Whisky tastings

Whisky #60: Elements of Islay Pe5 Cask Strength Single Malt

March 23, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Elements of Islay Pe5 Cask Strength Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 57.90%. Tasted at Bad Apples, $47.

Colour: Nright gold.

Nose: Served in a miniature Glencairn glass, which is the first one I’ve drank out of so far. The smaller size allows you to really get your nose in close to the whisky. A complex nose on this one, hard to dissect. And frankly, with such a rare whisky I’m not so sure I want to pull it to pieces, I just want to enjoy it.

Palate: Smooth entry, quickly warms & fills the mouth. Quite creamy. Much more subtle than other Islays I’ve tried.

Finish: I didn’t want it to finish!

Comments: To be honest, I didn’t focus on making too many notes with this tasting – I just wanted to enjoy it. Port Ellen is a defunct distillery, so the rarity of the whisky is the reason for the high price. I’m not sure it’s worth $47 a nip based on flavour alone. The Pe5 is the fifth “Elements of Islay” release of Port Ellen whisky, this one is from a single sherry cask. I’d like to try it again though but next time without putting pressure on myself to try and analyse it and do it justice – I’d just want to relax a little more and really enjoy it.

Whisky #59: Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

March 17, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey. Frankfort, Kentucky, USA. ABV: 45.00%. Tasted at Bobeche, $13.

Colour: Lustrous copper.

Nose: Grassy.

Palate: Sweet burnt orange, like when you squirt the oil from the orange peel into your Cosmopolitan and ignite it on the way through. Also a bit nutty (much like most girls I know who drink Cosmopolitans).

Finish: Again quite long, sweet…almost chewy. Makes you want to lick your lips to decipher the other flavours kicking about.

Comments: Definitely not as smooth as the Willett I just tasted, but still very tasty and complex; definitely a lot more bourbon-like.

Whisky #58: Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

March 17, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon Whiskey. Bardstown, Kentucky, USA. ABV: 47.00%. Tasted at Bobeche, $0 – courtesy of Joe the manager.

Colour: Burnt gold, like a creme brûlée.

Nose: A bit of oak, bit of sweetness (no doubt from the creme brûlée). Can smell a touch of coconut, not sure if that was because I was primed to look for it based on Joe’s comment about the nose.

Palate: A beautiful warm sweetness and spice. Not overly bourbon-like, very soft & smooth.

Finish: Quite a long finish, seems to gradually dissipate first from the back of the palate towards the front of the tongue. Fades to some soft liquorice flavours.

Comments: Definitely not your typical bourbon. If I’d been blindfolded and not told it was a bourbon, I probably would’ve picked it as a scotch whisky of some description (but with quite an unusual finish). Maybe says more about my unsophisticated palate than the whiskey. Fortunately my grammar is a little more sophisticated in being able to correctly use both “whisky” and “whiskey” in the same paragraph.

Hopefully my palate develops throughout the year so I can describe more than just the appropriate spelling of whisky/whiskey depending on which country it’s from. I can’t imagine grammatical pontification is going to make for a very entertaining whisky (or should that be whiskey?) blog…

Whisky #57: Michel Couvreur Overaged Single Malt Whisky

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day 3 Comments

Michel Couvreur Overaged Single Malt Whisky. Burgundy, France. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Bar Lafayette, $20.

Colour: Deep coppery sherry colour.

Nose: Sweet fruit chutney initially, maybe a hint of currants.

Palate: A smooth, almost cool sensation when you first sip it. Tastes like a candied raisin. I haven’t ever tasted a candied raisin, but it’s the best way to could describe it. Kind of like those dried fruit & nut bars bound together with sugary caramel, but without the nuts.

Finish: Very smooth, creamy; not much heat, a gentle fade of the flavours.

Comments: Distilled in one country, matured in another…the bastard child of Scotland & France. Smooth entry, smooth finish. Only after reading this did I realise how inappropriate those two sentences are together. Lots of flavour, much more complex and (frankly) tasty than the Benromach I tasted just prior to this.

Very interesting, I hadn’t ever come across a French whisky before, although the Scots can certainly lay claim to having a hand in it too. Keen to try the other Michel Couvreur expressions they have behind the bar at Lafayette.

Whisky #56: Benromach Sassicaia Wood Finish Single Malt

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Benromach Sassicaia Wood Finish Single Malt. Speyside, Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 45.00%. Tasted at Bar Lafayette, $17.

Colour: Golden caramel.

Nose: Quite light, a bit oaky, maybe some plums? Hard to tell.

Palate: Hints of cinnamon, bit of spice. Not a lot of depth though.

Finish: Quite short, front of the tongue.

