Category: Whisky of the Week Page 26 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.

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Review

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/26/2021

In Blended whisky

Continuing my exploration of budget whisky blends and today, I look at the very popular J&B Rare Blended Scotch whisky. It is another well known and affordable release from Diageo.

In 1749, Giacomo Justerini fell in love with an opera singer, Margherita Bellini, and followed her to London. He was the son of an Italian master distiller and brought with him various recipes for liqueurs.

In England, Bellini introduced him to George Johnson and together, they established the wine merchants Johnson & Justerini. In 1760, Justerini sold his part of the business to Johnson and went back home to Italy.

Johnson and subsequently his family continued to grow the business. In 1831, Johnson’s family sold the company to Alfred Brooks. The firm was renamed Justerini & Brooks.

Seeing the potential of blended whisky, J&B was one of the first London spirits merchants to buy up malt whisky stocks and create its own “house” blend.

In the early 1930s, J&B Rare Scotch whisky was developed to appeal to the American palate and as a chief rival to another new-style blended Scotch; Cutty Sark. The American market loved the blend, and over time it became one of the best-known budget blends in the world.

J&B whisky is a blend of 42 malt and grain whiskies. It includes single malts from Knockando, Auchroisk and Glen Spey. It is a NAS release, and in South Africa, it retails for around R 190. On Amazon it retails for around £26.

Other releases in the J&B whisky portfolio include the J&B Jet, J&B Reserve and the J&B Urban Honey liqueur.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Grain sweetness, alcohol notes with malt and wood. Delicate hints of fruit salad sweetness. Not very complex.

PALATE: Drying oak and malt with caramel sweetness and hints of vanilla. Raws alcohol notes on the palate, which makes the dram rather rough. Water softens the alcohol notes but brings forward pepper and bitter lemon.

FINISH: Medium length with oak and bitter lemon.

RATING: GOOD

The nose has a very distinctive grain sweetness that reminds me of my university days. We could not afford anything more expensive, and we mixed the J&B whisky with some Appletiser. John used to drink this with lemonade at university. A reasonable whisky to use in cocktails.

I find that it has a cloying sweetness and too many rough alcohol notes. The bitter lemon finish is also a bit off-putting. I need to do a budget whisky side by side review to see where this fits in with the other affordable drams I have tried this year. It is not my favourite.

Also Read: Vat 69 Scotch Whisky

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It is one of the bottles that have been in my collection for ages. I keep on drinking it but never writing about it. So, with the Laphroaig Distillery 200th anniversary during 2015 and before I finish this bottle, I decided that it is time to write down my tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Laphroaig is named after Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of Islay. Donald and Alexander Johnston established the distillery in 1815. Members of the Johnston family mainly ran the distillery.

There was a short spell where Donald Johnston died after falling into a scalding kettle and for a period the manager of Lagavulin, Walter Graham, ran Laphroaig. Lagavulin is only a short distance from Laphroaig.

Laphroaig returned to Johnston’s hands again in 1857. In 1954, Ian Hunter, a nephew of Sandy Johnston died and left the distillery to one of his managers. After this, the distillery changed hands a few times and ended up as part of the Beam Suntory brands in 2014.

The Laphroaig flavour is recognised worldwide and comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed on the distillery’s maltings floor.

Laphroaig is celebrating 200 years of making whisky on Islay in 2015. They released the very entertaining #OpinionsWelcome campaign. You can also go to their website and add your Laphroaig opinion.

The Laphroaig Quarter Cask was released in 2004. This expression is first aged in the standard oak casks and then transferred to smaller quarter casks for a further period. Due to the smaller barrels used, the oak surface whisky contact is more significant than with standard barrels.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: A beautiful gold

NOSE: This is a classic Islay malt and epitomizes the Laphroaig style. Burnt peat, seaweed and iodine come to the front. Mild smoke and a surprising hint of spicy sweetness. The typical medicinal notes are floating in the background. A bold, rich, and complex aroma.

PALATE: It’s a perfect dram at the end of a long and hard week. There are notes of peat, smoke and some seaweed floating about. Hints of iodine, citrus and honey. In the background lurks some oak, liquorice and fruity notes. The palate feels rich and thick, befitting a proper Islay whisky.

