Skip to content

A Song of Ice and Whisky

Primary Navigation

  • Who am I?
  • Review List
  • Other stuff
  • Links

Menu

  • Who am I?
  • Review List
  • Other stuff
  • Links

Instagram

First article from the new continent! I still have tons of unfinished articles about whiskies I tasted before leaving, but to celebrate the beginning of this new adventure of mine I chose this majestic @theglenlivet distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2014 by @van.wees.spirits . Hans van Wees himself was kind enough to give me this sample when I visited his shop last September. It was aged in a sherry cask (number 9407), and bottled for the serie The Ultimate - Rare Reserve: I'm super happy that I had the chance to taste such a luxurious whisky, and I think I found a good spot to "honour" it among the ruins of La Recolección, in Antigua Guatemala. You'll find the full review on the blog, check it out (link in the bio: @asongofwhisky)!
Sooooo I finally moved to Guatemala, where I'm gonna spend the next two years, if all goes well! Sadly, due to alcohol import restrictions, I could bring with me (and my wife) "only" 4 bottles from my collection this time. I chose these ones: - Hazelburn 14 Y.O. Oloroso Cask - Longrow 18 Y.O. - Talisker 18 Y.O. - Benromach Cask Strength Batch One Which one would you have taken with you? Better pics with more guatemaltecan backgrounds will follow. #whisky #movingtoguatemala #guatemala #hazelburn #longrow #benromach #talisker #asongofwhisky
How to end a family lunch with a bang? Well, this @hedekaffe coffee made with beans soaked in @stauningwhisky 's "Kaos" surely did the job! It was great to compare the spices coming through the coffee aroma with this edition of Kaos I got at the Danish distillery during my recent trip up there. Big thanks to Alex, who gave me all these goodies to try out. I really enjoyed them :) #stauningwhisky #stauning #hedekaffe #kaos #atasteofkaos #kaoswhisky #whiskyandcoffee #cantinasot #barolo #asongofwhisky
No, I didn't disappear swallowed by the darkness of Minas Morgul, I was just drinking some terrific whisky by the @bennevisdist! This Ben Nevis "Batch 1" distilled in 2008 amd bottled in 2018 is a powerful and uncompromising slap in the face to those one who believe that a whisky is good only if aged for a long time. I personally loved it. Full review on the blog (link in the bio: @asongofwhisky) #whisky #whiskyandnature #bennevis #bennevisbatchone #bennevissinglemalt #whiskyandhiking #santignazio #lanzotorinese #asongofwhisky
Were you waiting a new rant about a new peat-and-wine combo? No? Who cares, here it is! This time I’m going to dive into an indie Ledaig, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2018 by The Old Friends. Will the superbe marine/salty+malty character of the Ledaig survive the trial of a 10-year-long maturation in a French red wine cask? Nose: It’s full of heavy and acrid smoke, coated of a mystifying winey sweetness. The alcohol comes up strong, and the need to add water at this point is even stronger than the need to leave the cinema that I felt while watching Suicide Squad. With water, the nose becomes fruitier I think, with peaches and bananas covered by a thick ash blanket. Taste: A powerful, ashy and dark smoke assaults my palate followed by hordes of herbal, acidic, and fruity tastes. Like the walls of Helm’s Deep, where the Rohirrims were hiding from Saruman, my defences are crumbling down. Melon and redcurrant pierce through the big fat smoke, especially after adding some water. It tastes almost like vinegar at times. All in all, very salty, very acidic, very tasty (if you like this profile). Finish: It lingers for some times, and after leaving an big aftertaste of peat smoke mixed with sugar and peaches, fades away into the dark. Overall: I think it’a a surprising and very entertaining malt. Still available in some shops for around 80 euros, which I humbly judge as a good price for a 10yo single cask of Ledaig, nowadays. Of course, you must prepare your nose and palate to face a tremendously powerful foe, a bit like Oberyn Martell before fighting Sir Gregor the Mountain… and I cannot guarantee that the outcome will be very different. For this and other reviews, check out the blog (link in the bio: @asongofwhisky) #whisky #theoldfriends #ledaig #tobermory #winematuration #peatandwine #whiskyandnature #montisibillini #montesibilla #singlecask #asongofwhisky
So I randomly won a trip to visit the newly expanded and refurbished Stauning Whisky @stauningwhisky distillery in Denmark. It was probably the best tour I've ever had at a distillery (it lasted around 6hours in total), and as you see from the pic I enjoyed it... quite a bit. Soon (hopefully) the full article, now just many many thanks to Majbritt, Alex and La Maison du Whisky @maisonduwhisky who made this amazing experience possible! #whisky #distillery #denmark #danishwhisky #stauning #stauningwhisky #asongofwhisky
