• Ever had a random dram that was good, but that you just knew nothing about? Enter: “Braymoray” from Cleghorn Distillers. Yeah, nah I hadn’t heard of them either. 😂. I spotted this on the shelf of a bar in Japan a few years ago. Not a whisky bar, but a world-class cocktail bar - Lamp Bar in Nara. I use the phrase “world class” literally, as the owner and bartender Michito Kaneko won Diageo’s World Class competition in 2015! Anyway, we’d had a few of Kaneko-san’s brilliant cocktails and I decided it was time for a dram (before we moved onto the more dedicated whisky bar “Bar Dalwhinnie”). I spotted this on the shelf, unopened, and naturally enquired. A dark (naturally-coloured) 1975 vintage 20yo Speyside single malt. Who was I to say no!? I was told it was “very expensive”, but it turns out that term is relative, as it was (from memory) about $27AUD, or ~ $20USD) for a dram. in my books, a bargain for a 20yo single cask 1975 cask strength Speysider! There was no detail about the distillery (and WhiskyBase seems to have very little detail - it seems to primarily be a Japanese release), but I've seen a blog suggesting Glenrothes. I can believe it. Whatever it was, it was excellent. Walnuts, orchard fruits, super creamy yet super fruity, candied almonds, sultanas, and brazil nuts. Clean and delicious. Have you ever taken a chance on a random dram? Did it pay off? Let us know!
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    Ever had a random dram that was good, but that you just knew nothing about? Enter: “Braymoray” from Cleghorn Distillers. Yeah, nah I hadn’t heard of them either. 😂. I spotted this on the shelf of a bar in Japan a few years ago. Not a whisky bar, but a world-class cocktail bar - Lamp Bar in Nara. I use the phrase “world class” literally, as the owner and bartender Michito Kaneko won Diageo’s World Class competition in 2015! Anyway, we’d had a few of Kaneko-san’s brilliant cocktails and I decided it was time for a dram (before we moved onto the more dedicated whisky bar “Bar Dalwhinnie”). I spotted this on the shelf, unopened, and naturally enquired. A dark (naturally-coloured) 1975 vintage 20yo Speyside single malt. Who was I to say no!? I was told it was “very expensive”, but it turns out that term is relative, as it was (from memory) about $27AUD, or ~ $20USD) for a dram. in my books, a bargain for a 20yo single cask 1975 cask strength Speysider! There was no detail about the distillery (and WhiskyBase seems to have very little detail - it seems to primarily be a Japanese release), but I've seen a blog suggesting Glenrothes. I can believe it. Whatever it was, it was excellent. Walnuts, orchard fruits, super creamy yet super fruity, candied almonds, sultanas, and brazil nuts. Clean and delicious. Have you ever taken a chance on a random dram? Did it pay off? Let us know!
  • Where are all the @bowmore fans!? 👋🏼. I had these two bottles open at the same time recently, and it was really fun to compare them. Both late 1980s distilled Bowmore (yeah, infamous era) but one was an OB 15yo bottled in the early 2000s, and one a single cask 30yo bottled in 3019 (by @singlecasknation). The former a 43% OB vatting, the latter a 44.1% IB ex-bourbon single cask bottling...which I was only able to get with huge thanks to @casktodrams. So yeah, they were late 1980s and yeah, both had a little bit of floral / perfume notes, but not in a bad way at all, and mixed amongst some lovely Bowmore “funk”. I’ve tried some VERY average 80s Bowmores with dominant soap, but these weren’t like that. Not tropical like my absolute favourite Bowmores, but enjoyable nonetheless. After a bit of a lull, I’ll have full tasting notes up on these on the blog in the coming week. 🎉. So...what are your best, and worst Bowmores? Any shockers? Any stunners? PS: Funnily enough just as I posted this, @whiskyprism posted a post about Bowmore “perfume” too. Check it out!
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    Where are all the @bowmore fans!? 👋🏼. I had these two bottles open at the same time recently, and it was really fun to compare them. Both late 1980s distilled Bowmore (yeah, infamous era) but one was an OB 15yo bottled in the early 2000s, and one a single cask 30yo bottled in 3019 (by @singlecasknation). The former a 43% OB vatting, the latter a 44.1% IB ex-bourbon single cask bottling...which I was only able to get with huge thanks to @casktodrams. So yeah, they were late 1980s and yeah, both had a little bit of floral / perfume notes, but not in a bad way at all, and mixed amongst some lovely Bowmore “funk”. I’ve tried some VERY average 80s Bowmores with dominant soap, but these weren’t like that. Not tropical like my absolute favourite Bowmores, but enjoyable nonetheless. After a bit of a lull, I’ll have full tasting notes up on these on the blog in the coming week. 🎉. So...what are your best, and worst Bowmores? Any shockers? Any stunners? PS: Funnily enough just as I posted this, @whiskyprism posted a post about Bowmore “perfume” too. Check it out!
