Scotch & Irish reviews, links & info

Since nobody has been voting I have removed that portion and will do reviews as I get to them.

Scotch FAQ

Scotch Education Part 1 Where is it made?

Scotch Education Part 2 Who makes it?

Scotch Education Part 2a Who makes this stuff?

Scotch Education Part 3 How do you say it (with audio)

Scotch Education Part 3a How do you say it (phonetically)

Scotch Education Part 4 Scotch Regions

Scotch Education Part 5 - Whisky Chemistry

Dewars Tasting Wheel

Alternate Tasting Wheel (Thanks to Nicks.com.au)

Loch Fyne Whiskies Flavor Map
Loch Fyne Whiskies text notes for Flavor Map

The Distilleries 1800-2000

Lost Distilleries 1885-1945(Thanks to Ulf Buxrud for the information. )

Wood & Scotch

The Inventory as of 09/12 - 290+ bottles of Scotch on the Wall

The Balvenie Vintage Cask Listing


General Scotch Info

Blends - Malt whisky mixed with grain whiskey.
Vatted - A number of single malts mixed or married together.
Blended Malt Scotch - The new term for Vatted Malt
Single Malt - Usually a number of casks made at the same time with the same mash run. Again, usually mixed together for consistancy but not always.
Single Cask - As the name says, a bottling from a single cask of Scotch. May or may not be at cask strength for alcohol.
Cask Strength - May or may not be from a single cask, usually from multiple casks mixed together.
Cask Strength- Single Cask. The purest form of Scotch. Usually a max of 600 or less bottles from one cask. However, there can be many casks used in a particular run but the bottlings will have different proofs and quantities.

The barrels used are from many sources, Bourbon from Kentucky, Sherry from Spain, Port from France etc etc. The wood and prior usage all effect the final taste. First fill (the first time a cask is used for Scotch) will usually impart the greatest flavor from it's prior contents. A bit of trivia....you know how a cartoon will show XXX on something to show it has alcohol in it. That came from the X put on a Scotch barrel showing how many times it was used.

Peat flavoring comes from using peat to dry the maltings and not from seasoning the barrels. The slower the drying cycle the more peat is absorbed by the maltings. Some distilleries use coal or gas and thus don't have that flavoring

The main difference between a highland or lowland malt is the distillation process. The two remaining lowland distillers use a triple distilation method whereas the highland distillers use a double distill method. If you get into the silent stills you'll find other differences but those are all getting expensive now due to their not being made any longer.

Cost can be a good general indicator but not the absolute. Talisker 10 is every bit as good as Laphroaig 30 at a quarter the price and Glenfiddich Gran Reserva is rated as high as Macallan 25 at a third the cost. Look at cost within a distillers line as a better indicator and not across distillers. If you like a particular brand then most times the more expensive will be better up to a point. Collectible Scotch is exempt from this rule.

Remember that age alone does not the best dram make.

There is no wrong way to drink Scotch. Neat, over ice or with a little water are all perfectly acceptable.


Reviewed so far:

Just click on the one you want to read to be taken to that review. Also shown are the Region and District of where they were made. New for 2006, the reviews are now listed in alphabetical order instead of reviewed order. I changed my ISP so all the pictures are completely hosed up. Someday I might get around to fixing them

Scotch:

001. Aberfeldy 12 Highland Scotch Speyside, Midlands
002. Aberlour 15 yo Sherry Wood Finish Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
003. Aberlour 1969 30 yo Highland Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
004. Aberlour a'bunadh Cask Strength Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
005. Allt-A-Bhainne 14 yo Speyside Single Malt The Fiddch and the Dullan
006. An Cnoc 12 yo Highland Single Malt Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
007. Ardbeg 10 yo Islay Scotch Islay, South Shore
008. Ardmore 1991 Highland Single Malt Speyside, The Bogie and The Deveron
009. Auchentoshan 21 yo Lowland Scotch Lowland, Eastern
010. Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Lowland, Eastern
011 Ballantine's 30 yo Blended Scotch Mostly Highland Scotch in the blend.
012. Balblair 24 yo Limited Edition Scotch Highlands, Northern
013. Banff 1966, 36 yo Blackadder Raw Cask Speyside, The Bogie and The Deveron
014. Ben Nevis 32 yo Highlands, Western
015. Benraich 10 yo Scotch Speyside, The Lossie
016. Benromach 18 yo Speyside Scotch Speyside, The Western Spey
017. Black Bottle 10 yo Blended Islay Scotch Islay
018. Blair Athol 28 yo Scotch Highland, Midlands
019. Bowmore 17 yo Islay Scotch Isley, North Shore
020. Bowmore Darkest Scotch Islay, North Shore
021. Bowmore Dragon 30 yoIslay, North Shore
022. Brora 22yo Highland Malt Northern Highland
023. Bruichladdich 15 yo Islay Single Malt Whisky Islay, North Shore
024. Bunnahabhain 12 yo Islay Scotch Islay, Loch Indaal
025. Campbelltown Loch 25 yo Blended Scotch Campbeltown
026. Caol Ila 10 yo Cigar Malt Islay, North Shore
027. Caol Ila 18 yo Islay Scotch Islay, North Shore
028. Chieftain's 14 yo Cigar Malt Highland, Speyside
029. Chieftain's Cigar Malts 2007
030. Chivas - The Century Of Malts Blended from all regions
031. Chivas Regal 18 yo blended Scotch Highland, Speyside
032. Chivas Regal Royal Salute Mostly Highland Scotch in the blend
033. Cragganmore 12 yo Speyside Scotch Speyside, The Upper Spey
034. Craigduff 32 yo Scotch (Glen Keith variant) Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
035. Craigellachie 14 yo Speyside MaltSpeyside, The Lower Spey
036. Cutty Sark 25 yo Blended Scotch Mostly Speyside Scotch in the blend
037. Dalwhinnie 15 yo Scotch Speyside, The Upper Spey
038. Dalwhinnie 29 yo Single Highland Malt Speyside, The Upper spey
039. Deanston 17 yo Single Highland Malt Scotch The Scottish Midlands
040. Dewar's White Label Blended Scotch Highland, Speyside
041. Edradour 10 yo Highland MaltThe Midlands
042. Glen Albyn 30 yo Scotch Speyside, The Western Spey
043. Glen Elgin 12 yo Pot Still Malt Whisky Speyside, The Lossie
044. Glen Garioch 10 yo Scotch The Eastern Highlands
045. Glen Grant 1956 40 yo Highland Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
046. Glen Keith 10 yo Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
047. Glen Ord 12 yo Highland Scotch Highland, Northern
048. Glendronach 15 yo Sherry Cask Scotch Speyside, The Bogie & The Deveron
049. Glenfarclas 17 yo Highland Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside, The Lower Spey
050. Glenfiddich 12 yo Single Malt Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
051. Glenfiddich 15yo Cask Strength Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
052. Glenfiddich 15 yo Solera Reserve Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
053. Glenfiddich 21 yo Havana Reserve Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
054. Glenfiddich XXX 30 yo Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
055. Glenglassaugh 27 yo ScotchSpeyside, The Lossie
056. Glenisla 28 yo Highland Malt (Glen Keith variant) Highland, Speyside
057. Glenkinchie 10 yo Lowland Scotch Lowland, Eastern
058. Glenugie 26yo Mission III Highland, Eastern
059. Highland Park 18 yo Scotch Orkney Islands
060. Highland Park 19 yo Hart Brothers Bottling Orkney Islands
061. Inchgower 14 yo Speyside Single Malt Speyside, The Lower Spey
062. Isle of Jura 16 yo Scotch Jura
063. Johnnie Walker 12 yo Black Label Blended Scotch Highland, Speyside
064. Johnnie Walker 15 yo Green Label Pure Malt Scotch Highland, Speyside
065. Johnnie Walker 18 yo Gold Label Blended Scotch Highland, Speyside
066. Johnnie Walker NAS Blue Label Blended Scotch Highland, Speyside
067. Johnnie Walker Swing Highland, Speyside
068. Knockando 18 yo Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
069. Laugavulin 16 yo Islay Single Malt Islay, South Shore
070. Laphroaig 15 yo Islay Scotch Isley, South Shore
071. Laphroaig 30 30 yo Single Islay Scotch Islay, South Shore
072. Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay, South Shore
073. Linkwood 12 yo Speyside Single Malt Scotch Speyside, The Lossie
074. Littlemill 18 yo Lowland Scotch Lowlands, Northern
075. Lochside 12 yo Single Malt Highland, Eastern
076. Longmorn 15 yo Scotch Speyside, The Lossie
077. Longrow 10 yo Campbeltown Scotch Campbeltown
078. Monkey Shoulder Batch 27 Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
079. Oban 14 yo Single Malt Highlands, Western
080. Old Fettercairn 26 yo Stillman's Dram Highland, Eastern
081. Old Pulteney 12 yo Highland Scotch Highland, Northern
082. Pinch Dimple 15 yo Blended Scotch
083. Rosebank 11 yo Lowland Scotch, Cadenhead Bottling Lowland, Central
084. Royal Island 17 yo blend[ Isle of Arran distillery
085. Royal Lochnagar 12 yo Scotch Highland, Eastern
086. Scapa 12 yo Orkney Scotch Orkney Islands
087. Sheep Dip Highlands Vatted Malt
088. Speyburn 10 yo Highland Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
089. Springbank 15 yo Scotch Campbeltown
090. Strathisla 12 yo Single Malt Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
091. Talisker 10 yo Isle of Skye Scotch Skye, Western Shore
092. Talisker 18 yo Isle of Skye Scotch Skye, Western Shore
093. Tamdhu 10 yo Single Malt Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
094. Tamdhu 18 yo Highland Single Malt Speyside, The Lower Spey
095. Teaninich 17 yo scotch Highlands, Northern
096. The Arran 10 yo Malt The Isle of Arran
097. The Balvenie 10 yo Founder's Reserve Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
098. The Balvenie 12 yo DoubleWood Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
099. The Balvenie 14 yo RumWood Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
100. The Balvenie 15 yo Single BarrelSpeyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
101. The Balvenie 17 yo Islay Cask Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
102. The Balvenie 17 yo RumCask Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
103. The Balvenie 1966 Vintage Cask Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
104. The Balvenie 1991 PortWood Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
105. The Balvenie 1993 PortWood Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
106. The Balvenie 21 yo PortWood Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
107. The Balvenie 25 yo Single Cask Scotch Speyside, The Fiddich & The Dullan
108. The Dalmore 12 yo Single Highland MaltHighland, Northern
109. The Dalmore 21 yo Single Malt Highland, Northern
110. The Dalmore 30 yo Stillman's Dram Scotch Highland, Northern
111. The Dalmore Cigar Malt Highlands, Northern
112. The Famous Grouse 10 yo Malt Whisky Vatted Malt, Various
113. The Glenlivet 12 yo Scotch Speyside, The Livet
114. The Glenlivet 15 yo French Oak Reserve Speyside, The Livet
115. The Glenlivet 50 yo Scotch Speyside, The Livet
116. The Glenmorangie 10 yo Highland Scotch Highlands, Northern
117. The Glenmorangie 18 yo Highland Scotch Highlands, Northern
118. The Glenrothes 1972 Limited Release Speyside, The Lower Spey
119. The Glenrothes 1974 Limited Release Speyside, The Lower Spey
120. The Glenrothes Select Reserve Speyside, The Lower Spey
121. The Inverarity Ancestral 14yo Scotch Balmenach independent bottling
122. The Macallan 12 yo single Malt Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
123. The Macallan 18 yo Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
124. The Macallan 25 yo Fine OakSpeyside, The Lower Spey
125. The Macallan 30 yo Scotch Speyside, The Lower Spey
126. The Macallan Elegancia 1992 Speyside, The Lower Spey
127. The Peat Monster by Compass Box Vatted Islay Malt
128. Tobermory 10 yo Isle of Mull Scotch Mull
129. Tomatin 12 Highland Malt Speyside, The Western Spey
130. Tomintoul 27 yo Scotch Speyside, The Livet
131. Tormore 12 yo Single Speyside Malt Speyside, The Upper Spey
132. Whyte & Mackay 30 yo Blended Scotch Mostly Highland Scotch in the blend.


