The Distant Thunder Whisky Club

Loving You Long Time – The Jura Mystery Sample (Elixir)

2012-02-15T18:35:00.001+11:00

The mystery sample of Jura Elixir Jura held a small competition recently asking "The secret to a long and prosperous life is…". No knocking back an opportunity I submitted my answer: "Always ensure your bottle of Jura is half full and never half empty". Pure genius! To my amazement I actually won. Unfortunately due to certain laws Jura were not allowed to post me out the sample to Australia.

The Gentleman’s Tonic – The Strathisla 12yo

2012-02-13T10:54:00.003+11:00

Strathisla 21yo The Strathisla 12yo is a Highland whisky which is owned and bottled by Chivas Brothers. It sits at 43% abv. The bottle itself is an old medicinal style and wouldn’t look out of place being hawked as a tonic for curing any ailments you might have. An interesting fact about the distillery, whilst not the oldest in Scotland, it is the longest continuous operating distillery

Islay Chocolate - Bowmore 18yo

2012-02-09T19:08:00.002+11:00

Bowmore 18yo As someone who is not generally a purchaser of Bowmore whisky, I was completely surprised at tasting this Bowmore 18yo at the 2010 Whisky Live. I was so taken with it that I purchased this bottle immediately. It’s a 43% whisky and it appears to have won a Best in Show award at the 2007 San Francisco World spirits competition. Bowmore 18yo Alcohol: 43% Location/Region: Isle of

Kilchoman Masterclass at The Oak Barrel

2012-02-07T13:52:00.003+11:00

For those interested club members and visitors there is a Kilchoman Masterclass on offer this month at The Oak Barrel Sydney. For those not aware Kilchoman is a relatively new Islay based distillery built in 2005. Kilhoman Whisky is relatively unavailable here in Australia and where it does appear it is in limited supply. Certainly for an Islay fanatic this is a rare opportunity to sink your

Making Waves - DTWC Immortalised through Beer & Brewer Magazine

2012-02-04T00:14:00.000+11:00

If this sounds like we are gushing well that is because we are. The Distant Thunder Whisky Club rumbles on to the pages of immortality with the club profiled in Beer & Brewer Magazine. Yes we are that ugly but don't let the pouting or the fact we are not wearing any pants in the photos put you off. Tasteful as the photos are it is all well above board, but what happens in whisky club stays in

Getting your Laphroaig On – The Official Laphroaig BBQ Sauce

2012-02-02T21:04:00.002+11:00

Some well lashed ribs Laphroaig style Ever had a BBQ sauce you just can't stop eating? Or ever had a BBQ sauce made with your favourite Scotch whisky? If there is is one BBQ sauce you will ever make then this in the one for you: The Official Laphroaig BBQ Sauce. On the 6th of September 2011 several of us lucky D.T.W.C. members managed to wrangle some tickets to Laphroaig Live Sydney.

DTWC Meeting: Rib-tastic

2012-01-31T21:01:00.002+11:00

Ribs cooked with the Laphroaig BBQ sauce Thank you to all the members that attended the latest DTWC Meeting at my house on Saturday evening. A special mention is reserved for The Baron who had the fantastic idea of cooking ribs in the Laphroaig BBQ sauce. We first tasted the BBQ sauce at the excellent Laphroaig Live last year. The ribs were demolished, so I think it is fair to say they went

The Essential Scotches: The Scotch Pronunciation Guide

2012-01-31T14:04:00.001+11:00

So this is maybe one of the oddest things I have come across recently (thanks Whisky Party). Scotch: A Pronunciation Guide With Brian Cox. 48 short movies in total going through the pronunciation of many Scotch Whisky Distilleries with some also delivering small tasting notes. For those not in the know Brian Cox is a rather hardworking Scottish actor with an extensive list of roles under his belt

A Useful Tip – For Peat' Sake

2012-01-30T17:19:00.000+11:00

Gents just a quick post to highlight the website I mentioned on Saturday evening. For Peat’ Sake is a whisky rating website that allows individuals to rate whisky, and then provides an averaged score. It’s a great little resource. All my favourite whisky’s have been scored numerous times, and the ratings are pretty good. I recommend this a useful whisky resource. The Colonel

Playing The Game – Proof Whisky

2012-01-24T14:19:00.003+11:00

Proof Whisky Snapshot For all you lucky iPad and mobile tablet owners out there that also drink Single Malt whisky here is the game for you. Proof Whisky: "A social tasting game for single malt connoisseurs and newbies alike". Effectively this is a tasting tool translated into a visual gauge and is used by pushing and pulling your interpretations much like using a whisky flavour wheel.

The Dram Of Champions – Laphroaig Quarter Cask

2012-01-23T19:30:00.000+11:00

Laphroaig Quarter Cask What can be said about Laphroaig that has not already been said. I am sure I have said that about Ardbeg as well. None the less I need to put my review out there on the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. It is fare to say Laphroaig is one of my all time favourites. There is a lot of myth and wives tales about Islay whisky and in general it is all about peat smoke. Contrary to

Man Up For The Ladies Baron Style – Beef and Stout Pie

2012-01-16T18:53:00.000+11:00

We all like to impress the ladies, especially the ones that pick us up from whisky club on all occasions. To carry on with the many recipes I have blogged up over time, the recent post by The Colonel-in-Chief on his Beef and Guinness Pie (which was served at the most recent Whisky Club) has prompted me to complete a post I started many moons ago for a Beef and Stout Pie I make regularly and I

A Fresh Start? - Whisky Live Australia 2012

2012-01-12T15:43:00.000+11:00

It looks like Whisky Live in on again for Australia. This time the announcements are indicating 3 events on 3 separate dates: Perth – Tuesday 12st & Wednewday 22nd February Melbourne – Wednesday 6th June Sydney – Wednesday 15th August As you can tell by the dates these are slap bang in the middle of a working week. I don't know about you but dramming 8 or 10 or even 16 whiskies in an evening

The King is dead, long live the king! - Wrapping what was 2011 and looking at what will be.

