New Expert Spirit Reviews - January 17, 2024 - Glenglassaugh Portsoy, Nikka The Grain, El Tesoro Mundial Collection and More!

This Portsoy bottling is one of three new single malts for Glenglassaugh in the relaunch of its core portfolio. The coastal single malt was matured in three different casks: bourbon, sherry, and port casks. Like all single malts in its portfolio, the casks were matured in coastal warehouses overlooking Sandend Bay. However, unlike the other two bottlings, this is a peated single malt release. With the new portfolio comes an updated bottle design. Bottled at 49.1% ABV, this launched in summer 2023 with the US getting its allotment in September 2023. (SRP $75)

This Sandend bottling is one of three new single malts for Glenglassaugh in the relaunch of its core portfolio. The coastal single malt was matured in three different casks: bourbon, sherry, and Manzanilla casks. Like all single malts in its portfolio, the casks were matured in coastal warehouses overlooking Sandend Bay. With the new portfolio comes an updated bottle design. Bottled at 50.5% ABV, this launched in summer 2023 with the US getting its allotment in September 2023. (SRP $70)

This single malt release from Highlands distillery Deanston is the first Cask Strength expression in its Virgin Oak series. The single malt is first aged in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing its maturation for 12 months in virgin American oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage. It's bottled at 58.3% ABV without chill-filtration. It launched in the fall with the US getting its allotment in November 2023 at select retailers and online merchants. (SRP $97.99)

This is one of three Cuvée Concepts bottlings released by the brand in late autumn 2023 for the US. Cuvée Fumo is made from a blend of four peated single farm origins which use Irish barley and Irish peat. The US will get the product beginning December 2023 with other markets to follow. This is an ongoing core expression from the brand. (SRP $99.99)

High West High Country is the brand's American Single Malt expression which is entirely distilled and blended by High West rather than using any sourced whiskeys. The bottling is made from a blend of 100% copper pot distilled whiskey which is "distilled on the grain" — the grain solids are left in during the fermentation and distillation process instead of being filtered out. It's made with a tri-malt recipe of 85% base malt, 14% caramel 60 malt, and 1% chocolate malt. It's matured for 2-8 years in a mix of freshly charred & second use oak barrels. Available in limited quantities at the brand’s Utah distillery and Saloon locations with distribution to retailers nationwide beginning December 1, 2023. (SRP $79.99)

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 8 Year is the twelfth nationwide release in the bottled in bond decanter series. Produced by Heaven Hill, Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon brand. This bottled in bond version was distilled in one distillation season (fall 2015). Aged for 8 years before bottling in fall 2023, this release bears a black label as other fall releases have done. As required, it is bottled at 100 proof. Available on an allocated basis nationwide as of November 2023. (SRP $109.99)

This expression is made from a mash bill of 73% corn, 15% wheat, and 12 % barley that is mashed, fermented, and distilled, as well as matured a minimum 6 years, in the state of Missouri. It is bottled unfiltered at cask ("rickhouse") strength at varying proofs according to batch, typically around 120 proof.

This straight rye is the third bottled in bond spirit from Tattersall following a High-Rye and a Wheated Bourbon, both released in 2020. The grain sourced for this release came from a single farm in Cambridge, Minnesota with the rye mash bill recipe comprised of 85% AC Hazlet and Bono rye varietals and 15% malted rye. It was aged for over 5 years in charred, virgin American oak and bottled at 100 proof. Only 400 cases were produced. Available at select retailers in the Midwest while supplies last beginning November 2023. (SRP $49.99)

This extra-aged cask strength rye from Old Overholt was aged for 10 years in a single escalator-style warehouse. It was barreled in the winter and autumn seasons of 2012 in Clermont, Kentucky. Bottled without filtration at 121 proof, it's available nationwide in limited quantities beginning fall 2023. (SRP $99)

Nikka's limited edition Discovery Series explores various whisky-making production techniques the brand has practiced over the years. This 2023 release, the third and final in the series, takes an inside look into Nikka's grain whiskies made at four of their distilleries: Miyagikyo, Nishinomiya (now closed), Moji, and Satsumatsukasa. Coffey grain from Miyagikyo is the heart of the blend with experimental new grain whisky made from corn and rye also included. Available October 2023 with the US getting an allotment of 2,600 bottles. (SRP $174.99)