Whisky Ranking as of 01-01-2023
Towiemore (Lost Distilleries)
“TowieMore Or less”
Whisky Review # 1003
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Speyside (Dufftown)
Brand: Towiemore - Lost Distilleries - Classic Selection
Produced, Matured and Bottled in Scotland by: The Lost Distillery Company
Type: Blended Scotch Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry casks
Maturation: 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 40-55 (December 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 At US$ 40 it's okay I guess
Buying Advice: 👎 Nose is okay but Palate and Finish are below par
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 At US$ 40 it's okay I guess
Buying Advice: 👎 Nose is okay but Palate and Finish are below par
Colour: Dark Amber with shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Relatively Young, a little Thin and Musty and slightly Hot. The Oloroso influence is clear. The Nose is a Sweet and Sour mix of Caramel, Dark Red Fruit and Earthy notes.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Barley, slightly Burnt Caramel, Toffee, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Prunes, Dark Red Fruit, Straw, Sour Red Wine, Oak, Leather, Tobacco, Ginger and Yellow Mustard.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Green Apple, Ripe Banana, Nectarine, X-Mas Cake, Mixed Nuts & Citrus, Dusty Track, Wet Forest Floor, Dusty Book Shelves, Wet Stones, Licorice, Herbs and Mint.
Toasted Barley, slightly Burnt Caramel, Toffee, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Prunes, Dark Red Fruit, Straw, Sour Red Wine, Oak, Leather, Tobacco, Ginger and Yellow Mustard.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Green Apple, Ripe Banana, Nectarine, X-Mas Cake, Mixed Nuts & Citrus, Dusty Track, Wet Forest Floor, Dusty Book Shelves, Wet Stones, Licorice, Herbs and Mint.
Young, Bitter-Sweet, Medium-Dry, slightly Hot and on the Thin side. There's still a New Make Spirit feel to it. It basically follows the Nose but the Palate is a little more Rough.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Barley, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Dark Red Fruit like Raspberries, Bitter Orange, Straw, Leather, Tobacco, Oak, Licorice, Cinnamon and Pepper.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Mixed Nuts, Green Apple, Ripe Banana, Nectarine, Dusty Track, Cocoa Powder, Stale Black Coffee, Dusty Book Shelves, Iron, Sawdust, Nutmeg & Ginger. A hint of Salty Sausage!
Short/Middle-Long. Medium-Dry, Hot & Bitter-Sweet. An off-note that reminds me of a cleaning agent with Lemon Aroma! Clearly the weakest part of this Towiemore. I also find Toasted Barley, Caramel, Artificial Sweetener, Musty Oak, Dark Red Fruit, Nuts and Nut Shells, Sour Acidic Wine, Bitter Orange, Licorice, White Chocolate, Wet Forest Floor, Ginger, Pepper and stale Black Coffee.
Drinking Advice:
With added Water the Nose gets more Fruity with Fresh Peach. Also more Malt and Orange. Palate and Finish become Bland and Thin. I prefer it Neat but the Nose actually improves with a few drops.
With added Water the Nose gets more Fruity with Fresh Peach. Also more Malt and Orange. Palate and Finish become Bland and Thin. I prefer it Neat but the Nose actually improves with a few drops.
Rating: 6 (******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 6 - 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: Okay at best
Conclusion:
Towiemore was founded in 1897 in the village of Bothriphnie close to Dufftown by Peter Dawson. They used Water from the Towie Burn and burned peat and coke furnished by Tomintoul. With that they produced popular Light and Sweet Highland Whisky. Unfortunately, within a short time after opening, the whisky industry crashed and did not recover until well after the closure of Towiemore in 1931. The Malting Floor and some other equipment was used by Distiller's Co.Ltd. until 1964.
Towiemore was founded in 1897 in the village of Bothriphnie close to Dufftown by Peter Dawson. They used Water from the Towie Burn and burned peat and coke furnished by Tomintoul. With that they produced popular Light and Sweet Highland Whisky. Unfortunately, within a short time after opening, the whisky industry crashed and did not recover until well after the closure of Towiemore in 1931. The Malting Floor and some other equipment was used by Distiller's Co.Ltd. until 1964.
