I am so happy to have received our shipment of this limited-release Ardbeg. A bottling born during what was a global lockdown, this is definitely one for the history books. Leave it to Ardbeg to create something so delicious in the midst of such an uncertain time.

The third batch of this extremely rare 19-year-old is inspired by the “Singing Sands” of Islay, Traigh Bhan beach. When the wind blows there, the sand is whipped around creating a sound that is almost like voices.

To make the whisky, casks – American oak and Oloroso sherry – taken from the deep, dark corners of Ardbeg’s warehouse are brought into the light of day. Then the whisky is matured in these casks which creates a wonderful balance. Changes are subtle from batch to batch. Overall, in this incarnation, you will be getting, on the whole, a spicier dram (which certainly suits me!).

As the distillery maintains: “In Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 3, faint waves of scented woodsmoke mingle with sea spray and pine resin. Decidedly more spicy than previous batches, wisps of aniseed toffee and cayenne pepper follow on the breeze, while citrus laps over notes of fresh lilies. With a splash of water, waxy notes and charcoal flow into droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil. A rush of rich, sappy textures is followed moments later by classic, sweet smokiness. Tarry rope and treacle toffee plunge the palate into the second wave of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke bobs on the horizon, while smoked brown sugar, walnuts, and spices gently dissolve away. A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds and clove in its wake, before slowly drifting away.”

The great whisky sage, Dr. Bill Lumsden, adds: “Batch 3 is an extraordinary dram. Different from its predecessor in far more than just taste, this 19-year-old is a first for Ardbeg and a collector’s dream.”

For all the fancy packaging that can accompany an Ardbeg release, you can rest assured that the liquid accompanying the pretty wrapping is top-notch. Like almost every limited edition from Ardbeg, the collectors are sure to snap up quickly what is available. So grab this, and other fantastic Ardbeg releases, on our site. You’ll be able to find some rare options if you look now.

Elijah

There are quite a few whiskies and different spirits over which people just drool. In my opinion, some are not worth all the hype. Indeed, you could say the same about much of our world today. Moreover, much is subjective. That all said, this 18-year-old whisky from Yamazaki is one that definitely lives up to heightened expectations. It is far from a budget whisky, but ,if you are looking for something for your top shelf, this is an amazing contender.

Yamazaki is Suntory’s flagship single malt, from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery. Not only does the distillery, located in an idyllic location of south-western Kyoto at the foot of a mountain, contain so much history, the whisky could be a bottled version of Japan’s soul. The natural waters and environment are, together, a whisky-making utopia.

This Yamazaki is both rich and delicate. The balance achieved in this whisky is incredible, with deeply rich fruits and dark chocolate leading you into a long, drawn-out, malty-spice finish.

If you’re looking for a beautifully-crafted treat, this might be one for you. An exciting dram for any occasion.

Sometimes the struggle to find the most sought-after whiskey is real. Michter’s 10 Year Rye falls into this category, as the distillery usually struggles to meet demand for what is a wonderful golden liquid. It takes a great amount of time and effort to create something special for which customers will keep coming back, time and again.

Michter’s is continuing to strive for operational growth every year, across multiple locations. Michter’s Springfield Farm has increased in size from 145 acres to 205 acres, which will, in time, allow a greater harvest of grain for distillation. Supplies are improving. Meantime, grab this 10 Year Rye whenever you can.

Michter’s President Joseph J. Maglioccon, maintains: ”I believe that this Michter’s 10 Year Rye release showcases how terrific American rye whiskey can be. It was really challenging, 20 years ago, to sell rye whiskey, but the whiskey Press, as well as supporters in the restaurant and the retail segments of our industry, have done wonders to power rye’s resurgence.”

It’s fun to see how rye has boomed in recent years and I am all aboard for the ride. So it’s great to see what the industry comes out with each year. Mitcher’s 10 Year Rye is a Kentucky-style rye with a wonderful balance and richness that comes from having a good amount of corn in the mashbill. This is a strong release with deep-toasted vanilla, with sweet floral undertones, carried along by charred oak and cinnamon spice.

If you are anything like me, you are always on the lookout for as many rums as possible to help elevate your cocktail game. All of us here at C.Gars have the absolute privilege of working with so many fantastic spirits. Sometimes, with the pressure of time, I don’t always get the sort of in-depth experience with everything, as I would like. So I am always happy to circle back around, especially to revisit rums like these from Ron Abuelo.

Ron Abuelo has been creating some absolutely fantastic Panamanian rums for quite some time now. I almost always have either the seven or 12-year-old at the bar as go-to rums. So venturing into these cask-finish releases is definitely a step up. Created to be an homage to the European aspects of the rums, they showcase how Panamanian passion can play well when blended with this.

Some thoughts on the trio:

Napoleon: “Expertly finished in Cognac casks for a deep explosion of ripe autumn fruit with hints of oak and dark chocolate. An unparalleled French elegance”.
(Perhaps paired with roasted quail or passion fruit mousse).

Oloroso: “Finished in Sherry casks for a beautifully-balanced, fruit sweetness with sumptuous citrus notes”.

(Pair it with Salmon Tataki, or dark chocolate with sea salt).

Tawny: “Deep, dark and distinctive, Tawny is innovatively finished in Port casks for notes of sweet red fruits and opulent summer berries. An unforgettable adventure in flavour”.
(Pair it with ricotta ravioli or wild-berry cheesecake).

Maybe you also want to try one of these tasty rum. Whichever calls your name. When you do enjoy any of these, let us know how highly you rate your Ron Abuelo!