Aultmore 10 (Gordon & MacPhail)

“In the Summertime”

Whisky Review # 1089

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Aultmore

Bottled By: Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin - Discovery Series - Bottled 02-06-2021

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 45-55 (April 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍

Buying Advice: 👍 Easy going and consumer friendly. A bit on the Thin side.

Colour:

Chardonnay (White Wine) - Natural Colour

Nose:

Light, Grassy, Floral, Yeasty and mildly Sweet. A Bakery in a meadow!

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Yeast, Grass & Straw, Floral notes,  Warm Apple-filled Puff Pastry, Lemon, Nectarine, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Mint and Cinnamon.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Wax, Herbal Tea, slightly Sour Gooseberries, Pear, Orange, Banana Bread, Caffe Latte, Corn Flakes, Sweet Almonds and Wet Stones.

Palate:

Mainly Sweet with a little Bitterness & Sourness for balance. It's a bit on the Thin side and probably should have been bottled at around 46%. It basically follows the Nose but adds Spices, Oak and a few Earthy notes.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Wax, Tropical Fruit Salad, Dusty Track, Dusty Oak, Banana Bread, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Herbal Tea, Corn Flakes, Sweet Almonds, Apricot/Apple filled Puff Pastry, Gooseberry, Bitter Lemon, Orange Marmalade, Nutmeg, Cloves and Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Light, Bitter Sweet and a little Hot. Medium-Dry. A slight Metallic off-note. I also find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Butter Biscuits, Grass and Straw, Wax, Milk Chocolate, Sweet Almonds, Warm Puff Pastry filled with Apple and Banana, Caffe Latte, Bitter Lemon, Herbal Tea, Orange, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger and Mint.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Aultmore at all. Better enjoy it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good with the exception of the Metallic Off-Note in the Finish. Very easy to drink!

Conclusion:

The Aultmore Distillery was founded in 1896 by Alexander Edward. He had to sell it in 1923 to John Dewar & Sons. Dewar now belongs to the Bacardi Group who bought it from Diageo in 1998. Most of the Aultmore's Spirit goes into the Dewar's White Label and William Lawson. In 2014 the whole core range was reviewed and nowadays consists of the 12, 18 and 21. We almost managed to visit the distillery during our tour in Scotland in 2019 but in the end it didn't work out. We did get to sample a few Aultmores during a fine dinner in the village of Oldmeldrum, home to the Glen Garion Distillery.

This Aultmore is the perfect Malt to drink outdoors on a summer evening. It's very easy-going and will please almost everyone. Don't expect depth & complexity. It is a bit on the Light side as well and should have been bottled at around 46%. But apart from that and the light Metallic off-note in the Finish this Aultmore by G&M is a vefry nice Party malt. 🎉

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                          April 2, 2026

Aberfeldy 10 (Keeble Cask Company)

“What Am I Gonna Do With You”

Whisky Review # 1088

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Southern Highlands

Brand: Aberfeldy - Distilled: 03.04.2014 - Bottled: 29.10.2024

Bottled By: Keeble Cask Company Ltd. (KCC), Leith - Fragrant Drops Series

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask# 252 - Bottles: 207

Age: 10 Years 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 60.7% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Ex-Bourbon Cask
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 80-100 (March 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Bottom line okay

Buying Advice: 😔 It's okay but you can get a 10 Year old Highland at this price!

Colour:

Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The ABV is quite strong so avoid Nosing in the middle of your glass. On the Nose this Aberfeldy is relatively Young, Yeasty, on the Dry side and Medium Sweet. The main drivers are Citrus, Stone Fruit and Cereals. It's not unpleasant but there isn't a whole lot to discover.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Yeast, Dough, a plate of Breakfast Cereals with Milk, Dried Banana and Raisins, Citrus Peel, Green Apple, Pear, Oak, Pepper and Ginger.  

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Butter Biscuits, Grass and Straw, Herbal Tea, Almonds, Milk Chocolate, Green Grapes, Candy with Artificial Fruit Flavor (Melon, Apple, Coconut), Floral Perfume, Aniseed and Licorice.          

