I’ve liked the Tomatin whiskies I’ve been able to try (not many though). Unfortunately, I can’t find any of this 21 in the Philippines or nearby.
These two I’ve had recently I also found quite interesting:
At a local price equivalent to around $233, I’ve ordered a bottle.
This, at just a shade under $580, I’m still thinking about. It’s good; but, at that price, I’m not sure it’s worth it to me.
Interesting comment here and good for you given that the 18yo is four times the price of the 12yo.
Yes all sold out here, teh 40 yo is available but that’s beyong my pay grade. Only paid $A225 for the 21yo and that’s a screaming buy!!
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I’ve had some really old whiskies and cognacs from my father’s collection, some currently priced at around and over $10k/bottle (he got them many, many years ago - he’d not pay those amounts for any kind of booze); and, most of them, like the Yamazaki 18, I find already too mellow (and lack the bite I prefer) for long sessions. More suited as digestifs after big meals for me.
Yes it’s a fair point, some of the older ones I find a bit dried out and less interesting and vibrant.
For example in the Glenfarclas range that I know pretty well as they are my go to for refined style of malt, I find the sweet spot is the 21yo, preferring it to the older bottlings.
Don’t know if these guys ship to the Philippines, but they have a very good range and direct import quite a few so prices are pretty good in the main.
Don;t know the two whskies above, but love that decanter of the Timontoul.
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Thanks! Will have my 2nd son (who is in Melbourne taking his MBA at MBS) check it out.
This excellent single cask is now gone. Sad day. Whoever selected this for TJs knew what they were doing.
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The ‘11 bottling? A great one. RIP
Hmmmmm, not sure. Bottle is at the local recyling center by now. It could have been the '11, but may have been the '13; I’m having a hard time remembering the code on the back of the front label at the moment.
I had a 12 year Loch Lomond while cruising Loch Lomond and eating shortbread crossing the lowland/highland divide. A fine scotch with a bright orange marmalade note dominating the nose and palate, with a base of golden treacle and yellow sultanas, hint of iodine/smoke residue. Pretty good drinker level scotch.
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Hell’s yeah! Last I was in Scotland was last year and that single sentence made me what to go back. 
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I’`m pretty sure I posted about Antony McCallum’s whiskies around here (most notably an all Scotch dinner before Christmas). Anyhow, this is the 2023 selection from my buddy Ludwig from Antony’s casks. Caol Ila, 7 years, Bourbon finish, unfiltered and unchilled, single cask, 60 bottles only. I have number 56 (all my bottles from Ludwig’s selections are number 56 for a reason I will only reveal during an offline if you offer me a glass of anything).
This is a pretty great glass of peated Whisky. Almost no peat nor smoke on the nose but it shows up on the palate and sticks to the tongue and throat providing an all day long finish. Slight pepper, some fruit notes that border poached pears and just the right amount of heat on the finish. Very nice Scotch.
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Fun stuff!!! Does you buddy somehow buy quarter casks from distilleries? That’s what would yield about 60 bottles.
My buddy Ludwig, somm and wine/whisky shop owner, buys from Antony who buys from distilleries all around Scotland. The guy is a master blender and is known well enough to be able to get stuff from distilleries that normally don’t sell anything out. He then decides if and how he blends, what cask to finish them in, etc. Amazing guy to talk to and learn from this Antony McCallum.
House of McCallum
Every year, my buddy Ludwig goes to Scotland to meet with Antony and taste through whatever he’s got that year. He selects a cask (insert size here) and gets exclusivity on it. He numbers the bottles, sells them to his private audience and holds a dinner/tasting where he releases the bottles. Considering where I live, it’s just amazing that I can be a part of something this fun whisky wise.
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Sounds like tons of fun! But I’m still confused how a single cask bottling is yielding only 60 bottles. Given that quantity, I would guess your buddy, Ludwig, is either buying quarter casks from Antony, or is going-in on a cask with someone(s) else from Antony. Given that you said Ludwig “gets exclusivity on it” (i.e.: the cask he buys from Antony), I have to assume Ludwig is buying quarter casks from Antony. That having been said/explained, I hate assumptions, hence my question.
Yep, it would have to be quarter cask on this one which would also make sense with the bourbon finish as it’s a US size.
I’ll ask the man and post back.
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We’ve shared casks with Binny’s, Murray McDavid, and the Whisky Shop. Only our bottles had our name and artwork, while the others didn’t.
Our first bottling was a Murray McDavid 32yo Springbank. Our group purchased 72 bottles, Murray McDavid bottled the rest under its own label. As first time amateurs, it took us forever to get our label approved by the then Bureau of ATF. As a result, Murray McDavid dumped its half and bottled as 31yo, while ours was 32yo. Same whisky, same cask, same bottler, bottled a few months apart. They are indistinguishable when tasted together.
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