Author Archives: Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

About Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I'm very interested in booze, with a focus on whisky. I like to listen to loads of music and play lots of Magic: the Gathering, and board games too. I'm married to Anneke, have two daughters Ot and Cato, a son Moos and a cat called Kikker (which means Frog, in Dutch). I live in Krommenie, The Netherlands.

BenRiach 2005-2014, 9yo, Peated, Virgin Oak finish, 58.7%

Posted on 27 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

My father in law has a developed a taste for Virgin Oak matured (or finished) whiskies. Over the years he’s gathered a few here and there with the idea of hosting a tasting for us at some point. That hasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in BenRiach | Tagged 2005, BenRiach, Cask Strength, Peated, Single Cask, Speyside, Virgin Oak | Leave a comment

A weekend in the Ardennes with the in-laws

Posted on 25 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

The radio silence on every bit of media except some ‘Facebook liking’ was caused by a weekend in Belgium, nearby Durbuy. I’m not entirely sure if you can call a Friday to Wednesday period a weekend though. My mother-in-law and … Continue reading →

Posted in - News and Announcements | Tagged Holiday | 1 Comment

Auchentoshan Silver Oak, 21 year old, 51.5%, Travel Retail ‘only’

Posted on 20 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Yeah. Auchentoshan. The darling distillery of Toshan Man Mark Dermul. He’s also the guy I bought this sample of. I’ve had some good ones, but there are also some lesser ones and when this one came out a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Auchentoshan | Tagged Auchentoshan, Cask Strength, Lowlands, Mark Dermul, Silver Oak, Travel Retail | Leave a comment

Mars Komagatake, The Revival 2011, 58%

Posted on 19 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

With a name and age like this you would be inclined to think this is some joke from Glenglassaugh. Or maybe GlenDronach, but then it would have to be older. Five times older to be precise. This sample was a … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Mars Komagatake, Shinshu Mars | Tagged Bottle Share, Free Sample, Japan, Komagatake, Mars, Revival, Shinshu Mars | 2 Comments

Springbank Vintage 1996, Single Cask 263, 54.9%

Posted on 17 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Generally, when you think of a Fino cask matured whisky you’re not imagining a really deep brown dram. In this case, that would make you wrong. Generally, when you think of a single cask from a distillery, bottled by themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Springbank | Tagged Campbeltown, Fino cask, Hanseatische Weinhandelsgesellschaft Bremen, Private Cask, Single Cask, Springbank | 9 Comments

Glenmorangie Ealanta, 46%, 19 year old Virgin Oak, Private Release

Posted on 16 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Every time Glenmorangie release a new Private Release the internet buzzes with reviews of it, and generally the bottling sells out really quickly. So far the only ones that didn’t sell out fast were the Sonnalta and the Finealta. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Glenmorangie | Tagged Ealanta, Glenmorangie, Highlands, Private Release, Tain, Virgin Oak | 2 Comments

Hielander Whisky Festival 2015

Posted on 15 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I realized a while ago that this 5th edition of the Hielander Whisky Festival is also the fifth time I’m there. So so far I didn’t miss a single one. I think this is something to keep up. This year, … Continue reading →

Posted in - Grain Whisky, - Japanese Whisky, - World Whisky, Armorik, Arran, Balvenie, Blair Athol, Cambus, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Glen Garioch, Glen Moray, Glenmorangie, Mortlach, Tomatin, Yoichi | Tagged Armorik, Arran, Balvenie, Blackadder, Blair Athol, Cambus, Clan Denny, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Distillery Only, Dutch Connection, French Whisky, Glen Garioch, Glen Moray, Glenmorangie, Grain Whisky, Hielander, Hielander Whisky Festival, Highlands, Japan, Jurgen's Whiskyhuis, Kintra, Lochranza, Millésime, Mortlach, Samaroli, Signatory, Speyside, Texelse Brouwerij, Tomatin, Uisge Beatha Taich, Warenghem, Yoichi | 4 Comments

Zuidam Zeer Oude Genever, 10yo, Red Wine cask

Posted on 13 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

This is a rather special one. A couple of years ago (almost five, by the looks of it) Drinks & Gifts organized a trip to Zuidam distillery together with DH17. A couple of drinks shops in The Netherlands thought it … Continue reading →

Posted in - Other Spirits, Zuidam | Tagged Baarle-Nassau, DH17, Drinks & Gifts, Genever, Jenever, Zuidam, Zuidam Distillery | Leave a comment

Dry Fly Washington Wheat Whiskey, 40%

Posted on 12 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Dry Fly Distilling is another distillery in the state of Washington. And another distillery I didn’t visit when I was there. We were in the USA for four weeks in 2011, and we could have spent them in Washington alone … Continue reading →

Posted in - American Whiskey, - Wheat Whiskey, Dry Fly Distilling | Tagged Dry Fly Distilling, USA, Washington, Wheat Whiskey | Leave a comment

Woodinville Limited Edition 2011, #2936, Batch 1, 46%

Posted on 10 February 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Well this is weird. I can’t put an ABV in the header of this post since I don’t know it. I also cannot find it online anywhere. (Updated now) I got this sample from pro whisky writer Hans Offringa so … Continue reading →

Posted in - American Whiskey, Woodinville | Tagged Bourbon, Hans Offringa, Maltstock, Washington, Woodinville | 1 Comment