March 2026 - part 1 <--- March 2026 - part 2 ---> Current entries


March 18, 2026

Let’s soar high for the love of Talisker

I know, another slightly daft headline. In any case, nothing really new from the officials in the pipeline at WF Towers, but there are quite a few independent bottlings we’re looking forward to tasting. We’ll revisit the official 10-year-old from a very recent batch, much talked about at the moment, next time.

Uma Thurman in Kill Bill vol.1 (Paramount)

Talisker 1940 (70° proof, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, Rare Old Liqueur, sherry, mid/late 1950s)

Some amusing mentions on the label, such as ‘It’s a Fine Speerit The Talisker’ and ‘There’s No A Petter Made’. This is not Bolognese dialect, we have checked. Let us be frank, these are controversial bottles, with levels often very high and glass often immaculate, yet labels invariably rather worn. It seems there have been several versions, which we readily find at very reputable auction houses, that latter point being rather reassuring. 40%/70°proof etc. But the proof is in the pudding, I mean, in the glass… Colour: amber. Nose: pretty much zero doubt, unless someone slightly unhinged has entirely re-dressed a very old Talisker from G&M or BB&R, which would make little sense. In short, it is very much on an old heap of coal at the back of a slightly damp cellar, with cigar ashes, saltpetre, soot, old liqueurs made from buds, chiefly fir, and bitter cocoa from the sherry. Not a gram of sweetness, everything is dry as a truncheon blow. We rather like this. Let us see whether the palate is a little tired, which, all things considered, would almost be good news. You see what we mean. Mouth: we find the bitterness again, the coal-like side, but also those old fir liqueurs, this time joined by bitter orange. The coastal side is well present too this time, with salt but also Talisker’s proverbial black pepper. If this is not old Talisker, it is devilishly well imitated. Finish: not very long, of course, but the cigar ashes return, ashes that we might have extinguished by dousing them with a little seawater, then with gentian eau-de-vie, what an idea. Comments: this is Talisker already made under the D.C.L. regime and after the end of triple distillation, yet before the more significant renovations of the distillery. What is rather more troubling is that I don’t think we have ever seen another Talisker 1940, have you? Was this the only one ever released?
SGP:363 - 90 points.

It's to be noted that as of today, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, known as Wolves and now Marston's, is/was the UK’s largest regional brewer and pub operator. Indeed, like many UK brewers, it also operates its own distribution network, with over 1,600 managed and tenanted pubs. One can assume that this Talisker was intended to supply the company’s pubs at the time, which may explain why a fair number of bottles can be found on the market. The brewery division was recently acquired by Carlsberg.

Just another heads-up: I’ve seen some well-meaning people surprised to come across ‘proof’-labelled versions with Italian tax seals on the necks. It’s worth knowing that some Italian merchants and collectors were required by customs to apply these seals, often long after they had acquired the bottles. Mystery solved.

Right then, a bit of kerosene…

Talisker 15 yo 1979/1994 (63.2%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection)

Of course, this baby was ‘Matured in an Oak Cask’. We know, a running gag worth two pennies, yet it still makes us chuckle every time. Colour: white wine. Nose: not the first Talisker 1979 from Cadenhead that we have tasted, but here it is almost a little too strong, with lemon and cologne water leading the charge, rather in the style of a white agricole rum at 65% vol, along with seawater. With water: well, it does not change much, even at around 45% vol, it even drifts slightly towards medicinal alcohol, with rather light smoke, with a few oysters, nonetheless. Mouth (neat): it lands two slaps straight away. And amusingly, we find exactly the same composition as on the nose before reduction, lemon, cologne water and seawater, plus white rum. With water: it is better, much better, both fat and taut at once, with chlorophyll and salt, as well as shellfish, not only oysters, clams, winkles... On the other hand, as often with these vintages, the smoke is not particularly massive, yet the cold ashes are very much present. Finish: long, very maritime, with oysters returning drenched in lemon juice. Comments: perhaps not the greatest, yet still magnificent. Ah, the 1979 from The Bottlers!
SGP:364 - 89 points.