The addition of water makes the Quarter Cask smoother and softens the medicinal notes. Water brings out more of the ashy notes; however, the dram remains big and bold.

FINISH: It’s long, and it’s lingering, and it’s complex. It changes from peat to sweet to spicy. Nevertheless, it leaves you with a warm feeling in your stomach. Long after you’ve swallowed, the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is still serenading you with its brilliance.

RATING: EXCELLENT

When you had a long hard week, and you want to sit back and relax with a complex dram that will take your mind off the drama, this Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay whisky is the perfect dram. It is the embodiment of the Islay style. Rich, big, bold, peaty in your face wonderful.

I have tried various Laphroaig’s and captured tasting notes as follows:

I have done a side by side comparison between the Laphroaig 10 year old and the Quarter cask whisky to see how they differ.

Here is my Laphroaig Quarter Cask #OpinionsWelcome version; What is yours?

Aerstone Land Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/12/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Last week I looked at the Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old single malt whisky, and this week I explore more of the Aerstone Land Cask single malt Scotch whisky and look at the Ailsa Bay Distillery. A new distillery to my blog

The Aerstone range has two distinct styles of whisky. The Sea Cask is a Speyside style single malt matured near the Ayrshire coast. The counterpart is the Aerstone Land Cask. These expressions from William Grant & Sons aim to capture two different flavour profiles from Scotland in an approachable aged whisky.

Ailsa Bay is in the Scottish Lowlands, on the Clyde coast, looking out towards Arran. It was built in 2007 within the Girvan grain complex where the dismantled Ladyburn distillery once stood. It has eight stills to create a wide variety of styles.

Also Read: Littlemill 25 yo whisky

This allows the distillery to produce a broad range of styles. This flexibility gives master blender Brian Kinsman the scope to test innovative ideas by isolating and controlling some aspects throughout the production process.

Much of the unseated malted from Ailsa Bay is used in Grant’s and Clan MacGregor blended whisky. Ailsa Bay also produce peated whisky; its first official bottling as a single malt was a NAS heavily peated whisky released in 2016.

The Aerstone Land Cask single malt Scotch whisky was peat dried malt using Highland peat and matured for 10 years at warehouses situated slightly inland. In South Africa, it retails for R360 and is widely available.

Aerstone Land Cask 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Earthy mossy notes with peat, smoke and vanilla. There is a marmalade sweetness in the background mixed with crème brulee. Richer and bolder than the Sea Cask.

PALATE: Nicely balanced between sweet and smoky notes, with peat and smoke mixed with burnt sugar and dark orange chocolate. Heathery kind of peat with drying oak and warming pepper. Medium body. Not quite as sweet as the nose suggested. Bits of vanilla and cinnamon. Add water carefully; too much water drowns out the peaty goodness quite quickly.

FINISH: Bold and rich with notes of pepper, peat and brown sugar.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Land Cask whisky is delicious, unpretentious and accessible. The peat is rich and nicely balanced, but water can easily overwhelm the flavour. It is a beautiful introduction to peat for a newbie. Both are excellent, but I enjoyed the Land Cask more.

The Aerstone Sea Cask is a summer dram. The Land Cask is perfect for a winter afternoon. It is an affordable everyday single malt whisky that hits all the right peaty notes. However, it is not a dram I would use in cocktails.

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

Also Read: Glenfiddich 12 vs Glenlivet 12 yo Whisky

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/05/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I was chatting to Steven Saunders, the William Grant Prestige Meta Manager in SA, and he mentioned that they are bringing in more of the Aerstone whisky releases into SA. I have seen a few comments regarding the Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Single Malt Scotch whiskyand Land Cask whisky on social media but have not tried them.

William Grant launched Aerstone whisky in the UK in September 2018. The range consists of the Aerstone Sea Cask and Land Cask, both 10 year old single malt whisky releases. These whiskies aim to simplify the traditional language’ associated with single malt Scottish whisky.

The Aerstone Sea Cask whisky is a Speyside style single malt matured near the Ayrshire coast. The Aerstone Land Cask is a peated malt produced using Highland peat and matured at warehouses situated slightly inland.

