whisky at Drinkology

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey Phoenix 1829 Limited Edition 0.5L 55% Tullamore DEW distillery is named after its founder Daniel E. Williams (hence DEW). He worked his way up from stable boy to owner. It is thanks to him that the distillery got electricity and motorized cars and created the whisky with its unmistakable character. His grandson Desmond inherited his courage and determination and revolutionized whisky production by introducing blended whisky. The power of three Since the beginning, this special number has been indispensable. This refers to three points in the production process that cannot be done without: - the use of three types of grain - triple distillation And - the marriage of three different types of whisky: single malt, grain whisky and single pot still whisky. Tullamore Dew Phoenix Limited Edition What is also special is that Tullamore Dew Phoenix is bottled at 55% ABV. Dew Phoenix is intended to commemorate a terrible disaster and the resulting solidarity of the community of Tullamore. In 1785 there was a devastating hot air balloon crash which started a fire that destroyed the entire town. What the fire could not destroy: the solidarity and courage of the residents. They rebuilt the town completely. Since this disaster, a phoenix has appeared on the town's coat of arms as a constant reminder of this. The reconstruction of the city led to the founding of the Tullamore DEW distillery in 1829, and so this number in the name stands for the year the distillery was founded. Tasting notes On the nose, typical malt notes that you would expect from Tullamore. But also vanilla and toffee notes that go perfectly with roasted wood and sherry. The higher alcohol content leaves a spicy pot still taste on the palate. If you add a little water, sweet toffee and floral notes appear that combine with oak tannins. Due to the maturation in Oloroso sherry casks, the whisky has a distinctive aroma: spicy and with a slight sweetness, it hits the nail on the head. Caramel notes and fine sherry tones characterize the taste.

Isle of Jura Single Malt Whisky 28 years 0.7L 47% As you would expect from Isle of Jura products, this limited edition is naturally free of colorants and chill filtration. All individual barrels used for this bottling were carefully selected by Thomas Ewers. The final whisky was ultimately bottled at a powerful 49.7% ABV, which is intended to give the aromas even more power. Tasting The proud maturation period of 28 years is now clearly reflected in the aroma and taste. First, you are overwhelmed by the variety of different aromas on the nose. Only on the palate can these be defined more precisely.

Fettercairn 23 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 48.5% At the foot of the mountain This is the translation of the Gaelic name 'Fettercairn' and refers to the distillery located in Fettercairn. It has been located there since it was founded in 1824 by Sir Alecander Ramsay. After the distillery was almost completely burned down in a massive fire towards the end of the 19th century, citizens managed to rebuild the distillery, albeit with great effort. Fettercairn 23 Year Old Single Malt Whisky In addition to the usual borubon barrels, cognac barrels were also used for this 23-year-old. This created a very complex, special aroma. Green apples exude a certain freshness, along with roasted almonds, a hint of vanilla and some milk chocolate. On the palate, there are other special notes of roasted pineapple, dark caramel and pecans. The finish is medium-long, with aromas of dried grapes and cinnamon accompanying the finish.

Benriach Smoke Season Double Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 52.8% Tasting With the Smoke Season Double Cask Matured Whisky, the Benriach distillery is taking a new approach, or if you like, an old approach. Smoky whiskies from Speyside, where the Benriach whisky comes from, are not really what you would associate with the whisky region. However, if you look back a little at the historical development of the distillery, you will be taught otherwise. In the 1970s, the old styles of whiskies that were popular in the 19th century were briefly revived. Back then, a lot of malted barley was used, which was smoked with Highland peat. Smoke Season Double Cask Matured is therefore a homage to this former style and is absolutely successful. In addition to the distinctive smoke influences, fruit aromas still prevail. Baked apple and cinnamon as well as a hint of orange peel round off the smoky charcoal aromas wonderfully.