I think we’ll push it a bit further…

Talisker 18 yo 1979/1997 (63.2%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection)

In your view, in what kind of cask was this baby raised? Bravo! Colour: pale gold. Nose: more on waxed cardboard and paraffin, the daily paper just delivered, read at 6 in the morning with a proper coffee, slag, coal, seaweed, a few autumn leaves, and not that much alcohol, all things considered. With water: magnificent, this impression of grapefruit stored in a kiln for two or three weeks, with a splendid oiliness on the nose. Mouth (neat): not two slaps, a proper uppercut, and an unbelievable quantity of salt and pepper, followed by tar. With water: now it really speaks, sharp as a Toledo blade, fir liqueurs and other resinous notes are back, seawater is immense, and of course the pepper too. This peppery side seems less present in more recent Taliskers, but we shall check that in a few minutes, happy to oblige. Finish: very long, almost rugged, with slightly drying ashes now to the fore, a certain harshness, let us say, it loses one or two points at this stage, yet it remains high. Despite touches of salted limoncello that arrive right at the end. Comments: no, it is a formidable bottle, just a bit of a bruiser, like almost the entirety of this range at that time (1990s).
SGP:364 - 90 points.

A Skye Whisky 22 yo 2003/2026 (47.7%, Kanpaikai & The Antelope, refill sherry cask, cask #T035)

This cannot yet be Torabhaig, can it. Colour: full gold. Nose: cough syrup for giants, or for lion-horses, according to the label. In short, it is massively concentrated on eucalyptus and fir buds, camphor, propolis, cannabis resin, then earth and salted liquorice. This salmiak-resin side is extremely spectacular and ultra-concentrated. Small touches of green tea in the background, perhaps to soothe things a little. Mouth: what we sometimes call a ‘Kill Bill’ palate, you know, Uma Thurman with her Japanese sword, yet one is quickly tended to with eucalyptus preparations, tincture of iodine, mercurochrome, then that salted limoncello side we have, I believe, already mentioned above. A formidable palate, with rather rare power despite the degrees being, all things considered, fairly moderate. Finish: long, resinous, peppery (there), lemony, as saline as can be, and above all it keeps invading your palate for at least five minutes, come on, ten, no, fifteen. Comments: it is amusing, of course very different, while it rather makes us think of Hampden, we swear.
SGP:465 - 91 points.

Talisker 12 yo 2011/2024 (48.4%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, Fanatical about Flavour, 150 bottles)

Talisker 12 yo 2011/2024 (48.4%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, Fanatical about Flavour, L19637, 150 bottles)

A bottle not easy to come by, yet these Taliskers by DL are always spot on, even their youngest versions, even at 5 or 6 years of age. Colour: pale white wine. Nose: we love this, not a microgram of oak, only lemon, green apples, ashes, clay and tincture of iodine. Mouth: that ‘blade’ sensation is very much present here, it slices you into two perfectly equal halves, as we sometimes say, and it is essentially seawater mixed with lime and conifer ashes. Just avoid going the wrong way, it could quite wreck your throat, we have just tried. Finish: long, taut as a competition bow, and absolutely magnificent. Comments: a seminal malt, let us say. It reminds us somewhat of the greatest batches of the official 10-year-old. A sublime little bottle, but do try to find it, believe us, we have failed.
SGP:466 - 91 points.

It’s time to move on to the last one, six is a nice number.

Talisker 12 yo 2011/2024 (56.7%, Harmony Whisky x Lucky Choice, Refill Hogshead, cask #80018686, 108 bottles)

A wee bottling for China. Our Chinese friends are extremely sharp when it comes to spirits, it has to be said, and we shall in fact try to organise a session of great baijiu one of these days. Colour: gold. Nose: somewhat in the vein of the previous DL, yet with a layer of vanilla, mandarin liqueur and beeswax, and it works beautifully. With water: the marriage is perfect, there are even wafts of citrus soap as one might encounter in five-star hotels around the globe. Mouth (neat): superb, fatter than the DL OP FAF, waxier, almost thicker, rootier as well, yet the rest remains similar, oysters, seawater, ashes, fir buds. With water: it is the medicinal side that comes through, we are quite sure this would cure absolutely everything. Finish: very long, on propolis, salt, peppermint and bitter lemons. It is at this stage that we feel like mentioning Uma Thurman once again. Comments: yet another bottle for the FAT (Federation of Aficionados of Talisker). Well, we do not believe such a thing truly exists, it is not that easy to find enough different Taliskers these days to sustain such a distinguished federation.
SGP:566 - 91 points.