The distillery is not named, but it is safe to assume that it is from the Ailsa Bay distillery in the Lowlands. These Aerstone expressions aim to capture two different flavour profiles from Scotland in an approachable, aged whisky.

This week I will explore the Sea Cask, and next week I will chat more about the Aisle Bay distillery and the Land Cask. The Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old single malt is described as ‘smooth and easy’.

William Grant remains one of the few family-owned spirits brands in the world. It is the third largest producer of Scotch whisky. The company have a number of brands including Monkey Shoulder, Grant’s, Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Aside from whisky, William Grant also produces Sailor Jerry rum, Hendrick’s gin and Drambuie liqueur.

Also Read: Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Gold

NOSE: Honey sweetness, vanilla with lots of floral notes. Green grass and fresh-cut flowers mixed with bits of toffee, freshly baked shortbread and hints of oak. Sweet and malty.

PALATE: Medium body with notes of sweetness, vanilla biscuits, and light oak and nutty notes. Hints of flowers and grass. A lovely, delicate and smooth dram that is not too complex. It is unpretentious and drinkable. Quite sweet and perfect for the newbie and someone with a sweeter palate.

However, add water carefully. The delicate notes quickly disappear with the addition of water. The Sea Cask is drinkable without water or just a drop or 2. When you add too much water, it brings forward the lemony pectin notes.

FINISH: Short and sweet with honey sweetness, lemon pepper and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It isn’t the most complex single malt you will encounter, but the Sea Cask is a delightfully smooth, easy-drinking dram. I was expecting the Aerstone Sea Cask to have more of a salty, peaty character. However, it is just as described, smooth and easy drinking. It is an uncomplicated drink you can sip the whole afternoon.

A deliciously moreish lighter style of whisky at a very affordable R360. Compared to other 10 yo single malts, this is an excellent price. Looking online at other single malts, the Glen Grant 10 year old is priced at R 530, and the Highland Park 10 yo at R540.

This low price puts the Sea Cask whisky in a highly accessible category for new single malt consumers and is even affordable when compared against some blends. Certainly worth a try!

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

Also Read: anCnoc Peatheart Whisky

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/28/2021

In Rye Whiskey

It is time for a rye whiskey again, and this week I feature Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey. The distillery was founded by John Shenk in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, in 1753 and known as Shenk’s. In the mid-1800s, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger bought the distillery, and the name changed to Bomberger’s.

After changing hands many times during the subsequent years, it landed up in the hands of Louis Forman, who co-owned the distillery with Charles Everett Beam. Louis created the Michter’s brand name by combining his sons’ names, Michael and Peter.

Sadly, the distillery closed in 1989 due to bankruptcy. After filing for the abandoned Michter’s trademark in 1997, Joseph Magliocco and Richard Newman resurrected the Michter’s brand. The brand re-launched as a Kentucky-sourced brand in the early 2000s.

Every Michter’s Rye is from a single barrel, so there might be taste differences between the different bottlings. I have a bottle from barrel 16F471.

The Michter’s Rye is made from select American rye grain that is sheared to maximize flavour extraction from the grain.

Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51% rye and includes some corn and malted barley. It is a NAS release.  Other releases from this brand include the Michter’s Sour Mash whiskey and the Michter’s bourbon.

Also Read: Arbiki Highland Rye

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 42.4%

COLOUR: Caramel honey

NOSE: Rich and enticing. Butterscotch, dry wood, spicy rye notes with bits of creamy vanilla and a hint of something fruity. Big, bold and just lovely.

PALATE: An outstanding balance of spicy and sweet. Cinnamon and pepper followed by vanilla and sweet cherries. Bits of orange with dry oak and rye spices. Adding water brings more of the cherry notes forward. Creamy and smooth, and I had to pour another glass. This bottle will probably not see the end of winter.

FINISH: Long and warming with hints of peppercorns, tobacco and cinnamon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

WOW! What a delicious, creamy rye! It is bold and easy to drink. I am not the biggest rye whiskey fan, but this will be on rotation during the winter. The balance between the spice and the sweetness just worked faultlessly.

It has enough sweetness for my sweet palate without being overly sugary. John loved it too, which means the spicy notes worked for his more spicy preference. Just lovely.

Now to get my hands on the Michter’s bourbon to also add to my collection.

Also Read: JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky