Category: Blended whisky Page 12 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.

Maraska ABC Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/09/2015

In Blended whisky

My whisky collection focuses on whisky from around the world. Living in South Africa makes getting my hands on unique bottles quite tricky. So imagine my delight when I spotted a bottle of whisky from Yugoslavia on an international whisky auction.

Sadly, I can’t find much information about Maraska ABC whisky. According to its website, the Maraska Company have a rich and glorious tradition in producing liquor.”Maraska has more than five centuries of experience and tradition in the production of making liquor items and for making one of the worlds best-known liqueurs, ‘Maraschino’.”

This special cherry is authentic only to Croatia and grows in the climate and area around Zadar, Croatia. The cherry has a unique flavour found nowhere else in the world.”

Looking at the printing on the bottle and the fact that it still refers to Yugoslavia, I guess that this Maraska ABC whisky was bottled around mid-1980s. Zadar, where Maraska is situated, is in Croatia.

Croatia declared independence and dissolved its association with Yugoslavia in 1991. The bottle is a bit bashed and bruised and does not seal well anymore. However, in our collection, it has a special place.

A small piece of history. Maraska does not create whisky anymore, and I can find no further information on their website. Maraska liquors are, however, available in the United States.

Related Article: Slyrs whisky

Maraska ABC Whisky Review

Unfortunately, the cork crumbled when I opened it. It has no age statement. It is a 1 L bottle.

COUNTRY: Yugoslavia

ABV: 41%

COLOUR: A light golden colour.

NOSE: I don’t think that it was not aged very long. The Maraska ABC has hints of methylated spirits, cherries, mothballs and condensed milk. Not a very complex nose.

PALATE: On the palate, it is somewhat anonymous. Rather forgettable. There are methylated spirit notes mixed with mild bitter citrus and a bit of raw wood. A few sweet fruit notes make an appearance. Adding water dulls down the raw spirit notes in the Maraska.

It does not release any other new flavours. The Maraska ABC becomes rather soulless with water. It is a dram that reminds us of the old Soviet times. The Soviet version of what life and whisky should be. Dull and grey and with no personality.

FINISH: The Maraska does have a rather long finish. Unfortunately, this finish is reminiscent of the bitter white part of citrus peel.

RATING: ORDINARY

The fact that the cork is damaged might have impacted the dram, and some of the better notes might have evaporated over time. Even though this Maraska whisky reminds me of the old Soviet Union, I am excited to have it in our collection. It represents a piece of history of a country that does not exist any more.

Another whisky from a country that does not exist anymore is the Hammerhead whisky from Czechoslovakia. But it is a lot nicer than this Maraska release.

Anyone else ever heard of this Maraska whisky?

Also Read: Reisetbauer 12 yo Whisky

Naked Grouse Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/02/2015

In Blended whisky

In addition to my regular single malt favourites, I add a blended whisky to my tasting schedule to spice things up now and again. Last year, this led me to the Black Grouse whisky, which I loved and I paired with some spicy Indian food. On reading up about the Grouse brand, I noted that they made a Naked Grouse blended Scotch whisky.

And with a name like that, I had to have it. So, on the way back from London, I grabbed this award-winning Grouse. I see that it is available in SA as well. The Famous Grouse is a brand of blended Scotch whisky, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son.

The Edrington Group owns the Famous Grouse brand as well as The Macallan, Cutty Sark and Highland Park. This Naked Grouse has a high proportion of spirit from Macallan & Highland Park. The Macallan bringing the sweet sherry influence, and Highland Park bringing a slightly malty, smoky sharpness.

This is the previous blended Scotch whisky release. The new release was relaunched as a blended malt. Other releases in the range include the Famous Grouse Smoky Black whisky.

The Naked Grouse whisky has been matured in sun-dried sherry oak casks. I have also managed to add two more bottles to my Famous collection: the Famous Grouse Port Wood Cask and the Black Grouse Alpha edition.

In keeping with the Naked theme, the labelling is limited with only a Grouse embossed in the glass. So let get Naked…

Related Article: Bell’s Special Reserve whisky

Naked Grouse Whisky Review

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: A very dark colour. It is a rather unusual dark mahogany red colour.