Well, I do think we flew very high today. Taking a small dram of the Wolverhampton & Dudley again to round things off, you realise the distillate hasn’t changed all that much over seventy years, despite the successive rebuilds and expansions of the famous distillery. And above all, that it was very probably authentic, given how these six little beauties conversed with one another without the slightest dissonance or discord.

(Thanks a bunch, Franco, KC and Patrick)

Check the index of all Talisker we've tasted


March 17, 2026

Another trio from Springbank

You know, it had been weeks since we last tasted any Springbank! A short verticale 2001 – 1999 – 1993, does that suit you?

(Advertising poster, USA, circa 1950. It's real, no AI slop.)

Springbank 23 yo 2001/2024 (53.9, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, 1st fill sherry butt, 66 bottles)

Springbank 23 yo 2001/2024 (53.9%, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, 1st fill sherry butt, 66 bottles)

But where have the fish of Samoa gone? We had eventually grown rather fond of them… But you will say that the Venezuelans could certainly do with some support these days, even their shellfish… Colour: dark amber. Nose: absolutely massive sulphur, yet very, very strangely it has become rather pleasant, in any case extremely spectacular. One almost feels as though we had put our head inside an old factory chimney while sniffing improbable medicinal embrocations at the same time, before ending on a kiln-like side that rather inevitably makes us think of Longrow. Also cooked Brussels sprouts and artichokes… With water: the water softens it and allows dried and candied fruits to emerge. Hurrah. Mouth (neat): still as bizarre, still as entertaining. Enormous amounts of pepper, ashes, toothpaste, digestive herbal concoctions based on fumitory and all manner of increasingly peculiar roots… With water: once again the water smooths the whole and lets the fruits appear, but also plenty of roots and earthy notes here. Finish: very long, with rather dominant pepper and liquorice wood. Campari, gin and orange in the aftertaste. Comments: but how on earth to score this!? We shall adopt the method ‘do we like it or not’. We love it, doctor, is that serious?
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Springbank 25 yo 1999/2024 (54,2%, Lucky Choice & Bar Code Melbourne, refill hogshead, cask #LC369)

By a very great house, we have been able to realise that these past months. Colour: full amber. Nose: much cleaner and fruitier, you might say it could hardly have been as sulphury. Astonishingly massive amounts of raw carrots, which we absolutely adore, plus a little white radish, before figs and raisins begin to take control. Magnificent nose, though one must enjoy raw carrots. With water: camphor begins to appear. Mouth (neat): on the palate we find again a little of the sharp and peppery side of the previous one, with the fairly marked and almost salty structure typical of Springbank. Quite a lot of tobacco, leather and a motor oil side, with clay and slate. Typical. No carrots this time, I am afraid. With water: perfect now, rather combative, very typically Springbank. That sulphury, waxy, almost slightly chemical side here and there. Finish: the same. Comments: on the palate it resembles the 2001 quite a lot, on the nose not at all. The magic of Springbank…
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Springbank 31 yo 1993/2024 (44.4%, Archives, Shells from the Bay of Caracas, bourbon hogshead, 50 bottles)

As there are, or rather were, only fifty bottles, we shall attempt to break the world record for the fastest tasting note. Colour: full gold. Nose: the carrots return, along with roots, beeswax, stewed apples and quince jelly (apple quince and pear quince, 50/50). Mouth: full Springbankness. Waxes, oils, tar, carbon, candied oranges and lemons, eucalyptus, mint, and a drop of seawater. Finish: long, on lemon balm, peppermint, earth and brine. Comments: wow!
SGP:562 - 91 points.

Check the index of all Springbank we've tasted


March 16, 2026

The Time Warp Sessions,
today indie Glenglassaugh
in sherry

Glenglassaugh is another of those distilleries whose relative absence on WF we regret. We have certainly tasted close to a hundred over the years, but the pace has slowed markedly of late, even though the brand has launched official bottlings (OB) fairly recently. Well, we shall try to make an effort! Let us remember that Glenglassaugh was closed not long after the second whisky we are going to taste today, in 1986, only reopening in 2008, before passing into the expert hands of the Benriach gang in 2013. The first one we are going to taste was therefore already produced under the new regime…

Glenglassaugh 10 yo 2015/2025 (55.4%, The Whisky Exchange, The Zodiac Series: Pisces, oloroso hogshead, cask #68)

