Whisky a Day

Whisky #146 – Bakery Hill Double Wood Single Malt

July 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Bakery Hill Double Wood Single Malt (Barrel 0912). Victoria, Australia. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $120 (bottle).

Colour: Similar to my varnished oak port barrel.

Nose: Malty hay-like scents; vanilla and soft oak.

Palate: Buttery, some stronger oak coming through along with black pepper and some sweetness. Stronger depth of flavour than I was expecting from the nose.

Finish: Medium length for flavour, longer finish for the heat that builds initially. Leaves a tingle on the front half of the tongue long after the flavours have dissipated.

Comments: Single cask release. It’s pretty decent, but it’s somewhat of a contradiction. It’s the kind of dram that grows on you, but not on it’s own though. What I mean is that I found I really had to try and focus to get to know this whisky and reveal it’s character. It’s the kind of whisky that you could happily drink and be very satisfied, but if you were relaxing and a little preoccupied say talking to a friend while consuming, it might be difficult to recall or describe too many characters as they’re quite subtle. In saying that, despite the individual characters being quite subtle the overall qualities (especially the palate) are more robust.

Overall? A decent whisky, but maybe not at this price point. Like the outsider starting from box 8 at the Dapto dish-lickers, there’s probably better value found elsewhere.

Whisky #145 – SMWS 3.194 Surf and Turf BBQ

July 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 3.194 Surf and Turf BBQ. 14 year old single cask from Bowmore distillery. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 58.3%. Tasted at home, 100mL tasting bottle as part of SMWS new members’ welcome pack.

Colour: Deep, brilliant, burnished copper. So bright.

Nose: Strong alcohol fumes abound. Slowly dissipating with some time in the glass to reveal some toffee, butter & burnt orange scents. A hint of smoke too.

Palate: Freshly ground black pepper. Chewy; very meaty, with a smokey almost charcoal taste. It really does taste a little similar to a steak flame cooked on a BBQ.

Finish: Salty smoked aftertaste, long finish.

Comments: I not picking up the seafood flavours that the SWMS abundantly describe, but the meaty BBQ flavours are definitely there. Wow. Not your typic Islay – the smoke is ever-present but it takes a back seat to the complex flavour profile. Really enjoying this one! In fact I’m really loving the Scotch Malt Whisky Society releases generally; they’re all unique, full flavoured and offer huge amounts of character that gradually reveal more layers with every sip.

Whisky #144 – Benromach Peat Smoke (Phenol Level 53PPM)

July 8, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Benromach Peat Smoke (Phenol Level 53PPM). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, purchased as part of a 3 x 200mL pack of Benromach malts, $100.

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Smokey, but more like a campfire rather than peat.

Palate: Sweet peat and oaky flavours.

Finish: Honey and gentle smoke roll around the mouth.

Comments: Definitely the pick of the three Benromachs from this tasting pack. Interesting that they’ve gone out of their way to make a definitive statement about the peat level.

It’s certainly a different beast to your typical peaty Scottish whiskies (e.g. Islay or island whiskies), given Benromach is a Speyside whisky that should hardly surprise. Softer, sweeter flavours make for a more subtle experience, so if you’re someone who is apprehensive about peaty drams it could be a decent place to start and dip your toe in the water. Or in the whisky, though I don’t recommend that literally. Regardless, the Benromach Peat Smoke makes for a good point of difference to other peaty drams you might have tried before.

Whisky #143 – Benromach Organic Single Malt

July 8, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Benromach Organic Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at home, purchased as part of a 3 x 200mL pack of Benromach malts, $100.

Colour: Golden honey.

Nose: Again a slight prickle much like the Benromach 10 year old. Some oak comes through, nothing much else to report really.

Palate: Sweet vanilla notes primarily, a bit of pepper.

Finish: Medium length, sweet oaky notes linger.

Comment: Urgh, another distillery trying to play the “organic” card. Look, if you want to be seen to be environmentally conscious, try hugging a tree or dating a vegan. It’s a perfectly acceptable single malt, but like the Bruichladdich Organic Single Malt it would appear from the outside that Benromach are taking the “organic” angle to appeal to a wider audience or maybe trying it as a point of difference from other distilleries. Either way, the fact that this whisky is organic does not add anything to the drinking experience. It’s a good whisky, don’t get me wrong, but who really cares if it’s organic?

Whisky #142 – Makers Mark 46 Bourbon Whisky

July 7, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Makers Mark 46 Bourbon Whisky. Kentucky, United States. ABV: 47.00%. Tasted at the Elephant & Wheelbarrow, $11.

Colour: Deep dark copper.

Nose: Leathery vanilla notes; aniseed too.

Palate: Sweet aniseed flavours abound, balanced nicely with some heat & spice at the front of the mouth.

Finish: Dry, medium length; salted liquorice & pepper.

Comments: smooth entry, but some heat & spice to finish. It was ok, a fairly typical bourbon – nothing that makes it particularly stand out from the crowd.

Whisky #141 – Benromach 10 Year Old Single Malt

July 7, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Benromach 10 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at home, purchased as part of a 3 x 200mL pack of Benromach malts, $100.

Colour: Orangey gold.

Nose: Dried fruits, but not much sweetness. A verrrrrry subtle hint of smoke. A bit of a prickle in the nostrils from the alcohol.

Palate: Dried apricots. Quite an oily mouthfeel. Smooth entry, flavours don’t really develop in the mouth though.

Finish: Short to medium finish, some sweet notes linger for a little while, as does the tingle of heat from the alcohol.

Comment: Not too bad, but there’s certainly better examples of Speyside malts in my opinion (e.g. Glenfarclas 15 year old). It doesn’t quite have the complexity or depth of flavour that I was hoping for. Check back over the next few posts where I will review the Benromach Organic Single Malt & the Benromach Peat Smoke (Phenol Level 53PPM).

Whisky #140 – Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Year Old Single Malt

July 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at home, $120 (bottle).

Colour: A light golden hue.

Nose: Floral, sweet hay-like notes.

Palate: Silky smooth entry, oily mouthfeel. Oak and somewhat sweet fruity flavours. Less spice than other Glenmorangies.

Finish: Warmth gradually builds as the flavours start to fade. Medium-long finish.

Comments: A lot smoother than other Glenmorangie expressions, less oaky. I’ve always had a bottle of this kicking around in my collection for the past few years (needless to say, it’s not the same bottle – they don’t last that long!) and for good reason – I really like it. Great balance, both in terms of flavours and also heat. Absolutely no hesitation in ordering another bottle once this one is finished.

Whisky #139 – Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt

July 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: A police officer of above average intelligence…bright copper.

Nose: Rich, sweet sultanas. It gets even better with time in the glass.

Palate: Caramelised brown sugar, dried muscatels, lots of sherry notes. A hint of soft charcoal. Not a whole heap of heat, just soft buttery flavours and some spices.

Finish: Peppery oak but with some residual sweetness, especially as you lick your lips. And you’ll want to, because this is a great drop. Quite a long finish, only a very gentle heat though.

Comments: A very solid whisky, great flavour profile and complexity. It’s no wonder this is such a popular drop, you really can’t go wrong with one of these in your collection.

Whisky #138 – Glenmorangie Ealanta Private Edition Single Malt

July 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenmorangie Ealanta Private Edition Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $150 (bottle).

Colour: Deep lustrous golden bronze.

Nose: Lots of vanilla and oak. Hardly comes as a surprise given the Ealanta has spent 19 years maturing in virgin American oak barrels, but it is still a beautiful nose. Some chocolatey notes too.

Palate: Dryish earthy mouthfeel upon entry, but that is quickly forgotten as the flavour bomb explodes in your mouth. Toasted, spiced woody flavours, still a fair hit of vanilla but not as strong as in the nose. Creamy nutty flavours too.

Finish: The smooth oaky vanilla and spices just keep building, a long finish to really enjoy what is a fantastic dram.

Comments: In Jim Murray’s 2014 Whisky Bible, he rated the Glenmorangie Ealanta as World Whisky of the Year with a score of 97.5 out of 100. Needless to say, I was quite keen to taste it! Partly because of its reputation, but also because Glenmorangie would probably have to be my favourite distillery.

So did it live up to the hype? Yes and no. I love it and I’m very happy to have a bottle in my collection at home, especially sitting beside the Glenmorangie Companta which is also an amazing whisky. However for me, the Ealanta didn’t have that “wow” factor I was hoping for when trying the world’s best whisky, similar to the experience when tasting say the Glenrothes 1969 The MacPhail’s Collection. I guess when you’re judged the world’s best whisky it ensures that people have some pretty high expectations that may be a little hard to live up to. Nevertheless, highly recommended!

Whisky #137 – AnCnoc 12 Year Old Single Malt

July 1, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

AnCnoc 12 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at home, part of small whisky sampler pack ($37 for 4 x 50mL bottles).

Colour: Some days lately I feel like Scrooge McDuck describing the whisky’s colour…more fucking gold.

Nose: Fresh floral notes; a hint of smoke & medicinal feints.

Palate: Quite intense flavour-wise, soft toasted wood or charcoal, but not bitter.

Finish: Medium length flavour, pepper and warmth through the mouth, dry finish.

Comments: Nothing too memorable to report on this one, it’s quite ok but overall there’s nothing too special about it which would give cause to get excited about it.

Whisky #136 – Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt, On The Way

July 1, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt, On The Way. Chichibu, Japan. ABV: 58.5%. Tasted at Canton Lounge, $19.

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Grassy, fresh lemons, woody notes. After some time in the glass there’s almost some chocolate-like notes.

Palate: Pow – full flavour hit, intense and complex. Bit of a salted golden syrupy flavour, dry mouthfeel, quite salty yet a hint of sweetness. Big alcohol warmth.

