Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #325


Grant's 18yo
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% abv

£ $ ? can't find a price


The last in a series of blended whiskies I have been running on Dr.
Whisky and I have been reassured that blends do not deserve the bad reputation they currently have. Folks who know Dr. Whisky know that he loves blends, their flavour, diversity, and history. Sure, the hundreds of 3 year old no age statement blends branded as Clan ____ and Glen _____ and Royal _____ have tarnished this reputation, but I hope the past few posts have redeemed the category for readers. A blend is often bad, but that is not the nature of the beast. It cannot be said that blends are worse than single malts. As I have said before, the best whiskies I have tried have probably been single malts, but the WORST whiskies I have tried had definitely been single malts. This Grant's Rare Old 18yo is finished in port casks, sort of a marrying period for the blend.

When Pattison's blending house went bankrupt in 1898 it brought down many distilleries and distilling companies with it. The "Pattison Crash" as it came to be known (see THIS for all Dr. Whisky posts that mention this monumental moment in whisky history) left many expecting the end of the whisky industry. William Grant saw an opportunity. He had built to distilleries at that point, Glenfiddich ain 1887 and Balvenie in 1892, and by the end of the century has had started his own blending house and grew into exporting with the help of his son and son-in-law, John and Charles. Charles, famously determined, made his first sale after 181 calls; his second after his 503rd. Meanwhile, John began exporting to The Hudson Bay Company of Canada. Today, Grant's blended whisky is sold in over 180 countries but this particular marque is really hard to find. Unfortunately.

For more info on William Grant and Sons and their whiskies enjoyed thus far on the mission, click HERE.

Thanks to the WG&S folks for getting this for me and to JB for travelling to the US with it.

TASTING NOTES:

Grain whisky leads with a sweet breadiness, vanilla wafers, and a deep and provocative oakiness. The malt whiskies are heavy, oily, salty, very Highland in style (Scapa, Dalmore, Clynelish, even Cragganmore from Speyside) and some papaya or tropical fruitiness that lifts the malt density. Meringue, bubblegum, suntan lotion, damp cutting boards, metal like guitar strings, toffee, lime... the aroma is among the most complex I have encountered.

Whoa, different direction. Malt leads with more of an Islay oiliness now, smoke and tar, prunes, woody and aged. Chewy and full, like decadent chocolate brownies, slightly savage and satisfying like grabbing the ass of someone you love and have longed for. Incredibly long oaky finish with heavy grain notes like rye bread, tobacco smoke, and the freshness of cedar. Flavours linger. And linger.

SUMMARY:

Years ago, Dave Broom wrote the following words about this dram, "So thick and honeyed you could paint it on your lover's body." Brilliant note, and not wholly inaccurate. This is a delicious drop rich with complexity and, as DB implies, sensually smooth.

Avoid ice. I feel the need to say this as the few countries lucky enough to have this bottling in their markets probably drink all Scotch on the rocks or in mizuwari. AVOID ICE. This is blending that should be celebrated and appreciated as a constant reminder that this incredible art, this incalculable skill, is what initially brought the world of whisky to a world of whisky drinkers. We are still here, if you'll have us... we bow in your presence.

Malt Mission #321
Malt Mission #322

Malt Mission #323
Malt Mission #324

Malt Mission HOME

Friday, December 19, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #324


Buchanan's 18yo
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% abv

$80 (USD)


Usually the question is "how much is this whisky?" or "how much is that whisky here?", but in the case of Buchanan's 18yo, the question in my experience has been "WHERE is this whisky?" Upon moving from the UK to America I learned that on the back of the latin population's love of Buchanan's in many of their home countries in South America, we get the good fortune of its presence in the USA. And the people rejoiced.

For more on James Buchanan and to see all whiskies in this family of blends had on the mission, click HERE. Now if I could just get my hands on some of that Red Seal.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet and fleshy like a baby's skin. Lots of tropical fruit like mangos and an aromatic earthiness that is sweet like tobacco but dirty like mud. Creamy, evocative and provocative.

Luscious and creamy, peat and burnt sugar, toast and honey, bananas, stewed carrots, and brown rice. Wonderful balance and very hard to resist refilling the glass.

SUMMARY:

A perfectly round ball of flavour that is neither too much this nor too much that but ticks all boxes of sweet, sour, salty, and smoky. Upon reflection, my favourite element is the outright lack of overt oakiness until way late in the finish when old perfumy grandfather clock woodiness makes an appearance.

Malt Mission #321

Malt Mission #322

Malt Mission #323
Malt Mission #325

Malt Mission HOME

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #323

Johnnie Walker Gold Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Gold 18yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£52.99
$99.95(CAD)
$75 (USD)

The last of the Johnnie Walker colour hierarchy for me to taste formally on the mission. I promise the delay was not intentional as I had plenty of opportunities to drink the stuff (and man, did I), but not until very recently did I have the chance to taste it in the controlled environment of Dr. Whisky's lab in the controlled method of the Malt Mission.

I do find it hilarious to see new (and old, for that matter) whisky websites tasting and rating whiskies they tried at a distillery, or outside at Feis Isle, after 3 glasses of wine at their uncle's place for dinner, or after 15 other malts at DrunkFEST Chicago, or... Not exactly fair, nor representative of the true flavours of the whisky. Sure, no matter how or when you drink the stuff your impressions will be wholly subjective and by no means absolute (hate to disappoint some of you aspiring MJs and misguided JMs), but at least attempt to have some semblance of control otherwise your authority is nullified immediately and your notes are of no use to anyone but yourself. Maltsterbating, I suppose. By this I mean that WHEN and IN WHAT TYPE OF GLASS are probably the only elements of tasting, of being impressed upon by a malt whisky, that you can control. Without some consistency in the tasting ritual, ESPECIALLY if you are going to have the arrogance to criticise and rate and give scores, you are doing nothing more than jerking off into the toilet. Useless.

Some surfing alerted me to the presence of much misinformation about Johnnie Walker Gold so let me verify that this is a BLENDED whisky: it is made up of 15 or more single malt whiskies mixed with grain whiskies. This does not make it "better" or "worse", it is just different than a single malt or a blended malt whisky. Although the Walker's were grocers in Kilmarnock from 1820, it was in the 1850s that they became whisky blenders and today the name Johnny Walker is synonomous with quality blended Scotch whisky.

