cask strength Archives - Page 4 of 6

Whisky #464: Heartwood Devil May Care

March 4, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Heartwood Devil May Care. Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 67.1%. Tasted at home, $70 (100mL bottle split from the International Beer Shop in Perth).

Colour: Disarmingly golden.

Nose: Rose water, strawberry marshmallows and raspberry tarts. Not too much of a nose prickle, despite the high ABV.

Palate: Sea salt, flame grilled steak notes too. Fresh raspberries – it’s got some berry notes, but quite tart. Like sucking on a lemon Fruit Tingle and feeling it buzz on the tip of your tongue.

Finish: Sweet smoked paprika and a touch of turmeric. Looooong fade, some meaty saltiness (think salty biltong) with the tastebuds getting all excited by the tingle of flavours and a satisfying warmth.

Comments: A real savoury beast in the finish. Unlike other recent Heartwood releases, where independent Tim Duckett has gone a little mad scientist (in the true Heartwood way) with all manner of blending and syrupisation (I made that word up) of the whisky, the Heartwood Devil May Care is a 14 year old single malt. Cask strength of course. And yes, I finished all 100mL in one sitting. It’s bloody delicious.

Heartwood whiskies truly are in a class of their own – in style, quality and innovative creation. Long may you continue to produce such gems, Mr H.

Whisky #463: GlenDronach 2003 Single Cask (Oak Barrel Exclusive) 12 Year Old Single Malt

February 28, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

GlenDronach 2003 Single Cask (Oak Barrel Exclusive) 12 Year Old Single Malt (Cask No. 3492). Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 53.8%. Tasted at home, $179 (bottle).

What. A. Day. Is it just me or does anybody else like to reward themselves by splurging on a good bottle of whisky when you’ve gotten something over the line? For me, today was one of those days.

When I’m not reviewing copious amounts of whisky for Whisky a Day, in my day job I lead a team of human factors consultants. Today was the delivery of a huge report for a client, the culmination of the last 7 months’ work. Suffice to say, putting the feet up and celebrating with a full-flavoured cask strength dram was definitely the best way to unwind!

Colour: Molten copper.

Nose: Like shoving your nose into a big handful of sultanas or muscatels. Big juicy dried fruit aromas with some dusty dark chocolate cocoa notes too. The 53.8% ABV gives you a slight tug of the old nostril hairs to give you a nudge to prepare your tastebuds for what’s to come.

Palate: That sugary/salty tang of blackcurrant pastilles. Salted caramel and vanilla – it really takes me back to my childhood. No, I wasn’t smashing whisky when I was in primary school, it just instantly reminded me of chewing on some jersey caramel lollies at my grandparents’ place.

Finish: Slightly salty, oaky tang with some gentle heat that lingers at the front of the mouth.

Comments: Hand selected for The Oak Barrel, my go-to independent bottle shop in Sydney. 12 years in an Oloroso sherry puncheon. What a dram it’s got everything. And do I feel relaxed? It’s so good I’ve now had three drams and I’m feeling very unwound! Highly recommended.

Whisky #458: Limeburners Directors Cut M118 Barrel Strength Single Malt

February 12, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Limeburners Directors Cut M118 Barrel Strength Single Malt (bottle 031 / 161). Great Southern Distilling Company. Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 61%. Tasted at home.

We’ve all had those lazy Sunday nights when you’re faced with life’s crucial decisions – should I cook the dinner I’d planned all afternoon, or should I pour myself another whisky and order in? Safe to say I won’t be winning any Masterchef awards this evening…

Colour: Dark varnished mahogany.

Nose: Molasses, caramelised balsamic, hot toffee cooking on the stovetop.

Palate: Golden syrup and buttery toast. Dried muscatels, raisins, and tart blueberries.

Finish: Liquorice, raspberry and oak on the front of the tongue. A slow, salted caramel fade.

Comments: Matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished in a very old 100 litre port cask. Another stunning drop from Limeburners. Probably more of a dessert whisky given the flavours, but when it’s this good I’ll drink it at almost any time of the day.

Suffice to say that I’m satisfied with my choice of whisky over cooking tonight!

