9. Juni 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Three Cragganmore (MoS, First Editions and SMWS)

Review: Three Cragganmore (MoS, First Editions and SMWS)

Before I am flying to Scotland to meet up with most of the other Malt Maniacs for the 15th Anniversary, I am going to review three Cragganmore, another

2. Juni 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Ardbeg-Day Review: Unbottled 1975 and 1998 Sherry Casks from the Distillery

Ardbeg-Day Review: Unbottled 1975 and 1998 Sherry Casks from the Distillery

It is Ardbeg Day – finally. What a big machinery of viral/guerrilla marketing was revved up for that to refuel the cult-like following of this wonderful distillery. So be it, it was done well, let’s join in.

30. Mai 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Imperial 16 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1995 – 2011, Bourbon Hogshead, 53,9%

Review: Imperial 16 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1995 – 2011, Bourbon Hogshead, 53,9%

Imperial used to be an ugly duckling among some other shiny distillery names (is that why it is from the Duck Series?) – now it has convinced many connoisseurs and strictly delivers good quality. I haven’t tasted a real bad … Weiterlesen

22. Mai 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two More Clynelish 1997 (A Quick Comparison)

Review: Two More Clynelish 1997 (A Quick Comparison)

Very busy days with many tasting events before summer strikes (sorry for not posting more), so here comes just a short comparison of two recent Clynelish releases because many people were asking for more of these ‚bang-for-your-buck‘ drams (like the … Weiterlesen

8. Mai 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Laphroaig 1998 out of Sherry Casks (Stunner-Alarm)

Review: Two Laphroaig 1998 out of Sherry Casks (Stunner-Alarm)

When it comes to Laphroaig Malt matured in sherry, I have mixed feelings. Some of these bottlings are really messed up by the wine – yet others are really enhanced in their complexity. For me it is important that the … Weiterlesen

2. Mai 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Springbank 40 y.o. Chieftain’s 1968 Oloroso Butt

Review: Springbank 40 y.o. Chieftain’s 1968 Oloroso Butt

On the weekend, the old 21 y.o. dumpy Springbank parchment label (silver-red box) impressed the crowd. These old Campbeltown malts are monsters in terms of complexity yet very intellectual and demanding. As a follow-up, I am going to taste the … Weiterlesen

27. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Peated Laddies (Octomore Comus and Port Charlotte MoS)

Review: Two Peated Laddies (Octomore Comus and Port Charlotte MoS)

At Bruichladdich they seem to be keen on the record of the peatiest malt – which is Octomore with ever higher ppm-levels in terms of phenol. As weird as it sounds, the less phenolic Port Charlotte tastes way peatier (and … Weiterlesen

12. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: More old Bowmore from the 1960ies

Review: More old Bowmore from the 1960ies

I wanted to measure up the White Bowmore with small remnants of other great Bowies. And as the Austrian Whisky & Spirits Festival starts in some hours, where we have a stand, here are the short comments/scores of these:

11. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: White Bowmore 1964

Review: White Bowmore 1964

For my Easter vacation I took some real treats with me, one of them being the White Bowmore. There wasn’t one 1964 Bowmore I didn’t like, some were „just very very good“ (yeah, the price, let’s not get into this). … Weiterlesen

6. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Very Old Malts from Passive Casks (Springbank 45 y.o., Lochside 1967 and BenRiach 1971)

Review: Very Old Malts from Passive Casks (Springbank 45 y.o., Lochside 1967 and BenRiach 1971)

Easter dramming is in full session. Following up on the recent review of pale drams, here are three more nice examples out of quite inactive casks. Check it out:

5. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: A 21 y.o. Highland Park from a New Bottler (The First Editions)

Review: A 21 y.o. Highland Park from a New Bottler (The First Editions)

At the Finest Spirits Fair in Munich 2012, I found a new independent bottler I hadn’t come across yet: The First Editions. It is imported to Germany by the very nice Sondheims, and the friendly Scottish partner Andrew Laing (Stewart … Weiterlesen

4. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Unusual Speysiders (Macduff and an amazing Ardmore)

Review: Two Unusual Speysiders (Macduff and an amazing Ardmore)

