Whoops, it’s been a while!

I have an ambition.. to one days start blogging on a regular interval. I’m not saying I will become like Chris Lema who blogs every day (I don’t even think I have that much of value to share)! But it’d be nice to write now and then about things I found on the web or about technical topics I’m passionate about.

I hear a lot about the benefits of journaling the daily life too so maybe I’ll try that as well!

I know I will continue to post whisky tastings because I still love whisky and it can be a weirdly creative process that I enjoy.

In any case, do not expect this blog to start overflowing with good stuff. I don’t expect you to check it out even. It will be mostly for me, and if I can help or entertain someone passing by it is just an added bonus.

🖖

Hyde Cask Strength 8yo

Advent day 19

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
Leather, subtle hints of coffee. Ash and burned wood. Dark pralines. Fairly anonymous or rather one-sided on the nose. After a few minutes it expands a bit more and the oak becomes more dominant.
Score: 21

Palate
Lots of ash. Peated smoky oak with a background of dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee beans. A few sips in I can still get a gentle vanilla tone coming through under all the smokiness.
Score: 23

Finish
A decent length of finish! Coffee and charred oak. The vanilla is definitely stronger in the finish taking you on a journey from smoke and ash to an almost entirely sweet experience. It’s like having an espresso infused praline melt in the mouth.
Score: 23

Body
This is to me a great smoky whisky, the kind you may find yourself indulge too much in and end up with heartburn as a result. The colour is that of rapeseed oil and the mouthfeel is quite viscous leaving a somewhat oily feeling on the roof of the mouth.
Score: 23

Total: 90

Guesses
Wood finished oak with lots of charr. Single malt aged whisky, let us say 12y. Probably an Islay whisky or it could be something like Kilkerran from Campbeltown. 48%.

Reveal
Hyde Cask Strength 8yo Single Grain.
Irish whisky at 59% ABV.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/hyde/hyde-8-year-old-cask-strength-whiskey/

Personal note: Well well well.. I definitely have a weakness where I confuse alcohol burn with peat when blind testing! Something to work on!

I’ve reccently found myself favouring the less heavy whiskies where the complex of multiple flavour may come through but I found this coffee-rich vanilla filled burning bomb lovely!

Glen Keith Distillery Edition

Advent day 18

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
I’m getting a lot of fruity tones. Fresh pears, banana. The nose is pretty subtle and light. Actually so much so that I stuck my nose down too far and got some whisky up my nose 😂. Still, it’s a pleasant nose!
Score: 22

Palate
Much like the nose it’s a pretty subtle and light whisky. There’s a lot of sweetness and fruit here as well. I would’ve liked a stronger palate tho, it comes off as a bit weak.
Score: 20

Finish
the finish is actually pretty long but much like the palate and nose it’s not abundant with flavour or impressions. It’s just an even lighter palate slowly fading off.
Score: 20

Body
It really isn’t a bad whisky, it’s just a bit too anonymous for my tastes. I’d gladly have a glas at a friends or a bar but this whisky wouldn’t call out to me from my own shelf. The colour is a very pale yellow (I think, hard to see in this evening light).
Score: 20

Total: 82

Guesses
Sherry cask, probably a single malt but not aged. Speyside or possibly some other random country than Scotland (It’s a whisky from Jim we are talking about). 45% ABV.

Reveal
Glen Keith Distillery Edition
Single malt
40%
No age budget whisky made by the Chivas brothers.
https://farylochan.dk/shop/udsolgte-frigivelser/efterar-b2-50cl/

Personal note: I feel like I’m too harsh on this whisky points-wise. It was a pleasant whisky and given what I now know about the cost of a bottle I would gladly recommend it as a starter whisky for new drinkers.