Comments: Mellows the more you leave it. Maybe could have done with some more time in the barrel to develop some more flavours, only 7 years in total, the last 29 months of that in ex-Sassicaia wine casks.

Whisky #55: Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask 5 Year Old

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask 5 Year Old. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 61.00%. Tasted at Canton Lounge, $20.

Colour: Quite a pale straw, perhaps unsurprising given it only spent 5 years in an ex bourbon barrel.

Nose: Strong alcohol vapours, although they soften with a bit of time in the glass. Peat dominates but some floral scents come through.

Palate: Rich warm flavours, but the peat just keeps coming. Salty.

Finish: Long and smokey, it’s like a warm peaty vapour cloud expanding in your mouth.

Comments: A single cask bottling, only ~260 bottles released. Not sure they should have tapped the barrel after only 5 years, it could have done with some more time to soften up a bit. Maybe they’ve released it early so they’ve got a different offering in the Kilchoman range. Though most likely it’s been released to generate some cashflow seeing as Kilchoman is such a young distillery that’s only been in operation a few years. Can’t say I’ve ever tasted such a young whisky before.

Whisky #54: The Arran Cask Finishes Amarone Cask Finish Single Malt

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Arran Cask Finishes Amarone Cask Finish Single Malt. Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 50.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $23.

Colour: A deep sherry-like colour.

Nose: Chocolatey scents. Also smells like a bunch of dried muscatelles.

Palate: Much more complex than the Sullivan’s Cove Double Wood. Bit more heat and plenty of spice; juicy.

Finish: Long tingle at the front of the tongue, warmth through the back.

Comments: I would like more time to chew on this one some more. Definitely the kind of whisky that takes more than one dram to fully appreciate. Will be back for more in the not too distant future!

Whisky #53: Sullivans Cove Double Cask Single Malt

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Sullivans Cove Double Cask Single Malt. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $16.

Colour: Quite light, hard to tell in the dim light of a bar. Kind if like talking to a cougar at a dimly lit bar – you’re not sure if she’s got blonde or grey hair.

Nose: Smells like whisky. Sweet scents, scents of faint vanilla & cloves.

Palate: Strong sweet flavours without the alcohol heat or spice. Corn chip like aftertaste. Can’t bring myself to describe it as a corn-like flavour as I don’t actually like corn (one of only four foods I dislike). Quite a simple easy to drink dram, cooked mash kind of flavours. Sweet aftertaste.

Finish: Quite dry, shortish-medium finish at the front third of the tongue. Doesn’t coat or warm the whole mouth, not a criticism mind you.

Comments: My mate Charles who is tasting this one with me reckons it’s a real whisky for the afternoon. We all need more afternoon beverages. Reminds me a little of the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or or Longmorn 16.

Whisky #52: Writers Tears Pot Still Irish Whiskey

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Writers Tears Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Ireland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Bobeche, $13.

Colour: Bright gold.

Nose: Really soft honey scents, maybe a touch of hay

Palate: Fuller flavour, hints of sweetness with some malty spice. Hard to describe some of the other more subtle flavours.

Finish: Business up front with a medium finish at the front of the mouth; party out back with warmth & flavour hanging around.

Comments: Much more full flavoured than other Irish malts I’ve had, more like a highland malt. Apparently it was called “Writers Tears” because it was traditionally consumed by Irish writers suffering from writer’s block. After drinking so much of it, some reportedly cried tears of whiskey when inspiration finally hit. Maybe I should drink another one in the hope that I will tearfully come up with something a little more witty to say! Anyway, it’s a vatting of pure pot still and single malt whiskies. Quite enjoyable.

Whisky #51: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur

March 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur. Canada. ABV: 33.00%. $55 (bottle), tasted at my friends Tim & Claire’s place.

Appearance: Bright golden colour, syrupy – sticks to the side of the glass.

Nose: Like sticking your nose into a bunch of cinnamon sticks. Or maybe crushing them up and snorting one up your nose.

Palate: Sweet & overwhelming cinnamon & clove flavours explode in your mouth.

Finish: Oily hot spice at the tip of the tongue. Kind of a similar sensation to eating some chilli chocolate (not saying the flavours are chocolatey, just the sweetness followed by the heat after sensation).

Comments: My first Canadian of the year, also the first whisky liqueur, though at 33% ABV it’s more akin to a traditional whisky. Cinnamon aromas are too strong to really enjoy it.

Whisky #50: Dalmore 15 Year Old Single Malt

March 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Dalmore 15 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. The Terrace, $15.

Colour: Deep coppery colour.