Whisky and Curry: Whisky #455 – Amrut Single Malt Single Cask Bottled for Dram Full & Beef Vindaloo

February 1, 2017 by Whisky a Day 4 Comments

Whisky and Curry: Whisky #455 – Amrut Single Malt Single Cask Bottled for Dram Full & Beef Vindaloo. Bangalore, India. ABV: 62.8%. Tasted at home, $140 (bottle).

India is one of the world’s largest whisky consumer markets. They bloody love the stuff. As we all know, the Indians are also quite fond of a curry. But do they drink their whisky with a curry? Wouldn’t the intense curry flavours, aromas and spiciness overpower any whisky? I’ve never tried whisky with curry before, but seeing as I cooked up a beef vindaloo curry and had a bottle of Indian whisky, Amrut Single Malt Single Cask Bottled for Dram Full) I thought I should give it a crack!

Colour: Brassy. Well, I guess turmeric would be more appropriate…

Nose: A strong nose prickle, hardly surprising for a cask strength whisky. Lots of spices, fresh lemon tarts, an old timber tea chest. With a bowl of hot curry sitting beside me it’s hard to get much more!

Palate: Citrus, butter and chilli. Maybe it’s the lingering heat of the curry? Taking a sip of whisky after a mouthful of curry seems to accentuate some brown sugar and raisin notes, though with plenty of earthy spice.

Finish: Having some whisky after the curry seems to bring back some of the heat from the curry. Topping up the glass after the curry is finished (purely for research purposes) reveals some sweeter meaty flavours – think char grilled steak – along with some dried candied orange.

Comments: I’ve enjoyed this Amrut immensely on its own, but haven’t had it with food before. My good mate Mahesh informs me that Indians have their whisky always pre or post food. I thought that curry might overpower the whisky, and in this instance it proved to be the case. Vindaloo is a spicy, full flavoured curry that really gives your tastebuds a smack. Perhaps a milder curry might pair well with some whiskies? Then again, maybe whisky and curry don’t really mix and we should stick to having whisky pre or post curry…after all, 1 billion people can’t be wrong.

Beef vindaloo prep

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

January 15, 2017 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

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.

Whiskies #439 & #440: The Glenlivet Showdown – Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt & Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt

November 21, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

It’s time for a Glenlivet showdown! In the blue corner…The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt, while in the red corner we have The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch No. FF0115). Let’s get ready to rummmmmmble!

Whisky #439: The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 48.7%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: Almost a bit tannic – like nosing a gutsy, yet dry red wine. Fresh and grassy with some mildly astringent alcohol vapours that give the nose a bit of a prickle.

Palate: Very direct – a burst of concentrated dried apricots down the centre of the tongue along with some peppery spice. Not the oily, creamy mouthfeel typically associated with many sherry influenced whiskies.

Finish: A drying, sherried finish. Some slightly bitter citrus flavours (think blood oranges) along with dry woody notes. A medium to long finish.

Whisky #440: The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch No. FF0115). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.8%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Honey and sweet biscuity notes. Fresh pinecones.

Palate: Tangy and zesty; salty yet a sweetness too. Like sucking on a lemon sherbet sweet. Rich and warming, this is a whisky you can really sip and savour.

Finish: Long – this one hangs around for a while. A warm citrus buzz on the front half of the tongue.

Overall comments: The Guardians’ Chapter was a limited release of only around 2,000 cases. It was selected by The Glenlivet Guardians…basically their registered fan base. Aged in American oak and former Oloroso sherry casks, Glenlivet sent the Guardians three sample whiskies to choose their preferred one for bottling. This is their choice.

The Glenlivet have always made some fantastic whiskies, and the Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt is certainly up there as one of the better ones I’ve tried. However, the Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt was a little disappointing – it’s not that it’s a poor whisky, far from it – it’s just that next to the Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength it gets left in the shade. I’m always partial to a cask strength dram and the Nàdurra First Fill ticks all the boxes – bucketloads of flavour, full mouthfeel, great balance and complexity, not to mention the satisfying warmth and buzz that come from a high ABV whisky. It just feels like a much “cleaner” dram than the Guardians’ Chapter which was a little thin and tannic for my tastes.

I know which one I’ll be grabbing next time…though given the rate at which the Nàdurra First Fill seems to be emptying itself, that may be sooner rather than later!

