The Whisky Exchange BLOG

First things first.  Open a new window and listen to this while you’re reading the blog.  It’ll put you in a good mood, and this might be the last you see of me before Christmas, so I want you to be happy.

Anyway, what recession?!!  It’s been so mind-bendingly busy here at TWE Towers that I’ve not had a chance to do any blogging at all in the last month.  It’s got so crazy that I’ve had to go downstairs and get my hands dirty picking orders 12 hrs a day for the last week.  Quelle Horreur!! Even now, I may be dragged back to the coalface at any moment, so I’m going to make this pretty brief.

So, it’s that time of year again.  Octomore, Bruichladdich’s controversial uber-peated behemoth, is back - still as a 5 year-old – and this time, it’s coming with a twist: it’s been finished in wine casks.

 Well, let’s face it - it’s Bruichladdich we’re talking about here.  This was always going to happen.

But these are no mortal wine casks – the world’s peatiest whisky has been finished in casks formerly home to one of the world’s most expensive wines: Chateau Petrus. Does this qualify to be called gilding the lily?

Read the rest of this entry >>

This just in from Mark Reynier’s Bruichladdich blog:

New Octomore - same bottle, new box

Apparently this year’s release was peated to 140ppm before distillation.  Yikes!

Octomore bottling line

A bunch of prize tossers

Kilchoman Wash Still

It was another early start on Friday as we had a lot of ground to cover.  First up was a 9.30am tasting at Islay’s newest distillery, Kilchoman, where we were shown around by deputy manager Gavin Douglas who was filling in at short notice for Jim Swan who had been injured in an accident at home – our best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery.

We hadn’t realised just how small Kilchoman was – it really is tiny.  Small but perfectly-formed, I suppose.  Gavin told us that the small stills produce only enough 45ppm spirit to fill three casks per day (a mix of fresh and refill bourbon plus some fresh sherry, although we also saw some French wine casks in the warehouse).

Read the rest of this entry >>

To be honest, peating levels shouldn’t be a competition.  “My ppm is bigger than yours” sounds pretty ridiculous however you dress it up.  This sort of thing might be construed as macho willy-waving and not very big or clever – but it’s certainly sparked debate and everyone seems to have an opinion, judging by the deluge of comments we had on the blog after the previous Octomore / Supernova post!

So it is with a certain irony that I’ve christened this tasting The Mega Peat Face-Off.  Now, before anyone gets their Calvins in a twist, can I just say that I’m not trying to stir anything here.  Who knows (or indeed cares) the reasons, if any, that led two of the most talked-about distilleries in the industry to release super-peated whiskies at practically the same time?  Whose idea was it first and who nicked it?  Does anyone actually give a monkey’s thingummy?  I can say with confidence that the answer to literally none of these questions is below.  

Read the rest of this entry >>

First things first: a hearty hug to my good friend Dr. Whisky, who is marrying his gal K on this coming Burns Night!  Can’t wait to see you guys – but I warn you, this blogger Strips the Willow for no man (nor even his wife!).

Now, to business.  Well, we’ve been having a grand old natter in the comments section of  last week’s post about all manner of nerdy stuff - and long may that continue - but in the meantime I thought I should say a few words about the hot topic on the forums.  No, not Oz & James’s Drink to Britain (although more on that later if I can muster the will to live), something much more exciting – It’s Ardbeg’s mega-peated answer to Octomore: Ardbeg Supernova!!

Read the rest of this entry >>

In the comments section of our last post on Octomore, drJarv (who I’m assuming is on the design team for Octomore as he hasn’t denied it yet!) asked for our thoughts on the coated opaque bottle that they’ve gone for with Octomore (Bruichladdich fans will remember that both Blacker Still and Redder Still were similarly adorned with this coating). 

Poster bgulien immediately responded with a fair point that these coatings make it difficult to see how much whisky you have left.  I decided to throw my tuppence-worth in and started to write a quick comment – but it kind of turned into a bit of a rant and opened up a bit of a can of worms, so I thought I’d do it as a new post and throw the floor open for discussion.  Here goes:

Read the rest of this entry >>

Well, you know it must be coming up to Christmas (Whaaat?!).  Over a month to Halloween yet and the mince pies were already on sale in Sainsbury’s last Sunday.  And suddenly the first few smatterings of the forthcoming deluge of new products from hungry distilleries eager to cash in on the festive season have begun in earnest.   We’ve already had the Glenmorangie Astar, and the Signet can’t be far away.  Ardbegs Blasda and Mor II are imminent, and very soon the new Diageo Special Releases will be upon us (more details of all of which very soon).

But naturally, and despite their shy and retiring natures, some of the biggest publicity splashes and most highly sought-after and discussed new releases of the winter will be coming in the next two or three weeks from Bruichladdich. 

Read the rest of this entry >>