Old grains and peat in Irish malt

Waterford Feuille Morte 3

Waterford is bringing out a new Micro Cuvée, a malt based on an old forgotten Irish grain and their first peated malts.

The Waterford cuvées are assembled from different ‘Original Farm Origins’. They show us how an blend of different terroirs creates layers and complexity in the whisky even if it is still fairly young. Micro Cuvée Feuille Morte has not been released in Belgium, but we managed to get our hands on some bottles straight from the distillery.

Click the photo to order

The Heritage series explores the aroma’s and flavours of old, forgotten grains. In this case they had to reintroduce Hunter barley, named after plant breeder Herbert Hunter who introduced it in 1959. It disappeared in the 1970’s superceded by more economically rewarding crosses, all that remained of Hunter was a 50 gram bag in the seed bank of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine.

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And last but not least we have two new Arcadian Series members Ballybannon 1.1 and Fenniscourt 1.1. Ballybannon is peated up to 47ppm, while Fenniscourt is up to 38ppm. The peat levels were chosen specifically for each farm to make sure the character of the terroir is not lost behind to much peat.

Luminary, I know what you’re thinking

I know! I know!

For us, ‘whisky geeks’ (Ido say this in a positive sense), The Dalmore doesn’t seem to bring much to thetable. The core range products are mostly reduced to 40° or 43°. The packaging seems to be more important than what is inside the bottle. It always is this clean, polished whisky that is silky smooth and misses some character, while we do enjoy some rough edges now and then and a whisky with some punch to it.

I was hesitant when ordering this, fearing that it was just another prestigious Dalmore project with strong marketing. It does have that over the top story of collaborations
with ‘important’ people.

But still it triggered me. Especially when I started reading about the woods being used in the casks. So I took a jump in the dark …

… during Spirits in the Sky in Brussels I was able to taste The Dalmore Luminary and it was more than I could expect from The Dalmore. But it also needs to be said that you better forget everything you think you know about this brand.

The Luminary is completely different from everything I tried from Dalmore so far. It is even very distinctive in comparison with Scotch in general. So yes, it is  priced on the steep side for a 15yo, but I do think the whisky is special enough to make up for it.

Read more about it and order by clicking on the picture.

GimmeGimmeGimme

Ardmore à la Belge set

Third time’s a …

OK, we’ll be honest. The first two editions of this Whisky à la Belge project were charms too… but we are very proud to present: the charm of all charms! Ardmore à la Belge.

Why are we so proud? Well, even more than the previous editions, we sailed to unknown shores with this one. A partnership with Brouwerij Het Nest resulted in a very unique marriage of Scotch and a Belgian Imperial Stout.

The newest box is filled with 4 bottles containing pure goodness:

  • Ardmore matured in an ex-bourbon cask;
  • Ardmore matured in an ex-bourbon cask, finished on a Dead Man’s Hand cask by Het Nest;
  • Dead Man’s Hand (Imperial Stout);
  • Dead Man’s Hand, Ardmore barrel aged (Imperial Stout).

Use the title as coupon code when you order here and get €10 off.

You think you know Grain Whisky?

For those who thought grain whisky was by default light and creamy, think again.

If you are open minded enough to try something else than Single Malt Scotch, this blended grain Scotch whisky will give you a whole new experience and insight in the possibilities of Coffey Still distilled spirits.

You have got to love the guys of Compass Box, no?

Experimental Grain – Blended Grain Scotch

Springbank arrivals

Nowadays it is hard to get stock of the core range products of Springbank Distillery.

Is this due to the sudden popularity of this operating ‘museum like’ distillery, the ripple effect of the Covid-crisis , the impact of the war in Ukrain or just the effects of the enormously efficient Brexit arrangement?

Anyways we have some core range products in and a limited release.

Click the bottle of your liking to order.