Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
When you go through as many whiskies as we do, it’s crucial to seek out what is different to keep things interesting. The same is true for the individual for a big reason: the palate acclimates to whatever you throw at it. Constantly introducing variables is the best way to keep a system guessing. This is an important point... Continue Reading →
You see folks, the world of Single Malt is a rather small one. The market’s insatiable appetite for blends devours roughly 90% of all whisky production for the numerous brands. The 10% remaining is bottled as the noble Single Malt. We don’t take a certain side one way or the other when it comes to Malt vs.... Continue Reading →
One of the many reasons why we love whisky is the care required to produce it. Not only are we impressed with the process but even more with how long it takes to make this stuff. From grain to barrel you are looking at most a week, depending on your process. Distillers would love to... Continue Reading →
A curious new Scotch drinker stumbles into a local liquor store. He isn't quite educated on all the different regions, flavor profiles or even brand names. A few of the bottles have this peculiar phrase on the label: Islay Single Malt. Sounds interesting, he thinks. He proudly slaps down the cash, the store clerk asks... Continue Reading →
Lagavulin 16yr Old Single Malt Scotch is a bit of a milestone whisky for the club. We wouldn't even come near this bottle a year ago, but not just because it's a heavily peated malt whisky. Whiskies like Lagavulin need to be taken seriously in order to be understood due to the complexity behind the thick smokiness (whiskies like this... Continue Reading →
We come to Glendronach Original, 12yr old Single Malt. This distillery is known for their sherried whiskies, but not just for that. Glendronach Distillery is one of the few independently owned producers out there in a sea of distilleries owned by conglomerates. What does this mean? Not a whole lot unless it tastes good, in our... Continue Reading →
Historically, whisky has been associated more as a western drink. However, the people of Japan have been working hard to change this perception when promoting their whisky. Over the past decade or so interest in Japanese whisky has soared. Why? This stuff is so damn interesting, that’s why. Being this is Spokane Whiskey Club's first Japanese... Continue Reading →
So I found myself wandering throughout a local whisky shop in the bustling metropolis of Spokane. I found a curious bottle of Balvenie 14yr Caribbean Cask staring back at me. Four seconds later, it was purchased and in my possession. I was intrigued for simple reasons: it was a new Balvenie (strong, dependable bet) and... Continue Reading →
“To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aquavitae, VIII bolls of malt.” This was the first recorded reference pertaining to the spirit known today as Scotch, from 1494. King James IV sent this correspondence to the most prolific makers of the spirit at the time, the monks and friars, who introduced... Continue Reading →
There are those that like to enjoy the delicate side of whisky with quiet, nuanced flavors. There are also those who enjoy a full bodied, more explosive experience when sampling. For the former, I’m so very sorry. For the latter, may we present to you Bushmills 16yr Single Malt Irish Whiskey. This particular expression has... Continue Reading →
Allow us an indulgence, if you please. One of our members knows a guy who knows a guy with Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix in his possession who graciously gave us a sample of this mythical spirit. We didn't refuse since this bottling is quite rare and will never be bottled again. So, we thought we would share it... Continue Reading →
On the sea swept island of Skye lies Talisker, James Bond's go-to distillery (unless you just watched Skyfall and saw 007 frequenting a bottle of Macallan), Talisker has made a name for itself in the whisky world as a peppery, lively little fellow. While mostly categorized in various reviews as a peaty whisky, this non-Islay malt... Continue Reading →
For those out there looking for a notable sherry matured Scotch, pause and take note. Aberlour A'bunadh is a cask strength malt, chill filtered with no water added. Yup, it's a heavy hitter. What sets A'bunadh apart from the rest of its family is the fact that is matured exclusively in Oloroso casks. This is a... Continue Reading →
We have so far enjoyed the Glenlivet line of whiskies. One of our favorites is their 15yr French Oak Reserve Single Malt expression. This whisky is basically the standard 12yr old Glenlivet plus an additional 3 years aging in French oak (used to age Congac). Specifically, 30 – 35% is aged in new casks. This... Continue Reading →
The Dalmore line has received a face lift in recent years. Their parent company, Whyte and Mackay, seems to want what Macallan did with their line of bottlings, which is re-launch it as a luxury brand. What has helped out in this regard is that Dalmore has a plentiful number of stocks going back some... Continue Reading →
As the story goes, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert built the Balmoral Castle as their retreat location while on holiday from the busy duties of the monarchy. They discovered a curious distillery nearby named Lochnagar. After the owner invited the royal couple to visit the small distillery, the rest was history. A relationship developed between... Continue Reading →
Oban Distillery proclaims itself as one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, first being licensed around 1794 on the small, coastal fishing village in Oban, Scotland. To this day, this small distillery remains one of Diageo's most visited distilleries with about 30,000 visitors a year. What is singular about this malt is its curious and pronounced briny... Continue Reading →
The good people at The Macallan Distillery seem to know how to raise the bar in terms of branding, but most importantly, they also seem to apply that standard to whisky making itself. They have the world’s second best selling single malt behind Glenfiddich, and also boast the world’s most expensive whisky ever sold at... Continue Reading →
Today we look at the biggest selling single malt in the world, The Glenlivet 12yr Single Malt Scotch. One has to admit that you don’t get so close to the top by tasting terrible. Blandness may contribute to a certain kind of drinkability, but it’s not like success is wrought by producing dreck and begging... Continue Reading →
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