Soooo some weeks ago something (wink wink) happened in my life. I am soon moving to Guatemala, following my (now) wife to a new adventure in a whole other continent. To celebrate this event, I decided to open one of the samples I had been looking for the most in my humble collection: a 39-year-old @bunnahabhain distilled in 1976, and then bottled in 2016 by @wmcadenheads and aged in 3 sherry butts. The liquid in this little guy is about 10 years older than me, and it's the oldest Bunna I've had the pleasure to try. If not amazing and mesmerising, I found it very, very, very nice. I mean, it might be that my expectations were too high, but after a super nose, fat, complex, and deep, I felt like the palate felt was a tad too thin. Still, I'm so happy I had the chance to taste it. Bunnalove is forever! For a complete review, as usual, check out the blog (link in the bio: @asongofwhisky) #bunnahabhain #cadenhead #whisky #whiskyandlove #bunnalove #oldwhisky #whiskysample #whiskygram #independentbottler #asongofwhisky
@kilkerransinglemalt 12 Y.O.: YODA APPROVED! #kilkerran12 #glengyle #kilkerran #yoda #starwars #costume #asongofwhisky
Talking about a well-balanced whisky... Ok, I know. I'm super lazy and I took this pic in summer but I'm reviewing it only now, 3 full months later... Well, there are a lot of things going on right now in my life and I have to admit that I had to slow down a bit with the blog... But here I am, re-tasting this Orkney single malt bottled by @chorltonwhisky after only 9 years spent in a bourbon hogshead. I have to mention the beauty of the label, simple, informative, and with such a nice panting printed on it. I simply ove this design, and I hope I do feel the same about the juice inside the bottle! Well, how to put it... it's simply and trivially super tasty. It was also quite cheap when I bought it (under 60 euros), which for the quality of this malt it's a steal, for me. I'd say it gets a solid 88/100 in my book, and it's one of the nicest and freshest surprises I found this year. It's simply so good, i'd drink tons of it. Well, maybe not literally tons of it, but I think you got the message. Full review on the blog (link in the bio:@asongofwhisky)! #whisky #asongofwhisky #chorltonwhisky #orkney #whiskywednesday #singlecask #highlandpark #slackline #whiskyparis #montsouris #balance
When I see a whisky matured in a wine cask, I find myself in a situation similar to when I hear that a new Star Wars movie is coming out. It could be amazing and satisfying, and I'm soooo curious about it. It could also be an utter, unspeakable disaster, and I'm soooo scared about it! This one is a Craigellachie, distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2019 by the German indie bottler The Old Friends. It seems to like to live dangerously, as it fully spent its 11 years of maturation in an Amarone wine cask. Let's see what I wrote about it... Nose: Ugh, veeeeery sweet, and my fears about the wine maturation start taking the nightmarish form of an old Luke Skywalker milking weird aliens on a very remote planet. Chocolate drops, strawberry... but just when I start feeling that this is some kind of... winesky, I notice a fresh note of mint that gives me a New Hope. With water this fresh side becomes more prominent, and I even get something mineral out of it. It's still very sweet though, and reminding me of a sweet fortified wine. Taste: The alcohol, despite the high percentage, is very well integrated. Here too it reminds me of some sweet wine, a kind of "passito", maybe. Oh, and I learn now that the English word for it is "straw wine", good to know... But despite all of this wine madness it's good, very good. Peach, mint again, goji berries. With water is still oily and somewhat... rubbery? It's for sure entertaining. Finish: The alcohol dominates at first, but a powerful aftertaste of mint and sugar saves the day. Overall: It's just not completely my thing, but the quality is undoubtably there. To me the cask influence on the distillate is a tad too strong and I'm not quite sure I would buy a whole bottle. Nevertheless it is surely an interesting dram and I can imagine that other people could seriously fall in love with it. I definitely recommend you to give it a try! Check out the blog for more weird reviews! Link in the bio: @asongofwhisky #whisky #craigellachie #theoldfriends #winematuration #amaronecask #singlecask #whiskysamples #whiskygram #lanzotorinese #pontedeldiavolo #devilsbridge #whiskyporn #whiskysample #asongofwhisky