Palate:

Mainly Sweet with a little Bitterness from the Oak. The Alcohol is quite strong as was to be expected. The Palate mostly follows the Nose with Fruit, Cereals and Vanilla. Good Delivery. Certainly not unpleasant. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Grass & Straw, Citrus Peel, Green Apple, Pear, Melon, Breakfast Cereals with Milk, Sugar, Nuts, Coconut Shavings and Dried Banana, Yeast, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Licorice  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Butter Biscuits, Apple Cider, Ginger Ale, Caffe Latte, Herbal Tea with added Milk, Sweet Almonds, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Menthol and Aniseed. 

                                                        

Finish:

Medium Long, Fruity, Bitter-Sweet and Medium Dry. The Alcohol is quite present at this point. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Demerara Sugar, Biscuits, Grass and Straw, Vanilla, Cereals, Orange Peel, Green Apple, Melon, Pear, Bounty Bars, Herbal Tea, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Menthol and Licorice

Drinking Advice:

The ABV of almost 61% suggests to add quite a bit of Water. That's only partially true though. The added Water helps to control the strong Alcohol but also brings the Cereals, Oak and Spices to the forefront at the cost of the Fruitiness. I prefer it neat but there's certainly room to experiment with a little Water.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good but without the "Wow" factor.

Conclusion:

Aberfeldy distillery is located in Aberfeldy (Perthshire) in the Southern High-lands. It was founded in 1896 by John & Tommy Dewar. They needed a Single Malt for their blended Whisky Dewar's White Label. Since 1998 it is owned by the Bacardi Group. A very beautiful visitor centre was opened in 2002. The annual production amounts to around 2 million litres at the moment. The core ranges consists of the 12, 16, 21 & 25 Years Old. We visited this distillery and the visitor centre in May 2017 and really enjoyed it.

Keeble Cask Company Ltd (KCC), Leith is an independent bottler that was founded in January 2020 by George Keeble.

I was thinking hard what to write about this Aberfeldy when the song "What Am I Gonna Do With You" by Barry White came to mind. Because that's exactly how I feel about this KCC expression. It's not bad but certainly not overly interesting as well. And why bottle it at such a high ABV? The spirit certainly doesn't need it. I did not find any off-notes but I also didn't experience any real joy while tasting. I think that at this price level I would go for a 10-12 year old Highland Single Malt like Ben Nevis, Glendronach, Highland Park, Ardnamurchan or Glengoyne instead. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       March 19, 2026

Waterford Peated Woodbrook

“Burning Bridges” 

Whisky Review # 1087

Country: Ireland 🇮🇪

Region: South-East

Brand: Waterford Peated Woodbrook - 74PPM

Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey - Single Farm Origin Series - 8.000 Bottles

Age: Almost 4 Years (Distilled: 21-08-2019 / Bottled: 18-07-2023)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mixed Barrels (See Conclusion)

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 65-85 (March 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 👎 You can buy f.i. an Ardbeg 10 for the same money

Colour: Pale Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young, Yeasty and Medium-Sweet with a few Sour and Salty notes as well. The Sweetness is a bit Artificial. I also get a few Burnt & Chemical notes. Despite the high ABV, the Alcohol, while noticeable, does not really interfere with the Nosing procedures. There's more Peat than Smoke and it's less intense when compared to Islay Peat. The Nose is okay I guess considering its young age but it naturally misses depth and complexity.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Dough, Straw & other Farm Yard Aromas, Earthy Peat, slightly Dirty Factory Smoke, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Apples, Lemon, Sour Berries and Cherries, Burnt Rubber Tires, Ginger and a Floral Perfume.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Wax, Slivovitz, Marzipan, Salted Meat on the BBQ, Ashes, Iodine, Burnt Heather, Herbs and Plastic, Dusty Track, Milk Chocolate, Bitter Tea, Pepper, Cinnamon, Mint, Varnish and Sweaty Feet.

Palate:

A mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Salty notes. The Bitterness is above average and might not be to everyone's liking. The rather Thin Palate follows the Nose with lots of Dirty and Burnt notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable now.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Mix of Straw & Cow Manure, Earthy Peat, Dirty Smoke, Ashes, Tar, Sour Berries & Cherries, Wet Sand, Lemon, Grapefruit, Fish & Bacon on the BBQ, Rubber, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Nutmeg, Menthol, Mint and Floral Perfume.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Wax, Iodine, Dough, Green Apple, Bitter Orange, Slivovitz, Burnt Herbs and Plastic, Dark Chocolate, Stale Espresso, Leather, Tobacco, Licorice, Soy Sauce, Aniseed and Cinnamon.