For more info and for all Johnnie Walker's had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Spicy, sweet, winey, and smoky. Red grapes and orange oil, honey and malt, some licorice and stewed cloves. Lots going on in a really co-dependent style.

Soft but full flavours flow across the tongue with sweet smokiness, honey, and some mango and papaya. Gentle but immensely rich.

SUMMARY:

Talisker elements of smoke, salt and pepper, creamy and honeyed elements of Clynelish, with plenty of speyside fruitiness like Linkwood and/or Glen Elgin. Really delicious, harmonious, and classy blending.

Malt Mission #321
Malt Mission #322

Malt Mission #324
Malt Mission #325

Malt Mission HOME

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Christmas Picks 2008


Ladies and Laddies, at your request, the second installment of Dr. Whisky's top whisky, and whisky-related picks for Christmas. Not necessarily cheap whisky nor a lot of Christmas whiskey, but a few things worth every penny and things that would make good gifts for those whisky nerds in your life.

BEST WHISKY ONLINE OFFERS and SALES

The Whisky Exchange
Ardbeg Uigeadail £38.50
Bunnahabhain 25yo £145
Clynelish Distillers Edition £35
Elements of Islay Set £100

Talisker 25 £87

Royal Mile Whiskies
Ardmore Traditional £23
Kilchoman Connoisseurs Pack £20
Royal Island 17yo £25

Royal Island 30yo £55
Glenfarclas 25yo £82.95

For Scotch Lovers.com
Talisker Sampler Pack (20cl bottles of 10, 18, and Distillers Edition) $50
Tomatin 25yo $125
The Balvenie 17yo $135

BEST CHRISTMAS WHISKY GIFTS

Social Christmas Gifts

Joining the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is worthwhile for any malt drinker and would make a wonderful gift that keeps on giving as newletters, bottling lists, and tasting event listings arrive by mail year round. In the UK, there are members rooms in Edinburgh [Leith Vaults (mentioned in a past Dr. Whisky post HERE) and Queen St.] and London (Greville St.) and they are absolutely stunning venues and great spots to entertain guests... or just yourself.

In the USA, the SMWSA is equally wonderful but operates slightly differently. You still reveive mail and have access to an exclusive list of soctiety bottlings, but it is much more a network of friends, bottles, and events that come to you! Twice a year, the SMWSA tours the country hitting larger cities with the best consumer whisky fairs in the country. They never oversell tickets so there is always room to move, good food to eat, and the Shayne family and friends do such a great job (and are such wonderful people), paying membership to be invited to their tasting events is worth every single penny.

And their new bottle design is absolutely stunning. Nice work, guys!

Readable Christmas Whisky Gifts

The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009: Another edition of the annual must-have from Ingvar Ronde, a book full of enough basics to educate the new whisky enthusiast, enough info entertain the casual whisky drinker, and enough detail to satisfy the real whisky nerds among us. As usual, the book includes detailed bios on all operating (and many closed) distilleries, stats and commentary on the year that was, info on websites (including this one), and an absolutely brilliant section of articles with contributions from Charles Maclean, Ian Buxton, Walter Schobert, Dominic Roskrow, David Stirk, Gavin D. Smith. This easy to transport and easy to read softcover is part magazine, part book, part distillery guide, part industry report and ALL amazing reading with brilliant new additions every year. No other book but the Malt Whisky Yearbook travels with me everywhere my malt mission takes me, and there is good reason for that.

Richard Paterson (and Gavin D. Smith's) Goodness Nose is a brand new book that has been in the works for longer than you can imagine. The subtitle, "The Passionate Revelations of a Scotch Whisky Master Blender" is pretty accurate and shamelessly embraces the confident but charming tone of Richard himself that permeates every page. Paterson is a third generation blender whose knack for recounting our shared cultural history, weaving it with the history of Scotch whisky, and draping it with his insightful wit is unmatched, either in his presentations or in the pages of this carefully crafted book. My own interest in blended whisky gets nourished with this book as few but Paterson can offer parallel insight into its history and craft. And he is not one to hold back.

Robin Laing's The Whisky River (or HERE):
Laing's well-written guide to Willie Nelson... just kidding. This is an intentionally and incidentally poetic guide to the distilleries of Speyside told in a way only Laing can, with song and spirit on every page. A delight to read.

Charlie Maclean's Whisky Tales or Maclean's Miscellany of Whisky (hardback and softcover available): Two books from one of the world's greatest whisky scholars that are absolute fun to read cover to cover or one section at a time. Unique books in the world of whisky lit: no tasting notes or chronological histories... just the best stories and factual tidbits told by a brilliant writer with an obvious passion for his topic.

and, of course, for the real fact nut

Misako Udo's The Scottish Malt Whisky Distilleries(hardback also available): The life, times, still size and phenolic content of every (legal?) malt distillery to have existed in Scotland. Amazing attention to detail with the new addition of brief distillery summaries.


Drinkable Christmas Whisky Gifts


The malts above are all well-suited for Xmas and are just a selection of the various offers at each outlet made by yours truly with Christmas in mind.

A good Christmas whisky should be pleasant to drink for both
new and experienced whisky drinkers. An added bonus is if they have some rich, winter-warming spice, dried fruit, etc.
(Buy one bottle of sherry this year, too. As whisky lovers, we need to support the Spanish sherry industry!)
So here are a nice round SEVEN recommended Christmas Whiskies, irrespective of price, but hopefully there is something for everyone's budget (and nothing that demands hiring a detective to find):


Grant's Family Reserve

Johnnie Walker 12yo Black Label
The Balvenie 17yo Rum Cask
Glengoyne 17yo
Bunnahabhain 25yo
Glenfarclas 30yo
Glenmorangie Signet

Hope this has been of use. If you have any whisky questions, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Whisky for a prescription.
In the UK? Check out Joel and Neil's top whisky Xmas gifts at CASKSTRENGTH.NET
In DC? Check out ScotchChix for their update of cheap whisky in the US Capitol.
Beyond the world of whisky, check out Camper English's ALCADEMICS gift picks.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #322


Cutty Sark 15yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£30

$71.35 (CAD)

Like many age statement blends, Cutty Sark 15 year old is a whisky that certainly has a higher profile and availability in certain niche markets than in others. Whisky nerds like Maltakias have probably seen this ad before.

