Whisky Archives

Knockando 18-year-old & 21-year-old

5th September 20254th September 2025Coldorak

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.

AnCnoc 12-year-old & Two 24-year-old

3rd September 20253rd September 2025Coldorak

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!

Balmenach 15yo Batch 4 That Boutique-y Whisky Company

1st September 202531st August 2025Coldorak

We stay another day on the advent calendar with the next window, the third of the 2024 Boutique-y Advent Calendar, where we found a sample of Balmenach 15-year-old Batch 4 That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Balmenach remains a relatively rare encounter, as noted during the first review of this distillery here – also the only one before this. So it is independent bottlers that primarily bring Balmenach to wider attention, with all but a few expressions experienced here coming from these indies. Appreciation goes to the independent bottlers for enabling whisky enthusiasts to explore this distillery beyond its typical role in blends.

Irish Single Malt Whiskey #1 15yo batch 6 TBWC

Irish #1 15yo Batch 6 That Boutique-y Whisky Company

29th August 202528th August 2025Coldorak

For several years now—though the exact starting point is unclear to me—the English retailer Master of Malt has organised its Whisky Santa event. Participants send their whisky wishes through social media for a chance to win, with some exceptional bottles chosen by the team at MoM as special prizes. Occasionally, this humble author took a chance, fully aware that winning seemed unlikely due to residing in France and the shipping restrictions caused by Brexit. Despite this, I continued to participate, and Whisky Santa eventually granted my wish at the end of last year by sending the Boutique-y Whisky Company 2024 Advent Calendar.

Since Whisky Santa could not ship directly to France—something about elves with outdated passports and a sled under repair—the calendar arrived at a trusted friend’s address. Coincidentally, that friend happens to be Dave Worthington, Boutique-y Whisky’s own brand ambassador. When we met again in London at the end of May, during a short trip with my children, the opportunity arose to collect all the whisky previously sent to Dave due to similar shipping challenges.

As this calendar now belongs to last year, and with plans to explore a Cognac advent calendar this year, I’ve decided to open it outside the traditional season. The tasting will not follow the original order; instead, some drams will be grouped together for review. For now, I’ll skip door number one and instead reveal door number two, which contained an Irish Single Malt Whiskey #1, 15-year-old Batch 6 from That Boutique-y Whisky Company.

Glen Spey 2011 vanWees & 1997 The Whisky Agency

25th August 202524th August 2025Coldorak

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

Two Cameronbridge 1973 Scott's Selection

Two 1973 Cameronbridge 37yo Scott’s Selection

22nd August 202521st August 2025Coldorak

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.

Aultmore 14yo / Glentauchers 2006 / Inchgower 1997 Thompson Bros

20th August 202519th August 2025Coldorak

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.

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

18th August 202517th August 2025Coldorak

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.

Shizuoka Prologue W & Prologue K

15th August 202515th August 2025Coldorak

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.

Ardmore 2011 van Wees Ardmore 25yo Thompson Bros

Ardlair 2011 vanWees / Ardmore 25yo Thompson

11th August 202511th August 2025Coldorak

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.