  • Isn’t Bowmore just awesome? Hands up if you love that funk, that subtle-not-overpowering smoke, and (occasionally) that amazing tropical fruitiness? 🏝 💨 🍊 🍍 🥭. 🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️. Whilst they can cop a bad wrap, I don’t actually mind the OBs (I think the current 18yo is excellent value for money, and the 23yo Port matured is one of my all-time favourite whiskies) but in my view it’s the indies where you can really find amazing, and (relatively) affordable Bowmore. Of course anything from 1964 is generally “pinnacle” level amazing, but we’re talking automobile levels of money... @adelphi1826, @maisonduwhisky, @smws_aus, @hunterlaingwhisky, @elixirdistillers are just a few bottlers bottling (in my opinion) really good Bowmore casks, and there are plenty of others. Especially those wonderfully fruity late 1990s sherry casks and early 2000s Bourbon casks. Whiskies that just scream “open me”! So...IB or OB...and do you have a favourite bottler and/or style when it comes to Bowmore?
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    Isn’t Bowmore just awesome? Hands up if you love that funk, that subtle-not-overpowering smoke, and (occasionally) that amazing tropical fruitiness? 🏝 💨 🍊 🍍 🥭. 🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼‍♂️. Whilst they can cop a bad wrap, I don’t actually mind the OBs (I think the current 18yo is excellent value for money, and the 23yo Port matured is one of my all-time favourite whiskies) but in my view it’s the indies where you can really find amazing, and (relatively) affordable Bowmore. Of course anything from 1964 is generally “pinnacle” level amazing, but we’re talking automobile levels of money... @adelphi1826, @maisonduwhisky, @smws_aus, @hunterlaingwhisky, @elixirdistillers are just a few bottlers bottling (in my opinion) really good Bowmore casks, and there are plenty of others. Especially those wonderfully fruity late 1990s sherry casks and early 2000s Bourbon casks. Whiskies that just scream “open me”! So...IB or OB...and do you have a favourite bottler and/or style when it comes to Bowmore?
  • "Sometimes [our labels] talk about the history of a distillery, sometimes we talk about the flavour profile or an interesting story...other times we have a raptor fighting a shark on a cargo ship with an oil rig blowing up in the background". Gotta say, I'm a massive fan of what @boutiqueywhisky are doing these days. Some of these labels have really deep, multi-layered stories behind them, stretching back to the time of their distillery’s founders, while some of them have epic scenes involving raptors and sharks and explosions, because...well why not!? Whisky is supposed to be fun, after all! About this time last year I wrote about how @boutiqueywhisky and @boutiqueygin officially launched in Hong Kong, with a tasting (of 10 gins / whiskies!) led by @mr_woo_atombrands. A year later, I realised I hadn't posted the pics on Instagram...so here they are! Lots of different flavours throughout the night (I mean...one minute you're tasting a 25yo Scotch, the next, a Strawberry & Balsamic Gin!) but my favourite would have to be the 22yo Glen Elgin (Batch 2), followed by the 20yo Aultmore (Batch 8). It was an awesome night getting better acquainted with some really fun whiskies (and insane gins), and we look forward to seeing more and more of both brands (as well as @boutiqueyrum) on HK's shores as the years go on! 🥃🥃 Have you tried any Boutique-y bottles? Have a favourite?
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    "Sometimes [our labels] talk about the history of a distillery, sometimes we talk about the flavour profile or an interesting story...other times we have a raptor fighting a shark on a cargo ship with an oil rig blowing up in the background". Gotta say, I'm a massive fan of what @boutiqueywhisky are doing these days. Some of these labels have really deep, multi-layered stories behind them, stretching back to the time of their distillery’s founders, while some of them have epic scenes involving raptors and sharks and explosions, because...well why not!? Whisky is supposed to be fun, after all! About this time last year I wrote about how @boutiqueywhisky and @boutiqueygin officially launched in Hong Kong, with a tasting (of 10 gins / whiskies!) led by @mr_woo_atombrands. A year later, I realised I hadn't posted the pics on Instagram...so here they are! Lots of different flavours throughout the night (I mean...one minute you're tasting a 25yo Scotch, the next, a Strawberry & Balsamic Gin!) but my favourite would have to be the 22yo Glen Elgin (Batch 2), followed by the 20yo Aultmore (Batch 8). It was an awesome night getting better acquainted with some really fun whiskies (and insane gins), and we look forward to seeing more and more of both brands (as well as @boutiqueyrum) on HK's shores as the years go on! 🥃🥃 Have you tried any Boutique-y bottles? Have a favourite?
