Whisky Emporium

Tasting Notes & so much more!

A great selection of features are to be discovered in this section of Whisky Emporium

Tasting notes Listed by distillery & brand with a little distillery information and links
Whisky & Food Great whisky & food combinations from my gourmet evenings
Whisky & Chocolate Pushing the boundaries further forward with sublime & rare combinations
Which Glass My own independent whisky glass review
Who Owns What? Did you ever wonder which companies or people own which distilleries?
New to Whisky? A little basic knowledge & terminology to help get you started on your journey

The magic of malt whisky for me!..

Do you sometimes find that a single flavour, or complex mix of flavours transports you immediately to another place or time? Perhaps one where you enjoyed a specific experience? Maybe even conjuring up long lost memories from your childhood or youth. If you do, then maybe you will appreciate the way I write my tasting notes as I share some of my own experiences where this has happened with me.

For example; Glenfarclas Quarter Casks immediately transports me to Christmas Day in an English country house, relaxing in the study just after Christmas lunch. New Zealand's Milford 10 is responsible for reminding me of childhood bonfire nights where in England, on each 5th November we celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes in blowing up the Houses of Parliament. The moment I take a first sip of Talisker 10 I am back on the isle of Skye, never far from the sea or the delightful, slightly smoky countryside.Then I swear that every bottle of Ardbeg, Caol Ila or Laphroaig has its own Atlantic jetty or beach hidden somewhere inside, whereas Highland Park have mysteriously managed to encompass every hike I ever made through Scottish heather and bracken in their offerings.

So it continues, delightful experiences and memories revitalised through the magical world of single malts!

...Keith Wood

Tasting notes

My Top Drams

Single Grain

Alloa
Ben Nevis
Caledonian
Cambus
Cameron Bridge
Carsebridge
Dumbarton
Garnheath
Girvan
Invergordon
Loch Lomond
North British
North of Scotland
Port Dundas
Strathclyde
Strathmore

My most often asked question: "what's your favourite whisky?"

The answer is simple; I don't have a single favourite whisky. Or at least not for day-to-day drinking. I like all styles of whisky and will usually select one that suits my mood at the time, or just takes my fancy at that given moment.

I've been very lucky to be able to savour some excellent drams in recent years and as a result, I do have a list of what I consider to be my personal 'Top 10', which is based upon their excellent quality and also the impression these whiskies left on me. But as you will see, many are rather special and often unique, so they can be extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to find.

Dalmore 40y Cask Strength The never bottled at CS version.
Ardbeg Very Old, Guaranteed 30y Smooth, succulent Summer fruits. A true fantasy in a glass.
Bowmore 1966, 40y Stunning Bowmore, full of surprises.
Ardbeg Provenance, 1974-1997 A true great.
Glen Keith, 1967, 21y Smooth, palatable luxury
Talisker 1955, 38y, G&M Intense, rich, smooth power
Dalmore 40y, 40% Sublime Christmas pudding, plus much more.
Millburn, 1969, 36y, Old Malt Cask A melody of fresh flavours & harmony.
Glen Grant 38y, 'Whisky Doris' Extremely intense & complex.
Port Ellen 1982, 28y, cask 2039, 'Old Bothwell' Scarborough!

Congratulations to these ten exemplary whiskies, they are all worthy 'winners' although many more are also worthy of comment here. In particular I would also like to draw attention to:

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 20, Ardbeg Kildalton, Banff JWWW Old Train Line, Ben Nevis 25y SC, Brora 30y 2009, Bunnahabhain 1978 31y Art of Whisky, Bunnahabhain 1976 32y Whisky Cask, Convalmore Cadenhead, Isle of Jura, 33y, Douglas Laing's Tactical, 1980-25y, Ladyburn Signatory, Laphroaig 2010 Cairdeas, Yamazaki 'Heavily Peated'