Benriach The Twenty Five Four Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 46% John Duff John Duff, who already owned the Longmorn distillery, also founded the Benriach distillery in 1898. At the turn of the century, however, it had to be temporarily closed to whisky production due to poor business. Up until 1965, the only malt produced was for the Longmorn distillery, which continued production, after which the distillery was transferred to Glenlivet Distillery Ltd. There were one or two changes of ownership up until 2004, before the distillery was finally sold to an independent consortium called The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. calls, and since 2016 has in turn belonged to the Brown Forman Corporation. The Twenty Five Four Cask Matured As the name suggests, this whisky contains a mixture of whisky matured in different types of barrels. These are selected whiskies from ex-sherry, bourbon, Madeira and virgin oak barrels. The maturation period for this product is an impressive 25 years, which is reflected not only in the dark color but also in the taste. Each barrel left behind its own special aromas during this time: Sherry and Madeira barrels provide fruity characteristics, while bourbon and virgin oak barrels provide strong spicy to smoky notes. Overall, The Twenty Five Four Cask Matured Whisky can be described as a very rich single malt. The palate is pampered with baked fruit cake, spicy malt and oak aromas as well as caramel and finally a smoky finish.

Benriach The Twenty One Four Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 46% Benriach Distillery The history of the Scottish distillery got off to a somewhat bumpy start shortly after it was founded by John Duff. Two years after it opened in Speyside, production at the distillery was shut down again. As Duff was also the owner of the nearby Longmorn distillery, Benriach was able to keep going by producing malt. It was only after the company was taken over by The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. in 1965 that normal production could begin again, although it did not yet produce under its own name. This was possible after the company was taken over by the BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. in 2004. Today the distillery belongs to the Brown Forman Corporation. The Twenty One Four Cask Matured The barrels selected by master blender Rachel Barrie all influenced the whisky over the long maturation period of 21 years. The selection of sherry and red wine barrels provide more fruity notes, while bourbon and virgin oak barrels offer smoky notes and a fine oak aroma in this whisky. The tasting can also be repeated in this order: On the nose, first a fruity bouquet reminiscent of ripe summer fruits and citrus notes. The palate then convinces with the expected strong oak and smoky notes before it then turns into a long and soft harmonious finish.

Creag Dhu Speyside Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 40.2% The quality of Creag Dhu whisky begins with the selection of the finest barley, followed by the perfected mashing and distillation processes. The key to the exceptional taste profile lies in the specially selected barrels and how they are roasted and charred. Creag Dhu is a very traditional whisky, produced by master distiller Chris Molyneaux, in collaboration with a Speyside distillery. Time-honored Scottish whisky distilling techniques are used that have not changed for centuries. Creag Dhu whisky is stored for at least eight years. Creag Dhu is an exceptionally smooth, rich, spicy and delicate single malt Scotch whisky with a warm and long finish, with notes of date and walnut cake, spicy caramel and Oloroso sherry.

Laphroaig Single Malt Whisky 25 Years 2020 Edition Cask Strength 0.7L 49.8% The island of Islay Islay is one of the Inner Hebrides and is the southernmost of this group of islands. The history of whisky goes back a long way here, albeit illegally. Irish monks are said to have discovered the art of distillation here. Since the island was very isolated from the mainland at the time, the production of island-typical spirits naturally boomed, which the tax collectors absolutely did not like. Ultimately, however, the laws were changed to the advantage of the distillers and more and more legal distilleries were able to settle on the island. One of these legal distilleries has been the Laphroaig distillery on the south coast since 1815. The founders Donald and Alexander Johnston chose the name after the distillery's surroundings, which are a 'broad valley in the bay'. Good things come to those who wait This whisky is one of the best proofs that length of maturation is often what counts. For this single malt whisky, fresh Laphroaig was divided into two different barrels. One part matured in ex-bourbon barrels, the other part in Oloroso sherry barrels. The whisky was then allowed to mature and develop its full aromas for a quarter of a century. The storage facilities in the warehouses directly on the Atlantic play a particularly important role here. Laphroaig's notes always have something medicinal and a hint of seaweed. Added to this are the aromas of the different barrels. Slightly sweet, fruity notes from the sherry barrels, paired with vanilla and oak notes from the bourbon barrels. After this long maturation period, it was bottled directly at cask strength.

Glen Scotia Single Malt Whisky Campbeltown Harbour 0.7L 40% Glen Scotia Distillery The name Glen Scotia is no stranger to whisky experts in particular. The distillery has existed since 1832 and is valued for its high quality and authenticity. Today Glen Scotia is produced under the management of the Loch Lomond Distillery Co., which produces only around 100,000 l of Glen Scotia each year. Maturation and taste The name of the whisky does what it suggests: It exudes a harbor atmosphere! The Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour matures entirely in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, which give the whisky slightly fruity characteristics. There is also a sweet herbal aroma, as well as a certain saltiness and subtle influences of peat smoke and a mild sea breeze.

Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky 12 years 0.7L 40% set with 2 glasses Glenfiddich Distillery Scotland The Scottish whisky distillery has been in existence since 1963 and is said to have been the first to sell 'pure' whisky. Until the distillery was founded, it is said, whisky was always sold as a blend. Today the company is one of the world's best known whisky brands. The perfect gift This whisky is the perfect gift for anyone new to the diverse world of whisky. Its mild character quickly convinces you and gets you to think more and more about the subject of whisky. If you are looking for a nice whisky as a gift for a hostess, the Glenfiddich Single Malt 12 year old including 2 glasses is definitely not a bad choice. Tasting Notes After opening, the whisky welcomes you with a fruity, sweet bouquet, peppered with vanilla. On the palate, it is initially very soft on the tongue, with aromas of malt and fruit being the first to be noticed. Then subtle notes of oak join in.

The Ileach Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength 0.7L 58% Islay through and through We warmly recommend this whisky to fans of strong peat smoke notes. However, the exact distillery behind this peaty whisky has not been fully disclosed. Some think they recognize a typical Lagavulin, but others see it more as a Caol Ila... In terms of taste, this ignorance gives The Ileach Islay Cask Strength even more 'character'; you perceive the aromas more intensely and perhaps not be able to recognize a specific distillery. All in all, however, this The Ileach (translated from Gaelic, this means 'citizen of Islay') reflects the typical Islay characteristics: clear and sometimes strong peat smoke notes combined with maritime overtones.

Southern Comfort Black 0.7L 40% Since 1874 The 'Southern Comfort' brand was founded in the early 1870s. Southern Comfort really should be put in quotation marks here, because Heron originally developed the drink from whiskey, local fruits and spices under the name 'Cuffs & Buttons'. It was only years later, out of local patriotism, that this was renamed the brand name we know today, 'Southern Comfort'. Black The new member of the Southern Comfort family is 'Black'. It stands for a more modern and rebellious brand. While the classic Southern Comfort mainly focuses on sweeter notes such as orange, vanilla and popcorn, there is a clear difference with Black. The focus here is definitely on the aroma of whisky. Spicy, strong notes of roasted oak are the first things you notice, closely followed by the well-known vanilla and spice notes of the classic. Nevertheless, it remains to be said that this is still a whisky liqueur and should definitely not be confused, compared or equated with a classic whisky. A small consumption recommendation on top: Pour approx. 6 cl Southern Comfort Black into a whisky glass filled with ice cubes. Now top up with ginger ale and garnish with a slice of fresh ginger.

Macallan Masters of Photography Magnum Edition 0.7L 43.7% Masters of Photography Series What better way to celebrate a new opening than with a special edition? That's what Macallan thought too and decided to create a new edition of the well-known Masters of Photography series. This edition, strictly limited to 2000 bottles, even has an additional special feature this time: Compared to the previous edition, several well-known photographers from Magnum Photos were brought on board this time: Alec Soth, Gueorgui Pinkhassov, Steve McCurry, Martin Paar, Paolo Pellergrin and Mark Power worked together on this project and present impressive images of the Macallan distillery. Master distiller Sarah Burgess created the matching whisky. The new edition consists of a total of eight malt barrels. She deliberately chose barrels that have stark contrasts and characteristics to reflect the different photo styles of the photographers. In detail, there are notes of fresh, spicy ginger, oak wood and fresh hints of citrus fruits on the nose. On the palate there are fruity notes of apples and a hint of peat. You can taste honey and other candied dried fruits before the whisky goes into a medium-long finish.

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 0.7L 47% Responsible distillery The American Heaven Hill distillery is behind the Elijah whiskey. It can be found in Louisville, Kentucky, where it has been the largest independent and family-run whiskey distillery in the entire USA for years. Elijah Craig This straight bourbon gets its name 'Elijah Craig' from a special key figure in American bourbon history, Reverend Elijah Craig, who in 1789 is said to have been the first person in spirits history to put the finished distillate into burnt oak barrels for the first time and store it there for some time. The Elijah Craig Small Batch Straight Bourbon is made up of both corn and rye whiskey. There is no longer an exact age, but it is known that the blend is made up of barrels that have been stored for between eight and twelve years. In terms of taste, you can look forward to a complex, soft and warming bourbon. Oak and nutmeg initially dominate the taste, but then give way to sweet vanilla and fruit notes as well as various spices. Sweet notes are also present for a long time in the long-lasting finish.

