Review of my whisky year - 2023

Firstly thanks to all of you who have read my blog (c228,000 up from 147,000 last year) and followed me on Twitter (c6,350 up from 5,300 last year).

This blog has been going for 7 years now and this is the 682nd blog post! In that time I've reviewed over 1,810 whiskies! Let's review 2023!

Bimber Santa's Edition 2023

@BimberLondon have released a number of special edition bottles over the year and have rounded it off with Santa's Edition 2023

I was lucky enough to receive a 'sample', here's my thoughts!

Newer Distilleries : Isle of Harris

This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about @harrisdistiller.

Isle of Harris have been distilling whisky since 2015 but only starting releasing it in Oct '23.

Side by side : Under the radar : two indie Braeval

Braeval Distillery is very under the radar, a workhorse producing blending stock for Chivas Brothers.

There are no distillery bottlings but indie releases are fairly easy to get hold of.

Newer Distilleries : Bonnington

This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Bonnington Distillery

Bonnington have been distilling whisky since 2020 with their first release just out!

Hyde @TweetTasting

 @HydeWhiskey chose a @TweetTastings to share some of their whiskies!

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

#BTC38 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 38th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Andrew @PadWhisky

Kendal Whisky Festival 2023

This year's @KendalWhisky Festival has been one of my favourites, great to meet up with old friends and make some new ones!

Here's my thoughts!

Bowmore @TweetTasting

@bowmore chose a @TweetTastings to share some of their older whiskies!

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

Fisherman's Retreat Edition 13

I've written about @FishRetreat many times before, a restaurant in the Twine Valley at the edge of the Pennine Hills around 15 miles north of Manchester. They are also an Independent Bottler selling whiskies matured in wine casks.

Their latest release is a 4yo from @WhiskyBenNevis Distillery - let's see what it's like!

Weetwood's The Cheshire - Fireside

Following on from their first Special Release Seaside @weetwoodales have bottled their second called Fireside.

I've really enjoyed all of their bottlings to date so bought one of these straight away!

#BTC37 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 37th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by John @jwbassman_

Tullibardine @TweetTasting

 A regular on the @TweetTastings cycle, @Tullidistillery allowed us to try their Core Range bottlings.

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

The Fool from North Start Spirits

The Fool is the first in a new Tarot card series from North Star Spirits. A very reasonable priced, cask strength, blend.

Let's see what it's like?

Borders Distillery WS:02 - The Long & Short Of It

Whilst they wait for their single malt to mature, Borders Distillery are teasing us with another single blend (not a term you'll find in the SWA handbook but one which a number of distilleries can now produce) from their Workshop Series.

Let's see what it's like...

Stirk Brothers Cameronbridge from Claxton's

Stirk Brothers are a new independent bottler but they do have some history...

Their first releases are a set of three exclusive Claxton's drams, I had to buy the bottle of Cameronbridge!

Wolfie's First Release

When a legendary rocker wants to release a whisky where would they go? Loch Lomond of course - its been there since 1814*. 

That's exactly where @RodStewart went for his latest release Wolfies!

Glen Scotia The Mermaid

After three years of autumnal Seasonal Releases @GlenScotiaMalts have changed tack and have started a new series based on the town's famous Cross - Icons of Campbeltown.

This year is all about the Mermaid, let's find out a little more!

Tullibardine 18yo

I recently published a blog on the price of 18yo bottlings, @Tullidistillery didn't feature as they didn't have an 18yo when I started my survey back in 2021

But they do now, so let's try it!

AD Rattray @TweetTasting

@ADRattrayWhisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new Cask Collection bottlings.

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Tomatin

The DrivenByDrams gang's Speyside Tour was over and it was time to go home, but first a detour - further up the A9 to @Tomatin1897 

We didn't have time for a tour but had planned a quick visit to the Distillery Shop and a look at their Bottle Your Owns!

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Glenfiddich

After our fantastic tour of @BalvenieUS (I'm linking in the US account as the UK one hasn't been active since 2017) the DrivenByDrams gang walked up the road to @GlenfiddichSMW 

There's been a lot of building work in the last few years...

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Balvenie

After our fantastic tour of @TheDunphail.the DrivenByDrams gang rested overnight before our Speyside trip had us heading for @BalvenieUS

A distillery that's often overlooked because of it's Glenfiddich big sister next door.

The Whisky Cellar @TweetTasting

@whisky_cellar chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new 7th series Private Cellars Selection and Pintail bottlings.

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Dunphail

After our disappointing trip to Benromach the DrivenByDrams gang Speyside trip had us heading for @TheDunphail.

