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Macbeth Act Two: Ben Nevis, Clynelish, Highland Park…
I'm sure you remember the prestigious Macbeth project, a Shakespeare play translated into whisky by Livingstone Rare and Elixir Distillers. For more background information, check our article on Macbeth: Act One.There are 42 whiskies in six acts, and some time ago Act Two was released, containing eight new bottles. Six of them will be reviewed today.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured (2026)
Maury is one of the AOCs for fortified wines (Vin Doux Naturel) in the Rousillon area, near Perpignan in France. It is a fairly small zone (just four communes), even if you add the bigger neighbours Rivesaltes and Banyuls it is a limited production.Most Maury is sweet but it can also be dry, and it can be made of white or red grapes, mostly grenache, macabeu and muscat. The wines are aged in barriques, large foudres or - more typically - in glass demi-johns exposed to direct sunlight. This gives the wine a flavour profile with the sweetness of Port but also the oxidative rancio character of Madeira for instance.Some of the best known producers like Mas Amiel, which I visited a couple of years ago, have vineyards in several AOCs so they can offer several denominations.I don't think I've ever had a whisky matured in Maury casks, so here's a first. Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured was a full term maturation, not merely a finish. A set of 19 Maury butts from 2021 were vatted for this release,
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Cognac Delamain 1985 (Malternative Belgium)
From our friends in Hasselt comes this new Delamain cognac called 'Les Tarins Verts'. They're developing a very interesting series of expressions from this house, exquisitely initiated at their Delamain dinner. Today Malternative Belgium presents a new release, a 1985 Vintage no less.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Benriach 1996 / Glen Keith 1993 (Whisky Dreamers)
The Whisky Dreamers keep a steady pace. In September we heard of them for the first time and now they already have a third batch of whiskies. Always from the most exclusive corners of the Malts of Scotland warehouse. Currently on offer: Glen Keith 1993 and Benriach 1996. Glen Keith 32 yo 1993 (44,6%, Malts of Scotland 'Rare Casks' for Whisky Dreamers 2026, bourbon barrel, 158 btl.) Nose: a very fine fruitbomb, full of peaches, nectarines, gooseberries and green mango. A lot of honey and warm waxy notes, along with some honeysuckle and vanilla cake. Almond oil. Over time it also shows a grassier note and mild white blossoms, adding a sense of vinho verde to it. Mouth: even better than expected. Totally exuberant fruits, Bushmills style. We have pineapple, mango, papaya and hints of lime juice. Very juicy, who dropped the vitamin tablet? Later also creamy vanilla and a drop of calvados, as well as greener notes like mint leaves and eucalyptus. Finish: quite long, now getting citrus
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Ben Nevis, Benriach, Tullibardine, Balmenach (Maltbarn)
The Limburg festival is coming up. Since some people are asking me about it: yes, I will be there on Saturday. Don't hestitate to come over and say hello. Maltbarn will present a series of new releases in Limburg, six if I'm not mistaken. We've had a sneak peak so here are our first thoughts on the Ben Nevis 1996, Benriach 1995, Balmenach 2002 and Tullibardine 1993. Most of these are names and vintages that we've seen before, perhaps split casks. Ben Nevis 29 yo 1996 (47,6%, Maltbarn 2026, bourbon cask, 152 btl.) Nose: bingo. A very waxy profile, quite sophisticated. Ripe pears, some quinces and hay. But really it is mostly about vegetal oils, some rubbed lemon skins and green leaves, along with subtle drops of menthol and whiffs of wool and grist. High complexity, but no fruit overload yet. Mouth: still not bursting with fruits - mostly about the sweetish oiliness again. Beeswax, paraffin and pollen, mixed with chalk. Mid-palate some mango and peach comes out, with candied lemon
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Savanna + RumX 17 Years – Grand Arôme
RumX recently released a bottling of Savanna rum . It is a Grand Arôme from the Savalle column still, with 665 g/hlpa of esters. It underwent 17 years of tropical ageing on La Réunion, in an ex-cognac and ex-armagnac cask. After all these years it comes at a fierce 68.7% ABV.They announced this already as the rum of 2026 which is quite a bold claim. Of course it's a very old Savanna and it comes from a highly appreciated batch of casks, but we'll see how it performs in the glass.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Old Orkney, Old Islay, Benrinnes, Mortlach (Decadent Drinks)
Here's our timely review of some of Decadent Drinks ' releases. We start with an Old Orkney and Old Islay, from the new Island series . Then there are two Decadent Drams: a deeply sherried Benrinnes 1997 and a bourbon-influenced Mortlach 2005. Old Orkney 8 yo 2016 (47%, Decadent Drinks 2026, bourbon + sherry casks) Nose: quite a vegetal start, with musty leaves. Bay leaves and subtle mint. Later it opens up towards dried apricot and raisins, along with some vanilla and yellow apple. Some sea spray, heathery notes and lemon peels. Just a mild sooty note and black pepper in the background. Mouth: richer fruity sweetness, with more dried fruits, hints of charred pineapple and stewed apples. Now more coal smoke as well, as well as burnt herbs and a salty hint. Then honey and earthy touches. Still a lot of leafy notes too. Finish: quite long and quite savoury again, with black peppercorns, salty peat and heather.An easy-going Orkney that offers more complexity than the price would sug
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Tamdhu 21 Year Old (2025)
In August 2025 Tamdhu released its oldest whisky, the Tamdhu 21 Year Old . A coming of age release, they said. It is fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks , from both American oak and European oak. This is reflected in the Moorish design of the display box. In press releases they referred to Williams & Humbert (among other undisclosed producers) for the provenance of their casks.I'm trying the 2025 release - the next batch is expected to drop later this year. In the meantime also check my reviews of its younger brothers.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