2012-01-10T13:39:00.001+11:00

Yes it has all once again come to a close but not without some fruitful posts and comments to bolster our little blog. To our merry men in tights Thank You! Our last event for the year, Dramcember, is also now done. A fine effort with 10 posts in all for the D.T.W.C. blog, and it was good to see others globally sharing in Dramcember too. In closing the year off as well our little blog site

“Mr Walker’s Amber Restorative”* - Johnnie Walker Blue Label

2012-01-09T10:23:00.000+11:00

Johhnie Walker Blue Bottle and Package Gentlemen, I know you have been waiting for some time for these tasting notes. I apologise for the delay. Regrettably I have no excuse. The title of this post is a quote from the recently deceased Christopher Hitchens, perhaps the best writer of his generation. A large part of his oeuvre can be found here and I highly recommend it to you. Were it up to

Oban 14yo - Oban won Konobi

2012-01-08T08:56:00.003+11:00

I recently re-visited this highland malt at a whisky tasting and was most impressed. It was at that moment I knew I needed to own a bottle. I have decided I must appreciate each distilleries signature expression in the hope it will make me a better whisky taster-er. Oban 14yo, definitely a 'classic' malt. The Oban distillery is owned by Diageo and forms part of their Classic Malts range. I

Homemade Damson Whisky

2012-01-07T05:52:00.002+11:00

For my final Dramcember post I found some Damson Whisky in my parents cupboard. A family friend had made it and given them a small bottle. Beer making is popular in the DTWC, but I don't thing anyone has tried whisky yet! In a similar concept to Sloe Gin I believe they must have steeped damsons (a type of plum) in pre-purchased whisky. Provenance: Totally unknown Colour: Amber with reddish

One Drams Enough – Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

2012-01-05T17:48:00.003+11:00

Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve – Drinks By The Dram sample As part of the Dramcember festivities I had purchased 2 Drinks By The Dram samples form Master Of Malt. The first reviewed was the Suntory Hibiki 12yo and now I will close my Dramcember with Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve. I was really looking forward to this as it is one of the vattings made with stocks salvaged from the

Aberlour 10yr old

2012-01-05T04:04:00.000+11:00

A peruse through my dad's whisky collection enabled me to move up market from my previous two Dramcember posts. The Aberlour 10yr old (£25 at Whisky Exchange or $54 at Dan Murphy's) is another whisky that I haven't tried before. It's the second Aberlour to be reviewed in Dramcember after the Baron posted his thoughts on the Aberlour A'Bunadh a few days ago. Aberlour 10yr old Matured in

Talisker Trio – Part 3 : Talisker 57º North

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000+11:00

Talisker 57º North The final review in this series is the Talisker 57º North. This is a cask strength bottling and as the name suggests it weighs in at a hefty 57% abv. Talisker 57º North Cask Strength Alcohol: 57% Location/Region: Isle of Skye, Scotland Nose: Fragrant pou pouri. Again straw and hay notes, which seems to be typical of the Talisker range. Light phenol notes as well. Taste:

Quench the thirst - Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 001

2012-01-02T11:20:00.002+11:00

Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 001 I sat down this Dramcember to enjoy the Laphroaig 10 yr old cask strength (57.8% - Batch 001 - Feb 09). Purchased this bottle last Dramcember and it has remained unopened in my cabinet. The family xmas trip to Bris-vegas gave me the perfect excuse to open it. Laphroaig Cask Strength 10yo Batch No.: 001 Feb.09 Alcohol: 57.8% Location/Region: Islay Scotland

A cheap dram: Tesco's Special Reserve

2011-12-31T05:51:00.000+11:00

While sampling a drop of the UK's favourite whisky I decided to compare how it measured up to another untasted cheapie in my grandfather's collection Tesco's Special Reserve, £14.50 for 1l ($22). For those outside of Britain, Tesco is one of UK's largest supermarket chains. The whisky is being sold under their own label, which along with the price, is an indication not to get too excited.

Bell's - the UK's favourite whisky

2011-12-30T04:53:00.000+11:00

A visit to see my grandfather enabled me to kick off my personal Dramcember with a taste of Bell's. This is a whisky that I remember from my childhood as my father would often have a bottle on the go and I'd occasionally sneak a nip from his glass. Whisky was quite a shock to an eight year old and Bell's is probably the reason for my "I don't like whisky" mantra. I was keen to see how age had

Warts and all - Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch No.37

2011-12-29T21:45:00.000+11:00

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch No.37 On a recent trip to the ‪Diplomat‬'s in Brisbane I was graciously introduced to the world Aberlour A'Bunadh and wow what an extraordinary expression I found it to be. With a chance to order a few bottles of whisky from Master Of Malt I could not resist nabbing a tight bottle of the A'Bunadh for myself. Now with Dramcember in full swing like Castle Hill key

