Glenglassaugh Fledgling XB

Bought – The Drink Shop, 28th November 2013

Ratings:
91/100 – Whisky Bible 2013
81.43/100 – Whiskybase (average from 9 member votes)
67/100 – Malt Maniacs (average from 7 reviewers)

When you consider that the Fledgling XB is a spirit matured in bourbon barrels for 1 year, therefore not officially whisky, you realise why there is such a wild different when it comes to reviews. Personally I’m not even sure it should be reviewed because what can you compare it against?! At least in the world of whisky the boundaries have been established over the decades and likes/dislikes can be explained with some level of accuracy. So I would say to take reviews of any spirit drink with a pinch of salt and be your own judge, should you feel like trying something different.

Glenglassaugh distillery was closed in 1986 but reopened in 2008. Rather than twiddle their thumbs until 2011 when their new spirit could officially be called whisky, they decided to release spirit drinks to whet the apetite of the patiently waiting customers. So, in 2010 we see the launch of ‘Peated’, ‘Clearac’, ‘Blushes’ and ‘Fledgling XB’. Then in 2011 the distillery issued ‘Revival’ the first official whisky at 3 years old. This is next on my shopping list, even though the Whisky Bible only gives it 75/100. As interesting as the spirit drinks are, I feel I ought to have an example of real whisky from this reborn distillery.

Glenglassaugh ‘Blushes’

Bought – The Drink Shop, 28th November 2013

Ratings:
85/100 – Whisky Bible 2013
73.71/100 – Whiskybase (average from 9 member votes)
55/100 – Whiskyfun (Serge Valentin)

Bought as part of a triple set of 20cl bottles from the revived Glenglassaugh distillery. Not a whisky because it’s too young but a chance for whisky fans to taste something different. ‘Blushes’ is spirit matured in red wine casks for 6 months. First released in 2010, it’s now been discontinued.

85/100 in the Whisky Bible classifies this spirit as ‘very good to excellent, definitely worth buying’. The author Jim Murray concludes his review with “tasty and fascinating, though the wine tries to minimalise the usual sweetness you find in malt spirit.”

Whiskybase members are less charitable than Jim Murray but Serge Valentin of Whiskyfun is more damning. He concludes with “of course I have nothing against experimentation but just like the helicopter-bicycle, not sure the future is bright for such gimmicky combos. Better buy a good white eau-de-vie, it’ll be cheaper. Now maybe this ought to be drunk chilled?”

Glenglassaugh ‘Clearac’

Bought – The Drink Shop, 28th November 2013

Ratings:
76.09/100 – Whiskybase (average from 13 member votes)

Bought as part of a triple set of 20cl bottles from the revived Glenglassaugh distillery. Not a whisky because it’s too young but a chance for whisky fans to taste a new spirit straight from the still.

 

Wild Turkey 101

Bought – The Drink Shop, 28th November 2013

Ratings:
87/100 – Ralfy – His review on YouTube (September 2013)
91/100 – Whisky Bitch – Her review on YouTube (March 2012)

Wild Turkey was on my radar when I found the ‘Rare Breed’ version mentioned in Ian Buxton’s book ‘101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die’. When trying to hunt it down in August I stumbled across the Whisky Bitch’s review of the 101 on YouTube. She loves it, especially as a sipping whiskey. Ian Buxton said that all Wild Turkey’s range were good (except possibly the ‘calendar’). Combine the two views and the 101 was firmly on my shopping list.

By September Ralfy posted up a video review of the 101 on YouTube and added his weight behind the praise of this bourbon. Although the 81 version is available in some supermarkets, I’d only found the 101 in one High Street store, The Wine Rack. At £26.99 there were plenty of single malts I wanted at that price of less, so getting the 101 seemed a distant prospect. But, when putting in an order with The Drink Shop, I noticed a cheap mini of the 101 and grabbed my chance. If it tastes as good as everyone says I might push the boat out in 2014 and get a full bottle!