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From Dramfool: “Barrel #3203 was filled on 21st September 2011, and bottled at natural cask strength of 61.0% on 12th February 2025, making this delightful Laddie 13 years old. 216 bottles were yielded from the barrel.” (Image credit: Dramfool) Whisky: Bruichladdich 13 Year (2011), Dramfool’s Middle CutCountry/Region: Scotland/IslayCask: 1st Fill BourbonABV: 61% I hate to…
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A limited edition of 3,000 bottles for the Fèis Ìle 2024. This spirit was distilled in 2013 and then aged in bourbon casks before being re-casked in the following barrels from 2017 to 2023: Sauternes (12.5%), Austrian dessert wine (12.5%), and ex-brandy casks from Fernando de Castilla, Spain, which previously held Pedro Ximenez sherry (75%).…
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As the name suggests, this came from a leaking private Bruichladdich cask whose owner tasked Dramfool to rescue it. They re-racked it into a refill sherry octave to stop the losses. Only 77x20cl bottles were available. (Image credit: Dramfool) Whisky: Bruichladdich 15 Year (2008), Dramfool’s Festival Edition “Leaky Laddie”Country/Region: Scotland/IslayCask: Bourbon, Re-racked refill sherry octaveABV:…
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The second oldest Macallan I’ve had the pleasure to taste, the oldest distilled in 1966 and being absolutely phenomenal. With a bit of internet sleuthing, it appears this bottle comes from hogshead 7821 owned by Michael Crowther — one of the former directors Moray Firth Maltings. The label states the malt was sourced from Crowther’s…
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I haven’t tasted much Macallan, and it’s generally not quite my style, but I was eager to get a bit of an historical sampling of their 18 year sherry bottlings nonetheless. This tasting was hosted by the great folks over at Dramfool, who as always did a great job of walking us through the lineup.…
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The second installment in the Octomore Futures line, claiming a staggering 167ppm peat content. My understanding is that this was a distillery-only release, limited to 9600 bottles. Whisky: Octomore 6 Year (2004), Futures II “The Beast”Country/Region: Scotland/IslayCask: BourbonABV: 60.5%Age: 6 Years (Distilled September 2004, Bottled April 2011) Nose: Dark, warm caramel. Musty. Vanilla. Sherry notes.Palate:…
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This was apparently the first distillation of Octomore, and briefly the most peated whisky in the world at 80.5ppm. Aged in a Buffalo Trace bourbon cask. Whisky: Octomore 5 Year (2002), Futures ICountry/Region: Scotland/IslayCask: Buffalo Trace bourbonABV: 46%Age: 5 Years (Distilled October 2002, Bottled April 2008) Nose: Herbal. Grassy. Pine. Gin.Palate: Tobacco. Water. Touch of…
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A quadruple-distilled (hence the ‘X4’) Laddie made using Oxbridge barley as part of a limited edition run under the supervision of Jim McEwan. It’s a doozie. Whisky: Bruichladdich 5 Year (2006), X4 FuturesCountry/Region: Scotland/IslayCask: BourbonABV: 64.6%Age: 5 Years (Distilled January 2006, Bottled April 2011) Nose: Milky and lactic. Floral. Mineral. Fresh wood. Dry.Palate: Big, hot.…
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Rhinns is an uncommon, lightly peated Bruichladdich distillate. I’ve heard conflicting information on 1) how many times Bruichladdich has produced Rhinns, and 2) the details of its composition: either 2:1 or 3:1 Port Charlotte:Bruichladdich. If you have more info, please leave a comment; I’d love to know. That said, this is the first Rhinns I’ve…
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This special edition was limited to 1,881 bottles and includes a few firsts: (1) the first Bruichladdich collaboration (with the Friends of Bruichladdich group in this case) outside of the single cask Micro Provenance series, (2) the first 13 year old Laddie, and (3) the first Islay Barley release over 50% ABV. Whisky: Bruichladdich 13…