Category: Whisky of the Week Page 22 of 77

Whisky of the Week

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky, bourbon and whiskey from all around the world. Single malts, blends, blended malts, rye and grain whiskey tasted and reviewed.

Paul John PX Select Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/06/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Something sweet to start December on; the Paul John PX Select Cask Indian single malt whisky. Sherry reminds me of December and my Dutch grandmother. During the festive season, she enjoyed a late afternoon sherry on the patio.

They were usually quite sweet, and in my mind, the smell of sherry became associated with Gauteng summer evenings, purple Hydrangeas, bright red Poinsettias and long chats.

When Hector from WhiskyShop gifted me a sample of the Paul John PX Cask whisky, I realised it was the perfect dram to open at the beginning of December and the start of the Festive season. All the sherry to bring back special memories.

Paul John has released two sherry cask single malt whiskies as part of its Select Cask series. These drams were finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks, respectively. Oloroso and PX are just two of the various sherry varietals.

Also Read: Scottish Cousin Whisky

Fino is the driest, PX is the sweetest, and Oloroso falls about in the middle. Oloroso typically has caramel, walnut, and deep fruit notes. I will capture my tasting notes on the Oloroso early next year. Pedro Ximénez is sweeter, and you’ll get flavours like toffee, fig, raisin, and molasses.

Paul John makes use of six-row barley for their whisky. The six-row barley has a higher fibre and protein content when compared to the more traditional two-row barley. More proteins in the barley translate to more fatty acids in the liquid that adds to the whisky’s character.

This Paul John PX Cask whisky was first aged for about 5 years in 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels before spending 2 years in the PX casks. It is a NAS release. The Paul John Pedro Ximénez Cask is not chill-filtered.

Paul John PX Select Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark Copper

NOSE: Sherry sweetness, raisins, dried stone fruit with bits of wood and Christmas Cake. Hints of muscadel wine and ripe plums. Sweet, rich and complex. Delicious!

PALATE: Drying oak with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. The sweetness comes through on the second sip with raisins, dried cherries and bits of dark chocolate. Freshly buttered toast with orange marmalade and black pepper. Toasted nuts and warm bread pudding. A maltiness in the background. Water softens the spices but takes away the complexity. Despite the higher ABV, the Paul John PX Cask does not need any water.

FINISH: Long and lasting with cinnamon and orange peel sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This is a sipping whisky. An after-dinner dram to savour and sip slowly. Especially in winter, this Indian whisky will warm you up from the inside. It is not a whisky for beginners. It is complex and heavy, and you need to take your time with this. Even at a 48% ABV, you don’t need to add water. Rich and delicious, I can’t wait for winter to relax with this dram. A beautiful release.

Other expressions of Paul John whisky include Paul John Nirvana, Paul John Brilliance, Paul John Bold, and Select Cask Classic and Select Cask Peated. The Paul John Pedro Ximénez Select Cask Whisky retails for R 1700. I spotted some at the WhiskyShop.

During my visit to the WhiskyShop, I also spotted the Paul John Christmas Edition. I have tasted this beauty, and it is also a dram worth adding to your festive wish list.

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

Waterford The Cuvée Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/29/2021

In Irish Whiskey

Terroir has been a hot topic in whisky chats again lately, especially since the launch of Waterford The Cuvée Irish single malt whisky. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the Cooladine Edition 1.1 release. This whisky is from Mark Reynier’s new Irish distillery, where the main focus is on the barley.

They meticulously document the barley, the weather, the soil conditions and a host of other factors that influence the growth of the barley.

It makes for fascinating reading for someone who grew up in the city. The barley from each individual farm is distilled separately and allocated to a country. SA has the Cooladine and Knockroe releases.

In 2021, inspired by the terroir of France’s wine-making region Bordeaux, Waterford launched its flagship single malt, The Cuvée Irish whisky. For this release, they applied the same methodology as the famous wine-making region to create something unique. Cuvée is a fancy-sounding word that indicates the liquid, the whisky, is a blend.

Also Read: Teeling Irish Single Malt Whiskey

Head Distiller Ned Gahan blended together 25 individually distilled single farm origins whiskies. These whiskies cover a broad spectrum of natural flavours defined by Ireland’s soils and micro climates.