Finish:

Thin, Young and a little Sharp. Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour and Salty notes. The Finish is Middle-Long but Ashes and Burnt Plastic stay in your throat for quite a while. Medium-Dry. I also find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Earthy Peat, Dirty Smoke, Tar, Iodine, Rubber, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Sour Berries, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dusty Oak, Stale Espresso, Licorice, Varnish, Menthol and Mint, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Bitter Oranges & Floral Perfume.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water softens up the Palate and the Finish and removes some of the Sharp edges. My advise is to try it out both ways.

Rating: 6 (******)

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 5.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Bottom line okay

Conclusion:

The old and defunct Guinness Brewery Waterford is located in the town that bears the same name and was purchased in the year 2014 by Mark Reynier, the former co-owner of the Bruichladdich distillery. Mark had many ideas to produce Whiskey with complete traceability and a major roll for the Barley. In working with many local farmers he tried to create Terroir Whisky in the same way that famous Wines are produced. In the next years Waterford unfortunately was hit by the Pandemic, a USA distributor that went broke & too many expressions to handle economically. Energy prices went up as well and so was the level of debt. Finally in November 2024 production stopped and the distillery went into receivership. The receivers are since seeking a buyer for the distillery and the stocks.

The Single Farm Origin Series were made with Barley produced on a single farm. In this case the Barley was Sourced from the Woodbrook farm near Dublin. The Peated Woodbrook I'm reviewing today matured in a mix of First Fill Bourbon casks Heaven Hill (33%), Virgin US Oak (18%), Premium French Oak Chateau Talbot (20%) & French Sweet Wine Rivesaltes (Vin Doux Naturel) casks (29%).

This Peated Woodbrook is certainly completely different from your average smooth Irish Whiskey. It's anything but smooth actually. It's Young, slightly Hot & Edgy. It contains Burnt, slightly Chemical & Artificial Elements and even some Sweat pops up in places. So it's definitively not boring & mainstream. But it's also simply too Young. I do feel that the addition of the French Sweet Wine casks brought some Fruity Sweetness and that's a plus. But it's not enough to save the day for this Waterford Expression. And certainly not at this price level. It's simply way too expensive for such a Young, Unfinished Single Malt. I hope a buyer will appear to try and revive Waterford with a simpler business model. I wish them all the luck in the world.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                      March 12, 2026

Bladnoch 14 Years

“The Old Fashioned Way”

Whisky Review # 1086

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Lowlands

Brand: Bladnoch

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 14 Years - 2021 Release

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.7%
Maturation: Oloroso Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 105-120 (March 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😟 A bit expensive in my opinion

Buying Advice: 👍 Especially when you like "Old Style" sherried Whisky

Colour:

Deep Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Sweet and Sour with deep Sherry Aromas like Dark (Dried Fruit) and Marzipan. I detect some Sulfur but it doesn't feel out of place here. The Alcohol is there but does not interfere with the Nosing procedures. The Nose is a bit comparable to Cognac. It's a bit Meaty and Earthy as well and I like it.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Butter Biscuits, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Figs & Plums, Smoked Almonds, Dark Chocolate, Dark Red Fruit like Currants and Berries, Orange Peel, Marzipan, Dusty Charred Oak, Brandy, Grass, Dusty Earth & Fresh and Dry Herbs.

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Honey, Butterscotch, Dairy, Nougat, Leather, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Black Tea, Sour Cherries, Baked Pineapple sprinkled with Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.

Palate:

The Palate basically follows the Nose with Sweet, Sour and Salty elements, It is a bit Thinner than I expected. Still not bad at all and reminiscent of a Liquid X-Mas Cake. Some Sulfur again but it's not aggressive. Quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Treacle, Dark Red Fruit, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Dates and Figs, Sour Plums, Orange Peel, Dusty Book Shelf, Marzipan, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Earth, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Grass & Straw, Nougat, Nuts & Nut Shells, Polished Leather, Damp Cellar, Tobacco, Wet Sand, Black Tea or Strong Espresso, Licorice, Indian Spice Mix and Mint. A Hint of Rubber.

