Review: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2014 Edition
Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection needs no introduction, I’m sure — this is one of the most well-respected and sought-after annual whiskey collections on the market. Closely allocated and tough to find, you’re best off starting your hunt now. These releases formally hit the market in late September/early October. Thoughts on the 2014 lineup follow. Sazerac…
Review: Parker’s Heritage Collection Original Batch Wheat Whiskey 13 Years Old (2014)
Last year Heaven Hill released the Parker’s Heritage Collection Promise of Hope, a 10 year old bourbon from which $20 of each bottle were donated to ALS research, a sober nod to Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam, who was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. Promise of Hope ended up raising over $300,000…
Review: Glenglassaugh Revival, Evolution, and Torfa
Brought back from the dead in 2008, Glenglassaugh is a storied distillery that had been dormant since 1986. Last year the newly-running distillery changed hands and was fell to BenRiach, which is now bottling a number of expressions consisting of both new make spirit and old stock. None of the old stock offerings — some…
Review: Newfoundland Screech Rum, Spiced Rum, and Honey Rum
Who woulda thought they’d name a rum after this guy? In all seriousness… Back in the old days (like, yesteryear), Newfoundland-based sailors drank a lot of rum. They got their rotgut from Jamaica, and it didn’t even have a name. As the story goes, decades later an American WWII G.I. drank a slug of the…
Review: The Exclusive Malts Batch #5 – Ledaig 2005, Glenrothes 1996, Speyside 1989
The latest round of the always-enticing independently-bottled Exclusive Malts arrives with seven expressions available. We managed to get our hands on three of them. Without further ado, thoughts follow. The Exclusive Malts Ledaig 2005 8 Years Old – Extremely pale, with just a touch of yellow on it. A Highland whisky distilled at Tobermory on…
Review: Casa Noble Tequila, Complete Lineup (2014)
From time to time we like to revisit spirits we’ve spent time with in the past. Management changes. Production practices change. Formulations change. Climate changes. And stuff varies from bottle to bottle even when none of the above changes. Sometimes our reviews are identical. Sometimes they’re wildly different. Today we look again at Casa Noble,…
Review: Del Maguey Iberico Mezcal
Del Maguey’s Pechuga Mezcal is legendary in the mezcal world, and justifiably so. For those not in the know, in Spanish, a pechuga is a poultry breast, commonly a chicken breast. Why would you call your mezcal Pechuga? Because it has a chicken breast in it. How’s that? Del Maguey mezcel is distilled three times, and…
Review: The Arran Malt 17 Years Old and Arran Sherry Premium Single Cask 1997
Isle of Arran-based Arran keeps pumping out special releases, with these two new offerings now hitting the market. Thoughts on both follow. The Arran Malt 17 Years Old – A limited edition bottling, fully matured in ex-sherry casks, this is the second release in a trilogy of single malts leading up to what will be…