Fary Lochan Efterår

Advent day 17

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
A bit of arrak and bitter almonds. I’m getting notes of marsipan and a hint of salmiak. It has a remarkably light nose with almost no alcohol. that being said there’s still scents to be found, it’s just light.
Score: 22

Palate
in contrast to the nose there’s a high amount of burn! I’m getting almonds and the marsipan here as well. And a little bit of honey. There’s a fair amount of peat too but I could be confusing it a bit with the alcoholic burn. After letting it breath for a few minutes and adding a few drops of water it actually balances out alot making it much more pleasant.
Score: 22

Finish
Medium long finish. This isn’t flattering but it kind of tastes like honeywater or like cough drops with honey flavour.
Score: 21

Body
A strange whisky, light but flavourful, soft notes and flavours but with a sting. The mouth feel is somewhat oily but not viscous. The colour is a pale yellow reminding me of rapeseed oil.
Score: 22

Total: 87

Guesses
Virgin Oak barrel, Single malt. Possibly a Speyside whisky. 44% ABV.

Reveal
Fary Lochan Efterår
Single malt
48.3%
Danish whisky stored in sherry casks.
https://farylochan.dk/shop/udsolgte-frigivelser/efterar-b2-50cl/

Personal note: That guess was waaaaaay off! Hah.. But still, not the easiest whisky to blind test. Jim has me on my toes once again!

Bladnoch 10 Year Old

Advent day 16

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose Sidenote: I’m a little bit stuffy tonight but I’ll push through.
A little smoke lingering in my nose.. it’s not dominant tho. There’s buttery toffee. Almost like a overly buttered fresh toast right from the toaster. It’s mouth watering!
Score: 23

Palate
The nose already told most of it. Toast with butter, some toffee or butterscotch. A bit of vanilla. Quickly chased by a peated smokyness. The mouth feel is a little bit dry and acidic.
Score: 22

Finish
I’d say a medium long bordering on short finish. A bit of an herbal finish with maybe some honey splash.
Score: 21

Body
If you like this sort of whisky this is an easy one to enjoy. From start to finish it’s easy to drink but also a bit one dimensional. The colour reminds me of lemons sitting in a glass of coca cola.
Score: 22

Total: 88

Guesses
I think this is a NAS whisky, single malt. Could be a Lowland whisky but more likely it’s from a younger distillery not located in Scotland. Guessing is pointless since Jim has so many whiskies from younger distilleries around the globe. But hey, let’s say it’s from Denmark!
45% ABV matured in virgin oak.

Reveal
Bladnoch 10 Year Old
Single malt
46.7%
https://www.bladnoch.com/shop/10-year-old/

Personal note: Well well well.. It was actually a lowland after all! Not much right after that tho hah!

Skånska Spritfabriken G-whisky

Advent day 15

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose Sidenote: I’m a little bit stuffy tonight but I’ll push through.
Salted toffee and seaweed. A bit of honey and powdered vanilla sugar (not sure that’s the correct english name) with just a hint of fresh cut grass.
Score: 22

Palate
Spices, lots of spices. A bit of cinnamon and raisins. Gives off a dry mouth-feel.
Score: 21

Finish
A very short finish which kind of just feels like the palate quickly fading away. Not getting a lot of different flavour profiles here. If I had to say I’d say there’s some dates and plums.
Score: 20

Body
Deep yellow in colour, much like a fine olive oil. Good tasting whisky but it didn’t make a splash.
Score: 21

Total: 84

Guesses
Speyside single malt, 42%. Sherry cask or maybe American virgin oak.

Reveal
Skånska Spritfabriken G-whisky.
Stout barrels. Single malt.
50.1%
https://spritfabriken.com/g-whisky-stout-cask/

Personal note: Well shit.. how the fuck was I supposed to guess that one… 😀 I have to hand it to them tho, now that I’ve done the reveal I really understand the stout casks! I’m also impressed by how little alcohol it tastes at ABV 50%!

Stauning Rye Whisky

Advent day 14

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose Sidenote: I’m a little bit stuffy tonight but I’ll push through.
Arrak with hints of honey and spices. I’m also getting fruit, maybe pear. A pleasant nose while not particularly enticing or powerful.
Score: 21

Palate
Sweet fruity pears coated with honey. Not overly complex but rather clean to the taste. A little bit of an oily velvety mouth-feel.
Score: 21

Finish
Quite a lot of burn, I expect the ABV is high on this one. Burned toast with fruity jam. Not very long finish except for the burn.
Score: 20

Body
Surprisingly light and fruity while having quite a bit of bite from the alcohol. the colour is slightly darker than freshly squeezed apple juice.
Score: 21

Total: 83

Guesses
Sherry cask single malt or if I’m feeling wild I could guess Rum cask but that’s betting against the odds.. 49%. Speyside.