For more history on the brand and to see all Cutty Sarks had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Incredibly apple-y. Apple crisp, brown sugar, cinnamon. Creamy, sweet, and spicy.

Super smooth, pleasant and juicy with apples, dry white wine, and maple syrup. Sticky with oak and generally juicy sweet.

SUMMARY:

Yum! An absolutely delicious Speyside-style blend with only the faintest smoke to whisk through the orchards of flavour.

Malt Mission #321
Malt Mission #323
Malt Mission #324
Malt Mission #325

Malt Mission HOME

Monday, December 01, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #321


Black and White
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£15
$24 (USD)
$27.95 (CAD)


Been a while since Dr. Whisky has had a blended whisky week here on the mission, so let's start one now. Absurd that I keep measuring in weeks of five malt missions considering I have rarely posted more than twice per week since June 2008. Whatever. The formula works.

In the mid 1880s, James Buchanan started a London blending business selling whisky in distinctive black bottles with white labels. The official name was The Buchanan Blend of Fine Old Scotch Whiskies and was eventually popularised by the name his customers had given it, Black & White. The brand name Black & White was registered in 1905 and the famous coupling of a white west highland terrier and black Scottish terrier began being used to advertise the product.
Over the next decade the blend found its way into homes, bars, clubs, and theatres and became the exclusive supplier to the House of Commons.

Buchanan built Glentauchers distillery (with W.P. Lowrie) to ensure a supply of good malt for the blend. Dalwhinnie has traditionally been a constituent part over the years as well and Buchanan at oen time owned now closed distilleries Convalmore and Port Ellen. The brand joined with Dewars before joining with John Walker and Sons and then Distillers Company Limited (DCL), a partnership known at the time as "The Big Amalgamation."

Today, Black and White still sells well in mainly export markets (although it was recently reintroduced to the UK market) and is affectionately remembered for its clever adverts and marketing items, most of which are highly treasured by collectors. The LCBO website indicates "PRODUCT DISCONTINUED". With this old reliable blend gone from LCBO shelves, I wonder what Companion of the Quaich-er Michael Riley will put in its place? So much for CanCon, too... James Buchanan was born in Ontario in 1849.

TASTING NOTES:

Soft and vanilla-ed like ice cream, the kind where "cream" actually appears in the ingredients. Unripe kiwis, light citrus, and a little celery salt.

Immediately sweet, and slightly smoky, salty even, then a bit souring, some pepper and oak.

SUMMARY:

Definitive standard blend. Predominantly sweet without much else to compete. Balanced, simple, and generally innoffensive.

Malt Mission #320
Malt Mission #322
Malt Mission #323
Malt Mission #324
Malt Mission #325

Malt Mission HOME


Monday, November 24, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #320


Rosebank 25yo (1981)
Lowland Single Malt Whisky
61.4% abv

£130


First, I would ask you to draw your attention to is the abv of this puppy. Yowza.

Second thing is that I appreciate the emails of encouragement in spite of the fact that my posting rate has been irregular at best. THANK YOU. And thanks to those who continue to send samples. Dr. Whisky has no intention of stopping this mission, and goodness knows he hasn't; he just struggles to find time to write about it.

Third, YES, I will be doing a Christmas Picks post again where I list Dr. Whisky's choices of the best whisky to give (or receive) this Christmas, including whisky books and other stuff for the malt lover in your life.

Fourth, let's taste this gem from the closed Rosebank distillery. Hey! This is the first Rosebank had on the mission... Amazing. Well, sorry it has taken so long. It is a wide wide world of whisky out there.

Originally converted from the maltings at Camelon Distillery in Falkirk, Rosebank distillery was situatied on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal and, many believe, was "murdered" when in the late 1980s, DIAGEO decided to include Glenkinchie as one of its classic malts for the lowland region. Too little too late, but the world has since learned what fine spirit was being produced at this distillery, one of the last to practice triple distillation. It is said that there might still be some Rosebank contributing to Johnnie Walker Swing. Who knows?

This is one of 4,170 bottles produced. Today, notes are by TF, with a few additions by yours truly.

TASTING NOTES:

Waxy, sweet; plenty of forward oak, sweet orange, some butterscotch, fudge, spices, cloves. Big, powerful alcoholic prickle. It is over 120 proof! Rye bread, and some wine-like characteristics. Floral notes eventually fight their way through, along with ginger and melon. With water, becomes more biscuity and develops honey notes.

Big oak surge, then the alcohol, zoink! Oily with immense hot pepper and spice, clove and chilli seeds. Very full and oily. As the initial alcohol burn dies away, amazing polished malt comes through to spar with the spices. Delicious. Through the finish, lovely unctuous malt continues to envelop the tastebuds. The length is phenomenal. The clove and cracked black peppercorns have the last word.

COMMENTS:

Oof! This is a monster (in a good way). The official literature refers to this as 'ripe and mellow'. You're having a laugh, mate - ripe, perhaps; mellow? er, I think not. Clearly aged Rosebank has a different profile to the old 8yo people raved about. Hats off to whoever selected the casks for this - it emphatically gives the lie to the received wisdom that Rosebank had to be bottled young.

Thanks, Tim.

Malt Mission #316
Malt Mission #317
Malt Mission #318
Malt Mission #319

Malt Mission HOME

Monday, November 17, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #319

Highland Park Tasting Notes
Highland Park 16
Island
Single Malt Whisky
40% abv

£35

Twenty (20!) days since my last Dr. Whisky post and it is not for lack of dramming. Been crazy busy with work and the whiskevangelism has taken me west to Chicago, further to San Francisco and LA, south to Tampa and Miami with roadtrips to Boston, Washington and Philadelphia in between. And yes, a few drams have been had. Have been very fortunate to meet many amazing folks and to see the best and worst bits of this disparate and expansive land. Stories to come in my published chronicles, "Dr. Whisky's Casebook"... heheh.

