So long and thanks for all the fish!

Posted on 4 May 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Over the last months the amount of new posts here on MaltFascination have slowed down to a trickle. Initially this was because I was spending my free time on selling Magic: the Gathering cards on CardMarket. Trying to have my own little take on a Local Game Store and with that, trying to have some positive cash flow from at least one of my hobbies.

After slightly more than a year, increasing my collection (the for-sale-part) from a few hundred cards to over 42,000, and sending out over 4000 envelopes, it started taking way too much time while still not having a net positive cash flow. So, I stopped doing that and sold off the bulk of my collection in one fell swoop.

The amount of free time that gave me was significant and I really like that. This made me reevaluate other things too. I’ve been contemplating quitting the blog for a while. I’ve been far less invested in the whisky world for some time, and I feel like I’ve been more or less priced out of the more interesting drams.

Also, over the last year or so, what I have find more interesting than properly investigating a dram and writing tasting notes, I’ve derived more pleasure in just enjoying a dram every now and then. This also takes a lot of pressure away from having to consistently try new things and allows me to occasionally buy a bottle just for myself, without having to share it to get some cash back to buy the next bottle a few days later.

Initially, I was planning to occasionally blog about things I got from bottlers or distilleries, to write about some amazing things I found on my wanderings and keep going at a much slower pace than that. However, when I get a sample from someone for reviewing purposes, that would add expectations and that is something I don’t really enjoy anymore.

Concluding, this means I’m shutting down MaltFascination. The blog isn’t going anywhere, but I’m not planning on writing more posts. 2,582 entries seems enough. Far more reviews than that too. It’s been a very enjoyable ride so, as the title suggests: Thanks for everything. For reading my ramblings, sending samples, enabling me, and everything else. 

It’s time to enjoy things from the passenger’s seat. 

Posted in - News and Announcements, - Opinion | 3 Comments

Bunnahabhain 11, 2009-2021, 53.3% – Michiel Wigman (They Inspired II)

Posted on 22 March 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

From the second series of Michiel Wigman’s They Inspired range comes this Bunnahabhain.

I had a bit of a shock when it was released since I had just started participating in his ‘you get every bottle’ program, and suddenly there was an 11 year old Bunny for € 175. That’s quite steep even to current standards. But, with Michiel being Michiel and him never advising a bad dram to me, I wasn’t overly scared.

Image from Whiskybase

Obviously the bottle-share didn’t go too well, due to it being quite prohibitively priced. I only sold a sample of 3 if memory serves. Still, it’s available at Best of Wines for € 181. That too, is telling something.

Anyway, yesterday was the right time to drink the last glass from the bottle, and therefore it was high time for tasting notes.

Sniff:
Quite an intense nose with a hint of charcoal, leather and oak. Some thick, syrupy fruitiness too, dried apricots and plums. Coastal salinity with a stiff breeze’s freshness. Something crisp too, a bit aniseed like.

Sip:
The palate is pretty sharp with dry barley, a fierce woodiness and a hint of leather. Quite sweet with a bit of a cloying fruitiness (without it being unpleasant). The crispness is gone, but the note of charcoal is present here too.

Swallow:
The finish packs a punch and doesn’t mellow directly. Quite long with oak and dried fruit.

It’s a rather good dram, especially for it being only 11 years old. So, even though I had to shell out for this one, I don’t mind going through a bottle. Lovely stuff up to a level that I might consider going for Michiel’s next Bunnahabhain even if at this price.

88/100

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Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 2021 vs 2024

Posted on 4 March 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

The simple fact that the first one is from 2021, while I could have sworn it was just a little while ago I bought it, makes me feel so very old. I feel it in my bones.

Every year Four Roses releases this Limited Edition. It comes in at little over € 200, and all the editions I’ve had over the years (these aren’t the first, 2012 here and 2020 here) have been worth it. So, even though I didn’t manage to get a bottle-share going properly, fellow Bourbon fanatic MvZ wanted to do a 50/50 split so things got going anyway!

Four Roses Limited Edition – Small Batch, 12yo, 2021 Release, 57.1%

Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
A rather smooth and gentle nose. Some bite, but not as much as I expected. It’s quite autumnal with some almonds and a lot of dry leaves. Slightly cigar like with some wood smoke too. Dry grains, quite some oak.

Sip:
The palate is rather crisp, for an aged bourbon. There’s a lot of wood and some almond like bitterness. Dry, with grains, almonds, hazelnuts, some cherry stones too. A whiff of black pepper.

Swallow:
The finish packs a bit of a punch initially with some wood and pepper. A rather long lasting bunch of flavors too, nice and warming.

