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Stories from April, 2011

Bruichladdich XVII Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich
91
Bruichladdich XVII 17 year
17 year old Bruichladdich. The first edition of the 17 year old comes from 100% first fill American Oak casks.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, mature red fruits, grapes, honey, spices, smoke, wood. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, honey, fruits, wood, spices, smoke. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. honey, wood, spices, a little smoke. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich XVII 17 year with 91 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich Fifteen Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Bruichladdich

“ A great dram. More mature than 10 years old, with more wood and spices. Sweeter. Great.”

92
Bruichladdich 15 Year Old / 1st Edition Islay Whisky
A 15 year old Bruichladdich, released by the new owners of this Islay distillery.

As soon as the distillery was reopened in 2001 Jim McEwan started creating new whiskies with the existing casks, releasing jewels like this 15 years old single malt that soon capture the heart of all the whisky aficionados out there.

Pure Bruichladdich pleasure!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, peat, honey, fruit, pears, spices, vanilla, wood. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, fruit, wood, peat, honey, spices, tobacco. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. spices, honey, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich 15 Year Old / 1st Edition Islay Whisky with 92 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Bruichladdich

“ A great affordable dram from Bruichladdich that is a kind fruity welcome tp the peat world of Islay.”

91
Bruichladdich 10 year
Recently reborn with the great Jim McEwan at the helm in the distillery, Bruichladdich has once again started producing the kind of malts Islay fans adore.

Fresh, vibrant and as clean as a whistle.

This Islay single malt was one of the first whiskies released after the reopening of the distillery in 2000. It has been recently replaced by a bottle done totally with the whisky distilled by the new owners.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, fruit, red fruits, honey, peat, marine, vanilla. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, salt, honey, fruits, wood, spices, tobacco. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. spices, wood, honey, smoke. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich 10 year with 91 points over 100.

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Finished Laphroaig Cask Strength: Whisky maturation

By Miguel in News , Laphroaig

A Laphroaig Cask Strength 10 years old matured for one month on a small four litres cask that contained Oloroso sherry.

Extra matured Laphroaig Cask Strength in a glencairn glass

I have matured this cask strength Laphroaig for one month on a 4 litres american oak cask that has contained oloroso sherry for 4 months.
Initially I had in mind maturing it for a few years but someone advised me against the idea because most of the whisky will evaporate and explained me that typical maturation periods for these small casks are within months.

Nose (20): Sweet, iodine, hospital, raisins, vanilla.
Taste (22): Peat, sweet, ripe apples, sherry, cocoa, chocolate.
Finish (22): Peat, wood.
Balance (21): Too much sherry.

Score:

85

It is really worse than the original cask strength Laphroaig, the sherry took too much influence on the whisky.

The whisky isn’t bad, but the original peat punch of Laphroaig isn’t there anymore. It is still peated a lot, but as someone said, peat and sherry doesn’t do good friends. Each of them is cancelling the other.

Anyone wants 2 bottles of this? :)

I am thinking about breaking now a Macallan in a Moscatel Sherry cask :D


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Whisky blogs round up: April, 3rd week

By Miguel in Blogs

Last week on the blogsphere we read about:

a bottle of Kilchoman Spring Release 2011

Whiskyfun: Around the world in 80 whiskies

Whiskyfun is doing a special about Around the world in 80 whiskies. Serge is travelling around the world tasting some whiskies. He has started in Canada with a Glen Breton 15 years old and moved to the USA with three bourbons: Blanton’s Original, Four Roses Single Barrel 2010 and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Whiskey 2010.

You can’t left Whiskyfun without reading Pete McPeat and Jack Washback plans for Royal Wedding.

What Does John Knows: Ardbeg Alligator

John Hansell writes about Glenmorangie Pride, a 28 years Glenmo for just $3600, a bargain. Also he tasted Ardbeg Alligator, which seems that will be bottled at 51.7% and that will be available at USA as a Committee release in June. He also reviews two Irish whiskeys: Michael Collins and Knappogue Castle.