I recently met Martin Daraz, Highland Park's Ambassador here in the USA. Martin is infected with a sharp wit and the only remedy is, you guessed it, uisge. He insisted on calling me DOCTOR so I insist on featuring some HP sauce on my return to the mission. This expression is only available at Duty Free in the UK (elsewhere?)

Tasted with PK. His notes appear in quotes. For all Highland Parks had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Cocktail orange. "Bright notes, a lot of candy, fresh, open feeling as well. Candy floss" Slightly winey, honeyed. Woody, "yeah, like fresh construction." This oaky element develops over time, with malty sweetness, opening up to melon and green strawberries. "A light hint of darkness, not ebony, but mahogany. Goes towards the dark."

Dry at first with a candied plum, and a flambéed sugar toastiness. "It's got a bite. Definitely." Floral and sweet like white port ("yeah, vin santo"), some sherry spiciness, but dry and quite oaky. Grapefruit. Lavender candies. And again, oak.

SUMMARY:

Patience is this dram's friend. With time and air "it suits a spring-feel, bright notes and playfulness. Warm sunlight in cool air, blossoms and, I don't want to go over the top here, but sort of free (hand genstures), you know what I mean?" It must be said, Paul is expressive in art and music as well as whisky-soaked verbiage.

I loved taking my time with this and each nosing or tasting brought new impressions. Distinctly different from the 12 or 18 year olds, and endlessly fascinating. Just enough dry edge to to be puckering and encourage another sip. Might match very well with creamy sweetness like creme brulée or certain cheeses. And the Scotch Chix dug it.

Malt Mission #316
Malt Mission #317
Malt Mission #318
Malt Mission #320

Malt Mission HOME

Monday, October 27, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #318

Macallan Tasting Notes Macallan 15yo
Speyside Single Malt Whisky

43% abv

£40

$124.95 (CAD)

$78(USD)


This is from the Fine Oak range of Macallans that are matured in refill, ex-bourbon, and some ex-sherry casks. Is that enough to justify the utterly obscene price at the LCBO (see above)? Wow. For a standard bottling? Seems nuts, but I guess those crazy Canucks buy it. I can think of a few other drops I might prefer for 125 bucks.

Reminds me of something I saw in an email from my friend Doug Stone at FORSCOTCHLOVERS.COM. He has partnered with Carol Iselin and Dave Sugar, the creative minds behind Inner Light Crystal Studios in New York, to create only 21 hand-carved bottles of Macallan Fine Oak 21yo. Now there is something that might be worth the spend. Take a look HERE.

Macallan, one of Speyside's most legendary distilleries is undergoing a bit of renovation. I was able to visit the Macallan distillery in August and see some of the construction they were doing to increase production, storage, and tour-ability of the site. A whole new process house is being created and, I imagine, will be the showroom of production so the tours needed walk so far into the plant (or so near the steel washbacks).

For more distillery info and to see all Macallans had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Oaky and spicy, waxy and woody. A carpentry shop with hard honeydew, white rind of watermelon, cinnamon, and quite lush with vanilla.

Buttered white toast, nutty oiliness, with toffee and bitter chocolate. Oak throughout, even a bit cardboardy. Great movement in the finish where the vanilla-ed oak blossoms and lingers for some time.

SUMMARY:

The nose is pleasant, oaky, and sweet but the alcohol is quite aggressive causing strong prickles with even shallow nosings. Square on the palate with distinct regions of flavour that give an overall rounded impression. But again, the alcohol tingles and this will be a challenging feature for many. Certainly improves with time in the glass and a few drops of water.

Malt Mission #316
Malt Mission #317
Malt Mission #319
Malt Mission #320

Malt Mission HOME

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #317


Scapa 14yo
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£30
$56.96 (CAD)
$45(USD)

NOMINATED in the 2008 DRAMMIES
*Most Under-rated whisky
Vote HERE (before Mar 6, 2009)


Based on the northern Orkney islands, Scapa is somewhat of a neglected jewel in the Pernod Ricard (Chivas, Glenlivet, Aberlour) portfolio. The distillery is only producing spirit 3 days a week. It is unsual in still using a lomond still, although it is operated as a normal still today (the parallel plates have been removed), and Scapa practices the longest fermentation time of any distillery: 160 hours.

This Scapa 14 expression replaced the Scapa 12 (Malt Mission #67) expression in 2004 and the rumours are that a Scapa 16 may be soon replacing this 14yo. To be fair, this sort of thing makes sense as their stocks from a period of when the distillery was mothalled (1994-2004) must be very limited as the only spirit produced during these years was when staff from the nearby Highland Park distillery would come by for a couple months per year to fire up the stills. So most the stock to be used to make a well-rounded spirit may actually be quite a bit older than 12, 14, or 16 (hence the age jumps, and justifiable price jumps).

For more distillery info or to see all Scapas had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Powdered candied sweets. Earth, soil and salt, oak and fruits. Little jojoba. FunDip. Really quite appetising.

Soft and juicy, like actual juice... and booze. Toffee sweet, drying with time. Dirtier and drier with time. Feels good in the mouth.

SUMMARY:

Extremely enjoyable. Light nose, heavier body, sweet and salty dram with few comparisons.

Malt Mission #316
Malt Mission #318
Malt Mission #319
Malt Mission #320

Malt Mission HOME

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #316


Compass Box Asyla
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£24.99

$40 (USD)

This is the first and only blended whisky from whisky creator and all-round admirable guy John Glaser and Compass Box. It also marks the last marque in his range that has not yet been on the mission (if we include the Cantos as a single "expression"). Oh damn... execpt for Orangerie... which I see has just been re-released!!! Woo hoo!

The name Asyla is beautiful and evokes the problematic notion of finding refuge in a bottle, perhaps inappropriate to some, but for others an idea that resonates with the definition of institutions "for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons." Anyone feel a little unfortunate these days? Smile! Life is wonderful SO FIND THE WONDER!!! I promise it is there in the company of your friends and family, the smiles of the children around you, in your own resourcefulness and creativity, and, yes, in delicious and beautifully crafted scotch whisky, in spite of what some haphazardly composed "satircal prose" might tell you.

