Definitely echo your sentiment I think The Whisky Blues Hampden wins. Thank you so much for so generously sharing it with me and glad you loved the Cambridge 12yo as much as I did. I did get the Cambridge 18yo recently so will save you a dram once I open it mate. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It's a pleasure mate, and a big thank you to you as well for the generous samples throughout the year. I have not pulled the trigger yet on the Cambridge 18 year old so a sample would be most welcome if possible mate. You also have a great Xmas and new year and stay safe. Cheers 🥃
Happy New Year! And I hope you had a nice xmas. This past month i had an issue with a tooth, then extraction, which reeked havoc with my senses so i took a break from trying to taste excellent drams. However, i have now tried the Bruichladdie Bere Barley, what a fascinating whisky, ive never tried anything like it before. I really picked up the flinty/minerality aspect. Then when coupled with the sweet fruit, makes it very moreish. i really enjoy sitting with it and tasting it. This is my first year of exploring whisky, and i have seen my tastes change and evolve as ive tried new styles/distillerys. You have been a great help with this 😉. I wish you a great 2025. Cheers! 🥃
Happy new year to you too mate and sorry for the late reply...just been very busy at work. From my experience dental pain has to be one of the worst types of pain so I sincerely empathise with you mate. Really good to hear that you are enjoying the Bere Barley...it is a fantastic dram even though a bit overpriced imo, but it's unique and the quality really shines through. Well put together and well thought out, and definitely my favourite laddie of 2024. Thanks again for your lovely comment and also wish you a great 2025!
This was an interesting top 5 for 2024. I'm drinking the Cambridge 12 as I write this (a banger, as you sometimes say!) and hoping to get the 2005 13yo and 18yo next year. I tried the other Whisky Jury 2003 TDL but have always wanted to try the one that was your no. 1. Maybe try some of the new Bedford Park's offerings next year?
Thanks for your comment mate. Yep that Cambridge 12 is an astonishing rum. Like you I have wanted to get the 2005 and the 18 but the 2005 is pretty hard to get, and the 18 is just really expensive so have not got around to getting one yet. The TDL 2003 I have is very hard to get now...I was just lucky that I was in the right price at the right time. Had the opportunity to get 2 bottles but decided to get just the one...and kind of wished I had got another bottle lol. I have been keeping an eye on Bedford Park's offerings for a good few weeks now actually. Looks to be amazing quality - the one that I am thinking of getting is the Hampden LROK 2000 (23 years of age). A very reasonable price for a Hampden of this age in my opinion. The 19 year old Long Pond looks interesting as well and again very nicely priced. It is low esters (CRV) but could be a good one. Even the 1998 25 year old Caroni is very well priced compared to other independent bottlers. It's a shame they don't do sample packs so you can try before you buy, however they certainly look to be a good independent bottler, with very fair prices so maybe take a punt on one of the bottles. I think I will get the LROK 2000 and work my way from there 🥃
Great line up! Unfortunately I haven’t seen any TDL but I was able to get the new indie Trinidad 21 year from Raising Glasses single barrel ($170) but haven’t opened yet. The Magisterium is $180 here so probably a pass🤷♂️unless you think it’s worth it? Merry Christmas 🎄 Cheers 🥃 Oh btw… very cool Cat shirt!
I am not too sure but would take a punt that you might get similar properties from your Trinidad 21 year old. All TDL I have had has some pleasant herbal type medicinal bitterness. Very unique profile, and always tends to be one of the cheaper single cask rums in the UK. Nah, for $180 (£143) I would pass on the Magisterium and get a 20+ year old or well aged Hampden. As much as I enjoy Foursquare £100 is kind of my limit on what I would be willing to spend. I love cats...have 2 of them and yeah mate you have a great Xmas time to, and stay safe 🥃
Definitely echo your sentiment I think The Whisky Blues Hampden wins. Thank you so much for so generously sharing it with me and glad you loved the Cambridge 12yo as much as I did. I did get the Cambridge 18yo recently so will save you a dram once I open it mate. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It's a pleasure mate, and a big thank you to you as well for the generous samples throughout the year. I have not pulled the trigger yet on the Cambridge 18 year old so a sample would be most welcome if possible mate. You also have a great Xmas and new year and stay safe. Cheers 🥃
Happy New Year! And I hope you had a nice xmas.
This past month i had an issue with a tooth, then extraction, which reeked havoc with my senses so i took a break from trying to taste excellent drams. However, i have now tried the Bruichladdie Bere Barley, what a fascinating whisky, ive never tried anything like it before. I really picked up the flinty/minerality aspect. Then when coupled with the sweet fruit, makes it very moreish. i really enjoy sitting with it and tasting it. This is my first year of exploring whisky, and i have seen my tastes change and evolve as ive tried new styles/distillerys. You have been a great help with this 😉. I wish you a great 2025. Cheers! 🥃
Happy new year to you too mate and sorry for the late reply...just been very busy at work. From my experience dental pain has to be one of the worst types of pain so I sincerely empathise with you mate. Really good to hear that you are enjoying the Bere Barley...it is a fantastic dram even though a bit overpriced imo, but it's unique and the quality really shines through. Well put together and well thought out, and definitely my favourite laddie of 2024. Thanks again for your lovely comment and also wish you a great 2025!
That MoM Fiji is such a great rum. And a bargain to boot!
This was an interesting top 5 for 2024. I'm drinking the Cambridge 12 as I write this (a banger, as you sometimes say!) and hoping to get the 2005 13yo and 18yo next year. I tried the other Whisky Jury 2003 TDL but have always wanted to try the one that was your no. 1. Maybe try some of the new Bedford Park's offerings next year?
Thanks for your comment mate. Yep that Cambridge 12 is an astonishing rum. Like you I have wanted to get the 2005 and the 18 but the 2005 is pretty hard to get, and the 18 is just really expensive so have not got around to getting one yet. The TDL 2003 I have is very hard to get now...I was just lucky that I was in the right price at the right time. Had the opportunity to get 2 bottles but decided to get just the one...and kind of wished I had got another bottle lol.
I have been keeping an eye on Bedford Park's offerings for a good few weeks now actually. Looks to be amazing quality - the one that I am thinking of getting is the Hampden LROK 2000 (23 years of age). A very reasonable price for a Hampden of this age in my opinion. The 19 year old Long Pond looks interesting as well and again very nicely priced. It is low esters (CRV) but could be a good one. Even the 1998 25 year old Caroni is very well priced compared to other independent bottlers. It's a shame they don't do sample packs so you can try before you buy, however they certainly look to be a good independent bottler, with very fair prices so maybe take a punt on one of the bottles. I think I will get the LROK 2000 and work my way from there
🥃
Great line up! Unfortunately I haven’t seen any TDL but I was able to get the new indie Trinidad 21 year from Raising Glasses single barrel ($170) but haven’t opened yet.
The Magisterium is $180 here so probably a pass🤷♂️unless you think it’s worth it?
Merry Christmas 🎄
Cheers 🥃
Oh btw… very cool Cat shirt!
I am not too sure but would take a punt that you might get similar properties from your Trinidad 21 year old. All TDL I have had has some pleasant herbal type medicinal bitterness. Very unique profile, and always tends to be one of the cheaper single cask rums in the UK.
Nah, for $180 (£143) I would pass on the Magisterium and get a 20+ year old or well aged Hampden. As much as I enjoy Foursquare £100 is kind of my limit on what I would be willing to spend.
I love cats...have 2 of them and yeah mate you have a great Xmas time to, and stay safe 🥃