The Spaniard – Glenmorangie 30yo Malaga Cask Finish

2011-12-22T17:15:00.002+11:00

Glenmorangie 30yo Malaga Cask Finish – image from Whisky Exchange Website Gents, Last night I tried Glenmorangie 30 year old Malaga Cask Finish. Glenmorangie, as Club members will remember from the Whisky Live 2009 is a stable mate of Ardbeg (my personal favourite). This is a one off limited edition bottling (2597 bottles only) and so it doesn’t appear on the standard Glenmorangie product

One Dram At A Time - Hibiki 12yo Blended Whisky

2011-12-20T18:30:00.004+11:00

Master Of Malt 3cl sample bottle – Suntory Hibiki 12yo Blended Whisky With Dramcember now in full swing it is time to get up my first post with a pre-planned tasting. Recently I placed my first order through Master Of Malt, so what a perfect opportunity to explore the world of Drinks By The Dram, taste a few whiskies I have never had before, and get the word out there. This post will contain

Dramcember - May the Drams Be With You

2011-12-14T17:19:00.001+11:00

The DTWC Mariachis Well it is Dramcember again and once again the call is out to all members and blog followers to remember your duty and get involved. The rules are simple. Between the 9th of Dramcember until the 9th and Dramuary you are tasked to try at least 1 whisky you have never had before. This can be a single dram or a full bottle (it really does not matter). In doing so then post

Bringeth The Dram (Baby Got VAT) - Master Of Malt

2011-12-01T21:15:00.001+11:00

Master Of Malt website snapshot So the time has finally come that I had the opportunity to order form Master Of Malt. A long time coming I know but I have hesitated every time as the cost has always been so much more than the Whisky Exchange (or so I thought so). In the amended words of Sir Mix-A-Lot: "Baby Got VAT". Luckily due to a side note by Jeff over at Scotch Hobbyist about how the

DTWC Meeting Wash-up*

2011-11-29T09:44:00.001+11:00

The evenings official dram I’d like to thank you all for attending the DTWC event at my home over the weekend. I think it fair to say a good time was had by all. I should probably start by apologising for the mosquitoes. This seemed to cause some members serious grief. In future, I’ll make sure I have some insect repellent, but by the next time you visit, I hope to have some serious bug

By Definition - Scotch Whisky Categories

2011-11-28T12:01:00.001+11:00

Gents, in order to clear up any confusion I may have caused on Saturday Evening here is the list of Scotch Whisky Categories as listed on the Scotch Whisky Association Website: Single Malt Scotch Whisky: a Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery (i) from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and (ii) by batch distillation in pot stills. From 23 November

Thanks for the drams – Glenmorangie Masterclass

2011-11-24T18:50:00.001+11:00

Last night, 24th November 2011, several club members and myself attended the Glenmorangie Masterclass held at the Oak Barrel Sydney. It is really good to see more and more of these masterclasses popping up and even better when they are held in comfortable, professional environments. The Oak Barrel are no strangers to these kinds of events from dealing another wine or spirit class any other

I Pity The Fool – Buying Australian Whisky In Australia

2011-11-22T18:39:00.001+11:00

Today I did a little bit of shopping online to see what whisky I might order. I was shocked to find the Australian whisky we pay a motza for here in the home land is cheaper coming from the UK. WHAT?! How can it be that a whisky shipped from Australia to the UK, resold, repackaged, and then shipped back to Australia, actually be cheaper than walking 100m down the road and picking up a bottle?!

What is whisky? tasting event at the World of Whisky, Double Bay

2011-11-18T11:30:00.000+11:00

The six whiskies we tasted On Sunday fellow club member The Dog and I went to the World of Whisky in Double Bay, Sydney, Australia for their What is whisky? tasting event. I hadn't been to the World of Whisky shop before. It is bright and stylish with rows of back lit bottles arranged by region. The selection is pretty impressive with a range of familiar whiskies and several distilleries I

The blacker the better – Johnnie Walker Double Black

2011-11-16T21:08:00.001+11:00

Johnnie Walker Double Black So I think we have al heard about the Johnnie Walker Double Black for many many oaths now but only recently has it seen its way to Aussie shelves. I was actually on the hunt for a Glenlivet 12yo but then I saw the Double Black. While being reminiscent of the Woolery Tartan it was also $47 at my local Dan Murphy's so I just could not pass it by (considering the

Glemorangie Masterclass Sydney

2011-11-04T18:19:00.000+11:00

For those not in the know the Oak Barrel Sydney will be holding a Glenmorangie Masterclass this November. Currently 8 whiskies from the 16 Men of Tain will be on the table for tasting including the Glenmorangie Signet, and Glenmorangie 25yo (as per the Oak Barrel website). Sounds delicious. The Oak Barrel did a bang up job for the recent Laphroaig Masterclass so one can only expect the same

The Important Man – Johnnie Walker Commercial

2011-11-03T10:06:00.001+11:00

Last night while catching up on my pre-recorded Ghost Hunters episodes I was skipping through the adverts at a rate of x30 speed. Amazing enough in a fraction of a second I spied a logo, that logo, The Walking Man logo. Hitting stop I yelled "what was that ad for?!". Rewind back it was a commercial for Johnnie Walker Black. Now I am not a commercial kind of person even though my industry is

Colour me Laphroaig – Laphroaig Live Sydney 2011

2011-11-02T21:24:00.001+11:00

Laphroaig Live Website So I have deliberately postponed this post simply because I thought that a Laphroaig overdose may have set in for some, not for me though if I could paint myself in Laphroaig I would have. Now a couple of weeks have passed here is my quick review of the Laphroaig Live Sydney 2011 event. You may also see The Converted's review here. Laphroaig Live Sydney occurred 20:00