This whisky is made up of single malts (Linkwood, Glen Elgin, Teaninich) and grain whisky (Cameron Bridge) 100% matured in first fill (ex-bourbon) American oak barrels. Awards have been draped upon this whisky since its inception.

For all Compass Box had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

with Ran and Matt.

TASTING NOTES:

Baked goods, light and clean, wood treatment/laquer, orange furniture polish thing that mums use. "A little bit grassy"-MH, "yeah, hay"-Ran.

Much fuller on palate than nose, but soft. Malty with some citrus. Hazelnuts, All-Bran. "Quite a nice, smooth aftertaste."-RM

SUMMARY:

Grows on you, "more than it ever seems it will be." Tight bordering on flat, but quite full and smooth, rich and sweet. Good hillwalking summer dram and the front line redeemer of a whole category of scotch whisky.

Malt Mission #315
Malt Mission #317

Malt Mission #318
Malt Mission #319
Malt Mission #320

Malt Mission HOME

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #315

Glenfiddich Vintage Cask 1977
Glenfiddich Vintage Cask 1977
Cask #4414
Speyside Single Malt Whisky

54.1% abv

£375

$750 (USD)

While Glenfiddich fast approaches becoming the first single malt to sell 1million cases in a single year we begin to see signs of a possible downturn for the booming decade that Scotch whisky has enjoyed. And no, it is not because interest in waning or scotch is losing out some competition with bourbon/vodka/rum, but it is because the planet is producing insufficent food for demand, it is because the poorest people in the world cannot afford to feed themselves or their families, it is because people cannot afford homes they cannot afford, it is because the richest people in the world have invisible money that is vanishing (paradox?). Good times!

So here is a luxury good perfectly suited to be enjoyed as the ship sinks. May all this hardship rekindle a sense of community that has been eroded for so long in western culture and bring us back to the fundamental importance of taking care of one another. So let's share this proverbial bottle and come together.

This year's Vintage Cask release from Glenfiddich was selected from a shortlist chosen by David Stewart and Brian Kinsman of six european oak casks from 1975 and 1977. Both David and warehouseman Don Ramsay were around when this cask was filled (in fact, Don had been at Glenfiddich nearly twenty years at that point!). The other selection panelists this year were authors Gavin D Smith and Walter Schobert, restauranteur Jimmy Bradley, and Russian whisky expert Erkin Touzmohamedov. The cask yielded 450 bottles. Check out the Glenfiddich Channel on YouTube to see the selection process.

For all Glenfiddich had on the Malt Mission and distillery info, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Incredibly clean, a well-dressed gentleman. Raisins, sour plums, cranberries, and honey. Dried fruits with big, sherried french kisses. Water unleashes vanilla ice cream.

Powerful and bready, gorgeous chocolate croissant flavour. Reminiscent of very fine cognac. Big, soul-seducing oak, grapes and cinnamon.

SUMMARY:

An absolute treat. My tasting notes do not do this justice as I simply found it too much of a distraction to type impressions while in its grip. And to put those impressions into words somehow diminished their significance. Silent, contemplative sipping that can assure the battered spirit that the it will persevere. Could be worse.

Malt Mission #311
Malt Mission #312
Malt Mission #313
Malt Mission #314

Malt Mission HOME

Monday, October 06, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #314


Aberfeldy 21 yo
Speyside Single Malt Whisky

40% abv
£89
$150 (USD)

Winner of the Best Mainland Whisky award at the 2007 World Whisky Awards, this 21 year old expression from Aberfeldy distillery was introduced in 2005, 7 years after Bacardi acquired the distillery (along with Dewar's blends and 4 other malt distilleries) from Diageo. The award winning vistors' centre Dewar's World of Whisky opened in 2000 and has been visited by almost a million people.

Although Dewar's dominance in the USA market has slipped a little in recent years, the brands diversification into 12, 18 and ultra premium while raising the blend's association with this fine distillery has helped it's appreciation among malt enthusiasts and widened its consumer base beyond the scotch and soda crowd, if those old fogies even still exist.

For all Dewar's whiskies had on the mission, click HERE. Thanks to SM for sending along the drop and sorry for taking about a year to feature it.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet, rich and beautiful. Creamy with incredible aroma integration. Nothing out of place or prickly. Toasty, woody, and full of honey and heather, even a gorse-y coconut aroma among a luscious creaminess.

Gorgeous first impressions, flavours so well bound. Macadamia nutes, marzipan, chocolate and buttermilk pancakes then a toasted nut effect, almond butter, with honey, oranges, and malty malty goodness.

SUMMARY:

A great balance of European and American oak influences after 21 years in casks make this excellent drop worth every penny. One for everyday dramming if you could afford it.

Malt Mission #311
Malt Mission #312
Malt Mission #313
Malt Mission #315

Malt Mission HOME

Friday, October 03, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #313


The Balvenie 17yo Rum Cask
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
43% abv

£65

$130(USD)


The creative baby of the folks at Balvenie, the 17 yo expression has seen incarnations as Islay Cask, New Wood, New Oak, Sherry Oak, and now the 17yo Rum Cask.
This year The Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart and his 9-year apprentice Brian Kinsman have gone for a Jamaican Rum Cask finished Balvenie to be their 17yo release.

Folks in the USA will notice that the Balvenie Rum Cask 17yo is about 45 bucks more expensive than its predecessor, the 17yo Sherry Cask (tasted on Malt Mission #312). This has spawned a bit of a discussion on John Hansell's WHAT DOES JOHN KNOW regarding price increases across the Scotch whisky world. I have not yet weighed in on the issue on John's site, but I will add my two cents now.

All of the top 10 single malt distilleries in the world are working at full capacity for the first time since the 1970s if ever. The technical advances and increases in labour hours have therefore increased and if we want, say, Dalmore 15yo in 15 years we have to help pay for that investment today, with the current prices of grain, energy, manpower, etc.

