Scotland Archives - Page 4 of 22

Whisky #529: SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée

May 19, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée. 9 year old single cask, cask strength single malt from Glenburgie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 61.4%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $139 (bottle).

Happy World Whisky Day! 🥃 What better way to start the day’s celebrations than with a bright and spritely dram like this one from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS).

Colour: Glowing morning sunshine.

Nose: Hiking through a forest on a cool winter’s morning – earthy and fresh. Fruit salad too – passionfruit, pineapple and strawberries.

Palate: The palate almost has a few phases – it starts quite fruity, morphs into some more creamed honey and vanilla flavours before sliding into more oaky tones.

Finish: A zing of lemon and juicy pineapple chunks on the top of the tongue, followed by a long oaky warmth that lingers long.

Comments: It feels a bit strange to be cracking open a whisky called Summer Berry Brûlée when it’s late May and quite chilly here in Sydney. But as a breakfast whisky to kick off World Whisky Day it works a treat – it’s light, bright and full of flavour, but isn’t going to blow away your tastebuds when you’ve got an exciting day of dramming ahead. And at only $139, I’d challenge anyone to find a single cask, cask strength whisky for the price, let alone a drop as good as this. Cracking value and an outstanding way to kick off World Whisky Day!

Whisky #528: SMWS Exotic Cargo 10 Year Old Blended Malt

May 6, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS Exotic Cargo 10 Year Old Blended Malt. Scotland. ABV: 50.0%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $155 (bottle).

When you’ve been busier than a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest, it’s time for a kick-ass whisky.

Colour: A hearty toffee, mesmerising as the glass rolls around and the whisky catches glimmers of light.

Nose: Jersey caramels and treacle dripping off a spoon onto hot buttered toast. A slight nose prickle tugs your nostrils further into the glass to soak up the blueberries, soft oak and creme brûlée notes.

Palate: A mysterious cocktail; blueberries and tart fruit salad with a hint of oakiness and caramel. A Turkish belly dancer who performs the dance of the seven veils across your tastebuds.

Finish: Rich oak, burnt brown sugar, and the subtle heat of sweet smoked paprika to finish. My trusted whisky tasting lieutenant Kiwi got a touch of liquorice at the end.

Comments: A first for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), who traditionally focus on single cask, cask strength whiskies. This blended malt comprises a number of single malts all distilled in 2006, which were then matured in first fill ex-sherry Spanish oak hogsheads. Cut back slightly to a strength of 50% ABV, it still has an intensity of flavour, complexity and nuances befitting a SMWS whisky.

An exceptional drop and the perfect end of week dram when you just want to slink down into the lounge and let the worries of the week drift away.

Whisky #527: Nomad Outland Blended Whisky

April 12, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Nomad Outland Blended Whisky. Scotland/Spain. ABV: 41.3%. Tasted at Balcon by Tapavino, $13.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition…and not many people expect a Spanish whisky. Or is it a Spanish whisky? Let’s find out!

Colour: Topaz.

Nose: Light; caramel melting on the stovetop.

Palate: Moscatels, quince paste, blueberries. Dry and short on the palate.

Finish: Dry with a sultana & chocolate orange finish.

Comments: So it’s not a Scottish whisky as it was not fully matured in Scotland. It wasn’t distilled in Spain, so you couldn’t really call it a Spanish whisky either. So what the hell is it?!

The marketing blurb tells us it is a blend of over 30 different malt and grain whiskies from Scottish distilleries in the Speyside and Highlands regions. The blend was matured in Scotland in sherry casks for 3 years – so far nothing extraordinary. However it was then transported to Jerez in Spain where it was “finished” in fresh Pedro Ximinez casks. Different casks, but also a vastly different climate which will affect the way in which the whisky matured and “breathes” through the cask.

Verdict? It’s a pleasant enough curiosity without reaching any great heights.

It’s encouraging to see producers pushing the envelope in terms of established norms. It’s not claiming to be a Scottish whisky (and would be in breach of Scottish Whisky Regulations if they tried to label, package or advertise it as such). But it’s not really a Spanish whisky either. Let’s just call it “whisky” and get on with enjoying it.