The whisky is bottled in Waterford’s distinctive blue bottle and features a label designed by Leah Hewson, one of Ireland’s leading visual artists.

Waterford The Cuvée single malt Irish whiskey is a flagship bottling and will be available globally. The cask composition is a big percentage first fill US and virgin US, and also some premium French and Vin Doux Naturel.

Waterford The Cuvée Whisky Review

Waterford The Cuvée single malt is bottled with no chill-filtration and no colouring.

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Gold

NOSE: Honey sweetness, peaches, apricots and white oak. Bits of vanilla, biscuits, with green pine and mixed fruit. Subtle but complex and lovely.

PALATE: Freshly baked oats crunchies (a classic SA cookie) with honey sweetness. Cinnamon and vanilla with bits of creamy chocolate and malt. Fresh summer fruit with cereals and hints of white pepper and lemon. Smooth and drinkable. Water brings more oranges and pectin to the front.

FINISH: The honey and pepper spicy notes alternate in the finish. Bits of drying oak and lemon. Clean and fresh.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Layered and complex and even at 50% ABV, it is very drinkable without water. Add water carefully as it brought a lot of pectin to the forefront. The malty and honey notes were very similar to the Cooladine release I tasted not so long ago. An exciting release to have in your collection, especially if you like something novel.

The beautiful blue bottle stands out on the shelf. It is now available in South Africa through Navigate World Whisky, and it retails for around R1 495.

Also Read: Dunville’s PX Cask 12 yo Whiskey

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky sample from Navigate World Whisky. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/22/2021

In Bourbon whiskey

Woodford Reserve, a celebrated brand of small-batch Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey, holds a cherished place in the heart of bourbon aficionados. It’s a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the oldest distillers in the Kentucky county.

This iconic bourbon’s history traces back to 1797 when Elijah Pepper, a visionary distiller, began crafting small quantities of whiskey and erected a distillery.

Following Elijah’s passing in 1831, his son Oscar Pepper assumed the distillery’s reins, leading to its rebranding as “The Oscar Pepper Distillery.” Oscar Pepper’s profound decision was to enlist the expertise of Dr. James Crow as the head distiller.

Dr. Crow, a Scottish physician and chemist, revolutionized bourbon production with his advocacy for the sour mash fermentation process, a cornerstone of Woodford Reserve’s excellence.

After changing ownership several times and languishing in disrepair, Brown-Forman Corporation acquired the distillery in 1993, meticulously restoring it to operational glory. In 2003, they christened it “The Woodford Reserve Distillery,” signifying its renaissance.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey officially graced the market in 1996, bearing a legacy that stretches back centuries. Notably, in 1995, the distillery secured a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, it earned the prestigious designation of National Historic Landmark.

Woodford Reserve’s secret lies in its mash bill, which features a higher rye content than many competitors. The mash bill comprises 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malt. It’s also triple distilled and enters the barrel at its lowest proof, allowing it to mature for at least six years.

Aside from the flagship Woodford Reserve bourbon, the distillery offers a range of options, including Woodford Reserve Rye, a malt whiskey edition, and a wheat edition. One standout is the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon, which promises a sensory journey.

Related Article: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 43.2%

COLOUR:A dark copper and described by some as a honey amber. It is a very oily whiskey.

NOSE: The nose entices with honey sweetness, apricots, and underlying hints of oranges, mingling with the richness of condensed milk, vanilla, dark chocolate, and subtle spices.

PALATE: The palate features oak and sweetness balanced with peach, ripe cherries, and a touch of cinnamon spiciness. Tangy winter fruits and vanilla intertwine with toffee sweetness, creating a rich, buttery, and impeccably smooth mouthfeel. Full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in notes of sweet spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey strikes the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, complemented by the subtle allure of toasted oak. It’s an easy-drinking, affordable choice that appeals to seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers.

One of my personal favourites, it pairs beautifully with various foods, like pizza, enhancing the dining experience. It it also an excellent foundation for crafting classic cocktails, such as the timeless Old Fashioned.