  • GlenDronach fans - what’s your favourite “GDSC” (@glendronach single cask)? Or any GD for that matter? GlenDronach’s OB single casks can be pretty amazing (especially any from 1993) but this 1970 vatted (6 cask) IB from Signatory Vintage ranks as one of my top two ‘Dronachs of all time. Tasted at @chun_feng_li’s brilliant WhiskyFairTakao a few years ago. The other? Flick to the right. 🙂. (An OB 18yo, bottled for the Japanese market in a rare clear OB dumpy bottle, tasted @theswansongbar). What’s your standout favourite GD?
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    GlenDronach fans - what’s your favourite “GDSC” (@glendronach single cask)? Or any GD for that matter? GlenDronach’s OB single casks can be pretty amazing (especially any from 1993) but this 1970 vatted (6 cask) IB from Signatory Vintage ranks as one of my top two ‘Dronachs of all time. Tasted at @chun_feng_li’s brilliant WhiskyFairTakao a few years ago. The other? Flick to the right. 🙂. (An OB 18yo, bottled for the Japanese market in a rare clear OB dumpy bottle, tasted @theswansongbar). What’s your standout favourite GD?
  • Last year I took a brief trip to Shenzhen to try this new @glenfiddichwhisky “Grand Cru” - a 23yo matured in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, and finished for four months in casks that previously held Grand Cru wine that would go on to become Champagne. I was excited, but apprehensive. On the one hand - an age statement from the distillery which started my whisky love affair, and decently-priced too. On the other hand - 40% ABV, with strong marketing and fancy packaging often sets my BS detector off. I needn’t have worried. It’s a very tasty drop, full of flavour and trademark Glenfiddich character but with some unique brioche and honey notes too. We were advised to try it chilled (which ALWAYS sets my BS detector off), and to my surprise it really worked - rather than dulling the flavours as I expected, it really brought out the toast and apple/pear notes. First time I've ever had that happen. After dinner with the WGS team, we visited a local whisky bar (my poor memory precludes me from remembering the name, but the owner was a Keeper of the Quaich so it was a "proper" whisky bar) where we drank Glenfiddich neat and mixed into some impressive cocktails well into the night with @glenfiddich_brian, @enarawhisky & @the_whisky_beard. Then after a brief sleep at the "V Hotel" (which was, somewhat hilariously, an out-and-out copy of the W Hong Kong, right down to the amenities and hallway design), it was off to the Shenzhen office for a day of work, then back home on the train for the long 15min journey. All up, a successful 24 hours! Big thanks to William Grant & Sons for a fun event. — #glenfiddich #grandcru #ValleyoftheDeer #whisky #InstaWhisky #Instadram #WhiskyGram #RareWhisky #WhiskyTasting #WhiskyGeek #WhiskyBlogger #TimeforWhisky #DramFull #WhiskyHK #WhiskySYD #WhiskyFabric #WhiskyLover #威士忌 #ウイスキー #위스키 #WhiskyLife #HongKongWhisky #🥃
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    Last year I took a brief trip to Shenzhen to try this new @glenfiddichwhisky “Grand Cru” - a 23yo matured in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, and finished for four months in casks that previously held Grand Cru wine that would go on to become Champagne. I was excited, but apprehensive. On the one hand - an age statement from the distillery which started my whisky love affair, and decently-priced too. On the other hand - 40% ABV, with strong marketing and fancy packaging often sets my BS detector off. I needn’t have worried. It’s a very tasty drop, full of flavour and trademark Glenfiddich character but with some unique brioche and honey notes too. We were advised to try it chilled (which ALWAYS sets my BS detector off), and to my surprise it really worked - rather than dulling the flavours as I expected, it really brought out the toast and apple/pear notes. First time I've ever had that happen. After dinner with the WGS team, we visited a local whisky bar (my poor memory precludes me from remembering the name, but the owner was a Keeper of the Quaich so it was a "proper" whisky bar) where we drank Glenfiddich neat and mixed into some impressive cocktails well into the night with @glenfiddich_brian, @enarawhisky & @the_whisky_beard. Then after a brief sleep at the "V Hotel" (which was, somewhat hilariously, an out-and-out copy of the W Hong Kong, right down to the amenities and hallway design), it was off to the Shenzhen office for a day of work, then back home on the train for the long 15min journey. All up, a successful 24 hours! Big thanks to William Grant & Sons for a fun event. — #glenfiddich #grandcru #ValleyoftheDeer #whisky #InstaWhisky #Instadram #WhiskyGram #RareWhisky #WhiskyTasting #WhiskyGeek #WhiskyBlogger #TimeforWhisky #DramFull #WhiskyHK #WhiskySYD #WhiskyFabric #WhiskyLover #威士忌 #ウイスキー #위스키 #WhiskyLife #HongKongWhisky #🥃
