Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Glenfiddich Grand Cru

23 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV

Nose: Moscatel and winter spice poached pears, sour apple Chewits, slices of plum jam-based Bakewell tart and warm Stollen, assorted candied peel and blackberry fool. Followed by notes of sugared almonds, Cadbury’s crunchie bar, McVitie's gingernut biscuits, anise, sweet musk, spiced oak, sandalwood and a wandering and weaving floral freshness.

Palate: Mulled apple juice, tinned pears, crystallised ginger covered in dark chocolate, pineapple flavoured fruit jellies, M&S lemon curd whitby buns and egg custard tarts with a good dusting of nutmeg. Followed by baked banana chips, walnuts, wood spice infused Moscatel, white pepper and oodles upon oodles of opulent oak.

Finish: A warm and woody, long winter spiced hug of a finesseful finish.

Summary: This is the first expression in Glenfiddich’s new premium end Grand Series, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Wondrous waves of aged signature ‘fiddich notes, balanced beautifully with French Cuvée wine cask influences.

Quick Fire Rum Tasting Notes

Black Tot Rum

Blended Caribbean Rum

46.2% ABV

Nose: A symphony of slightly overripened bananas, grilled pineapple rings sprinkled with a light dusting of cayenne pepper, Alphonso mangos, Cantaloupe melon and clove studded Ortaniques. Followed by tea stewed prunes, sugar cane syrup, Demerara caramel, freshly baked treacle tart, a hint of something herbal, freshly polished oak, a struck match and an unmistakable Jamaican funk led estery edge.

Palate: All the palatable pleasures of pineapple upside down and Jamaica ginger cake, banoffee pie and spiced baked apples. Followed by sultanas, dried mango strips, ready rolled cake icing, guava jelly, chocolate coffered coffee beans, aniseed twists, mixed spice, ground white and black pepper, sweet oak and the subtlest suggestions of something menthol fresh.

Finish: A sweet, spice and all things nice kind of a finish, that goes on as long as a Caribbean house party!

Summary: An absolute belter of a blend, which showcases, marries and harmonises the three distinct rum styles from Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana. Not only is this one a superb sipper, it’s also a marvel of a mixer and works particularly well as a base in a Rum Old Fashioned.

The Whisky Wire's 12 Drams of Christmas 2019

"It’s beginning to look a lot like…" For the last nine years, we’ve been bringing you our ’12 Drams of Christmas’ as chosen by you! So we thought it would only be rude not to do the same again this year, and use it as the perfect excuse to start quite literally getting into the festive spirit!

Between now and Tuesday December 10th, we’d love to hear your nominations for your favourite festive drams, then on Thursday December 12th we’ll publish the Top 12 as chosen by you, in ranking order. We’ll also include retail details, so they can be enjoyed by all over the festive period and beyond.

To take part click here and email us your top three favourite festive drams, that we’ll then use to help compile this year’s list. Please remember to mark the subject line of your email 12 Drams of Christmas.

Everyone who enters will automatically have their name added into our virtual Santa hat, for a chance of winning a special sample set of the four latest expressions in Bruichladdich’s heavily peated Octomore range.

Octomore Series 10, is comprised of four bottlings which have been aged from between 3 to 8 years and have been matured in a variety of different casks including American oak, French oak and Limousin oak casks. One lucky winner will win a 20cl sample of each.

 Which drams will make the list? 

 You decide! 

t&c’s You must be over 21 years of age enter in the UK and over the legal drinking age of your respective country if entering from outside the UK. Competition closes on December 10th 2019.

 #12DramsOfChristmas 

Whyte & Mackay Christmas Tweet Tasting

 

"I'm dreaming of a Whyte Christmas, just like the ones I used to know..."

We’re thrilled to announce that on December 4th, we’ll be getting into the festive spirit with a Whyte & Mackay portfolio Tweet Tasting.

On the night, we’ll be sharing, sipping and savouring; Whyte & Mackay Light, Fettercairn 12 Year Old PX Cask Finish Global Travel Retail Exclusive, Jura Two One Two 13 Year Old, Tamnavulin 2000 Vintage and finishing off in fine festive style with the money can’t buy Whyte & Mackay 50 Year Old, launched recently to mark the company's 175th anniversary year.

To take part in what promises to be the perfect kick start to your Christmas click here to register your interest by emailing your full name, full postal address, date of birth and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line #WhyteChristmas

The closing date to register is November 20th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of December 4th to take part!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evenings festive dramfotainment. So, we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on December 4th at 7pm GMT via #WhyteChristmas

Registration open to over 21's only!

For more info on Whyte & Mackay, visit whyteandmackay.com

@TheWhiskyWire
@whyteandmackay 
@FettercairnWh 
@jurawhisky
@tamnavulinwh
#WhyteChristmas

Be part of the Dramfotainment!