Category: Grain Whisky Page 2 of 3

Grain whisky

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for single grain whisky. A collection of all the interesting grain whisky (whiskey) based releases I have tried. Single grain whisky from around the world.

Toor Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/15/2022

In Grain Whisky

I saw a colourful bottle of whisky on social media. The label was a vibrant turquoise blue with a captivating name; Toor whisky. In Afrikaans, my home language, the word means bewitch. I was fortunate to be sent a bottle by Redford Beverages, so today, let’s look at the story behind this bewitching brand.

Toor is a new entrant to the SA whisky market from the Doña distillery in Cape Town. Danielle Schoeman established Doña distillery in 2019 to bring new spirits to the local and international market. Doña means woman of rank.

The dynamic young female master distiller has won multiple awards for her Low/No-alcohol Drink, Best Ready to Drink, and numerous medals for her spirits at local and international competitions.

Her Mahala Botanical was awarded the prestigious Trophy for Best No/Low Alcohol Spirits at the Michelangelo International Awards.

Also Read: Sullivans Cove Bourbon Cask Whisky

Another venture under her care is the Toor Collective of whisky, with the first release of a 100% local grain whisky, matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks for 5 years before being finished in French oak casks.

Over time, the Toor Collective is about whisky exploring and experimenting, looking at the various barrel and non-traditional South African wood options, including pinotage, rum and other barrels. More releases will follow as more liquid matures over the coming years.

The distillery has started distilling and ageing its own grain whisky. However, for this first release, the team is sourcing, blending and ageing to deliver the taste profile they are aiming for.

Toor Whisky Review

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Vanilla sweetness with hints of tropical fruit. Subtle woody notes. Very oily whisky with long fingers on the glass.

PALATE: Sweet honey drizzled baked stone fruit with hints of nuts and dry oak. The dry woody notes reminds me a bit of the woody notes in the Uncle Nearest bourbon. Hints of vanilla and light white pepper. A slight alcohol heat. Water smoothes the alcohol heat and makes this dram very drinkable. The Toor whisky is well balanced and exciting.

FINISH: Medium length with sweet honey and drying oak.

RATING: VERY GOOD

A lovely grain whisky. My bottle of Toor whisky nearly done, and that says a lot! The sweet fruity notes make it perfect for spring and summer sipping. Grain whisky in South Africa is stepping up with delicious sweet drams.

Available at WhiskyBrother & Co as well as Takealot. Toor whisky retails for around R330. It is a great whisky to use in cocktails and my favourite cocktail to make is a Tropical Toor.

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from the Redford Beverages team. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Belgian Owl Evolution Whisky

Bain’s Symphony Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/01/2021

In Grain Whisky

The other day I reread the blog post I wrote at the end of 2017, where I was lamenting that there is only the standard Bain’s single grain whisky available. Even though Distell had older whisky available in casks, they were reluctant to release more liquid as the brand was still relatively small.

Fast forward four years, and today I have added the Bain’s Symphony 7 year old single grain whisky release to my collection. It is wonderful to see this small grain whisky brand going from strength to strength and finding its feet, in SA but also on the world stage.

The Bain’s Symphony is the 8th bottle of Bain’s release in my collection. They first released the Bain’s 15 yo whisky, and it is probably one of the best drams I have ever tasted. This was followed by the 18 year old series with a Fino Cask, Oloroso and a PX cask. Earlier in 2021, a Shiraz Cask finish landed and then a 21 year old Double Wood whisky.

Also Read: Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky

And then, out of the blue, they dropped the Bain’s Symphony 7 year old whisky. It is a limited release, produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Western Cape. The standard Bain’s is a NAS release that spends about 6 years in bourbon casks; the Symphony is aged for 7 years in bourbon casks before being aged for 3 months in a “sonic cellar” at the distillery.

The Bain’s brand team played South African artist Tellaman’s music into the barrels, which caused the maturing whisky inside to move and constantly interact with the wood. I will not think too deeply about the physics behind this, and John did frown a bit and mumbled something about Brownian motion. We both agree, South African music makes everything better, and in the end, the ultimate test is taste.

JSD released a total of 6,000 bottles. The standard Bain’s is bottled at 43%, the Bain’s Symphony single grain whisky is bottled at a respectable 48.6% ABV.

Bain’s Symphony 7 year old Whisky Review

I have bottle 4 886 / 6 000

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 48.6%

COLOUR: Sunrise gold

NOSE: Rich and bold with tropical fruit, banana, toasted wood, grain sweetness and vanilla. Thick and oily with bits of toffee and freshly baked Hawaiian sweet rolls.

