Category: Blended whisky Page 11 of 14

Blended whisky

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for blended whisky. A collection of all the interesting releases I have tried. From Scotland and all around the world including some of the most well known and loved brands.

Catto’s Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/19/2017

In Blended whisky

The next edition in my affordable blended whisky series; this week, I look at the Catto’s blended Scotch whisky. It retails for around R 300 in South Africa. It is affordable and in a similar price range as the Johnnie Walker Black Label blended whisky. James Catto began his retail business in 1861 in Aberdeen and wanted to blend high-quality Highland malt with some accessible (probably also more affordable) Lowland grain whisky.

Grain whisky distilling has been around since around 1810 and was (still is) considerably cheaper and easier to make than malt whisky.

Interesting how many whiskies started their life story in a grocery store. Brands like Johnnie Walker, Teacher’s, Chivas and Famous Grouse all have a link to a grocery store.

James locked himself away in his basement and experimented until he created a blended whisky that he liked.

He sold whisky in his shop, and as a result of his connection to the founders of P&O and White Star shipping, his whiskies were soon exported all over the world.

Today Catto’s is created by Master Blender Stuart Harvey. The heart of Catto’s whisky is formed by unpeated single malts from among others Balblair, Balmenach, Knockdhu, Pulteney and Speyburn.

Interesting to note, Jim Murray, rates this Catto’s Rare whisky at 92 points and mentions that he likes to drink this at home. (Whisky Bible 2015 Edition).

Also Read: Bell’s Whisky

Catto’s Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light golden wheat

NOSE: Hints of raw alcohol surprisingly similar to the Speyburn I had a few weeks ago. Notes of honey, vanilla, fresh fruits and caramel.

PALATE: Medium body with some alcohol bite. There are lots of caramel sweetness balanced by a bit of cinnamon spice, malt, fresh-cut grass. Not very complex. Water softens the alcohol and releases more sweetness.

FINISH: Medium length ending on some cinnamon sweetness and pepper.

RATING: GOOD

Well, it is better than the Speyburn Bradan Orach whisky. I am not sure why Jim Murray would drink this at home if he has the whole of Scottish whiskies to choose from. Sadly, I found the Catto’s whisky a bit bland. The caramel sweetness is nearly overwhelming.

In South Africa this retails for around R300 and at the price range, there are many more decent blends from which to choose. This blend will probably be in my cupboard for quite a while…

Also Read: Label 5 whisky

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/16/2017

In Blended whisky

The year 2016 started with a BANG. I started my tasting year with a distinctive South African whisky. It was the Three Ships PX Cask, the first in their Three Ships whisky Masters Collection. This year, I am fortunate to start on an even bigger BANG. First up is another Three Ships Masters Collection release, the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish whisky.

A 15 year old blend from the beautiful Wellington in the Western Cape. What makes it so very special is the ageing in the Pinotage Casks.

The 15 yo Pinotage Cask Finish is the oldest whisky crafted by Master Distiller Andy Watts. He sought to capture the unique heritage of South Africa in this vibrant, sophisticated and unique whisky.

Andy has been experimenting with ageing whiskies is a variety of casks. During October 2016, at a glittering event, the next unique ‘experiments’ was released. A whisky finished in casks previously used for the maturation of Pinotage – the uniquely South African wine cultivar.

What is Pinotage?

Pinotage is a grape variety that originated in South Africa in 1925 when Abraham Perold combined the best qualities of the robust Hermitage grape with Pinot Noir. This grape makes great wine but it can be challenging to grow. The result was a grape with high sugar levels and more intense ruby colour than the parents.

Recognition for this new grape variety came at the end of the 50s at as a Pinotage was the champion wine at the Cape Wine Show. But by the 70s, it seemed that the Pinotage lost favour and many producers uprooted large areas of well-established Pinotage vines.

A few producers, however, saw the potential of this grape and continued to look for ways to improve the quality of the grape. Their hard work and dedication paid off at the end of the 80s when a Kanonkop Pinotage won a major prize. Pinotage was back on the wine stage. And with all the exciting bottlings that have been coming out, a variety destined to stay on the stage for a long time.

Pinotage is known for red berry, plum, tropical fruit, banana, smoke, earthy and chocolate flavours. Pinotage wine pairs well with roast turkey, salami, dried meat, Spanish or Italian food, aged gouda and cheddar.

Also Read: Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky Review

The grain and malt portions were first matured separately in American casks before being finished for different periods in eight casks previously used for Pinotage. For this tasting, I was joined on Twitter by talented photographer Nymless.

