Category: Whisky of the Week Page 28 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.

Port Askaig 8 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/10/2021

In Single Malt whisky

A year or 2 ago, I noticed a few interesting sounding tasting notes on Twitter. They were for the Port Askaig Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Not too long afterwards, John had lunch at Bottega’s, and Savi brought him a glass of the Port Askaig 8 yo whisky. He loved it and immediately bought me a bottle. I think it is time that I try this bottle.

Port Askaig is a range of single malt whiskies from the Scottish Islay. It is named after Port Askaig, the most accessible port to enter the peaty paradise. The Port Askaig brand was launched in 2009 by London-based Elixir Distillers, a creator, blender and bottler.

Except for Port Askaig, Elixir Distillers’ other core whisky brands are Elements of Islay, and ‘The Single Malts of Scotland’, while it also bottles rum under the Black Tot brand. Elixir also own The Whisky Exchange shop. The Covent Garden shop is one of my favourite places to visit when in London.

All Port Askaig’s whiskies are sourced from existing Islay distillers, usually as fully matured whiskies ready to bottle. The range includes the 8 year old, as well as a 16 year old, a 19 and 30 year old and even a 45 year old whisky.

According to some internet research, the Port Askaig 8 year old whisky is sourced from Caol Ila distillery. The whisky was matured for a minimum of eight years in refill ex-bourbon casks. Port Askaig is non-chill-filtered and is free of added colour.

Also Read: Laphroaig Brodir Whisky

Port Askaig 8 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Lightest pale yellow

NOSE: Big, bold Islay. There is a peaty earthiness, bits of salty seaweed with hints of smoke and a fruity sweetness. Fresh and clean, without the medicinal notes from a Laphroaig or Ardbeg. Bits of vanilla and sweetness.

PALATE: O my word! Soft ash mixed with honey sweetness. Salted caramel balanced with smoke and peat with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. Liquorice, green grass and fresh fruit. All perfectly balanced. Peaty Islay but elegantly wrapped up in a sweetness that is just amazing. None of the fishy medicinal notes, just a unique earthy deliciousness.

No alcohol heat, and we finished the first glass without any water. On the second glass, we added a bit of water. The water highlighted the elegant balance and made the dram even smoother.

FINISH: Long and lingering with a grassy green sweetness and hints of peat smoke.

RATING: DIVINE

John and I looked at each other in wonder. We both were thinking the same thing. It is probably the sweetest (peated) Islay whisky I have ever tasted. But it is perfection! The sweetness is a perfect match for my sweeter palate. It is perfectly balanced with salt and earthiness that do not allow the sweetness to overwhelm.

The Port Askaig 8 year old single malt Scotch whisky is the nicest Islay dram I have tasted in quite a while. This dram might even beat my beloved Big Peat Cape Town Edition. It was that delicious. I will have to do a side by side with the Big Peat to see which one is my favourite.

This dram also made it onto my favourite peated whisky list. You can follow the link to read the article of all the other peated drams that also made it onto the list.

Also Read: How to Start a whisky club

Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21 year old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/03/2021

In Single Malt whisky

John got this bottle of Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21 year old whisky as a gift, and I decided why not. Let’s end this year on an old note. I started this year with the Three Ships PX cask. I will begin next year with the Three Ships Pinotage Cask. But first, I end 2016 on a high note with the Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Glenfiddich is one of three William Grant family-owned distilleries which sit in close to each other to the north of Dufftown. The Glenfiddich distillery is massive and has a capacity of 10 million litres per year, making it one of Scotland’s largest distilleries.

During 2016, the packaging on the Glenfiddich Gran Reserva was re-designed. It re-launched as part of the Glenfiddich core range. The bottle is a broader, thicker version of the classic three-sided bottle used for the younger expressions in the core range. The liquid remains the same as in the earlier releases.

The Glenfiddich Gran Reserva single malt was aged for 21 years and then finished in Caribbean Rum casks for around four months. The rum-soaked casks add warmer and more vibrant flavours to compliment the fruity dram.

Also Read: Glengoyne 21 yo Whisky

Glenfiddich 21 year old Gran Reserva Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43,2%

COLOUR: A dark amber with hints of red in the glass.

NOSE: Rich tropical fruit, lychee, guava and banana mixed with red berry fruits and hints of toffee sweetness along with faint whispers of oak. There is a rich dark note to the nose with a layer of vanilla and cinnamon.

>PALATE: The Gran Reserva starts with pepper spicy and then very quickly turns to fruity deliciousness before evolving into rich toffee and vanilla. A second sip reveals a delicious tropical fruit such as dried mango and banana with hints of oak and fruitcake.

