Whisky a Day

Whisky #282 – Michel Couvreur Blossoming Auld Sherried Single Malt

November 7, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Michel Couvreur Blossoming Auld Sherried Single Malt. Burgundy, France. Tasted at Lafayette. $35

Colour: Burnished copper.

Nose: Buttery toffee, raisins, very soft oak. Fantastic nose.

Palate: Creamy, rich flavours, lots of candied dried fruits but not overly sweet. Creme brûlée. Not a heap of warmth, but just enough.

Finish: Port flavours, cocoa, slight tobacco notes in the fade.

Comments: Reminds me a little of the Limeburners Barrel M93 that I tried (and loved) recently. This is the fourth Michel Couvreur expression I’ve tasted so far, I can safely say that apart from the Cleararch anomaly the others are the real deal. Another whisky with whom I could quite happily settle in and have a lengthy conversation.

Whisky #281 – The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Single Malt

November 7, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40.0%. Tasted at home, $30 (350mL bottle).

Colour: Deep mahogany.

Nose: Sultanas, vanilla and golden syrup.

Palate: Rich velvety dried fruits. Super smooth. Buttery sweetness.

Finish: Builds, with gentle warmth.

Comments: A fantastic whisky, 100% matured in ex sherry casks. A shame I could only get my hands on a small bottle.

Whisky #280: The McGibbon’s Provenance – Macallan 1997 Autumn Distillation 15 Year Old Single Malt

November 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The McGibbon’s Provenance: Macallan 1997 Autumn Distillation 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $70 (bottle).

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Alcohol feints, yet smooth. Hay-like, honey and lemon notes.

Palate: Straw on the mid-palate. Smooth, sweet somewhat citrusy flavours.

Finish: Medium length yet somewhat soft; quite dry.

Comments: Not as intense as I was expecting, yet eminently drinkable.

Whiskies #278 & 279: Jim McEwan Masterclass at The Oxford Hotel

November 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Jim McEwan Masterclass at The Oxford Hotel, Leederville, $50.

What a privilege to have one of the doyens of whisky touring Australia to impart his wisdom, wit and charm as he led us on a journey through Bruichladdich and the history of Islay. On top of that, Jim raised over $11,000 for the Red Cross through donations received at his engaging masterclasses. An amazing night – bagpipes, laughter, touching stories, dancing on tables, a history lesson and we got to try some outstanding whisky too. As it’s getting to the pointy end of Whisky a Day, I had previously tasted four of the Bruichladdichs on offer here so I won’t cover those again, so I’ll focus on the Islay Barley and the Black Art.

Whisky #278: 2006 Bruichladdich Islay Barley 5 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 50.00%.

Colour: Very pale straw.

Nose: Camphor, soft oak & straw notes.

Palate: Malty, not peaty at all.

Finish: Long; lingering warmth and tingle.

Comments: This expression is produced with 100% Islay grown barley. Even the name of the farm is on the tin – nice touch. According to Jim the last time 100% Islay barley used was 1914. Overall it’s pretty decent, but not my pick of the night.

Jim holding court and leading the room in a boisterous version of the Scottish national anthem

Whisky #279: Bruichladdich 23 Year Old 1990 Black Art 04.1. ABV: 49.2%.

Colour: Dark luscious toffee.

Nose: Muscatelles, lightly charred oak, dried fruits. Smells amazing.

Palate: Salted toffee, charcoal flavours. Meaty without being peaty.

Finish: Medium to long, quite a soft finish – not as intense as the Islay Barley.

Comments: No one knows the recipe or what casks are used except Jim – so it’s only appropriate that it bears the moniker “black art”. Really liked this one! Sensational, the clear standout of the night’s tastings for me.

This is apparently the traditional way the Scots say slàinte!

Whisky #277 – Edradour Straight From the Cask 11 Year Old Burgundy Cask Finish Single Malt

November 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Edradour Straight From the Cask 11 Year Old Burgundy Cask Finish Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 58.8%. Tasted at home, $70 (500mL bottle).

Colour: Bright orange.

Nose: Dry, soft oak; almost a bit powdery in a way.

Palate: Not as smooth, sweet as the Edradour Caledonia; dry and oaky. Like licking a paddle pop stick.

Finish: Straw-like flavours, medium length; leaves a tingle at the front of tongue.

