MrWhiskyGuy

A hand holds aloft a bottle of Jamesons Irish Whisky. The liquid in the bottle is almost a crimson red. The branding states "Black Barrel", "Reserve Series", "Expertly Aged" and "Established 1780". The backdrop is a green shawl with a red embroides butterfly.

Today's whiskey dram is Jameson's Black Barrel. A fruity and cinnamon smelling Irish Whiskey, just in time for Saint Patrick's Day. bourbon-esque spirit has a delicate taste of brown sugar and toasted grains. Great to drink on its own, but also quite popular as the base for an Irish coffee.

A bottle of deep-amber Ledaic (pronounced laid-chick) stands upright on the edge of a shelf. The bottle is embossed with the year 1798. It is branded with "Ledaig", "aged 9 years", "Tobermory Distillery" and "Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured". There are whisky bottle boxes behind it in the background, including Talisker and Glenkinchie, as well as some scattered Glencairn glasses.

Today's whisky dram is Tobermory Distillery's 9-Year Ex-Bordeaux, named Ledaig.
Ledaig, or "Safe Haven", is the original name of the distillery. This richly peated single malt has a scent of smoked fruits and the taste of an earthy bonfire with pine and cherries.

Today's whisky dram is The Classic Laddie, the signature release from Bruichladdich. This Islay single malt has a honey and floral scent, a fruity vanilla flavour with a caramel finish. The Classic Laddie is bottled at 50%, which is higher than the flaship releases of most other brands.

Today's whisky dram is the Springbank Hand-Filled Distillery Exclusive, direct from Campbeltown. This is a delicious dram which, to me, has a sweet fruity scent and a rich and smokey tobacco taste.

Day 25/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the unpeated ex-Rye cask from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 6/6 of their individual cask expressions. A peppery dram with vanilla.

Happy Christmas!

Day 24/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the peated ex-Rye cask from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 5/6 of their individual cask expressions. Vanilla taste with spicy black pepper.

Day 23/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is their unpeated Chinkapin oak cask from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 4/6 of their individual cask expressions. A taste of sweet fruits, ginger and honey.

Day 22/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the peated Chinkapin Oak from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 3/6 of their individual cask expressions. Butterscotch flavours with wood smoke and toffee.

Day 21/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the unpeated Bordeaux ex-Red Wine cask from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 2/6 of their individual cask expressions. Taste of dried fruits and pudding.

Day 20/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the peated Bordeaux ex-Red Wine cask from their Nà Sia 5 years young series. 1/6 of their individual cask expressions. A very fruity whisky with a peppery spice.

Day 19/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is "Makar's Malt" (Here' Tae Ye), created in honour of international women's day. It was a collaboration with Scots Makar Jackie Kay.

Day 18/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the Nightworks special release of the R-02.3.2 signature malt. This dram celebrates the Celtic electronic band of the same name. Lightly peated and delicious, one of the last specials before the R-02 is renamed to "The Draam".

Day 17/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is a private cask from The Spirits Room, an Oloroso Sherry quarter-cask maturation. A smell of cinnamon, fruits and toffee. A taste of citrus-like brown sugar followed up by spice.

Day 16/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Raasay's Dùn Cana, second release. Named "The world's best single malt Scotch" by Forbes, this tasty sip is spicy/ peppery with vanilla and toffee and a chocolate finish.

Day 15/25 if the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Raasay's Columbian Oak maturation (Quercus Humboldtii). Quite a rare cask type you don't often see. Intensely spicy with notes of nutmeg, tobacco and herbs.

Day 14/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Naomi's Cask, a special edition bottling for international women's day 2024. Matured in Chinkapin oak, the bottle tells us what to expect. "Vibrant dark fruits with sweet ginger and honey."

Day 13/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the 2024 selfridges exclusive bottling. Matured fully in an ex-Pedro Ximenez quarter-cask, this single malt smells of coffee and smoke. Taste of brown sugar, toffee and nuts.

Private cask, huh? Very nice 👌

Day 12/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the 2024 cask strength release. A 61.7% bottling of Raasays signature single malt. Spice, smoke and dark fruits make up a very well-balanced taste.

Day 11/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the 2024 Amontadillo Sherry release exclusive to Slàinte Club members. A strong one at 50%. Tastes of cinnamon, salt, pepper and spice with a fruity aroma.

Day 10/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's is the Dùn Cana (first release), an award winning single malt named for the highest point on Raasay. This is a sherry quarter-cask release, combining ex-Oloroso with ex-Pedro Ximenez. A dram of gingerbread, dark chocolate and wood smoke.

Day 9/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the 2022 Distillery of the Year special edition. Matured in ex-Bourbon and Colombian Oak casks. Taste of vanilla and crème brûlée.

Day 8/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Raasays 2022 special release to celebrate winning tourism destination of the year. An ex manzanilla sherry cask, this one has a nutty peppery taste mixed with salted caramel.

Day 7/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is the 2023 cask strength release. A 61.3% ABV bottling of their signature single malt (R-02.1). This is a complex dram with everything from peppery notes with wood smoke to butterscotch and honey. Impressive for such young spirits.

Day 6/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Ensign Ewart's private cask. Exclusive for the Edinburgh Royal Mile pub of the same name. This is a cask strength ex-Rye maturation finished in an ex-Oloroso sherry cask. A tasty balanced dram which is gently smoked and fruity

Day 5/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's expression is a cask bottling of their peated spirit, matured in an ex-Rye cask. This makes up part of their first Na Śia single-cask campaign. A decently smokey dram, this tastes of spices and toffee with a distinct pepperyness.

Day 4/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Raasay's R-02. The second batch of their 2020 signature malt. R-02 is similar to their first batch (R-01) but with a subtly different blend of the six barrels they use.

That being said, probably bury it in a box for a while until things blow over.

At 54 years, I'd be surprised if has much of a complex taste any more. There is a point where it stops being whisky and starts being an oak soup. It's probably worth more as is than it is opened.

Day 3/25 of the Isle of Raasay advent calendar. Today's whisky dram is Raasay's R-01, the first batch of their signature single malt. This is one of their first expressions of Na Śia, or "The Six", where the same single malt is matured in 6 peated and unpeated barrels before being blended. Nom.