Batch 87: Irish whiskey
The first non-Scotch set of whiskies features five new Irish releases in time for St Patrick’s Day.
The first non-Scotch set of whiskies features five new Irish releases in time for St Patrick’s Day.
Blends, grains and malts: Cadenhead, Cambus, Dufftown, James Eadie, Linkwood and Strathclyde.
The new Balvenie Stories range leads a Glenlivet, a GlenDronach and The Moffat blend.
The new Ardbeg An Oa, Glenmorangie Astar plus four Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels.
A Tamdhu trio vie with Glenlivet’s Winchester malt and Whisky Works’ newest releases.
A Speyside special featuring Glenlivet, GlenAllachie, Glen Elgin, Benromach, Tamdhu and Benrinnes.
Glenmorangie Bacalta and a first appearance from Murray McDavid, including a 48-year-old Tomintoul.
A Gordon & MacPhail quartet, GlenDronach’s Boynsmill and Highland Park’s Twisted Tattoo.
Longmorn’s new NAS, Diageo’s Whiskey Union duo, Balblair 2005 and two silent distillery drams.
A series of show-stopper Scotch whiskies this week from Compass Box, Glenfarclas and Loch Lomond.
Another marvellous medley from Dave Broom featuring BenRiach, Timorous Beastie and Tullibardine.
Tasting three Glen Morays, Tomatin Earth, Cù Bòcan 2006 and Ardnamurchan’s latest spirit release.
Featuring the first Chivas Regal blended malt plus the 200th anniversary 25-year-old Lagavulin.
Glendronach, Laphroaig, Macallan and Springbank – they’re all included in the latest new releases.
Youth meets maturity with Benromach, Glengoyne, Glenlossie, Glenrothes, Imperial and Tullibardine.
Dave Broom samples the 2017 John Walker Private Collection blend and a trio of Bladnochs.
As the Islay Festival draws to a close, Dave Broom brings you a mix of Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila.
Octomore’s 08 series, Kilchoman 2009 and Red Wine Cask Matured, plus Ardbeg Twenty Something.
The verdict on Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old, and lots of peat: Bowmore, Caol Ila, Ledaig and Croftengea.
A quartet of Glenglassaugh wood finishes, accompanied by two indie-bottled Bunnahabhains.
Glen Moray, Glen Scotia, Auchroisk, Longrow and Springbank, with some fascinating finishes.
Dave Broom tries spirits from the opposite ends of the age spectrum in this week’s reviews.
A stunning whisky line-up: 70yo Glenlivet, experimental Johnnie Walker, Compass Box and Wolfburn.
Two blends, including the latest Johnnie Walker, three Bowmores, three 90-plus scores.
Gordon & MacPhail’s 1956 Linkwood, plus Tomintoul and an intriguing quartet of blended malts.
Another investigation of a single malt at varying ages. This time, it’s Glenrothes’ turn.
Aberfeldy’s Madeira finishes, a single cask Springbank, two James Eadies and a 1990 Cù Bòcan.
Three fruity, mature old grains, a 1980s Coleburn plus a bold new Benromach.
Featuring blends from The Last Drop, Royal Salute and Chivas Regal – plus Kininvie and Scapa malts.
A double hit of BenRiach, then Benromach 1975, Caperdonich, Craigellachie and Inchmurrin bottlings.
Age and time is the theme this week, with Ghost and Rare, Linkwood and a quartet of old Longmorns.
Blends take centre stage with Berry Bros’ Perspective Series, with a malt cameo from Scapa.
A collection of young Caol Ila bottlings meets Peat Chimney blended malt from Wemyss.
If you’ve been wondering what Dave Broom thinks of Black Bowmore 50 Year Old, you’re in luck...
A mixed bag including Ballantines’ trio of single malts, The Gauldrons and two from Wemyss.
An Irish special: Green Spot, The Irishman, Jameson, Midleton, Retronaut and Writer’s Tears.
A release of six single cask single malts from the Speyside distillery, from 1978 to 1991.
Two 90+ pointers from Adelphi, The Famous Grouse’s Cask Series, plus Tomatin Moscatel finish.
A sextet of Bruichladdichs come calling this week, including a trio of new Octomores.