Colour: deep gold. Nose: very much on a properly dry oloroso, with shoe polish and old walnuts, even a few saline touches that could remind us of an oloroso from Sanlúcar, all of it working like clockwork for now. With water: a little chartreuse, parsley and paraffin begin to emerge. Mouth (neat): very much to our liking indeed, again on a very saline sherry, with touches of peppered little biscuits and slightly bitter dried fruits, the sort of thing we enjoy greatly, almost a small nod towards the best amaros and amari. With water: very dry, bitter, delightful if that is your sort of thing, walnuts and bitter almonds. Finish: long and very much in the continuation of the palate, walnuts and pepper. Comments: we had secretly hoped to be a little closer to the distillate, but we must admit this is a very fine sherry, so we are not entirely sure we have lost anything in the exchange.
SGP: - 87 points.

Glenglassaugh 1983/1996 (55.7%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #21.8)

A 1983 by Mo Or had been superb! (WF 90). Colour: dark red amber. Nose: splendid sherry packed with dried fruits, very much in the style of a very high-level PX. Figs and dates stuffed with marzipan are particularly prominent, beerawecka as well, and even more heaps of raisins. Grandmother’s sultanas… With water: Corinth raisins and plenty of small almost sweet herbs, such as aniseed, stevia of course, lemon balm, and even white clover flowers. Yum! Mouth (neat): perhaps a little less balanced on the palate, one almost feels like there may have been massive doses of paxarette, yet it remains superb, provided you enjoy fruitcakes and raisins. With water: pipe tobacco begins to appear, along with black pepper and dark chocolate. Finish: long, still on raisins, yet the little salty side found in the 2015 reappears here. Slightly… Comments: simply excellent old-style sherry.
SGP:651 - 89 points.

In short, if we wanted to stay close to the distillate, it’s a complete miss. On the other hand, those sherries were still very, very beautiful.

Check the index of all Glenglassaugh we've tasted


March 15, 2026

A word of caution
Let me please remind you that my humble assessments of any spirits are done from the point of view of a malt whisky enthusiast who, what's more, is aboslutely not an expert in rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, gin or any other spirits. Thank you – and peace!

Rums, rums and more rums

Another very clickbaity headline, isn’t it? But we can’t help loving that sort of thing, the kind that goes: ‘10 rums you absolutely must buy before it’s too late — the tenth will really surprise you.’ Right, we’ll try to pick them at random, but without skipping our traditional apéritif…

Beenleigh Distillery in Australia (Beenleigh)

Botran No.15 ‘Reserva Especial’ (40%, OB, Guatemala, +/-2025)

A previous ‘15’ had not been so bad back in 2017 (WF 72). Apart from that, we still like these fake numbers in huge digits that make one think of age statements without of course being any such thing. Yuck. Colour: full gold. Nose: light touches of shoe polish and metal polish at first, we rather like that, then earth and bagasse, without any extravagant molasses. A little pancake syrup, nonetheless, but it remains fairly elegant. Mouth: the palate is sweeter, yet rather without excess. The problem is that the overall lightness inevitably steers it towards coffee liqueur and caramel, without any real structure behind it. Finish: short, but with rather pleasant notes of orange liqueur. A touch of charcoal and black tea in the fleeting aftertaste. Comments: we find this perfectly decent, actually more decent than in 2017, though we are not entirely sure it was exactly the same recipe back then.
SGP:441 - 74 points.

Black Tot ‘Finest Caribbean Rum’ (46.2%, Elixir Distillers, +/-2025)

Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana and Jamaica together in concert. Bottled in Scotland, which is rather reassuring. Indeed. Colour: gold. Nose: a truly British nose for a rum, as opposed to a Spanish-style nose or a French-style nose, although there are more and more exceptions of course. In short it is lovely, with small touches of petrol (old Jaguar, ha) and engine oil (still that old Jag), but also liquorice pastries, marshmallow, fruitcake and roasted chestnuts. Perhaps a small wandering olive as well. Mouth: the same architecture, at first slightly petroly and liquoricy, but this time moving more and more towards orange liqueur and Earl Grey tea. Earl Grey, that is international, is it not. The whole is very well balanced; one senses the hand of a master blender. Finish: not that long, but the mint that comes to complement the slightly salty liquorice does a superb job. It is almost refreshing. Comments: we shall not re re re re tell what the black tot was for the British navy, shall we. A very good, easy going rum (also economically speaking).
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Belize 9 yo 2015/2025 (48%, The Rum Trail, Elixir Distillers, 2025)