When every bottle a distiller can produce can be sold, the demand exceeds the supply. This seems terribly obvious, but we who have increased interest, passion and SALES of Scotch whisky must recognise that it is a finite product. Scottish distilleries are not enormous operations and that is why we love them. The time and patience that it takes to make, say, a BenRiach 20yo is what has so charmed us about the world of malt whisky. And yes, it makes us feel good and tastes great but if we were to put a price tag on time we would find that we have been paying far too little for far too long. When a Patron Silver (completely unaged tequila) can be sold for $40 and an Aberlour that has matured for 12 years and then gets a second maturation in a sherry cask can be sold for $41, something ain't adding up and we'd be idiots to think that this could last forever.

The instability of the American dollar demands that if a whisky company remains determined to keep the USA as a priority market then prices must be adjusted accordingly as the industry losses last year based on currency alone were VERY significant.

And finally, just look around; movies, bread, rent, WhiskyFEST tickets, etc. have ALL seen increases of well over 100%. Over the past ten years, the price of new Scotch whisky has NOT gone up at the same rate as this wider trend while resale and collector sales of whiskies have seen incredible increases. The eBAy phenomenon has definitely made distillers ask "if PC5 can be sold one month after we released it for 60% more on the auction market, why the hell didn't we charge that from the beginning?" A good, and fair, if annoying, question. (Die pirates, DIE!)
The market can certianly bear it and we, as whisky lovers, must support it for the tens of thousands who work in the industry and for our 30th wedding anniversaries where we want to be able to have the best whisky bar the world has ever seen.

Enough for today. On to the whisky at hand. Have your say at John's excellent site or leave me a comment.

DISCLAIMER: Please let it be known that I currently work for William Grant and Sons, the family-owned Scottish distilling company that owns The Balvenie distillery. If you choose to take my tasting notes as bullshit and Dr. Whisky has not, after 311 Malt Missions, earned your trust as a source of honest presentations of whiskies good and less good, then so be it. But I do vow to maintain objectivity and am under no constraints from my current employers with regards to how to present their whiskies. As a result are the listed impressions are my own, as always. In light of my editorialising above, I should also add that nothing I say reflects the opinion WGS and those opinions expressed are the sole expression of one SS, Dr. Whisky.

TASTING NOTES:

Multi-layered with sweet themes of fruit and spice. Candied and inviting with banana chips, dates, and anise flavoured liqueur. Loads of brown sugar sweetness with grapes and hazelnuts. Toffeed, some tamarind and synthetic orange, growing gently minty with time.

Coconut and creme with sweet oaky grip. Continues with berry fruits and spices (fennel, mint, cloves) with a luscious vanilla backbone of American oak influence. Sweet, lengthy finish with soft impressions of stewed fruits.

SUMMARY:

A luscious and sweet dram that, naturally, will not appeal to everyone. All the complexity comes in the key of sweet: peaches and nectaries, candies, apples, honey, syrup, brown sugar, rum, berries, grapes (perfect Rosh Hashana whisky?) but remains incredibly drinkable and neither cloying nor saccrine-sweet due to the gentle but permeating oaky core of this spirit. To a sweet new year!

Malt Mission #311
Malt Mission #312
Malt Mission #314
Malt Mission #315


Malt Mission HOME

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #312


The Balvenie 17yo Sherry Oak
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
43% abv
£60
$85(USD)

A few years ago Balvenie introduced a limited release 17yo that had been finished in casks that had previously held peaty Islay whisky called The Balvenie 17yo Islay Cask. Today, that bottling is highly collectible and it spawned a series of annually released 17yo expressions from malt master David Stewart and his long-serving apprentice Brian Kinsman. We have seen Islay Cask, New Wood, New Oak, Sherry Oak, and this year, The Balvenie Rum Cask 17yo (to be tasted on the next post).

This release spent all of its 17 years maturation in European oak casks that used to hold oloroso, the dark, glycerine-rich "scented" Spanish sherry. This presents a rare opportunity as most Balvenies contain significant percentages of American oak and only rare single casks like Cask 191 (50 year old and £6000 per bottle) show The Balvenie under full sherry influence.

DISCLAIMER: Please let it be known that I currently work for William Grant and Sons family-owned Scottish distilling company that owns The Balvenie distillery. If you choose to take my tasting notes as bullshit and Dr. Whisky has not, after 311 Malt Missions, earned your trust as a source of honest presentations of whiskies good and less good, then so be it. But I do vow to maintain objectivity and am under no constraints from my current employers with regards to how to present their whiskies. As a result are the listed impressions are my own, as always.

For distillery info and to see all Balvenies had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich and sweet with heavy sherry influence. Peppery like shiraz. Spicy like coffee. Some oysert sauce and wax. Very fruity, jammy, and brilliantly oaky.

Less sherried than expected, more honey and vanilla creme at first, then explodes with toasted nuttiness, rich fruit and an array of spice including aniseed and cloves. Mmm, dark chocolate and candied cherries. Espresso. Flavours linger without much development beyond their initial statements, but fortunately that complex array is deep and rich from the beginning.

SUMMARY:

A very unique Balvenie and as close to Macallan or Glenfarclas' sherried style that the distillery gets. Although it is not a drop I personally reach for regularly, those who like it (ie. sherry cask lovers) will like it a lot. It sold out rapidly in certain countries and is highly sought after by many, a phenomenon that will only increase in time as the few remaining cases get snatched up. It has all the sherry you could want while maintaining a balance of the Balvenie's core flavours and the rich oakiness one would expect from 100% maturation in sherry casks. Kristin points out that the flavour profile suggests evening consumption rather than breakfast dramming. Absolutely, but don't let me stop you!

Malt Mission #311
Malt Mission #313
Malt Mission #314
Malt Mission #315

Malt Mission HOME

Monday, September 29, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #311


Gibson's Finest 12yo
Canadian Whisky

40% abv

$26(CAD)


Selling about 300,000 cases per year, Gibson's is a popular whisky in Canada and available almost exclusively in its home market where it is number 3 premium Canadian whisky nationally. We had the Finest Rare 18yo in my last post so I thought I would follow it up with its younger brother.

