Coldorak's whisky blog.
We’re comparing two radically different apple brandies: one hails from the famed French producer Christian Drouin, aged 21 years and bottled by That Boutique-y Calvados Company; the other is an English apple brandy of mysterious origin, discovered by Matt McKay in the stocks of London Distillery Co shortly after he took charge. The two spirits are separated by a striking 30% ABV difference. Hold on tight – this is going to be an intense showdown!
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Nearly three years have passed since Amrut last featured on More Drams, and during this period, the pioneering Indian distillery has consistently impressed whisky enthusiasts worldwide with its inventive releases. For this review, three bottles from Amrut’s diverse range are in focus: Kurinji, Triparva, and Rye. Triparva, making a return to the spotlight, already received praise on these pages for its first batch, and this time the third batch undergoes scrutiny. Kurinji and Rye add further breadth to the tasting lineup, each bringing distinct qualities that highlight the ongoing innovation at Amrut.
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Auchentoshan Distillery, founded in 1823, stands in the Scottish Lowlands near Glasgow and is one of the few distilleries in Scotland to use triple distillation for every batch, producing a notably light and delicate single malt… sometimes hidden by heavy wood lifting. Auchentoshan enjoys an active market presence worldwide, particularly in Europe and Asia, and is owned by Beam Suntory, which helps ensure visibility across major retail and online platforms. While whisky enthusiasts recognize Auchentoshan for its distinct style, it often sits just below the mainstream radar; the brand is respected but not as heavily marketed or hyped as some other single malts. Let’s have another look at them, as they are under my radar as well, with the Auchentoshan 10-year-old batch 7 from That Boutique-y and a 2009 handfill.
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This review examines four distinct Hazelburn whiskies, each showcasing the brand’s signature triple-distilled, unpeated style. Spanning a variety of ages and maturation methods, from bourbon to sherry casks, these expressions offer a nuanced look into Hazelburn’s diverse character and craftsmanship. On today’s lineup are a hand-fill release alongside 13- and 15-year-old Oloroso Cask matured bottlings and the Hazelburn 21-year-old.
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This week opens with two Grande Champagne cognacs, specially selected and bottled by Malternative Belgium last year – both now, regrettably, sold out. Grande Champagne represents the premier cru of Cognac, renowned for producing spirits of remarkable elegance and complexity, as we’ve seen many times in these pages. Malternative Belgium, an independent bottler with a reputation for consistently high-quality selections, is also celebrated for bringing outstanding casks to enthusiasts, and has yet to disappoint even the most discerning palates. I don’t remember reading a bad review from a Cognac they bottled. Given this pedigree, expectations run high for both the Paul Beau Lot 70 and François Voyer Lot 90 Malternative Belgium we’re reviewing today.
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Port Charlotte whisky stands as Bruichladdich Distillery’s tribute to the heavily peated traditions of Islay, named after the village near the distillery and inspired by the historic Lochindaal distillery that operated there from 1829 to 1929. Production began in 2001, with maturation taking place in the old warehouses at Port Charlotte, using Scottish barley and peated to 40 ppm for a robust but balanced Islay profile. The range includes core bottlings such as the 10-Year-Old and Islay Barley, alongside occasional cask explorations and limited releases, all bottled without chill filtration or artificial colouring. Despite its highly respected reputation among whisky enthusiasts, Port Charlotte is not the brand with the greatest number of bottlings, whether official or independent. It does not see a large quantity of releases each year, certainly not on the scale of some other Islay or Scotch distilleries. The approach at Bruichladdich emphasises quality, provenance, and thoughtful maturation over sheer volume, which means that every new Port Charlotte expression draws considerable interest when it appears, but they remain relatively scarce in comparison to industry giants and prolific independent bottlings. So today, we’ll review an official bottling of a private cask and two indy bottlings from the same vintage, with a Port Charlotte 2001 and two 2002 from WhiskySponge and Maltbarn.
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June brought us the seventh batch of Bimber’s ‘The Spirit of the Underground‘ releases, and though we’re a little behind the curve—as you’ve probably come to expect from me—it’s finally time to give them the attention they deserve. This series continues to celebrate London and its landmarks through limited edition single malts, and Batch 7 is no exception. We’ll be tasting and discussing the drams of the Bimber Underground Release No. 7 in alphabetical order, beginning with Bimber Euston, followed by Knightsbridge, Liverpool Street, and Westminster.
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Piccadilly Distillery stands as one of India’s most prominent whisky producers, gaining international attention for its Indri single malt whisky. Located in Indri, Haryana, the distillery operates under the Piccadily Group – an enterprise founded by K. N. Sharma in 1953 that originally focused on liquor distribution in Punjab before expanding into hospitality, hotels, and alcoholic beverage manufacturing. By 1994, the group had opened its first distillery in Indri and, drawing inspiration from both Indian and Scottish traditions, evolved into the country’s largest independent producer of malt spirits.
Indri, their single malt, first launched in 2021, marks Piccadilly’s commitment to high-quality Indian whisky (by comparison to other alcoholic beverages called Indian whisky but which contain neutral alcohol, for instance). The team, led by Master Distiller Surrinder Kumar (well known for his previous work at Amrut), recognises the importance of local ingredients, using six-row barley grown in Rajasthan and Indian-crafted copper pot stills. The distillery features modern facilities and imported American oak barrels, with an on-site cooperage to handle toasting and charring. Let’s review three of their whiskies, one core range, Indri Drú, and two single casks.
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Knockando is a single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, known for its approachable and gently sherried style. Distilled by Knockando Distillery (owned by Diageo), it occupies a unique space in the market by emphasising affordable aged expressions – particularly its 12-, 18-, and 21-year-old releases – without the premium pricing of others, like Macallan or even Glenfiddich. Unlike many competitors that reserve older statements for luxury tiers, Knockando offers well-matured whiskies at relatively modest prices, making it a favourite among casual and amateur drinkers seeking value-driven, traditional Speyside character. It appeals to those who prefer classic, easy-drinking malts. While not as flashy as some modern brands, Knockando’s balance of age and accessibility keep it relevant in a crowded category. Now, the question is: how good is it, and can it appeal to more serious whisky enthusiasts? Let’s find out with the Knockando 18-year-old and 21-year-old.
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It’s surprising to realise there hasn’t been a single anCnoc review on this blog until now, despite the whisky’s steady presence in the scene and Knockdhu Distillery’s unique approach to traditional production methods. That oversight ends here: first up is the anCnoc 12-year-old – a staple from Knockdhu’s core range and often cited as a go-to for those who prefer lighter, more approachable malts. After that, a direct comparison between two 24-year-old expressions from different years will shed some light on how batch variation shows up in the distillery’s older releases. This should give a fair look at how consistency and character evolve at Knockdhu over time. So let’s review one anCnoc 12-year-old and two 24-year-old!
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