Year 2017 highlights!

Last year we've established the tradition to summarize the results of each year and name the best ones in 3 categories. So let's proceed to what the year 2017 brought us... 

Whisky felling #8. Three decades of Glen Grant: Glen Grant GM 1965/2013, Glen Grant GM 1952/2012 and Glen Grant GM 30 yo Crown of flowers label

New Year is very close and this is the time when you'd like to relax and sip some damn tasty old Glen Grants. But let's start from the very beginning...

Very good article about sherry casks from Ruben

Shortly about solera system, types of sherry, what casks are really used in whisky industry and some myths to be busted, the whole text is here (taken from www.whiskynotes.be). 

Park'em all: Highland Park 25 yo 48.1%, Highland Park 30 yo 48.1% and Highland Park 40 yo 48.3%

Sergii birthday and smallest HP tasting (a year ago I bit him and infected with orkneyphilia, you know). 

Travelling across Islay: Bowmore 1990 McC, Laphroaig 1991 McC, Caol Ila 2005/2017 CS GM, Laphroaig 10 yo CS Red Stripe (bottled 2007) and finally Port Ellen 27 yo 1978/2006 DL Platinum

Spontaneous tasting with Andrii on one of October Fridays, why not explore our favorite island? :) 

1-st year of this online notepad, 16 000 views and 2 new Highland Parks today: recent HP 25 yo 45.7% and HP 30 yo TWA Funghi 52.2%

Sherry or bourbon? That is the question. 

Whether 'tis nobler in bourbon to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against the casks of sherry

And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep. 

Samaroli tasting: Allt-a-Bhainne 1995, Braeval 1994, Glenburgie 1995, Mortlach 1997, Bunnahabhain 1988 and Bunnahabhain 1989

These were mainly Coilltean releases, though in any case Samaroli bottles are worth trying. 

Small session of samples: Glendronach CS batch #4 54.7%, Invergordon 46 yo 1966/2012 DR 51.9%, Bunnahabnain 11 yo PX finish distillery only 54.6% and Bunnahabhain 11 yo Rubha A' Mhail 57.4%

That would be random selection of samples I've tried recently. Just to dot the i's. 

Arran 21 yo Anniversary 52.6% and Mannochmore 25 yo 53.4%

Two samples dating back to this summer.

Whisky Corner celebrates its 5 years and so do we: Magilligan 08 yo peated, Glenmorangie 10 yo (2-nd generation), Highland Park Fire Edition, Highland Park 2007 GM, Laphroaig 1999 Kingsbury, Bowmore 1996 Kingsbury, Caol Ila 17 yo Exclusive Malts, Caol Ila 21 yo Kingsbury, Caol Ila 26 yo Syndicate, Caol Ila 30 yo and Lagavulin 20 yo Syndicate

11 samples might be too much for 4 of us, but we'll do our utmost!