Now, people often refer to Canadian whisky as 'rye', and while it is true that at one time or another almost all of the whisky produced in Canada was made with a mash bill (mix of grains) of predominantly rye, many spirits we use this description for today are not regulated by any legal directive as the term is in the USA, for example. The law does dictate that, like with Scotch whisky, the Canadian whisky must be produced in Canada, and matured in oak casks IN Canada for at least 3 years.

Other big Canadian whiskies are Crown Royal and Canadian Club. For all Canadian whiskies had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Intensely sweet, toffeed with firm graininess keeping that sweetness in check. Maple syrup, honey, coca-cola, vanilla and a touch of envelope glue.

Waxy with a strong grain presence, slighly piney, rye kick. Buttery. Very gentle with a big vanilla-ed oak finish. Caramelly and soft throughout.

SUMMARY:

Really nice stuff that goes down easy. Lots of pleasant flavours, not overly complex, but very moreish and fairly priced.

Malt Mission #310
Malt Mission #312
Malt Mission #313
Malt Mission #314
Malt Mission #315

Malt Mission HOME

Friday, September 26, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #310


Gibson's Finest Rare 18yo
Canadian Whisky
40% abv
$49.95 (CAD)

A classic distilling company whose bottles have probably decorated the shelves of every Canadian home at one time or another. Apparently not this particluar expression as I could barely even find a pic online to use, which is probably why when I saw this behind the bar at the Robbie Dhu center at Glenfiddich distillery I just had to sit down with a dram.

I was very surprised by their website. Very much targeted at a particular demographic, and although I think I am a part of that group, I had to mute the damn music player. And the suggested serves included such ViSiOnArY cocktails as rye and coke and rye and ginger ale. Yowza.

I have always enjoyed the Gibsons 12yo, easy, mellow, affordable, and pleasant to sip and/or mix. Let's see how this 18 year old is. Tasted with RH in a couple of really comfortable chairs. His notes appear in quotes.

TASTING NOTES:

Rum, tropical fruit, milk chocolate. Coconut, tropical, and generally estery/fruity. Increasingly sweet and “happy to sip at a bar on ice”

Generic chewing gum, salty and sweet, and flat like old Coca Cola. Sweet and increasingly pleasant with subtle spice and gentle toffee and vanilla.

SUMMARY:

Easy and gentle, well-rounded and pleasant but all verging on boring. I think most folks who spend fifty bucks on a bottle of whisky want to EXPERIENCE flavours, not just consume comfortably. I think. But maybe not. I mean, I brought a Balvenie 21yo PortWood to a couple of gents at a fancy steakhouse where I was hosting a tasting last night and one of them took a sip and grimmaced before saying some really stupid and ungrateful shit. I managed to remain polite and asked him what he enjoys to drink and he said "expensive wine." Idiot. Nothing like choosing your wine based on price. He continued, "In fact, give me Ketel One on ice with a bit of lime and I'll sip that all night." Mmm... flavour country.


Malt Mission #306
Malt Mission #307
Malt Mission #308
Malt Mission #309

Malt Mission HOME

Friday, September 19, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #309


Macallan 1988 cask no. 8426
Duncan Taylor Rare Auld
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
53.3% abv
???PRICE???

Been a few days since my last post. Apologies. Was in Scotland earning the "Dr." in Dr. Whisky. Yes, that's right, I can call you Betty and Betty, you can call me Doc. As a result, next string of Malt Mission posts we'll be delving into the 'spency stuff to celebrate.

So we're back with another Macallan, this time a single cask from the good folks at Duncan Taylor. For other Duncan Taylor bottlings had on the mission, click HERE. For all Macallans, click HERE.

And if you see Mark at the pub in Dufftown, thank him for the sampler!

Tasted with TF. His notes appear in quotes.

TASTING NOTES:

Fruity, leathery, very sherried with a touch of smoke.
"Very forward. Apples, varnish, brown sugar, I think also some rosehip and apple blossom." Perfumy? I find it musky, or like bad breath from a scolding school teacher. "Maybe. But sweeter. Toffee apple. Golden syrup." Sour cherries and dark melted chocolate. All in all a smokers car, 1984 Audi. With a lingering flatulence. Soggy tea biscuits, cardboard and a chocolate sundae.

Oaky and sherried with lots of candied character; ginger, raisins, licorice. "I'm getting the chocolate, sort of cocoa."

SUMMARY:
Abv kicks, but it is the oak that grips. Lots of fun to chew on. "Its got a nice sweetness, cake spice, a sherryheads malt." Yeah, not subtle, but has what a sherry lover might be after with a lot of enjoyable and varied sweetness.

Malt Mission #306
Malt Mission #307
Malt Mission #308
Malt Mission #310

Malt Mission HOME

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #308


Macallan 12yo (two of them)
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
40% abv
84.96(CAD)
$55 (USD)


When I was in Speyside this past April I could see the hillside above Craigallachie passively accepting the newly constructed Macallan warehouses in all their bright orangey glory. Sure, green or even blue might have been a wiser decision, but it seems they figure planting thousands of trees and waiting decades was a better solution. Now THAT is whisky logic.

I was able to visit The Macallan distillery last month, was told of their plans to build and expand and build and produce and build, walked past their steel washbacks, witnessed their famously small stills bubbling all the way up their short necks, experienced their "story of wood" sensory exhibit, and tasted a few of their products in the award winning visitor centre under the tutelage of some very friendly guides.

Described by Paul Pacult, the renowned international whisky writer, in his book Kindred Spirits as: "simply the best 12 Year Old single malt around", The Macallan has justly reaped such critical acclaim. But in the UK there is only the 10yo version of the sherried Macallan which suggests that Pacult should end his sentence with "...around these parts." So in markets where the 12 isn't available, I suppose some other whisky is the best? Anyways, let's taste.

Thanks to LC and KF for the drops.

Macallan 12 (1990s)

TASTING NOTES:

Big sherry, chocolate, and some orange. Oaky and slightly peppery. Dangerous to nose too deeply. Hot and funky. Fresh coconut, green apples, white grapes, waxy and cheesy like brie.

Soft and rich with oaky and sherried tones. Toasty and warming with some allspice and ginger. Heavily toasted almonds, nearly burnt pine nuts. Drying in time. Flavours sweeten in the finish but general feel remains dry.