Finish: Lingering salty tingle on the end of the tongue, almost like a popping candy sensation. Very dry finish.

Comments: Surprising flavour complexity from such a young (5 year old) whisky.

Whisky #135 – Nikka Togouchi 18 Year Old Japanese Blend

July 1, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Nikka Togouchi 18 Year Old Japanese Blend. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Canton Lounge, $0 (courtesy of bar manager Steve).

Colour: Deep straw.

Nose: Sweet hay & soft vanilla.

Palate: Not much spice, just heat. Oaky vanilla. Steve behind the bar gets some bacon flavours, although concedes this may be due to having eaten bacon earlier. I reckon it is quite chewy and a little salty, so it does strangely enough have some of those qualities. So maybe a little more like biltong than bacon. Meeeeeeat.

Finish: Subtle vanilla notes quickly fade, leaving the warmth lingering throughout the mouth for a while.

Comments: Surprising complexity & flavour intensity for a blend. I’m definitely finding a preference for Japanese blends over other more traditional (e.g. Scottish) blends.

Whisky #134 – Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva

June 30, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Bobeche, $35.

Colour: Dull brownish gold.

Nose: Brown sugar, toasted cereal kind of scents.

Palate: Vanilla & raspberry jam flavours, sweet yet some subtle bitterness as well. Plenty of toasted flavours too. Nice balance of heat and flavour. Almost a hint of some bourbon-like notes.

Finish: Warmth tingles at the front of the palate; flavours and heat gradually fade. The aftertaste reminds me of raspberry jam on a slice of toast.

Comments: Aged in ex-Cuban rum barrels, which certainly give the whisky its colour as well influencing flavours & the nose. I was expecting a slightly smoother entry given the age, but the flavour intensity is there which is good. Not sure that for $35 the Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva represents great value, but it’s certainly a decent drop.

Whisky #133 – Ardbeg Ardbog Cask Strength Single Malt

June 29, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Ardbeg Ardbog Cask Strength Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 52.10%. Tasted at Helvetica, $0 courtesy of a guy named Eamon who was keen to hear about the Whisky a Day project.

Colour: Dark coppery cherry sherry.

Nose: Smokey creaming soda. Lots of peat smoke like most Ardbegs, hint of cherry.

Palate: Creamy salted caramel with a hefty dose of smoke, but its not overpowering.

Finish: Ah, that’s more like your typical Ardbeg. Long heat & peat finish, but some of those sweet creamy cherry flavours just manage to poke through.

Comments: Great to taste an Ardbeg with some variety. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved Ardbeg and think it’s cracking value for money (if not one of the best value for money whiskies on the market), but some of their expressions are a bit too similar. Released for World Ardbeg Day in 2013, the Ardbeg Ardbog was great; the heat & smoke were toned down and some other sweet flavours came through. Good drop.

Whisky #132 – 1973 Glenrothes Single Malt

June 29, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

1973 Glenrothes Single Malt (bottled 2000). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at Helvetica, $59.

Colour: Deep, lustrous coppery amber. It’s a beautiful thing.

Nose: Such an unusual, complex nose. Reminds me of when I was a kid and pulling out the winter blankets from the camphor wood chest where they’d been stored since the previous winter. Dusty, almost like the smell of dusty old books. A hint of gentle woody smoke.

Palate: Very, very smooth. Sweet toasted malt flavours gently roll over through the mouth and make you sit back, sigh contentedly and say “wow”.

Finish: Gentle sweet smoke & oak in the long, gradual fade.

Comments: So smooth, both upon entry and in the finish. Delightful, though like the 1969 Glenrothes I tried at Whisky Live the flavours were a little softer than expected, although given it spent 27 years maturing in the barrel I guess this is to be expected. It’s not that the flavours are disappointing in any way (they’re actually amazing), it’s just that after the intriguing nose I had hoped the flavours would be a little stronger. Maybe this is a trait of the older Glenrothes whiskies? Fantastic nose and flavours, but not quite as intense as I would like. I will have to continue the research to test this theory!

Whisky #131 – Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve Japanese Whisky

June 28, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve Japanese Whisky. Yamazaki, Kyoto, Japan. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $0 – courtesy of Hutch.

Colour: Gold. Fake gold (because it was on the house).

Nose: Strong hay notes, hint of rose water.

Palate: Much smoother than I was expecting for a Japanese malt, especially a Yamazaki. It doesn’t have the flavour punch or the burst of heat when it enters your mouth like the Yamazaki 12 year old.

Finish: Short-medium finish, not much residual heat so the flavours can shine. Sweet in the fade.

Comments: Tastes more like a blend given its smoothness and subtle flavours, but is it? Technically it is a single malt, having all come from the one distillery. But it’s a blend of Yamazaki malts that have been maturing in different casks (red wine, sherry & Japanese oak barrels) for varying time periods. An interesting drop.