Whisky Archives

Auchroisk Boutique-y / vanWees / AD Rattray

8th October 20257th October 2025Coldorak

Auchroisk remains one of the most enigmatic names in the whisky world (and not the easiest to pronounce correctly). Its presence outside of blends is almost ghostlike – with not even a website anymore, worse even than when its official website offered barely more than a placeholder, as observed in our last review of an independent Auchroisk bottling back in 2019. Founded in the 1970s mainly to supply malt for J&B blends, this Speyside distillery has long flown under the radar, producing the bulk of its spirit for high-volume blended whiskies rather than shining as a single malt star. The latest official bottling I could find on Whiskybase is the 10-year-old in Diageo’s Flora & Fauna collection, but the latest one goes back to 2022. Fortunately, independently bottled Auchroisk expressions, such as these three Auchroisk from That Boutique-y Whisky Co, Van Wees, and A. D. Rattray, have allowed us to get glimpses into the character of this often-overlooked distillery.

Tamdhu 8- and 10-year-old from the 1970s

Tamdhu 8- and 10-year-old (1970s)

6th October 20256th October 2025Coldorak

Following Friday’s exploration of two vintage Aberlour-Glenlivet miniatures, the focus now shifts to a pair of Tamdhu miniatures from the 1970s: an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. Today, Tamdhu emphasises sherry cask maturation, yet despite tasting several over recent years, the distillery has not appeared on More Drams until now. Admittedly, there is no Tamdhu bottle in my collection, nor have I acquired multiple samples for review or exploration. Until that changes, these two auction-acquired miniatures provide the opportunity to delve into Tamdhu’s old style and character.

Two Aberlour-Glenlivet 9-year-old

3rd October 20252nd October 2025Coldorak

Last weekend I worked with Aberlour for the second year running at Whisky Live Paris. It is always a fantastic experience for several reasons. First, Whisky Live Paris itself is a whirlwind of an event, with far more exhibitors, stands, and tastings than you can possibly cover – even across three full days, including the trade-only session. Second, as with most whisky festivals, it is the perfect chance to meet old friends and make new ones. This year was no exception, and it was especially great finally meeting some Whiskybase contacts in person I had been chatting with for months (looking at you, Nate and Brent). Third, there are the endless drams to sample during breaks – far more than anyone could realistically manage, even over the full length of the show. And finally, though perhaps the simplest reason, I really enjoy working with Aberlour. It is a brand I connect with, one that I can talk about naturally and enthusiastically.

Those three lively days wrapped up on the evening of Monday, 29th September, leaving me with plenty of new memories. To mark the occasion, I opened a pair of Aberlour-Glenlivet 9-year-olds. As the name suggests, these are definitely not recent bottlings.

Prakaan Select Cask & Peated Malt

1st October 20251st October 2025Coldorak

Today’s review covers something quite new: the first single malts to emerge from Thailand, thanks to Prakaan Distillery. While Thailand already hosts several distilleries, including the long-established Red Bull Distillery founded in 1988, none have produced a Thai single malt whisky until Prakaan’s recent launch. A few months ago, Prakaan Distillery introduced Thailand’s inaugural three single malt expressions. We had a brief opportunity to sample all three at Whisky Live Paris a few days ago, but managed to sample only two: the Prakaan Select Cask and Peated Malt.

Glenrothes 1996 Cadenhead / 1993 SMWS

29th September 202529th September 2025Coldorak

Today’s review compares two independent bottlings from Glenrothes distillery: a 1996 vintage from Cadenhead’s Small Batch series and a 1993 bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Both expressions showcase the distinctive character of this Speyside distillery through the lens of respected independent bottlers, offering different maturation periods and a cask selection that is not what Glenrothes is usually known for, so let’s take a deep look at the Glenrothes 1996 Cadenhead and 1993 SMWS.

Glen Scotia 12-Year-Old Tropical Fruit and Coastal Spray

26th September 202525th September 2025Coldorak

Today’s review centres on a whisky that breaks this blog’s usual mould: the brand new Glen Scotia 12-Year-Old Tropical Fruit and Coastal Spray. Imagine that: it is recent, available and inexpensive. Added to the Campbeltown distillery’s core range in 2025, it boasts a clear age statement, a good 46% ABV, and commits to purity with no chill filtration or artificial colouring – all at a very accessible price point. Those features alone make it a compelling choice for whisky drinkers. But the inclusion of ’tropical fruit’ in the name caught my attention immediately, prompting a swift order and eager tasting well before writing this review. The combination of quality, transparency, and vibrant flavour promise makes this whisky well worth exploring, so let’s see it keeps its promises.

Amrut Kurinji, Triparva and Rye

22nd September 202521st September 2025Coldorak

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.

Auchentoshan Batch 7 Boutique-y & Handfill

19th September 202518th September 2025Coldorak

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.

Four Hazelburn Whiskies

17th September 202516th September 2025Coldorak

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.

Port Charlotte 2001 Blood Tub 2002 WhiskySponge Maltbarn

Port Charlotte 2001, 2002 WhiskySponge / MaltBarn

12th September 202511th September 2025Coldorak

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.