SUMMARY:

Strange because there seems to be juvenile or undermatured spirit detectable under heavy and rich sherried tones. If this is your thing then you already know it is and nothing I say will have any effect on you.

Macallan 12 (2004)


TASTING NOTES:

Apricots and milk. Yogurt. Butter and peaches. Sweet and salty sherry, almost fishy. A little smoky or even tarry. Toffeed and quite inviting.


Initially sweet, then coal smoke weightiness. Very nutty, toasty character. Fish and yeast. Sherry. Oaky finish with a bit of that cheap butterscotch flavour like from an ice cream truck.

SUMMARY:

The more recent bottling had a harder impact but fuller flavour, if somewhat one dimensional. Both had a sour or cheesy or fishy organic note beneath all the sherry but it was certainly more prominent in the more recent bottling. Nonetheless, a classic Speysider that has worked hard to earn its place in the minds of malt lovers.

Malt Mission #306
Malt Mission #307
Malt Mission #309
Malt Mission #310

Malt Mission HOME

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #307


Deerstalker 10yo
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% abv

£23

$49.95 (CAD)


They say there are over 4000 different expressions of Scotch whisky out there to be tried if you had the determination, money and wherewithal to take part in such a malt mission. While there are a finite amount of functioning distilleries in Scotland, there are, theoretically at least, an infinite amount of labels, brands, independent bottlers, FACES that scotch whisky can wear on the bars and retail shelves of the world. Dr. Whisky has always been clear about his fascination with the hundreds of blended whisky brands, most appearing in very limited markets, around the world. In this case, this is a single malt whisky with a stage name... like Smokehead, Auld Reekie, Stronachie, McClellands, McLeods, etc.

The source distillery of this whisky is Braes of Glenlivet or "Braes" or Braeval as its been known since 1994. Braeval is a relatively recent addition to the world of scotch whisky (built in 1974) and is a distillery that, now that it is back in production after being mothballed since 2002, unseats Dalwhinnie as the highest distillery in Scotland. It is rarely seen as a single malt and has never been bottled by its owners as most of the output has been going to blends (Chivas).

TASTING NOTES:

Oily, waxy, linoleum, linseed oil, all balanced with the sweetness of fruit pastilles.

Spirited, even vinous, like grappa. Sandy like, well, sand. And slightly rubbery like wet rain jackets. Freshness in the finish, youthful.

SUMMARY:

Tasted with friends and after getting over the youngish nature of the flavour profile, the general responses were positive. Nothing special, but not unlikable.

Malt Mission #306
Malt Mission #308
Malt Mission #309
Malt Mission #310

Malt Mission HOME



Friday, September 05, 2008

Whisky on the Hudson 2008


Sorry, I have really been neglecting the Malt Mission as of late, but that is not to say I haven't been tasting some gems!

I have a few giveaways over the next little while, starting with the following...

Whisky Guild and The Whisky Life Magazine present another Whisky on the Hudson event Wednesday September 10, 2008.
As is to be expected, by this point all the tickets have been sold out...

However, Dr. Whisky has TWO tickets that he would love to share with YOU.


Clicking on the Dear Doctor image to the left will bring you to a profile page. There you can click on my email (under CONTACT). Send me your details and I will send you tickets IF:
-you live in the USA
-you are over 21
-you answer the following question:
Name THREE(3) distilleries still in operation that were built in the 18th century, ie. 1700s.
Too nerdy? Too bad.

Good Luck!




Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #306


Grand Macnish
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£15
$22.75 (CAD)


Right, let's get back to the Malt Mission. In no particular order, here come some tasty treats starting with Grand Macnish today, a blend I bought in Ontario some time ago. Will try to get a few MMs done before I am off to Scotland for ten days. Am certain I will try some treats while there, as well.

If you know Dr. Whisky at all then you will know how he loves the obscure no-age-statement blended whiskies to be found in various markets across the globe. Though, Grand Macnish isn't exactly obscure. Created by Robert Macnish in 1863, this blend is no longer easily found in all markets, although it has been consitstently produced for 145 years. Hemingway even wrote about it in 1954 and was an avid fan of its nectar. Or maybe the dimples in the bottle just served well as a pillow for passing out on the beach.

Tasted with IM.

TASTING NOTES:

Old leather coats, bananas, has a congnac-y edge. Some citrus fruits, red grapes and caramel. Still some musty vintage clothes shop and a bit like Inder's memory of a doctor's office when growing up, "Dr. Ham, if you must know."

Toffeed and generally sweet with a corn flour element. Salt and vanilla, a mix of spices. Quite a long finish of sweet and dry woody impressions with gentle smoke.

SUMMARY:

Some off-notes on the nose, for sure, but a pretty decent drop with a big and confident, if simple, finish. Great value and ridiculously retro bottle: you will either dig the dimples or not. And on that point, are there any practical point to them or are they simply for design?

Malt Mission #305
Malt Mission #307
Malt Mission #308
Malt Mission #309
Malt Mission #310

Malt Mission HOME

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Best Pubs in Edinburgh, Part 10

Best whisky bars in Edinburgh
Bennets Bar
8 Leven St.
Edinburgh, Scotland
EH3 9LG

So we made it to ten posts under the BEST PUBS IN EDINBURGH banner. Should it stop here?

If so, there is no better place to end than one of the pubs I miss most. I could walk in here any time of day (and I mean ANY time) and find friendly folk and the creamiest pint of 80/- at the ideal temperature. It would never take long to slug back one of these barley milkshakes.


Add to that a bar with great history: from the private nook up front to the dimples from canes on the bar to the embedded water taps for cutting your whisky (they have nearly 100, and some oddities, too!) to the gorgeous woodwork and beautiful Victorian mirrors. I left my heart in Bennets, and it is lovely to know that I can always go back there to pick it up.


Something visitors always noted was the fact that the men's room has a great urinal as well, if that is something even worth mentioning. I always loved the acoustics in that room. As a result, men can often be heard singing their way through a slash.

And please remember, as a good friend once put it, "one does not go into the Green Room."

For more of Dr. Whisky's picks of the best pubs in Edinburgh, click HERE.