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

Tobermory 12

“Tobermoorish”

Whisky Review # 1084

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Mull

Brand: Tobermory

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.6% 
Maturation: Mix of 1st-Fill Ex-Bourbon casks and Virgin Oak
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 40-55 (February 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😊 Excellent P/Q ratio

Buying Advice: 👍 Nice, Fresh Island Malt

Colour:

Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Virgin Oak influence is modest and that's a good thing. The Nose is actually quite Clean. It's mix of Sweet, Salty, Sour, Yeasty and Musty notes. A few slightly Bitter tones from the Oak. The Alcohol is there but doesn't bother me. All in all a pleasant Nose. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Wax, Grass and Straw, Apples & Pears, Apricot-Filled Puff Pastry, Banana Bread, Slightly Sour Red Berries, Lemon, Orange, Musty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Mint.    

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Golden Syrup, Toffee, Porridge, Dirt Track, Floral Notes, Wet Sand and Rocks, Red Grapefruit Juice, Caffe Latte, Marzipan, Nuts & Nut Shells, Cocoa,  Cooked Vegetables, Herbs and Nutmeg. Very light hints of Metal and Leather.    

Palate:

Oily & Waxy but still with this Clean, Fresh feeling. The Alcohol is certainly more noticeable now. The Palate basically follows the Nose. Medium-Dry at this point.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Grass & Straw, Banana Bread, Pear and Apple, Apricot-Filled Puff Pastry, Lemon, Musty and slightly Bitter Oak, Herbs, Cacao, Licorice, Mint, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Toffee, Butter, Wax, Dusty Track, Slightly Sour Red Berries, Nuts & Nut Shells, Milk, Wet Sand and Stones, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Cloves and a hint of Vanilla-Flavored Pipe Tobacco.    

Finish:

A bit Thin and on the Short side unfortunately. Otherwise this Tobermory would have been a great entry Single Malt. It's still Good Value for Money though! The Alcohol is more noticeable at this point. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Nuts and Nut Shells, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Wax, Grass and Straw, Sweet Apples & Pears, Banana Bread, White Wine with Bourbon Cask Finish, Grapefruit, Lemon, Dusty Track, Metal, Musty Oak, Wet Paper and Sand, Cooked Vegetables, Cacao, Apricot-Filled Puff-Pastry, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice, Mint, Herbs. After a while your Mouth fills with some Dry Ash. Interesting!

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Tobermory. 

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. Could be even better but for the slightly disappointing Finish.

Conclusion:

The Tobermory Distillery is located on the Hebridean Island of Mull. It was formerly named Ledaig and was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. Today it is owned by CVH Spirits. The Distillery produces unpeated Malt under the name Tobermory (30%) and peated Malt under the old Distillery name Ledaig (70%). The annual production almost reached one million litres in 2025. The whisky is mainly used in blends like Black Bottle and Scottish Leader. But more attention is given to their Single Malts as well. The core range consists of the Tobermory 12 and 21, the Ledaig 10 and 18 and a NAS Ledaig Sinclair Rioja Finish. The distillery and the isle of Mull are both beautiful and well worth a visit.

This Tobermory 12 Years is a pleasant surprise. It's quite consistent although not very complex. It would have been great even if not for the lackluster Finish and the slight Metal off-note. But it's still a very good entry Whisky and gives you good value for money. So despite the few flaws I can fully recommend this Tobermory. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                   February 12, 2026

Bruichladdich Octomore 13.1

“Peat For Peat’s Sake” (Money For God’s Sake) 

Whisky Review # 1080

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 13.1 (137.3 PPM)

Series: The Impossible Equation 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: 15-03-2022

Age: 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.2% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: Around US$ 160-200 (January 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a Young Single Malt

Buying Advice: 👍 Positive if you're into Young, heavily Peated Islay Whisky and money is not an issue.

Colour:

Pale Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Alcohol is strong so avoid to nose in the middle of your glass. Peat and Smoke are quite dominant and all the related Aromas are there. The Nose reveals Sweet, Salty and Sour notes. I get a minor Plastic off-note in the background. The nose is typical of a Young heavily peated Single Malt from Islay. Not bad but perhaps a bit one-dimensional.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Fudge, Vanilla, Bonfire Smoke and Wet Peat, Soot, Tar, Straw mixed with Cow Manure, Meat, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs and Lemon, Mixed Nuts, Charred Wood, Chocolate, Polished Leather, Blue Cheese, Pepper, Ginger and Cloves.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Ashes, Asphalt, Wax, Iodine, Damp Cellar, slightly Sour Yellow Plums and Grapefruit, Green Apple, Grilled Pineapple, Apricot Jam, Wet Rocks, Licorice, Mint, Menthol and Plastic. A hint of Coconut Milk.  