REGION: World Whisky, South Africa

ABV: 46.2%

COLOUR: Golden blush pink

NOSE: Berries, sweet caramel, fresh fruits, vanilla, oak, butterscotch, strawberry jam and grapes. The nose is rich and complex.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has pepper, toffee, creme brûlee and hints of toasted oak. Water releases complexity and richness. The fruity nose becomes defined fruits.

Apples, bananas and berries mixed with a cereal maltiness. Honey sweetness balanced with cinnamon and vanilla. Little hints of pepper for bite. Floral sweetness. The Three Ships Pinotage Cask has a HUGE personality.

FINISH: Long and lingering with sweet, fruity notes, cinnamon. Leaves you wanting more!

RATING: DIVINE

It was unanimous. All 3 people across the country gave it the same score.

What a great whiskey @ThreeShipsSA a rich, complex beauty worthy of the masters collection #PinotageCaskFinish

— Just Wayne (@waynewolmarans) January 13, 2017

Wonderfully delicious! A true piece of South African history. I love the Three Ships brand, team and whisky.

Because I know the people that make this whisky, I run the risk of making an emotional rating. I want to keep my ratings as objective and as sensible as possible. Without me knowing it, a few weeks before this tasting, I made the same call on a blind tasting of the Pinotage Cask.

We were playing Monopoly with our 5-year-old daughter. It was a rainy afternoon, and I asked John to pour me something aged in sherry. He came back with a glass and handed it to me. I tasted and realised it was not a sherry cask.

But I was unsure what whisky he poured me. John knew that we were tasting the Pinotage Cask a week later, so I was not expecting him to open that. He asked what I thought of the whisky and it inadvertently became a blind tasting. I immediately rated it, Divine. So no, the Divine rating is not exaggerated or an emotional rating. It is an exceptional whisky. A HUGE whisky to start 2017 with,

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky and Food

If you like drinking pinotage, this is a whisky that you will enjoy. It has the same fruity, earthy notes of a great pinotage, but with the rich malty cereal whisky notes.

I preferred the Pinotage Cask Finish with a few drops of water to release more of the fruity tones. It will pair well with foods such as cured meats, a great cheddar and a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese.

During 2021 the James Sedgwick distillery released a grain whisky finished in a red wine cask, the Bain’s Shiraz Cask Finish whisky.

Also Read: Three Ships 6 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company

Three Ships 5 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/14/2016

In Blended whisky

Many years ago, I was travelling through Ireland. It is a beautiful green country with great beer and of course, Jameson’s Irish whiskey. In Dublin, I visited the Jameson’s distillery visitors centre.

It was a remarkable experience. The visitors’ centre in Dublin showcased the art of whisky-making and the passion that goes into creating a brand like Jameson’s.

Fast-forward a couple of years to 2016. The James Sedgwick’s distillery in Wellington becomes the first (and only) commercial whisky distillery on the African continent to open a visitor centre.

After many years of asking, the Distell whisky powers approved the concept. What an excellent way to experience this award-winning South African whiskies. Now you can see the whisky passion for yourself! So, in celebration of this special occasion, I try the Three Ships 5 year old blended whisky.

The James Sedgwick Distillery Tour

The beautiful town of Wellington has become one of the top places to visit while in Cape Town. Everyone can now experience first-hand how whisky is made and see the passion and people behind the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky brands. The distillery and visitor centre is beautiful.

There are sweeping views of the Hawekwa and Groenberg Mountains that surround the town. We were fortunate to visit the distillery a couple of years ago.

Three Ships Premium Select 5 yo Blended whisky james-sedgwick-distillery-lr

Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

The tastings and tours are limited to 10 people at a time to ensure a personal experience. Tours are undertaken on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 am and again at 2 pm. Visitors can come to understand the art of whisky-making, learn about the rich history of the distillery and taste some of the world’s best whiskies.

The tour starts with a whisky-cocktail followed by an informative video. Then follows an on-foot tour of the distillery to see first-hand how the whiskies are made. It covers all the various stages from raw material to distillation to maturation.

The tour concludes with the best bit, a tasting of three whiskies paired with five sample dishes, allowing guests to explore how the flavours of certain dishes complement the aromas found within a particular whisky The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select pairs wonderfully with mature cheddar and I have paired it with a Blue Rock Cheese.

Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

Another exciting feature is the small micro-distillery. Visitors get the opportunity to create their own blend. An amazing experience! You can blend your version of a Three Ships whisky.

