September through April, one pour at a time.
The 2026/27 Tasting Season is Upon us. I've gone a little crazy this year, and pre-bought almost the entire seasons tastings. I even have an extra GlenAllachie tasting in my back pocket, if required.
This year is very Scotch heavy, some distillery specific Scotch Tastings, and our now 'regular' special release January Scotch Tasting, featuring the annual Octomore release. We have our XO Cognac tasting with a 30 year old brandy thrown in, a Calvados, and a Armagnac, just to compare the 4 together. We have a very impressive rum tasting, featuring an amazing cross section of rum producing countries, and most are very well aged, and of course high proof.
The Lineup
Sept 2026 – Apr 2027
Arran & Lagg
We are starting the season off with Scotch. Specifically the isle of Arran. I love their Bodega bottle, so I figured we should explore it more. It's a very reasonably priced Scotch. They have many expressions. They even have a sister distillery on the island, Lagg, that produces their peated Scotches. I will have to cut down the number of bottles to 8, I think we have 12 bottles that qualify for the tasting.
Bourbon
A nice cross section of Bourbons and Ryes, including Bombergers Declaration 2025 (Mitcher's distillery), and Michter's Sour Mash Toasted Barrel Finish, both allocated Bourbons, very hard to get. We will see if we can 'pick them out'.
XO Cognacs
Return of the XO Cognac tasting, but we threw in a 30 yr old brandy, a 15 yr old Calvados (made from apples, what the Vikings use to drink, skul!), and a 1980 Armagnac. All compete with one another, so I'm interested to taste the 4 styles together.
No tasting this month — see you at the holidays instead.
Limited Release Scotches
The return of the Limited Release Scotches, I included the Octomore 15.3, the winner from last year, which is their 2nd peatiest release ever, and why not throw in Octomore 16.3, to see how it fares!!
Bedford Park International Rums
This is such a nice cross section, from Bedford Park an IB, we have 27 yr old Grenada rum, 19 yr Jamaican (LP) rum, 23 yr (Hampden) Jamaican rum, 10 yr Guyana rum, 24 yr Barbados rum, 21 yr St Lucia rum, and a 2006 FS Barbados rum (this is $1000 bottle, if issued by Velier, instead of BP) it's crazy good, I have a 2nd bottle.
Irish Whiskey
Softer, rounder, and criminally underrated next to its Scottish neighbours — a full night dedicated to setting the record straight.
Bottle lineup TBA
Bowmore
We close the season where Islay scotch began — 12 through 22 years, No.1 Vaults editions, and the Aston Martin bottling, all in one sitting.
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