I went to the Whisky Birmingham - whisky festival last Saturday. Much whisky was had and another great event after the first one I went to in 2017.
I managed to get through 22 different whiskies, none of which I've had before. I've given them a bit of a random rating going from Poor->Average->Ok->Good->Excellent.
Anything over Poor (sorry Smokehead!) I think is worth buying, just depending on price etc. The ones that are Excellent I'm going to try and get hold of.
I can't work out if there is a way to insert a table so here's a list:
1. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010
Rating: Excellent
Was my first try and pleasently surprised. Going to get a bottle at the right price.
2. Auchentoshan Bartender's Edition
Rating: Average
Nothing distinctive, it's a blend of whiskies and made by 12 bartenders. Bit of a gimmick.
3. Compass Box Hedonism
Rating: Good
Grain Blend, I was pleasently surprised. Compbass Box do some good whisky. I was impressed by their Spice Tree last year.
4. Kavalan Sherry Oak
Rating; Good
What's not to like about Sherry Oak whisky.
5. Single Malts of Scotland 11yr Ledaig Cask:900162
Rating: Excellent
Amazing my best of the day. Great flavour and complexity but still smooth even at a 56%+ strength. Could do with some water. I specify the cask number because there is a 900161 as well. I can't find the 900162 anywhere to buy.
I'll send anyone a taster if they can find it for me!
6. Macallan 12
Rating: Good
Very smooth & honey
7. Glenfracas 25
Rating: Average
Smooth and sweetly spiced but no standout flavour.
8. Kilchoman 6 Year Old 2010 Original Cask Strength
Rating: Good
Nice mix of mellow peat and flavour from a v.light colour whisky.
9. Koval Rye
Rating: Good
Chicago bourbon Rye, was really nice actually. Worth checking out.
10. Yamasakura
Rating: Japanese blend, bit too sweet for my taste.
11: Arran Port Cask
Rating: OK
Thought I'd try a port cask. Nice colour but nothing amazing in the flavour.
12. Nikka Takesuru
Rating: OK
I've tried other Nikka, the Coffey Malt is really good. This is a new blend and it was OK.
13. Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 61
Rating: Excellent
I've been recommended this for a while, good depth of flavour going to try and get hold of a bottle. At 60.8% should last a while.
14. Elements OC4 (DD)
Rating: Good
Dream Dram, smooth peatness, light colour. Would be up there with the best of the day if it wasn't for some standout ones.
15. Mackmyra Brukswhisky
16. Mackmyra Svensk Ek (Swedish Oak)
17. Mackmyra Svensk Rök (Swedish Smoke)
Rating: Average
Swedish whisky booth was busy all day, fair play to the guy for getting us to try all three but they weren't that interesting to me.
18. Smokehead
Rating: Poor
Too much smoke with no depth.
19. Tamdhu 10
Rating: Ok
Seemed ok, thought I'd try as seen it in supermarkets. One to get on offer maybe.
20. The Big B Tennessee Bourbon
Rating; Good
Very smooth bourbon, nice and sweet
21. The English - Smokey
Rating: OK
Smokey flavour but not much depth
22. Glenfracas 105
Rating: Good
Sugar, spice, nice richness
If anyone hasn't been before and is interested I'd highly recommend it. £45 for the standard entry and it gets you a free tasting glass (long stemmed), and one Dream Dram token which can be used on any of the Dream Drams (DD) (usually specially selected/rare/expensive bottles). You can have as much as you like of the other whisky. There's 'street food' stalls - we had hot dogs and pizza this year.
If you're interested they also do 'Masterclass' (extra cost) where they do pairings and tastings of whisky with cheese, or chocolate, or cigars.
I came away with a bottle of Single Malts of Scotland 12yr Ledaig (I thought I was getting the 11yr I tried until it was too late with the purchase >_<), and a bottle of Cotswolds Distillery single malt - which I didn't try but I visited the distillery last year and regretted not getting a bottle.
A great day out, finished off by going to the Birmingham Whisky bar in the Jewelry Quarter as well.
I managed to get through 22 different whiskies, none of which I've had before. I've given them a bit of a random rating going from Poor->Average->Ok->Good->Excellent.