Dramming has been reviewing some bottles as Tamnavulin 16 years old from Master of Malt, Eagle Rare 10 years old and Whyte and Mackay Special

In Edinburgh Whisky Blog, Chris writes about his trip to Speyside were he visited Glenburgie, Glenlivet and Strathisla.

a bottle of Mackinlay Shacklenton Highland Malt Whisky

Whiskynotes has been tasting LittleMill 1989, Kilchoman Spring Release 2011 and Goudem Carolus 2009. Kilchoman announced that there will be a 100% Islay malt version in June, a 4.5 years old fully sherry matured in September and a 5 years old in November.

Whisky Israel: Tasting Shacklenton whisky

Whisky Israel have been after Mackinlay’s Shacklenton Rare Old Highland Malt that you can still buy at Master of Malt for £99, a Glengoyne 9 years old from the Creative Whisky Company and a SMWS Macallan Cask 24.104 called “Chocolate box at Christmas”.

Whisky for Everyone writes a quite interesting article about their visit to Glenburgie distillery.

The casks has been reviewing Chieftain’s Cigar Malt, Evan Williams Single Barrel and Bulleit (95) Rye Whiskey.

Nonjatta: Number One Whiskies unaffected by Fukushima radiation

Nonjatta posts few reviews of Japanese whisky ( if you haven’t tried it yet you really don’t know what you are missing ): White Oak Crown Blended Whisky, Genshu Single Cask Yoichi 20 years old and Nikka Pure Malt Tarudashi. They also post the press release of Number one drinks about their whiskies to be unaffected by Fukushima’s radiation.

Happy reading!.


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Bruichladdich: The Resurrection

By Miguel in Featured , Bruichladdich

From a mothballed distillery to a jewel in less than ten years. Know a bit more about Bruichladdich history

Bruichladdich Distillery
Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by the brother Robert William and John Gourlay Harvey near the shore of Loch Indaal, near the town of Port Charlotte. When it was founded the distillery was an example of the state-of-art and most of the equipment is still used unchanged.

The distillery was built from stone since its foundation as it was built on the purpouse of distilling whisky.

The distillery changed owners and was out of use from 1929 to 1937.
In 1938 it was sold to Hatim Attari, Joheph W. Hobbs and Alexander W. Tolmie. In 1952 sold again to Ross & Coulter Ltd, who sold to A.B. Grant in 1960.
In 1968 Invergordon Distillers acquired Bruichladdich and doubled the number of stills, before selling it to Whyte and Mackay in 1975.

The distillery closed again in 1994 but was purchased by Murray McDavid on December 19, 2000 and completly renovated by a team of enginiers. Jim McEwan, who has previously worked at Bowmore distiller, was hired as Production director. Most of the distillery is still operated without computers.

They managed to get production again in May 2001. And started inmediately selling whisky from the old maturing stocks.

Bruichladdich Stills
Bruichladdich traditionally produces a low peated spirit, to which the new owners added a heavily peated malt called Port Charlotte and an even more peated malt called Octomore, named after a silent distillery of the area.

The distillery uses one mashtun and six washbacks. The still is composed of two wash stills and two spirit stills, around 23000 litres each of them together, all heated by steam.

It is the only Islay’s distillery that uses on-site bottling.

In 2006 Bruichladdich new owners introduced the first whisky matured and bottled under their management: Port Charlotte PC5.

Some Bruichladdichs from my collection



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April's orders batch: Holidelays

By Miguel in Orders , Cooley , Kilchoman

Holidays, family, whisky and raining: Nothing is perfect.

April order from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt

This month I haven’t had time to photo all the bottles received, so finally they did a huge batch that I have finished photographing today.

This batch features some interesting bottles as the “limited release” Mackinlays Shacklenton , Cooley’s Greenore 18 years old, the latest Kilchoman Spring 2011 and the finish Terenpeli whisky.
Also I bought another bunch of miniatures and samples to keep writing about them. As usual I ordered them from Master Of Malt and The Whisky Exchange

Here is the list:


BTW Master of Malt has Mackinlays Shacklenton’s whisky again in stock now: http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/mackinlays-shackleton-rare-old-highland-malt-whisky/


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Bowmore 18 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Bowmore

“ The peat on this truly Islay malt lives together with a delicious citrus freshness altogether with some great notes of cocoa and nuts. Thirsty already?”

