Whisky tastings

Whisky #258 – Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

October 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey. Kentucky, United States. ABV: 47.00%. Tasted at The Royal Hotel, $12.

Colour: Like looking at a 40 year old stripper called Amber through rose-coloured glasses.

Nose: Lots of rye initially, in fact that’s all I could smell. Softens after a few minutes in the glass, a few faint lemon & woody notes begin to poke their heads above the parapet.

Palate: Boom – there’s your traditional bourbon flavours.

Finish: Liquorice, aniseed; a quick drying sensation which leaves a tingle on the front half of the mouth (not just the tongue). Some pepper and spice in the medium to long fade.

Comments: The nose seemed to suggest something a little unique, but when I took a sip it was a relatively standard bourbon. Certainly not bad, but equally it’s nothing to write home about.

Whiskies #256 & 257: Chivas Brothers Tasting with Laura Hay

October 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Chivas Brothers Tasting with Laura Hay. Helvetica, $50.

I was fortunate to attend another tasting event hosted by Chivas Brothers ambassador Laura Hay. We had five whiskies to taste, however I’ve already covered three of them so far this year – The Glenlivet 18, Longmorn 16 and Aberlour A’bunadh. I suspect as the year draws to a close there will be a few more times like this where I’ve sampled some of them already.

Whisky #256, Scapa 16 Year Old Single Malt. Orkney Islands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%.

Colour: Pale toffee.

Nose: Very soft. Orange peel, vanilla, straw. Reminds me of walking into a room with freshly varnished timber floorboards.

Palate: Soft oak, some hay-like flavours.

Finish: Short to medium length, a little briny but not like other island malts, it’s very light and subtle.

Comments: Fresh and light. Quite pleasant, but it’s not the kind of whisky that’s going to really wow you. A great whisky to kick off the evening’s whisky tasting though.

Whisky #257, Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%.

Colour: Light amber.

Nose: Earthy, but quite light. Musty bookshelves. Pistachio shells.

Palate: Stoney is how I’d describe it. Much more subtle sherry notes than the Aberlour 10 year old.

Finish: Medium length, not much heat.

Comments: I actually didn’t enjoy this one as the Aberlour 10 Year Old Single Malt, which apparently is being phased out of the Aberlour lineup in favour of the 12 year old. Not as sweet and sherry-like as I was expecting. My good mate Tim remarks that it’s his ideal whisky when you’re having a shit day, it’s the one you turn to when you get home and pour yourself a dram. It’s smooth yet uncomplicated; you can drink it with the assurance that everything is going to be alright. Couldn’t have said it better myself Timbo!

Whisky #255 – Old Rip Van Winkle 107 Proof 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

September 30, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Old Rip Van Winkle 107 Proof 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey. Kentucky, United States. ABV: 53.50%. Tasted at The Royal Hotel, $18.

Colour: Deep orangey amber, like sap oozing from an old tree trunk.

Nose: Slight prickle with the first sniff. Pine needles. A freshly struck match.

Palate: Lots of rye and spice, predominantly pepper. Warmth builds with intensity.

Finish: Alcohol vapours seem to want to float to the highest point at the roof of the mouth. Long finish – the tongue is just buzzing for ages.

Comments: Damn, a sip of this would’ve quickly woken old Rip from his slumber, it certainly packs a punch. A brutally intense rye, but not enough flavour complexity for my liking – it’s just not subtle enough.

Whisky #254 – Suntory Royal Blended Whisky

September 29, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Suntory Royal Blended Whisky. Japan. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $7 (50mL miniature bottle).

Colour: Dark caramel.

Nose: Musty oak, a bit grassy. Some faint aromas that almost remind you like you’ve just opened a bag of plain corn chips.

Palate: Velvety smooth entry, it slithers its way around your palate. Very oily mouthfeel, quite a cooling sensation initially before the heat starts to build. Soft woody notes, a touch of sweetness.

Finish: Juicy, like chewing on a long fresh piece of grass.

Comments: It’s Suntory time, and I quite like this one actually. Wasn’t quite sure what to expect, particularly being a blend; ultimately very drinkable.

Whisky #253 – Berry’s Bladnoch 19 Year Old 1992 Single Malt

September 29, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Berry’s Bladnoch 19 Year Old 1992 Single Malt. Lowlands, Scotland. 46%. Tasted at Lafayette, $22.

Colour: Very pale lemon.

Nose: Floral, quite delicate. Citrus notes too – not like the outside of an orange peel, but more like the smell after you’ve peeled an orange or mandarin and you’re just left with the white pith.

Palate: Quite a soft entry, but then quickly builds with a bit of heat and pepper.

Finish: Long finish. Gradually dries and contorts itself on the palate as it fades, revealing lemon and pepper.

