Tag Archives: Orkney

The best of 2021

Posted on 7 January 2022 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Apart from looking back, using hindsight to evaluate what happened on a more generic level, there was of course a lot of booze last year. In The Netherlands bottle-shops are in the same legal category as supermarkets and other foodstuff … Continue reading →

Posted in Ardbeg, Ardmore, Ben Nevis, Bowmore, Buffalo Trace, Cameronbridge, Clynelish, Elmer T. Lee, Four Roses, Girvan, Glenallachie, GlenDronach, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, Kilchoman, Ladyburn, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Loch Lomond, Longmorn, Mannochmore, North of Scotland, Old Rhosdhu, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Rare Ayrshire, Redbreast, Rosebank, Springbank, Tobermory, Undisclosed | Tagged 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, Advent Calendar, American Whiskey, Ardbeg, Ardmore, Ben Nevis, Blended Malt, Boogieman Import, Bourbon, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Buffalo Trace, Cameronbridge, Campbeltown, Carn Mor, Closed Distillery, Clynelish, Dalriada Whisky Company, Dramfool, Elmer T. Lee, Fable, Four Roses, Girvan, Glenallachie, GlenDronach, Glenmorangie, Grain Whisky, Hand Filled, HIghland Park, Highlands, Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland, Ireland, Islands, Islay, Isle of Mull, Kilchoman, Ladyburn, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Loch Lomond, Longmorn, Lowlands, Mannochmore, Max & Julia, Michiel Wigman, North of Scotland, Old Malt Cask, Old Rhosdhu, Orkney, Passie voor Whisky, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Rare Ayrshire, Redbreast, Rosebank, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Scott's Selection, Secret Treasures, Signatory Vintage, SMWS, Speyside, Speyside Region, Springbank, Springbank Society, The Old Pipe, The Whisky Agency, The Whisky Barrel, Tobermory, WhiskyNerds, Wu Dram Clan | 1 Comment

Best of Wines’ Blind Tasting Competition #4

Posted on 2 December 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

The last leg of the Blind Tasting Competition, or maybe the last tripod, since there’s another three reviews below. In this batch there are two bottlings I had before, but only one of them I recognized. That made up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park, Kilchoman, Loch Lomond, Old Rhosdhu | Tagged 1990, 2007, 2008, Best of Whiskies, Best of Wines, Blind Tasting Competition, Bourbon Cask, HIghland Park, Highlands, Islands, Islay, Kilchoman, Loch Lomond, Max & Julia, Old Rhosdhu, Orkney, Sherry Cask, WhiskyNerds, Wu Dram Clan | Leave a comment

Highland Park 15, 2003-2018, 1st Fill European Oak Puncheon 1306, 58.1% – OB for the Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland

Posted on 8 September 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Longest. Title. Ever. Anyway, this sherry’d Highland Park sits in my collection, waiting for a moment to be opened. When at Maltstock in 2018, it was used in a tasting by Jon Beach and Tatsuya Minagawa in their ‘Japan vs … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park | Tagged Advent Calendar, Fiddler's, HIghland Park, Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland, Islands, Jon Beach, Orkney, Sherry Cask | 1 Comment

Scapa 20, 2000-2021, Refill Sherry Hogshead 1096, 55.3% – Gordon & MacPhail

Posted on 28 July 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

It’s been years since I reviewd or tasted a Scapa. The ‘other’ Orkney distillery that doesn’t have famous official bottlings and is quite a rarity for independents too. All undisclosed Orkney whiskies are supposed to be Highland Park, and after … Continue reading →

Posted in Scapa | Tagged 2000, Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & MacPhail, Orkney, Scapa, Sherry Cask | Leave a comment

An Orkney Distillery 21, 1998-2020, Hogshead 10, 52.6% – Archives

Posted on 13 July 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

This secret Highland Park at a very decent age was bottled last year by the guys at Whiskybase. I even drove there to pick it up, if I recall correctly, which also happened to be the first time I ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park, Undisclosed | Tagged 1998, Archives, Bourbon Cask, HIghland Park, Islands, Orkney, Undisclosed Distillery, Whiskybase | Leave a comment

Secret Orkney 20yo, 1999-2020, Hogshead, 52.7% – Boogieman Import

Posted on 20 April 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Yes, this is Highland Park. They all are. This bottling was released some two or three months ago by Stefan van der Boog (BOOGieman), from Passie voor Whisky. And as I do when new and sort-of affordably Highland Parks are … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park, Undisclosed | Tagged 1999, Boogieman Import, Bourbon Cask, HIghland Park, Orkney, Passie voor Whisky, Undisclosed | Leave a comment

Orkney Island 2005-2020, 14yo, 59.7% – Berry Bros & Rudd for Whiskybase

Posted on 23 February 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Of course this is Highland Park. All of the ‘undisclosed’ Orkney whiskies are Highland Park. This one was released sometime during the end of last year and I scored a bottle for bottle-sharing. I ended up with some 10cl for … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park, Undisclosed | Tagged 2005, Berry Brothers and Rudd, Bourbon Cask, HIghland Park, Islands, Orkney, Undisclosed Distillery, Whiskybase | Leave a comment

Whiskykoning’s “Autumn Tasting”

Posted on 16 February 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

For every season there is a tasting at De Whiskykoning. Of course, in 2020 those couldn’t happen. However, Rob (the owner) decided to sell packs of samples with a description, and make youtube movies for the tasting. Of course, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Arran, Deanston, Glen Ord, Highland Park, Springbank | Tagged 2008, Arran, Autumn Tasting, Bourbon Cask, Campbeltown, Deanston, Diageo Special Releases, Glen Ord, Glen Scotia, HIghland Park, Highlands, Islands, Isle of Arran, Local Barley, Orkney, Sherry Cask, Signatory, Signatory Vintage, Singleton of Glen Ord, Springbank, Travel Retail, Whiskykoning | Leave a comment

Watt Whisky, the second wave

Posted on 13 January 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I’ve not really kept track of it, but as far as I am aware, the following five whiskies were the second batch of bottlings that were made available recently. An easy check of their website says the following whiskies are … Continue reading →

Posted in - Grain Whisky, Allt-a-Bhainne, Dailuaine, Girvan, Highland Park, Inchgower | Tagged 1991, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, Allt-a-Bhainne, Bourbon Cask, Dailuaine, Girvan, Grain Whisky, HIghland Park, Highlands, Inchgower, Islands, Mark Watt, Orkney, Port Cask, Speyside | 2 Comments

Secret Orkney 1999-2019, 51.9% – Michiel Wigman

Posted on 5 December 2020 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Michiel planned to do another two releases this year, and right after he emailed the participants that he couldn’t find casks of a high enough quality, these two popped up, so here they are. Or at least, here’s one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Highland Park, Undisclosed | Tagged 1999, Bourbon Cask, HIghland Park, Michiel Wigman, Orkney, Secret Orkney, They Inspired, Undisclosed Distillery | Leave a comment