A few months ago we reviewed Four Roses Yellow Label, calling it “a satisfying whisky with a fair dose of complexity.”  In contrast to the Yellow Label’s standard blend of 10 different bourbons (coming from a combination of 5 yeasts and 2 mashbills), each release of Four Roses Small Batch is a blend of only 4 of the 10 bourbons produced by Four Roses.  According to Four Roses, “Four of the Bourbon recipes have been expertly selected by the Master Distiller at the peak of maturation to create a perfectly …

Upon learning of Rémy Martin’s project of designing a “Gentleman Deck of Cards,” memories of cards from my teenage days with not safe for work images flashed through my mind.  Taking a closer look though, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these cards are for the true gentleman.  The “Gentleman” in “Aspiring Gentleman,” not the “Gentleman” in “Gentleman’s Club.”  The Rémy Martin cards, made to accompany their Accord Royal 1738 champagne cognac, contain such pearls of wisdom as “a true gentleman knows to always retire himself after he has …

The Bowmore Distillery, one of eight whisky producers on the island of Islay, is also one of Scotland’s oldest.  Established in 1779, the distillery is now in the hands of Morrison-Bowmore, which in turn rests within the Suntory group.  Mothballed during both world wars, the distillery has gone on to currently produce over 2 million litres per year.  The distillery’s name, meaning “great sea reef,” is apt given the saltiness typically seen in their whiskies.  In our review of one of SMWS’s private bottlings of Bowmore, we had the following …

In the 1700′s, Clan Campbell ruled the isle of Jura, whose famous neighbour, Islay, lies to the south-west.  Legend tells of the clan evicting a seer, or prophet, from the island during this time; on her exit, she predicted that the last Campbell would one day leave the island with one eye missing and a single white horse pulling all his possessions in tow.  Over two centuries later, in 1938, this prophecy came true, with Charles Campbell (the last Campbell on Jura) leaving the island exactly as predicted — an …

There are certain whiskies which have such distinct profiles, they are instantly recognizable.  Forty Creek’s Barrel Select is one such whisky.  Find a whisky which has a clearer nose of peanut brittle, and I’ll buy you a dram of it.  Forty Creek, the range of whiskies made by John Hall (owner of Kittling Ridge Wines and Spirits), are some of the few independent Canadian whiskies remaining.  Resulting from Hall’s experiments with a forgotten still found on the Kittling Ridge vineyard upon his purchase of it in 1992, Forty Creek whiskies …

Last spring, we had the chance to visit Europe for a few months, which inevitably led to immense increases in our knowledge and experience regarding whisky, cigars, and wine.  Besides drinking whisky and smoking cigars in Paris, we also had the chance to taste a huge variety of cigars and whisky in other areas of western Europe, of which unfortunately only a small fraction made it here onto TAG in the form of reviews.
One of our most memorable moments was a tour of the Speyside region of Scotland, where we toured …