Whisky-Doris has brought us many great bottlings in the past. Doris and Herbert are real sherry-fans, but they know a good dram from an average one in every field. Recently they sent me their latest releases, let’s check out these … Weiterlesen

3. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Three Nice Sweet Wines

Review: Three Nice Sweet Wines

For a long time, sweet wines were out of fashion here in Germany, but connoisseurs sticked to the wonderful Riesling Auslesen and the other worldwide high class elixirs of that kind. Sherry, Tokay and Port also sell much less in … Weiterlesen

2. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two T-Drams (Talisker 18 and Tomatin 1982)

Review: Two T-Drams (Talisker 18 and Tomatin 1982)

Sometimes we look for the most awkward independent bottlings out there to tickle our fancy – which is perfectly alright with me, I do just the same. What tends to be forgotten is how good some standards can be, they … Weiterlesen

1. April 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Odd Ones (Two Flavoured Rums, a Rum Liqueur and a 10 y.o. Vodka from Poland)

Review: Odd Ones (Two Flavoured Rums, a Rum Liqueur and a 10 y.o. Vodka from Poland)

On a Saturday night when people go out, we should taste accordingly – so I put together some odd ’nightlify‘ products as an interesting review for April fools tomorrow. I’m starting out with a pre-dinner vodka aged for ten years, … Weiterlesen

31. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Old-Style Whiskies (Cragganmore, Stewarts Dundee Blend from 1970ies)

Review: Two Old-Style Whiskies (Cragganmore, Stewarts Dundee Blend from 1970ies)

Due to several factors, we get more and more modern whiskies these days. A comparison to wine is making sense: fewer bad ones, but less personality, more resemblance. Don’t worry, enough unique drams are still out there, and that is … Weiterlesen

29. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Three Really Old Glenglassaugh (1965, 1966 and 1972)

Review: Three Really Old Glenglassaugh (1965, 1966 and 1972)

I felt the need for fruit today (no, not the healthy stuff, the liquid equivalent) – and so I went straight to the sample room and grabbed three Glenglassaughs from the old days. Check out this uber-cristalline head-to-head:

25. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Three Bottlings by the Single Cask Collection and a Grain for the Road

Review: Three Bottlings by the Single Cask Collection and a Grain for the Road

The Single Cask Collection by Roland Hinterreiter, who also organizes Austria’s Whisky and Spirits Festival on April 13th in Linz, where we will have a stand with some old malts and monsters (visit us there!), has a good hand in … Weiterlesen

23. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Islay-Session IV. – Three Recent Caol Ila and a 23 y.o. Longmorn to Warm-Up

Review: Islay-Session IV. – Three Recent Caol Ila and a 23 y.o. Longmorn to Warm-Up

The Caol Ila Distillery sometimes gets put down as soulless – may that be true or not, some amazing whiskies were made there, my favorites being from before 1974, esp. the 1960ies versions. For many peatheads Caol Ila simply delivers … Weiterlesen

21. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Islay-Session III. – Three SMWS-Ardbeg

Review: Islay-Session III. – Three SMWS-Ardbeg

After a bloody rare steak (its smoke still filling the room), I feel like having some Ardbeg. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has released some really decent bottlings of the cult distillery recently. Let’s give three new ones a go: … Weiterlesen

20. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Amazing Bourbons

Review: Two Amazing Bourbons

Some Single Malt connoisseurs don’t try Bourbon Whiskey by category at all, which makes them miss a world of taste. It’s not all Jim and Jack! Openly spoken, the diversity of Bourbon is much smaller than in Scotch Single Malt … Weiterlesen

18. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Islay Session II. – Four Recent Laphroaig from 1998

Review: Islay Session II. – Four Recent Laphroaig from 1998

Laphroaig Single Malt is very reliable for connoisseurs and usually the casks aren’t that different from each other, but now and then one stands out (positively or negatively). This time it was different, as you will see. In my review … Weiterlesen

17. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Islay-Session I. – Three Bowies and an awesome Port Ellen

Review: Islay-Session I. – Three Bowies and an awesome Port Ellen

Exciting – a whole lotta new samples reached home, and as the Islay drams usually are sold out first, let’s get started with three Bowmore and one Port Ellen.

13. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Revisiting Two Classics (An Cnoc 16 y.o. and Longmorn 30 y.o.)

Review: Revisiting Two Classics (An Cnoc 16 y.o. and Longmorn 30 y.o.)

An Cnoc 16 y.o. 46% Comment: Revisiting a classic, that is how I feel. Let’s see how this baby tastes nowadays. The nose reveals honey, dried flowers, grapefruit- and lemon juice and hints of ginger. It tastes spicier than the … Weiterlesen

6. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Littlemill 1989 Archives and Glen Ord 1999 MoS

Review: Littlemill 1989 Archives and Glen Ord 1999 MoS

Littlemill 22 y.o. Archives, 1989, refill Sherry Hogshead, 48,3% Comment: I have heard great things about this bottling – and it is exciting to try rare whisky from this closed Lowland distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland, by the … Weiterlesen

4. März 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Five Recent Pale Drams (Port Charlotte, Caol Ila, Highland Park, Bowmore and Benriach)

Review: Five Recent Pale Drams (Port Charlotte, Caol Ila, Highland Park, Bowmore and Benriach)

Natural colour is not always suitable to predict taste, although most of us usually go for ‚the darker one‘. Bright drams are underestimated. Thinking back I must say that some of the finest whiskies I had were as pale as … Weiterlesen

25. Februar 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Old Talisker (1955 and 1974)

Review: Two Old Talisker (1955 and 1974)

This Skye-born dram is one of the  true Single Malts with a unique profile that rarely fails to impress connoisseurs. However, I think it needs 9-10 years to age to reach this quality. Don’t judge it by younger versions like … Weiterlesen

20. Februar 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Recent SMWS-Releases II.

Review: Recent SMWS-Releases II.

Here comes part two of my review of the recent SMWS Christmas releases from those not so crazily sought-after distilleries we all often underestimate. Have a look if the second tier could surprise and step up to the plate.

17. Februar 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Recent SMWS-Releases

Review: Recent SMWS-Releases

Just before Christmas, these bottlings filled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society rolled in. Let’s put them to the test while we have a white landscape out there. The second load will be reviewed soon.

15. Februar 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Three Older Highland Park Bottlings

Review: Three Older Highland Park Bottlings

Back from Munich’s Finest Spirits Festival 2012 (thanks for the many nice conversations and the great time) – in full spirits. We had a wonderful weekend there and found many potential partners. I am going to review some festival finds … Weiterlesen

8. Februar 2012
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: The Maltman Session (Meadowside Blending)

Review: The Maltman Session (Meadowside Blending)

Nowadays, independent bottlers pop up by the dozen each month. Among the many new ones, there is Meadowside Blending/The Maltman, about which I have blogged in short before. The very friendly Andy Hart is behind the project, which partly draws … Weiterlesen

7. November 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: The X-Mas Releases of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society I. (Highland Park, Clynelish, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Port Charlotte)

Review: The X-Mas Releases of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society I. (Highland Park, Clynelish, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Port Charlotte)

The new SMWS Christmas Releases Tomorrow the German chapter of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society will present their new releases for Christmas time. Our friend Ralf Dänzer and I don’t want you to find any bad drams underneath the X-mas … Weiterlesen

6. November 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Two Old and Two New Bottlings (Balblair, Bunnahabhain, Glendullan, Glenberry)

Review: Two Old and Two New Bottlings (Balblair, Bunnahabhain, Glendullan, Glenberry)

Remainders That Need to Go Today I am clearing my whisky cabinet from those bottles that are almost history – you know, those bottles with 2-8 cl left in them but that still never seem to get empty although they … Weiterlesen

4. November 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Chateau Guiraud 2001 Premier Cru Sauternes 13,5%

Review: Chateau Guiraud 2001 Premier Cru Sauternes 13,5%

In letzter Zeit kommen immer mehr Single Malts auf den Markt, die in Sauternes-Fässern (nach-) gereift wurden. Es freut mich zu vermelden, dass diese Reifung erstaunlich gut funktioniert. Doch ein guter Sauternes ist mir bisher noch lieber als der in … Weiterlesen

31. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Bowmore – Good at Whisky, Bad at Science (Bowmore ‚Tempest‘ 2 and the Ambassador’s Special Release)