However, if you don’t get the opportunity to visit Wellington, it is just as easy to head over to your local liquor shop and grab yourself a bottle of Three Ships and enjoy a little bit of Wellington heaven. It is an affordable whisky. The price for the Three Ships 5 year old whisky in South Africa is around R 200.

Also Read: How to make a whisky bottle lamp

Three Ships 5 year old Whisky Review

The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select whisky launched in 1991. This whisky is a blend of specifically selected grain and malt whiskies that have been aged for a minimum of five years.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Orange golden sunrise

NOSE: Rich notes of oak, peaty smoke mixed with hints of fruit, vanilla sweetness, freshly baked sugar biscuits and malt.

PALATE: The peaty smoke from the nose is balanced out by a fruity sweetness and robust maltiness. Hints of pear, citrus mixed with cinnamon spice intertwined with nutty fruitcake, cherries and ginger. Bold and robust, water smooths out the Three Ships 5 yo to make it even easier drinking.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in peaty fruit and spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The versatile Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select blended whisky is the perfect dram to have with cheese! All kinds of cheese. And food. And BBQ. You get my drift. It is the ideal accompaniment to food. If you buy only one bottle of whisky a year; this should be it!

If you are fortunate to visit Cape Town and have some time, do visit the distillery. The tours and tastings are for over 18’s only. It is essential to book in advance at Ticketweb.

Also Read: Nikka Miyagikyo whisky

Chivas Regal Extra Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/29/2016

In Blended whisky

When you hear the name Chivas, it brings to mind consistent quality. For me, it reminds me of my father. His favourite was the Chivas Regal 12 yo whisky. The old staple blended Scotch whisky that you can find everywhere.

He used to get a bottle or 2 for Christmas and savoured it through the year. Now and again he would share a sip with me, when my mom was not looking.

During 2014, Chivas released a new bottling, Chivas Regal Extra blended Scotch whisky. In honour of my dad, I had to try it. The Chivas Extra whisky has no age statement and according to my research, has more of a sherry character than the traditional Chivas releases.

All Chivas Regal blends have sherry-aged whisky blended in, but the percentage for the Chivas Regal Extra is slightly higher.

Also Read:Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky

The Sherry casks come from the Sherry Bodegas in Spain, where the casks are filled with the rich, sweet Oloroso sherry, which soaks into the wood during their time in the Bodegas. It was made to fit between the well-loved Chivas 12 year old whisky and the more upmarket (read expensive) Chivas 18 year old whisky.

It is also Chivas’ first global expression since 2007. Chivas Regal is produced by Chivas Brothers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. Founded in 1786, the Strathisla distillery is the home of Chivas Regal.<

According to Colin Scott, the Master Blender, Chivas Regal Extra goes particularly well with steaks and sticky-toffee pudding.

Chivas Regal Extra Blended Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A dark caramel

NOSE: Fruity sweetness mixed with pears, warming nutmeg and caramel. Not overly sweet, but delicate and fresh.

PALATE: Medium bodied whisky with notes of pears and cinnamon mixed with cherries, hints of dry oak and caramel. The Chivas Extra does not have the expected sherry sweetness, and water softens and smooths out the dram.

FINISH: Medium length finish that ends in sweet Christmas cake.

A nice enough expression. The sherry is delicate and not overwhelming, but I was hoping for a bit more. I was expecting the classic Chivas character balanced with a big mouthful of sherry.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I think my father might have liked this new release. It is a great whisky for summer. Not too sweet and well-balanced with some summer spices.

The price for the Chivas Regal Extra in South Africa is around R450. I did a side by side comparison between the Chivas Extra and the 12 yo, and you can read all about the differences.

Also Read: Glengoyne 21 yo Whisky

Scottish Cousin Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/18/2016

In Blended whisky

I am not impartial to some wine now and again. Whisky is perfect, but a nice glass of wine, on a hot day, is refreshing. A while ago, on a Friday afternoon, John brought me a bottle of wine. It was in a plastic bottle. The snob in me was slightly horrified. What was he thinking?

Not to be rude, I tried it. And oh my, what a fantastic glass of wine it was. The bottle in question was the Tangled Tree Tropical Sauvignon Blanc. After that, I have tried all five wines in the range and love the Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon and the Moscato Rosé wine the most.

Jump forward a few months, and there I was, wandering around the Whisky Life Pretoria in Brooklyn. I visited one of my favourite people, Pierre Meintjies, at the Bunnahabhain exhibition, then turned around and walked straight into a new blended whisky.