Looking for a much better welcome and the opportunity to take some photos!

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Benromach

The first day of the DrivenByDrams gang Speyside trip had us heading for Benromach.

We passed a few distilleries on the way!

DrivenByDrams Speyside Tour - Planning

This year the DrivenByDrams gang paid a visit to Speyside, for me it was my first time that far north in Scotland.

We'd picked four 'warehouse tastings' and a number of distillery visits to fill our time!

Glasgow Distillery @TweetTasting

@GlasgowDC @1770Whisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch some of their new bottlings.

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

#BTC36 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes and results from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 36th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Brian @MaltMusings

Side by side: A Little Brown Dog Flight

@lbdspirits are an Indie bottler and micro distillery based in rural Aberdeenshire, founded in 2018.

To celebrate their 5th birthday this week they shared some drams with us!

Whisky Prices 2023 - Key Bottle?

Each September I complete a survey, recording the prices of a distillery's key bottle - the standard bottle which you might buy if wanting to get into a new distillery.

This year's results are in - let's see how things have changed.

Whisky Prices 2023 - 18yos

Each September I complete a survey, recording the prices of a distillery's 18yo - a standard bottle which you might buy for a special occasion like a birthday.

This year's results are in - let's see how things have changed.

Side by side: a flight of Indie Glen Ord

Glen Ord is one of the three distilleries which are sold as Diageo's Singleton brand. There haven't been many distillery bottlings but indie releases are readily available.

Let's try four...

Loch Lomond Steam & Fire

Just to make things a little more complicated @LochLomondMalts have released a new NAS bottling with completely different packaging from their core range!

Ladies & Gentlemen I give you Steam & Fire!

#BTC35 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 35th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Duncan @newdramrising

Side by side: Glencadam Reserva Range

@GlencadamWhisky is a slightly unusual Highland's distillery in that it uses ex-bourbon casks for most of it's releases.

That was until it released it's Reserva Collection!

Brave New Spirits @TweetTastings

Indie bottler Brave New Spirits @BNS_Whisky chose a @TweetTastings to launch  some of their new bottlings.

Here's my thoughts and those of a few friends!

Side by side: Four from GlenDronach

I can't remember the last time I reviewed a GlenDronach so here, to make up, are four cask strength bottlings.

Three single casks and the latest Cask Strength Batch.

Side by Side: The Cheshire Second (and 'Third') Releases

Following on from their first release last year @weetwoodales have bottled their Second and 'Third' Releases

I really enjoyed the First so have been looking forward to the Second.

#BTC34 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 34th #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Mike @WhiskyWings

Waxhouse Whisky Release 008

Waxhouse Whisky are a tiny, indie bottler formed by members of the St. Albans Whisky Club in 2018.

I was sent a sample of their 8th release to review, a 3yo from Milk & Honey in Israel.

Side by side: Lismore

Lismore is a brand you may not of heard of - it's an indie bottler based at the same address in Speyside as Glenfarclas!

Let's try some!

Loch Lomond Distillery Edition Three

@LochLomondMalts have released the third in their, now quarterly, Distillery Edition series featuring innovative distilling techniques. 

This release is a single malt which has involved an extra long fermentation period.

#BTC33 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 33rd #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Ben @WhiskyWithMolly

Side by side : Under the radar : two indie Strathmill

The first in an occasional series about under the radar distilleries - this time Strathmill Distillery in Speyside.

There are few distillery bottlings but indie releases are fairly easy to get hold of.

Side by side : MoM Campbeltown 8yo

Tea-spooned Campbeltown malts from @MasterOfMalt, what's not to like?  Part of a new range of reasonably priced 'Exclusives'.

Lets try them!

Side by side : Chivas Regal

One of the big blends @ChivasRegal, owned by Chivas Brothers who are owned by Pernod Ricard have been getting creative in the last couple of years with a range of Extra 13yos

Here I try their standard 12yo against the 13yo Tequila Cask.

Bankhall First Release

Bankhall distillery in Blackpool have released their first single malt whisky

It's a single virgin oak cask giving 225 bottles @ 57.4% ABV

#BTC32 #BlindDrams Tasting Notes

 These are my tasting notes from the Blind Tasting Consortium's 32nd #BlindDrams evening.

These drams were picked by Duncan @whiskytip

Side by side : peated whisky from Bunnahabhain

Islay - home of peated whisky? We know that all of the distilleries on Islay produce peated whisky* - well all except one @Bunnahabhain! Well it turns out that they actually do!

Two entry level peated releases are Mòine and Toiteach A Dhà - let's see what they are like!