Finish:

Middle-Long. A mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. A pinch of Salt perhaps. It's quite Dry. A bit of Ashes, Sulfur & Metal in the aftertaste. The Alcohol is there but I am comfortable with it. I also find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apricots, Dates and Figs, Blackcurrants, Orange Peel, Marzipan, Baked Apple, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Licorice, Dusty Charred Oak, Dark Chocolate, Ash, Nuts & Nut Shells, Dried Herbs, Black Tea, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves and Mint. A hint of Rubber.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Bladnoch. Much better when enjoyed neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good

Conclusion:

Bladnoch was founded in 1817 by Thomas and John McClelland. Over the years the ownership of the distillery changed many times and on many occasions the distillery was closed temporarily until it was finally liquidated in 2014. David Prior bought it in 2015 and brought life back to Bladnoch. Production restarted  in 2017 and amounted to around 1.5 million litres in 2025. A visitor centre was opened in 2019. The core range includes the Vinaya, Samsara, Alinta, Leora and the recent Galloway Collection consisting of the 8, 13, 16 and 19 Years.

Bladnoch is on the way back and I'm glad for it. It's good that there are still a few Lowland distilleries that maintain a certain "old style" profile. This 14 Year old is not perfect as it's a bit too Thin on the Palate. There are also a few Funky notes in the aftertaste that might not be for everyone. But in general I like this Bladnoch as it is interesting, something that can't be said of a lot of modern mainstream Malt. It is a bit expensive and it's not a dram for everyday. But after a nice dinner or on special occasions this Bladnoch is certainly recommendable!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                        March 5, 2026

Port Askaig 8

“Tarman”

Whisky Review # 1085

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Port Askaig

Bottled by/for: Elixir Distillers Ltd., London

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 45.8%
Maturation: Mix of American and European Oak
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 40-60 (February 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 😃 Nice alternative if you like Young Islay Malts

Colour:

Light Gold (Natural Colour)

Nose:

There is a bit of Alcohol around so avoid nosing in the middle of your glass. The Nose is Young and Medium-Sweet with a few Salty, Sour and Green notes for the necessary balance. All the ingredients of a Young Islay are here. No surprises but quite nice if you're into this type of Whisky.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Salted Toffee, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Grass & Straw, Coastal Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Tar, Hospital, Burnt Herbs, Shell Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Apple-Vinegar, Pepper and Ginger.

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Soot, Iodine, Seaweed, Wet Rocks & Sand, Forest Floor, Charred Oak, Leather, Rubber/Plastic, Banana Bread and Floral Soap.

Palate:

Young & mainly Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour & Salty notes as well. It's pretty straight forward Young Islay in the style of Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain. If you're into that you can't go wrong with this Port Askaig. It's a little on the Thin side and it would certainly benefit from a few extra years in the casks. The Alcohol is noticeable.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Apple-Vinegar, Smoldering Embers, Coastal Peat, Tar, Soot, Ashes, Burnt Herbs/Straw, Shell Fish and Bacon on the BBQ with added Herbs and Lemon, Hospital, Iodine, Wet Rocks/Paper, Pepper, Licorice and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Nuts, Floral Soap, Charred Oak, Dark Cacao Powder, Wax, Dairy, Forest Floor, Rubber, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cardamom, Mint and Metal.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes as well. The Alcohol stings a little and there's a light Metallic off-note. The Finish is a bit of a let down. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Vanilla, Smoldering Embers, Coastal Peat, Tar, Soot, Ashes, Hospital, Iodine, Bacon on the BBQ, Charred Oak, Lemon, Apple-Vinegar, Nut Shells, Burnt Pine Needles/Herbs, Wet Rocks, Licorice, Cloves, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Licorice. Some Rubber and a hint of Cocoa at the end. After a few minutes the Soot returns as well. Medium-Dry.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Port Askaig.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay/Good. The Finish could be better!

Conclusion:

Caol Ila is the distillery closest to Port Askaig so it's likely that the Port Askaig 8 Years was distilled there. It's in the same style at least and different from Ardbeg and Laphroaig.

The Port Askaig 8 Years is an easy Single Malt to review. It's a straight forward & pretty consistent Young Islay malt. There are a few flaws such as the slightly Thin mouth feel and the Metallic off-note. The Alcohol is also pretty noticeable. Still, if you like this type of Whisky the Port Askaig 8 is a good proposition with a positive Price/Quality ratio. Enjoy!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                   February 19, 2026