This is the last Lost Distillery miniature from the gift box that is shown above. It is not one of the best I'm afraid. The Nose is okay and improves with a little Water. Palate and Finish are Thin and show some off-notes that I can do without. I don't know if this Malt resembles the original Towiemore but I do know that I can't recommend this Towiemore on a stand-alone basis. It's okay as part of the gift set but not good enough to consider buying a full bottle.
Cheers!
Jan van den Ende December 21, 2023
Wolfburn Latitude
“Mr. Peatyful”
Whisky Review # 1002
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Northern Highlands
Brand: Wolfburn Latitude
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: (First-Fill) Ex-Bourbon Casks
Maturation: (First-Fill) Ex-Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 60-90 (December 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 A little expensive for what it offers.
Buying Advice: 😐 Not bad but if you like the profile go for young Islay Malt.
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 A little expensive for what it offers.
Buying Advice: 😐 Not bad but if you like the profile go for young Islay Malt.
Colour: Pale White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Light, a little Thin and relatively Young. There's a bit of Varnish and Nail Remover in the air. It's lightly peated with a cold bonfire in the background. Through it all some Sweet Yellow Fruit and Musty Farm notes can we found. The Alcohol is noticeable.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Barley, Dough, Yeast, Earthy Peat, Cold Smoke, A mixture of Burnt Straw, Compost & Cow Manure, Ashes, Green Apple, Pear, Dusty Oak and Mustard.
Toasted Barley, Dough, Yeast, Earthy Peat, Cold Smoke, A mixture of Burnt Straw, Compost & Cow Manure, Ashes, Green Apple, Pear, Dusty Oak and Mustard.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Lemon Biscuits, Smoked Ham, Bell Pepper, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, Slivovitz, Leather, Herbs and Pepper.
Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Lemon Biscuits, Smoked Ham, Bell Pepper, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, Slivovitz, Leather, Herbs and Pepper.
Young, Medium-Dry, slightly Hot and a little Thin. A mix of Sweet, Sour and slightly Bitter notes. More Grass and less Manure on the Palate.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Dough, Yeast, Green Apple, Pear, Earthy Peat, Cold Smoke, Grass, Burnt Heather, Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Ginger and Menthol.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Ashes, Lemon, Grapefruit, Gooseberries, Dusty Road, Milk Chocolate, Tobacco, Nut Shells, Grilled Bacon and Pineapple, Tutti-Frutti Toothpaste and Plastic.
Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Ashes, Lemon, Grapefruit, Gooseberries, Dusty Road, Milk Chocolate, Tobacco, Nut Shells, Grilled Bacon and Pineapple, Tutti-Frutti Toothpaste and Plastic.
Short/Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet & a little Hot. Some Sour Fruit developing towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Caramel, Honey, Yeast, Earthy Peat, Cold Smoke, Ashes, Green Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Dusty Oak, Nuts, Smoked Ham, Leather, Tobacco, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Licorice and Tutti-Frutti toothpaste. Hints of Plastic, Metal and Nut Shells.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water diminishes the Heat but you're basically left with a peated German Obstler (Fruit Brandy) or Slivovitz.
Added Water diminishes the Heat but you're basically left with a peated German Obstler (Fruit Brandy) or Slivovitz.
Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - 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: Okay but quite Young and Rough.
Conclusion:
Wolfburn is a young distillery. It was founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Thurso, very close to the ruins of the old Wolfburn distillery that was founded in 1821 but closed down at the end of the 19th century. Wolfburn is owned by Aurora Brewing Ltd and has a current production capacity of 135.000 litres. The core range includes the 10 Year old, Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and enjoyed it. Certainly worth a visit! The Latitude I'm reviewing today was launched at first for the Travel Retail market. In the meantime it's available on the Internet as well.
