Ardbeg is ramping up their efforts to market to whisky lovers in Japan, for the first time this year, releasing a “Committee Release” bottle to local members, and the special edition Ardcore throughout Japan retailers. They’ve also ramped up their Ardbeg Day event this year to a larger space in…

Much like Malt Review, I feel that the current hundred point system is both capricious and arbitrary, and too much time is spend around the 80/100 level and not enough range is given to the full possibility of expression. So, future reviews will be marked up on a 10-point scale…

As Japan is re-opening its borders for international tourism on October 11th, 2022, potential visitors may wonder where they can go for a Japanese Whisky distillery tour. Here are some options by rough regional area: Tokyo / Yokohama / Kanto (or closeish to it) Please note that none of these options are really in Tokyo / Kanto; they…

Recently, I’ve got my hands on a triplet of Midleton’s “Spots” series, so let’s take a peek at the Green, Blue, and Gold Spot Irish Whiskies. Midleton Green Spot Château Léoville Barton / 46% ABV Tasted neat There is a little bit of a story to this Green Spot single pot still Irish Whisky; normal Green Spot is an…

Following up my review of two younger, fantastic Ardmores, today I’ll take a look at two older IB Ardmore from Maltbarn and The Archives. Ardmore 2003 Maltbarn 18 Year Old / 51.9% ABV Tasted neat Moving onto the older category, this 18 year old Ardmore from Maltbarn was distilled in 2003, matured in a sherry cask, and then bottled…

In this review, we’ll take a look at two Ardmore from different independent bottlers, both eleven years old. Tomorrow I plan to tackle the older pair to the right! After trying the knockout TWA 21 year old “Castle Dornoch,” my first from Ardmore Distillery, I was sold, and I’ve been…

If you’re a fan of Lagavulin 16, this is cheaper and better. Classic of Islay 2022 / 58% / ¥9,200 Tasted neat This “Classic of Islay” is a little mysterious; from the label, we see only that it is a “special selection single malt scotch whisky aged in oak” and that it is an Islay Malt, non-chill-filtered, and…

If you enjoy Lagavulin, you can’t go wrong with this. Lagavulin 12 Year — Diageo Special Releases 2019 / 56.5% Tasted neat, then with a little water The Special Release 2019 Lagavulin 12 year old cask strength is done up in the new labelling style, with a hawk and plants motif in subdued colours. Under the tagline of “Powerful &…