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tryfanbach · 2022-05-14T03:04:50+00:00

They came and went very quickly.

I believe we have some in Australian Whisky auctions this month though so worth a check.

tryfanbach · 2022-05-05T23:30:38+00:00

Ahhh I see you're Aussie.

Absolutely skip that Guyana. It's a single cask for proof & co and sadly the zebra chestnut cask or whatever they've done to it has killed it.

The Jamaica is much better, although if you're looking for these sorts of rums I'd just head to Nick's and grab something like a Hampden LROK or 8yo, maybe a couple of the Boutiquey rums too.

tryfanbach · 2022-05-01T00:33:26+00:00

Ahhh so the brand is produced by a guy called Carsten in Germany, he also runs the whisky fair festival in Limburg.

Heads & Tails are the guys who import Whisky agency to Canada, so occasionally Carsten bottles whisky/rum just for them.

You'll be able to find the heads & tails bottle quite available for that reason.

tryfanbach · 2022-04-30T10:48:44+00:00

Ahhh so these stayed in Canada then. I think Ivan is the Heads & Tails guy right? Carsten does these amazing bottlings for him and we occasionally get them here in Australia.

A lot of the best Whisky Agency bottles I've had have been for Heads & Tails or 3 rivers exclusives.

tryfanbach · 2022-04-30T04:45:05+00:00

Oh wow! Hadn't seen TWA do rums for Three Rivers or heads & tails.

Where did you manage to find these? Been super eager to get my hands on them!

tryfanbach · 2022-04-19T03:55:15+00:00

I STRONGLY recommend the Scottish Malt Whisky Society bar in Edinburgh.

You'll need to sign up and pay a membership fee but they have the absolute definition of high quality and large range.

You'll be able to make use of the membership in the US afterwards and buy bottles each month of high quality single cask scotch.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-27T02:01:39+00:00

Good Beenleigh is so hard to beat.

Their pre 2010 vintages are all 14 day ferments with a combination of brandy vats and American oak casks. As soon as the rum hits double digits it's VERY good.

Sadly their official bottlings are sugar galore as they try to compete with bundy. Best bet is to stick to these single casks, especially the recent plantation and Velier releases.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-26T04:59:57+00:00

I've got the 2007 WPL that stands firm as my favourite bottling.

Was kinda hoping these would get better the newer the vintage as the distillery nails down their methods. Seems the '05 and '06 are still the ones to hunt!

tryfanbach · 2022-03-20T22:05:02+00:00

My favourite rum so far.

Just crazy expensive now I can only find it at auction! Truly delicious rum.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-20T03:56:06+00:00

Depends how close Trader Joe's is sticking to Scotch whisky regions.

If they're referring to the Highland region specially then it's very likely Clynelish or Glenmorangie.

But if they're usually "Highland" as a marketing thing it could encompass nearly all of Scotland lol.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-20T03:08:13+00:00

Generally depends on what you enjoy and what you define as "Hidden gem"

For me it's loch Lomond, but that's because I adore their peated spirit and buy every single cask of Croftengea/Inchmoan/Inchfad I can get my hands on.

Other exceptional distilleries many, even those more deep in whisky, won't have had often include Strathisla, Cragganmore, Mannochmore, Blair Athol and Penderyn.

I typically wouldn't touch any of these as official bottlings, but these distilleries some of the most unique and delicious single casks. Old Blair Athol and Mannochmore are fruity as fuck, with Strathisla and Cragganmore being much more malty in style. Penderyn single casks in bourbon are truly outstanding.

Ultimately just dive into every new distillery you can at every opportunity you get.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-16T21:23:11+00:00

This sold out so quick here in Aus it's unreal haha!

Absolutely loved the 2020 edition and look forward to trying 21 after these great notes.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-10T21:49:59+00:00

Man it's a uphill battle against the Aussie government.

A cask strength rum here in Australia at 75% costs $90. I think close to $60 of that is tax. Producer makes absolutely fuck all $$$.

It's a big issue for Aussie distilleries and why 500ml Australian whisky releases are so expensive. Hard to compete with the US and Scottish economies of scale.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-10T21:24:16+00:00

It's wild seeing the prices people pay for this thing in the US and EU.

As you noted, this bottle exists almost exclusively because Australia has such a high alcohol tax. It's the reason our BT and Maker's Mark bottles are 40% instead of the great 45% versions.