  • If you had a time machine 🚀 🕰 which 3 would you buy? The other day @whiskyprism posted a few photos of an old #JapaneseWhisky price list from 1998 with prices that’d make you cry today (1982 Yamazaki for $150USD, Mac25 Anniversary for $175USD anyone?) It reminded me of this price list from @parkaveliquorshop I picked up in 2008/2009. Granted, not quite 1998, but still, check out the prices! Port Ellen Special Releases for $350-$400, 1971 34yo @bowmore for $700, Bowmore 1964 Fino for $2,500, Macallan 30 Sherry Oak for $950USD. Granted, prices were much cheaper even just a few years before this, but what’s annoying is I was there - I could have bought these! (I didn’t 😂 I think I bought something pretty standard). It’s interesting to see the prices that haven’t moved that much too. Caol Ila 25 still costs about the same, and I’m pretty sure that $20k Ardbeg will always be $20k. 🤣 haha. So, if you could jump in a time machine and pick 3 of these to buy, which would they be? For me, it’d be: ✅ 1964 Bowmore 37yo ex-Fino ✅ Laphy 21yo ✅ That 55yo Lalique Macallan (for the $70k USD or so profit which would then fund many other amazing drinking whiskies 😆).
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    If you had a time machine 🚀 🕰 which 3 would you buy? The other day @whiskyprism posted a few photos of an old #JapaneseWhisky price list from 1998 with prices that’d make you cry today (1982 Yamazaki for $150USD, Mac25 Anniversary for $175USD anyone?) It reminded me of this price list from @parkaveliquorshop I picked up in 2008/2009. Granted, not quite 1998, but still, check out the prices! Port Ellen Special Releases for $350-$400, 1971 34yo @bowmore for $700, Bowmore 1964 Fino for $2,500, Macallan 30 Sherry Oak for $950USD. Granted, prices were much cheaper even just a few years before this, but what’s annoying is I was there - I could have bought these! (I didn’t 😂 I think I bought something pretty standard). It’s interesting to see the prices that haven’t moved that much too. Caol Ila 25 still costs about the same, and I’m pretty sure that $20k Ardbeg will always be $20k. 🤣 haha. So, if you could jump in a time machine and pick 3 of these to buy, which would they be? For me, it’d be: ✅ 1964 Bowmore 37yo ex-Fino ✅ Laphy 21yo ✅ That 55yo Lalique Macallan (for the $70k USD or so profit which would then fund many other amazing drinking whiskies 😆).
  • Celebrating the end of a successful week by cracking open this beautifully tropical 21yo 1991 single cask @teeling_whiskey, bottled in 2012/2013 for @whiskymagazine and (as best I can tell) originally only available in Japan. Anyone who’s tried Irish whisky around this age, especially from the late 1980s / early 1990s will know it often be very tropical - mango, guava, passionfruit....and that’s exactly what this has, alongside clean, elegant (but still powerful) sherry characteristics. Truly a fantastic dram...and RIGHT up my alley (@whiskysec knows what I’m talking about)! Have you tried any amazing Irish 🇮🇪 whiskies 🥃?
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    Celebrating the end of a successful week by cracking open this beautifully tropical 21yo 1991 single cask @teeling_whiskey, bottled in 2012/2013 for @whiskymagazine and (as best I can tell) originally only available in Japan. Anyone who’s tried Irish whisky around this age, especially from the late 1980s / early 1990s will know it often be very tropical - mango, guava, passionfruit....and that’s exactly what this has, alongside clean, elegant (but still powerful) sherry characteristics. Truly a fantastic dram...and RIGHT up my alley (@whiskysec knows what I’m talking about)! Have you tried any amazing Irish 🇮🇪 whiskies 🥃?