I do not believe I have ever tasted a Belize that was not from Travellers, have you. Colour: gold. Nose: this is a ‘multi-column’ rum but there is still some texture, which always makes us think a little of Foursquare, though please do not hold that against it. A very pretty composition around oranges in all their forms, as zest, candied, in liqueurs. Behind that, notes of lime blossom and cigarette tobacco. As long as we can still mention that one without risking a hefty fine or worse, we may as well enjoy it, you understand. Mouth: along the same lines, with orange zests, orgeat, hazelnut syrup, very, very light petroly touches, then very, very ripe mango, which on the palate may almost be the same thing. Finish: fairly long, with the arrival of pink pepper and citrusy hops. More fresh wood and linseed oil in the aftertaste. Comments: amusingly, it is not extremely far from the fine Black Tot, yet there are no Travellers in the latter, is there.
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Foursquare 14 yo (58%, OB for Wu Dram Clan, Barbados, bourbon barrel, 2026)

This lovely little baby has just arrived at WF Towers, so let us taste it without delay. Colour: amber. Nose: cakes, macarons, brioches, nougat, butter croissants and almond croissants, plus pistachio oil and sesame oil. There is both a gentle side and a firmer side at the same time, this is typically Foursquare in our very humble opinion. With water: hay, bagasse, hazelnut cream, bergamot sweets. Mouth (neat): lively orange and small aniseed touches, the whole rather begging for the addition of water we feel. With water: it works, it moves towards herbal infusions and green tea. Finish: not excessively long, more still on herbal infusions and hay. Comments: Foursquare as a ‘single blend’, therefore column plus a little pot still, it really is the light spirit that pleases lovers of powerful spirits, there is probably some sort of magic underneath it all. Or rather, some voodoo.
SGP:451 - 90 points.

Australia 17 yo 2007/2025 (48%, The Rum Trail, Elixir Distillers, 2025)

This time we imagine it is Beenleigh, pure pot still. Besides, the label says, ‘Single Pot Still’, which ought to suggest that a single pot still was used for both the first and second run, in a necessarily very discontinuous fashion. Or am I wrong again? Colour: gold. Nose: killer. Where else will you find a combination of diesel fuel and rose water. I might almost have said it smells like a lady of questionable virtue filling up her Audi Q7, but I shall not say that (too late, S.). Add lychee, gewurztraminer, cherry juice and liquorice. We find this rather magnificent, very spectacular, and intriguing. Mouth: well, it is not that much of a surprise, we have already tasted superb Beenleighs, but still. Intensely fruity and phenolic, oranges, cranberries, olives, varnish and so on. Finish: long on similar notes, and at 17 years it is beginning to turn tertiary, with cured ham with pepper for example. Mad stuff. Comments: gentle madness. I agree, let us forget that Q7 story.
SGP:562 - 90 points.
UPDATE: A secret note from WF's own FBI (Fullproof Booze Investigation) has just informed us that Beenleigh is in fact distilled using a column-and-pot still configuration. Thanks, Steve!

Come on then, let’s head to Guyana…

Guyana 2004 (53.1%, Velier, 3,000 bottles, 2025)

This should be a blend of several marques or stills from Diamond, although we have not really dug into the literature. The ageing is entirely tropical. Colour: reddish amber. Nose: rather gentle on the nose, very much on roasted chestnuts, espresso, furniture polish, very ripe pomegranate, pecan pie. In short, any possible esters still seem to be fast asleep at this stage. With water: pecan pie drenched in wax and varnish becomes even more pronounced. Mouth (neat): it strikes the palate more firmly, which was to be expected. Coffee, varnish, mustard, black pepper, brine. With water: plenty of very ripe fruits arrive, including strawberry wine. Strawberry wine is always surprising. Finish: long, more cooked, jammier. Blackcurrant in red wine. Comments: the whole is not precise like a Swatch, but it is amusing like a Rolex. In short, a question of timing, yet a very, very fine Diamond of course.
SGP:651 - 87 points.

