returns from his hols with new Inchmoans, an old Invergordon and a sessionable Aultmore.
A collection of young Caol Ila bottlings meets Peat Chimney blended malt from Wemyss.
New whiskies include Douglas Laing’s Big Peat 2017 Fèis Ìle bottling and a trio of Strathmill malts.
Glen Moray, Glen Scotia, Auchroisk, Longrow and Springbank, with some fascinating finishes.
Dave Broom on Consortium of Cards II, indie Glentauchers and new bottler North Star Spirits.
Four younger malts compete for Dave Broom’s affections, while he is seduced by a 1972 Tomatin.
Port Askaig’s 10th anniversary malt, plus Benrinnes, Caol Ila and Linkwood from the indies.
A 30-year-old Glen Grant and a trio of Longmorns are the film stars of Dave Broom’s tasting notes.
A quartet of Milroy’s of Soho whiskies plus recent releases from Arran and Wemyss Malts.
This week’s tasting notes start with Benromach 1973 and end with a Sherried Tullibardine.
If you like honey, you’ll love these whiskies from Coinnich, Laphroaig and Rìgh Seumas.
Dave Broom shares a taste of Islay this week, as the 2017 Fèis Ìle gets under way.
A dark and richly flavoured theme, with Benrinnes, Mortlach, Dailuaine, Highland Park and The E&K.
A release of six single cask single malts from the Speyside distillery, from 1978 to 1991.
Two Balblair vintages, Dalmore 45, Cadenhead Creations plus two Mossburn blended malts.
Blends, malts, and blended malts, including Clynelish, Glengoyne and Compass Box Delilah’s.
A concatenation of Caol Ilas with a couple of neighbours thrown in for good measure.
Getting to grips with GlenAllachie’s new core range, as well as two stunners from Asta Morris.
Ardgowan’s Expedition, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage and four indie Macduffs and Miltonduffs.
A Black Friday special, with malts from Orkney, Campbeltown, Glen Moray and Glentauchers.
A gaggle of Glenrothes vie for attention this week, plus Johnnie Walker’s Midnight Blend.
Dave Broom samples six truly venerable whiskies totalling an impressive 316 years old.
Glenmorangie Allta, Arbikie rye, Kingsbarns’ first release plus two Cardrona hatchlings.
Two blended malts – Compass Box Juveniles and a 43-year-old Speyside – bookend four indie bottlings.
An old Benromach, a blended malt and Daftmill’s Winter Release surround a trio of Tomatins.
Indie bottlers Cadenhead and Asta Morris duke it out with Tomatin and Writers’ Tears.
Compass Box’s Calvados-Scotch blend, plus the first releases from the Whisky Sponge.
Three fruity, mature old grains, a 1980s Coleburn plus a bold new Benromach.
BrewDog’s Boilermaker Series joins bottlings from Thompson Brothers and The Whisky Agency.
Jura’s Time and Tide meet bottlings from Ardmore, Auchroisk, Imperial and Miltonduff.
A chocolatey Springbank, meaty Ledaig, plus Rock Island’s new maritime blended malts.
It’s Speyside vs Edinburgh this week as Glenallachie and Glendullan stand up against North British.
Scallywag and Timorous Beastie’s big brothers get a grilling, alongside a host of indie bottlings.
A bevy of Bunnahabhains comes under scrutiny, along with Clynelish and Glenrothes.
The annual line-up, featuring a handful of rarities alongside a number of old favourites.
Delayed, but worth the wait, as Becky Paskin reviews Campbeltown’s festival editions.
Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, Macallan Edition No 4, Talisker 40 and Mortlach’s new core range.
Smoky, floral and fruity – we’d expect nothing but an eclectic mix of drams from our chief engineer.
Our magazine editor chooses his whisky highlights from 2015, including two bargain Speyside malts.
Our editor’s top whiskies include an Irish revival, an ageing Ardbeg and dram with no name.
A Balvenie tribute, an elderly Talisker and a chewy GlenDronach caught Becky Paskin’s eye.
Two peated treats from Port Ellen and Talisker, plus a ‘funky’ but fine Glen Grant.
From the vaults Dave Broom has chosen a 16-year-old Convalmore, plus 10- and 30-year-old Laphroaigs.
A delve into the Islay vaults nets a 1980s Bruichladdich, a recent Bowmore and a quirky Port Ellen.
Head back in time with a 1960s Glenugie, 1950s Balblair and a rare 1930s Glamis single malt.
An impressive, well-matured 1960s trio of single malts from Jura, Springbank and Tamdhu.
Angus MacRaild argues in favour of Port Ellen’s allure with three extremely rare bottlings.
Three legendary (and rightly so) SMWS bottlings, including the very first from the society.
A high-octane tasting of Auld Niblick, Macallan ‘As We Get It’ and MacPhail’s Pure Malt.
Three spirit-driven 1970s single malts from Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Glenlivet.
Three old Glens demonstrate the breadth of styles being made in Speyside in the 1970s.
A rare Karuizawa and cult whiskies from Laphroaig and Royal Brackla astonish MacRaild.
Exploring more affordable rare whiskies with 1980s Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie and Longmorn.
An ‘80s Ballantine’s, ‘60s Glen Albyn and ‘70s Glenlivet deliver impressively high scores.
Moon Import’s revered Costume Series gets an airing in this week’s rare whisky reviews.
A 1940s White Horse bottled for the US joins a rare Aultmore and an ‘austere’ Clynelish.
Three 1960s blends take Angus MacRaild from a soapy stupor to waxy, peated pleasure.
A Karuizawa triptych illustrates the enduring excellence of this cult Japanese single malt.
A 10-year-old Laphroaig, 12-year-old Springbank and a 1930s Whyte & Mackay 10-year-old blend.
A 10-year-old Army & Navy Glen Grant, 27-year-old Glen Grant and 1969 Longmorn.
A rollercoaster ride with a duty free Aberlour, a beautiful Brora and a disappointing Talisker.
A 17-year-old Cragganmore, 34-year-old Glenturret from Berry Bros and 25-year-old Rosebank.
The first SMWS bottling of Longrow, plus a lesser-spotted Inchgower and a Tomatin from the 1970s.
Verdicts on a release from mothballed Convalmore, a cult Bowmore – and a Talisker Oddbins special.
Macallan, Springbank and Port Ellen all feature in our latest selection from the whisky vaults.