The Balvenie Caribbean Cask is a Sweet, Complex Speyside
When whiskies get a lot of hype, I get a little worried. Will they live up to it, or disappoint me? Am I buying a decent dram or simply buying into a successful marketing campaign? Of course there is another alternative — it exceeds the…
Norlan Whisky Glass: A Review
Just to make it perfectly clear, I don’t Kickstart things often. But when I took a look at what Norlan had planned for a whisky glass, I simply couldn’t resist — especially when my backing would net me two glasses when the project came to…
Touring Talisker: A Behind The Scenes Look as Skye’s Whisky
When I went to Scotland, I decided to make it a priority to visit the distillery which made my (currently) highest rated scotch. That distillery was Talisker, and that whisky was their unbelievably good 57 ° North, a NAS, cask-strength beast of a dram. It…
Basil Hayden’s Bourbon: Good for Bond, Not for Me
When you think of James Bond’s drink, you think of – well you know what it is. But it’s not simply agitated vodka drinks the suave spy goes in for – it’s bourbon too. In the 2011 Bond novel Carte Blanche, James keeps Basil Hayden’s…
Lot 40 Whisky Has a Lot to Offer
Canadian whiskey has traditionally gotten a bad rap. Mostly thanks to brands like Canadian Club serving the “bottom shelf mixer whiskey” slot with extreme consistency (although their Chairman’s Select Rye proves they can deliver a decent dram.) But dawn is breaking for Canadian whiskey lovers,…
Yellow Rose Rye Is a Tasty Texas Whiskey
Many people sipping American whiskey can get stuck in a rut bouncing between two states — namely Kentucky and Tennessee. But there’s amazing whiskey being produced all over America (one of my favourites is Rittenhouse Rye, made in Pennsylvania.) Recently I added to this list with Yellow Rose…
Dewar’s 12 Year Delivers a Delicious Dram
Among casual scotch snobs, blends are so often summarily dismissed you might think none are worthy of any attention. Even a casual run through of your local liquor store stock will likely provide evidence of their inferior status – they’re a lower price, on a…
Orphan Barrel Lost Prophet Bourbon: Gimmick Drink or Great Dram?
Smoth’s Rating: 9.2/10 It’s a rare occasion that I come across a whiskey as rare as Orphan Barrel’s Lost Prophet, a 22 year-old bourbon. Some claim the Orphan Barrel lineup is more marketing gimmick than quality. With it’s extremely high price, snappy branding and questionable background,…
Bulleit 10 Year Bourbon: A Mature Whiskey
I’m a fan of Bulleit bourbon. It’s a straight forward, unabashed whiskey that’s perfectly suited for decent cocktails and sipping alike. So when I got the chance to try Bulleit 10 bourbon, the big brother of the Bulleit line, I was excited — would this bring additional refinement…
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye: World’s Best Whiskey?
Let me give you a quick summary of the questions I know you have about Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye: Yes, I actually found a bottle for myself, and no — it’s not the world’s best whiskey. But you know what? It is pretty damn good, and…