The OCUK Whisky (and Whiskey) review thread

Today was a little tour of Speyside Cooperage. Makes sense to see what happens outside of the distilleries. Learned a lot so can definately recommend it.
Now heading for a wander around Ballindalloch castle. We met the laird at the the distillery the other day and he's quite the character.
Then later on it's Cardhu which will be a 7 dram tasting.
Not of a relaxed day for a change and an early start tomorrow (7am for a 9am tour start)
 
So yesterday we went to Cardhu. It's Diageo owned so a mediocre affair when it comes to the tour. No pics and phones to be turned off. The whisky itself is very thin (7 expressions) and pretty poor overall. Probably the worst we've had this week.

Today we were up at 630am (ouch) to be at Spey in Kingussie for 9am. Met Sandy the distillery manager who took us around and in contrast to Diageo, said take pics wherever you like but no closer than 1m from the spirit safe. Perfect.
This was our 8th tour and the first time we got to drink some wash. Flat yeasty beer essentially but not bad so if you get the chance anywhere, have a mouthful. Tour done by 10am and onto the tasting.
10 drams in total (and some gin). Let's just say it's a tour well worth your time. Comparisons to Ballindalloch is terms of size and I will be more than happy to go back.

Benriach was this afternoon. Interesting tour (more wash to drink) and one I was looking forward to. The 7 drams didn't disappoint but I feel the whisky is overpriced. Certainly worth doing though.
 
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glad you enjoyed the Tomatin Port Finish..its one I have had end enjoyed, I think it offers really good value for money

I love quite a lot of Benriachs output...put their prices are starting to creep up. The 16 used to be really great for the price, but its their Sauternes expressions I love and try to get as soon as they put them out
 
We only did 2 tours on our little trip to Speyside. Aberlour and Balvenie.

The Aberlour tour was very corporatey with a very large group and done by someone from marketing that had read about whisky but actually knew very little about it. Not a great tour.

By contast the tour of The Balvenie was excellent! We were shown around by one of the brand ambassadors, David Mair and there's a man that knows his stuff. We sat prior to the tour with tea and biscuits and then had a very relaxed walk about the distiller. We also went to the cooperage which was very interesting. The only snag was that finding the car park was a bit awkward!
 
It's Aberlour this morning (casks from the past) so I don't think a tour is involved.
The Glen Moray this afternoon.
Mashtun tonight (in Aberlour) for food and a 1978 Glenfarclas (lucked out that it happens to be a bourbon cask).
 
Great choice on food at the Mash Tun, that's where we stayed when in Aberlour. The food was excellent. Their collection of Glenfarclas is something to behold. I tried quite a few when staying there.
 
Aberlour was very interesting. 4 drams but they are not revealed until after.
Glen Moray was a little more personalised so we saw stuff most people don't. A couple of drams in the dunnage warehouse and then a flight of 4 (2 not yet released) followed by their flagship and another not yet released. Cider cask and peated port are the 2 to look out for.

Mashtun was great. Didn't get my 1978 as not enough in the bottle so I let our organiser have it (born same year). The sip I did try has us tempted to buy a bottle (£500).
Late night last night and leaving today. Will be back in a few years.

Highlights: Ballindallich, Spey, Tomatin and the Cooperage, 1978 Glen Garioch.
Lowlights: Cardhu, the drive to Spey, anything from a sherry cask.
 
I really enjoyed it and it's been a huge help in my whisky education. Really helps having a mate that is knowledgeable in the area and takes the time to take you through the various flavours.
We're going back in 5yrs I think so should be some good stuff ready by then.
Skipping the trip around Campbelltown and the South next year but its the Highlands in 2020.
 
me and a friend are planning our islay trip for 2020...my wife likes a tipple, but his missus hates whisky so theres our driver for all our distillery trips...going to base ourselves in Port Charlotte
 
FTM said:
me and a friend are planning our islay trip for 2020...my wife likes a tipple, but his missus hates whisky so theres our driver for all our distillery trips...going to base ourselves in Port Charlotte
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Remember Campbeltown is only 25 miles down the road from the Islay ferry terminal, its the Whisky Festival this weekend.
 
i had a few new ones recently, only cheapies, from amazon but one is a new one in my top ten!

Tomatin legacy - very easy drinking, smooth and nice aftertaste. new top ten fav of mine now.
Penderyn legend - not bad, better than the penderyn original i think, nicer with a drop of water.
Scapa Skiren - now this was nice. little peaty but not to much as i don;t like peaty whiskeys, will try the other scapas next that are more expensive.
balvenie - caribbean cask - my favourite, hadn't got that for ages as out of stock.

only ones left of them are penderyn and balvenie. only bought in june!

need more now lol.
 
We had a a young lady from Elixir Distillers (you will know them better as the bottlers of Elements of Islay and Single Malts of Scotland and are a part of Whiskey Exchange) give us a talk and many samples in Friday.
Some lovely liquids, peat being a common theme but the run away winner was the unpeated Single Malts of Scotland Benrinnes 20yr old. Fantastic stuff.
Look, here's some tasting notes as well as a things about mouthfeel. https://www.thedramble.com/tastings/benrinnes/benrinnes-1995-20-year-old/
 
Wish I'd got to Quarter Cask at that price would have got a bottle. Auchentoshan Three Wood on its way for me, loved my last bottle.

Bickaxe said:
We had a a young lady from Elixir Distillers (you will know them better as the bottlers of Elements of Islay and Single Malts of Scotland and are a part of Whiskey Exchange) give us a talk and many samples in Friday.
Some lovely liquids, peat being a common theme but the run away winner was the unpeated Single Malts of Scotland Benrinnes 20yr old. Fantastic stuff.
Look, here's some tasting notes as well as a things about mouthfeel. https://www.thedramble.com/tastings/benrinnes/benrinnes-1995-20-year-old/
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Would you say it is worth picking up a bottle for £90? I'm still annoyed that I haven't been able to find the Single Malts of Scotland Ledaig 11yr. The one you've posted sounds really good.
 
bsoltan said:
Would you say it is worth picking up a bottle for £90? I'm still annoyed that I haven't been able to find the Single Malts of Scotland Ledaig 11yr. The one you've posted sounds really good.
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Yes. I'll be buying one when I get paid and that doesn't happen very often. At whisky shows, I only buy one of the first 5 I taste and only then if I like it enough. Last one was Harrow in January (Boutique-y Mackmyra 3yr old).

In our group, you know something is popular when the brand rep leaves all the bottles behind (all half full) and one is polished off before the others are returned to.
 
For my birthday (40th) back in May, my missus and family got me 40 drams of various whiskies, mostly from 1978 or 40yrs old.

Finally started on them tonight and first up was Black Bull 40yr old. 12 single malts and 7 grains make up this liquid. It's pretty amazing and much better than I was expecting.
 
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