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Peated Irish Whiskey!
Yes it exists
Yes it is awesome
Yes it stands alone and stands apart in the whiskey world!
For most people this will represent the original peated Irish Whiskey. Connemara was for the longest time, the only smokey Irish available in the world, and it showcased a different side of the Emerald Isle. A delicious alternative style and also a perfect way to begin any journey into smokey whiskey.
Interestingly enough, back deep in history, all Irish whiskey would have been peated as it was the only way to stop the germination process during malting.
Nowadays, there are many more options to explore in the peated and smokey Irish whiskey industry and I am all for it!
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #connemara #peat #singlemalt

Another absolute bombshell of an Irish Whiskey today.
It's no secret, if you've been following me for any length of time, that @dunvillesirishwhiskey have the absolute best labels in the world. Gorgeous, artful, and easily recognizable, oh, and also just plain and simply beautiful.
The whiskey inside is also equal to the packaging.
The 10 and 12 year VR PX releases are in my top whiskeys of all time.
Quintessential Irish whiskey with elegant PX finishing, this whiskey brings you flavours of toffee, dark red fruits, a nice spice kick, nutiness, creamy mouthfeel and strawberries and cream in a bowl. Some tropical fruit notes show up along with a nice malty cereal note.
Gosh I love this whiskey!
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #dunvillesirishwhiskey #pedroximenez #beautiful

Day 3 of Irish Whiskey Month and Im going to showcase some of the best core range whiskeys from the Emerald Isle for the next few days.
If you've been wanting to dip your toe into Irish whiskey or just looking for the next amazing bottle to add to your collection, these next few days will highlight some that should attract your eyes and mouths.
This one is a classic single malt whisky from @thetyrconnell whiskey which is made at Cooley Distillery under the Kilbeggan umbrella of brands.
Unlike the myth that all Irish whiskey is triple distilled, this one is double distilled. Its a 10 year old with a beautiful oloroso sherry cask finish. Bottled at 46% abv. And just a truly gorgeous whiskey that i have poured for a number of people that instantly fell in love with it.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #kincaid4kilbeggan #tyrconnell #singlemalt

What is in a name?
One of the absolute best names in all of whiskey qorld wide is @writerstearswhiskey
I've told the story many times of sitting in a restaurant eating breakfast in Galway and seeing a bottle and carton on the shelf with "Writer's Tears" on it. I thought out loud that I couldnt imagine a more suited name, as we had just the day before traveled through Yeats country and visited his Gravesite. W.B. Yeats is my favorite Irish writer amongst a long list of treasured pensmiths from the Emerald Isle.
This bottle of Writer's Tears is a special edition label celebrating Sweny's Pharmacy which was featured in James Joyce's masterpiece "Ulysses" and is still a place you can visit to this day. Its run completely by volunteers now and worth seeking out for a piece of history.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #writerstears #jamesjoyce #special

Its March 1st!
That means its Irish Whiskey Month and that means 31 days straight of Irish Whiskey posts.
Kicking it off with great whiskeys that we featured on the newest episode of the Last Call Whisky Podcast. Which is live as of today.
Bushmills 16 year, Writer's Tears Mizunara cask, and Two Stacks Smoke & Mirrors.
Check out the podcast and see what we thought of these whiskeys.
And tune in for the next month as I showcase the very best of what Irish Whiskey has to offer with stories, legends, myths and truths.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #podcast #irish #irishwhiskeymonth

Today marks the end of my theme of whiskies and their wines that influence it because tonight is the tasting where I am pouring these for a great group and if you couldnt tell @pws.imports and I (along with @jeremypue in tribute with trav's teeny weenie beanie) are very excited. So excited we talk really really fast.
The final pairing is none other than the Canada Cloud Cask part 2 that Jeremy and I personally picked and it is a 13 year Irish Single grain finished for approx 7 months in a delicious Passito di Pantelleria cask. We explain (kinda) what that cask does to the whiskey by sipping the actual wine along with the whiskey to truly pull that influence out. Thisbone works so damn well.
This is also a tie-in with tomorrow being the start of Irish Whiskey Month! 31 days straight of Irish Whiskey posts!
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #wine #passitodipantelleria #tasty