Whisky #525: Bowmore Straight From The Cask 2002 Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old Single Malt

April 3, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Bowmore Straight From The Cask 2002 Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 57.4%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $225 (500mL bottle).

Straight from a single cask of Bowmore whisky distilled on 2nd October 2002 and bottled 12 years later on 25th August 2015. Matured in an ex Sherry cask, it yielded an outturn of only 342 bottles at a natural cask strength of 57.4% ABV.

Colour: Bright golden caramel.

Nose: Golden syrup and soft sultanas, soft oak and a gentle dustiness and light smoke. My trusted whisky tasting lieutenant Kiwi also picked up hazelnuts.

Palate: Rich flavours of sticky date pudding, smokey treacle, raisins and dried cranberries.

Finish: Smoky; salted liquorice and oak, with a long salty fade.

Comments: Sometimes you feel like lashing out on a special whisky to commemorate a special event or to reflect on something significant in your life. Today was Day 1 of a big promotion at work, an opportunity to take a step up to an exciting new role. This Bowmore Straight From The Cask was the bottle I chose to mark the occasion.

This is the whisky you reach for when you’re in a reflective mood. When you’re deep in thought about something important in your life and you just lean back to have a quiet moment to reflect. The celebration of a significant accomplishment; the anguish of disappointing someone you love – or anything on the spectrum in between.

And when reach to take another sip and your thoughts drift back to the whisky at hand, you realise there’s so much to appreciate in this drop. This is a real thinker’s whisky.

Whisky #524: Ardmore Legacy Lightly Peated Single Malt

April 1, 2018 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Ardmore Legacy Lightly Peated Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40%. $13 (50mL bottle).

When the new girls at sailing insist on pouring your whisky…

Colour: Bright gold.

Nose: Fresh lemons, straw and some peat. The smokiness quickly fades with some time in the glass, leaving sweet lemon notes.

Palate: Cool smoke, not as intense as the nose suggested. Creamy, yet thin on the palate.

Finish: Smokey charcoal, liquorice and lemon meringue. Medium length, with the smokiness the last to fade.

Comments: After a day sailing on Sydney Harbour with good friends old and new, a whisky was in order. The Ardmore Legacy was light and delicate, but ultimately not as approachable as the two delightful ladies who came sailing with us and generously offered to pour the whisky.

Whisky #523: Edradour 2006 Bourbon Cask Matured 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt

March 12, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Edradour 2006 Bourbon Cask Matured 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 60.2%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $17 (50mL bottle split from Casa de Vinos).

Colour: Liquid sunshine.

Nose: Straw, vanilla and fresh pine furniture pulled straight out of the IKEA flatpack box. My trusted whisky tasting lieutenant Kiwi gets lemon aromas along with some barley and sunflower seeds.

Palate: Powerful and intense – a dry mouthfeel but with bucketloads of flavour. Toasted malt, hay and cereal notes with a salty lemon tang. Not sweet at all, quite sharp but very moreish.

Finish: Preserved lemons. A dry timber paddle pop stick on your tongue at the doctor when you’re made to open your mouth wide and say “ahhhh”.

Comments: This one leaves a long salty tingle on the front of the palate and around the lips, making you want to lick them before diving back for another sip. Quite different to the more creamy mouthfeel whiskies I’ve had previously from Edradour, but the difference should definitely be celebrated. A top drop.

Whisky #522: Bladnoch Adela 15 Year Old Single Malt

March 1, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Bladnoch Adela 15 Year Old Single Malt. Lowlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.7%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $16 (50mL sample from Casa de Vinos).

Colour: Jaded copper.

Nose: Sweet hay, creamed cheese and a touch of honey. It’s an incredibly light nose.

Palate: A surprising pepper hit to start, then freshly toasted brown bread, and a slight crisp orange candy in dark chocolate kind of flavour.

Finish: Chilli spice and a tingle on the tip of the tongue to fade.

Comments: For a Lowlands malt, this was unexpectedly spicy. The more whiskies I try, the more I appreciate those producers that go against the grain in terms of supposed terrior or regional style, or indeed push the boundaries in terms of production and maturation methods. This isn’t your stereotypical Lowlands whisky and that’s absolutely fine by me.

