Single malt - WhiskyRant

Whiskies made out of malted barley from a single distillery.

April 8, 2015

Oban 14 year old review

Oban 14 year old single malt whisky is the primary product of their distillery. The Oban distillery was built in 1794 and it is located in west coast of Scotland. The distillery was built before the town with the same name, which developed later in the surrounding harbor and is […]

March 7, 2015

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old review

Glenlivet Nàdurra 16 year old is a small batch cask strength single malt whisky, “nadurra” meaning natural in Gaelic. Based on the alcohol per volume level and the time I bought it, I think that this sample is from the batch bottled in January 2014. Resembling a lot of Glenlivet 12YO, which i […]

March 4, 2015

Highland Park 18 year old review

Edit 7/7/2019: I’ve kept my old bottling of Highland Park 18 year old stashed away in my cabinet. In fear of too much oxidation, I’ve transferred it to a smaller bottle after halfway through. Then, in autumn of 2018 we decided to have a Highland Park tasting with the 18YO […]

February 27, 2015

Säntis Malt Edition Dreifaltigkeit Peated whisky review

Säntis Malt Edition Dreifaltigkeit is a cask strength peated whisky from Switzerland. This beauty has been matured in old (60-130 years old) oak beer casks that were smoked with oak wood by the “Swiss Highlander”. Säntis whisky is a product of Locher brewery – famous for making a wide range […]

February 18, 2015

Yoichi 10 year old review

Nikka Yoichi 10 year old single malt comes from the Hokkaido island in Japan. Matured in new oak Hogshead barrels, which are built on-site. In conditions, where the temperature varies very much. Yoichi 10YO is like velvet in your mouth. Manages to be oily enough, but not too oily to […]

January 30, 2015

Ardbeg Uigeadail review

Obviously I’ve already heard that Ardbeg Uigeadail is a legendary non age statement whisky by the famous smoke whisky producer in Islay. But I didn’t know that when I first discovered this whisky by accident (got a miniature gift bottle while purchasing the Ardbeg 10yo). Ardbeg Uigeadail has made quite […]

January 20, 2015

Glenturret, oldest distillery in Scotland

Glenturret 10 year old review

Glenturret is “the spiritual home” of The Famous Grouse brand, because it is the core malt in their whiskies. So it is Scotland’s most visited whisky distillery, because of the The Famous Grouse Experience, a 5 Star visitor experience. The distillery was officially established in 1775 but there’s been claims, […]

January 16, 2015

Bowmore Small Batch review

Bowmore Small Batch is matured in first and second fill ex-bourbon casks. Coming from Islay, it is surprisingly light all the way. Yes, there is some of that signature peat smoke buried on the back. But we’re talking about wee hints of it. And even when talking about other things […]

December 19, 2014

Amrut Peated Blackadder Raw Cask review

My sample of Blackadder’s Peated Amrut Raw Cask was from the batch of BA14/2012 (62,7% ABV). Amrut’s Peated Blackadder Raw Cask (63% ABV) batch BA18/2013 won Best Peated Whisky 2013 in The Malt Maniacs Awards. The Raw Cask Series contains whisky, that’s been bottled directly from the cask without any filtration. I don’t have […]

December 17, 2014

Peat’s Beast Intensely Peated single malt review

Peat’s Beast is a heavily peated single malt whisky, with phenol level of 35 ppm (parts per million). Coming from a mystery distillery from Speyside in Scotland. Matured in bourbon casks, bottled by an independent bottler, Fox Fitzgerald. The first release (2011) was a 5000 bottle edition. Like BEAUTY AND THE […]

December 15, 2014

Armorik Edition Originale review

Armorik Edition Originale is a Breton Single Malt from France. It’s been double distilled in copper stills, made from local malted barley and granite filtered water from a well on the Armorik distillery. Matured mainly in ex-bourbon casks but also some refill ex-sherry butts are used. According to Armorik, it […]

December 12, 2014

Old Pulteney 21 year old review

Voted “World Whisky of the Year 2012” by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible, with a stunning 97,5 points. Old Pulteney is the most northerly mainland distillery in Scotland. Old Pulteney 21 year old single malt is a marriage of spirits matured in second fill American oak ex-bourbon casks and […]

December 11, 2014

English Whisky Chapter 9 review

Some TROPIC THUNDER in a whisky from England English Whisky Co. Chapter 9 is the first peated English single malt ever, distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2010. A small batch, that was matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Very sweet and smoky dram. Fresh addition to the world of peated […]

December 10, 2014

Bowmore 12 year old review

One of THE USUAL SUSPECTS of smoke Even with 40% ABV level, Bowmore 12 year old is one of the heavy hitters of smoke. Not as heavy as the 10 year old drams from Ardbeg or Laphroaig. But still, one of The Usual Suspects, when it comes to smoke whisky. […]

December 9, 2014

Dalmore King Alexander III review

Dalmore King Alexander III was crafted in honor of the act of saving Scotland’s King in 1263. It is an expression, where 6 specially selected casks have been united. This Dalmore contains whiskies matured in Kentucky bourbon casks, Matusalem Oloroso Sherry wood, Madeira barrels, Marsala casks, port pipes and Cabernet […]