Its almost March and you know what that means....soon it will be 31 days straight of Irish Whiskey!
In fact I'm starting it early and also showcasing a wine influenced Irish whiskey that will be featured in my tasting.
This is the @hinchdistillery 12 year Amarone cask finish. Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, this whiskey was then finished in Amarone wine barrels and the result is fantastic. Im really excited to share this with the group as Amarone is one of my favorite styles of wine, and probably one of the styles I buy most often. Velvety and full of dark red fruits, coffee and earthy notes, leather and tobacco. Stunning wine and it influenced an awesome whiskey as well.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #hinch #amarone #beautiful

This pairing is completely different but another one that I am genuinely excited to share.
One of my favorite American whiskeys period is this rye whiskey from @milamandgreenewhiskey that was finished in Port casks. The balance of rye spice and port sweetness along with the dark fruits and the liveliness of the distillate makes it absolute incredible.
I paired it with a @grahams_port Late Bottled Vintage Port from 2019 that I am super curious about trying myself and will hopefully allow the attendees to pull those Port notes from the whiskey as well.
Do you love Port casks in whisky?
Do you love Port wine?
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#whiskey #ryewhiskey #milamandgreenewhiskey #port #interesting

This pairing has me super excited as its a whisky i really love a lot and a wine I also truly have a passion for.
Bordeaux wines can truly be special with their full body and heavy flavour profiles. One style is I love to savour after a good meal or just in the summer evening.
This whisky from @bruichladdich that was hand picked by @thewhiskyexplorer came out of a 2nd fill Pessac-ledgnan Bordeaux cask. The 2nd fill was almoat perfect for this whisky. Its influence is clearly there but allows the Bruichladdich distillate to shine as well. Part of their Micro-Provenance series and cask evolution exploration, it does what it says. Bottled at a healthy 60.1% abv it allows for some water play if you so desire but isnt over the top and easily is sipped neat.
This one should turn some heads this weekend at the wine/whisky tasting that Im hosting.
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#whisky #bruichladdich #bordeaux #wine #special

This one goes back to a few years ago where coincidentally I was going into a store here looking for a new bottle of whisky but at the door they were sampling a couple of wines. One was Sauternes and thinking that I had recently (at the time) had my first couple of whiskies that had spent time in Sauternes barrels, I took a chance and tried it.
Immediately something clicked for me and I could instantly pull the notes I had found in those whiskies in my head just from a small sample of Sauternes.
It was a no-brainer to include Sauternes in my upcoming tasting exploring whiskies and the wines that influences them.
So I went into the bunker and found this old label version of @arranwhisky with a Sauternes cask finish.
Perfect. Another pairing ready to go!
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#whisky #wine #sauternes #arranwhisky #tasting

We all (mostly) love a good sherry casked whisky but have you ever actually tried the sherry that influences the casks?
Here we have the "Nutty Solera Medium" oloroso sherry from Gonzalez Byass and paired it with a fully matured 15 year Hazelburn from @springbank1828
One of my favorite annual releases these whiskies showcase the true beauty that can come from oloroso sherry casks and a great base distillate. Bottles in 2023 and arrived in Canada in 2024, this one is one of my favs of the whole series. Cask strength of 55.8% abv its a belter of a whisky. Can't wait to try the oloroso side by side.
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#whisky #springbank #oloroso #campbelltown #delicious

One thing that truly changed my whisky journey was actively searching for and tasting the different flavours that influence whiskies. If I found a whisky I truly loved I would want to know what wine or wood had the impact on that taste.
In less than a week I am hosting a tasting where I will run the group through that exact scenario. We will taste whiskies and the wines that influence them.
One of those pairings is this one. The @highlandparkofficial Twisted Tattoo with a Rioja wine.
The twisted tattoo release from Highland Park was immediately one that I had to include as it was one of the first whiskies that made me seek out the wine that influenced it. Such a unique flavour combo and one that will hopefully be a highlight of the tasting.
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#whisky #wine #rioja #highlandpark #taste

Very early in my whisky journey I was introduced to Glen Elgin whisky by a friend who was very fond of it even though its rarely seen except for the odd independent bottler.
I also was able to determine that I much preferred Glen Elgin that came from sherry casks over the bourbon casked offerings.
So imagine my excitement when @pws.imports let it slip that this beauty was coming to Alberta thanks to @singlecasknation
A 17 year Glen Elgin at a cask strength of 57.5% abv after a finish in a first fill Spanish oak oloroso higshead for 5 years.
I didnt get a chance to Crack this one yet but O see it happening in the very near future.
Have you had much Glen Elgin before?
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#whisky #singlecasknation #singlemalt #17 #sherry

