Whisky Whiskey

The second of the three sample pack I brought back with me is on the cards today. The Virgin Oak is matured for 7 years in European Oak casks...but is it balanced and lovely, or did they push it too far? Let's find out...
With John Chidgey.

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Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

Having returned to New Zealand for a Skiing Holiday with my oldest son in mid-July, I took the opportunity to visit the Divergence Distillery in Christchurch and do a tasting and a tour. It was awesome! I brought back a three pack of 200mL samples including my old favourite, the Port Wood that I reviewed in Episode 63. Does it still match up with my recollection? Let's see...
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

AOB are located in Mullumbimby in Northern New South Wales, only 20k from Byron Bay, where the Highwayman Distillery is located. When AOB and Highwayman get together to create a Whisky, it's worth paying attention. I'm thrilled to review their first collaboration, the Diemens Rising 001 to see what the joining of spirit made in the same still, on two different islands, in two different times can come together to create something truly special.
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

AOB have two Whiskies available on their website and this offering is finished in ex-Peated Casks sourced from the Highwayman Distillery. I go into more detail about AOB themselves, their still and review this offering to determine if it's the next step up from the Walking Along The Shore...just how big a step up that is.
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

In episode 40 I reviewed the AOB Pinot Noir Cask, as part of my Liqour Loot subscription that I had at that time. I couldn't find a bottle for sale anywhere other than Liqour Loot themselves, but they were out of stock. Upon coming upon the episode, Pete Jaffe from AOB reached out and said...we have bottles of this...it's actually called Walking Along The Shore, and would I like one? With a bottle now in hand, I re-review this offering. Is it as good as I remember? Or is it even better? Not only that, I go in-depth with economies of scale and how I'm now going to rank Craft Distilleries differently on cost. Let me explain how and why...
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

With the Odes to the Valley and the Dark now reviewed, the final release in the series, the Ode to the Embers, harkens back to the days when GlenDronach peated their malts. For me, it's the first modern Peated GlenDronach I've ever tried. It's also the most expensive, but is it actually the best one of the series? Or did we peak with the Dark?
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

Having just bought the Ode's without trying them, I was relieved when the Valley was quite alright. The second most expensive and the hottest offering, their Ode to the Dark, is the next on my list to try. Maturation in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks certainly sounds like my kind of Whisky...there's only one way to know...
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

I've become a bit of a GlenDronach fanboy...so when they released a set of three as a special release, I just bought them all without trying them first. I know, I know, I broke my own rule. They call them the Ode's and this one is their Ode to the Valley. Did I make a mistake buying them without trying them first? Let's start with their Ode to the Valley...and find out...
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

With over a hundred Whisky reviews now in the books, I thought it might be fun to review and clip together the highlights of my Ten most favourite Whiskies from the first one hundred I've reviewed on the show. Remember that taste is subjective and this is just my opinion, but these are some truly amazing drams. Enjoy!
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring and Ian Gallagher.

With over a hundred Whisky reviews now in the books, I thought it might be fun to review and clip together the highlights of my 8 least favourite Whiskies from the first one hundred I've reviewed on the show. Remember that taste is subjective and this is just my opinion, and if you really like the 1495 Blended Scotch by Woolworths...power to ya...but it's not for me. Enjoy!
With John Chidgey.

Support Whisky Whiskey on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:

'r', Steven Bridle and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.
Episode Silver Producers:

Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring and Ian Gallagher.