It is rich, complex and chewy! A toffee sweetness hangs around the background. The addition of water opens this whisky up wonderfully, and it becomes smoother and sweeter. It is easy drinking with the traditional Glenfiddich fruitiness enhanced by the rum casks.

FINISH: The finish is brilliant. It is long and lingering and ends in sweet and spicy notes.

RATING: DIVINE

It is a brilliant dram! The flavour development profile and finish of this Glenfiddich 21 year old Gran Reserva whisky ia undoubtedly the highlight. The fruitiness is perfectly balanced with the sweet spices. This dram puts a HUGE smile on my face.

I was planning to end the year on a high note and knew that the Glenfiddich Gran Reserva was excellent, but I did not expect it to be this good! What a finish – both the whisky and the year.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky

Glen Grant Major’s Reserve Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/26/2021

In Single Malt whisky

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The highlight in the yearly whisky calendar is the Whisky Life Festival in Sandton. It is one of the biggest whisky shows in the world. The festival is about meeting up with old friends and making new whisky friends.

The whisky variety to taste is enormous. I try to focus on only a few whiskies that I have not tried before. Otherwise, it just becomes overwhelming.

Last year, I walked into Bernard Gutman, a good friend, at the Glen Grant exhibition. Bernard took the time to introduce me to the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve single malt Scotch whisky. And that is where I spend quite a lot of time. I also tried the Glen Grant 10 year old and the 16 year old whisky.

The 10 yo was nice, and I loved the 16 year old, but it was the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve whisky, that blew me away. I am always on the lookout for affordable quality whiskies. The Glen Grant Major’s Reserve is in the affordable category. The price is around R 300 in South Africa, and it is readily available.

The Glen Grant distillery was founded in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant in the Rothes, Speyside. It is close to the port of Garmouth.

The River Spey and the barley-growing plains are nearby. When the founders passed away, James “The Major” Grant inherited the distillery. He proved to be a worthy successor. The Campari Group purchased Glen Grant in 2005.

Half of Glen Grant’s Scotch whisky production is used as a blending product, notably in Chivas blends. The Glen Grant Major’s Reserve was Inspired by James ‘The Major’ Grant and his innovative lifestyle. It has no age statement and retail in SA for around R250.

Related Article: Glenmorangie Lasanta whisky

Glen Grant Major’s Reserve Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: A pale wheat

NOSE: First thought when opening the bottle is that it smells like a tropical fruit salad. It is rich with spice, banana, green mango and pears. In the background the vanilla and condensed milk balances with hints of fresh flowers and cereals.

PALATE: Summer spice jump out at you. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. However, it is perfectly balanced with malt, fresh apples, pears, toffee and hints of oak. Hints of vanilla sweetness mix with honey. Water smooths out the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve and releases more flowery notes. It is rich and complex.

FINISH: Long and builds to notes of vanilla and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT.

Looking at my collection, this is probably one of the best single malts in the affordable category. This Glen Grant can easily stand up to more expensive single malts. It is easy drinking and rewarding, and you will undoubtedly want a second glass.

Addition: During 2017 I tasted the Glen Grant 12 year old – again because my good friend Bernard introduced us. O my word. What a beautiful release. See my tasting notes of this Speyside dram. I have also tasted the 12 year old Non-Chill-Filtered version and captured all my notes on this release.

Also Read: Glen Moray Classic whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at a whisky from a whisky region that almost disappeared. The Glen Scotia Double Cask single malt Scotch whisky is from Campbeltown.Around a century ago Campbeltown was the most prolific of all of Scotland’s whisky regions.

There were more than 20 distilleries in the small geographic whisky region. It dwindled to just 3. One of the reasons for the decline was the fact that most distilleries in the Campbeltown region had a strong focus on quantity instead of quality.

Thanks to strong international demand, the Campbeltown distilleries could quickly sell their entire output. There was little need to innovate or improve the whisky. Then Prohibition was introduced in the USA, and the demand declined sharply.

Today there are three distilleries in the Campbeltown Region: Springbank, GlenGyle (Kilkerran) and Glen Scotia. Campbeltown whiskies are a mixed bag of flavours. Their characteristics include a dryness with a pungency, smoke and saltiness.

Imagine a cross between the Lowlands and the Western Highlands with a pinch of salt thrown in. Campbeltown sits on the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula protruding from the western coast. Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith and Co and remained in the family until 1919.

It changed ownership various times and spent some years closed down. After years of opening and shutting down, some stability arrived in 2000 when the Loch Lomond Group bought the distillery.

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a single malt, which has no age statement and is matured in oak barrels then finished in a combination of American 0ak barrels followed by time in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

The Glen Scotia Double Cask won a gold medal at the 4th Annual Berlin International Spirits Competition in 2017.