Friday is all the excuse you need to enjoy something special. Like another 30 year blend and this one is from @ballantines
Again a little different than the core 30 year release. This one is the "Cask Edition" Batch 1 which is bottled at a batched cask strength of 49.8% abv.
I've been lucky enough to get to share this when the cork was first popped and this one is impressive. Full fledged flavours with a brightness yet still carrying those flavours that only time in casks can create.
This one is for those that say blends cant stand up to single malts.
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#whisky #ballantines #scotch #30 #blendedwhisky

The Wulver, in Scottish mythology, was a human like creature with the head of a wolf and fur covering its body. Atypically, it was viewed as a kind creature and even so much as helping the poor.
It's also the "Icon" featured on the third edition of the Icons of Campbelltown series from @glenscotiamalts
An unpeated single malt that was finished in first fill tawny port barrels before bottling at cask strength of 51.7% abv.
What a cool whisky, this one. Beefy and heavy almost creamy on the palate with red berries shining against the heavy malt backbone. This thankfully shows that it was just a port finish and isnt heavy handed. The bourbon maturation still holds its own, with the vanilla and honey notes still evident making it almost like a breakfast of oatmeal with red berries and drizzled with honey.
I am definitely glad I was able to grab this one and still have the full set going.
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#whisky #campbelltown #glenscotia #icon #port

Wah wah wee wah!
Everyone deserves a birth year bottle at least once in their lives.
Now I dont own this one, but I have had it and I absolutely love it. Easily my favorite Linkwood distilled bottle ever. I'm always looking out for birth years and this one in particular. Thankfully a great friend has it and will always share.
A 23 year Linkwood distilled in 1983 and bottled in 2006 after being finished in Madeira. Cask strength offering at 52.1% abv its almost the perfect strength. The floral base of Linkwood tames down with age and is still evident here but not overpowering like it can be. The Madeira finish is almost the perfect amount of influence with the flavours balancing with distillate bringing in a slight jammy-ness with some honey and nutty malt notes.
This one is a damn treat!
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#whisky #linkwood #1983 #madeira #treat

Here's something you don't see every day!
@thefamousgrouse is widely recognized as the whisky that the Scottish drink themselves. There's a very good reason for this and when you see bottles like these, you understand why.
This is a 30 year old Famouse Grouse rumoured to be made up of Highland Park and Macallan single malts. Blended in sample room 106 and released at 43% abv.
What a cool bottle of whisky. They names behind the blend say enough and there are certainly blends on the market featuring these two Distillery Giants but will cost you a lot more than this one.
No this one isnt open yet and yes hopefully I will get to taste it soon.
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#whisky #famousgrouse #macallan #highlandpark #30

Tonight the Last Call Whisky Podcast is recording our March Episode which is all Irish in honour of St. Paddy's Day and we are being joined by a very special guest.
We will also talk a lot about @twostackswhiskey and their unique spot within the Irish Whiskey landscape.
This is the latest bottle I was lucky enough to score from Two Stacks.
An Irish Single Grain that's 13 years old, distilled at Cooley Distillery in 2012 and then finished in an exceptional wine cask finish from the Rupert & Rothschild winery in South Africa. Released at 51.5% abv and only 300 bottles released to the world.
I may just have to Crack this tonight during the recording and see just how great this is.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #podcast #redwine #twostacks

There's a rumour going around saying that I hate Ardbeg...
That just simply isnt true.
I actually quite enjoy Ardbeg...when its interestingly produced.
Take this one for instance.
Ardbeg Anthology 13 year "The Harpy's Tale" which is matured in both Sauternes and Bourbon.
I quote enjoyed this one. I wish it was a bit more on the sauternes but beggers cant be choosers.
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#ardbeg #whisky #peat #sauternes #singlemalt

Happy Valentine's Day Lovers!!
Here's a whiskey (and some other treats) for the day today.
Irish single malt from @whistlerwhiskey aptly called "PX I Love You" which as you've can tell has been finished in beautiful Pedro Ximénez casks.
It's a sweet treat to be shared with the ones you love(and even those you just like as friends) today!
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #valentinesday #love #treats

