Whisky Review 7 - Ardbeg 10

We're back on Islay and to one of the most iconic names in the whisky industry, the revered Ardbeg.

Ardbeg 10 is their entry level bottling in the range and good to see that once again it still carries an age statement (ironically the bottlings above this don't). Aged for 10 years in ex bourbon casks this is an Islay lover's dream with a lovely combination of dry peat and citrus spice for the ex bourbon maturation.

Owned by Moet Hennessey who also own the famous Glenmorangie distillery, Ardbeg is situated on the south east coast of Islay neighbouring Lagavulin and has a total production capacity of 1.3million litres of spirit a year.

Ardbeg became more and more popular but as recently as the early 1990's the distillery was mothballed due to lack of demand and cost. As wella s the Ardbeg 10 the standard range includes the Uigeadail (pronnounced oog-a-dal) and the Corryvreckan (corry-vreck-an).

Malt Music

Being from around Manchester you grow up with a certain affinity for the area's music and identity. That aside I still think this is a perfect music match for this dram and reflects the personality of both the band and the whisky at the same time. The harmonious high notes and melodic deep background work alongside each other carrying you along with it like a rolling river.

It will make you high, and it will make you low. It's non other than This is the One from The Stone Roses

Whisky Review 6 - Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

Glenfiddhich, a name that is known throughout the world.

Glenfiddich was, until recently, the world's best selling single malt whisky. A Speyside distillery that effectively started the Whisky obsession for many whisky fans and who are touted to have been the first company to actively market their single malt with target branding in the  1960's. The rest is history.

Owned by William Grant and Son who also own Balvenie and Kininvie, the 12 year old is a staple both on shop shelves and whisky cabinets from Aberdeen to Swaziland.

Malt Music

A popular Speysider of this pedigree with it's light and fruity notes matches perfectly with a good upbeat remix from 2 pedigree artists. It's fruity all right, it's Tutti Frutti by New Order (Hot Chip Remix)!

Whisky Review 5 - Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley

The concept of Octomore is a simple one... To create a whisky using the most heavily peated malted barley imaginable. This Octomore in fact contained malt peated to a staggering  258ppm (or parts per million to you and me). Just to put this into perspective, Laphroaig 10 is peated to around 50ppm, and no I'm not missing any numbers there.

The brain child of industry legend Jim McEwan, Octomore is produced and distilled at Bruichladdich on the Isle of Islay an area renowned for it's big hitting peated spirit.

Another aspect that makes this particular bottle that little bit more special is that the barley used was grown and then distilled on Islay so this really is a Islay thoroughbred.

Malt Music

For me what works alongside this big, bold and yet tuneful Islay malt is something a bit different. The Talking Fish from Ibibio Sound Machine, a big hitting and fast paced Afro Beat 8 piece band from London. Singer Eno Williams concentrates lyrical content around Southern Nigerian folk stories which for me adds to this with Bruichladdich's approach to origin and belonging. Give it a try!

Whisky Review 4 - Laphroaig 18 Year Old

I was fortunate enough to be given this sample of the Laphroaig 18 year old by a work colleague recently.

Laphroaig is arguably one of -if not the most popular of Islay's distilleries with over 80,000 cases of their whisky sold each year.

The 18 is a very fine dram indeed, it's go big or go home time. Chock full of Laphroaig and Islay character whilst retaining a refined and elegant profile!

Malt Music

Its light yet rich, it's cloying yet floral... It's all manner of things. For me the perfect musical accompaniment to this dram is Jose Gonzalez with Heartbeats

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Whisky Review 3 Benromach 30 Year Old

For the final review in the Benromach miniseries I take a look at the Benromach 30 Year Old.

Matured for 30 Years in a mixture of refill and first fill sherry casks this is a dram that demands time and attentions, and quite rightly so,

The whisky was distilled during the ownership of United Distillers (which in time formed Diageo) prior to Gordon and MacPhail's purchase of the distillery in 1993.

Malt Music

This whisky makes you want to work your way deeper into your chair and turn down the lights. What music could do this better then Mogwai's 'Happy Face' from the Album Les Revenants

Whisky Review 2 - Benromach 10 and Benromach 10 100 Proof

Sometimes just one whisky simply won't do and in this review I look at both the Benromach 10 and also their 57% release the 10 100 Proof.

Both are great examples of a pre 1960's Speyside profile. Both have the same cask make up and are non chill filtered and sport their natural colour.. just as the Whisky Gods intended.

I hope you enjoy this and in my next review I look at the Benromach 30 Year Old to finish off the Benromach mini series.

Malt Music

My chosen malt music for these two fine drams is a bit of a curve ball but one to check out - Ain't No Grave from Crooked Still

Cheers!

Whisky Review 1: Benromach 5 Year Old

Hi everyone,

Thanks for coming along and watching this video. This is the first review of the recently reformed Malt Box blog so I hope you enjoy it.

The Benromach 5yo from Speyside's smallest distillery is widely available online at specialist retailers and many local wine and spirit merchants who have Gordon & MacPhail stock and makes for a great mid week sipper.

Malt Music:

With this young and honest whisky I can see no better song to accompany this dram than Nirvana's Come as You Are (Unplugged). A perfect accompaniment to this fine and honest whisky.

Cheers

Malt Box Returns

It's back!

The Malt Box Vlog is back up and running after nearly 3 years and this time we're here to stay!

Every Thursday you'll have a new Whisky Vlog review covering whiskies from across the globe as I work my way not only through my own shelves but through suggestions that you yourselves put forwards!

I'm very excited to be breathing new life into this and I'm looking forward to getting back out there into the Whiskyverse.

The first review will be posted this Thursday (15th October) with the first 3 reviews covering part of the Benromach range with the first video covering the recently released and new distillery entry level 5 year old.

You'll hear more closer to Thursday but until then check out the twitter page @MaltBox or drop an email to Maltbox(at)gmail.com.

Thanks!

Andy