Author Archives: Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer
Secret Speyside 13, 2009-2023, Hogshead 200929, 53.2% – Wu Dram Clan
This undisclosed peated BenRiach was released at the same time as the Smögen from recently, but without the 91 point score at Whiskyfun, and therefore less fanfare to go with it. As a result of that, this one is actually … Continue reading
Posted in BenRiach
Tagged 2009, BenRiach, Bourbon Cask, Lighthouse Series, Secret Speyside, Speyside, Undisclosed, Wu Dram Clan
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Deanston 10, 2012-2023, 2nd Fill Oloroso Hogshead, 51% – WTF Utrecht
Even though I didn’t go to the WTF I got a bottle of this. Mostly because Thijs was very enthusiastic about it. Of course, that went straight into a bottle-share, since I simply can’t keep everything for myself for a … Continue reading
Smögen 9, 2014-2023, Ex-Four Roses Bourbon Barrel 14, 59.8% – Wu Dram Clan
Thijs described his review as ‘mustard after the meal’. That is a Dutch saying meaning that you’re late in such a way that there’s no use anymore. Another saying for that is ‘eggs after Easter’. But here I am reviewing … Continue reading
Posted in - World Whisky, Smögen
Tagged 2014, Bourbon Cask, Smögen, Sweden, Swedish Whisky, Wu Dram Clan
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Daftmill 12, 2007-2019, First Fill Bourbon Barrels, 46%
This Winter Batch Release from 2019 was the final sample in the Blind Tasting Competition. After 11 other samples we had to close it out, and somehow the math didn’t help to get to the correct ABV. The style of … Continue reading
Posted in Daftmill
Tagged 2007, Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Bourbon Cask, Daftmill, Fife, Lowlands
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Caol Ila 15, 2007-2022, PX Sherry Butt Finish, 54.6% – Douglas Laing’s Old Particular
The second to last day of the Blind Tasting Competition brings us back to Islay, and another re-tasting. I have no idea what happened here, and why I didn’t get any of the typical smoky notes that are normal for … Continue reading
Posted in Caol Ila
Tagged 2007, Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Caol Ila, Douglas Laing, Dutch Dram Masters, Islay, Old Particular, Sherry Cask
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Annandale 4, 2017-2022, STR + French Red Wine Cask, 58.8%
Well, this might be the first Annandale I’ve had that is under 60% ABV, albeit not by much. Day 10 of the Blind Tasting Competition brings us to the southernmost part of the Scottish Lowlands. So far, I’ve only had … Continue reading
Posted in Annandale
Tagged 2017, Annandale, Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Lowlands, Wine cask
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Kilkerran 16, Release 22/124, 46%
These 16 year old Kilkerrans never really work for me. I’ve tried several different version, I think I’ve had the 2020, 2021 and 2022 versions now, and none of them scored very high in my book. They’re decent, absolutely not … Continue reading
Posted in Glengyle, Kilkerran
Tagged Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Bourbon Cask, Campbeltown, Glengyle, Kilkerran, Sherry Cask
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Bunnahabhain Mòine 15, 2005-2021, PX Finish, 55.3% – The Duchess
Things are getting a bit embarrassing. The eighth dram in the Blind Tasting Competition was one I also had recently, I wrote tasting notes to it this summer. Admittedly, it’s been a bit longer than I thought it was, but … Continue reading
Posted in Bunnahabhain
Tagged 2005, Best of Wines, Bunnahabhain, Hans Dillesse, Islay, Sherry Cask, The Duchess
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Ardnamurchan 8, 2014-2022, Ex Bourbon Barrel CK.154, 59.5% – OB for The Netherlands
I really like that there are more and more bottlings done for The Netherlands. It seems we finally have gotten our space on the global whisky map! This Ardnamurchan is one of them that came out last year. I didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Ardnamurchan
Tagged 2014, Adelphi, Ardnamurchan, Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Bourbon Cask, BTC, Highland
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Ardbeg BizarreBQ, Experimental Barbecue Casks, 50.9%
Another retasting, so it turned out. On the sixth day of BTC, Best of Wines gave to me, a sample of the Ardbeg BizarreBQ release. The 2023 release of another slightly freaky approach to what they usually do. More information … Continue reading
Posted in Ardbeg
Tagged Ardbeg, Best of Wines, BizarreBQ, Blind Tasting Competition, BTC, DJ BBQ, Islay
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Malt Fascination 