The February outturn from @smwscanada may have been one of the best all around outturns in a while.
A heresy secret single malt, a couple Highlands beauties, including a black label islander, no speysiders (which im not sure has ever happened) and two Caol Ila's to close it out including one that only had 6 bottles come to Canada.
And there was this one.
"Norwegian Wood" from distillery 122 (which is also my reigning distillery of the year) is a weirdo even by Loch Lomond standards.
SMWS already have 5 different codes for whiskies made at Loch Lomond and this one doesn't exactly comply with any of them. 122 is usually reserved for Croftengea which is heavily peated single malt. However this is 100% unpeated but otherwise made in a very similar way that Croftengea is produced. The name given for this unpeated style is Glen Douglas.
10 years old, matured in ex-bourbon and finished in a 2nd fill, level 4 char hogshead, and bottled at an easy drinking 60.8% abv. This whisky is full of jammy fruits and wood spice but is so very elegant and definitely sips lower than the actual abv. It was a no brainer to grab this one and probably the best value of the outturn, which pushed it over the buy line cause any single bottle was worth grabbing this month.
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#whisky #smws #february #lochlomond #delicious

Another day and another @signatoryvintage1988 single grain gracing my pages.
Also another North British and also from 1991.
The one I posted all little bit ago was a 33 year and this one is a 31 year. Both came from refill sherry butts.

This one here i found after a friend pointed me in its direction locally and I couldnt pass it up.
I will now need to blind taste them side by side to see who the winner is in the Signatory North British 1991 taste off!
Anyone else want to join?
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#whisky #singlegrain #northbritish #sherry #1991

A perfectly balanced single grain from a closed distillery...don't mind if I do.
A 16 year old Port Dundas from a second fill oloroso butt and bottled at 46% abv.
@signatoryvintage1988 knocked it out of the park with this one.
You get the oloroso influence but it is tucked neatly into the background to the distillate. Honey nut cheerios and a wood spice come to the front and when it all melds together you end up with a Werther's Original note that sticks around for a bit.
Made from distillate in the last couple years of operation, Port Dundas is one to search out and this one does the trick.
This is one that anyone new to single grains or wanting to explore could grab and it will set them down the right path.
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#whisky #singlegrain #portdundas #sherry #delicious

And now for something completely different.
This right here is a e5 year single grain from North British Distillery, distilled in 1988 and aged in a refill hogshead. Then it happened....
The fine folks over @murraymcdavid transferred the single grain into a cask that had matured an Islay malt. They then bottled it at cask strength of 52.1% abv and eventually this bottle found its way to me.
Would you want to taste a single grain with a smokey edge to it?
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#whisky #singlegrain #northbritish #islay #smoke

This is still one of the most uniquely tasty whiskeys from 2025. Period.
The @twostackswhiskey lads took their already tasty Smoke and Mirrors base and then finished it in a cask that held previously Gran Marnier liqueur.
Cask strength of 58.7% abv is just perfect for this.
I remember I filmed and posted my bottle pop of the first of these on my deck and you can see the genuine surprise by my reaction. Thisnis a tasty whiskey. The best way i can describe is mandarin oranges that were cooked over a peat fire.
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#whiskey #twostacks #peat #unique #delicious

Chooo choooo the train is coming in hot with one stop and one stop only...Flavour Town!!
This is the Campbelltown Connection from @northstarspirits
It's never been confirmed but it is understood that this is blend of Springbank as well as Glen Scotia, one from a refill hogshead and one from a first fill foggy. This blend was bottled at 50.1% abv.

The real question is who is hopping onto the train and joining me in flavorville?
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#whisky #blends #campbelltown #springbank #glenscotia

What's in your bung hole currently?
If you are as lucky as I am, you might have a great bottle of North British single grain whisky from @signatoryvintage1988 in it!
Aged 15 years in a combination of 1st and 2nd fill oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 100 proof (that's imperial proof) so 57.1% abv.
The mixture of casks is actually a blessing for this one. There was just more in complexity of flavours. The sherry casks come through with a touch of leather and berry red fruits. A cereal like note comes through and a nice vanilla caramel.
This is a very bung hole worthy bottle. I believe it will only get better after some time and air.
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#singlegrain #northbritish #whisky #signatory #bunghole

A balancing act.
This @smwscanada release from the January outturn really grabbed my attention and didnt let go. From the title "Green Things In Brine" to the fact its an 8 year old Campbelltown malt, from an ex-bourbon cask and bottled at a healthy 58.7% abv. This whisky balances the maritime coastal notes with a malty backbone and a nice touch of sweetness from the cask.
It's whisky like this that shows that Campbelltown's "other distillery" can outshine the overhyped brands calling this area home.
Notes of minerallic coastline, farm yard funk, fishing nets drying on the dock, a slight citrus vibe and a touch of vanilla/honey. An absolute belter of a Dram.
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#smws #campbelltown #glenscotia #singlemalt #delicious