Islay Journey Blended Malt Whisky 0.7L 46% Independent bottler Hunter Laing This time too, the independent bottler Hunter Laing, who has been responsible for fascinating blends since 1949 and is now in the third generation, is hiding behind a blended malt whisky. The Islay Journey is a blend of various Islay malts, most of which matured in bourbon barrels. The taste experience is more influenced by the bitter, smoky notes. The aroma is clearly characterized by smoky notes, citrus and leather, on the palate an intense whisky with notes of peat and seaweed, but also fruity notes such as grapefruit or banana.

Highland Journey Blended Malt Whisky 0.7L 46.2% Hunter Laing The independent bottler Hunter Laing is behind this wonderful Highland Journey Blende Malt. The bottler, who has been responsible for blended Scotch whisky since 1949 in the 3rd generation, has been able to amass a considerable collection of sought-after, old and very rare whisky over the years. These are combined to create wonderful blends and often brought to market as limited editions. One of these outstanding products is the Highland Journey Blended Malt Whisky. The whiskies used for the blend matured partly in bourbon but also in sherry casks, creating a wonderful harmony between herbal and oak notes as well as sweet fruit notes. The nose initially reveals notes of honey and red fruits, followed immediately by vanilla and subtle floral notes. The intense and sophisticated taste is clearly evident on the palate, at first there are fruity, fresh notes, but these then quickly give way to spicy notes of cinnamon and pepper, and the aromas of sherry can also be detected here.

Tamnavullin Speyside Single Malt Whisky Double Cask 0.7L 40% Distillery anniversary It was not clear for a long time that the distillery would even have such a 'big' anniversary. The distillery, which was only built by Invergordon in 1966, had its difficulties right from the start. After it was taken over by Whyte & Mackay in 1994, they closed the distillery a good year later. At the turn of the century, production resumed briefly for a few months, but nothing major. It was only after the distillery was sold again and bought by a subsidiary of the Indian UB Group that whisky production began again in the same year it was bought, 2007. However, they rarely sold under their own name, and liter after liter went into various blends, including Mackinlay's. To mark the company's 50th anniversary, the Tamnavullin distillery from the village of the same name in Scotland has finally brought a new original bottling onto the market. This went through two maturation phases, the first in ex-bourbon barrels and the second in ex-sherry barrels, which gave it a strong amber color. The Double Cask has a lot to offer in terms of taste. Spicy notes such as cinnamon and cardamom, cloves and allspice, as well as notes of dark stone fruit such as plums. Light sweetness from malt and butter caramel. Sweet and spicy notes accompany the finish.

Glen Grant Single Malt Whisky Arboralis 0.7L 40% Arboralis Single Malt Whisky Arboralis refers to the old Victorian garden, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the Glen Grant distillery. The name is an allusion to this storage location, because translated it means something like 'light that shines through the trees'. In this old garden, the whisky is stored partly in bourbon and partly in sherry casks. This is married in a ratio of 9:1. In terms of taste, this new single malt whisky has a lot to offer. On the nose, it is initially fruity notes such as peach, banana and pear that pamper the senses. Honey and a hint of vanilla are also present. If you now take a small sip, an equally fruity bouquet develops. Here, however, there are other fruits that you can recognize. There are orange and apple, as well as peach with a hint of vanilla. Something reminiscent of tea hangs in the background. The finish is medium-long, with further notes, this time of a more spicy character.

Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch No. 001 2021 Highland Single Malt Whisky 0.7L 49.7% Warehouse Collection The new collection from the Fettercairn distillery stands for small, limited bottlings. The whisky for this is stored in specially selected barrels from the distillery's 14 warehouses. The first bottling is the Warehouse 2 Batch No. 001, which was blended from a total of 19 barrels from Warehouse No. 2. Here it is the balanced mix of different types of barrels that creates the special taste. Among the 19 barrels were first-fill sherry barrels and first-fill bourbon barrels, to name just a few. The taste Not only are its great amber to golden reflections fascinating right away, the aroma is also fantastic. It is described as floral and fruity, with notes of fruits such as melon and pears. Honey aroma gives a pleasant sweetness. On the palate there are still spicy notes and, although rather subtle in the background, vanilla and ginger are recognizable. In the aftertaste there are fruity notes with cinnamon.