Palate:

The Alcohol is more noticeable on the Palate but I do like the pleasant rather Oily mouthfeel of this Octomore. Peat and Smoke continue to dominate on the Palate. You will find a mix of Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Burnt and Salty notes. Not bad if you're into this type of Whisky.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Fudge, Vanilla, Campfire Smoke, Wet Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Asphalt, Iodine, Hospital, Meat, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Polished Leather, Toasted Pineapple, Charred Oak, Nuts and Nutshells, Pepper, Cloves, Mint, Licorice and Nutmeg.   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Burnt Grass and Straw, Wax, Orange-flavored Chocolate, Butter -Biscuits, Green Apple, Apricot Jam, Wet Rocks & Sand, Forest Floor, slightly Sour Yellow Plums & Grapefruit, Blue Cheese, Aniseed, Menthol, Cinnamon and Ginger. A hint of Plastic.  

Finish:

Middle-Long & Bitter Sweet. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. I get a distinct Hospital feeling at this point. The Finish is without a doubt a bit of a let-down after the pleasant mouthfeel. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Campfire Smoke, Wet Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Hospital, Iodine, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Wax, Meat and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, slightly Sour berries such as Gooseberry & Strawberry, Charred Oak, Burnt Straw, Nuts and Nutshells, Blue Cheese, Green Apple, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed, Cinnamon and hints of Plastic and Mirabelle Plum Eau de Vie. The Alcohol is slightly more noticeable  now as well.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that helps to calm down the Alcohol on the Nose. I also get extra Malt and some canned Peaches now. Less Hospital on the Palate but a bit of Metal in the Finish. Please try it out both ways in order to finds out what is best for you.

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: 

Good except for the Finish.

Conclusion:

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie, the 18, the 30 and Port Charlotte 10 & 18. The annual production currently amounts to around 1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore stand for "The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

I have tasted a lot of different Octomores so far down the road. The Ex-Bourbon cask matured ones are probably the closest to what the makers had in mind when they started the series. Young, heavily peated straight to the point Young Islay. The 13.1 is a good example of this. Personally however I preferred those that were finished in a second cask, especially Ex-Sauternes. Those casks give that bit of extra Aroma and Flavor and provide balance with Peat and Smoke. If you like pure and young Peat and Smoke from Islay you can safely buy the 13.1 if money is not an issue. If money is an issue however I would advise you to have a look at the Kilchoman distillery.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    January 16, 2026

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Eden Mill St.Andrews 2023

“Run Of The Mill”

Whisky Review # 1075

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Lowlands

Brand: Eden Mill - (Art of) St. Andrews 2023 Release 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky  
Age: NAS 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.5%
Maturation:A mix of Oloroso and PX hogsheads and Ex-Bourbon barrels
Finish: Ex Grande Champagne Cognac casks

Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 150-190 (December 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😒 Not really bad but there are better alternatives at this price level

Colour:

Light Gold (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young, Light, Malty and Yeasty. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. It's lightly peated and that enhances the Aroma profile. The Sherry influence is there but not overpowering. Not too much depth here. No Off-notes to speak of. It's okay. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Butter/Margarine Spread, Yeast, Dough, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Plums & Dates, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Nuts and Nutshells, Pepper, Mint and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Caramel, Grain Biscuits, Bread, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Late, Grapefruit, Wet Paper, Damp Cellar and Cinnamon. Hints of Metal, Raw Meat and Varnish.

 

Palate:

Young, Light and a little Hot. A mix of Bitter, Sweet & Sour notes. Nothing special but a lot better than the 2019 Release I reviewed earlier this year.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Toast, Salted Caramel, Bread, Dough, Yeast, Biscuits, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Nectarine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Nuts and Nutshells, Dusty Oak, Bitter Herbs, Pepper and Ginger.       

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Wax, Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, Orange, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Latte, Wet Paper, Metal, Damp Cellar, Raw Meat, Tobacco, Peanuts, Varnish and Cinnamon.    