Some people have favorite distilleries tha income so enshrined in their journey that they set out on a pilgrimage to visit them.
I've been lucky enough to visit a couple of my favorites but it was at the beginning of my journey and is actually what kick started my whisky life.
My true pilgrimage destination is the Isle of Mull and to visit the Tobermory Distillery. I need to kiss the stones under the feet at the place where this hallowed whisky is made.
This here is a 15 year old Ledaig bottled by @murraymcdavid and sent exclusively to Canada through @craftcellars store in Alberta. Finished in a Pedro Ximénez octave cask, this release only featured 89 bottles total that were bottled at a cask strength of 52.1% abv.
I honestly couldn't wait to Crack it open and upon the neck pour the PX influence jumps out and adds to the signature Ledaig funk. Over ripened red berries, dank smoke, leather chaps hanging in the boathouse, dirty earth, and peat smoke drifting along a tidal bay at low tide. I cant wait to try this again and again and see how it develops with some time and air.
This one is a belter but comes in at the perfect strength.
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#whisky #ledaig #tobermory #pilgrimage #tasty

Another new single grain to the market here and the first grain from @bns_whisky new line up called @caskmasterswhisky
This is a 28 year old Invergordon bottled at a perfect 51.9% abv. After almost 3 decades maturing and a finish in a Rivesaltes barrique.
Rivesaltes is a fortified sweeter style of wine made in Southern France and imparts notes of sweet raisins, nuttiness, and caramelized dried red fruits. Similar to the sweeter end of the Sherry spectrum.

This whisky had heads turning the other night with its sweet wheat based grain distillate combining with a great finishing cask and a spot on abv. Everything balanced immediately and no "wet-mouthing" needed.
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#whisky #bravenewspirits #wine #invergordon #rivesaltes

A couple nights ago I got the pleasure of hosting a sold out tasting for people wanting to learn more about grain whiskies, full of both familiar and new faces all together.
This gorgeous North British 33 year from @signatoryvintage1988 was a hit with almost everyone. Bottled from a single refill sherry butt and at cask strength of 53.2% abv. This has that old whisky taste. The refill sherry butt shows but without overpowering. A balance in all ways, this was a standout for me.
One amazing thing about this tasting is there was not one definite standout amongst the attendees. Every single pour had at least 1 vote as someone's favorite.
These are always super fun and exciting tastings for me to present.
Don't miss out on the next one!
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#whisky #singlegrain #northbritish #sherry #singlecask

Today is a day marked in ancient Irish times called La le Bríde or also called Imbolc.
Marking the beginning of spring and St. Brigid’s day, the Celtic festival of Lá le Bríde, also known as Imbolc, is a source of hope and joy for farmers. Bríd is said to visit the homes of those who honour her, bestowing her light and protection. It marks the reawakening of the fields and soils for the sowing of the upcoming season.
@dingledistillery released a bottling in the "Wheel of Life" series marking this day.
This is an Irish Single Malt matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in ex-rye casks. Bottled at 50.5% abv this whiskey has cereal fruit notes galore. Like a fresh bowl of oatmeal with some honey drizzle and some fresh mixed fruit on it. The spice from the rye casks shows nicely and doesn't overwhelm in any way.
I will be pouring this tonight no doubt about it.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #dingle #stbrigid #delicious

Tonight i am hosting an all grain whisky tasting locally @whiskydropcanada in Edmonton.
A well curated lineup of newly launched and a couple unreleased single grains.
A secret seventh is already promised but if you've ever attended a tasting that I hosted, you will know I almost always bring something special to share.
Will it be this 1982 distilled blended grain? 38 years old and cask strength?
Id say grab a ticket and come down to find out but this tasting has been sold out for a while.
Next time, dont hesitate!
Tonight will dispell some myths around grain whiskies and prove to everyone in attendance that grain whisky deserves a seat at the table and sometimes demands the head of the table.
Cheers
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#whisky #singlegrain #tasting #special #delicious

Is there anything more classic and more fulfilling and a better value than the Ole, @bushmillsirl Black Bush?
For me the answer is no. One of my very first true whiskey loves from the time I started my journey until now. I always have one open and I've even started to collect older vintage bottlings.
One day I may have to sit down and do a vertical tasting of all the different releases.
This particular bottling was released in 2008 as part of the 400th anniversary of Bushmills.
How do you feel about Black Bush?
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#bushmills #irishwhiskey #classic #whiskey #blackbush

When your whisky club holds an annual Christmas event, and tries to feature all."Christmas edition" releases for the Xmas tasting, you find some weirdos.
This one for example is a 16ish year Balmenach from @berrybrosruddspirits released in 2024 as a Christmas Edition. Bottled at 46% abv and from an oloroso sherry finish.
I cant wait for the 2026 Club Christmas event and to see what this one is all about.

