November 2022 Digest

November 30, 2022 Whiskery Turnip

Welcome to a brief wrap-up of reviews from November 2022! Life has been a whirlwind of grading, spring preparations, and taking care of our herd of cats while my wife was away on business and family travel. There were no over-aching themes to the malts reviewed this month as I haphazardly jumped from region to region and style to style.

Early in the month, I departed from scotch to review a trio of Irish whiskies. Irish whiskey was where I got my first taste of what good whisky could be. My preference has drifted in a different direction in the years since. Still, it is always great to return and, in this instance, sit with a few whiskies that I was always curious to try.

Beyond the Irish detour, I took three weeks off from drinking scotch this month. I used that time to reset my palate and clear out at least a portion of my whisky review queue— those reviews I had not gotten around to reviewing or editing previously. I did dabble in a bit of sake tasting during those weeks away, and while I am not planning to add another spirit to this website, if I ever do, it would undoubtedly be sake.

It was a busy month, but I still found time to relax with some whisky! Let us begin with a few numbers.

21 reviews
6.19 average score
15.9 Years average age

Here are a few standouts from the pack:

Best of the Month & Surprise of the Month

By rating alone, the best of the month was clearly Dramfool’s Bruichladdich 11 Year. This lovely unpeated Bruichladdich malt spent all 11 years in a Rivesaltes Barrique. The resulting whisky was unctuous and thick, simultaneously savory and sweet, with gorgeous notions of chili-infused chocolate and cream.

I am giving this bottle both Best and Surprise as I was not expecting to like this malt half as much as I did. I have not typically been a fan of Bruichladdich outside of their peated malts, and I have never been an enormous enthusiast for Rivesaltes maturations. I picked up the bottle with the idea of splitting it with friends and keeping a few ounces to at least taste it. When I finally got around to tasting it, I was bewildered but glad I shared it so others could enjoy it just as much as I did.

An honorable mention for best of the month goes out to the Ledaig 11 Year from Cadenhead. This bottle was a very close second, but that could be true of just about every Ledaig. There are few distilleries I find so consistently excellent.

Value of the Month

There was no competition for this— how in the world did K&L manage to sell this Caol Ila 8 Year from Thompson Brothers at only $50? Not only was the price unbelievable, but the whisky was also fantastic with a beautiful maritime and herbal profile. I expect from anyone else, this same bottle would easily have sold at twice the price.

A full list of reviews can be found below:

Nov. 1 Aberlour 25 Year (1994), Douglas Laing XOP

Nov. 3 BenRiach 8 Year (2012), Adelphi

Nov. 5 Glenrothes 25 Year (1980), Scott's Selection

Nov. 6 Knappogue Castle 12 & 14 Year, Three Swallows

Nov. 8 Caol Ila 8 Year (2013), Thompson Brothers

Nov. 10 Glen Scotia 14 Year (c. 1990s)

Nov. 11 Bruichladdich 11 Year (2010), Dramfool

Nov. 12 Miltonduff 26 Year (1980), AD Rattray

Nov. 13 Laphroaig 15 Year (2006), The Whisky Barrel “It’s Been a Long Way”

Nov. 15 Glenturret 12 Year, 2020 Maiden Release

Nov. 17 Glenfarclas 10 Year (2008) SMWS 1.218 “Dessert triptych hessian meringue”