Whisky #519: SMWS 96.11 Frisky Fun

February 5, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 96.11 Frisky Fun. 10 year old single cask single malt from Glendronach Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 57.6%. Tasted at home, $160 (bottle).

With a name like “Frisky Fun”, never has the phrase “whisky makes me frisky” been more appropriate. Let’s stumble through the front door and start peeling off the layers as we hurriedly get intimate with this dram…

Colour: Golden glow.

Nose: Fresher than the aroma of an over-zealous Tinder date who applies just a touch too much perfume right before walking into the bar. Fresh pine needles, jersey caramels and red raspberry jellies.

Palate: Hot toasted white bread, melted butter, honey, butter menthols and tangy lemon tarts.

Finish: Buttery with a satisfying salty tingle on the front of the tongue. Like kissing your date after she’s had a couple of margaritas.

Comments: It’s the unexpected excitement of discovering something new, like that kinda cute girl from IT who rocks up to the work Christmas party dressed to the nines and suddenly takes everyone’s breath away. Long finish, warm oily mouthfeel.

Glendronach are well known for their use of ex sherry casks (both Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso) in which to mature the majority of their core range of whiskies. The Glendronach Revival 15 Year Old and Glendronach Allardice 18 Year Old are phenomenal sherry bombs that have deep rich dried fruit characteristics, but this refill ex bourbon barrel release takes you in a different direction and shows you a side of the distillery that you might not have previously thought possible. Much like the excitement of a new frisky encounter. Another outstanding release from the SMWS!

Whisky #518: Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt

January 28, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $14 (50mL sample from Casa de Vinos).

Colour: Polished copper.

Nose: Light on the nose. A basket of fresh lemons.

Palate: It’s like chewing on the obligatory few gains of malted barley that you get handed when you do a distillery tour. A dry mouthfeel with toasted bread and a few woody notes. Easily glides down the tongue though.

Finish: Like chewing into a vanilla cream biscuit – still quite dry. Better have another sip to wash it down.

Comments: It’s one of the least Aberlour-like Aberlours I’ve had; certainly not the sherry-driven flavours of many of their other expressions. The 40% ABV makes it very approachable and would be a good gateway whisky for those looking to explore Aberlour (rather than jumping into the cask strength explosive sherry bomb of say the Aberlour A’Bunadh), but it’s probably not the best example of the house style. Easy drinking and pleasant however.

Whisky #517: Douglas Laing’s Single Minded Glengoyne 8 Year Old Single Malt

January 20, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Douglas Laing’s Single Minded Glengoyne 8 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $80 (bottle).

Colour: Golden toffee.

Nose: Creaming soda & lemon myrtle. A new-make like sharpness and nose prickle to start, but like an excitable toddler this settles down with time in the glass.

Palate: Creamy lemon flavours, quite thin on the palate. Sharp pepper and creamy lemon meringue. My trusted whisky tasting lieutenant Brett thought it tastes better than it smells.

Finish: Shortish finish. Lemon sorbet. Cane, oak and straw notes; like sucking for too long on an ice cream stick.

Comments: This Glengoyne has given Brett renewed vigour. That will happen when between him, me and my good mate Kiwi we’ve damn near polished off the whole bottle in an afternoon. Which I guess is a ringing endorsement for either the whisky or the company…the whisky is fair, but the company is excellent. Cheers gents!

Whisky #516: Tormore 16 Year Old Single Malt

January 5, 2018 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Tormore 16 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 48%. $16 (50mL bottle split).

Colour: Polished copper.

Nose: Vanilla cream biscuits dunked in a hot cuppa tea.

Palate: Juicy and tangy with some spice (think cinnamon and cloves). Like an orange marmalade reduction or the jus from duck à l’orange.

Finish: Salty but some sweetness shines through in the finish. Treacle, salted caramel and tart blueberries. A warming salty tingle, some tobacco notes in the fade…like you’ve just taken a puff of a cigar.

Comments: I can’t even remember the last time I had duck à l’orange. The closest thing would have to be Kylie Kwong’s signature five spiced duck that I last tried maybe 10 years ago at her Sydney restaurant Billy Kwong…a stunning dish that etched itself into my mind. I reckon it’s amazing how certain tastes and smells can trigger a memory and transport you back to another time. Great balance of contrasting and yet complementary flavours; so easy to drink that without realising I almost finished the glass before making too many notes.

