Month: January 2017

Whisky #454: Isle of Jura Diurachs’ Own 16 Year Old Single Malt

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Isle of Jura Diurachs’ Own 16 Year Old Single Malt. Isle of Jura, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at home, $120 (bottle).

Colour: Rich copper.

Nose: Burnt toffee, savoury cereal notes too.

Palate: There’s some dried fruit here, think dried apricots. Not overly sweet, which is a nice point of difference to a lot of other sherry-influenced drams. At first it seems a bit thin flavour-wise, but with a few more swigs it gives off a few more juicy, jammy flavours. Sultanas and cigars, some tobacco heat too.

Finish: Oak, brown sugar and white pepper. It’s quite a dry tannic finish, medium length.

Comments: Of its 16 years’ maturation, the first 14 years was in first fill American white oak Bourbon casks, with the final two years spend in ex-Amoroso oloroso sherry casks. It’s not overly sherry influenced, just a few dried fruit flavours balanced out by some oakiness.

At first I wasn’t a huge fan of this one – it was ok, but not really one I gravitated to. Coming home from a long day at work there was always some other more exciting bottle in the collection to choose from. I remember it being a little underwhelming and dismissed it due to the low ABV of 40%. Perhaps some time in the bottle neglected at the front of the whisky shelf has mellowed this one into the quiet achiever. One that’s easy to drink, has some interesting flavours without being overly complex or demanding too much of your attention. The kind of whisky you can pour at the end of a day when the last thing you feel like is using your brain to think about anything other than kicking your feet up and relaxing.

Whisky #453: Redlands Estate Paddock to Bottle Single Malt

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Redlands Estate Paddock to Bottle Single Malt. Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 46%. Tasted on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day! $155 (bottle).

Happy Australia Day to all! It’s only appropriate today we take a look at an Australian whisky, whilst sailing past a few famous Australian landmarks. Tasmania (that little island off the southern coast of the Australian mainland for you overseas readers) is now home to more whisky distilleries than Islay in Scotland. Really! Sure, they’re much younger and at the more boutique craft end of the whisky spectrum, but geez they’re producing some top notch whisky that has picked up quite a few international awards. Today, we’ll delve into some Redlands Estate Paddock to Bottle Single Malt.

Colour: I love a sunburnt country…

Nose: Raspberries and lemon fondant. Then it’s like walking into a cellar at a winery…all earthy and oaky. Freshly snapped lantana branches. ‘Straya. My good friend Emma picked up bread & butter pudding with raisins.

Palate: So smooth. Strawberries and cream, blue cheese and blueberries. Ems had a hint of banana and a little cherry. My very good mate Rossco got some chilli flavour without the heat; raspberries, rosemary and copper coins.

Finish: Some dry oak and sultanas, creme brûlée too.

Comments: Matured in ex Tasmanian Pinot Noir casks. Stunning colour. So multifaceted, especially the nose. Amazing stuff from Redlands, hats off to head distiller Dean Jackson. Happy ‘Straya Day folks, drink some Aussie whisky – there’s some good drops out there.

Happy ‘Straya Day from Sydney!

Whisky #452: The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt

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The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland . ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $128 (bottle).

Colour: Pale bronze.

Nose: Freshly baked raspberry muffins. Some sweet oaky notes too, like sticking your nose into a Muscat barrel.

Palate: A sweet (think brown sugar), creamy and oaty flavour. It really reminds me of having a hot bowl of porridge on a cold winter morning, drizzled in milk that’s half dissolved the extra spoonfuls of brown sugar you’ve heaped on top when no-one is looking.

Finish: Some more of those delicious oak and dried fruit flavours in the fade; just think raisins and dried cranberries.

Comments: Silky smooth, this is a fantastic drop. It’s got stacks of flavour yet is so easy on the palate at only 43% ABV. Glenturret Distillery lays claim to being one of the oldest in Scotland (I’m not going near that debate with a barge pole, or maybe a caber) so it’s hardly surprising they know a thing or two about producing whisky. They’re not a huge producer having only the one pair of stills, but on the basis of this drop I think I’ll search out a few more Glenturrets.

Whisky #451: Craigellachie 13 Year Old Single Malt

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Craigellachie 13 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $93 (bottle).

