Author Archives: Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer
Bruichladdich 8, 2011-2019, Bourbon Cask #150, 65.8% – Lady of the Glen
I doubt if I ever had a dram from Lady of the Glen before. Probably, but not one I remember without doing more research into old tasting notes. Anyway, it’s a bottler, like there are many. Even though there are … Continue reading
Posted in Bruichladdich
Tagged 2011, Bourbon Cask, Bruichladdich, Islay, Lady of the Glen
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Grosperrin No 73 Heritage pour Passion for Whisky, 54.6%
While Cognac isn’t something I review an awful lot of, there is significantly more on this blog than I would have dared guess some years ago. Back then, when Cognac was still what it still is most known for, I … Continue reading
Posted in - Cognac
Tagged 1973, Grosperrin, Passie voor Whisky, Passion for Whisky, Petite Champagne
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Benromach 11, 2009-2020, Cask Strength Batch 04, 57.2%
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Benromach. And, in this case, I can genuinely say that’s because their flavor profile suits me to a tee. I hadn’t been there before the revamped launch of Gordon & MacPhail’s … Continue reading
Posted in Benromach
Tagged 2009, Benromach, Cask Strength, Forres, Gordon & MacPhail, Speyside
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Glenfarclas 31, 1988-2020, Oloroso casks, 46% – ‘Flora MacDonald
According to what I can find on the internet when I search for ‘Glenfarclas Famous Scots’, this is the 24th jubilee edition of the series. However, what the other 24 are seems to be shrouded in mystery. The bottling is … Continue reading
Posted in Glenfarclas
Tagged 1988, Famous Scots, Flora MacDonald, Glenfarclas, Limited Rare, Sherry Cask, Speyside, Whiskykoning
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Kavalan 5, 2015-2021, Vinho Barrique, 55.6% – OB for The Netherlands
Somehow, whenever a Kavalan becomes available my ears peak up. I am not entirely sure why, because I’m not even that big a fan of the brand. There have been some true beauties from the Taiwanese distillery, but especially their … Continue reading
Posted in Kavalan
Tagged 2015, Bottled for The Netherlands, Kavalan, King Car, Taiwan, Wine cask
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Glenugie 30, 1980-2011, ‘Deoch an Doras’, 52.13%
There are several translations for ‘Deoch an Doras’. What is seems to boil down to is ‘a farewell drink’, sort of like ‘one for the road’. Interestingly, this wasn’t Glenugie’s farewell drink, since 7 years later another bottling was released … Continue reading
Posted in Glenugie
Tagged 1980, Chivas Brothers, Deoch an Doras, Glenugie, Highlands, Sherry Cask
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Fettercairn 16, Oloroso & Palo Cortado cask, 46.4%
Fettercairn is one of those whiskies that doesn’t have a large fanbase. With an average Whiskybase rating of under 85, that’s not too surprising, since that means that there’s enough low scoring whiskies in the mix to counter all those … Continue reading
Ardnamurchan AD/04:21, Paul Launois Release, 57.6%
With me trying to get my bearing and reshuffling priorities between working in an actual office, and not spending a coffee break writing a blog post, being back from a short trip to Scotland and spending some evenings with the … Continue reading
Posted in Ardnamurchan
Tagged Ardnamurchan, Guest Post, Highlands, Paul Launois, Tom van Engelen, Wine cask
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On scoring whiskies
Over the last year or so, I’ve gotten some questions about whisky ratings. In general, as to what means what, why most things score in the eighties, but also about my ratings in particular. Some people find my ratings a … Continue reading
Posted in - News and Announcements, - Opinion
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Benriach 12, bottled 2020, 46% – The Smoky Twelve
I guess that settled whether I should write ‘smoky’ or ‘smokey’… Anyway, this BenRiach is one of the revamped editions from recent years, after Brown-Forman took over. A mix of casks was used, with Bourbon, Sherry and Marsala casks all … Continue reading
Posted in BenRiach
Tagged BenRiach, Bourbon Cask, Brown-Forman, Marsala cask, Sherry Cask, Speyside, The Smoky Twelve, Whiskykoning
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Malt Fascination 