Whisky #436: The Arran Malt Single Cask No.547 Single Malt 2013 Autumn Release

October 29, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Arran Malt Single Cask No.547 Single Malt 2013 Autumn Release (Vintage 1996). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 52.4%. Tasted at The Stables Bar, Randwick Racecourse, $30.

Colour: A deep, murky, lustrous amber.

Nose: Like sticking your nose nose into a fresh bunch of flowers. Light, floral and fruity. Typical Arran.

Palate: Smooth; the mouthfeel is like having an ice cube or a cool marble on your tongue. Sweet lemon biscuit & fresh ginger notes. It definitely seems lower and smoother than the 52.4% ABV suggests.

Finish: Fresh oaky fade with some sweet creaminess – think sucking on a Paddle Pop stick after you’ve polished off the ice cream.

Comments: I’d been at the races with friends and after polishing off a heap of champagne, beer, shiraz and an espresso for good measure, I decided it was time for a whisky as clearly by that point I’d not had enough booze. They’ve got quite a decent range at The Stables, so as one of my favourite distilleries I chose this single cask Arran.

This was a week ago; I’d forgotten about the tasting and I happened to stumble across my tasting notes and thought I’d better get around to posting. Given all this, I was mildly surprised at the state of my notes given the state of the day’s consumption!

I think I might have to try it again given the review above!

Whiskies #420 & #421: The Strathisla Showdown – Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt & SMWS 58.16 Margarita Cocktail

August 24, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Back when I was choosing whiskies I’d never tried before as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge”, I chose the Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt for a couple of reasons. It seemed cracking value for money and fit the bill as the quaffable, go-to whisky for the collection. Strathisla is also the distillery that comprises the base of Chivas Regal, which makes for an interesting anecdote when serving a whisky to friends who visit or those who are starting their whisky journey – everybody has heard of Chivas! I’m also not going to serve a whisky novice some really pricey whisky as they may not appreciate it. That’s why we all need a quaffable whisky in our collection which is also great drinking in its own right to share with anyone who visits.

There’s not many Strathisla bottlings around, yet most whisky drinkers would have consumed some as part of a Chivas. So having recently ordered another Strathisla bottling, this time from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, I thought why not compare both side by side.

Whisky #420: Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at home, $80 (bottle).

Colour: Light caramel.

Nose: A very light nose. Carrot cake, maybe a hint of orange marmalade. Maybe I’m clutching at straws.

Palate: Very smooth entry, oily mouthfeel. Some cooked vegetable and tasted cereal notes balanced by a toffee sweetness.

Finish: Malty notes dominate in the finish, some salty tanginess and warmth on the front of the tongue as the other flavours subside.

Comments: Such an easy drinking dram, though possibly let down a little by such a light nose.

Whisky #421: SMWS 58.16 – Margarita Cocktail. 9 year old single cask whisky from Strathisla Distillery, Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.4%. Tasted at home, $169 (bottle).

Colour: Very pale straw.

Nose: Very malty; like walking into a bakery and copping a hit of both freshly baked bread and half baked loaves.

Palate: A sharp, crisp entry that darts down the middle of your palate. Dominated by malty, cereal notes. Plenty of warmth that gradually builds.

Finish: A long, salty and tangy finish – much like the 12 year old but with more punch. Grassy notes and heat too.

Comments: This is a whisky that gets straight to the point. Almost a bit raw, some real malty, new make-y kind of flavours in here. It really feels like this is one where the cask influence has taken a back seat and let the pure house style shine through. This is Strathisla stripped back, exposed, and ready to be enjoyed.

Overall Comments: Such different whiskies, amazing considering they’ve come from the same distillery. The 12 year old drinks a lot fuller than its 40% ABV, it really seems to have a much bigger flavour profile and mouthfeel than most 40% whiskies. The biggest difference is probably the toffee sweetness in the 12 year old too. At $80 a bottle, it really is cracking value too.

For me, the 12 year old is a much more balanced whisky, whereas the SMWS bottling is quite raw. Whereas a lot of the Society’s bottlings shine due to both the cask and influence of all the many variables from barley through to distillation phases, this one seems to allow the distillery character to bare all to the world. It’s far from my favourite SMWS bottling, but I love it for the fact that it’s quite unique…even from the other Society bottlings which are all obviously quite unique but in different ways. I think that’s almost a triple tautology, but you (hopefully) get what I’m trying to say! Recommend both, but for very different reasons.