Wolfburn is a young distillery. It was founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Thurso, very close to the ruins of the old Wolfburn distillery that was founded in 1821 but closed down at the end of the 19th century. Wolfburn is owned by Aurora Brewing Ltd and has a current production capacity of 135.000 litres. The core range includes the 10 Year old, Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and enjoyed it. Certainly worth a visit! The Latitude I'm reviewing today was launched at first for the Travel Retail market. In the meantime it's available on the Internet as well.
I'm really curious to taste the Wolfburn 10 years as it probably will show what some maturation can do to the Fruity Wolfburn spirit. Because Maturation is exactly what this Latitude lacks. It's not bad and the spirit is indeed quite Fruity. But without the proper maturation it reminds me more of a peated Obstler than anything else. I think that this Distillery is on the right track and in time will produce very nice Malt Whisky. But if you like this Aroma/Flavour profile you're better off with a young Islay Malt for the time being.
Cheers!
Jan van den Ende December 14, 2023
Jan van den Ende December 14, 2023
Speyburn 18 Years
“Cheap Thrills”
Whisky Review # 1001
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Speyside
Brand: Speyburn
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Anniversary Edition - 9000 Bottles
Age: 18 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: A mix of American - and Spanish Oak (Bourbon + Sherry)
Maturation: A mix of American - and Spanish Oak (Bourbon + Sherry)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 75 -100 (December 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good Price/Quality ratio
Buying Advice: 😐 A good alternative if you like Oloroso driven Single Malts
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good Price/Quality ratio
Buying Advice: 😐 A good alternative if you like Oloroso driven Single Malts
Colour: Dark Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Be sure to give this Speyburn enough time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up rather slowly. There's a bit of Sulphur around as well but it stays within acceptable limits. The Oloroso casks are quite noticeable as Toffee, Dried Fruit, Nuts and Spices lead the way. It's mostly Sweet and a little Dusty. The Alcohol is noticeable as well. It's a rather typical Medium-Dry Oloroso nose without too many surprises.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Barley, Toffee/Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Figs & Plums, Wax, Nougat, Milk and White Chocolate, Dark Red Fruit, Charred Oak, Espresso, Cloves, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Toasted Barley, Toffee/Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Figs & Plums, Wax, Nougat, Milk and White Chocolate, Dark Red Fruit, Charred Oak, Espresso, Cloves, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Apricot-Filled Puff Pastry, Marzipan, Tropical Fruit-flavored Candies, Orange, Lemon, Candied Apple, Red Grapes, Nectarine and Peach, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Grass, Dusty Road, Curry and Mint.
Honey, Vanilla, Apricot-Filled Puff Pastry, Marzipan, Tropical Fruit-flavored Candies, Orange, Lemon, Candied Apple, Red Grapes, Nectarine and Peach, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Grass, Dusty Road, Curry and Mint.
The profile follows the Nose but the Alcohol is even more noticeable. It's basically a Bitter-Sweet palate but Sour and Salty notes can be found as well. Quite Dry and a little Dusty. Like the Nose it's not bad but a bit predictable.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Barley, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Molasses, Dark Red Fruit, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Apricots, Plums, Figs and Dates, Nuts, Charred Oak, Orange and Lemon, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and Menthol
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Dried Herbs, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Red Grapes, Gooseberry & Grapefruit, Nectarine, Wet Paper, Grass, Licorice, Coconut Meat, Ginger, Cinnamon and Cardamom.
Honey, Vanilla, Dried Herbs, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Red Grapes, Gooseberry & Grapefruit, Nectarine, Wet Paper, Grass, Licorice, Coconut Meat, Ginger, Cinnamon and Cardamom.
Middle-Long and mostly Sweet. A few Bitter and Salty notes towards the Dry end. The Alcohol remains a factor to be considered. I find Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Honey, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Espresso, Dark Red Fruit, Dried Fruit (Sultanas, Apricots, Plums, Dates), Charred Oak, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Grapefruit, Gooseberry, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Curry, Nutmeg and Menthol.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water helps to control the Alcohol. You will also get Peach-Flavored Yogurt on the Nose. In general the Fruitiness improves in this department. The Palate also benefits from a little Water but don't overdo it. The Finish becomes a little Thin and Watery with tons of Menthol. But a few drops really improve this Speyburn.