Comments: Bottled in 2011, having been aged for 19 years. Surprisingly complex for a Lowlands whisky. It’s very light yet complex, some great stuff going on here.

Whisky #252 – Hazelburn 12 Year Old Single Malt

September 28, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Hazelburn 12 Year Old Single Malt. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at Lafayette, $20.

Colour: Tired gold. The type of gold that’s a little worn out by being so lustrous so it’s now a little dulled.

Nose: Gentle wood and honey notes. Also some subtle savoury aromas too; a little like when you peel the outer layers off eschallots before slicing them up.

Palate: Fairly one dimensional, just lots of oak.

Finish: Very long, mainly woody notes. Like going to the doctor and they place timber stick on your tongue and make you go “argh”. Slightly sour sensation on the tongue as it fades.

Comments: One of the very few triple distilled whiskies from Scotland. A solid, yet not spectacular whisky.

Whisky #251: Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt

September 28, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 47.80%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $115 (bottle).

Colour: Brilliant translucent yellow.

Nose: Vanilla and bush honey.

Palate: Sweet biscuity notes. Creamy and buttery. Oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium length, lots of sweet oak and vanilla flavours. Almost a bit jammy.

Comments: A very smooth dram, the fact that half the bottle has mysteriously disappeared over a few days would suggest that it’s dangerously drinkable!

Whisky #250 – Michel Couvreur Candid Malt Whisky

September 26, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Michel Couvreur Candid Malt Whisky. Burgundy, France. ABV: 49.00%. Tasted at Lafayette.

Colour: Deep amber.

Nose: Smokey, meaty, yet thick molasses notes punctuating the olfactory profile. That last bit was an attempt to sound as wanky as possible, think I succeeded.

Palate: Big and thick mouthfeel, almost furry. Smoke all over the place, like sweet hickory BBQ sauce slathered all over some baby back ribs.

Finish: Very long. Giles got beef jerky, the longer it goes the more jerky you get.

Comments: Surprising – I certainly wasn’t expecting such a meaty, smokey and intense whisky given my tasting of two other Michel Couvreur whiskies (the Overaged and Clearach single malts). This was fantastic, I could drink this all night. It’s so tasty it almost makes you want to lick the day off your fingers like you would after devouring that juicy rack of BBQ pork ribs.

Whisky #249 – Middleton Green Spot Irish Whiskey

September 25, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Middleton Green Spot Irish Whiskey. Dublin, Ireland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Lafayette.

Colour: Solid gold.

Nose: Smells like a rye whiskey. Grassy notes too.

Palate: Lots of rye-like spice on the palate too. Very pleasant without being overly complex. Quite a dry mouthfeel. A touch of black pepper and spice.

Finish: Gentle development of flavour and warmth, but a medium finish.

Comments: While obviously not a rye whiskey, it does share similar qualities with some American rye whiskies. Not too bad overall.

Whisky #248 – Chivas Regal Extra

September 24, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Chivas Regal Extra. Speyside, Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at Lafayette.

Colour: Dark varnished timber.

Nose: A bit of oak, a bit of sherry. That’s about as complex as it gets.

Palate: surprisingly thin on the palate. Soft enough, but not much depth. It’s got some sherry flavours but they’re sadly quite watered down.

Finish: Reasonably short finish, quite dry.

Comments: The “Extra” is a blend with a higher proportion from ex sherry casks than other Chivas offerings, so I was intrigued to see if it had that typical sherry richness and fruity sweetness. To be honest I found the flavours to be ok, but I cannot help but think it would’ve been interesting to try before they’d diluted it down to 40%. My good friend Giles is quite underwhelmed – “all I can taste is marketing”. Hard to disagree with that assessment old boy.

Whisky #247 – The Lark Distillery Port Cask Finish (Bottled 2013)

September 23, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Lark Distillery Port Cask Finish (Bottled 2013). Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $45 (100mL bottle).

Colour: Quite an orangey bronze.

Nose: Initially it was a little harsh, but after a short while in the glass the nose softens revealing muscatels and charred oak.

Palate: Rich and full flavoured; toffee sweetness balanced with slightly tart fruity flavours. Tastes a little stronger than 46% ABV.

Finish: Quite dry; cocoa and cigar box flavours. Gentle warmth fades in a medium to long finish.

Comments: Another great offering from The Lark. To be honest, when I took my first sip I was a little disappointed as I thought it was a bit raw and harsher than the other Lark Port Cask Finish (also bottled in 2013) I recently tried. But in the name of science, I pressed on and continued the tasting – I’m very glad that I did as it developed into a great drop. I still rate the Lark Sherry Cask Finish as my favourite Lark expression that I’ve tried so far this year, but the Port Cask offerings are not too far behind.