The Sultry Mistress – Jura Superstition

2011-10-26T20:31:00.000+11:00

Jura Superstition While the chill of winter was still in the air and my whisky supply getting low I took this opportunity to purchase and savour a bottle of Jura Superstition all to myself. I have had this dram before in limited quantity at Dramalot so I was no stranger to its unique and enticing shapely booty. This one is round, warming and a little bit naughty. I am glad to say with the last

Glenmorangie Masterclass – Sydney

2011-10-26T14:51:00.000+11:00

For locals the Oak Barrel Sydney is putting on a Glenmornagie Masterclass in November 2011. Tickets will be $50 with 8 expressions up for tasting. Should be a good opportunity to meet the Glenmorangie family all in one place. Date: Wednesday 23rd November, 2011 Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Where: The Oak Barrel Cellar Room Price: $50 Tickets can be booked through the Oak Barrel directly. I will

Opening THAT bottle – Grants Family Reserve

2011-10-24T18:51:00.000+11:00

Grant's Family Reserve So recently I posted a hint on how to dispose of your unwanted whisky. In that post you may have noticed I had a bottle of Grants Family Reserve in the background. Well sure enough that was the bottle I was disposing of but I thought it would not be fair unless I actually reviewed this at the same time. For many if us there really is some whisky you try and avoid and

Going Laphroaig crazy in Sydney

2011-10-13T11:36:00.000+11:00

My whisky journey has been long, but I feel that I may finally have arrived. Where? As a Laphroaig fan. When I was growing up my dad used to enjoy a dram of whisky in the evening and I'd sometimes have a taste from his glass. I thought it was horrible tasting fire water! When I arrived in Australia I joined the Distant Thunder Whisky Club, and was reminded last week, I took some beers to the

Laphroaig Masterclass - A real winner

2011-10-12T09:51:00.000+11:00

The evenings line up in all its grandeur Recently club members The Converted, The Colonel-in-Chief, and myself partook in the Laphroaig Masterclass at The Oak Barrel. A great night in all with many Laphroaig expressions for tasting. John Campbell, Distillery Manager of Laphroaig, hosted the evening taking us on a quick verbal trip to Islay and the history of Laphroaig, plus some odd tangents

Cheermeister – Get the most Christmas cheer out of your worst whisky

2011-10-04T20:48:00.001+11:00

Whisky Cream – The final product With Christmas coming up quite often family and friends will know you like whisky (because if your anything like me you talk about it all too often) and will buy you a bottle with very little knowledge of what is good or bad or even what you like. Quite often post Christmas you are left with a bottle you really don't want to touch or leave for when the whisky

We Represent – A Week Of All Things Laphroaig

2011-09-30T22:34:00.001+10:00

Ok so the big news is that some of us club members will be in the audience for Laphroaig Live Sydney! No gate crashing or sitting on the doorstep for us. We Represent! Thank you so much to John Campbell Distillery Manager of Laphroaig and Mark Gillespie of Whisky Cast for their honourable contributions and offers to our cause. It is nice to know we are loved in our own special way. Keep an eye

Bowmore Legend - Lip, sip, suck

2011-09-29T22:51:00.001+10:00

Bowmore forms part of the Suntory whisky family and stands as Islay's oldest distillery (1779). This also makes it one of Scotland's oldest. The Bowmore Legend Single Malt Whisky is probably the most accessible whisky in their range, both in terms of price and availability. Let's see what's on offer... The bottle: Bowmore has updated its packaging and the bottle is beautifully angled, with some

The Oak Barrel Meets Laphroaig

2011-09-27T13:35:00.001+10:00

A quick message to all DTWC Members and guests in the Sydney area. With Laphroaig Live being hosted in Sydney this year upcoming to the event (the previous day) The Oak Barrel will be hosting a Laphroaig Masterclass with Distillery Manager of Laphroaig John Campbell on the 5th October. The Masterclass is scheduled as follows: Date: Wednesday 5th October, 2011 Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm  Where: The Oak

Encore - Sydney Whisky Fair 2011

2011-09-26T20:23:00.000+10:00

OK so I have finally gotten around to finishing this review of Sydney Whisky Fair 2011. Firstly I want to say thank you to The Oak Barrel for putting this on! Fantastic and clearly filling a niche so required here in Sydney and dare I say Australia. After Whisky Live Sydney's poor attempt to put on even a half decent show last year and the even more monumental failure to even get a program

Raising from the ashes – Bruichladdich and The Laddie Ten

2011-09-23T13:19:00.000+10:00

Lots of new whiskies are being released these days from special collectors editions, independent vatted malts, to new premium expressions and for a lot of us it all gets just a bit boring as they are more often than not out of reach due to locality or price. Not often though do we hear about a first release of a 10yo from a well know distillery. On September 11th 2011 Bruichladdich (the

How can I get to it – Laphroaig Live Sydney

2011-09-16T14:46:00.000+10:00

Snapshot of Laphroaig Live Website Recently and to great excitement Laphroaig has announced that the next yearly webcast will be Laphroaig Live Sydney Australia. Previously I have kept you up-to-date on these special events as they have happened but if you have missed the previous few years web casts check them out here (The event held at Makers Mark is one not to be missed). The date is set