Also Read: Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Campbeltown

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Reddish copper

NOSE: Sweet red berries and rich dark fruits. There are notes of freshness associated with fresh-cut flowers and honey with hints of vanilla. In the background some dark bitter chocolate.

PALATE: More of the red berries and fruity sweetness with burnt toffee sweetness. The Glen Scotia Double Barrel is quite spicy with woody hints and a medium body. Over time the palette changes to mild citrus and black pepper.

Without water, it has a bit of an alcohol burn. Adding a few drops of water softens the burn. However, it feels like the water separates the elements and the fruity sweetness becomes overwhelmed by the pepper spices.

FINISH: Pepper and berries of the forest.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Glen Scotia Double Cask is not the most complex dram, and the peppery nature nearly overwhelms the fruity sweetness. The sherry cask also comes through more noticeable than the bourbon cask. It is a great whisky if you like a more peppery bite. I have a sweet palate and prefer something sweeter and fruity.

However, I wonder how this pepper nature will work with a mature cheese? I suspect, it might make for a great pairing. Hmmm, let me go and experiment again.

Another Glen Scotia release I have tried and liked was the Victoriana as well as the Glen Scotia 15 yo whisky. The Glen Scotia Double Cask was also included in the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting set that I wrote about.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/12/2021

In Blended whisky

Today I look at an affordable brand with a memorable catchphrase. It was also my dad’s every day drinking whisky. So it has been around for quite a while; the Bell’s blended Scotch whisky.

An advert aired in SA round 2014 showed an elderly gentleman in his ambition to learn to read. Throughout the commercial, viewers watch the lead character attend reading classes, spell messages of devotion to his wife using fridge magnets, and play scrabble with his friends.

Ultimately, his motivation is to read the book his son has written. As he gives his son the news he has, at last, read his book, his jubilant son remarks, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

This catchphrase has become part of SA social culture. If someone achieves something extraordinary, people will comment, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

In 1851, Perth based Arthur Bell began to blend various single malts to create a more consistent blended whisky. His two sons, Robert and Arthur, joined the business in partnership in 1895.

By the 1880s, the company was focused on blended whisky. At the end of Prohibition in America, there was a sudden surge in demand, and Arthur Bell & Sons acquired Blair Athol and Dufftown distilleries in 1933.

In 1936 they added the Inchgower distillery to the portfolio. By 1970, Bell’s was the highest-selling whisky in Scotland. Today the brand still has significant market shares in the UK, South Africa, the Nordic countries, Spain and Brazil.

In 1994, an 8 year old age statement was added. It was at a time when there was a surplus of mature Scotch whisky. But in 2008, the supply of mature whisky became a problem, and the age statement was removed.

The Well Known Bell’s Decanter

Bell’s is also known for the ceramic bell-shaped decanters that it released for special occasions such as Charles & Diana’s wedding and Christmas.
There is a Bell’s Special Reserve that is (was) available in SA. Bell’s is a blend of about 40 grain and malt whiskies. It includes whisky from all around Scotland, including Dufftown, Inchgower, Glenkinchie and Caol Ila.

These are all blended with Blair Athol’s malt. Bell’s is a brand of blended whisky initially produced by Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd and now owned by Diageo.

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Amber gold

NOSE: A few alcohol notes that need a few minutes to dissipate. After the alcohol evaporates, there is a fruity sweetness, gentle spice with cereal bits. Hints of shortbread and grain.

PALATE: Not as sweet as the nose. Notes of malt, oak, pepper and apricots. The Bell’s blended whisky has a medium body. Some alcohol heat. A few drops of water soften the pepper and alcohol notes and bring more fruity sweetness to the front. I managed to finish the glass with no trouble. The Bell’s whisky is not the most complex dram, but never the less drinkable.

FINISH: Medium long finish. End in notes of pepper and citrus.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The moment I opened the bottle, it brought back so many memories. There was always a bottle of Bell’s in the house growing up, and it was my dad’s regular drinking whisky. His special occasion whisky was the Chivas or the Dimple. The nose immediately reminded me of his glass of whisky.

Also, when we were sick, my mother would make us a remedy of hot milk with sugar and a shot of whisky. The whisky she used was always the Bell’s, and the moment I tasted it, I had clear memories of drinking it with the hot milk in bed.

It was not as sticky sweet, or harsh as the Black & White whisky I had a few weeks ago; quite drinkable, actually. For the price point, it is not a bad buy. What makes this whisky unique, for me, is all the cherished childhood memories that it brings back.

For that alone, it deserves a place in my whisky collection. In South Africa, this blend retails for around R210 and is widely available.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish whisky