Ardmore 8 Year (John Milroy)

 

I am an enormous Ardmore fanboy, and I can't really resist any of the independent bottlings that come out from that distillery. This is an 8 year old Ardmore from John Milroy - a fascinating bottler. John Milroy, the man, opened a fine spirits shop with his brother Wallace on Greek Street in London's toney Soho neighborhood in 1964, and he was one of the first to really push single malt Scotch on the public - for decades (centuries!) blends were the rule. And apparently Milroy had a fine nose for excellent casks, hence this brand. 

Clynelish 10 Year (Single Malts of Scotland, Jack Rose Single Cask Selection)

 

Clynelish is a weird one: both legendary, yet in the wrong hands (including their own, sometimes) it can be quite underwhelming. A coastal Highland distillery, they are famous for the waxy character of their distillate over the years, due to collections that form in the wooden washbacks. Here is a more detailed look. 

Ben Nevis 15 Year (Blackadder Raw Cask 2003)

 

Blackadder is an independent bottler that tends to be very, very pricy where I am - so I have abstained from buying a bottle. That may change after tonight. At a restaurant bar I had a glass of one of the most remarkable Highland whiskies I've ever had - a 15 year Ben Nevis that would rival any Springbank (!). Truly amazing stuff.

Arran 8 Year Sauternes Cask Finish (2017)

All the Arran I've had - which is somewhat limited to samplings from three bottles - has been very good stuff, and always has a bit of an unusual angle to it. This here is their official Sauternes cask finished offering - 8 years in ex-bourbon, an undisclosed amount of time in the Sauternes casks (which is a type of sweet, syrupy dessert wine) - my guess would be a one year finish or less, maybe. Usually distilleries get a little shy about putting single digit ages on the label, so I'd guess it's less than two years for sure. 

Balblair 14 Year (SMWS 70.46 "Plenty of Razzmatazz")

 

Ah yes, Balblair. I've only had an older expression with my good friend Rob Martin, which I really enjoyed, so I am super curious to catch up with them and see how their spirit is doing. This single cask independent bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") is aged 9 years in ex-bourbon hogshead, and then a surprising 5 years (!) in a Chenin Blanc (!!) wine barrique - very unusual. 

Balblair is owned by Inver House Distillers (who also own Balmenach, Knockdhu/anCnoc, Pulteney, and Speyburn) and has existed since 1790. An old, vaunted brand, they only recently switched over from "vintage" releases to age statements. 

Meanwhile, Chenin Blanc is a white grape from the Loire valley in France. A high-acid grape, it's also popular in South Africa, where it's known as "steen." Chenin Blanc wines are often described as having the flavors of apples, pears, and quinces. 

Dailuaine 15 year (SMWS 41.147 "Brooding Armchair Dram")

 

Oh Dailuaine - I love you. What a great distillery! Every bottle I've ever had from them - all independent bottlers, because Diageo is foolish and won't invest in them as a single malt release - has been lovely, lovely. This is a single cask release from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), nicknamed Brooding Armchair Dram (alright!), and with a primarily bourbon maturation (13 years) but with a rich PX sherry finish (2 years). 

Glenrothes 8 Year (SMWS 30.121 "Worth Hunting Down")

 

I have had so little Glenrothes - in fact, my records say only one bottle, also a single cask release from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"). That bottle was even younger, only 7 years old, but featured very similar casking as this one - initial sherry maturation with a finish in a STR sherry butt, so I am expecting it to be mostly the same. 

Glenrothes is a Speyside distillery owned by the Edrington Group (Macallan, Highland Park, etc.), was founded in 1879, and uncommonly features their own cooperage on-site.