More romantic than memorable – Arran Whisky

2011-08-29T10:44:00.000+10:00

Arran private bottling cask 96/535 Warming up for the next Distant Thunder Whisky Club social on Friday night at the Sydney Whisky Fair I have decided to get out my Arran private bottling for a renewed tasting. The story behind the whisky is quite romantic. At one time there were over fifty distilleries on the Isle of Arran, however, they had all closed by 1837. After more then 150 years

Coming through with the goods – The Whisky Exchange

2011-08-18T14:44:00.000+10:00

Snapshot of The Whisky Exchange Website Right now you cannot ignore just what is happening on the stock exchanges and global recession. Here in Australia we say "What recession…?". With The US dollar and UK Pound in slow down mode the Australian dollar is giving us a field day in overseas purchases online. Why wait for duty free to buy your whisky when you can just get it online even

Where the Angels Roost - Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select

2011-08-17T21:17:00.000+10:00

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select So I have taken some time before reviewing this whisky. I think it is because I am not sure about it even now. I like it yes but I am somewhat disappointed. I have had my eye on a bottle of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel for sometime and when the opportunity arose to spend those few extra dollars I lashed out in ernest. About 6 months back I had an absolutely

Hallelujah – Whisky Fair 2011

2011-08-02T21:40:00.000+10:00

Yes we have been delivered from despair with the crash out of Whisky Live Sydney! (phew) The Oak Barrel has continued with their own event or more so an enhancement of last years activities at the Oak Barrel with Sydney Whisky Fair 2011. For those that attended last years Whisky Live Sydney 2010 may recall word that Oak Barrel was running pre-event activities in the week(s) prior to Whisky Live

Smoke and Booze – DEDICATED TO LIFE'S PLEASURES

2011-08-01T21:48:00.000+10:00

A quick snap of the Smoke and Booze site 1 August 2011 This quick post goes out to fellow DTWC members and our Aussie followers primarily but of course to anyone else internationally that likes a good blog on booze. It is not often you come across a blog that instantly has appeal. For me earlier tonight while skimming twitter I notice one of our tweets retweeted. On quick investigation a link

Beating the Ballantine's Drum – Ballantine's Finest

2011-07-29T20:28:00.000+10:00

Ballantine's Finest 700ml Bottle As a foreword to begin with I can honestly say I a not a fan of blends. Too often in the past my bad whisky experiences have come from blends. Blends that are old and have been open on a shelf for an overly extended period of time, or blends that are just horrible like the common Vat 69. They are either too sharp or too musty or just too ordinary. In saying

Talisker Trio – Part 2: Talisker 10yo

2011-07-25T12:32:00.000+10:00

Talisker Gift Pack The second review in my three part series is the Talisker 10 yr old. Supply for this particular whisky is quite high, with most bottle shops usually stocking it. Of note also, this was the whisky at our first club meet, back in 2009. Nose: Strong salty notes, ocean spray. Long John Silver just entered the room - he’s been at sea for a long time. Hay and freshly cut grass as

The blacker the better – Mad Brewers Stout Noir

2011-07-19T15:24:00.001+10:00

Stout Noir 640ml Bottle Limited Edition Always on the lookout for a good craft beer I recently encountered a carton of Mad Brewers Stout Noir from Malt Shovel Brewery of James Squire fame. I love a good stout and being winter when this one came along I could not resist and had to let fellow members know about it. What really caught my eye was the unconventional label and the name, curious I

Dramnation! Whisky Live Takes A Dive.

2011-07-07T13:50:00.000+10:00

Whisky Live Sydney takes a dive and is announced as being postponed until next year 2012. With the ambiguous date changes and lack of information through the last 12 months it does not come as a surprise at all (yes I am being heavily critical and for good reason). Pretty disappointing overall to be leaving such an announcement so late in the year especially as this is basically the biggest

An oldie but a goodie – Jack Daniel's Old No.7

2011-07-05T19:49:00.001+10:00

Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Things have been slow in the world of whisky for myself and the club in general as you all would have noticed. Work for me as well as illness has gotten in the way of my whisky travels. 5 weeks of a throat infection left my pallet devastated and only only am I back into the swing of things. So to carry on I have a review posting I have been meaning to complete for

Talisker Trio – Part 1 : Talisker Distillers Edition

2011-06-14T13:00:00.000+10:00

Talisker Distilers Edition Gift Pack Size In this first of three parts I review the Talisker Distillers Edition. Each part in this series relates to an expression in a Talisker gift pack I received for my birthday. Nose: Chocolate notes are at the forefront. Quite interesting really, as chocolate is not something I detect regularly in other whiskies. There is also a hint of charcoal, phenol

The Whisky Philosophy or Mantra

2011-06-02T09:52:00.001+10:00

Image courtesy of Ephemera Inc. "The glass can be half empty or half full... as long as there's whiskey in it." Do you think Plato and Aristotle would argue the point? Potentially this is the defining moment where philosophical debate ends and we as humans transcend to the next spiritual level. I hope those are whisky stones he is placing in that glass... and that's a lot of whisky too. The

Ballantine's 12yo: True Blue

2011-05-25T20:28:00.003+10:00

Ballantine's 12yo, flanked by 17yo (left) & Finest (right) As part of my ongoing review of Ballantine's whisky, I now move onto the Ballantine's 12 years old. To clarify, I am referring to the blended 12yo, not the 12yo Pure Malt (which is not available in the whisky back-water of Australia anyway). I am not going to the dwell on my Ballantine's love-affair, please see my prior post for that

