Coldorak's whisky blog.
We’re back to Longmorn with three official releases, as we take a look at three Secret Speyside expressions from a few years ago. The Secret Speyside collection, made by Pernod Ricard, who owns Longmorn, Braes of Glenlivet or Glen Keith and other distilleries (and in the coming months I’ll review a few Caperdonich from that same range). But for now, on my table today are the Longmorn 18-, 23- and 25-year-old.
Read more
Earlier this year, we first encountered the young Japanese distillery Shizuoka when we reviewed the Shizuoka Contact S and United S. As I explained then, Shizuoka uses two unique stills: one originates from the closed and famous Karuizawa distillery, and the other is a wood-fired direct heat still. Now, we look back at their early years by reviewing their first releases from each of these stills: the Shizuoka Prologue W and Prologue K.
Read more
Jean and Amy Pasquet have a unique approach in the world of cognac. Beyond bottling cognacs from other producers under their Trésors de Famille label, they make their own organic cognac range known as L’Organic. This core range features four distinct expressions. Three of these highlight different age statements, specifically 4, 7, and 10 years, while the fourth focuses on the grape variety, known as L’Organic Folle Blanche. Today, our attention is on the first three, including two variations of the 4-year-old, as we explore the Cognac Pasquet L’Organic 04, 07, and 10.
Read more
We’re back from a three weeks break with a pair of whiskies from Ardmore. Ardmore Distillery, founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, was originally established to supply peated malt for the widely popular Teacher’s Highland Cream blend. Ardmore also exists on its own, and is now operated by Suntory Global Spirits. Let’s learn a bit more about Ardmore, then we’ll review two independent bottlings showing the two sides of this distillery, producing mostly peated whisky but also some unpeated ones, with the Ardlair 2011 van Wees and the Ardmore 25-year-old Thompson Brothers.
Read more
After a couple of weeks being sick and not even drinking whisky or other spirits for 10 days, I’m taking a few days off. We should be back around August 11!
Thank you for your patience!
It has been far too long – over three years, in fact – since we last indulged in the delights of Ben Nevis. Today, we remedy that oversight with a duo of recent independent bottlings, and we promise to delve into the half-dozen samples waiting patiently in our drawer very soon. On today’s menu: a Ben Nevis 2014 from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and a 2012 from The Duchess.
Read more
In May 2024, I reviewed 8 old blends, ranging from the 1980s to one distilled before the Second World War, a splendid Ballantine’s 30-year-old. More recently, I reviewed a few modern blends, including another Ballantine’s, but this time it was a non-age statement, and it wasn’t as good as its ancestor. Far from it, and I’m sure the age of the components is not the only reason. Today, we return to old blends with a duo of 1980s J&B and Long John Blends. And since we reviewed recently the modern J&B, we’ll be able to see if it was better before!
Read more
WhistlePig Distillery produces rye whiskey on a 500-acre farm in Shoreham, Vermont. Raj Bhakta founded the company in 2007, and in 2015, WhistlePig introduced its first major release, a 10-year-aged rye whiskey (a sourced Canadian rye whiskey). The distillery helped revive interest in rye whiskey in the American market. It operates out of a converted barn and uses two 750-gallon copper pot stills. The farm grows rye grain along with other crops, and the company manages its own barrels and other production inputs. This vertical approach allows WhistlePig to control the raw materials and maturation process. Initially, the brand sourced a significant portion of its whiskey from Canada, with master distiller Dave Pickerell assisting in developing the early offerings. Currently, the in-house team manages distillation and blending. Today, we review two sourced whiskeys and one made in-house: the WhistlePig 10-year-old, 12-year-old, and Farmstock Rye Beyond Bond.
Read more
For France’s National Day, a return to cognac seems particularly fitting. Today’s focus shifts to Bourg-Charente, home to Famille Cabanne – the distillery responsible for that unforgettable and mesmerising 1924 100-year-old cognac. While they produce for renowned cognac and liqueur houses such as Grand Marnier, Courvoisier, and Otard, they also craft cognacs under their own brands: Richard Delisle and La Truffe. As we celebrate Bastille Day and contemplate cognac’s significance and tradition in France, we shall explore the Richard Delisle XO Grande Champagne, XO Club Cigare, and La Truffe XO cognacs.
Read more
Returning to the young Ardnamurchan distillery – unintentionally continuing a theme of young distilleries on More Drams, following Strathearn and Ardnahoe this week – we explore another pair… in fact, let’s make that even a trio of whiskies. Today, we compare two official bottlings, including a single cask, with a semi-independent one, given that Adelphi, the independent bottler, owns Ardnamurchan distillery. We’ll discuss the trend of independent bottlers starting to distil as well before we dive into the Ardnamurchan AD/ Mezcal Cask Release and the Single Casks 08:18 #1060 and #338 Adelphi.