Seeing as my last review was a Craigellachie whisky bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Whisky #450: SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive) – albeit a cask strength single cask release – I thought I’d compare it with one of Craigellachie malts.

Colour: Light gold.

Nose: Very light; you’ve really got to get your nose in the glass to take this one in. Cereal notes and a very faint smell of pine cones.

Palate: Freshly toasted white bread, soft oak and lemony flavours. Almost a bit cheesy, like taking a bite of a slice of Swiss cheese.

Finish: Slightly salty hay-like notes. The flavours fade reasonably soon, leaving a salty tang which lingers.

Comments: I’ve previously enjoyed this whisky, but for some reason tonight the Craigellachie 13 didn’t really do it for me. I’m a fan of Craigellachie as a distillery and have had some great whiskies from them previously. Maybe this one seems a little bit pale in comparison to the cask strength SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive I tried a couple of days ago. Decent, but not outstanding.

Whisky #450: SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive

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SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive. 11 year old single cask single malt from Craigellachie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 56.3%. Tasted at home, $179 (bottle).

Watching the cricket on a summer’s afternoon, what more appropriately named whisky could there be other than “44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive” from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!

Colour: Australian gold.

Nose: Floral; freshly snapped branches. Some faint, sweet lemony notes too.

Palate: So light and easy to drink. Lemon meringue, lemon sherbet sweets – the kind that give you a burst of sherbet when you’ve sucked through the hard lemon sweet outside. Spiced honey, water crackers and freshly cracked black pepper.

Finish: A zesty tang, becoming a little saltier as the flavours fade.

Comments: This whisky was going down quicker than an Australian batting collapse. Fresh, flavoursome and bucket-loads of flavour – absolutely drinkable on a hot summer’s day. I find Craigellachie whiskies generally to have lots of fresh floral and forest scents and flavours, while being extremely smooth and easy to drink (almost a cool sensation on the palate). This one certainly continues in that vein, recommended.

Whisky #449: 1996 Duncan Taylor NC2 Glentauchers 15 Year Old Single Malt

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1996 Duncan Taylor NC2 Glentauchers 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

This was another one of the whiskies from my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back. As I was draining the final dram from the bottle, I realised that I’d yet to do a review…clearly I’d been enjoying this one. Not all in one sitting mind you…

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Sweet pineapple chunks, fresh baked lemon cake, pine needles.

Palate: Toasted malty and notes balance out beautifully with honey. Like biting into some seeded toast with honey and butter slathered on top.

Finish: Sweet brown sugar notes fade first, leaving a slightly nutty and woody finish. A salty tang as it fades away.

Comments: Light and delicate, this was very enjoyable. The type of dram you can easily sip without thinking about, or just as easily sit down and analyse in more detail (if you were so inclined). Very decent value at $100 for the bottle, I’d happily grab another.

Whisky #448: Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

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Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey. Dublin, Ireland. ABV: 46%. Tasted in Margaret River, $61 (bottle).

Colour: Rich golden apple juice.

Nose: Vanilla bomb. Black jelly beans. A slight nose prickle, but with a fresh green grass and pine needles.

Palate: Fresh hay and grassy notes; cracked pepper and honey. Quite thin on the palate.

Finish: New wood, white pepper and a subtle sweetness. A dry finish with the front palate getting all the flavour.

Comments: Finished for an extra six months in ex rum casks, though no mention of its overall age at bottling. Cracking value at only $61 for the bottle, it’s a decent blend to start the night but not going to keep you enthralled for the whole night before you inevitably move on to a more full flavoured dram. Solid but not outstanding.

Whisky #447: Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt

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Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt. Orkney Islands, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted in Margaret River.

Colour: Dull toffee.

Nose: Dried apple, soft honey and hay notes. It’s very soft, a bit tame.

Palate: It’s all front palate here, quite a thin mouthfeel too. Tangy orange sweetness – think orange sherbet lollies and flat orange mineral water.

Finish: A very faint salty, lemony tang in the fade. Short to medium length.

Comments: A little uninspiring to be honest. I’ve had some fantastic Highland Parks before, such as the Gordon & MacPhail Reserve Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt, but think they’re much better served at a higher ABV – 40% just tasted a bit too tame for me with this dram.