Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings

28/05/2026

I know I’ve posted a short write up of the drams from the last tasting but these quick films are another way of viewing the line up.
The next Jolly Toper blind whisky tasting - 2pm on Sunday 7.6.26 at Lauri, EH3 9JG. At least 5 drams, £30, get in touch to organise attendance or for more details.
PLEASE SHARE

28/05/2026

drams from the last tasting but these quick films are another way of viewing the line up.
The next Jolly Toper blind whisky tasting - 2pm on Sunday 7.6.26 at Lauri, EH3 9JG. At least 5 drams, £30, get in touch to organise attendance or for more details.
PLEASE SHARE

27/05/2026

Anyone?

We are very excited for this Whisky Tasting in July, with Hugh from the brilliant independent whisky bottler James Eadie. Get tickets on our sister shop Royal Mile Whiskies website: https://rmwlink.co/jameseadieshowcase
Here is a little more about James Eadie from Leon from their team: "James Eadie is an independent bottler that is steeped in the history of the whisky industry. As a revival of a 19th century brand with one of the world’s oldest trademarks (150 years young next year), we felt it important that everything we do is informed by the rich history of the industry"
Below is their fantastic line-up of highly rated whiskies. Although this is a standing event, we will have some seats available (let us know if you need a seat)
Trade Mark X blended Whisky
12yo Clynelish
11yo Aberlour
14yo Glen Elgin
13yo Dufftown
10yo Laphroaig
Due to the small batch single cask nature of these bottlings the line-up may be subject to changes

25/05/2026

A full house in a sunny Linlithgow yesterday. Some last minute nerves about the tasting line up meant a couple of changes which seemed to appeal to the gang.
I’d intended to start with a Cambus 34yo but nice as it was I thought a 1987 vintage Caledonian 30yo bottled by David Stirk for Edinburgh’s Jeffrey Street Whisky and To***co had a couple of aspects of advantage over the alternative. Both are closed grain distilleries so either would tick the box for letting people taste an example of some finite distilled history. I’d been saving the bottle, which I bought from a colleague, for a railways themed tasting being that the distillery was named after the Caledonian railway as far as I know. I have another couple of bottles from other independent bottlers though. Feedback varied from rejection on grounds of lack of character/sharpness to wholehearted enthusiasm. A fairly standard response to grain especially for those trying it for the first time.
Next the other end of the open/closed spectrum - the inaugural release from Aberargie. 2017 vintage at 48.2%, judicious use of sherry casks led to a nice body and finish. All but one attendee gave it the thumbs up. It was the most popular dram of the day. A similar reaction to when it was poured at the last tasting. How much the Laureate and Golden Promise barley contributed to the profile is difficult to say but the field to bottle philosophy is commendable, bravo.
After this a bridging malt was needed to take us from the Lowlands to the north: Springbank 10yo. There was a pleasing mix of old hands and newer whisky drinkers in the room so it was again good to
Introduce some to a new whisky, especially such a quality one. Plenty comments about touches of smoke and the distillery’s complex nature was also picked up on. Classy stuff.
The penultimate pour was a 16yo oloroso matured Speyside (M) at 57.1% from Signatory. Guesses for age were varied but few failed to enjoy the robust dried fruit character. A relative bargain to boot.
Finally a donation from regular Robert who is a Laphroaig enthusiast. He kindly shared a great example of the cask strength 10yo bottled in 2021.
Altogether a great crowd and venue with some varied and quality bottlings on show.
A bit short notice for the next Jolly Toper blind whisky tasting - 2pm on Sunday 7.6.26 at Lauri, EH3 9JG. At least 5 drams, £30, get in touch to organise attendance or for more details.
PLEASE SHARE

24/05/2026

Linlithgow Sunday 6.7.26 3pm -5:30pm anyone? What can possibly go wrong?! *
*don’t answer!

23/05/2026

A bit short notice this one but the next Jolly Toper blind whisky tasting will be at 2pm on Sunday 7.6.26 at Lauri, EH3 9JG. At least 5 drams, £30, get in touch to organise attendance or for more details. Please share.

21/05/2026

Another great tasting, this time courtesy of Yumi Yoshikawa and Chichibu. 7 wonderful drams all so very different from each other. A World Blend with over 100 components, a Double Distillery bottling including the long closed Hanyu, a comparison of Chichibu 10yo with the inaugural release from Chichibu II at less than 5yo made for an interesting mix of similarities and differences, a blended malt featuring a Scottish contribution finished using Mizunara oak, then a red wind cask influenced malt followed by a peated single cask Chichibu for RMW that reminded me of smoky Benriach.
Yumi taught us so much about whisky in general and Japanese whisky in particular especially of course Ichiro Akuto’s creations. Her knowledge, passion and humour made for a memorable evening of unique and intriguing drams.
There was a lot of appreciation in the room downstairs at Mother Superior at the foot of Leith Walk, a fine venue.

20/05/2026

A private tasting with four tourists. I really enjoy meeting people this way. Complete strangers from overseas journeying to Scotland to experience what the country has to offer, let’s face it they don’t come here for the weather.
Generally they have an interest in Scottish whisky which they want to develop. We take a couple of hours to try different drams and discuss the influences on taste, production and history. After a few we start to talk about wider aspects and learn a little about each other’s backgrounds, a great way to spend time.
We usually start with a blend, they need to know what makes the industry work on the big scale. The Adelphi Private Stock faired very well.
After this we deconstruct the blend by first trying a grain. This 30yo North British by North Star was again popular, this is often the revelation in the line up.
To follow: a malt from a Bourbon cask. On this occasion the venue, The Belfry, chose the line up and I thought the Macduff at 13yo at 46% from refill hogsheads by Cadenheads was a fine example with a little bit of the funk I sometimes find in this coastal greater Speyside distillery.
Our Sherry cask example was a fine representation - Royal Brackla at 11yo by The Thompson Brothers, only one in the group failed to enjoy the figgy goodness of this northern veteran.
Finally a classic peaty proposal a 5yo Caol Ila bottled for the bar. Usually this final dram proves decisive but on this occasion the visitors embraced the smoky style.
Pleas keep Jolly Toper Tastings in mind if you know someone that needs such an intimate private whisky event or even one on a larger scale.

18/05/2026

From the Scots Magazine 1969. Can’t say I’ve come across a bottle of ‘Isla Mist’ by Cadenheads.