While we’re over there…

Diamond 23 yo 2002/2025 (58.3%, Silver Seal for LMDW, Itinéraires, Guyana)

This is Port Mourant. Ah, those old Port Mourants from Silver Seal. Colour: chardonnay. Nose: straight brine, olives, used engine oil, bitter almonds, ink and Barbour grease. It is unassailable. With water: almond milk, ink, seaweed, wood glue, a touch of acetone. It remains a Guyanese that feels a little Jamaican, if you see what we mean. Mouth (neat): superb, forthright, salty and petroly to one’s heart’s content, one might almost think of a great Alsatian riesling. Truly. With water: have they matured seawater in oak casks? It becomes increasingly bitter, yet it is a magnificent bitterness, amaro, bitters, salty tar and so on. Finish: the same. Let us keep this short. Comments: it rather crushes the 2004, but we shall leave our dear Italian friends to debate the matter among themselves… (wink).
SGP:462 - 90 points.

Next, we’re off to Jamaica, as usual…

WP 2015/2025 (56.7%, The Whisky Jury, refill barrel, cask #19, 238 bottles)

WP 2015/2025 (56.7%, The Whisky Jury, The Many Faces of Rum, refill barrel, cask #19, 238 bottles)

Wait, is that meant to be one of the many faces of rum on the label?WP does not mean WordPress in this context, does it. Nor Wolf Parade. We rather love Worthy Park, the Jamaican estery style perhaps a little more streamlined than the others. Colour: white wine. Nose: this is truly an artist’s studio, with oil paint, linseed oil, drawing gum, canvases, but also fresh putty and almond milk, balsa wood and cedar, plus our dear little olives. With water: carbon dust turned up to full blast. Mouth (neat): it is really the clarity that is impressive here. Someone might have taken grapefruits, smoked them over beechwood, then generously salted them, before marinating them in petrol. With water: it is not complicated, yet it is utterly beautiful, with the precision of a sniper (S., not the right moment). Finish: long, almost simple, almost narrow. Lovely bitters. Comments: in truth, it is almost refined, without wishing to exaggerate.
SGP:463 - 90 points.

Clarendon 1995/2025 (64.4%, Swell de Spirits, V and B, Jamaica, #4, Arcade series, 165 bottles)

The label is a little pixelated, is it not. Even more pixelated than the miserable illustrations on Whiskyfun, which says quite a lot. Colour: amber. Nose: 92 points. Incredible at this strength, on peach jam and papaya of great pedigree (eh). With water: fresh varnish, lanolin, polishes, leather wax for Rolls-Royce (you exaggerate again, S.), old library. Mouth (neat): 92 points for sure. Incredible essential oils, plant extracts, embrocations. With water: a massive pepper arrives, yet it is pepper of intercontinental quality. Pine sap. Finish: very long, superbly bitter, ending on extraordinary pepper and salt. Comments: but where did they find this mad cask. The wood is intense and immense, yet it is a woodiness that we find sublime.
SGP:572 - 92 points.

Well, we’ve ended up condemning ourselves to finishing with some Hampden, though it’s a very gentle sentence, we can all agree…

Hampden 2023/2025 ‘HLCF’ (64.6%, OB for The Whisky Exchange, ex-sherry from Fundador, cask #A3, 764 bottles)

HLCF means roughly 600 grams of esters per hectolitre of pure alcohol. The sherry side worries us a little, let us say it frankly, yet the name Fundador reassures us quite a lot, nonetheless. The number of bottles also suggests a proper butt. Colour: gold. Nose: we shall dare to say it, the sherry has very little to say here, this is pure, clear, precise and very beautiful Hampden, with sublime notes of fruit peel, mango, zests and so on. We are aware that the bottling strength is almost lethal, so… With water: unfathomable beauty, little rare fruits, precious white wines, earth and rocks. Mouth (neat): perfection in a bottle. The sherry is as anecdotal as intelligence in a speech by Pete H. With water: forget it, it is perfect. Finish: it does. Comments: sublime muck-driven rum. Between ourselves, it cannot be so easy to manage the aging of a distillate that is already perfect from the very first drops that escape the spirit still. There are very few distillates whose quality does not depend at all on the number of years in cask, yet HD is certainly one of them. We now hope for ageing in sandstone, clay, concrete or even stainless steel in the near future. Or even in polished cement finished with beeswax. Game.
SGP:563 - 92 points.

A session which, once again, reminds me a little of what used to be said about football in the 1970s: it’s a game played by two teams, and in the end the Germans win. Here, it’s always Hampden that wins in the end. Hoppla.

Check the index of all riums we've tasted

March 2026 - part 1 <--- March 2026 - part 2 ---> Current entries

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