93
Bowmore 18 year
This increible single malt whisky was distilled at Bowmore in Islay.

Bowmore 18 years old is a complex, enigmatic and interesting malt. One to ponder over at a leisurely Islay-time pace, as it won't be rushed and takes a little time to open up and reveal its true quality.

One of the best Bowmore that I have had from the distillery range.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (96): inexistent. sweet, peat, sea, citrus freshness, coffee, cocoa. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, peat, iodine, coffee, floral, citrus, dates, nuts. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. peat, iodine, sweet, citrus. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bowmore 18 year with 93 points over 100.

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Bowmore 12 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bowmore
89
Bowmore 12 year
Established in 1779, Bowmore Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and nestles on the shores of Loch Indaal on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Islay.

Bowmore is universally regarded as the best balanced of all the Islay malts, as characterised by its wonderfully rich and complex flavors.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, floral, citrus, lime, peat, marine, salt. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, peat, peat, cocoa and salt. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. peat, floral, sweet. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bowmore 12 year with 89 points over 100.

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Macallan 22 years old 1988 Signatory Cask Strength Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Macallan
92
Macallan 22 Year Old 1988 Cask 4952
22 year old Macallan matured in a hogshead. This was distilled on the 25th May 1988 and bottled on the 14th July 2010. A release of 275 bottles at cask strength.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, honey, wood, a little raisins, dried fruits, spices, tobacco. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sweet, honey, citrus, floral, wood, nuts, spices. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. sweet, wood, spices, nuts, honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 22 Year Old 1988 Cask 4952 with 92 points over 100.

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Macallan 18 years old Fine Oak Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Macallan
91
Macallan 18 year Fine Oak
The Macallan Fine Oak is triple cask matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional oak casks;

1. European oak casks seasoned with sherry impart a rich character with hints of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

2. American oak casks seasoned with sherry deliver delicate hints of citrus lemon, coconut and toffee sweetness.

3. American oak casks seasoned with bourbon deliver floral aromas and sweet notes of vanilla and fresh fruits.

This triple cask combination delivers an extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex Single Malt matured at The Macallan distillery for a minimum of 18 years.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, nuts, honey, wood, spices, a little oloroso. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, honey, wood, oloroso, spices, smoke. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. honey, wood, spices, smoke. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 18 year Fine Oak with 91 points over 100.

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Gladiator by Ridley Scott

By Miguel in Aberlour , Drink & Arts

If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead!

The movie

Russell Crowe Gladiator by Ridley Scott
Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death.

The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the Gladiator games until he dies.
The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge.

The dram: Aberlour A’bunadh

a bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh 17
A really great dram at a very reasonable price for cask-strength whisky of this exceptional quality.

Aberlour a’bunadh is hugely sherried and intensely flavoured: a whisky to cherish.

Looking at the glass this whisky remind me of the barley fields, of the grapes and raisins drying under the sun, of the dark bodegas at Jerez. It’s a powerful dram that can light even darkest places.

Smelling it is like swimming in nuts, honey, sherry and flowers. Something that transcends the drink itself…

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Macallan 18 years old 1991 Sherry Oak Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Macallan

“The Sherry Oak version has a deeper aroma with more wood and spices. Overall it is a better whisky than the Fine Oak 18 years old.”

93
Macallan 18 year Sherry Oak
A benchmark: not just for Macallan, but for aged whisky everywhere. Sets the standard for sherried Speysides to aspire to. 'Best Malt in the World': The Macallan 18 years old, Whisky Magazine, June 2004

This dram has a mahogany-like color.

Nose (94): more than average. sweet, honet, tobacco, spices, floral, citrus, oloroso.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. sweet, oloroso, tobacco, cocoa, wood, nuts, honey, floral, grass.

Finish (92): longer than average. floral, wood, citrus, spices, tobacco.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 18 year Sherry Oak with 93 points over 100.