Whisky #246 – Longrow Peated Campbeltown Single Malt

September 22, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Longrow Peated Campbeltown Single Malt. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at Helvetica, $19.

Colour: If there’s one thing I won’t miss about this Whisky a Day project, it’s having to come up with different ways to describe the colour of each dram. Particularly as colour bears little to no significance as to the whisky’s quality. Apart from notable exceptions such as the Kavalan Solist ex Sherry Cask which has a very unique colour, it’s very hard to come up with different ways to describe subtle variation in shades of gold/amber/straw. This one is a pale gold.

Nose: Peaty, but not as intense or smokey as your Islay peated whiskies, it’s got more suble medicinal qualities.

Palate: A smooth, cool entry. Dry woody notes, a little nutty too.

Finish: The peat certainly lingers but doesn’t envelop your mouth like bigger peated whiskies. Medium length, only light to medium heat.

Comments: If you find the heavily peated Islay malts a bit overpowering, this peated Longrow could be a good way to dip your toe in the water and explore some peat without the intensity.

Whisky #245 – Nikka Coffey Malt Japanese Whisky

September 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Nikka Coffey Malt Japanese Whisky. Sendai, Japan. ABV: 45.0%. Tasted at Helvetica, $28.

Colour: Light amber.

Nose: Fresh oak, sawdust, hay-like notes along with some sweetness.

Palate: Much drier than I was expecting – from the nose I had thought it might by a bit richer and maybe a little syrupy.

Finish: Dried cocoa, liquorice. Interesting that there’s a few more sweet notes emerging in the finish compared to when it first enters the mouth. Flavours and a gentle heat seem to build for a while before the eventual fade.

Comments: A real chameleon of a whisky; it’s constantly revealing more layers of complexity with each sniff, each mouthful. Rich yet delicate, it’s a whisky of contrasts. Much like a girl playing hard to get when you’re first dating, it’s a whisky that beckons you back for another encounter or five to truly get to know it.

Whiskies #243-244: The Glenrothes 1995 & 1998 Single Malts

September 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

1995 The Glenrothes Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%.

Colour: Like varnished pine timber floorboards.

Nose: Straw and malt notes, nothing too spectacular here though.

Palate: Soft nondescript entry. Very soft honey notes. Like most Scots, a little nutty.

Finish: Gentle tingle builds on the lips, but quickly fades. Honied cereal notes in the fade. Quite short in length.

1998 The Glenrothes Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%.

Colour: Orange gold.

Nose: Oak and vanilla.

Palate: Fuller flavour than the 1995, much richer. Oak, syrupy dried fruit, oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium length, some sweet buttery toffee notes linger.

Overall comments: For me the 1998 was much better than the 1995, which for some may be a little surprising given the 1998 is three years younger (both were bottled in 2012). It just goes to show that older doesn’t necessarily equal better, even from the same distillery! The 1998 has a lot more depth of character; the 1995 is just a bit too insipid and characterless for my liking.

Whisky #242 – Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M87 Single Malt

September 19, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M87 Single Malt (bottle 220 / 348). Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $0 (won a sample in one of Dram Full Perth’s “Guess That Dram” competitions).

Colour: Deep amber.

Nose: Molasses, charcoal and faint hints of cigar box. A slight prickle from the alcohol.

Palate: Smooth, oily mouthfeel, quite thin on the palate. Toffee and tobacco notes dominate.

Finish: Surprising hint of peat in the fade.

Comments: Another great Limeburners offering. I’m really excited to be heading down to Albany next weekend to visit the guys at Great Southern Distillery and hopefully try a few more Limeburners expressions that I haven’t had before. They really are producing some top stuff down there.

When most people think of Australian whisky they understandably think of Tasmania and some of the fantastic malts being produced out of the Apple Isle. But if you’re looking to round out your Aussie whisky experience, cast your attention to Western Australia and have a crack at some Limeburners, they really are on the up in my opinion. It’s a different style to the Tasmanian malts, but it definitely works.

Whisky #241 – Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC10 Heavily Peated Single Malt

September 18, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC10 Heavily Peated Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at my mate Gordy’s place, $0 (Gordy asked for assistance finishing his whisky before he moved house. I was happy to oblige).

Colour: It’s like a dark Jesus Christ! Sorry, dropped my phone as I was typing that. It’s like a dark varnished timber floor.

Nose: Oh yes it’s heavily peated. Charcoal beef patties.

Palate: Big peat, but not a lot of smoke. Quite a dry mouthfeel. It’s got lots of flavour, but it’s not super intense.

Finish: Smooth briny peat. Quite a long finish, but as it’s not a super intense flavour bomb of peat it’s actually quite a gentle long fade.

Comments: Smoother than I was expecting. Not as meaty and intense as the “heavily peated” moniker had suggested, but still quite a lot of peat and quite tasty.