Nose: Having been to the races today with a bunch of friends, as I attempt to dutifully undertake today’s whisky tasting there are jokes flying around asking me if this wins the best whisky contest “by a nose”. Not sure I agree.

Palate: Very light, gentle spice. Not as flavoursome as other sherry matured drams.

Finish: Smooth, reasonably short.

Comments: Towards the end of a relatively robust day’s imbibing, my creative writing skills have dried up. It’s the writer’s block equivalent of whisky dick. Certainly not helped by my friends trying to distract me in my whisky pursuit and attacking me with a couple of hobby horses which have been our faithful companions through the day. These fine steeds even wanted to get in on some of the Dalmore 15. You can lead a horse to whisky…

After these nags (the horses, not my friends) had French martinis at The Terrace, danced to Daryl Braithwaite then finished off with some fireball whisky…they can go out to pasture until next race day! Giddy up!

Our whisky tasting steeds

Whisky #49: J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky

March 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky. Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Best Brew bar, Four Points Sheraton Hotel. $9.

Colour: Insipid cat’s piss.

Nose: It doesn’t smell much better than the colour suggests…

Palate: Tastes surprisingly better than it looks and smells. Soft spice, toasty oak flavours with a hint of peat.

Finish: Pretty short, nothing much doing here.

Comments: I was expecting this to be a candidate for the “Truly Awful” whisky category. Early indications weren’t promising, but it ended up surpassing my low expectations given the price point. Not by a vast amount however.

Whisky #48: Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt

March 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day 3 Comments

Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at The Trustee, $15.

Colour: Deep brownish amber, clearly showing it’s sherry roots.

Nose: Currants definitely, cloves & cinnamon maybe?

Palate: Soft, warm chocolatey type flavours.

Finish: A gentle heat fills the mouth, but the best part is that the flavours last for ages in your mouth and don’t morph into something else.

Comments: Like biting into a really moist sticky date pudding drizzled in some salted caramel sauce *drool*. I had a bottle of this at home a few years ago and it was my first experience of a sherry matured whisky. Thought it was ok at the time, but maybe because of this early experience I’ve never considered myself much of a sherry head. Glad I’ve tried it again – definitely the best sherry dram of the project I’ve had so far.

Whisky #47: Auchentoshan Triple Distilled 12 Year Old Single Malt

March 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Auchentoshan Triple Distilled 12 Year Old Single Malt. Lowlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00% . Tasted at The Trustee, $12.

Colour: Plain old amber, no makeup. Not as dark as the Auchentoshan Three Wood (which obviously has spent considerable time in sherry casks).

Nose: Buttery toffee scents.

Palate: Smooth & oily.

Finish: Quite a thin, short finish.

Comments: A triple distilled Auchentoshan? How very Irish of you. Quite ok, nothing too out of the box to remark on – just a solid, smooth, middle of the road single malt. I definitely prefer the Auchentoshan Three Wood, which has a bit more depth and character than this entry-level dram.

Whisky #46: Balblair Single Malt – 2000 Vintage

March 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Balblair Single Malt – 2000 Vintage. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at The Trustee, $13.

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Sweet alcohol feints, touch of leather. Not too hard though (the safety word is “whisky”).

Palate: Peppery spice dominates like a leather-bound dominatrix. Has a bit of saltiness; not the sweetness I was expecting.

Finish: Long spice at the front of the mouth.

Comments: More trivia following on from yesterday’s Whisky #45. Apparently Balblair, founded in 1790, is the second oldest working distillery in Scotland.

Anyway, this is my first whisky tasting of the year in a Glencairn glass. While it may be the preferred whisky glass of connoisseurs around the world, I’m not such a fan. When I’m having a dram purely to relax and unwind, I like my whisky glasses to have heft; the Glencairn is too light & dainty for my liking. Yes the shape of the glass is designed to channel the aromas towards your nose, but if I’m having a whisky tasting my preference is a stemless glass, much like a stemless white wine glass. The Glencairn falls somewhere between the two types.

Whisky #45: Springbank Calvados Wood 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt

March 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Springbank Calvados Wood 12 Year OldCask Strength Single Malt. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 52.70%. Tasted at Helvetica, $22.

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Peat dominates, some oaky notes, hint of vanilla. Like a vanilla Paddle Pop.

Palate: Wow, lots happening here. Oaky buttery goodness, fair dose of peat.

Finish: Long finish, spice lingers at the front half of the mouth.

Comments: Strong (both in flavour & ABV), quite complex flavours, love it. Matured in ex Calvados (apple brandy) casks. Couldn’t pick up any apple flavours, haven’t actually tried apple brandy before so wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Without such a reference point it’s hard to compare apples with apples…definitely keen to try this one again!