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Macallan 10 years old Cask Strength Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Macallan

“ An epical sherry monster: Macallan-zilla!. If you don’t like sherry don’t even move around this one. Awesome.”

93
Macallan 10 year Sherry Oak Cask Strength
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured in selected sherry oak casks from Jerez, Spain instead of using different kind of casks as the Fine Oak range does.

This expression is matured for 10 years and then bottled at original cask strength without chill filtration or the addition of water. The result is a particularly rich Single Malt, best enjoyed with a splash of water to release the complex aromas and sumptuous flavours.

Even if the prices on the Internet are high this Macallan is worth every penny you pay for it.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, nuts, honey, spices, oloroso. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sweet, hot, oloroso, honey, spices, wood, nuts. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. nuts, honey, wood, spices. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 10 year Sherry Oak Cask Strength with 93 points over 100.

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Macallan Fine Oak 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Macallan
89
Macallan 10 year Fine Oak
Matured in Bourbon & Sherry Oak Casks. This range has been around for a few years now and seems to have weathered the storm it caused amongst the faithful when it was initially released. "The Fine Oak range is...more approachable, and has the potential to be embraced by a greater percentage of whisky drinkers....cutting back on the sherry reveals more of the Macallan spirit, which is first-class." John Hansell, Malt Advocate Magazine

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, honey, tobacco, spices, floral, citrus, smoke. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, tobacco, sherry, honey, wood, spices, parma violets. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. tobacco, honey, wood, spices. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 10 year Fine Oak with 89 points over 100.

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Macallan 10 years old Sherry Oak Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Macallan
91
Macallan 10 year Sherry Oak
This Macallan 10 years old is matured exclusively in oak sherry casks from Spain to deliver a deep, rich, deliciously smooth and well-rounded flavour with a slight sweetness and touch of sherry and wood.

Its deep colour is achieved wholly naturally without the addition of any colouring.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, tobacco, vanilla, dry fruits, nuts, spices, wood. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, spices, wood, oloroso sherry, leather, nuts. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. nuts, leather, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 10 year Sherry Oak with 91 points over 100.

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Macallan 9 years old Provenance Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Macallan

“ A wonderful Macallan of such young age. It shows great sweetness and a outstanding dried fruits component.”

92
Macallan 9 year Old McGibbon's Provenance
A 9 years old single malt whisky distilled by The Macallan distillery in the Speyside and bottled by Douglas Laing for their Provenance Range.

Aromatic spices, citrus fruits, long and mellow with a lightly smoked finish. Abounding sweetness on the palate, this Macallan is a really nice experience for such young whisky that rivals in quality with older expressions of the distillery.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, spicy, wood, vanilla, dried fruits. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sweet, honey, wood, spices, dates, smoke. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. honey, wood, spices. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 9 year Old McGibbon's Provenance with 92 points over 100.

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The Macallan: Masters of Sherry

By Miguel in Featured , The Macallan

Macallan, one of the most luxury single malts, had a humble origins but hard work and an obsession with wood have made it one of the best whiskies in the world acclaimed by connoisseurs and aficionados.

The foundation of Macallan

Macallan DistilleriesFounded by Alexander Reid, Macallan took out its license in 1824. One of the first Speyside distillery to do that as most of the distilling was done in a clandestine way. The Easter Elchies house, where the Macallan distillery was originally located, dates of early 1700

When Alexander passed out the distillery passed through a couple of hands until in 1868 James Stuart, a corn merchant in Rothes and owner of Mills of Rothes.

Rebuilding in stone

James bought the distillery from the Earl of Seafield in 1886, rebuilt it on stone, as before was done in wood, and sold it to Roderick Kemp in 1892.
Roderick was the owner of Talisker up to 1892 when he fell out with his partner. So Roderick tried to buy Glenfiddich, Cardow and Mortlach without luck before he acquired Elchies distillery. One of his first jobs was to rename the distillery to Macallan-Glenlivet and improve a lot the quality of the new make.

