Single malt - WhiskyRant

Whiskies made out of malted barley from a single distillery.

July 16, 2015

Laphroaig PX Cask Triple Matured review

Laphroaig PX Cask replaced their Triplewood in the travel retail but like its predecessor, the PX Cask expression has been matured in three different casks too. With the difference, that Laphroaig PX Cask spends its last 12 months in Pedro Ximenez Ex-Sherry casks. The whole maturation process goes like this: […]

July 16, 2015

Kilchoman Machir Bay 2012 review

Kilchoman Machir Bay is a young peated and sherry cask finished malt by the newest distillery in Islay, Kilchoman. They started in 2005 and by doing so, they were the first distillery built on the region of Islay in 124 years. Kilchoman is a farm distillery, so in some releases […]

July 15, 2015

Bruichladdich 15 year old 1st Edition review

This is the First Edition of Bruichladdich 15 year old, matured 85% in American Ex-Bourbon and 15% in Ex-Sherry Spanish Oak. The 2nd Edition was matured only in American Oak and finished in Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes casks. Lightly peated, non chill-filtered and colouring free, like Laddies tend to be. Artsy […]

July 14, 2015

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd Edition review

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd Edition is a fifty-fifty vatting of 3 and 4 year old whisky matured in first fill and re-fill Ex-Bourbon casks. Kilchoman distillery started producing single malt whisky in 2005. It was the first distillery to be built on the island of Islay in 124 years. The […]

July 11, 2015

Millstone 5 year old Black Label review

Millstone 5 year old Black Label single malt comes from the Dutch whisky pioneers, the Zuidam Distillers. This whisky from the Netherlands has been matured in Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks. It is lightly peated. My first ever Dutch whisky experience, so I was truly excited. And if there ever […]

July 11, 2015

Highland Park Freya 15 year old review

I haven’t tasted the first two, but I got a chance to try the third release of Highland Park’s Valhalla Collection: Freya, a 15 year old single malt whisky. This one was named after the Norse Goddess of Love. Freya the Goddess was sensitive and wise – a valiant protector of human […]

July 10, 2015

Edradour 2003 Ruby Port Matured review

I got a chance to taste Batch 2 of the Edradour 2003 Ruby Port Cask Matured single malt from the smallest distillery in Scotland, located in Highland region. I was kinda excited because notes of strawberries had been stated in reviews. And of course, the pessimist that I am, I […]

July 8, 2015

Balblair 1997 review

Few years ago, Balblair wanted to be different by replacing age-statement with vintages, like we are used to in wine. I got a chance to taste the 2nd release of Balblair Vintage 1997, matured in first fill American oak, Ex-Bourbon barrels since 1997. According to them, they are the oldest […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Einar review

Highland Park has released six NAS (no age statement) whiskies for their Warrior Series, made for European travel retail market: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after Einar, one of the most feared vikings of his time. Einar was tough and successful, making lots […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Svein review

For the European travel retail market, Highland Park released 6 different NAS (no age statement) whiskies: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after a legendary Viking leader Svein, who was also known for his generous nature and hospitality, as well as his fiery temper. Highland […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Harald review

Highland Park released six NAS (no age statement) whiskies for the European travel retail market: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after the Norwegian king, Harald Fairhair, who established the Orkney earldom. King Harald also had a well-known victorious army. Highland Park Harald has […]

July 5, 2015

Aberfeldy 12 year old review – the old version

Aberfeldy 12 year old single malt comes from the Highland region of Scotland. Aberfeldy distillery was founded in 1896 by John Dewar & Sons, Ltd. So naturally it is the base malt for Dewar’s Blended Whisky. Aberfeldy also offers 18 and 21 year old single malts. Their visitor centre, “Dewar’s […]

July 4, 2015

Old Pulteney 12 year old review

Old Pulteney 12 year old single malt whisky comes from the town of Wick – Pulteney distillery is the most northerly distillery on Scottish mainland. Being next to the sea, Wick used to have herring fishing industry, but it isn’t the case anymore. They claim that Old Pulteney has absorbed […]

July 4, 2015

Amrut Single Malt review

Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky is their basic stuff from the famous Indian distillery. It’s been distilled from barley grown at the North West of India. No age statement and I haven’t bumped into any suggestions, but my guess is, this can’t be more than 5 years old. Matured in […]

July 3, 2015

Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No.2 Merak single malt review

I was already fascinated about the package design of this Swedish single malt, so when I bumped into it at my local tavern, I had to try it. There was also No.1 Dubhe 5 year old single malt available but I decided to go with the 6YO No.2 Merak. The second […]

June 30, 2015

Highland Park 12 year old review

I haven’t bumped into any confirmed info about the maturation of Highland Park 12 year old single malt whisky, but I’m guessing it’s Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. Probably re-fill sherry casks. They do talk about the usage of Oloroso sherry casks, so probably those and some American oak. But I […]