It’s called Scottish Cousin whisky. I stood there listening to an enthusiastic man talking about this affordable blended whisky and realised that the label is reminiscent of the Four Cousins wine.

To say that I was sceptical might be an understatement. Were a few wine farmers from Robertson trying to sell whisky? At an event where you had some of the most loved whisky brands on the planet? Seriously?

About the Scottish Cousin whisky Blends

I watched people walking up, tasting and standing around with a smile. The man saw me and offered me a taste. I declined at first but listened to the story behind this blend. The Cousins of Van Loveren visited Scotland and decided to extend their range with a Cousin from Scotland. The blend of traditional Scottish whisky was hand-selected by Neil, the youngest of the Four Cousins and fourth-generation Scottish ancestry.

Now I am from a Dutch background, but that does not make me an expert cheesemaker. After a bit of research, I realised that the Tangle Tree Eco Wine Range was part of the Four Cousins’ portfolio. They made excellent wine, but did the fourth generation wine farmer know something about whisky?

The Scottish Cousin whisky range includes a 5 year old, an 8 year old and a 12 year old blended whisky. They were all aged in American Oak and use the Optic and Concerto barley strains. The whisky was distilled, blended and bottled in Scotland and released at a 43% ABV.

The pricing ranges from the very affordable Scottish Cousin 5 year old at about R200 to the very reasonably priced +-R 400 for the Scottish Cousin 12 year old. But what did they taste like?

Also Read: The Singleton 15 yo Whisky

Scottish Cousin 5 year old Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Gold with dark amber hints

NOSE: Oak, toffee, Christmas pudding with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. It’s not a very complex nose. The addition of water brings out more sweetness and marshmallow notes.

PALATE: There is a spiciness balanced with sweetness. Hints of cloves, balanced with fresh berries. Light and refreshing, a summer sipping dram. Adding water to this Scottish cousin 5 yo makes it smoother and very easy drinking.

FINISH: Medium length and ends in sweet woody notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

At a R200 price point, this is an amazing dram. The Scottish Cousin 5 year old whisky can easily compete with older more expensive drams and hold its own. It is an unpretentious, easy-drinking and thoroughly enjoyable whisky which offers great value for money.

Scottish Cousin 8 year old Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden yellow with copper hints.

NOSE: Floral and fresh summer fruit drizzled in honey, mixed with vanilla, butterscotch and marshmallow. Faint hints of cinnamon spiciness.

PALATE: Fresh fruit, spice, roasted nuts and sugar sweetness wonderfully balanced with that rich bourbon vanilla taste. There is a creamy chewiness to the Scottish Cousin 8 yo. An almost chocolatey yumminess. The addition of water soothes the fruity notes and brings a little bit of the oak to the forefront, but at the same time makes the whisky deliciously enjoyable.

FINISH: Medium length that ends in light notes of sweetness and toasted rice. The addition of water brings out the dryness and a woodiness that reminds me of faint hints of leather.

RATING: EXCELLENT

At around R 280 for the bottle of deliciousness, it is the best buy! The 8 year old whisky is my favourite. It is an easy-drinking, fun, thoroughly enjoyable whisky that will not be out of place in an upmarket bar.

It’s rich with wonderful complex notes. This is what liquid sunshine tastes like. I paired this Scottish Cousin with some Oreo cookies over here, and it made for a delectable combination.

Scottish Cousin 12 year old Whisky

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark Gold with mahogany hints.

NOSE: Rich and complex. Condensed milk fudge sweetness, fresh summer berries, maple syrup with hints of vanilla, butterscotch and cream. Faint hints of bread pudding.

PALATE: Heaviest of the three, it’s rich and creamy. On the palate, there is fruity sweetness followed by spicy notes and faint hints of oak. There is a deliciousness to this dram that invites you to try some more. The Scottish Cousin 12 year old becomes smooth and easy drinking with the addition of water. It is complex and fun drinking; especially at R400.

FINISH: More significant and longer than the other 2 expressions and end in notes of dried oak, malt biscuits and toffee.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a warming and comforting dram that you will reach for again and again. Trust me, I know, my bottle is nearly half. I also paired this 12 year old whisky with a Royal Ashton cheese, and the results were delicious!

These amazing Scottish Cousin drams are available at Pick n Pay, Checkers, Spar, Liquor City, Liquorland, Norman Goodfellows, Makro and online at Takealot. So go out and grab a bottle.

Also read: Bell’s Special Reserve Whisky