December 8, 2014

Ardbeg 10 year old review

WhiskyRant conclusions Tasting notes Warehouse Pack Ardbeg distillery can be traced back to 1794, but it had to be closed in the 1980’s. It almost became one of the lost distilleries of Scotland, but fortunately Ardbeg was bought by Glenmorangie in 1997. The distillery got a major investment programme and […]

December 5, 2014

Penderyn Madeira Single Malt review

Tried to tame MOBY DICK This is a Welsh whisky matured in bourbon casks and finished in Madeira casks. Penderyn distillery was launched in 2004 and at the moment this whisky is part of their core range (also called Penderyn Madeira Finish at some web shops). Too stingy and fruity […]

November 20, 2014

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 year old review

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 year old single malt has been matured in two different wood types. Matured in ex-bourbon casks and then transferred into first fill European oak sherry casks. Full and smooth dram, that manages to be moderately dry. Suits well for me, who isn’t that passionate for über […]

November 7, 2014

Auchentoshan 12YO single malt from the top

Auchentoshan 12 year old review

Auchentoshan distillery is also known as “Glasgow’s Malt Whisky” because it’s located near Glasgow. Also known as “the breakfast whisky” because of its sweet and delicate nature. Auchentoshan 12YO replaced their 10 year old in 2008, and according to few sources across the internet, it’s been an improvement. Unusually for […]

October 21, 2014

Scapa 16 year old review

Scapa 16 year old single malt whisky is matured in New American oak casks. Coming from the island of Orkney, the sea breeze does show in it. The package already tells you a story, what’s coming. Looks like a view from a lighthouse. And the whisky surely feels like it. […]

October 20, 2014

Tobermory 10 year old review

WHEN WE WERE KINGS – again Tobermory 10 year old single malt is a very energetic whisky, matured in ex-bourbon casks. It has a dry and fruity kick, which is nicely gentle and that’s why it fits very well to my mouth. I usually don’t like the very dry and fruity […]

October 15, 2014

Arran Lochranza Reserve review

I experienced THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT with this whisky Arran Lochranza Reserve is matured in bourbon and sherry casks. Named after the home village of Arran Distillery built in 1995. Created by the famous distiller James MacTaggart to to show an even lighter side of Arran, And this is where it gets […]

October 10, 2014

Talisker Port Ruighe review

Talisker Port Ruighe is matured in re-fill American and European oak casks. After that it’s been transferred to deeply charred barrels and finished in Port wine casks. This single malt was released quite soon after Talisker Storm’s launch in early 2013. Another no age statement release quickly after Talisker Storm. Port Ruighe is pronounced […]

October 9, 2014

Highland Park Vintage 1994 review – distilled 1994, bottled 2010

Highland Park 1994 Vintage is 16 year old whisky matured in first-fill European (Spanish) oak sherry cask. Not at all like their Vintage 2001, which got a very good score from me. The 2001 version had a smoky palate because of the high proportion of first-fill American oak casks used in […]

October 8, 2014

Isle of Jura Prophecy review

Prophecy is a peated Jura released in small batches. Matured in (French) Limousine oak casks and finished in 1989 Oloroso Sherry butts from Gonzalez Byass. Needless to say, with phenolic level of 35 ppm, this Jura is powerful with peat. And even though spicy, it’s not like the usual Jura […]

September 13, 2014

Longrow Peated single malt review

This is the Longrow CV by Springbank distillery, renamed and in a new package. I have to admit, I had kind of an elitist approach for this one. Expecting absolutely nothing from it. Just because it was one of my first heavily peated (50-55 ppm level) whiskies outside Islay. I’m […]

September 12, 2014

Murray McDavid Bowmore 9 year old 2001 Port Casks review

A single malt whisky distilled at Bowmore in 2001, where it was aged in bourbon casks. Then taken to Bruichladdich distillery for Port Pipes finishing in 2010. Limited release of 1066 bottles. Bottling of Murray McDavid. STARSKY AND HUTCH whisky – complimenting ingredients Magnificent whisky just like many of the sherry […]

September 10, 2014

Cardhu 12 year old review

Cardhu 12 year old single malt is a Speysider matured in American bourbon casks. It has won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011. According to The Whisky Exchange: “Cardhu is the biggest selling single malt whisky in Spain, with its soft, sweet character the perfect […]

September 10, 2014

Port Charlotte The Peat Project review

I didn’t say HOLY SMOKE! Port Charlotte The Peat Project is a heavily peated (44ppm) single malt from Bruichladdich. This dram is a gentle one, when it comes to smoke. It surely has smoke but it isn’t strong. Like the title suggests, this whisky is not as weird and complex, […]

September 5, 2014

Dalwhinnie 15 year old review

Dalwhinnie distillery is located very high above sea level. It is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland, which gives some marine quality to it. Located high in the Grampian mountains in Highland region, Dalwhinnie is also very near to the geographical center of Scotland. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, this […]