The Nc'nean distillery The principles of Nc'nean are honestly inspiring. This whisky distillery has many values that I have been thoroughly impressed with. Firstly this is a whisky produced from organic Scottish barley. Secondly, it is distilled in a certified carbon-neutral distillery. Thirdly, all bottles are 100% recycled. An impressive marker has been set for their future and that of their peers, in a world that has, seemingly at the eleventh hour, finally begun to seriously ponder the future and wellbeing of this planet that we all call our home. According to their website, their total carbon footprint for a whole year is less than one return plane journey from London to New York. Which is truly awe-inspiring. The vision of its founder Annabel Thomas is clear and the positive results from a young distillery speak for themselves. Annabel Thomas On top of being a fine whisky with an already impressive fan base, Nc'nean can also proudly say they are the first net-zero whi...

I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to sample two exquisite bourbons from Lux Row Distillers. Both drams are from America’s Bluegrass State, Kentucky. They are Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon First up, I tried the Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon which has an ABV of 49.5%. Nose: Pear drops, caramel, vanilla & bitter almond oil. Taste: Dark fruits and pepper. This has a thinner mouthfeel than I had hoped for, most likely as a result of the charcoal filtering. It’s a very pleasant and easy to drink bourbon, it goes down effortlessly. Finish: Long and spiced at first, yet little to no burn, which gradually transitions into a subtler, gentler and sugared finish. Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Secondly, I sampled the equally impressive Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon. A wheated bourbon with an ABV of 50%. In order to be labelled a straight bourbon whiskey it is r...

On the evening of October 14th I was lucky enough to have been part of the continually great Tweet Tastings run by The Whisky Wire. This tasting featured Duncan Taylor, an award winning whiskey bottler. Originating in Glasgow before relocating to Huntly, Aberdeenshire in 2002. According to their website, there will soon be a distillery there of their own too! This evenings tasting would be extra special for myself as it would be my first tasting to feature a gin as well as the other three blended scotches to sample. Duncan Taylor also produce Rum as well as the aforementioned whiskey and gin. Politician – 40% ABV Nose: Dark chocolate, gentle burn on the nose, not over powering. Taste: A slice of fruit cake, with real butter on top. Finish: A peppery and slight citrus finish which is long lasting. I added just a drop of water on the third sip and felt that helped with that. This is really well worth checking out at this price. Black Bull 12 Year Old - 50% ABV A gorgeous autumnal colour ...

On the evening of 7th October 2020 I took part in yet another of the continually excellent Tweet Tastings. These tastings have been great during lock-down. I have been able to socially interact with and learn from fellow tasters thanks to these evenings. Tonight is no different and we are sampling three offerings from 'The Quiet Man' . Based in county Derry, Northern Ireland, founder Ciaran Mulgrew named the whiskey 'The Quiet Man' , or as we say back home 'An Fear Ciuin' after his father, John. He worked as a barman for fifty years in the pubs of Belfast and stayed true to the unwritten rule of barmen, to tell no tales. I'm sure he must have heard plenty of interesting stories over that half a century. First up for tasting is The Quiet Man Superior Blend. The Quiet Man Superior Blend The superior blend (40% ABV -) is 20% Irish malt and 80% grain whiskey. They have been matured in ex-bourbon barrels. This is a strikingly beautiful coloured dram. Nose Banana...

Sliabh Liag Distillers in Carrick, County Donegal have recently released their second whiskey of late. The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey is now joined by The Legendary Silkie Smokey Irish Whiskey. The whiskey gets its name from the word Silkie, or Selkie, seals: which were legendary shape-shifters who shed their seal skins to come ashore as beautiful sea maidens or handsome men with enchanting voices, only to eventually return to the sea leaving broken hearts. I was lucky enough to sample both drams recently. And being a Donegal native myself, I was even more enlivened to get my hands on them. Soon, Ardara (Ard an Rátha meaning Height of the Fort) will be the new home of Sliabh Liag Distillers, sometime in 2020 according to the website. However, for now it is in nearby Carrick, which is just less than fifteen miles away on Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way. First up I sampled The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey. A non-chill filtered blend of double and triple distilled single malts. It's...

Tasting notes recorded on the evening of July 8th 2020. The Character of Islay Whisky Company Aerolite Lyndsay Nose Raisins, and peat mainly. Also reminded of the seashore on a sharp, blustery morning. Taste Hints of fruit, mainly peach. There's a lovely earthy kick to it. Finish Sweet smoke, yet not overly so. Also, not as long lasting as the Green Isle. Green Isle Nose Apples, Barley. Taste Peppered marine notes with a modest smoked and oiled texture. Finish Summer fields with a pleasant smoked tinge overlay. Grace Île Nose Sweet banana, virtually expired pink lady apples and gentle smoked notes. Taste Warms with shades of citrus and liquorice. Finish Forbearing smoke and a tender allusion of high-end furniture. I am Left wanting more. Fiona Macleod Nose An eruption of tropical fruit, warm fudge and supplementary pineapple notes. Taste Instantly warming and sweet. Swelled further by the taste of corner shop classic confectionery and apricots. Finish A powerful although not domine...

Much has been written about this greatly admired drink before, for sure. However, I have only recently been able to try this impressive dram from Four Roses. It has flourished since first released and possesses a long list of very successful accolades, the most recent of which came in 2019 (Gold at the Cigar & Spirits World Spirits Competition). At first sight you think, this doesn't even look like a bottle of whiskey. To me, the bottle resembles a bottle of brandy rather than a bottle of bourbon whiskey. This is bottled at 90 proof and only contains bourbon that has been aged for at least five years. Appearance Toffee brown, honeycomb and autumn leaves. Nose Stewed apples,  Fruit cake,  Demerara Sugar,  Vanilla and  Oak. Taste Very smooth at first and then the vanilla and citrus fruits, predominantly Orange zest begin to emerge. Full bodied Finish This has a nice long finish with an abundance of citrus notes as well as some caramel too. Overall I would highly re...