PALATE: Bit of alcohol heat, but it is warming and not overwhelming. The oily spirit coast your mouth with condensed milk, nutmeg, and toasted grains. Hints of vanilla and dark chocolate balances with tropical fruit, banana and freshly milled black pepper. Water makes it even more drinkable and sweet. But it is perfect without water. Just delicious.

FINISH: Toasted oaky goodness with grain sweetness and bits of vanilla. A long and smooth finish.

RATING: DIVINE

It has the classical Bain’s notes of toasted oak, vanilla and banana, but all the notes are elevated. It is basically a Bain’s on steroids! The extra time in the barrel and the higher ABV makes a massive difference between the Bain’s and the Symphony. The Symphony is more complex, with bolder flavours and texture. It is perfect! Just perfect!

I was hesitant to give the Bain’s Symphony whisky a Divine rating. We are always conscious of the fact that we might rate South African whisky more positive because it is a proudly local product and not purely on the merit of the liquid.

I did however look at the level of my bottle about two weeks after buying it and it was nearly empty. That was enough to convince me, it is divine and not a skewed rating based on my love for JSD.

And at a retail price of R360, it is worth drinking over and over. (About $25 or £ 18.50) The bad part is that there are only 6 000 bottles available. This is only the second Divine rating for this year (the first was the Port Askaig 8 yo) and taking the retail price into account, this will easily rate as my nicest dram for 2021.

Now to stock up on a few more bottles. And then to have the maturity and patience to let a bottle or 2 lie unopened until next year so that I can enjoy the beauty all over again. I was very happy to also pick up some James Sedgwick branded Glencairn style glasses to sip my proudly SA whisky from.

A Bain’s 15 yo Sonically Matured whisky has also been released and I have captured my tasting notes for this release as well.

Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/16/2020

In Grain Whisky

A few weeks ago, we visited Dullstroom. After being housebound for the last eight months, we needed a change of scenery. We rented a small house in the town and spent the weekend relaxing. However, we did make time to visit our favourite whisky bar, Wild About Whisky, to try a few new releases. One of the drams they had available was the Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated single grain Scotch whisky.

It was just after I read the article on Malt Musings about the Loch Lomond Single Grain compared to the Tweeddale Peated and a few other releases. So I was glad for the opportunity to taste it as well. Let me say up front; I liked the Tweeddale whisky so much that I bought a bottle. Now I can capture proper tasting notes for the blog.

Peated grain whisky is not readily available in SA, so it is a unique experience to try something different. Tweeddale claim to be the first peated grain whisky available. The Tweeddale brand started, like so many other blends, in a grocery store.

Also Read: Teeling Single Grain Whiskey

The Tweeddale blend was created by Alasdair Day in 2010 from a recipe discovered in his great grandfather Richard Day’s cellar book for Coldstream grocer J&A Davidson.

Tweeddale has been part of the R&B Distillers portfolio since 2015, also co-owned by Day. A new limited batch of Tweeddale is released every year. Currently available in South Africa is the Peated release and the Grain of Truth Sherry releases.

The Grain of Truth is non-chill-filtered with natural colour. Half of the malted barley is peated to 50 ppm, and the other half is from unpeated single grain (wheat). The whisky is aged in ex-bourbon casks.

Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Pale gold / light wheat

NOSE: Sweetness and peat balanced with fruit. There are hints of green apple mixed in with light smoke. Bits of creamy lime and oak. Delicious and inviting you to taste.

PALATE: Sweetness and peat. Spicier than the nose suggests there are notes of nutmeg and cinnamon with caramel and fresh orchard fruit. Some light chocolate notes with stewed pear. Delicious and well balanced. I finished my first glass without water. Bits of oaky spice and nuts with wisps of smoke. Unique and delicious, I had to have a second glass of this whisky.

FINISH: Slightly drying with oak, lime and cinnamon. Faint bits of fruity sweetness. Long and lingering.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious dram. Easy drinking. Nothing like Islay peat and smoke with fish and medicinal notes. More of a Highland style peat and smoke with fruit, heather and burning grass. A dram I will be exploring a bit more over the summer. Comparing last week’s Loch Lomond Single Grain to the Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated would be quite tricky.

They are both delicious releases and will feature quite a lot over my summer. The Loch Lomond is perfect for hot sunny days; it is light and fragrant. The Tweeddale is bigger and bolder and more for after dinner drinking.

The Tweeddale retails for around R690 in South Africa, and I found it at Wild About Whisky, and I see that McBeth on Whisky also has some available.

This peated grain pairs well with a cheeseboard. The smoke and sweetness will work with creamy or harder cheese.