A Black Friday special, with malts from Orkney, Campbeltown, Glen Moray and Glentauchers.
An old Benromach, a blended malt and Daftmill’s Winter Release surround a trio of Tomatins.
Jura’s Time and Tide meet bottlings from Ardmore, Auchroisk, Imperial and Miltonduff.
A trip through Islay with Ardbeg's new 19-year-old, a wine-cask Kilchoman and Lagavulin 10.
Thirteen new single malts from Caperdonich, Longmorn, Glen Keith and Braes of Glenlivet.
A trio of 17-year-olds from Benriach, Tomatin and Tormore, plus Cù Bòcan and a 1970s Benromach.
In a year of discovery, there were three whiskies that really captivated our street-wise novice.
Dave Broom selects an eclectic trio of whiskies as his top drams of 2017.
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.
Smoke is the overriding theme as our magazine editor picks his three stand-out whiskies of 2016.
Our editor covers all bases with her favourites of 2016: a single malt, single grain and a blend.
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.
A rummage through the vaults has brought Aberlour, John Begg and Ladyburn treasures to light.
A 1940s White Horse bottled for the US joins a rare Aultmore and an ‘austere’ Clynelish.
Three blends from the 1920s-50s have Angus MacRaild dreaming of a bygone era.
Three cracking whiskies here – if you can find them – from Glenury Royal, Caol Ila and Glen Grant.
Three modern-era ‘legends’ are reviewed, from Balblair, Bunnahabhain and Springbank.
Tripping on fruity old Glenugie, fragrant 1960s Glenlochy and a flabby 1940s blend.
A trio of Gordon & MacPhail gems distilled around the time of the Second World War.
An impressive, well-matured 1960s trio of single malts from Jura, Springbank and Tamdhu.
Three rare Japanese morsels are examined, but not all of these Eastern drams show promise.
Head back in time with a 1960s Glenugie, 1950s Balblair and a rare 1930s Glamis single malt.
Three old Glens demonstrate the breadth of styles being made in Speyside in the 1970s.
A ‘gutsy’ ‘90s Sherried Bowmore, alongside textbook examples of ‘70s Bruichladdich and Caol Ila.
An ‘80s Ballantine’s, ‘60s Glen Albyn and ‘70s Glenlivet deliver impressively high scores.
Exploring a Gordon & MacPhail trio of 40% abv whiskies, including two Glens and an Ardbeg.
A trio of Islay whiskies from Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Port Ellen impress Angus MacRaild.
Tasting a fascinating ‘70s Aberlour, a historic ‘40s Kilbeggan and a surprising ‘80s Fettercairn.
Three old bottlings that demonstrate the variety available in whisky’s back catalogue.
Three accessible old whiskies, including Bruichladdich, Pride of Strathspey and a Reliance blend.
Tasting three 1970s and 1980s Sherried beauties from Aberlour, Bowmore and Bruichladdich.
A trio of early releases from the SMWS, including Glendullan, Glen Esk and Inchmurrin.
Angus MacRaild argues in favour of Port Ellen’s allure with three extremely rare bottlings.
A ‘thrilling’ 1980s Dailuaine joins a ‘60s Bruichladdich and an unusual Caperdonich.
Angus MacRaild samples a trio of 1970s whiskies from Dallas Dhu, Macallan and Scapa.
Three spirit-driven 1970s single malts from Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Glenlivet.
A trio of 1960s and ‘70s Signatory malts from Campeltown, Islay and the Highlands.
Exploring more affordable rare whiskies with 1980s Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie and Longmorn.
Two peated treats from Port Ellen and Talisker, plus a ‘funky’ but fine Glen Grant.
A rollercoaster ride with a duty free Aberlour, a beautiful Brora and a disappointing Talisker.
Verdicts on a release from mothballed Convalmore, a cult Bowmore – and a Talisker Oddbins special.
Two cult brand bottlings plus an often overlooked malt have surfaced from the archives for tasting.
There’s a contemplative air as Dave Broom tastes old Glen Grant, Springbank and Tomatin.
A delve into the Islay vaults nets a 1980s Bruichladdich, a recent Bowmore and a quirky Port Ellen.