cost is $15, full ticket price goes toward your bottle purchase, bottom of page to purchase

Three distilleries, three twelve year scotches. We’re going to drink through Glenrothes 12yr, Tamdhu 12yr, and GlenAllachie 12yr. All of these distilleries are from the Speyside region of Scotland, and while they owned by some bigger houses (see details below), none of them are owned by the two biggest companies (Beam Suntory or Diageo). If you know Speyside scotches, you know they are generally NOT the peaty whiskies you find on the islands of Scotland, Islay or Isle of Skye for example.

The Highland scotches (Speyside is a subregion of the Highlands) are generally the scotches that get people to like scotch precisely because they are softer, sweeter, have some familiar flavors that people can really dive into, and are just “easy.” Many times this is because of the aging process where they age completely or finish them in ex-sherry casks, as all three of these are. The two biggest brands of scotch in the world, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, come from the Speyside region and it has a lot to do with their friendliness to the palate.

Glenrothes 12yr (40%ABV) is owned by the Edrington Group who also owns Highland Park and Macallan. At 40% this should be an extremely sippable whisky. It is aged exclusively in sherried oak. Usually this brings some fig and raisin and/or nutty dry flavors. The tasting notes on the bottle mention vanilla, melon, and cinnamon.

Tamdhu 12yr (43% ABV) is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers. They are replacing their 10yr whisky with this one. Personally, I like to see the bottling at 43% since it is the alcohol in any spirit that is carrying the flavor, a higher percentage can mean a bigger flavor profile. The tasting notes from Tamdhu mention dried fruit, banana, cinnamon, and “classic sherry oak depth” as this one is also aged exclusively in Oloroso sherry oak.

Glengoyne 12yr (43%) is also owned by Ian Macleod Distillers. In a somewhat rare turn, this whisky is COMPLETELY unpeated (the others are barely detectably peated). As with all the whiskies at this tasting, this is also bottled with no coloring added. Some distilleries will add caramel color because it makes whiskies look older and thus “higher quality” to customers cough dalmore cough. Again, this whisky is aged in Sherry oak and bourbon casks. The tasting notes on the bottle say lemon zest, toffee, coconut, and vanilla.

This tasting is $15, full ticket price goes toward your bottle purchase, register below