Month: August 2013

Auchentoshan Heartwood Whisky

On 08/20/2013

On our trip to Dullstroom, we stopped off at the ‘Wild about Whisky’ bar. There we worked our way through a tiny bit of their selection. I tried to taste whiskies that I have not seen before. At one of the tastings, I tried various whiskies aged in sherry casks, and one of the nicest ones was the Auchentoshan Heartwood single malt Scotch whisky.

Lucky for me, Wild about Whisky had one in the store that I could buy. Auchentoshan (pronounced ock-en-tosh-an) is a Lowlands distillery, and the name translates as ‘corner of the field’ from the local form of Gaelic. Auchentoshan is unique among Scottish whisky distilleries in that they triple distil using three stills.

Elsewhere in Scotland, the common practice is to distil twice. Triple distillation produces a spirit that is lighter and more delicate in flavour. Auchentoshan has a core range that include the American Oak and 12 yo whisky release and have also produced a range exclusively for the retail travel market.

What it means is that if you are not travelling through Heathrow airport – or get lucky – this bottle may elude you in the usual places. That would be a tragedy, for this is a fine whisky indeed. The Auchentoshan range consists of four core expressions, with two limited-edition releases coming out each year.

The whole range pays tribute to the wood, and each whisky in the range is inspired by the phase of a tree’s life cycle and named to reflect the whisky’s flavour as if it were part of the tree’s life. The Auchentoshan Heartwood single malt whisky is aged in Oloroso sherry casks, as well as charred American oak bourbon casks.

Related Article: Glenkinchie 12 yo whisky

Auchentoshan Heartwood Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Some commentators have described the colour as a dark honeycomb. To me, it looked far more copper in colour. It reminded me of beautiful copper pots that had been polished and caught the light just the right way in sunlight. It is indeed a warm, inviting colour.

NOSE: From a nose perspective, the Auchentoshan Heartwood is quite complex. I picked up some sherry and notes of orange. Other commentators have picked up honeycomb – proof if any was needed that it’s a complex nose because I did not pick that up.

PALATE: Whilst you may not remember the Auchentoshan Heartwood for its nose, you won’t easily forget it on the palate. On the palate, the Auchentoshan Heartwood feels lighter than other Scottish whiskies. It may be a testament to the triple distillation rather than the standard double distillation.

The Heartwood flavours that came through were sherry, vanilla and honeycomb. I thought of ice cream at first! While it is light, there is a richness to it, with oak coming through as well as some hints of citrus.

FINISH: The finish is not long, with quite a short tail to it. It does not distract in any way, and it finishes in a nice, mouth-filling, fresh way.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Auchentoshan is a wonderful whisky, and we both instantly reached the same verdict. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also probably one of the most “moreish” whiskies I have tasted, and you quickly find yourself pouring another glass before you realise it. I’m glad it’s a 1L bottle because it’s not going to last for very long!

I have also tried the Auchentoshan American Oak whisky and captured my tasting notes.

Also Read: Singeton 12 yo whisky

Springbank 18 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/08/2013

In Single Malt whisky

Time for an 18 yo whisky today; I look at the Springbank 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Before the arrival of our daughter, Father’s Days meant very little to John. He never knew his father, so there was no reason to celebrate it. However, since her arrival, it has all changed.

The special “Happy Father’s Day” baby artwork gets centre stage in the study. Marc from WhiskyBrother helped me select this bottle, and as always, he knows exactly what to pick.

I am excited to add this bottle of Springbank 18 yo whisky to my collection. It is a distillery that I have heard great things from but have not tried before. It also completes my collection as it adds a whisky from Campbeltown.

The last Scottish region that I did not have. Before the arrival of the Springbank 18 year old single malt, my collection did not have a representative of Campbeltown, one of the five accepted whisky regions of Scotland.

Now I have ticked that box. The Springbank Distillery is unique. It is the oldest independent family-owned distillery in Scotland. Founded in 1828 on the site of Archibald Mitchell’s illicit still, the Springbank distillery is now in the hands of his great great great grandson, Hedley G. Wright.

Springbank is one of the only distilleries in Scotland to carry out the entire production process on one site. The traditional floor malting, maturation and bottling are done at the distillery itself. In a time of chill filtered whisky, it remains the only distillery in Scotland never to have done so.

Furthermore, it is the only distillery in Scotland to produce three different single malts, Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn, using three different production methods. So on to the Springbank 18 year old single malt whisky itself.

Related Article: The Arran Malt Sherry Cask whisky

Springbank 18 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Campbelltown

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Golden copper.

NOSE: It’s an oily whisky – which is great – and the nose quite fruity. Spice and barley come through distinctly with aniseed. Other commentators have reported Christmas cake and marzipan, and I don’t think that is wrong at all.

PALATE: The big nature of the whisky comes through. It is a whisky that has spent 18 years maturing in predominantly sherry casks, and it shows! The Springbank 18 yo is creamy and oily from the moment it hits the palate. Giving it a few minutes, the Springbank develops further to reveal dried fruits and traces of smoke.

FINISH: The finish is something to behold. It is a beautiful building, going on and on, and linger long after you have finished it.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Springbank is a complex whisky with the nose a little at odds with the palate. If you do lay your hands on a Springbank 18 year old Scotch, enjoy it because it is an interesting whisky. Thank you for the recommendation, WhiskyBrother.

Also Read: Mackmyra Svensk Rok Whisky

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1994 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/04/2013

In Single Malt whisky

It’s been a while since I last posted. Sometimes life gets in the way of good whisky! Much like the Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1994 Islay single malt Scotch whisky, the time has passed so quickly that I cannot recall where we acquired the bottle or where the original packaging is!

Lagavulin single malts are generally seen as among the smokiest whiskies to be found. A Scottish Islay whisky, the distillery is one of the three Kildalton distilleries in the south of Islay.

Situated at the picturesque Lagavulin Bay, the distillery officially dates from 1816 when John Jonston and Archibald Campbell constructed two distilleries on site. They merged into one and was called Lagavulin.

Lagavulin claims the slowest distillation with 5 hours for the first distillation and 9 for the second. Lagavulin is produced by United Distillers & Vintners, which in turn is part of the Diageo stable.

The standard Lagavulin single malt Scotch whisky is a 16 year old whisky. A cult item among peated whisky fans. This Lagavulin Distillers Edition is a limited release. They finished it in a Pedro Ximinez cask. Being an Islay whisky, it was always going to be bold and peaty.

Related Article: Oban Distiller’s Edition whisky

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1994 Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Quite dark when compared to other Islay whiskies.

NOSE: The first thing that hits you when you nose the whisky is the characteristic peat and iodine. t’s a big whisky, and the Lagavulin distillery’s characteristic smokiness follows the peat and iodine. Altogether it is just an impressive nose. Altogether it is just an impressive nose.

PALATE: When tasting the whisky, one is struck at once by burnt oak and smoke. But also the surprising fruitiness, which was a bit unexpected. I picked up flavours of raisin, sherry and even vanilla.

The flavours come together beautifully. It is a dram which John’s friend Justin, who dislikes Islay and claims he can smell the sardines in them, might well enjoy.

FINISH: The finish… well, it’s wow! It builds slowly to a long tail, absolutely brilliant. It is an excellent whisky with a beautiful nose, a wonderful full-mouthed fruity palette and a brilliant finish.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I paired some Maltesers with a Lagavulin during December. It made for an AMAZING pairing. But the Lagavulin pairs beautifully with Gorgonzola, Roquefort or Stilton cheese as well. It is a must-try combination for anyone who likes to pair food and spirits.

Also Read: Start a whisky club