NOSE: Sherry sweet. It made me think of a glass of Old Brown Sherry in front of a log fire. That sticky sweet, warming smell after spending the afternoon hiking in the cold mountains. There are notes of toffee, caramel and vanilla.

Hints of cherry and ripe red fruits float around. The nose promises a rich, delicious experience.

PALATE: An interesting flavour development. The first sip is just spicy notes. Sweetness develops a bit more by the second sip. The second sip has remnants of bubblegum, plump cherries and bits of butterscotch.

But not the rich sweetness promised by the nose. There are notes of oak, cinnamon, cardamom and grape. Water softens the spices a bit but does not release any additional sweetness.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of dried fruit, toffee and faint hints of chocolate.

RATING: VERY GOOD

After all the positive reviews I read about this Naked Grouse whisky, as well as the rich sweet nose, I was expecting a more complex and richer dram. It did not quite live up to my expectations. What did you think of this Naked Grouse?

I have also managed to taste the Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask blended whisky and captured my tasting notes for this affordable release as well.

Also Read: Grant’s Sherry Cask whisky

Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/28/2015

In Blended whisky

I have quite a few bottles from William Grant & Sons. My whisky collection started with a bottle or two from The Balvenie, and I added some Glenfiddich as I went along. Monkey Shoulder blended malt whisky is a favourite, and I was delighted to get my hands on a Kininvie 17 yo. All these brands are part of the William Grant stable.

Looking over our collection, I realized that there was still a piece missing. I did not have anything from Grant’s brand of blended whisky. I added a bottle of the Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition blended Scotch whisky to my collection.

William Grant lived in Dufftown, in the heart of Speyside. He went to father not only seven sons and two daughters but also some of the worlds best know Scottish whisky brands.

William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned company. W Grant & Sons Ltd own the following distilleries:

Glenfiddich Distillery
Balvenie Distillery
Girvan Grain Distillery
Kininvie Distillery (1990-2010)
Ailsa Bay Distillery

In 1957 Grant’s unveiled the now iconic, triangular bottle. It is still released in this triangular bottle. The Spanish Olorosso sherry casks are hand-picked before being filled with aged Grant’s blended whisky. It is then finished for 4 months to acquire a rich flavour.

Related Article: Ballantine’s 12 yo whisky

Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light golden with hints of green

NOSE: Sherry sweetness right out of the bottle with hints of raisins. Not a very complex nose. There are delicate hints of oak ad grape jam. Adding a bit of water takes some of the sweetness from the nose.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has some sweet notes, but after adding a bit of water, the sweetness gives way to more spicy notes. There are notes of condensed milk and stewed prunes. Grant’s Sherry cask is not a big mouthful but pleasant and more robust than the nose hinted. Water releases more spicy pepper notes but also more citrus notes.

FINISH: Long and lingering but end in notes of bitter orange and dried fruit.

RATING: VERY GOOD

As this is a blend of some of my favourite distilleries, I was expecting a big, bold, interesting whisky. Unfortunately, I was left a bit disappointed at the lack of complexity and depth in this dram.

The Grant’s is not a bad whisky by any means; and at a great price point. I will explore more from this blended whisky when I get the chance. It retails for around R250 in South Africa.

Just not as good as the single malts. What did you think of this release?

Also Read: The Famous Grouse whisky

DYC 8 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/31/2015

In Blended whisky

I keep my eyes open for whisky from non-traditional whisky-producing countries. As delicious as whiskies from Scotland and Ireland are, it is even more exciting to find whisky from a non-traditional country like Spain or India. Like this DYC 8 year old blended whisky.

I was not even aware that there is a whisky culture in Spain, but then I managed to get my hands on this bottle. The DYC 8 yo whisky is a blend and not a single malt whisky. DYC does produce a 10 yo single malt, but I have not managed to find it yet. DYC blended whisky is aged for 8 years in American oak.

Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky S.A. (or Whisky DYC) is a Spanish company formed by businessman Nicomedes García Gómez in 1958. Whisky DYC is a subsidiary of Beam Suntory.

