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.

Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey, Toasted oak cigar barrels, 43%

Posted on 11 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Right. Toasted Oak Cigar Barrels. They don’t really disclose what this means on the website, apart from the barrels being air dried in the Vosges region of France. This is remarkable for two reasons: Why would they dry casks in … Continue reading →

Posted in - American Whiskey, - Rye Whiskey, Heaven's Door, MGP-I | Tagged Bob Dylan, Heaven's Door, Indiana, MGP, Rye Whisky | Leave a comment

Ballechin 15, 2004-2019, Bourbon casks 74+76, 52% – The Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland

Posted on 9 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I tried this whisky on two different occasions. Once at Fiddler’s in 2019, and recently when it also popped out of the Advent Calendar I’ve been going on about for a while now. Ballechin, as some of you might know, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballechin, Edradour | Tagged 2004, Advent Calendar, Ballechin, Bourbon Cask, Edradour, Fiddler's, Highlands, Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland, Jon Beach, Pitlochry | Leave a comment

On new whisky, and Chateau du Breuil

Posted on 8 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Chateau du Breuil is a rather well known distiller of Calvados. They’re known for their iconic bottles, but also for adding some pear to the apple brandy. A few years ago they made their foray into distilling whisky. I completely … Continue reading →

Posted in - World Whisky, Chateau du Breuil, Le Breuil | Tagged Bourbon Cask, Chateau de Breuil, France, Le Breuil, Normandy, Sherry Cask | Leave a comment

Speyburn 26, 1988-2015, Cask 2114, 52.3% – Berry Bros. & Rudd

Posted on 5 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Speyburn, one of those distilleries that does things more or less the same as they did it when the distillery opened. At least, that’s the way their official bottlings taste. Made more or less infamous by the insessant unwanted marketing … Continue reading →

Posted in Speyburn | Tagged 1988, Advent Calendar, Berry Brothers and Rudd, Bourbon Cask, Fiddler's, Jon Beach, Speyburn, Speyside | Leave a comment

Elmer T. Lee 1919-2013 Commemorative Edition, 46.5%

Posted on 4 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

This bourbon was released to celebrate the life of Elmer T. Lee. He was a long time employee of Buffalo Trace Distillery who made it from engineer up to being distillery manager. Officially he retired in 1985, but never really … Continue reading →

Posted in - American Whiskey, Buffalo Trace, Elmer T. Lee | Tagged American Whiskey, Bourbon, Buffalo Trace, Elmer T. Lee, Kentucky, USA | 4 Comments

Uitvlugt 27, 1993-2020, Refill Bourbon cask 5, 50.1% – The Duchess

Posted on 3 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

A little while ago I got another awesome rum sample from Best of Wines, but I waited a little while to sit down for it and give it the attention it deserves. It’s another one in The Duchess’ Hummingbird series … Continue reading →

Posted in - Rum, Uitvlugt | Tagged 1993, Best of Wines, Bourbon Cask, Guyana, Hans Dilllesse, Hummingbirds, Rum, The Duchess, Uitvlugt | Leave a comment

Old Rhosdhu 29, 1990-2020, Refill Hogshead 416, 48.2% – WhiskyNerds

Posted on 2 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

About two weeks ago the newest WhiskyNerds release came out. This time they opted for an Old Rhosdhu from 1990. Old Rhosdhu is one of the older brands of Loch Lomond Distillery. So, in a way this is not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Loch Lomond, Old Rhosdhu | Tagged 1990, Bourbon Cask, Highlands, Loch Lomond, Old Rhosdhu, WhiskyNerds, Wu Dram Clan | 2 Comments

GlenGlassaugh Rare Cask 11, 2009-2020, Port Pipe 1830, 55.4% – OB

Posted on 1 March 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

GlenGlassaugh was reopened in 2008, under guidance of Billy Walker, who took over BenRiach and GlenDronach before then. He’s now active at GlenAllachie since selling the trio of distilleries to Brown-Forman. EDIT: GlenGlassaugh was restarted under guidance of Stuart Nicholson. … Continue reading →

Posted in Glenglassaugh | Tagged 2009, Billie Walker, Brown-Forman, Glenglassaugh, Highlands, Port Cask | Leave a comment

Transistor, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% – Compass Box (and Punk IPA)

Posted on 28 February 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Transistor is one of the three whiskies that have been released in cooperation with BrewDog. Whiskies specially selected to pair well with one of BrewDog’s most available beers. There’s Tulip Torpedo, a rye whisky from Zuidam that is to be … Continue reading →

Posted in - Beer, - Blended Whisky, Compass Box | Tagged Blended Whisky, Boilermaker Series, Brewdog, Compass Box, Punk IPA, Transistor | 2 Comments

Girvan 27, 1989-2017, Bourbon Barrel 167863, 51.4% – Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask

Posted on 25 February 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Let’s start with a disclaimer. I generally don’t care much for grain whisky. In most cases, especially in the last eight years or so, I consider it to be bottled too young. Before then, there were lots of really tasty … Continue reading →

Posted in - Grain Whisky, Girvan | Tagged 1989, Advent Calendar, Bourbon Cask, Carn Mor, Celebration of the Cask, Fiddler's, Girvan, Grain Whisky, Lowlands, Morrison and MacKay | 1 Comment