A striking colour difference between the Strathisla 12 Year Old (left) and the 9 year old SMWS 58.16.

Whisky #419: SMWS B3.3 – Treacle Buns in a Sawmill

August 19, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Whisky #419: SMWS B3.3 – Treacle Buns in a Sawmill. 2 year old single cask bourbon from Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas, USA. ABV: 54.3%. Tasted at home, $155 (bottle).

It’s Friday, it’s been a long week. A cask strength dram is required to kick start the weekend. I’ve just received my latest order from the SMWS so timing is perfect to sit back at home, put on some tunes and relax with an intriguing whisk(e)y…

Colour: Deep amber.

Nose: Maybe primed a little by the name, but definitely treacle buns in a sawmill. The SMWS tasting committee have absolutely nailed this one – the name describes the nose more so than all other parts of this dram combined! Some sweet prickly ash or Chinese five spice in there too.

Palate: Char siu (Chinese BBQ pork), tangy golden syrup and some Cajun spices. Like a fiery yet sticky bbq sauce slathered over some pork ribs.

Finish: Sweet, tangy, peppery and salty – all at the same time yet in beautiful balance. Some dry dusty oak flavours in the fade.

Comments: Absolute bucketloads of flavour, especially for such a young whisk(e)y. You could be forgiven for thinking I’ve described this one with lots of food analogies because I’m hungry, but I’m not all that peckish – it’s just that it really is packed with lots of juicy, meaty, savoury flavours.

A 2 year old single cask bourbon released by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society? Who cares…the SMWS have always been keen to push the envelope, and dammit am I glad they pushed this one. Great value, highly recommended.

Whisky #411: Black Gate Distillery 5 20s Cask Strength Single Malt

June 4, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Black Gate Distillery 5 20s Cask Strength Single Malt. New South Wales, Australia. ABV: 67.00%. Tasted at home, $195 (500mL bottle).

It’s a cold, windy and rainy afternoon here in Sydney today. Today’s sailing race has been abandoned due to dangerous conditions. So…perfect weather for staying indoors with a cask strength whisky! And what a cracker this is…

Colour: Deep treacle.

Nose: A satisfying nose prickle. Very complex, lots of rich sweetness; raisins, treacle, and (somewhat strangely) blackcurrant Soothers. A campfire burns in the distance.

Palate: A rich and full mouthfeel. Imagine a smoked golden syrup, or smokey salted caramel. Caramelised balsamic onions that have been baked with a Sunday roast – a perfect balance of rich savoury and sweet notes.

Finish: Ridiculously long. The syrupy flavours subside leaving a rich, smokey and salty tang in the fade.

Comments: Distilled in September 2013 and bottled in December 2015, this is a very young whisky – but fortunately with Australia’s climate variations whisky tends to mature a lot more quickly than whiskies from other parts of the world where the variation in temperatures are less pronounced. The scientist in me would love to take the same new make spirit, place it in (as near as possible) identical barrels, and then send them to four corners of the earth and see how the whisky matures, both in terms of flavour variations as well as maturation times.

But back to the Black Gate. The “5 20s” in the name refers to the five twenty litre casks that were vatted together to produce the 159 bottles of this release. A limited release, and one that they’ve put out to market as soon as it is legally becomes whisky. However, with the small cask sizes turbo-charging the maturation by increasing the wood-to-whisky ratio, it tastes a lot older.

Amazing complexity and flavour profile, this is a whisky that is perfectly suited for a cold rainy afternoon.

Whisky #409: GlenDronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt

May 22, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glendronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 54.90%. Tasted at home, $162 (bottle).

Seeing as Saturday was World Whisky Day, I decided that was a good a reason as any to lash out on a new whisky. I got home and cracked it open with intentions of doing my review, but I was enjoying it so much I dared not ruin the moment by over-analysing it. So I sat back, poured a second dram (ok…and a third), and here I am two days later, doing a belated World Whisky Day review.

Colour: Brilliant bronze.

Nose: Buttery toffee, strawberries & cream, raspberry sticks of rock. A tangy raspberry note too; it’s not all sweetness.