Do you have any favorite Christmas edition releases that our club should look for?
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#scotch #whisky #balmenach #berrybros #club

Ahhh the Enigma series from @wmcadenheads is such a treat.
This speysider is no different. 16 year age statement and cask strength (maybe) and a very cool cask finish.
This is rumoured to be Glenfarclas and it is finished for 5 years in a Pineau des Charentes cask. PdC is a fortified wine made by adding Cognac to grape must to prevent fermentation. Very rarely seen in whisky casks, this added a touch of honey sweetness to the base spirit which has a nice robust character and a savory side to it and definitely reminds me of some of those great Farclas releases but with a sweet wine tinge to it.
I love the Enigma series and its inherit experimentation allowance. We are seeing things being done that may never have and shows Cadenheads is on the consumers side.
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#whisky #scotch #speyside #enigma #delicious

Anyone remember this little number here?
What we dubbed the "Mandalorian Cask" from the @twostackswhiskey Smoke and Mirrors line of releases, this one was exclusive to Canada and picked by a small group of whiskey enthusiasts.
The Mandalorian is actually a Mandorla cream cask. Mandorla is a fortified wimel made in Sicily and infused with alcoholic almond flavor. How this cask came to Two Stacks is a story I'm sure but what I do know is it made an amazing Irish Whiskey.
Funky and flavorful with a complex layer of flavors. You get the touch of smoke and an earthy note along with a bit of the almond nutiness showing. Maybe one of my favorite weirdo whiskeys.
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #twostacks #peat #mandalorian

This one's for my Dawgs! The ones that live for the unexpected. The ones that search out the unusual. The ones that love a great malt whisky with a rather unknown distillery that just hits the spot.
A Glenburgie that's 8 years old, from an oloroso sherry butt, at cask strength (55.6% abv) and a single cask exclusively to us here in Canada.
I love Glenburgie and it truly shines in sherry in my opinion. This whisky is so good that I polished off my first bottle insanely fast. This backup is begging to be popped but I fight the urge all the time.
This one also goes out to the goodest girl @nixierooroo
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#whisky #bulldog #glenburgie #chooserare #singlemalt

Happy Rabbie Burns Day! And "Lang may yer lum reek"

A prolific writer who became known as Scotlands National Poet, he Kennedy over 700 poems from age 15 til his death at age 37. He is attributed to Auld Lang Syne even though it was a traditional song/poem that he revised, and is often cited as the most recited English speaking works in the world after only happy birthday.
Burns wasn't just prolific at writing, he fathered at least 12 children with 4 different women.
Known as the "Ploughman's Poet" due to his common man ethos and upbringing.
To all that and so much more I will raise a fancy glass and a pour from this 4 year old Ben Nevis bottled by @signatoryvintage1988
A whisky that is much more than the young age statement. Bottled as part of the "100 Proof" series meaning its 57.1% abv and from refill oloroso butts. Also made from heavily peated distillate this shows that young malt can be very very good. Oily, dense, smoked bacon after a brine wash, on a grill next to rings of mango and orange glaze. Ashy and a touch of the iodine but just a small touch.
People rant and rave about the old 20+ years old Nevis and to me they are great but I much prefer these young peated and sherried offerings.
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley
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#whisky #burnsnight #bennevis #peat #sherry

There ain't no tasting like a Dark Cloud tasting!
One of the greatest privileges that this whisky adventure has allowed me to have is the ability to host private tastings for small groups.
Over time many of these people that have hired me to host for them, have become friends and that's truly what this whole thing is really all about.
Last weekend I put together this lineup for one such group that have truly become friends over time.
A wide range featuring, Canadian, Single malt, single grain, peated, sherry cask, wine finishes, and more than a few surprises.
I always ask my groups to rank the whiskies after and without a doubt this lineup there was truly something for everyone. The biggest surprise for me was the eventual top three.
I absolutely love these evenings and cant wait to host the next few coming up in the near future.
Cheers to exploring and many more whisky adventures!
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#whisky #friends #tasting #tasty #surprise