This is a very good bourbon. Even though it’s 12 years old, there’s not too much bitterness although there is some. The fact that this is on the higher end of the ABVs of these releases is noticeable and it’s slightly more hot, and ever so slightly less comfortable than the others.

Still, if this would come in at € 200 right now, I wouldn’t mind getting another bottle. Unfortunately, prices have gone up and prices start (at the time of writing) at € 300.

88/100

Four Roses Limited Edition – Small Batch, 12yo, 2024 Release, 54.1%

Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
A warming and very comforting dram. More wintry than it is autumnal. Still some leaves, but also old oak, mulch and some resin. An interesting combination of peanut butter and cherries.

Sip:
Another smooth and warming arrival. Some oak, some vanilla, some cherry pie. There is black pepper being quite punchy if you let it swim for a while. A nice combination of spices and stewed fruits.

Swallow:
The finish is slightly hot with more focus on the pepper than on the fruit. There still is some sweetness, some cherry, but also a hint of nuts that wasn’t there before.

I’m having a hard time describing why this one is better than the 2021, but it’s just up to the level of soothingness, if that is a word. This is a comforting dram, where this other one is slightly less so. Highly recommended to keep on your radar for when the 2025 one comes out.

This one currently sits at € 230, so get it if you like really good bourbons!

90/100

Posted in - American Whiskey, - Bourbon, Four Roses | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ailsa Bay 2011 / Ben Nevis 2012 (The Duchess)

Posted on 28 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I right up stole that title from Thijs’ blog…

The Duchess is releasing two new single cask whiskies today. Most likely at noon, which is five minutes from typing this, and probably a couple of minutes ago by the time the post goes out.

Ailsa Bay 13, 2011-2024, Oloroso Hogshead 801396, 54.4%

The first one is a 13 year old Ailsa Bay. It’s a follow up to the one from almost three years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed and got myself two bottles of. This time around the whisky comes from an Oloroso sherry cask, instead of the very light bourbon cask it came from in 2022.

Nowadays there are more Lowlands distilleries than there have been for quite some time, but you don’t get to see many releases from them, given a few exceptions. Of course there’s the Auchentoshans, Bladnochs and Glenkinchies. Those have been around for ages. Apart from that, since Fife is a Lowlands area as well there is Lindores Abbey and Kingsbarns, and some distilleries that are not yet releasing bottles, or the bottles that are out there are rare. Much like this one, because how often do you see an Ailsa Bay?

Anyway, let’s do tasting notes, and find out if this one is as true to the regional style as the earlier one!

Sniff:
A very light and straw forward character with a good dollop of sherry on top. Not overpowering, regarding the sherry. A hint of coffee and almond flour. Barley and something floral too. Spring meadows and such.

Sip:
The palate is dry and quite fierce. Barley, straw, some pepper seeds. Oak with a bit of wood spices and fruit stones (dates, cherries, plums). The dryness does not dissipate at all, there’s a bit of a sawdust like flavor coming up.

Swallow:
The finish is far less dry and shows more dried fruits and steeped grains. Warming with a hint of sticky toffee pudding. After the sherry wanes slightly, there are notes of dried flowers and straw popping up again.

So, yes, it’s true to what you hope it to be. There definitely are some floral notes and the sherry is not overpowering the whisky. A rather well integrated combination of spirit and cask. And with this clocking in at € 79, I might be tempted to go for a bottle.

88/100

Currently available at Best of Whiskies

Ben Nevis 12, 2012-2024, Bourbon Hogshead 117, 54.7%

And Ben Nevis as the second one. A distillery with several faces that has been through some ups and downs through the years. Massively fruity in one era and insanely funky in the next. It seems to work best when those two aspects meet in the middle!

Sniff:
This has a dirty nose, and it’s glorious. Leather, vegemite, yeast, engine grease. Somehow pickled walnuts. A bit of sweetness from overripe fruits.

Sip:
The palate continues with the funky notes. It’s rather old fashioned and fatty, not entirely unlike Benromach. The ABV isn’t overly noticeable after a little while, and the fruity sweetness takes over. Quite juicy, but not without some yeasty vegemite-esque notes.

Swallow:
The finish veers right back to the nose and the rather singular focus on the ‘dirty’ notes. It’s rather fatty again, but turns slightly more dry after some seconds.

It’s a rather unique dram with the level of dirtiness, funkiness, whatever you want to call it. For me, it’s really interesting but a tad one directional. If you’re into this Ben Nevis style, you’ll love this, but if you want the fruity one, this might not be it.

Currently available at Best of Whiskies for € 89

86/100

Thanks a million to Best of Whiskies / The Duchess for sending samples!

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Ardnamurchan 7, 2024, 57.1% – WhiskySponge #100

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

For the one-hundredth, and final, bottling under the WhiskySponge name, Angus MacRaild chose an Ardnamurchan. In this case it’s a peated and sherry cask matured one, bottled at 100 proof (coincidence?).

