Author: Coldorak

Glen Spey 2011 vW 1997 TWA featured

Glen Spey 2011 vanWees & 1997 The Whisky Agency

Coldorak

Glen Spey, one of the four distilleries located in Rothes, Scotland, appears to have ceased whisky production in recent years, shifting its focus to gin production for Diageo. Unfortunately, available information on this transition is quite limited – so if anyone knows more about it, please do reach out! Despite an annual capacity of about 1.4 million litres, Glen Spey’s output has long been dedicated primarily to blending – most notably for J&B, which we’ve reviewed a few times recently. Interestingly, older casks from Glen Spey still surface through independent bottlers, which is what draws our attention today – let’s discover the Glen Spey 2011 vanWees and a 1997 from The Whisky Agency

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Two Cameronbridge 1973 Scott's Selection

Two 1973 Cameronbridge 37yo Scott’s Selection

Coldorak

It’s been a few weeks since we last had old grain whiskies, so today, we review two Cameronbridge coming from the same independent bottler, distilled on the same year and bottled at the same age on the same year as well. Will they be the same as well? Let’s find out, as we review two 1973 Cameronbridge 37-year-old from Scott’s Selection.

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Aultmore 14yo Glentauchers 2006 Inchgower 1997 Thompson Bros

Aultmore 14yo / Glentauchers 2006 / Inchgower 1997 Thompson Bros

Coldorak

Today, we examine three recent releases from Thompson Bros, an independent bottler based in Dornoch. The team stays busy with their independent bottling operations, the Whisky Castle bar, the Dornoch distillery, and the ongoing construction of a new distillery called Struie. The whiskies we review are the Aultmore 14-year-old, Glentauchers 2006, and Inchgower 1997 Thompson Bros, all issued at the end of last year.

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Longmorn 18-, 23- and 25-year-old Secret Speyside

Longmorn 18-, 23- and 25-year-old

Coldorak

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.

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Shizuoka Prologue K & Prologue W

Shizuoka Prologue W & Prologue K

Coldorak

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.

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Cognac Pasquet L'Organic

Cognac Pasquet L’Organic 04, 07 and 10

Coldorak

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.

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Ardmore 2011 van Wees Ardmore 25yo Thompson Bros

Ardlair 2011 vanWees / Ardmore 25yo Thompson

Coldorak

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.

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Ben Nevis 2014 SMWS 2012 The Duchess

Ben Nevis 2014 SMWS / 2012 The Duchess

Coldorak

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.

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J&B and Long John 1980s

1980s J&B and Long John Blends

Coldorak

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!

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