Review: Bowmore – Good at Whisky, Bad at Science (Bowmore ‚Tempest‘ 2 and the Ambassador’s Special Release)

Bowmore – Back on Top Let’s have Bowmore Single Malt today, two youngsters, head-to-head. The distillery has regained a good standing among the real Islay fans because the whiskies after 1990 (with 1993 being outstanding but also atypical) have turned … Weiterlesen

27. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Ardbeg 13 y.o. G&M for Intertrade 1975 – 1988, Sherry Cask, 543 btl., 54,2%

Review: Ardbeg 13 y.o. G&M for Intertrade 1975 – 1988, Sherry Cask, 543 btl., 54,2%

It was a hard day, so I need a bit of a treat. Mmmmh, let’s go for Islay power, an Ardbeg. But a special one: How about a bottling from the good old days, complex, but bottled at young age…the … Weiterlesen

27. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: A Blend Worth Revisiting – Hankey Bannister 12 y.o. ‚Regency‘ / World’s Greatest Whisky Revealed

Review: A Blend Worth Revisiting – Hankey Bannister 12 y.o. ‚Regency‘ / World’s Greatest Whisky Revealed

Before we will talk about the World’s Greatest Whisky 🙂 made at Old Pulteney 21 years ago – according to whisky-writer Jim Murray in the new Whisky Bible – soon (with tasting notes) we stay modest and humble today and … Weiterlesen

25. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: New Glenglassaugh Monsters from the 1960ies and 1970ies

Review: New Glenglassaugh Monsters from the 1960ies and 1970ies

New Glenglassaugh Gems Soon to Come At the end of our wonderful visit at Glenglassaugh Distillery, Managing Director Stuart Nickerson held a nice and very generous tasting session. Among many drams (e.g. New Make, a young Californian Zinfandel Cask and … Weiterlesen

19. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: SMWS Spring Bottlings (Frühlingsliste)

Review: SMWS Spring Bottlings (Frühlingsliste)

Bevor ich in den kommenden Tagen die restlichen Abfüllungen der Herbst-Bottlings von SMWS bewerte, hier die Verkostungsnotizen der Frühlingsliste (Auchentoshan 1999, Glenmorangie 1992, Mortlach 1989, Bowmore 1994, Ardbeg 2001, Aultmore 1982, Glen Moray 2000, Linkwood 1982, Benrinnes 1996, Port Charlotte … Weiterlesen

14. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Runners-Up at the Whisky-Walk (Caperdonich 1972, Port Ellen 1981, BenRiach 1976 etc.)

Review: Runners-Up at the Whisky-Walk (Caperdonich 1972, Port Ellen 1981, BenRiach 1976 etc.)

As promised, I am going to reveal the runners-up #2, #3 and the only slightly trailing #4 with some quick notes now. No dram disappointed on that night whatsoever, but some where better than

7. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: New C & S Dram Whiskies II. (Clynelish, Miltonduff)

Review: New C & S Dram Whiskies II. (Clynelish, Miltonduff)

… continued from two days before … Clynelish 1997, 14 y.o., Bourbon Cask 5711, 57,9% Nose: Nougat, apple, candle wax, honey, hazelnut, peach and pine resin, discrete peat Palate: sweet arrival at first

5. Oktober 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: New C & S Dram Whiskies (Laphroaig, Bladnoch)

Review: New C & S Dram Whiskies (Laphroaig, Bladnoch)

One of the Great Independent Bottlers If you look for the maximum value for your buck, C & S Drams should be one of your choices. Our friend Andrea Caminneci (now Keeper of the Quaich) and his partners don’t like … Weiterlesen

15. September 2011
von Peter Krause
Kommentare deaktiviert für Review: Cognac Pitaud (Basic Range) vs. Remy Martin XO Excellence, or: 1914 wasn’t so bad after all

Review: Cognac Pitaud (Basic Range) vs. Remy Martin XO Excellence, or: 1914 wasn’t so bad after all

Cognac Pitaud As I love to sip a fine cognac from time to time, I would like to tell you about this discovery: the Pitaud Cognac range. These bottles (basic range: V.S., V.S.O.P., X.O., Extra, but there are three others: … Weiterlesen