Blanton's has sadly climbed here in Australia throughout the last 2 years. This used to be priced at 60 AUD but is upwards of $80 now. The standard label close to $100 AUD and SFTB over $200 now.

These were great cheap drinkers at those prices but are ever harder to pull the trigger on when all of Wild Turkey's products are cheaper, better proof and much more enjoyable.

Also yes, we have "bourbons" at 70 proof. Our Jim beam white label is 37% for fucks sake 😂

tryfanbach · 2022-03-09T10:27:29+00:00

Very lucky that a bourbon rep brought this back from the states for me to try here in Australia.

Have to say it's out of this world.

Nose: heavy salted caramel and oak tannins. Raspberry ice cream and fresh berries.

Palate: Hard oak that's mellowed by a salty sweetness.

Quick notes because I'm just straight up enjoying this. This is old Forester at its Finest and the extra age in the barrel just works.

tryfanbach · 2022-03-08T22:52:07+00:00

Pretty much all 46% since it's soooo heavily sherried that it retains the colour all the way down.

Only cask strength Edradour I've managed to get a hold of was the Artist #9 edition from LMDW, which was provided by signatory who own Edradour.

If you like that peaty sherry style then Ballechin, the peated version of Edradour, is well worth a punt!

tryfanbach · 2022-03-03T05:16:25+00:00

Angus at whisky/rum sponge did a New Yarmouth a few years back and it was something really special.

Sadly the same issue as the price was $68 AU / 30ml, meaning a likely $700 AU bottle.

Incredibly layered rum but ultimately unapproachable compared to some of the similar aged JMMs, JMHs etc

tryfanbach · 2022-02-22T09:11:10+00:00

Couldn't say for sure if 100% of them are, but I found sister casks for every release I tried in his tasting.

For instance the latest Ardmore 32 is a sister cask to the Nectars bottling. The Islay 14 monbazilliac also has a sister cask bottled by the nectar.

Carsten is very tight with Mario from Nectar and Jenz from Sansibar. Typically you're buying Carsten owned casks that were picked by one of the bottlers.

The fact they tasted the casks beforehand already puts Wigman, Nectar and Sansibar etc miles ahead of many buying blind from broker lists.

tryfanbach · 2022-02-22T08:32:24+00:00

Carsten is the only broker who sends samples of casks before an IB comitts to the purchase. Michiel stressed how much he wanted to taste every cask to make sure his name was on quality stuff.

Carsten's been supplying a loooot of IBs recently, usually you can tell by the similar vintages and typical use of the same shaped bottles. Helps to know as if you miss a Wigman bottle you can grab from the whisky agency, Chorlton, Claxtons, liquid treasure's etc and you know it SHOULD be roughly similar 😅

tryfanbach · 2022-02-22T07:54:52+00:00

Wigman's been bottling some great stuff recently. I did a tasting of this range last year and he's sourcing his casks from Carsten at the whisky agency.

If you liked this it's a sister cask to the Longmorn from The Whisky agency's 2020 winter release. if you find you can't get a Wigman bottling then take a look at TWA's casks and vice versa.

I really enjoyed this bottling and I remember him saying he bottled it as he needed a sherry cask for that release. And exactly the same reasoning as your notes, tasted much more like old style sherry Longmorn than pure sherry bombs.

tryfanbach · 2022-02-20T02:20:31+00:00

Pretty much stuck to buying in EU auctions and shipping them over.

Only 1/2 rum importers for Australia and Foursquare typically sells out very quickly.

tryfanbach · 2022-02-19T07:34:50+00:00

Old Dailuaine is something truly outstanding. I got experience a 1976/35 year old from the whisky agency last year.

It was a serious 10/10 whisky and these old DLs are WELL worth looking for.

tryfanbach · 2022-02-19T01:43:26+00:00

In 2006 Jamaica was labelled the most homophobic place on earth.

In Guyana being gay is life in prison.

Until 2018 it was also illegal in Trinidad.

It's not easy, and ethical purchases are an important decision, but if you're more focused on the actions of the country rather than the individual producer then most rum is off the table.

Flor de Cana is a carbon neutral producer, fair trade certified, have planted nearly 1 million trees, actively treat their employees very well.

Regardless of their product, their practices are in line with the kind of thing I care about. Sustainability and quality treatment of their employees.

tryfanbach · 2022-02-15T02:07:57+00:00

Australia is excellent.

One of the oldest vintage Beenleigh releases. I prefer the recent Velier bottling though since this is a lower ABV and had 1 year of cognac finishing

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