Palate: Creamy orange liqueur, sweet oak and hints of chocolate. It’s not the syrupy sherry bomb that one might expect from Glendronach (especially a cask strength release), it’s far more nuanced yet still recognisable.

Finish: A gentle long, warm finish with hints of muscatels, dark chocolate and dried raspberries.

Comments: This really is a whisky you can pour, sit back in a comfy chair, put on some background music and let the cask strength flavours ease your troubles and take your mind off all life’s worries. It’s effortlessly drinkable; full flavoured yet smooth. It’s not a dram for those taking their first steps into the wonderful world of whisky as it’s possibly a little intense. But for those who love the house style of Glendronach or who appreciate a cask strength dram that gradually reveals layers of flavour and aroma with each sip, this is a ripper. Recommended.

Whisky #404: Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt

March 27, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 58.20%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

In honour of my crazy Glaswegian friend Shelly who has her birthday today, I thought it appropriate to review a whisky from one of the closest distilleries to Glasgow. Happy birthday Shell!

Colour: Bright molten toffee.

Nose: Creamy caramel and cocoa; honey on hot buttered toast.

Palate: Malty straw notes duke it out with some creamy tangy lemon cheesecake flavours. It’s a big mouthfeel, oily and luscious.

Finish: Long and full, as you’d expect from a cask strength whisky. Creaming soda and sugary lemon sherbet flavours linger long on the front half of the palate.

Comments: Much like my friend Shelly, this whisky is full throttle and hits you at cask strength. After a few drinks it will no doubt cause you to morph into the loudest and most outrageous member of the party, but that’s ok because it’s your birthday!

This was another one of the whiskies I selected as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back, which ticked off the “cask strength” category. It’s been a very enjoyable whisky, with great balance between creamy toffee flavours and some tart citrus notes. This bottle is nearing the end (not in one sitting!), I will definitely be placing an order for another. Recommended.

Whisky #401: The Arran Malt 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch 5)

March 10, 2016 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

The Arran Malt 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch 5). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 52.9%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Rich gold.

Nose: Vanilla, light oak, milk arrowroot biscuits. A touch of lemon rind, hints of honey and a few hay like notes.

Palate: A cool entry, then a salty-sweet cacophony as the malt dances over the palate. Dried candied pineapple chunks; it reminds me of picking out the chunks of dried fruit from a bowl of muesli.

Finish: A strident Arran finish; this is a great example of the house style. Long finish with some hay notes, a satisfying lemon sherbet tingle on the lips and front of the tongue. A few soft hazelnut notes in the fade too.

Comments: Matured in a mix of first-fill sherry butts, second-fill sherry hogsheads and first-fill bourbon casks. This is the whisky that reminds me of why I love Arran distillery – they’re light, they’re fresh, lots of light fruity flavour and they’re not trying to be like any other whisky – they’re just doing their own thing. And it’s fantastic.

Whisky #397: SMWS 39.108 Baked Alaska

February 22, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 39.108 Baked Alaska. 10 year old single cask from Linkwood Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 61.7%. Tasted at The Clock Hotel’s Whisky Room, $0 – a welcome dram to celebrate Dram Full Sydney’s 2nd birthday.

Colour: Pale golden straw.

Nose: An amorphous nose, it seems to change in waves with different flavours each taking turns at coming to the fore. Light and fruity on the nose, yet quite sweet. Chunks of dried pineapple. My Dram Full compatriot Garry described it as like orange brûlée. On top of the fruity notes, other aromas include ginger nut biscuits and caramelised condensed milk.

Palate: Sharp thin grassy notes on the front of the palate, as the waves of sweetness break like a bow wave around the outside of the mouth, leaving a syrupy coating. Creamy sweet mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium length yet a warming mouthfeel. Tingles on the front gums as the flavours linger on the mid palate.

Comments: The nose really reminded me of a Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or, yet more intense and focused. A Nectar reduction perhaps? This Linkwood certainly didn’t drink like a whisky at around 61% ABV, it was much smoother yet packed a big punch in terms of flavour, aroma and length. Which is what you want from a whisky.