Macallan distillery stills

On his death in 1909, ownership passed into a family trust for Kemp’s descendants who managed the distillery until the present owner, Edrington Group, bought it in 1996. A new still house was built in 1954 with two mash, three spirit stills with shell-and-tube condensers. In 1965 more stills were added doubling production. Stills were increased to 18 in 1974 and again increased to 21 in 1975. The second still house was closed in 1990 but has been recommissioned and resumed operations in September of 2008.

The blenders and the birth of single malt

In 1970, Macallan produced more than one million litres per year but 93% of its production went into blends. Just five years later there was a cut of blenders’ orders. This encouraged Macallan to mature it stock for bottling as a single malt.
Macallan casks at the distillery warehouse

Konichiwa: Suntory takeover

In 1996, Highland distilleries combined its shareholders with Suntory to mount an hostile takeover of the company.

Obsession: perfect wood casks

Macallan and the wood is a story of an obsession. Macallan only matured it whiskies in european oak casks that have contained oloroso sherry. They even bought a bodega in Jerez -Gonzalez Byass- to have a good stock of butts and hogsheads. Unfortunately the price of the casks has been increasing as most bodegas at Jerez now uses american oak as it is cheaper. That is the main reason behind Macallan Fine Oak range that uses a triple cask combination of european sherry casks, american sherry casks and oak casks.

Macallan use malt that is mainly from Simpson’s of Berwick-upon-Tweed and it produces is around 8 million litres per year.

Some Macallans from my collection



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More than just sex: Kamasutra and the elixir of Life

By Miguel in Drink & Arts , Amrut

India set two mankind milestones for sex and whisky: Kamasutra and Amrut.

The book about sex and love

kama-sutra the book of love

The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian Hindu text widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature written by V?tsy?yana. A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sexual intercourse. It is largely in prose, with many inserted anustubh poetry verses. “K?ma” which is one of the three goals of Hindu life, means sensual or sexual pleasure, and “s?tra” literally means a thread or line that holds things together, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual.

Contrary to popular perception, especially in the western world; Kama sutra is not an exclusive sex manual, it presents itself as a guide to a virtuous and gracious living that discusses the nature of love, family life and other aspects pertaining to pleasure oriented faculties of human life.

The Kama Sutra is the oldest and most notable of a group of texts known generically as Kama Shastra. Traditionally, the first transmission of Kama Shastra or “Discipline of Kama” is attributed to Nandi the sacred bull, Shiva’s doorkeeper, who was moved to sacred utterance by overhearing the lovemaking of the god and his wife Parvati and later recorded his utterances for the benefit of mankind.

The dram: Amrut

a bottle of Amrut Indian Whisky

According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir of Life. hat was called the “Amrut”.

Amrut Single Malt Whisky is a product of many years research to produce whiskies matching world standards.
This whisky is made from selected Indian barley grown at the feet of the Himalayas, nurtured by the waters flowing there and cultivated by old and traditional agricultural practices.

It is carefully mashed and distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aroma and matured in oak barrels in a unique tropical condition,at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level at Bangalore, the garden city of India.To retain the natural characteristics of this oak aged Indian Malt Whisky, we do not chill filter, some haze may therefore be noticed in the product.

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Master of Malt Bowmore 26 years old Single Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Master of Malt , Bowmore

“ Awesome flavor: violets! candies! peat!. All of them in one dram and one sip. Master of Malt has produced a great example of what a single cask whisky should be.”

92
Bowmore 26 year Master of malt Single Cask
Master of Malt's 26 year old Bowmore has oodles of character. It's full of flavours from old-fashioned tuck shops; from Drumstick lollies, to Fruit Salad Chews – and including the one particular flavour that truly jumps out of the glass, that of Parma Violets – you’ll find them all here.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, fruity, floral, peat, violets and candies. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (100): . sweet, candies, violets, hot, peat, sea, awesome!. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. violets, peat, disinfectant, sea and a bit earthy. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bowmore 26 year Master of malt Single Cask with 92 points over 100.