Follow A Song of Ice and Whisky on Facebook

Follow A Song of Ice and Whisky on Facebook

Recent posts

  • Glenlivet 1981 (52.3%, vW, 2014)
  • Ben Nevis 10 Y.O. – Batch No. 1 (62.4%, OB, 2018)
  • Ledaig 2008 (53.6%, TOF, 2018)
  • Bunnahanhain 1976 (49.4%, CA, 2016)
  • Orkney 2009 (63.1%, Ch, 2018)
  • Caol Ila 2011 (60.2%, WDr, 2018)
  • Craigellachie 2007 (58.8%, TOF, 2019)
  • Interview with the Bottler: Tom Skowronek
  • Bowmore 1998 Hand-Filled (56.9%, OB, 2014)
  • Port Charlotte 2007 (60.4%, ADoS, 2018)

What are you looking for?

Categories

  • Aberfeldy (1)
  • Aberlour (2)
  • Amrut (3)
  • Ardbeg (5)
  • Arran (3)
  • Balblair (2)
  • Balvenie (2)
  • Belgian Owl (1)
  • Ben Nevis (1)
  • Benriach (1)
  • Benrinnes (2)
  • Benromach (6)
  • Blair Athol (2)
  • Blended whiskies (8)
  • Blends (3)
  • Bowmore (8)
  • Bruichladdich (7)
  • Bunnahabhain (10)
  • Bushmills (1)
  • Caol Ila (7)
  • Cardhu (1)
  • Chichibu (1)
  • Clynelish (6)
  • Craigellachie (2)
  • Dailuaine (1)
  • Dalmore (2)
  • Dalwhinnie (1)
  • Deanston (1)
  • Distillerie (5)
  • Edradour (1)
  • Fettercairn (2)
  • Finlaggan (1)
  • Giudizi irritanti (14)
  • Glen Elgin (1)
  • Glen Garioch (2)
  • Glen Keith (5)
  • Glenburgie (2)
  • Glendronach (7)
  • Glendullan (1)
  • Glenfarclas (2)
  • Glenfiddich (1)
  • Glengoyne (2)
  • Glenlivet (5)
  • Glenmorangie (2)
  • Glenrothes (3)
  • Green Spot (1)
  • Hazelburn (1)
  • Highland Park (9)
  • Imperial (1)
  • Interviews (1)
  • Interviste Possibili (4)
  • Irritating Opinions (2)
  • Kavalan (4)
  • Kilchoman (6)
  • Kilkerran (3)
  • Knockando (1)
  • Lagavulin (6)
  • Laphroaig (8)
  • Ledaig (3)
  • Linkwood (1)
  • Littlemill (1)
  • Longrow (4)
  • Macduff (1)
  • Mars Shinshu (1)
  • Mortlach (3)
  • Nikka (3)
  • Oban (1)
  • Octomore (3)
  • Old Pulteney (4)
  • Port Charlotte (2)
  • Port Ellen (1)
  • Royal Lochnagar (1)
  • Senza categoria (1)
  • Springbank (14)
  • Talisker (2)
  • Tamdhu (1)
  • Teeling (1)
  • Tobermory (4)
  • Tomintoul (1)
  • Tormore (3)
  • Undisclosed distillery (11)
  • Wolfburn (2)
  • Zweiger (1)