Image from Whiskybase

The result of this choice is a rather well balanced dram that isn’t overly peated, and not overly sherried either. It actually does what you want Ardnamurchan to do: punch above its weight, especially regarding age. Price might be a different discussion, but that is not an Ardnamurchan exclusive thing.

Sniff:
Intensely mature for a seven year old whisky. Quite insane, if you think about it. There is some sherry but it’s quite restrained. A note of menthol, freshly sawn oak and a whiff of peat.

Sniff:
The palate doesn’t punch as a 100 proof dram, and it’s rather rich in flavor and quite gentle on the arrival. Oak, sherry, spices. Some dried fruit and a whiff of sooty peat. Apricots, dried strawberries, a hint of heather.

Swallow:
The palate shows a different side of the same dram. It’s slightly more fresh and less autumnal. Still very fruity with a sooty note of grilled mango, sweet orange. Oak, apricots. Dialed down on the spices.

More mature than many 10, 12 or sometimes 15 year olds. It’s ridiculous that a distillery can do this with a seven year old whisky and have a great distillery character to boot. While those two aren’t mutually exclusive, it is quite a rare appearance. Very lovely stuff, this! My ‘sample’ of about 20cl kind of evaporated. Not sure what happened there…

89/100

Still available in Germany for € 129

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Balblair 18, 2002-2020, Hogshead 20100, 51.7% – The Single Malts of Scotland (for Belgium)

Posted on 12 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Balblair is one of those distilleries that I have a soft spot for, even though their whiskies don’t often end up on my shelf. Their official releases are quite hard to get in The Netherlands, for some reason, and unofficial ones aren’t that frequent either.

Image from Whiskybase

Then again, there’s always some gems to be ordered from abroad, and this 18 year old for Belgium is no different. Back when I ordered it its average score was a tad higher than it is now, but I know I have a soft spot for the distillery, so I figured I’d be fine anyway.

Let’s dive in!

Sniff:
Right from the start, there is a lot of oak, some white and black pepper and autumn leaves. A little bit of old coconut and a whiff of vanilla coming after.

Swallow:
The palate is quite dry and isn’t without a bit of bite. There is a little bit of bitterness, and it’s not an overly rich or heavy dram. In that, it fits the distillery style when combined with bourbon casks. Oak, dry leaves, some barley. Quite a bit of oak too. Some apples too.

Swallow:
The finish keeps going down the same street. No big surprises at all, it continues with hints of apple, oak, barley, leaves.

There are lots of little things going on, but that makes for a very complex and surprisingly balanced dram. I love that there is virtually no sweetness. I love these autumnal whiskies, especially when those aromas and flavors aren’t overpowered by massive sherry casks. In this case the balance between spirit and cask is quite spot on, which makes me love this dram! A shame it’s gone…

89/100

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Glen Garioch 2011-2023, Bourbon Cask, 52.1% – Liquid Art (10th Anniversary)

Posted on 10 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer
Image from Whiskybase

Another bottling from Liquid Art’s 10th anniversary, and from a distillery I recently visited and am thrilled with. Apparently it was bottled in 2023 already, which surprised me. I would expect that anniversary bottlings are from the anniversary year. Of course, this doesn’t matter at all, but it surprised me.

The label is true to the brand name with a rather arty approach. I like these unique approaches, it makes the bottle stand out and adds a little bit to the experience.

Sniff:
It’s quite spirity with an interesting combination of farmy notes like wool and hay, and a slightly more mineral note too. Quill, and a vegetable like sulfuric note as well, but strangely, not in a bad way.

Sip:
The palate is light and green. As in, there’s spirit and moss and freshly cut grass. Some granny smith apples too. There is some sweetness from the alcohol and a whiff of oak. Quite a lot of barley, hay, and some vegetables.

Swallow:
The finish is more spirity than before. Lots of fresh alcohol with a bit of sweetness from it.

The spirity note is surprisingly light and crisp. The farmy side of it is a rather welcome addition.

85/100

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Smoke Wagon Uncut & Unfiltered, Nevada H&C Distilling Co., 56.6%

Posted on 4 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

During COVID it wasn’t just Single Malt that had a massive revival at MaltFascination HQ, but I also got into way too expensive Bourbon. Not necessarily that the Bourbon was too expensive, but by the time it was available in The Netherlands it was. Mostly because importing it into Europe is so infrequent, it comes at a premium by default.

I can’t find the invoice in my inbox, but my guess is that I paid about € 160 for this bottle (Currently about $165). I do think I got the only bottle available on this side of the Atlantic, at least according to what I could find.