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Master of Malt 30 years old Speyside 3rd Edition Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Master of Malt
88
Master of Malt 30 year Speyside 3rd edition
A delightful 30 year old from our Secret Bottlings Series. This differs from our 2nd Edition by replacing the sherried grip with an incredibly fresh honey and malt

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, fruity, peaches, floral, smoke. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, wood, honey, vanilla, spices, sherry, floral, complex. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. honey, vanilla, spices. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Master of Malt 30 year Speyside 3rd edition with 88 points over 100.

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Last call for Laphroaig Triple Wood

By Miguel in News , Laphroaig

a bottle of Laphroaig Triple Wood

This expression of our famous whisky, from the remote island of Islay in the Western Isles of Scotland, has enjoyed a triple maturation in 3 types of cask.

Just as with our standard Quarter Cask expression, the first maturation is in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels. We then select the most suitable of these barrels, containing a range of different aged spirit and transfer into small 19th century style Quarter Casks for a second maturation.

The final maturation is in specially selected, large European oak, Oloroso sherry casks.

Friends of Laphroaig Shopping page

If you are interested in one be fast as it seems that last batch was sold in hours and this is the last final one.


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Best places to buy whisky?

By Miguel in News

Monkey on Gibraltar

I were wondering where do you buy your whisky? Do you buy it online? If so where?.

I buy most of my online whisky from Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and La Fuente. And I use to buy it on retails shop at Gibraltar at a shop called Stagnetto, were they have unbeatable prices and a wide offer of single malts.

Master of Malt has the best prices and most economic delivery but they take more to stock whiskies. TWE is one of the fastest stocking whisky but the delivery isn’t cheap to Spain. La Fuente has good prices for Spain but the time when one sterling pound was 1.50€ is now over.

So where do you buy?


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English Whisky for an English Royal Wedding: April's order

By Miguel in Orders , St George , The Macallan

From The Whisky Exchange: A fine scotch single malt, an english whisky, several VSOP cognacs, a Polish vodka and a Caribbean rum. What else can I ask for?

English Whisky St George Royal Wedding and Macallan 21 years old Fine Oak

I got yesterday my order with English Whisky St. George decanter for the Royal marriage of prince William and Katie Middleton. I really wanted this want bad!, english whisky to conmemorate an english soon-to-be-king wedding, it is a premier! :). It seems that this bottling is from a batch that mix several types of casks: rhum, madeira, and sherry.

Also I ordered a Macallan 21 Fine Oak, it is rather expensive but look what cool box and bottle. People says the whisky is up to the level.

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Master of Malt 12 years old Islay Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Master of Malt
89
Master of Malt 12 year Islay
Gently smoked and subtly briny. Incredibly complex for its age with a refined peat.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, peat, citrus, floral, sea, rose, coffee, sea. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, peat, earthy, floral, iodine. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. peat, earthy. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Master of Malt 12 year Islay with 89 points over 100.

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Master of Malt 12 years old Orkney Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Master of Malt
81
Master of Malt 12 year Orkney
Smooth and silky with honey and peat notes. Orkney whisky at its very best. This expression, from our secret bottlings range, is a vatting of whisky from two distilleries on the Isle of Orkney

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, heather, peat, wood, toffee, meat stock. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (80): . sweet, heather, grass, hot, honey, lime. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (80): no finish. heather, lime, toffee. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Master of Malt 12 year Orkney with 81 points over 100.

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Master of Malt 8 years old Blended Whisky Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Master of Malt
88
Master of Malt 8 year Blended
From our Secret Bottlings Series. A smooth, refined blended whisky. Toffee on the nose, and rich brown sugar on the finish.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, honey, floral, tobacco, spices, vanilla, pears, flowers. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, spices, vanilla, tobacco, wood. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. vanilla, tobacco, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Master of Malt 8 year Blended with 88 points over 100.

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Master of Malt: Selling whisky with passion since 1985

By Miguel in Featured , Master of Malt

From the people who created Drinks by the dram: Whisky tastings democracy

Master of Malt banner

Humble beginnings as a retail whisky shop

As they say in the website “Master of Malt has a proud heritage of over 25 years in whisky retail. From humble beginnings in our retail shop in Royal Tunbridge Wells, we have painstakingly compiled our vast catalogue of fine single malt scotch whiskies over a quarter of a century to provide one of the most expansive ranges of fine and rare malts to be found anywhere in the world, and if we haven’t got it – the chances are we can find it for you.”

