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Buffalo Trace releases second Old Charter Oak whiskey

By Federal standards, bourbon is required to be aged in a new, charred oak container. But there is no specification it must be American white oak, it’s just that nearly all bourbons made today are aged in white oak. To explore the different taste profiles of barrels obtained from trees grown in different countries, climates and soil, Buffalo Trace announced its Old Charter Oak series late last year. Old Charter Oak French Oak is the latest release in this oak tree varietal exploration series. For the newest release, Buffalo Trace obtained a small number of barrels from France in 2007,… Read More

Glencadam Distillery to build new Visitor Centre

Angus Council have approved the planning permission to build a Visitor Centre at Glencadam. The plans will develop existing buildings to incorporate a unique tour, whisky tasting area, tea room and shop, all designed to celebrate the history and heritage of Glencadam, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. Glencadam Distillery was established in 1825 and has had an interesting history, having been closed during both World Wars when it was used to barrack soldiers. It was mothballed in 2000 and lay silent for three years before being bought by Angus Dundee Distillers in 2003. The original sandstone facade… Read More

Whisky Review: Kavalan Solist, Sherry Cask

May is Whisky Review Month at WhiskySuggest.com. During this month, we’ll share 10 of the most entertaining, informative, unique or spot-on whisk(e)y reviews with the rest of the world. Every three days, a whisky review of one of the 50,000+ Whisky Suggest App users is selected as Featured Whisky Review. This 10th (and last) review contains Freeze‘s tasting notes of Kavalan Solist, Sherry Cask. The Taiwanese Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask is next on my table. The one I tasted came at cask strength of an overwhelming 57,1%. This one is uncolored and unfiltered, has dark copper appearance and was… Read More

Basil Hayden’s launches blend of rye and dark rum

Jim Beam added two rye variants to Basil Hayden’s whiskey range after the first release of Basil Hayden’s Rye. The port influenced Dark Rye and a blend of two rye whiskeys and two bourbon whiskeys, named Two by Two Rye. Now another Basil Hayden’s blend has hit the shelves fairly quietly. Just like their Dark Rye, the new Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye is not cask finished, but simply blended with another spirit. In this case black strap rum (a dark, robust type of rum), in stead of port wine. “Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye is… Read More

Whisky Review: Bowmore 1991 (Antique Lions of Spirits)

May is Whisky Review Month at WhiskySuggest.com. During this month, we’ll share 10 of the most entertaining, informative, unique or spot-on whisk(e)y reviews with the rest of the world. Every three days, a whisky review of one of the 50,000+ Whisky Suggest App users is selected as Featured Whisky Review. Today we’re sharing aleZoSo‘s tasting notes of Bowmore 1991 (Antique Lions of Spirits). The best thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s so difficult to explain how I felt drinking this spectacular dram. Nose Iodine, chocolate, coffee, hint of cinnamon, fruity, dried apricots and peat (just a bit). Very complex. Read More

Hunter Laing introduces first Feis Ile release

The Scotch whisky distiller, blender and bottler Hunter Laing & Co. releases Scarabus Specially Selected at Feis Ile 2019, the Islay Festival of Music and Whisky. The first drams of Scarabus will be poured at a number of tours and tastings throughout the festival at Hunter Laing & Co.’s newly opened distillery on the island, Ardnahoe. It will also be available exclusively for purchase there until next month. Scarabus, meaning ‘rocky place’ in Nordic, is named after a mystical area of Islay and is described as a whisky for those with a curious mind and an eye for… Read More

Whisky Rumours: May Edition

In the United States, all alcoholic beverage manufacturers must submit the labels of their products to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for approval. These labels are published on the TTB website under the Freedom of Information Act, which means that they’re available to see before the whiskies are released. Although it’s definitely not a guarantee that the submitted labels will actually end up on whisky bottles, or that these bottles will be released in any country other than the US, it is very interesting to look at. We all love rumours, right? These are some… Read More

Whisky Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

May is Whisky Review Month at WhiskySuggest.com. During this month, we’ll share 10 of the most entertaining, informative, unique or spot-on whisk(e)y reviews with the rest of the world. Every three days, a whisky review of one of the 50,000+ Whisky Suggest App users is selected as Featured Whisky Review. Today we’re sharing ChrisM‘s tasting notes of Johnnie Walker Double Black. This whisky is an ode to Man, by Man. This is a construction. It’s not the nectar that the gods of whisky gave to men by some happy combination of clear water, magnificent barley or some other… Read More

Balvenie introduces new ‘Stories’ range

Speyside distillery The Balvenie has announced the launch of a new collection of whiskies: The Balvenie Stories range. The Balvenie Stories range includes the 12 year old The Sweet Toast of American Oak, the 14 year old The Week of Peat and the 26 year old A Day of Dark Barley. The three new expressions of The Balvenie all tell a human story; those of Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie using Kentucky Virgin oak to make a fruitier Balvenie, former distillery manager Ian Millar introducing smoke from Speyside peat, and malt master David Stewart using an unusually brittle barley. Read More

Event Horizon is Octomore’s Feis Ile 2019 bottling

Bruichladdich has revealed details of this year’s release for Feis Ile 2019, Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt: Octomore Event Horizon. This super-heavily peated Octomore spirit, reaching 162.6PPM, was distilled in 2007. It has matured exclusively in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez butts from Fernando de Castilla in Spain. Four casks were hand selected and combined to create a whisky that, having celebrated its 12th birthday in February this year, is the oldest Octomore released to date. Adam Hannett, Head Distiller of Bruichladdich Distillery: “The flavour profile is unbelievable, huge smoke, huge dried fruit notes and an earthy, rounded… Read More