On the heels of the recently completed @cadwhiskyweek I finally have the chance to post this one.
A return to greatness for what I generally consider the reigning king of Canadian Single Malt producers.
This is release 50 from @twobrewerswhisky and what a way to mark the half century mark of releases.
14 years old and at their chosen abv of 56% that hits the exact right spot.
This is Canadian Single Malt in all its glory. Fruit bomb with a backbone of oak influence. This hits the spot in flavour, abv and overall experience. I recently poured this for a group in a private tasting and for a fresh bottle pop, it turned some heads. I've only been able to sit with this myself once and I already cant wait to really dig into this.
For me it harkens back to some of my favorite releases from Two Brewers. I'd love to taste this next to the 14, 18, 23 and 24 releases. See where it would fit in.
Canadian whisky for the win!
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#whisky #canadianwhisky #twobrewers #awesome #singlemalt

A trio of releases from @wmcadenheads for today. 3 distilleries, 3 distinct flavour profiles.
Starting on the left we have a 14 year old from Ledaig made at the Tobermory distillery.
Middle we have a 13 year Kilkerran made st the Glengyle distillery in Campbelltown.
On the right, we have another 13 year old Campbelltown single malt from the Hazelburn line made at Springbank.
In typical Cadenheads fashion, these were all matured in "oak" which is maybe my only dislike from these 3 bottles.
Bourbon casks for the Ledaig and Hazelburn im pretty sure, and after some deep diving into do believe the Kilkerran to be bourbon and port casks, as the colour would suggest more than just bourbon.

My question to you, is which one of these would you reach for first?
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#whisky #singlemalt #campbelltown #ledaig #springbank

What do you know, there are some fresh single grains hitting the shelves currently in Alberta.
This one is just one of many and guess what you can try this out very soon.
I have included this whisky in the lineup for an all grain tasting that Im hosting @whiskydropcanada on January 31st.
Ad of right now there are only 3 tickets left so if you want to try this and 6 (or 7) more exceptional single grains and maybe kernel why grain whisky isnt the red-headed step child if the whisky world as some claim it is.
What is this? It's a Cameronbridge single grain distilled in 2009 and bottled last year by @signatoryvintage1988 in their "100 Proof" lineup. Meaning it's 57.1% abv and was matured in a second fill sherry butt.
Come join me and see what grain whisky is all about.
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#whisky #tasting #singlegrain #cameronbridge #sherry

Just a reminder that it's less than 2 months until St. Patrick's Day and I'm already gearing up for a few events the week leading up to March 17th.

This whiskey right here will do the trick to get me in the mood. An 8 year old Irish Single malt from @boutiqueywhisky from an "unknown" Irish distillery. Bottled at 45.7% abv.

If you want a classic Irish Single Malt that has no tricks but just the classic Irish whiskey taste this is the one to grab if you can find it.

Usually the Boutique-y labels give hints to where the whiskeys they bottle originated. This one however has some trickery on it. Is it triple distilled or double distilled? If you zoom in on spirit safe on the label, it looks like there are only 2 arms from the safe yet there also looks like there are three beakers collecting the distillate....wtf???
No matter where it's from or triple/double distilled this bottle is a great Irish Single Malt.
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#irishwhiskey #whiskey #singlemalt #classic #puzzle

The final award of the year for the DarkCloudWhisky Best of 2025 Awards is for Distillery of the Year!
This year I absolutely cemented my live for the winner. Through sourcing out and trying as many as I could, the flavor profiles made here cover each and every style you could imagine.
The 2025 Distillery of the Year is @lochlomondmalts
If you watch the entire reel you will see that Loch Lomind comes in every style you could imagine. Hell, the @smwscanada code system has 5 seperate codes for whisky hailing from Loch Lomond.
Single malt, single grain, single grain made with 100% malted barley, peated, blended, and everything in between.
In indy bottlers there are even more names used, and lot are named after the small islands found in the actual Loch that the distillery gets its name from. Inchmurrin, inchmoan, inchfad, as well as Croftengea, Old Rhosdhu, Glengarry, and a few more.
I absolutely love the annual releases made for the British Open, as you can see, which usually feature unique casking like red and white wines from various origins, sherry, etc.
I am firmly in the camp of a love of Loch Lomond and I hope one day I will get to visit the distillery.