If you’re eager to explore more about the world of whiskey, I’ve embarked on a series where I compare different whiskies to highlight their unique strengths. The inaugural comparison delves into the distinctive qualities of Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. Discover their differences and my recommendations for when to savour each release.

Additionally, I’ve conducted a side-by-side comparison between Gentleman Jack and Woodford Reserve, shedding light on their merits. Woodford Reserve is an ideal candidate for these comparative tastings, as I’ve also compared it against Bulleit Bourbon, offering insight into how these bourbons stack up against one another.

Also Read: Jack Daniel’s vs Gentleman Jack Tennessee whiskey

Waterford Cooladine Edition 1.1 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/08/2021

In Irish Whiskey

Two weeks ago, I wrote about my first real-life whisky tasting with the Joburg Whisky Club and Candice Baker from Navigate World Whisky. We tasted quite a few delicious drams, including the Linkwood 8 yo whisky. Another delectable release that I tried that evening and promptly went out to buy was the Waterford Cooladine Edition 1.1 Irish single malt whisky.

Terroir has been a controversial word in the whisky industry for many years. In 2015, Mark Reynier started his Waterford Distillery project to experiment and fully understand the concept of terroir in whisky.

The Waterford Distillery is located in a converted former Guinness brewery in the southeast of Ireland. Mark was previously at Bruichladdich, where he started experimenting with the concept, but Waterford allowed him to explore it more extensively.

Terroir is how a particular region’s climate, soils and aspect (terrain) affect the taste of the food. The dominant belief in the whisky industry is that wood makes the whisky. Maturation in oak barrels is often attributed to providing 70% or more of a whisky’s flavour. However, at Waterford, the focus is on the barley.

The distillery works with 72 Irish farms, all located in the same region as the distillery. The barley is grown in 19 different soil types and everything is meticulously documented in a digital logistical system. Each farmer’s crop is harvested, malted, fermented and finally distilled separately. Effectively, this creates 40 different new-make spirits each season.

Also Read: Dunville’s PX Cask 12 yo Whiskey

Cooladine Single Farm Origin Whisky

The single farm origin whisky is then allocated per country. Only Waterford Cooladine and Knockroe barley is used in the limited edition whisky for South Africa. The back of the bottle has a code.

When you enter this into the Waterford website, it tells you every possible thing you could ever want to know about where the whisky and the environment the barley was grown in.

The land farmed by brothers William and Pat Doyle at Cooladine in County Wexford stands close to old Quaker burial grounds west of the River Slaney. These free-draining, fertile fields derived from the famously productive Clonroche soils are shingle to clay-rich marl, mainly from the Ordovician shale bedrock.

Barley variety: Overture barley
Yeast Type: Mauri Distillers yeast
Harvested: 16 August 2015
Maturation period: 4 years, 28 days
Bottled: November 2020
No of bottles: 5,076 bottles

Waterford Cooladine Edition 1.1 Whisky Review

However, it is not only the terroir that is important. Waterford Distillery also focuses on the wood policy, using only American and French oak to age their spirit in.

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Golden liquid sunset

NOSE: Grain sweetness, green barley, freshly cut pine wood with toffee and red apples. Subtle and elegant. Bits of spice with hints of pepper and cloves.

PALATE: Summer spices with ginger and coriander. Condensed milk and vanilla custard with bits of black pepper and barley. Lovely smooth, and balanced. Hints of sultanas, toffee and lemon. Smooth and balanced. Water smooths out the alcohol heat and makes it a bit lighter drinking. Oily with a full body mouthfeel.

FINISH: Honey sweetness with malt.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Waterford Cooladine Edition 1.1 single malt is a delicious all year round whisky. Complex enough to be momorable, but still easy to drink. It has the sweetest finish I tasted in a whisky in a long time. The initial palate is quite spicy, then the sweetness moves forward and continues on the finish. Perfect for my sweet palate.

In SA, it retails for around R 1 495, and I bought mine from Navigate World Whisky. I can’t wait for the Cooladine 2.1 Edition to be released to compare them next to each other.

Also Read: Redbreast 12 yo Whiskey

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.