June 30, 2015

Longmorn 12YO 1994 by Murray McDavid review

This is a whisky from the independent bottler Murray McDavid and it is part of their “turquoise series”. I had a chance to try it on our way to Teerenpeli distillery tour in Lahti, Finland. It is Longmorn 12 year old single malt from 1994 and it has been matured in a bourbon but. Finished on […]

June 30, 2015

Goldlys Pedro Ximenez Finish 12 year old review

The Pedro Ximenez finished Goldlys whisky is a limited edition release. It’s a double still whisky – using both, pot and column stills by the Belgian producers called Filliers distillery. It is a mix of malted barley and selected grains. I’m not a fan of grain whisky so unfortunately, it […]

June 30, 2015

Ardbeg Ardbog review

Well, it’s been two years since the tasting of this one but what the heck, better late than never with the reviews…Ardbog is a limited edition whisky by the Ardbeg distillery, famous for its peated whiskies from Islay. Ardbog was released during Fèis Ìle whisky festival and it was produced […]

June 28, 2015

Isle of Jura 10 year old review

Isle of Jura 10 year old is a steady executor, smooth from the start until the finish. Matured in Ex-Bourbon casks, not at all a complex single malt whisky. Bit spicy but nothing like Jura Superstition in spiciness. I’d say that Jura 10YO is a safe option. A nice afternoon starter for example. […]

June 24, 2015

Elements of Islay Bn4 review

Elements of Islay Bn4 is the fourth batch from Bunnahabhain distillery, bottled by the independent bottler Speciality Drinks. This dark and sweet character felt like a nice addition into the Elements of Islay series, even though I only had a chance to take few sips of it on our way to Taivaanranta […]

June 3, 2015

The Glenlivet 18 year old review

I’ll continue with Glenlivet theme, so here’s a review of The Glenlivet 18 year old single malt. Which, after a great experience with the 12YO, was bit of a disappointment. The 18YO is surprisingly rough for its age, though it’s not the only reason for my reasonably humble scoring. Probably […]

May 31, 2015

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve review

I recently heard that this Glenlivet replaces their 12 year old single malt in the UK market. Being a fan of The Glenlivet 12YO, I had to get my hands on this dram. Even though I felt that this has to be a step back from the whisky it was […]

May 28, 2015

The Glenlivet 12 year old review

The Glenlivet 12 year old single malt plays a great part in my memory lane. I received a bottle of this smooth Speysider while celebrating the birth of my second kid in 2011. So my opinion might be biased because there’s lots of emotions going on with this whisky. Then […]

May 26, 2015

BenRiach 13 year old Maderensis Fumosus, Madeira Finish review

This BenRiach, the 13 year old Madeira Finish, also known as “Maderensis Fumosus” (smoky Madeira in Latin), was my favorite in Speyside blind tasting within our local whisky community here in Finland. In overall scoring it came second just behind GlenDronach 21YO Parliament. I did manage to guess the distillery and […]

May 17, 2015

BenRiach 1994 18 year old Tawny Port Finish review – bottled for Finland

My BenRiach filled May continues with 18 year old Tawny Port Finish 1994 specially selected and bottled for Finland by the great Speyside distillery. The one I’m reviewing was bottled October 2012, cask number 3585 and bottle number 102 of 301. BenRiach 1994 18YO Tawny Port Finish for Finland is […]

May 11, 2015

BenRiach 17 year old Solstice (2nd edition) review

17 year old Solstice from BenRiach is the second edition of the series in question, replacing the 15 year old single malt whisky, which was well appreciated by Whisky Bible’s Jim Murray. Solstice is distilled from heavily peated malted barley and matured in ex-bourbon casks. Finished in tawny port pipes. […]

May 6, 2015

BenRiach 15 year old Dark Rum Finish review

This dram is BenRiach 15 year old single malt whisky matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks and after that, finished in Jamaican dark rum casks. Released in 2006, it is part of BenRiach’s “Wood Finish Series”, there’s been 350 six-packs made available world-wide. The series also includes Pedro Ximenez Sherry, […]

May 4, 2015

BenRiach 15 year old Single Cask Release 1998 review

Like The Whisky Exchange puts it, “a slightly crazy entry” this BenRiach’s 10th single cask release – malt whisky triple distilled, unlike their regular double distilled spirit. It’s been matured for 15 years and finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon. 630 bottles has been released. Mine was only a […]

April 18, 2015

Smokehead Extra Black 18 year old review

Smokehead 18 year old single malt is a 6000 bottle limited release by Ian Macleod – a mystery dram from Islay. There’s also a non age statement whisky under the Smokehead brand, launched in 2006. It is much cheaper and presumably, better available than this 18YO Extra Black. The name, […]