Whisky Sponge Archives

Five Independent Clynelish

27th April 202626th April 2026Coldorak

It’s already time for another Clynelish session, this time with five independent Clynelish bottlings, even though we reviewed three back in January. Then again, Clynelish is one of those distilleries we never seem to tire of – right up there with Ben Nevis and Springbank… and a few others.

Since my recent move, I’ve also taken the opportunity to reorganise my samples, even adding a four-drawer cabinet to give myself more room and increase storage capacity by 50%. Yet, as with bottles, I seem to acquire more samples than I can realistically drink. And because I still have a habit of wanting to write about every new whisky or spirit I try, while also tasting several at once for comparison, some drams inevitably end up waiting far too long for their turn.

Perhaps I should admit that not every bottle or sample needs a full review. That would certainly help keep the stock under control – and might even leave me with more time to simply enjoy whisky. In any case, today we’re turning to independent Clynelish from Cadenhead, Signatory, Silver Seal, Whisky Sponge and Masam, drawn from Silviano Samaroli stock. Let’s move the vintages up, shall we?

Port Charlotte 2001 Blood Tub 2002 WhiskySponge Maltbarn

Port Charlotte 2001, 2002 WhiskySponge / MaltBarn

12th September 202511th September 2025Coldorak

Port Charlotte whisky stands as Bruichladdich Distillery’s tribute to the heavily peated traditions of Islay, named after the village near the distillery and inspired by the historic Lochindaal distillery that operated there from 1829 to 1929. Production began in 2001, with maturation taking place in the old warehouses at Port Charlotte, using Scottish barley and peated to 40 ppm for a robust but balanced Islay profile. The range includes core bottlings such as the 10-Year-Old and Islay Barley, alongside occasional cask explorations and limited releases, all bottled without chill filtration or artificial colouring. Despite its highly respected reputation among whisky enthusiasts, Port Charlotte is not the brand with the greatest number of bottlings, whether official or independent. It does not see a large quantity of releases each year, certainly not on the scale of some other Islay or Scotch distilleries. The approach at Bruichladdich emphasises quality, provenance, and thoughtful maturation over sheer volume, which means that every new Port Charlotte expression draws considerable interest when it appears, but they remain relatively scarce in comparison to industry giants and prolific independent bottlings. So today, we’ll review an official bottling of a private cask and two indy bottlings from the same vintage, with a Port Charlotte 2001 and two 2002 from WhiskySponge and Maltbarn.

Vallein Tercinier Lot 96 and N.88 Cognac Sponge

18th April 202516th April 2025Coldorak

After the recently reviewed Vallein Tercinier bottled by Malternative Belgium, we compare two Fins Bois cognacs from this well-known merchant. We’ll review an official single cask against one selected by Cognac Sponge, the cognac branch of Whisky Sponge and Decadent Drinks. Specifically, we’ll review the Vallein Tercinier Lot 96 and N.88 Cognac Sponge, both single casks from the Fins Bois cru.

Bowmore 2002 Character of Islay/2000 WhiskySponge

5th March 20255th November 2025Coldorak

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since we last delved into the world of independent Bowmore bottlings. The anticipation of exploring these unique expressions has only grown, and today, we find ourselves with the perfect opportunity to revisit this iconic Islay distillery through the lens of two exceptional single casks. Both of these whiskies, bottled by independent connoisseurs, were released in 2020 and have been carefully matured in bourbon casks. As we embark on this tasting (short) journey, it’s worth noting the unique position that Bowmore holds within the pantheon of Islay distilleries. Founded in 1779, it is one of the oldest distilleries on the island and has a rich history of innovation and craftsmanship. Despite its historical significance, Bowmore is often overshadowed by some of its more prominent neighbours, such as Ardbeg and Laphroaig. However, for those who take the time to explore its offerings, Bowmore reveals itself to be a distillery of exceptional quality and character. Most especially amongst its independent bottlings, as we’re not always as lucky with its official expressions.