  

Finish:

Young, slightly Rough/Hot and on the Short side. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The Bitterness increases towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is quite present here. Easily the weakest part of this Eden Mill. I find Sweet Barley, Grains, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Dough, Demerara Sugar, White Wine mixed with Sparkling Water, Grass, Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Dried Fruit like Bananas & Plums, Earthy Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Charred Dusty Oak, Nutshells, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger. Hints of Varnish, Humid Paper and Cold Wet Steel.  

Drinking Advice:

This Eden Mill does not improve at all with added Water. Better sip it neat.  

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 5.5  

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 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 except for the Finish.

Conclusion:

Eden Mill was founded in 2012 in Guardbridge close to St. Andrews. It started as a Brewery but a distillery was added in 2014. In March 2022 the plans for a new and larger distillery were approved and in April 2025 the first Spirit was produced. The large investments and the general challenges of the whisky market caused financial problems and in the second half of 2025 Eden Mills was placed into the hands of administrators. Fortunately an Investment Group called Ruby Capital acquired the business and assets of Eden Mill in late November. Let's cross fingers that Eden Mill will have a bright future.

This is only my second Eden Mill and although better than the 2019 release (see Palate) I'm not really impressed with this distillery so far. This St. Andrews is not really bad but it has all the flaws of an immature Single Malt. Good whisky needs time and that's often a huge (financial) problem for starting distilleries. Let's hope  that the new owners will allow the distillery to produce at least some fully matured Single Malts in the future. I'm certainly looking forward to that!   

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                 December 10, 2025

Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak Finish

“Smells Like Sweaty Teen Spirit”

Whisky Review # 1073

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Islay

Brand: Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky  

Age: 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48 %
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Oloroso Sherry European Oak Finish 
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 60-75 (November 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Perhaps a bit too expensive
Buying Advice: 😐 I prefer the regular 10 but in any case do try to find a sample first before buying a full bottle

Colour:

Dark Reddish Brown with shades of Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

The Peaty and Medicinal aspects of Laphroaig are still there of course but they are substantially softened by the Sherry Finish. That makes it more approachable but it also affects the distillery profile. Perhaps a shorter Finish or less active Sherry casks would have been more appropriate. I also get a light off-note that I can't exactly define. It's a weird mix of  Rubber, Metal and Sweat. I also find the Nose on the Thin side despite the adequate ABV for this expression. That's a bit odd. In any case I advise you to give this Laphroaig enough time in the glass before you start Nosing. Certainly not my favorite Laphroaig nose though.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Molasses, Soft Coastal Peat, Salt Water, Burning Embers, Hospital, Iodine, Tar, Ashes, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Dark Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Plums, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ with a sprinkle of Citrus & Herbs, Leather, Metal, Cars Burning their Tyres on the Asphalt & Cloves. 

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Plastic, Rubber, PVC Pipes, Pepper, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Licorice, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Charred Oak, Espresso and Bitter Oranges. 

Palate:

It does not happen a lot but I like the Palate more in this case. It's a nice balance between the various casks and the distillery character. I find some additional Sour notes and they combine well with the Sherry Sweetness and the Peaty and Herbal spirit. My favorite part of this expression. It does get a bit dry at this point.  

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Soft Coastal Peat, Cigar Smoke, Ashes, Tar, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Dark Berries and Cherries, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ, Cigar Box, Charred Oak, Dark Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Prunes, Leather, Pepper, Licorice and Nutmeg.          

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Molasses, Wax, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Cocoa Powder, Dark Espresso, Hospital, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Cloves, Aniseed, Rubber, Metal, Bitter Orange and Spiced Sweet & Hot Red Wine.     

Finish:

The Finish is on the Short side and a bit Thin as well. After the Palate I was hoping for more here. It's rather Dry and a little on the Bitter or Tannic side. I find Sweet Malt, Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Espresso, Soft Peat, Smoking Embers, Iodine, Salt Water, Hospital, Iodine, Ashes, Bitter Burning Herbs, Dark Berries and Cherries, Grapefruit, Bitter Orange, Wet Stones and Clay, Rubber, Plastic, Metal, Licorice, Leather, Tobacco, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and Aniseed.  

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Laphroaig but it does calm down the Nose a bit. So please try it both ways.