Porterhouse steaks with mushroom and Bruichladdich 12yo whisky sauce

2011-05-24T09:05:00.000+10:00

Porterhouse steaks with mushroom whisky sauce I whipped up this little treat for the household recently with great results and have to share with the club. The most enjoyable part of this recipe I think, aside from eating, is choosing the whisky to use. Wary of choosing anything too smoky or peaty, or anything overly expensive, I opted for some Bruichladdich 12yo which turned out to be

The Whiskey Traders or Moonshine Bandits - Book Review

2011-05-22T15:08:00.000+10:00

My trustee whisky sidekick was in the local community library last weekend and walking down a random isle she came across a book entitled The Whiskey Traders by Wade Everett. It was an older style hardcover book without a description on the back. At a whim she thought, cool, my hubby might like to read this and hastily added it to the borrowing pile. Upon seeing the book, I also thought, cool, I

Laphroaig interactive

2011-05-20T11:19:00.000+10:00

Ok I got this one off the US Laphroaig facebook site this morning. A bit of fun, a bit of truth, and just a bit of reality. The Baron

A tasty treat – Jim Beam Small Batch With Port Added

2011-05-17T22:07:00.001+10:00

Jim Beam Small Batch With Port Added Continuing on with my personal bourbon trail I decided to explore the Jim Beam Small Batch Port Added expression namely released by Jim Beam. This bottle is what is classed as a Super Premium release part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Other expressions in this collection you may know are Bakers, Knob Creek, Bookers, and Basil Haydens. Notably this

Getting Stoned – Teroforma Whisky Stones

2011-05-14T09:00:00.000+10:00

Teroforma Soap Stones Since first hearing about these little babies from Teroforma many moons ago by The Secretary they have been on my mind ever since. I have had a packet of my own on back order for many months and they finally arrived on a few days ago. These stones are of particular interest to me as I do not put ice or water in my whisky, though in summer a cooler dram of whisky (Bourbon

Keep On Walking – Johnnie Walker Black Label Aged 12 Years

2011-05-10T21:49:00.000+10:00

Johnnie Walker Black Label 2011 Packaging Recently I was unexpectedly given a bottle of the Johnnie Walker Back Label Aged 12 Years for my birthday. Obviously family knew I was into whisky but they did not know what to buy so I cannot complain and lucky it was not a Vat 69. Not a big fan of the Johnnie Walker and never having the intention to actually go out and buy a bottle it came as a

The Whisky Compliment- Duvel (Devil)

2011-04-20T17:45:00.000+10:00

Duvel 330ml Bottle There are beers, and then there great beers, and then there is OUTSTANDING BEERS that should admired. For me one of the most outstanding beers of all time is Duvel. So much flavour, balance and enjoyment in every glass (which certainly accounts for the price we pay here in Aus). At $8AU for a 330ml bottle this beer is not cheap which is why I can only afford to buy it

Going Green - Bushmillls 10yo Single Malt

2011-03-31T19:21:00.000+11:00

Bushmills 10yo With the advent of Saint Patrick's Day 2011 and excuse to cook and drink whisky I had fellow DTWC members and family, The Grey Bush and El Capitan, over for a hearty Beef and Stout pie with mashed potatoes and cabbage, a few pints of Guinness, green cup cakes and of course a Dram or 2 of Bushmills 10yo Single Malt Whiskey (note the spelling). It had been a long time since I have

Slightly Overrated - The Glenlivet 18yo

2011-03-22T22:12:00.001+11:00

The Glenlivet 18yo. Distinguished by the Navy Blue box and label. There are things in every whisky that makes it unique such as fruits and citrus, floral and fresh. The Glenlivet 18yo covers all these bases. It must be said as a bench mark I love The Glenlivet 12yo for its consistency, its graceful bouquets, rich pallet. It is my daily dram of choice so it is no biggie I like the 18yo, but not

Flavour Monster - Ardbeg 10yo

2011-03-21T09:50:00.001+11:00

Ardbeg 10yo - note the light colour in the glass I thought it was time I threw my own 2 cents worth in on the Ardbeg 10yo. We have all had it and think we all like it to some degree. Whenever an Ardbeg makes an appearance at a club meeting the bottle risks becoming an endangered species. If you a newcomer to the whisky world you may find this too strong but really I feel if you like lots of

Ballantine's Finest: Sweet Ballantine!

2011-03-19T15:51:00.001+11:00

Owned by Pernot Ricard (owners of the Chivas and The Glenlivet malts), Ballantine's blended Scotch Whisky took my interest because it's bottled in the same town as my grandmother was born: Dumbarton, Scotland. Even the local Dumbarton F.C. is sponsored by Ballantine's…makes sense. Home strip, Dumbarton F.C. Whilst this review is about Ballantine's Finest, I have actually had a bottle of the

Indeed you are powerful - Talisker 18yo

2011-03-14T21:47:00.000+11:00

Talisker 18yo what's left of the dram after event 7 I’m keen to write up a review for this Talisker 18yo from the 7th DTWC meet. So I’m sitting here at 11am on a Saturday while my daughter has just gone down for a sleep and my wife is out for the day. Ideal conditions. The whisky was enjoyed by all at the last meeting and I’ve been looking forward to trying the final