Irish Whiskey:

001. Bushmills 24 yo Millennium Malt
002. Green Spot Irish Whiskey
003. Tyrconnell Irish Whiskey

Here is my suggestion. Break up the numbers to cover the different trypes of scotch. Then review the 2 most popular of each type of scotch. Once people know the different types of scotch, and try them, they can start to identify them by the classes. Say I try an Islay and I like it and know it is and Islay, I could then say, " I like Brand X scotch, what others are like this one"... I think that would be kick ass!

Emo

Which number is Glenkinchie? :love:

AVB said:

For my next scotch review this weekend I’ll take some input from the members. I think it would be a bit ostentatious to list what I have so I’ll take a number between 1 and 35 inclusive. The number with the most votes will be the one I review. I think in this way the selection will be somewhat random and you won’t have to sit through 5 different Balvenies in a row for example if I did this alphabetically. I'll count up the votes, track them and list them below. A poll would be easier but you can only list 10 choices in a poll.

If you think this is a stupid idea let me know that too and I'll just pick something myself.

Stupid Idea.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21
22,
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

Click to expand...

Let me be the first to say, I pick lucky number "33."

Take care, Bacchus

36. Sarenac Rye 18yr


NA

If you send it to me Sam, I'll review it but under the whiskey review thread and not the Scotch review thread.

I would like to see a review of a complex blended scotch.

Gunpowder said:

Which number is Glenkinchie? :love:

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Gunpowder
I can't tell you what number Glenkinchie is but it is in my collection. Pick a number and you may get lucky.

Number 13 please

I vote for 13 as well

lucasbuck said:

I vote for 13 as well

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Thanks for getting my back Sheriff

Never fear, the Sheriff is here

Now when are we getting that review? My scotch supply is getting low and I'm in search of new brands to try

Maybe we can do a Scotch Samplers Pass....

..get the Pass, have a sampling of each and pass it on.

The postage would be killer, but our livers would be happy.

The review will come out this weekend. Depends on what the wife has planned and how long it takes.

let's go with #9.



happy drinkin' bro.

:thumbs:

Number 33 Please

Special Wednesday pre-holiday review of #33 coming soon. Look for it!

AVB said:

Special Wednesday pre-holiday review of #33 coming soon. Look for it!

Click to expand...

Oh look at that...I'm 2 for 2

Fast4Dr said:

AVB said:

Special Wednesday pre-holiday review of #33 coming soon. Look for it!

Click to expand...

Oh look at that...I'm 2 for 2

Click to expand...

Woohoo! 33 rules! Oh well, with my luck it will probably be MacRotgut, 25 month old.

Take care, Bacchus

AVB said:

Gunpowder said:

Which number is Glenkinchie? :love:

Click to expand...

Gunpowder
I can't tell you what number Glenkinchie is but it is in my collection. Pick a number and you may get lucky.

Click to expand...

That would be #1 since it surly would be the first one you numbered