Comments: I definitely had high expectations given how much I enjoyed the only other Edradour I’ve tasted before, the Edradour 12 Year Old Caledonia Selection. However this one, while still a solid dram, failed to live up those lofty expectations. It didn’t have anywhere near the same level or complexity, sweetness or depth of flavour in my opinion. I’m keen though to drop by the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry to see what other drams they have on offer!

Whisky #276: Suntory Hibiki 21 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky

November 4, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Suntory Hibiki 21 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky. Osaka, Japan. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at home, $120 (375mL bottle).

Colour: Rich, dark amber.

Nose: Very soft straw, caramel and toffee notes.

Palate: Very delicate; buttery toffee, vanilla, a hint of cane – super smooth.

Finish: Such a gentle fade, like a piece of silk lightly touching your skin.

Comments: Outstanding. A huge step up from both the Hibiki 12 and the Hibiki 17. I’m quite confident that I can name this as the best blend I’ve had so far this year, a shame it’s only a half-size bottle!

Whisky #275 – Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Four Grain Bourbon

November 3, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Four Grain Bourbon. Gardiner, New York State, United States. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at Varnish on King, $37.50.

Colour: Like a freshly varnished timber bar top at a bar called Varnish.

Nose: Caramel. Lots of it. Reminds me a little of some of the drier sherried Speyside or Highlands malts.

Palate: Ok, definitely a bourbon. Drier than I was expecting upon entry.

Finish: Aniseed aftertaste. Prickly ash, salty flavours.

Comments: Very dry, very rye. Definitely not a patch on the Hudson Baby Bourbon, which I think is their best offering that I’ve tried.

Whisky #274 – Zuidam Dutch Rye 5 Year Old Whisky

November 3, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Zuidam Dutch Rye 5 Year Old Whisky. The Netherlands. ABV: 40.0%. Tasted at Varnish on King, $27.

Colour: Candied Dutch orange.

Nose: Very rye indeed. Woody too.

Palate: Quite mild and sweet for a rye, not as spicy as some. The rye flavours dominate above all else though.

Finish: Medium length, dry mouthfeel. Grassy rye flavours linger.

Comments: The Zuidam is a potstill distilled rye. The overwhelming description is “dry rye”…not bad, but not a stand-out. I was curious to try a Dutch whisky, certainly a first for me.

Whisky #273 – George Dickel No.12 Tennessee Whiskey

November 3, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Hmmmm, bacon and whiskey *drool*

George Dickel No.12 Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee, United States. ABV: 45.00%. Tasted at Varnish on King as part of their bacon flight (4 whiskies matched with 4 types of bacon).

Colour: This little piggy went to the gold market.

Nose: Bacon. No wait, I’ve just ordered a bacon flight. It’s been paired with some speck. Creamy grassy notes from the whiskey.

Palate: Lemon and black pepper dominate. Fairly oaky too.

Finish: Aniseed and saltiness in the fade, although to be fair that could be the speck.

Comments: A little overpowered by the salty meatiness of the speck to be honest, but still delicious. Who can knock bacon…absolutely genius idea from the guys at Varnish to do bacon flights matched with whiskey. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, it’s like bourbon wrapped in bacon…*drool*

Whisky #272 – The Macallan 12 Year Old Gran Reserva Single Malt

November 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

The Macallan 12 Year Old Gran Reserva Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 45.6%. Tasted at home, $0 – Dram Full sample.

Colour: Deep burnt toffee.

Nose: Sticky syrupy sherry. Lots of it. Soft varnish notes too.

Palate: Luscious intense spice and dried fruits, not overly sweet though – which is a good thing.

Finish: Buttery oak and caramel, lots of spice. Medium to long finish.

Comments: Perfectly balanced; sweetness and spice, rich full flavours. Absolutely fantastic.

Whisky #271 – Amrut Fusion Single Malt Indian Whisky

November 1, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Xander from Varnish with his happy face on. Must be because I’m drinking all his whisk(e)y.

Amrut Fusion Single Malt Indian Whisky. Bangalore, India. ABV: 50%. Tasted at Varnish on King, $21.50.

Colour: light copper.

Nose: a little caramel when you pull away, quite oaky.

Palate: very dry and oaky.

Finish: Spicey and peppery. Need to try again.