Seven Members for the Seventh meeting

2011-03-14T19:45:00.000+11:00

Talisker 18yo choice whisky for the evening The 7th meeting of the Distant Thunder Whisky Club was certainly enjoyable - not quite as enjoyable as Expo 88 - but still enjoyable. Seven members made the trek out to El Capitan’s stronghold in Cherrybrook and we also skyped in The Diplomat formally know and The Surgeon formally knows as The Secretary from sunny Brisbane. The Diplomat pensive as

The Macallan Select Oak & How Globalisation Will Doom Us All - Excerpts from The Dog

2011-03-04T00:07:00.000+11:00

The Macallan Select Oak As I sit in my bat cave sipping on the delightful Macallan Select Oak (only available at duty free shops around the world), I cannot help but pontificate on an issue which is becoming a source of heated discussion among the elite in North Sydney: The early decades of globalisation (which we are still in) has heralded many beneficial changes to the Australian way of

Livin' la Vida Loca - Wild Turkey Rare Breed

2011-03-02T23:00:00.000+11:00

Coming off the back of possibly the lamest attempt of a bourbon ever I threw myself at the Wild Turkey Rare Breed thinking there is no better time to go for it than now. Was I pleased… OH YES! Was that Ricky Martin singing Livin' la Vida Loca in my head as I took the first dram… I hope not but it seemed like just the right song at the time. I have been waiting to taste this puppy for a long time

Mutton Dressed As Lamb Posing as Bacon - McKenna Bourbon

2011-03-01T23:13:00.000+11:00

Seriously if there was ever the most regrettable whisky I have ever purchased this has to be the one. You know it is bad when a $2.75 packet of budget bacon is more appetising. I was so pissed off after buying this I went straight out the next day and purchased a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed (review to come). Now we are not exactly pros at this but our club is about quality in whisky. In

The Converted goes to Australia's Lark Distillery

2011-03-01T10:05:00.005+11:00

To get to our rental cottage just outside of Cambridge, in Tasmania, we had to drive past the Lark Distillery. I wish I could tell you it was a romantic building situated in a grain field and next to a peat bog. Unfortunately it was a big blue shed in a grassy field! A field surrounded by vines, but nonetheless it felt odd as whisky isn't made from grapes. You can't visit the distillery so the

If you don't have one get one - The Australian Brewery

2011-02-24T22:15:00.004+11:00

Following on with our undistilled whisky conversations recently The Grey Bush and myself The Baron made the pilgrimage to our own local brewery. Yes you heard it "our local brewery". As we do not have a local distillery, a brewery, infect any brewery is a great alternative. We had read about The Australian Brewery in the recent issue of Beer and Brewer Magazine and thought this is too good to be

Is Marketing Killing Authentic Whisky?

2011-02-04T17:02:00.000+11:00

Comrades, I have been thinking a lot about Whisky recently. I am a keen (to keen if you ask Mrs Colonel) drinker of the dram, but increasingly I am becoming unsympathetic to the Whisky industry. By way of explanation, I should point out that I am a habitual listener to the weekly WhiskyCast, though over the last couple of months I have not been able to listen to them on a regular basis.

Nachos Smoked With Bourbon Soaked Hickory Chips Baron Style

2011-02-02T21:37:00.000+11:00

Soaking wood chips in bourbon Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying "Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another". Today was one of those days for me, a defining moment, waking dream this very morning, my epiphany: Nachos smoked with Bourbon Soaked Hickory Chips. What, how, or why it came to mind still eludes

Frontiersman - Un-Distilled Whisky

2011-02-01T14:05:00.000+11:00

Comrades, I have recently completed another batch of un-distilled whisky, and although strictly speaking this is not a blog for such activities, I felt there was ample precedent for me to publish an article on this subject in this forum based on some recent posts on the subject eg. Fathers Day, Bringeth the Loveth, Old Engine Oil, The Classic. Mrs Colonel, a keen amateur photographer, was kind

Genie In A Bottle: Big Peat

2011-01-28T13:04:00.001+11:00

I am loving this whisky and it isn't even a single malt. When I first saw this at Whisky Live Sydney I felt this one was a bit of a gimmick just by the packaging so I had avoided it deliberately (no way I was going to buy into manipulative marketing) to my disappointment. I was recently given this bottle by a fellow drammer / cousin and was overly surprised by the result. Big Peat is a Islay

Getting a bit ordinary - Knockando 12yo

2011-01-27T21:13:00.000+11:00

I have seen this on the shelf for quite a while but never quite gotten around to buying a bottle. Luckily enough for me the Father-in-law bought the bottle but I think at the same time unfortunate for both of us. It has actually taken a good 3 months to finish the bottle between us so I thought to write a quick review while on the last drams. This really is a rather ordinary single malt in my

Can I have some more please sir? Whisky Galore

2011-01-25T11:27:00.002+11:00

Comrades, I know that in the past we have all been concerned about the availability of good quality whisky in Australia at a reasonable price. There are several good quality retailers in Sydney mind, so I’m not complaining. Its just that I was very pleased too find a new, online retailer focusing on the Australian Market - Whisky Galore. More retailers hopefully means more demand in Australia

A new whisky bar for Sydney?