J.J. Corry 23 Years (for Whiskybase)
J.J. Corry is a brand of Irish whiskey founded in 2015 by Louise McGuane. They are reviving the historical practice of whiskey bonding in Ireland, sourcing spirit from multiple distilleries. Maturation and blending takes place at their Atlantic rackhouse at Cooraclare Farm.They have a couple of ongoing expressions like The Gael (malt+grain) and The Hanson (grain), but today we're looking at a 23 year old single cask whiskey . It is bottled exclusively for Whiskybase.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Armagnac Hontambère 2012 / Pouchégu 1998
The latest armagnacs from Hontambère / Rac Spirits arrived. The first one is their own production, a Hontambère 2012 . This is 100% Folle Blanche, matured in a dry cellar for 14 years. We already tried 2013 before.Next up is one of the Pouchégu casks, this time a 1998. Check some of their previous releases . Armagnac Hontambère 14 yo 2012 (50,6%, OB 2026, cask H16, 400 btl.) Nose: a nice combination of citrus notes, eau-de-vie from mirabelles, a touch of greens and then also nougat and walnuts. Then also marmalade, hints of heather and a bit of white pepper. Mouth: apples aplenty (fresh and cider apples), with grapes, berries and some tannic / peppery power. A bit of an eau-de-vie style. There's some rustic character, but also brightness and a nice juicy edge. Mid-palate I'm getting a toffee note and light vanilla, which evolves towards herbs and liquorice, with a pleasant bitter citrus edge. Finish: medium length, oak spice comes forward, a little verbena and liquorice.I believe
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Old School Single Malt 50 Years (Signatory Vintage)
While officially undisclosed, this Old School Single Malt is probably from Bunnahabhain. Signatory Vintage released three or four already in a few months time, all sister casks. Indeed Bunnahabhain is probably one of the only coastal distilleries of which there are enough casks left of this age (especially 1973-1975), and we'll see whether it fits the profile. Old School Single Malt 'Coastal Edition' 50 yo (43,1%, Signatory Vintage 2025, Batch #3, Oloroso sherry butt, 672 btl.) Nose: pretty great. There's a fresh breeze of eucalyptus and pine forest, on top of the polished furniture notes, leather and mild pecans. Underneath there is some roundness of marzipan and vanilla, along with salted caramel. Then a nice layer of dried apricots and candied oranges. Also raisins, subtle hints of red berries and indeed a coastal note. Complex. Mouth: the wood left its mark, sure, but it comes with mint, candied ginger, subtle resins and plenty of dried herbs. Not too drying actually, it bala
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Torabhaig 2018 Scottish oak (The Whisky Exchange)
Scottish oak is very porous and notoriously hard to work with, which is one of the reasons why distillers often rely on American or European oak. We're not seeing these Scottish oak finishes often - the GlenAllachie 8 yo is the only one I can remember. Early 2026 The Whisky Exchange selected a cask of Torabhaig that was finished in Scottish Oak . Torabhaig 7 yo 2018 (58,7%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2025, Scottish oak cask #2829, 251 btl.) Nose: a very deep smokiness that reminds me of Thy's beechwood . Warm, dark sooty notes combined with aniseed and mintiness. Then bacon over a wood fire, damp leaves, hints of green apples, cinnamon pastry and beautiful resinous notes. Some pine needles, a subtle floral touch and old leather as well. Really nice. Mouth: now the oak becomes a little sharper and a little plankish, even though it has much of the same qualities. Dark, brooding smoke with an underpinning of fresh tar, along with peppermint, wholegrain bread and sweetened black tea.
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Port Askaig 8 Years / 15 Years / 17 Years / 25 Years
Port Askaig is the well-known brand of Islay whiskies from Elixir Distillers . Launched in 2009 , we've had a lot of expressions over the years from 8 year-olds up to 45 year-olds. Today we're revisiting a few of them, and we include a 15 Year Old and 25 Year Old that we hadn't seen before.Remember all of these are single malt whiskies . Caol Ila is often part of the line-up, but also others. Port Askaig 8 yo (45,8%, Elixir Distillers +/- 2025) Nose: a slightly funky, vegetal nose. A lot of cabbage and sauerkraut, along with apple cider and hints of new rubber wellies. Then some seaweed butter, lemon rinds and a slightly mezcal-like smokiness. Hints of yeasty dough in the distance. Mouth: rather thick, with a nice balance of apple sweetness, some sourness, peppery heat and lifting coastal notes. Plenty of vegetal oils and cold ashes. Heather and brine, a touch of ginger, along with lemon juice and hints of oysters. Finish: good length, with some toffee sweetness shining through,
fromWhiskyNotes - news
Kanpaikai & Antelope: Bunnahabhain, Mortlach, Springbank…
The Antelope (Macao) and Kanpaikai (Japan) are good friends. A lot of their bottlings are shared. They have good taste, both in selecting whisky and designing labels - I love the Japanese influence.I already tried some of their joint bottlings while I visited WhiskyShine in Macau . Today we're looking at four recent releases from Bunnahabhain, Mortlach, an undisclosed Skye distillery and Springbank. Impressive. Bunnahabhain 45 yo 1979 (46,8%, Kanpaikai & The Antelope 2025, refill sherry butt #8056, 222 btl.) Nose: a lovely old style, the sherry is not intrusive at all. Full of tobacco, old polished wood and worn leather, cardemom and subtle whiffs of broth. The savoury note is balanced by flashes of fruits like dried berries and apricots. Then cigar boxes, elegant herbs and a wee hint of smoke. Mouth: just as nice. Dried herbs, more cigar boxes and leather, along with oranges and raisins. Walnuts, drops of Chartreuse, some mossy hints and Darjeeling. A light smokiness again, but
fromWhiskyNotes