Palazuelos de Eresma in Segovia was the site of the first distillery and began operation in February 1959. In March 1963, it started to produce Whisky DYC, the first Spanish whisky.

The DYC brand is well-liked whisky in Spain and less expensive than most imported whiskies. Popularly, DYC is mixed with non-alcoholic beverages like Coca-Cola or Fanta.

It is relatively unknown outside of Spain, but, Beam Global is exporting this Spanish whisky to India as part of its global expansion. I will certainly be looking out for it on my next visit to Bangalore.

Related Article: Belgian Owl Evolution Whisky

DYC 8 year old Whisky Review

The DYC 8 year old is a blend of malt and grain whiskies aged in American oak casks.

COUNTRY: Spain

ABV: 40%.

COLOUR: Light golden

NOSE: Delicate and sweet with notes of vanilla, grain, honey sweetness and fresh flowers. The DYC 8 year old has a complex nose that invites you to dive in and try it.

PALATE: Without water, the palate is spicy with lots of fruity notes. It is not as sweet or delicate as promised by the nose. After adding a bit of water, the fruity notes disappear, and more spicy pepper and lemon notes come out.

Strangely, this blend becomes rougher around the edges after adding water. The sweetness and complexity suggested by the nose are not to be found on the palate.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, lemon peel and pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

For a whisky traditionally used as a mixer, I was not expecting very much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Now to get my hands on the DYC 10 year old single malt version. Perhaps I will be fortunate to find it in India on my next trip.

Also Read: Wemyss Velvet Fig whisky

Ballantine’s 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/24/2015

In Blended whisky

After trying it for the first time last year, Ballantines has quickly become my favourite blended whisky. The Ballantine’s Finest received my first divine rating, and the Ballantine’s 17 year old was my Blend of the Year 2014.

Based on 2013 case volume sales, Ballantine’s is the number 2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. I added the Ballantine’s 12 year old blended Scotch whisky to the collection, and my collection has grown to over nine different expressions.

The brand is owned by Pernod Ricard and produced in Dumbarton, Scotland. Ballantine’s Scotch whisky dates back to 1827. George Ballantine began supplying a selected range of blended Scotch whiskies to distinguished customers from his grocery store in Edinburgh.

Related Article: J&B Rare Whisky

In 1938 they received the Grant of Heraldic Arms featured on their bottles. It recognized George Ballantine & Sons as an ‘incorporation noble on the Nobleness of Scotland’. The key ingredients in the Ballantine’s blends are Miltonduff and Glenburgie together with whisky from around fifty other malt distilleries as well as from four other grain distilleries.

We took this bottle with us on our trip to the Drakensberg mountains. It was the perfect accompaniment for the blue sky and the beautiful mountains.

Ballantine’s 12 year old Whisky Review

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: Light golden. It is a medium oily whisky.

NOSE: Sweet with notes of fresh-cut flowers, condensed milk and oak. There are hints of vanilla in the background. The nose is nicely balanced and subtle.

PALATE: Quite spicy with hints of plump raisins. The Ballantine’s 12 year old whisky is rich and creamy smooth. Toffee notes appear after a bit. This blended whisky has a big mouthfeel and is lovely and chewy. Water smooths out the spicy notes and softens the hints of pepper. It brings a lightness to the glass and enhances the sweetness.

FINISH: Wonderful and long. It begins big and then fades away slowly leaving hints of spice and fruit.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Ballantine’s 12 year old blended Scotch whisky has become our ‘go-to’ whisky for a relaxing, uncomplicated dram. It kicked my beloved Johnnie Walker Black Label off the Number 1 spot on our favourite list.

However, the question is: is the Ballantine‘s 12 year old as good as the 17 year old whisky? Not quite. The Ballantine’s 17 whisky blew my minds with its complexity and smooth, creamy quality.

However, this 12 year old is much more affordable than the Ballantine’s 17 year old as well as the Ballantine’s 30 year old and at the price point, a whisky you can drink again and again. This bottle cost around ₹ 5,650 in India.

I have found a Ballantine’s 7 year old Bourbon finish release that I wrote about as well.

Also read: Dewar’s 12 yo whisky