By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Kilbeggan is something of an oddball, not just among Irish distilleries, but even in the larger picture of world distilleries. Restored in 2010 and boasting the oldest working still set in Ireland, most of what sports the Kilbeggan name isn’t actually made there. If you buy a bottle of regular Kilbeggan, for example, only some ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- At an early stage this year, Woodford Reserve released a third round of its whiskey at batch proof as part of its annual Master’s Collection. So, doing a batch proof release is now an annual, limited edition thing and part of the continuing Master’s Collection. In all respects except the proof statement and the bottle ...

For it’s 2020 seasonal special release, Sweden’s Mackmyra Distillery has turned to a truly unorthodox source of cask stock, even in this age of innovation in whisky-making. Mackmyra Grönt te (Green Tea) is a single malt whisky finished in casks steeped with a blend of elegant Japanese green tea leaves. “It’s been a real pleasure to be able to put ...

By Richard Thomas In the last few years, the release calendar for hot ticket, limited edition American whiskeys has become something of a predictable pattern. Mid-to-late autumn is the peak period, and has been for much of the Bourbon Boom. Some other releases can be counted upon later in December, to coincide with Christmas shopping.  That is followed by the ...

Lambay Irish Whiskey has started a limited private barrel program, which will release 20 casks of Irish single malt at cask strength. The malt in question has been finished in cognac casks from Maison Camus, and laid up in the Lambay warehouse on their namesake Irish island for secondary maturation. Thus, the finish is both in cognac wood and under ...