Blogs I follow

  • Whisky in leggerezza
  • whiskysponge
  • A Song of Ice and Whisky
  • My Annoying Opinions
  • Dolcementewhisky
  • BarleyMania | Whisky & Whiskey
  • lauranellamoltitudine
  • whiskysucks
  • whiskyfacile
  • A Song of Ice and Whisky
Glenlivet

Glenlivet 1981 (52.3%, vW, 2014)

First article from the new continent! I still have tons of unfinished articles about whiskies I tasted before leaving, but … Continue reading Glenlivet 1981 (52.3%, vW, 2014)

Ben Nevis 10 Y.O. – Batch No. 1 (62.4%, OB, 2018)
Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis 10 Y.O. – Batch No. 1 (62.4%, OB, 2018)

Ben Nevis is another distillery that I love but whose malt I sadly don’t get to drink too often. I … Continue reading Ben Nevis 10 Y.O. – Batch No. 1 (62.4%, OB, 2018)

Ledaig 2008 (53.6%, TOF, 2018)
Ledaig, Tobermory

Ledaig 2008 (53.6%, TOF, 2018)

Were you waiting a new rant about a new peat-and-wine combo? No? Who cares, here it is! This time, I’m … Continue reading Ledaig 2008 (53.6%, TOF, 2018)

Bunnahanhain 1976 (49.4%, CA, 2016)
Bunnahabhain

Bunnahanhain 1976 (49.4%, CA, 2016)

Soooo some weeks ago something (wink wink) happened in my life. I am soon moving to Guatemala, following my (now) … Continue reading Bunnahanhain 1976 (49.4%, CA, 2016)

Orkney 2009 (63.1%, Ch, 2018)
Highland Park, Undisclosed distillery

Orkney 2009 (63.1%, Ch, 2018)

Ok, I know. I’m super lazy and I took this pic in summer but I’m reviewing it only now, 3 … Continue reading Orkney 2009 (63.1%, Ch, 2018)

Caol Ila 2011 (60.2%, WDr, 2018)
Caol Ila

Caol Ila 2011 (60.2%, WDr, 2018)

Today the peat-and-wine whisky of the week (and I missed a couple weeks, I know) is a Caol Ila. Distilled … Continue reading Caol Ila 2011 (60.2%, WDr, 2018)

Craigellachie 2007 (58.8%, TOF, 2019)
Craigellachie

Craigellachie 2007 (58.8%, TOF, 2019)

And here it comes a Craigellachie! The Old Friends is another, relatively new actor in the colourful landscape of the … Continue reading Craigellachie 2007 (58.8%, TOF, 2019)

Posts navigation

Older posts
Blog at WordPress.com.
Whisky in leggerezza

Recensioni di whisky tra amici

whiskysponge

It's thoroughly absorbing...

A Song of Ice and Whisky

My Annoying Opinions

food, whisky and more...

Dolcementewhisky

by Davide Steffenini & Sebastiano Segalla

BarleyMania | Whisky & Whiskey

Powerhouse whisk(e)y blogging since 2016.

lauranellamoltitudine

"Sono quella che sono. Un caso inconcepibile come ogni caso..." (W. S.)

whiskysucks

"Ma come fai a bere quella roba?"

whiskyfacile

"tu bevi da morire, non pensi all'avvenire?"

A Song of Ice and Whisky

A Song of Ice and Whisky
Blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Cancel