Comments: How the fuck did I make those notes. Let me explain – I tried this whisky on a Friday night, I didn’t even remember going to Varnish, let alone tasting the Amrut. The next day I discovered the photos on my phone & also my tasting notes…needless to say I was a little dubious at how accurate they might be, so I went back to Varnish a couple of days later to re-taste in a slightly more sober state. I was amazed to find that my drunken notes were surprisingly accurate! Wonders never cease.

Whisky #270 – BenRiach 15 Year Old Madeira Single Malt

October 30, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

BenRiach 15 Year Old Madeira Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at The Laneway Lounge, $18.

Colour: Hungover stale beer colour.

Nose: Straw, yet some some rich vanilla and sherry notes.

Palate: Creamy smooth berry flavours.

Finish: Velvety sherbet finish. Tingly smooth – the finish tastes a little like Allen’s strawberries and cream lollies.

Comments: Matured in American oak casks initially, then finished in Madeira barrels. There are a few interesting yet contrasting things going on with this one, but it’s a bit too much of a medley of flavours and aromas to make it a really good whisky.

Whisky #269 – Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament Single Malt

October 28, 2014 by Whisky a Day 4 Comments

Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 48.00%. Tasted at home, $120 (bottle).

Colour: As Ron Burgundy might say, it’s the colour of rich mahogany.

Nose: 60% of the time it works every time…damn this is a fine whisky. A stunning nose; dried muscatels, molasses, dusty bookshelves.

Palate: Luscious syrupy mouthfeel. Dry sultanas, cocoa, rich sherry flavours; deliciously sweet and chewy without being overly saccharine.

Finish: Caramel flavours dominate; medium length.

Comments: An amazing whisky, beautifully balanced. I could drink this every day as my Whisky a Day challenge for 2015. I’m keen to sit down one night and try a vertical tasting of the Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old and the Glendronach Allardice 18 Year Old, two of my favourite whiskies this year…purely for research purposes of course.

Whisky #268 – White Oak Akashi Blended Japanese Whisky

October 26, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

White Oak Akashi Blended Japanese Whisky. Akashi, Japan. ABV: 40.0%. Tasted at home, $15 (500mL bottle).

Colour: Orangey gold. Starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel with new ways to describe different hues of gold.

Nose: Straw and bamboo notes. Is that because it’s a Japanese whisky that I’m associating bamboo? Debatable, but I’m sticking to it.

Palate: Cooked vegetables, like a vegetable stew. Dry hay-like flavours, some dry white wine notes too.

Finish: Short finish, very dry. Dry is the word of the day.

Comments: It was certainly a bargain – I have to admit that when I ordered it I misread the size of the bottle. For $15 I was expecting a 50mL bottle, so I was pleasantly surprised when my order arrived and it was a 500mL bottle! It’s ok, a little too dry and thin for my liking really.

Whisky #267 – Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M93 Single Malt

October 24, 2014 by Whisky a Day 3 Comments

Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M93 Single Malt. Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 61%. Tasted at home, $200 (bottle) from the Limeburners cellar door in Albany.

Colour: Dark varnished timber floorboards.

Nose: Like sticking your nose into a packet of juicy sultanas or currants. Ever so slight tobacco feints, soft oak as well.

Palate: Rich and intense, buttery dark honey notes and spices. Lots of warmth that fills the mouth like you’ve just had a sip of some warm tea with a big dollop of molasses.

Finish: A long finish. Lots of residual warmth radiates while the spice and golden syrup flavours continue to dance around your mouth, begging you to have another sip.

Comments: I bought the second last 700mL bottle from the cellar door. I really don’t want this bottle to finish, but given how much I enjoyed it I fear it will be difficult to ration it out and make it last. $200 a bottle, but worth every penny. Simply superb.

Whisky #266 – Makers Mark Bourbon Whiskey

October 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Makers Mark Bourbon Whiskey. Kentucky, United States. ABV: 40.0%. Tasted at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, $10.

Colour: Dark cane.

Nose: Aniseed notes; I’m not a huge fan. Dad got scents of damp hessian bags that have been sitting in a shed for too long. The old man is more of a wine drinker usually, but you don’t have to be a whisky fan to describe the nose of a dram – the olfactory sense is one of the most powerful in terms of triggering a (sometimes obscure) memory.

Palate: Spice and pepper.

Finish: Sawdust, very dry pepper and corn flavours. Medium length.

Comments: Meh, very underwhelming. After having tried some rather nice Limeburners, this one certainly misses the…ahem…mark.