Whisky #515: Compass Box Oak Cross Blended Malt

December 30, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Compass Box Oak Cross Blended Malt. Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $71 (bottle).

When the day is hotter than a shearer’s armpit, most sensible people reach for an ice cold beer. Or water. Or a cold shower.

But here at Whisky a Day HQ we like to push the boundaries a bit…what kind of whisky is best for when it’s so hot you feel like you’re about to melt into the lounge?

Personally, it’s not a rich warming whisky; definitely nothing peaty or smokey either. The antithesis to a ‘winter warmer’…something light on the palate and easy to drink. Yet with enough flavour to keep the tastebuds interested as every other part of your body sure as hell isn’t interested in doing more than the bare minimum in this heat! The Compass Box Oak Cross Blended Malt seemed to tick most of those boxes…

Colour: Bright sunlight.

Nose: It may be hot but thankfully this is a more pleasant aroma than the aforementioned shearer’s armpit.

Palate: Like a whisky spritz – it’s light, zesty and a bit of a sing on the tip of your tongue. Sweet lemon sherbet and lemon tart; honey and black pepper too.

Finish: A fizzy, salty-sweet lemon and peppery tang. Medium length.

Comments: It’s a blended malt, comprising malt whisky sourced from Clynelish (60%), Dailuaine (20%) and Teaninich (20%) distilleries. All were originally matured in first-fill American oak barrels, then blended and filled into a combination of French and American oak for further maturation. A light and summery dram, it’s a whisky that you can pleasantly sip in hot weather and would go great with a few ice cubes to further take the edge off (and temperature down).

Whisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster

December 28, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Whisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster.

Whisky and seafood, two of my great passions. I’ve enjoyed many whiskies, but I’ve not enjoyed reviewing too many more than today’s lineup.

Today’s seafood – fresh WA Rock Lobster and king crab legs from the Sydney Fish Market. The king crab legs are so tender, juicy and salty; while the rock lobster is firmer with very creamy flesh but a more subtle shellfish flavour.

Full-flavoured seafood deserves full-flavoured whisky. So let’s dive in to a couple of contrasting drams…a sherry influenced Glenfarclas and a creamy, tropical fruit malt from Arran.

Whisky #513: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Single Malt Bottled at 50% Exclusively for The Whisky Club. ABV: 50.0%. $130 (bottle).

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: An initial nose prickle when you first pour it in the glass. After it settles there’s dried raisins and strawberry marshmallows.

Palate: Almost a bit tannic, like some red wine finished whiskies. Golden syrup and burnt butter with caramel.

Finish: Dry, spicy and a slightly briny aftertaste.

Seafood combination: The Glenfarclas is better with the king crab, which softens the tannins and accentuates the sweetness of the whisky. Brings out some fresh raspberry notes too.

Whisky #514: Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Single Malt (Batch 2). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 55.2%. $135 (bottle).

Colour: Bright orange gold.

Nose: Like sticking a pine needle up your nose – it’s fresh and green, tickles a little and makes you pull away initially before heading back for more. Fresh lemon, kafir lime leaves, BBQ’d pineapple slices, and top-notch vanilla ice cream. None of that generic reduced fat, bleached white bulshit you buy from a cheap supermarket – this is the full cream, full-flavoured stuff where you can see the real vanilla beans swirled through the real deal cream coloured frosty goodness.

Palate: Loads of caramelised pineapple, honey, vanilla, and soft fresh oak.

Finish: Creamy, oh so creamy. Zesty lemon sherbet. Fresh prawns on freshly baked white bread you’ve picked up from the bakery that morning. Lemon cheesecake with a crumbled ginger nut cookie pastry. Sweet ginger spiciness.

Seafood combination: With the lobster, the lemon sherbet and fresh oak shine through. The king crab brings brown sugar, buttery croissants and juicy pineapple to the fore.