A gathering of whisky fiends from Dram Full Sydney to celebrate Dram Full’s 2nd birthday. We are very fortunate in Sydney to have Andrew Derbridge, Cellarmaster & Director of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia (not to mention author of a fantastic whisky blog Whisky & Wisdom), as one of the main driving forces behind Dram Full in Sydney. Andrew very generously brought along this SMWS bottling for us Drammies to have a welcome drink before we got stuck into the Clock Hotel’s extensive range of whiskies. A cracking night was had, fantastic to catch up for an informal drink and meet other whisky fiends and talk bullshit about all things whisky.

Whisky #394: Heartwood Convict Resurrection 14 Year Old Cask Strength Tasmanian Single Malt

February 2, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Heartwood Convict Resurrection 14 Year Old Cask Strength Tasmanian Single Malt. Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 72%. Tasted at home, $230 (bottle).

A deeply contemplative dram…

Colour: Luscious, syrupy maple.

Nose: Like a chord hammered out on a Hammond organ, minor fifths and sevenths going everywhere. There’s a cacophony of notes that seep into your consciousness at different times as the aromas float into your head. A certain tension, but they are deliciously balanced and bring a smile to your face. Caramelised pineapple cooked on a BBQ, freshly baked carrot cake or even a hint of honey cake. Freshly hewn sawdust, musty bookshelves and lemon sherbet.

Palate: Rich, full and a mouth-tingling warmth. This is big. Sticky date pudding balanced out by a sharp heat and spiciness; like a lamb korma that bites initially, then the sweetness and spices take turns at dancing on your tongue. Mid and front palate get all the fun. A hint of tart raspberries.

Finish: Sweet and very long, as you might expect from a whisky at 72% ABV. Rich, intense sweet notes, like some treacle on warm damper with melted butter.

Comment: Distilled in March 2000, decanted December 2014, gracing an ex American oak port cask with its presence in the interim.

This is a whisky of contrasts. The kind of dram that you pour when you get home after a manic day at work. The kind of day when you just want to give a two-fingered salute to the world, drift away and switch off while listening to some jazz, with the 72% ABV and comforting flavours enveloping you and bringing you into its embrace. Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” is my choice of accompaniment tonight; a timeless classic and one of my favourites.

It’s also the kind of whisky that you pour if you want something complex and layered to analyse and enjoy. The sheer delight you get when a whisky makes you go back and pour another couple of drams just so you can keep enjoying it and getting to know it at a deeper level.

Yet it’s also one of those whiskies you pour when you feel like being a bit contemplative. The kind when you’re feeling a bit down, when you’re reminiscing. The whisky when you’re thinking about where you want to head in life; a whisky when you’re thinking about the long lost love who lives on the other side of the country and you wonder every day what might have been had circumstances been different and whether you’ll ever see her in the future.

For me tonight, it’s been all of those things.

Whisky #391: Dobson’s Belle Epoque Cask Strength Single Malt

January 26, 2016 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Dobson’s Belle Epoque Cask Strength Single Malt. New England Highlands, New South Wales, Australia. ABV: 60.0%. Tasted at Saint John Craft Beer Bar (Launceston, Australia), $15.

Happy ‘Straya Day! Being our national day and celebration of all things Australian, it’s only appropriate that we take a look at an Aussie whisky. I came across this bottle of Dobson’s Belle Epoque at a craft beer bar in Launceston, Tasmania.

Colour: Burnt copper.

Nose: Lightly peated with a slight nose prickle. Almost some meaty peat aromas; like sticking your nose over a pot of fresh bolognese sauce cooking on the stovetop, but with a hint of sweetness as you pull your nose away.

Palate: Opens up on the mid & back palate then the heat slides down as your swallow. My mate Joel gets some burnt toffee notes; I get a spicy, peppery sweetness with some campfire smoke.

Finish: An extremely dry finish. Warmth tingles on the front of the tongue and the roof of your mouth.

Comments: I hadn’t previously heard of Dobson’s, which is understandable as it is a tiny operation located in the village of Kentucky NSW, about 5.5 hours drive north of Sydney and situated at Eastview Estate where they also have a winery, brewery, restaurant and speakeasy bar. And a spectacularly irreverant back story on their website (check it out here at http://www.eastviewestate.com/whiskey.html).

For such a small operation, this is a cracking whisky. Complex, with great depth of different flavours and mouthfeel, overall it’s great drinking. I’d be keen to track down some more of this one.

Handmade in “absurdly small quantities”