One of the best whisky shop websites

Our army of web monkeys have been working tirelessly for many months to create this shiny new website so we hope you find it as much of a joy to use as we did creating it; we would love to hear your thoughts on the new design as well as any ideas you might have for improvements or new features so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

I use to buy a lot of whisky online. So I use several webs and Master of Malt is by far the best and fastest.

One of the best things about Master of Malt is, apart of their prices, their great website and their drink by the dram section.

Master of Malt Drinks by the dram

Drink by the dram

The Drink by the dram is a way of getting samples from many whiskies, many of them ranging up to thousands of pounds for a fraction of their prices.
Each sample is 3cl and stored in a cool, red wax sealed bottle. They are continually getting new samples, and they from time to time stock old out of stock samples.

Thanks to Master of Malt Drink by the dram I can run my site, as in Spain there is no such whisky-culture to taste new drinks and opening a full bottle just for tasting is so expensive.

Independent bottler

Apart of the drinks by the dram, did you get an idea of how much I like it?!, Master of Malt has a real good and unique selection of single casks chosen by them and a range of regional style scotchs. They had a Arran 14 years Single Cask, that I wasn’t fast enough to get a bottle, that was awesome and I am very proud of their 26 years old Bowmore.


Prices and delivery

Master of Malt claims to have the best offers on drinks on the net and most of the times it is true. They usually have bottles from £2 to £3 less expensive than other web sites.
Their delivery is also rather economic, with a flat rate of £15 for a 5 days delivery to Spain, which is rather good. They deliver whisky worldwide if you are interested.

URL: http://masterofmalt.com


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Gare Saint Lazare by Claude Monet

By Miguel in Ardbeg , Drink & Arts

Paris Saint-Lazare is one of the six large terminus train stations of Paris. It is the second busiest in Paris, behind the Gare du Nord.

Claude Monet Gare Saint Lazare

The picture

Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement’s philosophy of expressing one’s perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting.

In 1877, painter Claude Monet rented a studio near the Gare Saint Lazare.

That same year he exhibited seven paintings of the railway station in an impressionist painting exhibition. He completed 11 paintings of this subject.

The dram: Adrbeg Supernova

a bottle of Ardbeg Supernova sn2010
Argh! See that smoke! See those trains! Doesn’t it smells like Ardbeg?!

Quite possibly the most exciting new whisky release for 2010!
This is the brand new Supernova, stronger, more pungent in flavour, and more earthy than last year’s Supernova – which Jim Murray rated with 97 points, heralding it as the “Scotch Whisky of the Year”.

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Greenore 15 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Cooley
89
Greenore 15 year
This is the longest aged Irish single grain every released. Greenore 15 is a limited edition, with a light, gentle sweetness.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, corn, wood, grapes, a little floral. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, corn, vanilla, honey, floral, grapes, wood, cream. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. . Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Greenore 15 year with 89 points over 100.

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Cambus 18 years old 1991 Signatory Cask Strength Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Cambus

“ Really complex and interesting cask strength single cask grain whisky. You see? As complex as that. Good one.”

91
Cambus 18 year 1991
A very rare single grain whisky!

This was distilled at Cambus on the 24th July 1991 and matured in refill butt number 55884 for 18 years before bottling on the 18th January 2010.

A rare release of just 507 bottles at cask strength. Bottled by Signatory for their Cask Strength Collection series.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, fruits, melon, floral, vanilla, spices, sherry, wood. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, tobacco, wood, corn, vanilla, oysters, honey. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. corn, spices, vanilla, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Cambus 18 year 1991 with 91 points over 100.

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North British 12 years old 1997 Signatory Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , North British
88
North British 1997
A Signatory bottle of single grain whisky, this 1997 vintage was distilled at North British. The distillery was established in 1885 and is now Edinburgh's last working distillery.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, alcohol, floral, corn, vanilla. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, corn, honey, vanilla, corn, wood. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. corn, honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this North British 1997 with 88 points over 100.