Overall comments: As a whisky, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask leaves the Glenfarclas in the shade. Combined with seafood though and they both allow some flavours to be accentuated and others to emerge. But overall, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask is an amazing dram that marries stunningly with fresh seafood like king crab or lobster. Outstanding stuff.

Whisky #511: Laphroaig Select Single Malt

November 28, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Laphroaig Select Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at home, $13 (50mL miniature).

Life is all about balance…

Colour: Brass that needs a bit of a polish.

Nose: Sweet leathery peat, soft oak and a handful of malted barley.

Palate: You know how you see polar bears at zoos given an ice treat, usually a block of ice with some tasty morsel on the inside that will keep them occupied for a period of time? That’s what drinking the Laproaig Select is like. It feels a little watered down and frustrating to get to the heart of the matter. It has a stronger smokey peat than the nose; some grassy notes and smoked honey too.

Finish: Fresh woody notes and cool smoke; quite a long fade.

Comments: Created from whisky matured in a “selection” of different cask types typically used across the Laphroaig range (hence the name), the Laphroaig Select also throws a spanner amongst the pigeons by utilising some virgin American oak casks (the type bourbon has to be matured in). With this mind, I was expecting some more dominant oak and vanilla notes.

There’s enough flavourful hints to keep you interested but fuck me it’s frustrating to drink. The 40% ABV takes me back to my school days, reminds me of when you gone around to your best mate’s place and his mum’s poured you a glass of cordial and it’s been watered down much more than you’re used to. I like the flavour, just crank it up a few notches!

Whisky #510: Berry Bros. & Rudd 8 Year Old Ardmore 2008 Single Malt Small Batch for The Whisky Club

November 17, 2017 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Berry Bros. & Rudd 8 Year Old Ardmore 2008 Single Malt Small Batch for The Whisky Club. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $135 (bottle).

Colour: Pale sandstone.

Nose: Blueberry tarts, fresh cream and sweet juicy lemon jellies. A soft, cool smoke hints at what’s to come.

Palate: Orange marmalade on hot buttered toast. Some creme brûlée that’s had a bit too long under the blow torch – it’s sweet and creamy, but there’s also some burnt sugar and smoke coming through too. It’s a light touch on the palate.

Finish: It’s like roasted marshmallows on a camp fire – smokey, creamy and a warm fuzzy feeling to finish. Medium length.

Comments: A small batch release comprising just 7 barrels, this 8 Year Old Ardmore 2008 was bottled for The Whisky Club in Australia. It has a smokey rather than botanical peat influence, one that starts soft and gradually builds as you make your way through each sip.

I reckon it’s the perfect Friday night whisky – the kind when you’re exhausted after a week at work, you’ve come home and put on some music before you crash on the couch with that first whisky in your hand.

A lighter style of whisky to start the night, but with enough variety of flavours to steer you in a number of directions for your next dram – do you want to go down the path of a Speyside fruit-driven whisky next? Or maybe the peat has tickled you in funny places and an Islay whisky with more oomph is what’s up next?

Either way, it’s a great appetiser for a quiet night of whisky to help you unwind from the working week.

Whisky #509: Glenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt

November 13, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%.

£511.19s.0d. That’s how much John Grant – the first generation of what would become a whisky family dynasty – paid for the Glenfarclas distillery way back in June 1865. I wish I could set up a distillery these days for a tick over £500!

Colour: Glowing amber sunset.

Nose: Rose petals, dried raisins, creamy vanilla sponge cake and fresh pastries.

Palate: A mouthful of mixed dried fruits. Creamed honey, candied strawberries and almond biscotti. A cool, oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Drying; sherry and sultana notes, medium length.

Comments: This Glenfarclas Family Reserve was released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the distillery. While this is far from my favourite Glenfarclas whisky (that honour goes to the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask), it’s a damn fine example of the Glenfarclas house style.

Sitting here thinking about the long history of Glenfarclas, it makes you ponder about what legacy you’ll leave long after you’ve sipped your last dram. Having recently had a health scare (thankfully unrelated to drinking whisky!), it really has led me to contemplate a lot about what I’ve achieved in life so far and what I’ve yet to accomplish. Things can be taken away from us in an instant – I have some burning passions and drivers in life, there’s much more to do. Raising a glass here now is just the beginning.