2011-01-25T11:13:00.000+11:00

Members might be interested to know that the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting today that a new whisky bar is due to open in Sydney's Kings Cross. Details are currently limited, but the bar is tipped to be called Arcane and will be open by April. Although a secret entrance 'concealed behind a fireplace' worries the DTWC, a range of three hundred plus whiskies sounds enticing. It would take us

And He Said Unto Me: Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010

2011-01-20T22:26:00.003+11:00

When it comes to books about whisky, single malts in particular, it has a shelf life of maybe 2 or 3 years. Some of the club members will pull out a well fingered handbook from time to time sporting dogeared corners and well creased spines. Generally though I have found the limitations in these books is that they are describing whiskies that just are not in production anymore and or have changed

Big Pete: Douglas Laing Big Peat

2011-01-19T10:00:00.004+11:00

Comrades, The Big Peat is an independent Vatted Malt produced by Douglas Laing & Co and is available in Australia only at Dan Murphy’s (to my knowledge). I don’t own a bottle, but was fortunate enough to be given a sample by The Baron (passed on by the trusty El Capitan). As a result my tasting has been pretty small (only two drams) but I thought I’d strike while the iron is hot (and get in a

2011 is the time to Man Up - The Art Of Manliness

2011-01-14T11:12:00.000+11:00

Well lads as our little club is still a gents only affair (for now) then maybe a bit more testosterone will not hurt. Some of our club members such as The Colonel-in-Chief feel a need to man it up with a vintage Ford Mustang muscle car (with baby seat attachments) while others such as El Capitan find the simple pleasures of being a man in the art of Manscaping. Either way here's website for you

The Steak of Whiskies: Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky

2011-01-08T13:20:00.001+11:00

While being stuck in flooded Queensland over the Christmas to New Year period I thought this is prime opportunity to get another Dramcember tasting while I wait for the roads to open again. Single Malt Whisky in Rockhampton is a bit hard to come by and where you can find it, it is limited to only a couple of the regulars. This of course also goes for Bourbon but I did manage to find the Wild

The Colonel Gets his Rocks Off: Whisky Stones

2011-01-06T15:35:00.002+11:00

Well, I was lucky enough to receive a set of Whisky Stones for Christmas (thanks Mrs Colonel). I thought my Dramcember contribution could be a review of the Whisky Stones for the blog. From memory, Whisky Stones first came to my attention about a year ago when The Secretary sent out a club wide dispatch advertising them from Uncrate. I was very interested from that point on and made this known to

Oh What A Dram: An end to 2010

2010-12-31T00:40:00.000+11:00

We are now closing in on the last day of the year. This being the last post of the year how about a quick recap on what has happened. Though officially the go live of the Distant Thunder Whisky Club (D.T.W.C) blog site is not quite 2 years old it is actually our 2nd end of year cycle. Not a bad effort for a small group of attractive well-to-do dapper whisky players. The middle of the year saw

Fire Breathing Dragons: Ardbeg Uigeadail

2010-12-30T23:03:00.000+11:00

Ardbeg Uigeadail is a heavily peated, cask strength bottling, produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. It has won Jim Murray’s World Whisky of the Year and Scotch Single Malt awards in 2009 and 2010. I purchased this bottle at the first Whisky Live Sydney event (2009) and Dramcember seemed the perfect occasion to taste and share. Nose: Surprising amounts of phenol and strong

The Salted Dog: Bruichladdich Waves

2010-12-30T16:08:00.000+11:00

This is my Dramcember review for the year and quite pleased by what I chose: Bruichladdich Waves. There is always a risk buying a bottle of something you have never had before but it is the whole reason behind Dramcember, and that is to pick something you have never had, try it, and then write about it. Bruichladdich Waves is certainly a whisky to try. First dram impressions young and fresh but

Key Lime Pie: The Glenrothes Select Reserve

2010-12-20T23:58:00.004+11:00

Located in Speyside, The Glenrothes Select Reserve is the flagship malt for this distillery. It is made distinctive by its grenade-like bottle, which is fat, round and unlike many other traditional bottles. This distiller is unusual in another way, with its setup similar to a vineyard, with product lines in vintages rather than age statements. I guess the positive side of this method is that its

Don't Judge Jura By It's Cover: Jura Origin 10yo

2010-12-20T18:31:00.001+11:00

Recently with the gathering for the Distant Thunder Whisky Club event #6 I, The Baron, was host for the evening. As part of being the host brings the honour of choosing the whisky for the events tastings. The previous meeting held at The Converted's brought us an extremely robust and full bodied beauty, the Sullivans Cove Port Maturated Cask Strength, and what a body it had. In light of the

Whisky Night #6: Another Year in Retrospect

2010-12-17T16:22:00.001+11:00

Well another year has now come and gone again and so has another Whisky Night. Evening #6 saw a return to Casa de Woolery where we 'hatted up', shared some good tales, a fine darts comp, too much food and of course the obligatory whiskey tasting. Though our membership was small in attendance the numbers were great with wives and partners of members attending as well as children in tow to

Vintage Cellars: Ardbeg/Whisky Bible christmas promotion

2010-12-10T16:02:00.001+11:00

A quick note to fellow members and site visitors in Australia. I just received in the post this morning a promotion from Vintage Cellars. Buy any Ardbeg in store or by phone (1300 366 084) and receive a copy of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010 edition. Stocks are limited so be quick as they say. Don't try to find information on the Vintage Cellars website about this promotion as they do not seem

It's Dramcember Again

2010-12-07T19:41:00.031+11:00

Well Lads and Lasses it is that time of year again, yes you guessed it Dramcember, where we have our honorary commitments to expanding our whisky repertoire. So in the words handed down many a century rubbed black with the Woolery Tartan I ask you to read an repeat: Remember Remember The 9th of Dramcember! Dramcember Dramcember It is a time to remember! Dramcember Dramcember Let's dram one