  • Hands up cocktail fans 🙋🏼(it’s OK to admit it, really 😉). I’m first and foremost a whisky guy (duh…), but still love the occasional cocktail. As of last week HK bars are closed, so that means….#ISOCOCKTAILS! Or is that #COVIDCOCKTAILS? Either way, a good opportunity to stay home, stay safe, and try some new drinks (or save the hassle and buy bottled cocktails from one of the many bars & producers in HK, like @laibahongkong). To lead by example, @metagroupHK recently sent this hamper with everything needed to make an @amaromontenegro_WW Spritz, Negroni (including @boodlesgin, @campariHK & my favourite @anticaformula_official), a whole lot of @laibahongkong cocktails, & even some @peroniHK to get us through Summer). …but as much as I love a good Spritz (and will never tire of a #Negroni), TimeforWhisky is about whisky, so I started thinking about how I could put these ingredients to use in a whisky cocktail. First, a Rob Roy using @anticaformula_official, but with a heavily sherried @asta_morris’ 7yo Caol Ila. I wouldn’t ordinarily make a cocktail from a great single cask whisky, but hey, these aren’t ordinary times…and this one was a win in my books – with rich smoky notes not normally found in a typical Rob Roy. Next, a whisky cocktail with @amaromontenegro_WW - my favourite Italian amaro. I found a recipe for a “Full Monte” from @stevethebartender, but swapped the Rye for #SMWS 10.188, a 14yo Bunnahabhain from a refill Sherry Butt. This could have gone horribly wrong, but I figured the Montengero is pretty sweet, it might balance out nicely with the Bunny (full of mushroom, dunnage warehouses & old school sherry notes). Did it work? Yup - it was syrupy, rich and decadent, but the sweetness of the amaro was cut way down and on the whole, tasty. With more time at home, cocktails can be a fun way to discover new flavours and see some of your whiskies in a new light (maybe not your Black Bowmore 😉). @metagroupHK are also offering a 20% discount on purchases currently, which is a pretty good incentive (code: STAYSAFE20). What’s your favourite whisky cocktail? — #WhiskyCocktail #AperolSpritz #WhiskyCocktails #whisky #TimeforWhisky #WhiskyHK #WhiskyLover
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    Hands up cocktail fans 🙋🏼(it’s OK to admit it, really 😉). I’m first and foremost a whisky guy (duh…), but still love the occasional cocktail. As of last week HK bars are closed, so that means….#ISOCOCKTAILS! Or is that #COVIDCOCKTAILS? Either way, a good opportunity to stay home, stay safe, and try some new drinks (or save the hassle and buy bottled cocktails from one of the many bars & producers in HK, like @laibahongkong). To lead by example, @metagroupHK recently sent this hamper with everything needed to make an @amaromontenegro_WW Spritz, Negroni (including @boodlesgin, @campariHK & my favourite @anticaformula_official), a whole lot of @laibahongkong cocktails, & even some @peroniHK to get us through Summer). …but as much as I love a good Spritz (and will never tire of a #Negroni), TimeforWhisky is about whisky, so I started thinking about how I could put these ingredients to use in a whisky cocktail. First, a Rob Roy using @anticaformula_official, but with a heavily sherried @asta_morris’ 7yo Caol Ila. I wouldn’t ordinarily make a cocktail from a great single cask whisky, but hey, these aren’t ordinary times…and this one was a win in my books – with rich smoky notes not normally found in a typical Rob Roy. Next, a whisky cocktail with @amaromontenegro_WW - my favourite Italian amaro. I found a recipe for a “Full Monte” from @stevethebartender, but swapped the Rye for #SMWS 10.188, a 14yo Bunnahabhain from a refill Sherry Butt. This could have gone horribly wrong, but I figured the Montengero is pretty sweet, it might balance out nicely with the Bunny (full of mushroom, dunnage warehouses & old school sherry notes). Did it work? Yup - it was syrupy, rich and decadent, but the sweetness of the amaro was cut way down and on the whole, tasty. With more time at home, cocktails can be a fun way to discover new flavours and see some of your whiskies in a new light (maybe not your Black Bowmore 😉). @metagroupHK are also offering a 20% discount on purchases currently, which is a pretty good incentive (code: STAYSAFE20). What’s your favourite whisky cocktail? — #WhiskyCocktail #AperolSpritz #WhiskyCocktails #whisky #TimeforWhisky #WhiskyHK #WhiskyLover