Added Water helps to control the Alcohol. You will also get Peach-Flavored Yogurt on the Nose. In general the Fruitiness improves in this department. The Palate also benefits from a little Water but don't overdo it. The Finish becomes a little Thin and Watery with tons of Menthol. But a few drops really improve this Speyburn.
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:
The Speyburn Distillery is located in Rothes and was founded in 1897 by the Hopkin Family. Today it is owned by Inver House Distillers, part of Thai Beverage PLC. The distillery is quite popular in the USA, mostly because of the low price I suppose. Next to the Bradan Orach, the core range includes a 10, 15 and 18 Years old. Most of the production goes into Blends like Inver House. This year the distillery opened to the public.
The Speyburn Distillery is located in Rothes and was founded in 1897 by the Hopkin Family. Today it is owned by Inver House Distillers, part of Thai Beverage PLC. The distillery is quite popular in the USA, mostly because of the low price I suppose. Next to the Bradan Orach, the core range includes a 10, 15 and 18 Years old. Most of the production goes into Blends like Inver House. This year the distillery opened to the public.
The Speyburn 18 Years was bottled on August 21, 2021 to commemorate the 18th Anniversary of Bobby Anderson as Distillery Manager.
This Speyburn offers good value for money if you like Oloroso driven Single Malts. It does not present major flaws but it is quite predictable. I enjoyed my sample but I'm glad I don't have to finish a full bottle. But if you like Glenfarclas, GlenDronach and/or Glengoyne you should give this Speyburn a chance!
Cheers!
Jan van den Ende December 7, 2023
Jan van den Ende December 7, 2023
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024
“Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024”
As you all know the purpose of Best Shot Whisky Reviews is to give my personal opinion on Whiskies from all around the world. As it's important to maintain my independent position, I'm not engaged in any commercial activity. But, as I have done over the last 10 years, I would like to make an exception to be able to share with you the new edition of The Malt Whisky Yearbook by Ingvar Ronde that has been released every year since 2005.
As always, the Malt Year Book is packed with highly interesting stories, this time amongst others about Australia (The New Whisky Power House), Whisky Evolution, The Succession Conundrum of Scotch Whisky, Oxidation, Back to the Future (The Revival of Tradition) and the Relevancy of Heritage. The writers include Neil Ridley, Joel Harrison, Ian Wisniewski, Andrew Derbidge, Johanne McInnis and Kristiane Sherry.
The most important part of the book remains the detailed description of Scottish and Japanese Distilleries & slightly shorter presentations about Single Malt Whisky Distilleries from the rest of the world. All in all, a total of 821 Malt distilleries are presented with updated facts.
And there's much more such as a new item called The State of Whisky featuring a number of Whisky icons, a presentation of 150 of the best Whisky Shops in the world, a comprehensive summary of the past whisky year and an entire chapter about the world's most important independent bottlers.
Whisky Statistics, Best Whisky Web Sites (including Best Shot Whisky Reviews 😃), Distilleries per Owner, Closed Distilleries & New Distilleries and Maps complete this Book that also contains more than 500 color photos and over 200 Tasting Notes.
Whisky Statistics, Best Whisky Web Sites (including Best Shot Whisky Reviews 😃), Distilleries per Owner, Closed Distilleries & New Distilleries and Maps complete this Book that also contains more than 500 color photos and over 200 Tasting Notes.
Year after year, this book not only manages to inform you in depth about the Malt distilleries all over the world but it also gives you solid background info that gives you an idea of the state of today's Whisky market. That's basically all you need if you want to buy one book on Whisky. And that applies to both Whisky enthusiastics and people that work in the Whisky industry.
On top of that, this book is certainly not expensive for what it offers (US$ 20) and is sold in Whisky Shops, International Book Stores, Distillery Visitor Centers and of course at the editor's website:
I wish you lots of fun with the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024!
Cheers!
Jan
Cheers!
Jan
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