Category: Reviews

Reviews of whiskies

Teeling Blackpitts

It’s now more than six years since Whisky & Wisdom wrote its first article about Teeling whiskey, and there’s been three or four further articles along the way with subsequent reviews of their excellent whiskies.  With the release of Teeling Blackpitts whiskey, the brand has put peated Irish whiskey back on the radar and it’s excited fans of the category worldwide.  But before we dive into the specifics on the Blackpitts rekease, it’s worth recapping on the basics….

The Teeling Distillery was completed in Dublin in 2015 and became the first new distillery to be built in Dublin in over 120 years.  It also became the first operating distillery in Dublin since the closure of the old Powers distillery in the mid 1970’s.   While the distillery’s new spirit was quietly slumbering and maturing, the brand established itself by bottling older whiskey that had been distilled at Cooley.  (Cooley had been founded by John Teeling in 1987, hence the connection.)  The distillery’s first release of their own home-made spirit was the Single Pot Still release in September, 2018, and there have now been several batches of that bottled since.  However, the new Teeling Blackpitts release is the next exciting home-made chapter…

Continue reading “Teeling Blackpitts”

23rd Street Distillery – XXIII Batch 01

23rd Street Distillery joins the growing list of distilleries established in the last 5-6 years that are now bringing their single malt to market.  23rd Street has released a small range of whiskies in the recent past with varied provenance (such as the evocative Hybrid, which was a blend of Scotch whisky and American Bourbon!) but the release of XXIII (Batch 01) heralds in a new era for their home-grown, signature style.

The site at 23rd Street Distillery – located conveniently on 23rd Street in Renmark, South Australia (about a three hour drive north-east of Adelaide) – has a long history in the drinks industry that dates back to 1914, although that was chiefly in the wine industry.  The site was acquired by Bickford’s in 2014, and a reported $6.6M (including a government grant of $2.3M) was injected into the project over two years to bring 23rd Street Distillery to life.   The distillery launched in 2016 and produces gin, vodka, rum, brandy, and whisky. 

Continue reading “23rd Street Distillery – XXIII Batch 01”

That Boutique-y Whisky Company – Australia Series

The global whisky community continues to grow, particularly as interest and awareness develops around the “new world” distillers outside of Scotland.  The craft whisky scene is nothing new to Australia which, it must be said, is exploding with over 65 established whisky distilleries now bringing their matured product to market.  In spite of the thriving local scene, few have sought or established international distributorship (mostly due to the small volumes being produced), and so whisky lovers outside of Australia usually have to go to significant lengths to find and try Australian whisky.  Having said that, the situation is slowly changing, and one big leap forward occurring this month is the launch of the “Australia Series” range by That Boutique-y Whisky Company.

Continue reading “That Boutique-y Whisky Company – Australia Series”

Diageo Special Releases 2020

The Diageo “Special Releases” range is keenly awaited each year, and the latest collection (2020) is now being made available to markets around the world.

[Update: If you’re looking for info on the Diageo Special Releases for 2021, see our more recent post here.]

Whisky & Wisdom has attended the launch events for the Special Releases range in previous years, but with COVID still largely preventing such public events, a special media kit was prepared for this year’s range.  The box – a very attractive and well-presented affair, it must be said – contained samples of the eight releases.

Diageo Special Releases - the media box

The idea behind the Diageo Special Releases range is to present and showcase whiskies from selected distilleries that differ significantly from the usual or familiar form that we associate with those distilleries.   We thus see things like unpeated releases from Islay distilleries; or releases with significant age statements that aren’t normally available; or releases given special cask treatments or finishes; or simply releases from closed or rarely seen distilleries.   There’s always something for everyone, and each year’s Special Releases range showcases a diverse spectrum of flavours and also price points.

Continue reading “Diageo Special Releases 2020”

Johnnie Walker – A long stride

Johnnie Walker – it’s the world’s biggest selling blended Scotch whisky.  Is it unreasonable to assume that every whisky drinker has, at some stage or another, notched up a JW on their list of conquests?

For so many years, Johnnie Walker’s iconic Red Label and Black Label expressions were staples in nearly every bar and whisky drinker’s cupboard.  Gold Label and Blue Label came along, also eventually joined by Green Label.

With interest in the category booming, Johnnie Walker has continued to innovate and expand, developing and releasing an impressive range of limited editions, or adding to the core range.   There are now multiple variations in the Green Label range; ditto the Black Label; and the old Gold Label evolved into two new expressions, the Gold Label Reserve (a no-age-statement), and the 18yo (which was badged as Platinum Label for a few years).  Needless to say, the striding man is never standing still.  And speaking of a long stride….

Continue reading “Johnnie Walker – A long stride”

Glenmorangie – A Tale of Cake

You can never accuse Glenmorangie of standing still.  In fact, they remain – consistently – one of the more innovative distilleries in Scotland, always putting out something new that presents their prized spirit in a new and interesting light.  The new release, A Tale of Cake, is further evidence.

It’s one of the reasons why the distillery has such appeal.  Their core range of The Original (a 10yo), the extra-matured releases (Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, and Nectar d’Or), and the 18yo are all hard-hitters and right up there in the quality stakes, contradicting anyone who believes the mass-production whiskies can’t be any good.  But, never resting on their laurels, Glenmorangie entertains its fans by regularly putting out limited release or special project editions that tweak the character of the spirit and showcase the whisky’s DNA in a different light.

The Private Edition range was one such avenue for these special releases, although this came to an end with 2019’s Allta.  Stepping into the void towards the end of 2020 is the aptly named, A tale of cake”. 

Continue reading “Glenmorangie – A Tale of Cake”

Highwayman whisky

Highwayman – A man on a horse, carrying a gun, who holds up and robs travellers on public roads.  Highwayman Whisky – an altogether different beast, as we shall see…

The “next wave” of Australian craft distilleries is washing across the nation at present, with the last six months seeing a large number of new names bring their debut releases to the market.  Most of those distilleries have taken the “traditional” route by setting up, distilling, and waiting patiently for their spirit to mature.  Others, as Whisky & Wisdom has written about previously, have adopted the strategy of purchasing spirit distilled elsewhere and then selling it under their own brand/label to establish their name whilst they wait for their own distilled spirit to mature.   They effectively operate as independent bottlers, until such time as the spirit they’ve made themselves is ready to launch.

Highwayman is one such distillery and operation.  Effectively established in 2018 by Dan Woolley, Highwayman is based in Byron Bay, adding to the rapidly growing number of distilleries in New South Wales.  Dan’s name is known to most Australian whisky enthusiasts, having worked tirelessly for many years as the brand ambassador for the Beam/Suntory portfolio in Australia, most notably with Laphroaig.    What many people weren’t aware of is that, during this time, Woolley would spend his holidays and time off working voluntarily at numerous distilleries in Scotland, the USA, Japan, and Australia, learning the art and craft of distillation.  Highwayman is thus the realisation of a long-term dream, in more ways than one. 

Continue reading “Highwayman whisky”

The Tanist, by Chief’s Son distillery.

As the number of fledgling whisky distilleries around Australia grows, an increasing number are now starting to release their whisky and bring it to market.   In fact, as at August 2020, the number of distilleries selling their legal, matured whisky is apparently 48!

What is increasingly exciting, at least in the eyes of this observer, is seeing the number of mainland distilleries establish themselves in the various states.   Our industry has never (yet) been large enough, sustained enough, or consistent enough for concepts such as regionality or terroir to be considered. It would be interesting if Victorian distilleries had a certain, common style that was unique and identifiably distinct from, say, WA or NSW – but perhaps that’s just a romantic notion tethered to the sentimentality of a Scotch fan who still appreciates a Lowlander being distinct from a Speysider and an Islay….

With that as a backdrop, Aussie whisky fans have rejoiced in seeing a number of distilleries establish themselves in Victoria. For so long the sole domain of Bakery Hill, there are now other players in the state, and one such player planting an increasingly visible foothold is Chief’s Son.

Continue reading “The Tanist, by Chief’s Son distillery.”