Also Read: Toor Whisky

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/09/2020

In Grain Whisky

It feels like it is Loch Lomond’s year on the blog. It is the fourth release I have tried from this versatile Highland distillery this year. A couple of years ago, I tasted the Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky. My tasting notes included freshly baked cookies, flowers and grass mixed spicy hints of fruit and citrus zest. I rated it as very good and commented that it seemed a bit young with some rough edges.

During my Inchmurrin chat with Muzi, the Loch Lomond Brand Ambassador, he mentioned that they are bringing out a new Single Grain release. John saw it in the shops and loved the packaging, so he bought it. I added it to my whisky collection and scheduled it for tasting sometime next year.

However, an interesting article on Malt Musings highlighted the fact that the Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is made from malted barley and not the standard grains like wheat, rye or maize. The article also mentioned the Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Grain whisky.

The article explains why it is classified as a single grain and not as a single malt. It all has to do with the unusual still set up of Loch Lomond and the continuous still distillation process.

After reading all of this, I had to try this release, and it jumped my tasting schedule to this week. I asked Muzi regarding the differences in the two releases and he confirmed that both have the same mash bill and continuous still process.

The Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is matured exclusively in American oak. It is a NAS release.

Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask Whisky

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Pale gold

NOSE: Sweet and fruity. Notes of fresh ripe fruit and malt. Freshly cut mango and pear drizzled with honey, sugar biscuits, hints of vanilla and bits of lemon.

PALATE: Light and easy drinking. More spice than sweetness. Nutmeg and vanilla with condensed milk. Hints of pineapple, banana and tropical notes together with toffee, oak spice, and pepper. Malty notes. Water brings more sweetness.

FINISH: Short and soft with fruity notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky is the perfect summer dram. Fresh and easy drinking and perfect for a braai (BBQ) and a hot summer’s afternoon. It retails for R290 and is readily available at most liquor shops. I like this release more than the previous one.

I am not sure if it is my taste buds, but it feels like the new release is more rounded and matured. Just delicious. Muzi suggested that in this heat, the Single Grain makes for a great ginger ale high ball.

Another delicious Loch Lomond release that I have tried is the Loch Lomond Steam and Fire single malt whisky and the Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst Whisky that I was fortunate to taste during my trip to Scotland.

Also Read: The Belgian Owl Whisky

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky Review

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/19/2020

In Grain Whisky

Some time ago, I managed to get my hands on a bottle of the Nikka Coffey Grain whisky on one of the whisky auctions. I tasted the Nikka Miyagikyo during 2014 and loved it. So to add another Japanese whisky to my collection, was for me, a great treat. My bottle was distilled during 1992 and bottled in 2007.

Nikka is a subsidiary of the Asahi brewing company. Nikka was founded in 1934 and now owns two distilleries; Miyagikyo and Yoichi. What makes this specific Japanese whisky so interesting is that it is a grain whisky.

Crafted from a mash bill mainly made up of corn with a bit of malted barley added, it’s produced in continuous distillation using a Coffey still. Nikka operates 2 Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery. The Coffey still were imported from Scotland in 1963.

Related Article: Galloway Single Grain whisky

Grain whisky is cheaper and easier to produce than malt whisky. It is made in continuous column stills rather than pot stills. This allows much of the distillation process to be automated and reduces overheads.

The flavours and aromas of grain whiskies tend to be softer and lighter than those of malts whiskies. Because of this, most grain whisky is blended with malt whisky to produce blended whisky. The Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese whisky got a rating of 94,5% in the Whisky Bible.

Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese Whisky Review

The pinkish label makes this bottle stand out from the more traditional whisky bottles in my collection. This bottle is a 1992 Vintage.

COUNTRY: Japan

ABV: 57%

COLOUR: Quite a light gold colour.

NOSE: Sweet with notes of vanilla and oak mixed with cereals and spice. The Nikka Coffey Grain whisky has a complex and layered nose and has great promise.

PALATE: On the palate, this grain whisky is chewy and spicy. There are notes of Wilson Toffee, cake and coffee mingling with the spice and sweetness. The Coffey Grain is wonderfully smooth after adding a bit of water. There are hints of plump fruit, chocolate layered with caramel, coffee cake and wood.

FINISH: This Nikka finish is wonderful. It lingers for the longest time and ends in notes of spice and wood. The finish is rich and layered and perfect for this cold winters afternoon. It warms you up from the inside.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a beautifully smooth, rich and complex grain whisky. Probably the best grain whisky we have tasted this year. Have you tried this Japanese whisky yet? I see that this fantastic Japanese release is still available via Master of Malt.

Other interesting whiskies from Japan that I have tasted include the Nikka from the Barrel, Yamazaki 12 yo, the Suntory Chita whisky as well as the Nikka Miyagikyo.

Also Read: Balblair 2000 Vintage whisky