Scotch Whisky reviews

Samaroli is something of an iconic bottler that has released many a wonderful cask. I first tried this Caol Ila from 1998 at a whisky festival and took home a sample, that I try today with a lot of gusto…

Feis Ile is the malt & music festival on Islay at the end of May, where many aficionados go to get their hands on the limited bottlings. This Cairdeas was the festival bottling from Laphroaig in 2012.…

The Ileach simply means ‘him from Islay’. It is a single malt from this Mekka of the peated whisky and through the grapevine I heard it whispered that this might in fact be a young Lagavulin. I am not…

Alongside the bourbon matured Sunray, Diageo also launched this Tailfire. The difference is not in price, nor ABV. Those are the same for both bottlings. As is the color, but that has more to do with…

I tried this Islay 8 Year Old 'As We Get It' from Ian MacLeod at a friend’s birthday tasting. I thought it was a Laffie, but cannot be certain, of course. I will try it again today, putting it head-to…

Ha, Caol Ila, it is my favorite Islay whisky. The new Port Ellen in my book, but keep that under your hat before the prices go sky high. Coal Ila Moch is a NAS release. It is Gaelic for ‘dawn’, no more…

Here in Ontario, it is difficult to find the now-standard offering from this distillery, the 16 Year Old. Priced at CDN$100, to my mind it doesn't really offer value for money (I'm not a huge fan).…

This Smokehead is an Islay single malt, rumoured to be a 6 Year Old Ardbeg. Could it be? We are curious, of course. Very smoky nose on coals and smoked ham. Then a nice sweet edge from pineapple and…