Author Archives: Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer
Blind Tasting Competition 2 – Royal Brackla, 33yo, 1976, 43% – MacKillop’s Choice
I’ve got points! 20 because I had the ABV right, and 20 since I guessed a distillery from the same region. The last bit feels like cheating a bit since Balblair (my guess) and Royal Brackla are rather far apart. … Continue reading
Posted in Royal Brackla
Tagged Balblair, Blind Tasting Competition, Highlands, Royal Brackla, Usquebaugh Society
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Blind Tasting Competition 1 – Bruichladdich 21yo, Carnival of Malt Valinch, 52.5%
The Blind Tasting Competition has started again. I posted some unboxing pictures yesterday but after being attended to my home address being visible on the box’s label, I decided to remove it. Anyway, blind tasting is hard. Blind tasting and … Continue reading
Port Ellen, Pe1, 58.7% – Elements of Islay
While there is no official statement saying which Elements of Islay bottlings is which, this line of bottles from The Whisky Exchange‘s Specialty Drinks Ltd. leaves little to the imagination. The toughest one to guess has been the Pc range … Continue reading
Posted in Port Ellen
Tagged Drinks & Gifts, Elements of Islay, Pe1, Port Ellen, Specialty Drinks Ltd. Islay, The Whisky Exchange
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Auchentoshan 27yo, 1984, 53.0% – Whiskybroker.co.uk
Last year Master of Malt bottled a 27 year old Auchentoshan which I really enjoyed. Mark Dermul, the Toshan Man, had a rather different opinion on it, stating that it contained massive amounts of FWP and thereby raising the question … Continue reading
Posted in Auchentoshan
Tagged Auchentoshan, Ewald Lap, Lowlands, Maltstock, Mark Dermul, The Toshan Man
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2 Springbanks for the Fredericia Golf Club
When my friend Gal came to the Netherlands last this year for Maltstock, he, of course, brought samples to share in between the masterclasses. Everybody does that, it’s what makes Maltstock great since everybody brings something rare or great, preferably both. … Continue reading
Posted in Springbank
Tagged Campbeltown, Fredericia Golf Club, Gal Granov, Private Label, Springbank
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A Surprise tasting at De Whiskykoning (1/2)
Last Friday I went all the way to De Whiskykoning in Den Bosch for a whisky event. The so called ‘surprise tasting’. Not that the tasting itself was a surprise, but nobody knew what we were going to taste. Of … Continue reading
Posted in - Blended Whisky, Auchentoshan, Highland Park, Longrow, Springbank
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Glenfarclas 43yo, 1966-2009, Speyside’s Finest for The Whisky Show, 48.2% – Old Malt Cask
Officially it’s an undisclosed distillery, of course, but when even the receipt says it’s a Glenfarclas, I tend to believe that. When this came out I was really into sherry casks and the darker the better, usually. When this came … Continue reading
Posted in Glenfarclas
Tagged Douglas Laing, Glenfarclas, Hunter Laing, Old Malt Cask, Speyside, Speyside's Finest, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Show, Undisclosed
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Ardbeg Ardbog, whatever. 52.1%
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be called The Ardbeg Ardbog, or just Ardbog. At least it’s this year’s Ardbeg Day bottling. They’ve picked up the Ardbeg Day idea a few years ago when they started to open … Continue reading
Posted in Ardbeg
Tagged Ardbeg, Ardbeg Day, Ardbog, Den Bosch, Feis Ile, Islay, Whiskykoning, Winter Tasting
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Laphroaig Feis Ile 2013, Cairdeas Port Wood Edition, 51.3%
After a few days off in the Ardennes that mainly focussed on someone else’s whisky and beer, it’s about time to continue the Islay tasting and finish that up this week, since on Friday I’m off to Den Bosch again … Continue reading
Posted in Laphroaig
Tagged Cairdeas, De Whiskykoning, Den Bosch, Feis Ile, Islay, Laphroaig, Port Wood, Winter Tasting
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Malt Fascination 