Reveal
Stauning Rye (Danish whisky)
50%
https://stauningwhisky.com/products/rye-whisky

Personal note: I’ve a hard time with whisky that has this level of alcohol burn in the finish. I tend to “anticipate” it with every sip spoiling the palate part of it.

Big Peat small batch

Advent day 13

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
Oaky lightly smoky nose. Almost a bit of ashes. Some leather and cummin. I find this nose pleasant with a promise of some smoke without overpowering the senses. On second taste with a few drops of water I’m also getting hints of matured apple cider.
Score: 22

Palate
Salty and sweet caramel with some vanilla. Oak with a hint of salty seaweed. Slightly oily mouth-feel. Not as much peat as I anticipated.
Score: 23

Finish
Long lingering finish with notes of dark bitter chocolate and more peat than in the palate. The smoke protrudes on the tongue much more in the finish and is almost dominant with every breath.
Score: 23

Body
Really well balanced smoky and smooth whisky where the different notes gets to shine first being chased by an almost BBQ smoke in the finish.
Score: 23

Total: 91

Guesses
Wood finished single malt. Campbeltown or Islay. 42%.

Reveal
Big Peat small batch
46%
Islay whisky blended malt. Contains Caol Ila, Bowmore, Port Ellen & Ardbeg.
https://www.douglaslaing.com/our-whisky/remarkable-regional-malts/big-peat/

Personal note: This is the kind of whisky I’d happily pour myself a dram of any day of the week and just sit back and enjoy. Funny enough I DO have a little bit left in a bottle on my shelf!

Mosgaard PX Cask

Advent day 12

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
Complex with a lot of scents. Butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Almost like a cinnamon roll. Some nutmeg too and just spices in general. Very pleasant.
Score: 23

Palate
Sugary sweet and a lot of spices. A little bit of honey as well as coffee. Quite oily mouth-feel leaving a little bit of a membrane at the roof of the mouth.
Score: 22

Finish
Initial finish is like burnt toffee and then it evolves into a lot of coffee. Almost like the aftershock of a great espresso! I also get a sense of dark chocolate.
Score: 23

Body
Spicy with a lot of warmth and almost no peat.
Score: 22

Total: 90

Guesses
Sherry casks finished in rum casks or possibly oloroso. 46%. Could be a lowland single malt or maybe one from netherlands.

Reveal
Mosgaard PX Cask
ABV 46.3%
Link: https://mosgaardwhisky.dk/collections/single-malts/products/whisky-batch-6-pedro-ximenez-cask

Personal note: Wowsa! My first ever Danish whisky and it was great! Going to have to get myself a bottle some time.

Yamazakura Blended

Advent day 11

These reviews are the first ones I attempt and are part of the advent calendar me and my good friend Jim made for each other. These 24 whiskies I’m trying will serve as a “bootcamp” for getting me started on reviewing my whisky. As such I hope the reviews will improve over time. To clarify the process; this is a blind tasting and the post title and category is set after the reveal.


Nose
Pretty weak nose. There’s definitely some smoke and hints of ocean. having let it breathe a while I’m getting green apples and acetone.
Score: 19

Palate
Following the nose the palate is also fairly weak but at the same time smooth. I’m getting a bit of white pepper towards the end. Not sure what else I’m tasting, there’s nothing really sticking out for me. The mouth-feel is a little bit oily.
Score: 19

Finish
Some leather and the salt comes back. Green spruce or possibly juniper berries.
Score: 19

Body
Pretty weak whisky (unless my tastebuds and nose are having an off day). Feels incomplete and immature.
Score: 19

Total: 76

Guesses
Virgin oak cask maybe? I have to guess that this is a young Swedish whisky or maybe Japanese. 44%. Blended malt.

Reveal
Yamazakura Blended
ABV 40%
Link: https://www.tokinosakagura.com/product/yamazakura-fine-blended-whisky/

Personal note: Japanese whisky really has highs and lows in my book. Nikka Coffey Malt is one of my personal favorites. This however clearly was not.