Rating: 7 (*******) 

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 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 with flaws on the Nose

Conclusion:

Laphroaig is located a few miles outside Port Ellen on the island of Islay and was founded in 1815 by Alexander & Donald Johnston. It was bought by Beam Suntory in 2014. Since, the distillery has launched a number of NAS Whiskies that received mixed critics. I find this a pity as I used to consider Laphroaig one of my favorite distilleries. The 10, the discontinued 18 and the old 15 Years are some of my all time favorites. I also love to visit the place and the people. The annual production currently amounts to 2.9 million litres but will be expanded to around 4.8 million of which 70% is destined to be bottled as Single Malt. The core range consists of Oak Select, the 10, the 10 CS, the 10 with Sherry Oak Finish that I'm reviewing today, the Quarter Cask, Lore and a 25 years CS. The Travel Retail Range includes The Four Oak, Cask Legacy, Port Wood and PX Cask.

The Sherry Oak Finish was released 2021. Laphroaig and Sherry can be good pals but the Sherry influence should be discrete in my opinion. In this case however the Sherry tends to overpower the Spirit and that's not a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It makes this Laphroaig easier to drink for beginners but the distillery character gets somewhat lost in this way and that's a pity. It could be I'm having a bad day at the Whisky office but there's a weird aspect to the Nose. Smells Like Teen Spirit was the first song that came to my mind but in a Sweaty way. All in all a bit of a mixed bag this Laphroaig. Good in places, strange in others. Better try a sample first before buying a full bottle. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                November 17, 2025

Auchentoshan Bartender's Malt (Edition 2)

“Leave a Tender Moment Alone” 

Whisky Review # 1072

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Lowlands

Brand: Auchentoshan Bartender's Malt - Annual Limited Edition # 2

Type: Single Malt Whisky  
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mix of a/o Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherried Wood
Chill Filtration: No 
Price Range: US$ 70-90 (August 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline okay at around US$ 70.
Buying Advice: 👎 Not interesting enough as a Single Malt. Sir Mix-a Lot might like it given the high ABV

Colour:

Dark Golden(Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Relatively Young and Light. There's Fruit around both Sweet and Sour. Some of it is Fresh while another part is Dried. The Alcohol is there but stays within the limit. It's different from your average Scotch whisky. Almost like a mix of Irish Whiskey and a German Obstler. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, German Butter Biscuits, Grass & Straw, Orange, Dried Fruit like Apples and Plums, Banana Ice Cream, Slightly Sour Cherries, Cinnamon and Pepper.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Butterscotch, Resin, Peach or Nectarine in Syrup, Oak, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Apricot Jam, Lemon, Nougat, Green Tobacco Leaves, Mint and light hints of Acetone and Burnt Herbs. 

 

Palate:

Again relatively Young. It's mostly the Fruit that stands out. It's mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour notes as well. The Sweetness is slightly Artificial both on the Palate and later on in the Finish. I find it rather dull and boring. The Alcohol is more noticeable now. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, slightly Sour Cherries, Seville-Orange, Caffe Latte, Banana Ice Cream, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.        

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Butter Biscuits, Mandarin in Syrup, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Oak Char, Burnt Herbs and Green Wood, Acetone, Ginger, Mint, Nutmeg & Cardamom.      

Finish:

Middle-Long & mostly Bitter-Sweet. A few Sour notes as well. The Alcohol is more noticeable now and leaves the Finish a bit Harsh. Quite Dry in the end as well. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Grain, Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Berries, Lemon, Charred Oak, Banana Ice Cream, Mandarins in Syrup, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg and a hint of Acetone or Varnish and Raw Meat. 

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Auchentoshan

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 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

Conclusion:

The Auchentoshan distillery was founded in 1823 by John Bulloch and is located in Dalmuir, close to Glasgow. It exchanged hands various times before being bought by Morrison (Bowmore) in 1984. Morrison was bought by Suntory from Japan in 1994. From then on the distillery has become very popular again. It's one of the few remaining Lowland distilleries and it's the only Scottish one that maintains triple distillation. The core range includes American Oak, 12 Years, Three Woods, 18 Years, 21 Years and 24 Years. The annual production amounts to 2.2 million litres.

The Bartender's Malt is a New Malt Order contest whereby 12 bartenders from five different countries selected the malt. The youngest in the mix is 6 years and the oldest more than 40. A whole range of casks from five different decades was used that might include the above mentioned Ex-Bourbon casks & Sherried Wood but also some Red Wine and German Oak casks.

Bartenders are used to mixing drinks and as such the high ABV and the Fruit of this Auchentoshan might appeal to them. As a Single Malt however I find I to be rather dull and also a bit too expensive for what it offers. It is said that there are some old Malts in this mix as well but the young sharp Spirit leads the way. I'm glad I only had a sample and I strongly suggest you follow my example before venturing in a full bottle.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                     August 14, 2025