Thanks for tuning in and following along for this years DarkCloudWhisky Best of 2025 Awards.
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#whisky #2025 #distillery #lochlomond #thankyou

Here it is folks!
The whisky of the year for 2025 from the DarkCloudWhisky Best of 2025 Awards.
The Cambus 35 year single grain whisky from @singlecasknation
Distilled in 1989 at the now long gone but never forgotten Cambus distillery, this whisky was most likely placed into a refill bourbon barrel and somewhere along the lines Single Cask Nation got their hands on it. I'm not sure if they are the ones that placed it into its finishing cask. But, it was finished for 3 years in an STR Oloroso barrique before being bottled at a lovely 57.4% abv.
This bottle was one of the very first bottles that I got my hands on in the first couple weeks of 2025. From the initial bottle pop through to the bottle kill, this whisky mesmerized me with its depth of flavor, it's amazing mouthfeel and it's complexity as well as general deliciousness.
That old dusty/musty note that cant be faked and only comes with extra age is abundant in this one. On the nose there is a lively balance of the sweet cereal notes along with mandarin oranges and fresh picked red berries and that aged whisky smell. The palate takes all those flavors and expands on them in abundance. Dark red fruits along with sultanas and brown sugar with old oak and leather and a nice chocolate notes rounded out with a touch of tannic spice.
This whisky is one of those rare ones that makes you wish it was still available so you could grab a few backups.
My whisky of the year for 2025 is probably not a surprise to many being a single grain, from Cambus, and with all the stats that make up a worthy whisky of the title.
One day left in the Whisky Awards, and tomorrow we crown a distillery of the year!
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#whiskyoftheyear #whisky #best #1 #cambus

Well....we only have 3 more days left in the 2025 version of the DarkCloudWhisky Best of Awards and today it's time to name the runner-up for whisky of the year!
2025 saw me dive into Campbelltown more than I think all other years combined. I've always been lucky enough to get to try tons of releases from the 3 distilleries located in Campbelltown but this year I actually started grabbing some for myself.
This years runner-up for my whisky of the year is @kilkerransinglemalt 16 year.
Made at the Glengyle distillery by the same people that bring us Springbank, this years release of the 16 year uses more sherry casks than years prior with the ratio about 60% bourbon and 40% oloroso casks. Bottled at 46% with no chill filtration and no added color, this whisky blew me away. Distillate and casking balanced with that Campbelltown funk shining alongside they sherry influence. BBQ sauce, worn sun-beaten leather, coastal notes, dank oloroso, beautiful smoke integration, silky coating mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts and begs for another sip.

The best part about this whisky is that it keeps getting better after opening. Everytime I return for another pour it seems to improve more and more.

Tomorrow is the big day where I announce my whisky of the year and then the day after is the distillery of the year announcement.
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#whisky #kilkerran #springbank #runnerup #awards

Next up is another very special bottle for me taking the number 4 spot in my top 5 whiskeys of the year.
The @bushmillsirl 25 year finally arrived in Canada and I was given the insane opportunity to present it to a large group for the first time in this country.
A bottle that seemed like a fairytale soon became a reality and it still feels like a dream today.
Packaging that puts 99% of any other bottle in the world to shame and the liquid inside to back it up. 5 years maturation in oloroso and bourbon casks before a minimum of 20 years "finishing" in port pipes and bottled at 46% abv.
Only a couple of port pipes are bottled every year and this one bottle came with me to an event where a great friend ended up purchasing her own bottle.
Irish single malt that blows the doors off many others makes the Bushmills 25 the number 4 best whiskey of the year!
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#whiskey #irishwhiskey #bushmills #top5 #awards

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About Me

Hi, I'm Sean but my friends call me The Dark Cloud.

I'm a whisky aficionado navigating through my journey in all things "The Water of Life"

My friends @whiskyheathens have
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Fresh Off The Stills

Subscribe to keep up with The Dark Cloud on his adventures.

THE HOME FOR YOUR WHISKY NEWS, REVIEWS, + ENTERTAINMENT

Thoughts From The DarkCloud (ARTICLES)

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Follow us on Instagram

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About Me

#KINCAID4KILBEGGAN

My friends @whiskyheathens have a YouTube whisky channel. Give them a view, like and subscribe!!

Fresh Off The Stills

Thoughts From The DarkCloud
(ARTICLES)

What I think of
What I drink
(REVIEWS)

Upcoming Events in the Dark Cloud Sky
(EVENTS)

My friends @whiskyheathens have
a YouTube whisky channel. Give them a view, like and subscribe!!