cask strength Archives - Page 6 of 6

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 #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 #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!

Whisky #31: Longrow Red Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt

February 24, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Longrow Red Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 52.10%. Tasted at Bar Lafayette, $20.

Colour: What’s the colour of a 2 cent piece?

Nose: Peaty, smells a bit like a sherry matured dram.

Palate: Peat repeat. Spice & tobacco.

Finish: Boom, mouth coating with peat, spice & heat that hangs around.

Comments: I would’ve picked this more for a sherry dram. Tasty drop, but the peat overpowers some of the subtle flavours (which are hard to describe over the tobacco flavours). With the cab sav barrel maturation I was expecting something different & unusual from this one, but it didn’t deliver on that front. Still a decent drop though, was just expecting (or hoping) for a more unique experience.

Whisky #16: Sullivans Cove Bourbon Maturation Cask Strength

February 23, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Sullivans Cove Bourbon Maturation Cask Strength. Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 60.0%. Tasted at The Greenhouse, $16.

Colour: Godly gold. That was supposed to be “goldy” gold until autocorrect kicked in, but on reflection “godly gold” is apt. Huge legs on the glass.

Nose: Well it’s a monster at 60% ABV, and boy can you tell by the fumes. Can’t easily pick the scents, reminds me a little of the fruitcakes my aunt used to bake.

Palate: Bam! Surprisingly smooth entry for a strong drop, but fills the whole mouth quickly. Huge spice and vanilla flavours.

Finish: Wow, loooong. Toasty malty flavours linger, roof of my mouth is still tingling.

Comments: My first Australian whisky of the year! It’s a monster, would possibly go well with a few drops of water to release & soften the flavours. Definitely a winter warmer, one for cold nights. Keen to compare it with the Sullivan’s Cove Double Wood which I tried at Xmas, I think that may have to be on the tasting schedule very soon!

Whisky #15: Cadhenhead’s Authentic Collection Ardmore 14 yr Cask Strength Single Malt

February 19, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Cadhenhead’s Authentic Collection Ardmore 14 yr Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 55.8%. Tasted at The Royal, $17.

Colour: Very light, pale straw colour. Like a Chinese Olympic swimmer’s diluted post-race “sample”.

Nose: Thankfully it doesn’t smell of chlorine, human growth hormone or urine. Very peaty, also fruity floral notes.

Palate: Warm spice. The long lost 6th member of the Spice Girls. Some sweetness too, maybe some walnut or almond flavours? Hard for me to pinpoint.

Finish: Sweet smooth finish, gentle warming of the mouth.

Comments: A Cadhenhead’s independent bottling from the Ardmore distillery. It’s like it’s trying to be an Islay, particularly with such a strong peaty aroma, but it’s much smoother and sweet at the end. I like it. I’m also starting to appreciate what a great little whisky selection they’ve got at The Royal, which is rather handy as it’s my local. It will be great for those nights when I can’t be arsed heading out elsewhere after a long day and I can walk down to my local and sample some whiskies that I haven’t seen in too many other venues around town.