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Blanton's Original Single Barrel Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Blanton's
89
Blanton's Bourbon
Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon is expertly crafted in a unique time-honored tradition. Blanton's was the first Single Barrel Bourbon, setting the standard for others to follow. It is aged in one barrel, and unlike most others, never blended with any other bourbon.

When a barrel is believed to have reached its optimum age, it is evaluated by the Master Distiller and a panel of professional tasters. They compare its bourbon taste to the standard for which Blanton's has become known. There is no margin for error, because there is no way to compensate for flavor by mixing it with any other liquid. The barrels are then dumped, bottled and packaged by hand, including Blanton's signature stopper and wax.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. corn, sweet, vanilla, spices, floral. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . corn, sweet, vanilla, wood, floral. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. corn, honey, spicy. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Blanton's Bourbon with 89 points over 100.

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Laphroaig 10 years old Original Cask Strength Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Laphroaig

“Awesome Laphroaig! Heaven tastes like this whisky!”

92
Laphroaig 10 year Original Cask Strength
Original cask strength Laphroaig is bottled at natural distillery strength with all the depth of genuine taste and texture normally associated with sampling whisky at source.

Matured in seasoned oak barrels, charred before filling to impart a slight sweet vanilla nuttiness. Original Cask Strength Laphroaig is barrier-filtered only, to remove the small char particles present. However cask strength is non chilled filtered. This means you will enjoy Laphroaig exactly as we made it.

This whisky has been replaced by a new small batch version.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. peat, citrus, honey, iodine, seaweed, floral.

Palate (93): powerful. peat, honey, citrus, iodine, vanilla, iodine, apples, coffee, earth.

Finish (92): longer than average. peat, honey, citrus, iodine, coffee.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Laphroaig 10 year Original Cask Strength with 92 points over 100.

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Monkey Shoulder Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Monkey Shoulder , Glenfiddich , The Balvenie , Kininvie
88
Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt
A blended Scotch from William Grant, Monkey Shoulder features a proportion of whisky from Kininvie, Balvenie and Glenfiddich.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, spices, vanilla, mango, wood, sherry. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, spicy, tobacco, honey, vanilla, wood. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. honey, spicy, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt with 88 points over 100.

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai

By Miguel in Yoichi , Nikka , Drink & Arts

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Hokusai

The great wave off kanagawa

The picture

An example of ukiyo-e art, it was published sometime between 1830 and 1833, during the Edo Period, as the first in Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, and is his most famous work.

This particular woodblock is one of the most recognized works of Japanese art in the world.

It depicts an enormous wave threatening boats near the Japanese prefecture of Kanagawa. While sometimes assumed to be a tsunami, the wave is, as the picture’s title notes, more likely to be a large okinami lit. “wave of the open sea.”
As in all the prints in the series, it depicts the area around Mount Fuji under particular conditions, and the mountain itself appears in the background.

The dram: Nikka Yoichi 10 years old

a bottle of Nikka Yoichi 10 years old
A Nikka Yoichi 10 years old fits best. Yoichi is a peated sweet and spicy Japanese whisky. This bold and distinctive single malt whisky was distilled and matured at the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido, birthplace of Nikka Whisky. The Yoichi distillery continues to adhere to techniques such as the use of coal-fired pot stills, and otherwise remains loyal to the whisky-making traditions dating back to its foundation.

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Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Kilchoman

“ This is the closest thing to run along Islay fields and fall on a peat bog :) .”

92
Kilchoman Summer Release 2010
This is the very first general release from Kilchoman that is matured entirely in fresh and re-fill bourbon barrels. The bottling took a bow at Whisky Fringe and is as good as if not better than anything we've tasted from this brilliant little place out west.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, peat, earthy, floral, a little vanilla hidden behind the wall of peat. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . earth, peat, sweet, vanilla. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. earth and peat. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Kilchoman Summer Release 2010 with 92 points over 100.

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