The Basics: Do I recommend it?: Yes, but only close to retail price (unlikely). Availability: Scarce. ABV: 49.0% Presentation: Unchillfiltered and natural color General information: Commemorates a small amount of Ardbeg whisky being sent into space. Bottling type: Proprietary Character: Sooty, smoky, fruity and sweet. Score: 91/100 The details: Ever since the great Ardbeg renaissance …
Tag: islay
My favorite malt distilleries (and some thoughts on other distilleries, too!)
People often ask me: “Michael, what are your favorite Scottish distilleries? You know so much about Scotch whisky, I really want to pick your brain and find out which distilleries you keep coming back to!” Just kidding. No one has ever asked me that, although I have often wished someone would ask me about my …
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Talisker “The Wild Explorador,” (2023 Special Releases)
The Basics: Do I recommend it?: It’s solid. Availability: Some specialty retail and auction. ABV: 59.7% (cask strength) Presentation: Unspecified General information: Finished in port casks. Bottling type: Proprietary Character: Fruity, spicy and smoky. Score: 89/100 The details: Like stable-mate Clynelish, Talisker's early history is closely tied to the brutal Highland clearances, where subsistence farmers …
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Kilchoman Machir Bay
The Basics: Do I recommend it?: Yes, ish. Availability: Ish? See below. ABV: 46% Presentation: Unchillfiltered and natural color General information: A very early batch. Bottling type: Proprietary Character: Peaty, earthy, and citric. Score: 90/100 The details: Kilchoman parish is where the MacBeatha/Beaton family first settled in around 1300 upon coming over from Ireland. The …
2025 Diageo Special Releases
You can breath, now. Diageo has finally officially announced their 2025 Special Releases, dubbed "Horizons Unbound," and for those of you itching to get your hands on them, the usual suspects in UK specialty retail have them for sale. I know we've all been losing sleep over this! Let's face it, the Special Releases have …
Whisky Considered 