Anything over Poor (sorry Smokehead!) I think is worth buying, just depending on price etc. The ones that are Excellent I'm going to try and get hold of.
I can't work out if there is a way to insert a table so here's a list:
1. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010
Rating: Excellent
Was my first try and pleasently surprised. Going to get a bottle at the right price.
2. Auchentoshan Bartender's Edition
Rating: Average
Nothing distinctive, it's a blend of whiskies and made by 12 bartenders. Bit of a gimmick.
3. Compass Box Hedonism
Rating: Good
Grain Blend, I was pleasently surprised. Compbass Box do some good whisky. I was impressed by their Spice Tree last year.
4. Kavalan Sherry Oak
Rating; Good
What's not to like about Sherry Oak whisky.
5. Single Malts of Scotland 11yr Ledaig Cask:900162
Rating: Excellent
Amazing my best of the day. Great flavour and complexity but still smooth even at a 56%+ strength. Could do with some water. I specify the cask number because there is a 900161 as well. I can't find the 900162 anywhere to buy.
I'll send anyone a taster if they can find it for me!6. Macallan 12
Rating: Good
Very smooth & honey
7. Glenfracas 25
Rating: Average
Smooth and sweetly spiced but no standout flavour.
8. Kilchoman 6 Year Old 2010 Original Cask Strength
Rating: Good
Nice mix of mellow peat and flavour from a v.light colour whisky.
9. Koval Rye
Rating: Good
Chicago bourbon Rye, was really nice actually. Worth checking out.
10. Yamasakura
Rating: Japanese blend, bit too sweet for my taste.
11: Arran Port Cask
Rating: OK
Thought I'd try a port cask. Nice colour but nothing amazing in the flavour.
12. Nikka Takesuru
Rating: OK
I've tried other Nikka, the Coffey Malt is really good. This is a new blend and it was OK.
13. Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 61
Rating: Excellent
I've been recommended this for a while, good depth of flavour going to try and get hold of a bottle. At 60.8% should last a while.
14. Elements OC4 (DD)
Rating: Good
Dream Dram, smooth peatness, light colour. Would be up there with the best of the day if it wasn't for some standout ones.
15. Mackmyra Brukswhisky
16. Mackmyra Svensk Ek (Swedish Oak)
17. Mackmyra Svensk Rök (Swedish Smoke)
Rating: Average
Swedish whisky booth was busy all day, fair play to the guy for getting us to try all three but they weren't that interesting to me.
18. Smokehead
Rating: Poor
Too much smoke with no depth.
19. Tamdhu 10
Rating: Ok
Seemed ok, thought I'd try as seen it in supermarkets. One to get on offer maybe.
20. The Big B Tennessee Bourbon
Rating; Good
Very smooth bourbon, nice and sweet
21. The English - Smokey
Rating: OK
Smokey flavour but not much depth
22. Glenfracas 105
Rating: Good
Sugar, spice, nice richness
If anyone hasn't been before and is interested I'd highly recommend it. £45 for the standard entry and it gets you a free tasting glass (long stemmed), and one Dream Dram token which can be used on any of the Dream Drams (DD) (usually specially selected/rare/expensive bottles). You can have as much as you like of the other whisky. There's 'street food' stalls - we had hot dogs and pizza this year.
If you're interested they also do 'Masterclass' (extra cost) where they do pairings and tastings of whisky with cheese, or chocolate, or cigars.
I came away with a bottle of Single Malts of Scotland 12yr Ledaig (I thought I was getting the 11yr I tried until it was too late with the purchase >_<), and a bottle of Cotswolds Distillery single malt - which I didn't try but I visited the distillery last year and regretted not getting a bottle.
A great day out, finished off by going to the Birmingham Whisky bar in the Jewelry Quarter as well.
Infact I have finished the last bottle I had of this .. if ever you want a cold cure - honey + this and warmed up is also excellent 
I was also at a whiskey tasting where the guy was telling me that Japanese companies own stakes in a lot of the scotch distilleries and some of the Japanese brands are actually made in Scotland?