Yesterday (yes, it was a Monday, as my wife so kindly reminded me of) I finished the bottle. There is virtually no information available on the Whiskybase page, so we just have to go by flavor instead of age, maturation, and so forth.

Sniff:
This is a surprisingly light bourbon. All the flavor components are there, but it doesn’t feel heavy, thick or sweet at all. There is a lot of wood and there’s some heat which I cannot really pin down.

Sip:
The palate starts a bit more gentle, but not less dry. It’s bone dry actually, with quite some chili heat. There’s a lot of oak again, with some vanilla, apple and vanilla syrup.

Swallow:
The finish keeps a little bit of the heat, but not an awful lot. It’s a ridiculously long finish, with just enough of everything. Oak, grain, barley, pepper. Even some almond flour.

Even though it packs quite a punch, it kept feeling rather crisp and fresh. There’s a certain desert heat thing going on or something that is highly suggestive of that, since they’re in Las Vegas and such. I love the complexity of the whisky and whatever its age, I think this is a cracking dram. I might have to keep my eyes open for a follow up to this!

Also, with the flowers in relief on the glass, this is one of the prettiest bottles I’ve seen.

89/100

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Roseisle 12, Origami Kite 2, 2024, Bourbon casks, 55.6%

Posted on 2 February 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

This 2024 bottling from Diageo’s Special Releases is only the second release of Roseisle ever. There are some other mentions on Whiskybase, but those are of blends to also contain whisky from other distilleries.

The first release was reviewed by Tom. According to my own Whiskybase collection, my sample or bottle (I don’t even remember whether I did the bottle share or I just participated in it) is gone. This is a little bit of a prelude to the review that is about to follow.

I did do a bottle-share of this one, and now have the last sample of it in my own glass. Yesterday I sat down to get to know the whisky a little bit and now I’m writing the tasting notes directly on this here page, instead of making notes first and publishing later. A little bit of live blogging, so to say.

Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
Crisp and very clean on the nose. Quite some vanilla with sweet barley and a little bit of oak. The woodiness is rather timid for a modern 12 year old whisky, but the grain isn’t. It is almost sponge cake like, with a little bit of lemon drizzle. Not as much as to make it a lemon drizzle cake, but still. Sweet hints of fruit like baked apple and banana.

Sip:
The palate is surprisingly dry, but doesn’t veer far from the nose in regard to flavors. There is some white pepper that wasn’t there before, but the fruitiness is the same. It does mellow a little bit and starts showing a little bit of oak. Mostly, still, it’s a vanilla forward dram. It is rather syrupy.

Swallow:
The finish stays in the somewhat dry domain. Slightly fruity, with a hint of white pepper and oak. Still rather syrupy in texture. Of medium length, with little development.

To me this is one of those modern whiskies that are technically very well made, but in the end rather boring. It holds the middle ground of all Speyside variants, and seems like a great backbone malt for blending. As a single malt, I don’t think it will change the landscape.

Maybe some more aging would work wonders, but I’m glad that we got to try a (refill and first fill) bourbon cask matured one first. This gives us the chance to get to know the spirit more than the cask management.

85/100

Still available in a lot of shops at about € 135.

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French Brandy 30, 1993-2024, Cask 35, 46.3% – WhiskyNerds

Posted on 27 January 2025 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer
Image from Passie voor Whisky

Funny that they don’t use the term ‘Cognac’ in the product description, but they do put it as a gimmick in their label instead of ‘Whisky’…

Anyway, after a series of whiskies it seems that Bram and Floris also have diversified a little bit, and now there is this French Brandy from the Cognac region of France.

Based on previous experience with the 1993 vintage of Cognacs that are not allowed to carry that moniker, from Michiel Wigman and The Thompson Brothers, this should be good!

Sniff:
Copper and orange, and lots of it. There’s quite some bitterness too. Rather metallic beyond the initial whiff of copper, and something rather ‘cool’ or crisp. After a little while it gets more minty, making it a surprisingly fresh drink for something that’s 30 years old.

Sniff:
The palate is surprisingly chocolaty, with hints of mocha and cocoa powder. Still quite metallic, but with hints of stale, dark bread. It gets drier with a bit of time. There’s sawdust, copper, iron, but also orange pith and cocoa. Quite a wondrous combination of things.

Swallow:
The finish has a bit of a punch, but is mostly dry and quite long. Still hints of a bitter fruitiness with orange pith, and some oak too.

There’s not a lot of subtlety for something that’s 30 years old. I’m quite surprised by that. Even though there’s a lot of different things happening in all steps of trying this, it’s well balanced and never feels inconsistent. All in all this is a lovely brandy and rather affordable too. It clocks in at € 115 at Passie voor Whisky. Highly recommended!

89/100

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