Hakushu Distillers Reserve Single Malt Japanese Whisky 0.7L 43% Japanese Whisky Japan is a rather unusual country for whisky. If the country is the last thing you associate with Scottish or Irish spirits, it is all the more surprising to learn that Japan has been on the rise when it comes to whisky in recent years and should not be underestimated! A manufacturer from Japan that is one of the global spirits players Suntory is Hakushu. Along with Yamazaki, the distillery is one of only two distilleries that produce Japanese single malt whisky for the group. Both distilleries are characterized by the fact that they have a large number of different stills. This means that both distilleries can produce many different whiskies with individual characters, which can then be blended later. Hakushu Distillers Reserve Hakushu Distillers Reserve is exactly such a blend. The special thing that sets Hakushu whisky apart from products from the Yamauaki distillery is that the whisky is often smoked before the actual distillation process. This gives the whisky from the Hakushu distillery a pleasant smoky aroma. This is so subtle in the Distillers Reserve that you can hardly notice it. It is mainly aromas such as vanilla, green apples and a kind of cucumber aroma that pamper the taste buds. A little malt can also be detected in the background alongside lemon. In the finish, a little smoky aroma is also initially more noticeable, but fades again quite quickly and leaves behind memories of a fruity, tangy summer whisky.

Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey Blended Malt Whisky 0.7L 40% Who is behind Monkey Shoulder? Not many people have heard of this brand yet. But let us tell you that you most likely know the whisky brand behind Monkey Shoulder. The founder of the brand is none other than the well-known company William Grant & Sons! This is therefore a real Scottish whisky and brings together three of the greatest whisky producers under one roof. These three different distilleries and their different characters are also united in the Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky. The first edition of this blend, the 'Mokey Shoulder', was released in 2005, but this bottling is the 'peated' version. 'Somkey' is absolutely the name of the game with this blend. All blends used are based on peated barley or peated whisky. This taste is more likely to attract connoisseurs than beginners. The smoky character is accompanied on the palate by fruity notes such as orange and a fine sweetness that can also convince beginners.

Macallan Single Malt Whisky Double Cask 18 Years 0.7L 43% Double Cask 18 Years The 18-year-old Double Cask is also a product from the Double Cask series. Compared to the 12- and 15-year-olds, it is the oldest in the series. For storage, it was decided to divide the whisky into two different types of casks, but what both have in common is that sherry was previously stored in both types. One part matures in American oak casks, another part in European oak casks. In total, the whisky matured for a good 18 years before the two whiskies were married together. The aroma is characterized by dried fruit and a pleasant sweetness due to storage in the sherry-soaked casks. Spice notes such as nutmeg and cloves can also be heard, and the sherry influences are clearly recognizable.

Tomintoul Single Malt Whisky Seiridh Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish 0.7L 40% Tomintoul Distillery The whisky distillery from Scotland is based in the village of the same name, 'Tomintoul', which is the highest village in the country. The brand is a merger of the two whisky traders W&S Strong & Co and Hay &HacLeod& Co and was founded in 1964. The distillery was built in 1965. There have been many changes of ownership over the years; today the distillery belongs to Whsyte&Mackay. Seiridh Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish The first maturation phase takes place in ex-bourbon barrels, the second in Oloroso Sherry Butts. These give the whisky its slightly nutty but above all very fruity-sweet taste. With only 6,000 bottles worldwide, the Seiridh is a limited edition.

Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky 12 Years Triple Oak 0.7L 40% Triple Oak Once again, the Scottish Glenfiddich distillery has opted for a special bottling. Three different types of barrels were used for this 12-year-old malt whisky: Bourbon, sherry and freshly charred French oak barrels. All three contribute with their special properties to a harmonious taste experience - and that for a whisky that has been matured for such a short time. Tasting The first impression when opening the bottle speaks clearly for the typical Glenfiddich character. Soft aromas, a little fruitiness and light wood notes are in the foreground. As expected, it is also super pleasant and soft. After a few seconds in the mouth, the individual aromas emerge: sweet caramel, fruity notes and also a hint of oak and smoke are recognizable.