Category: Whisky of the Week Page 37 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.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/20/2020

In Blended whisky

If you’re a whisky enthusiast like me, you’ve probably journeyed through the Johnnie Walker colour spectrum. Savored the nuanced delights of Blue Label, Green Label, Black, or Platinum Label. But today, I am setting my sights on where it all began, the cornerstone of the Johnnie Walker legacy – the Johnnie Walker Red Label blended Scotch whisky.

In the grand tapestry of whisky history, 1893 marked a pivotal moment when the Walker family acquired the Cardhu distillery. This strategic move was driven by their desire to secure a steady supply for their key whisky brands, including their iconic Old Highland blends.

Fast forward to 1909, and Johnnie Walker embarked on a rebranding journey that would forever change the whisky landscape. During this transformation, the Special Old Highland became known as the Red Label, and the Extra Special Old Highland evolved into the Black Label whisky.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

Since 1945, Johnnie Walker Red Label has held the title of best-selling Scotch whisky worldwide. Its reputation precedes it as a preferred choice for crafting mixed drinks. And in my exploration of this classic, I opted for a more portable companion – the Johnnie Walker pocket Scotch.

This scaled-down version, neatly packaged in a 200 ml plastic bottle, proves ideal for travellers, hikers, and picnic-goers alike. Its resilient design ensures it won’t shatter in your picnic bag, tumble or weigh down your hiking adventure. The convenience extends to the Johnnie Walker Black Label, which also comes in a pocket-sized edition.

The heart of Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch whisky lies in its blend of 30 single malt and grain whiskies. It harmonizes the light, coastal whiskies from Scotland’s eastern shores with the more robust, peaty expressions from the west. A cornerstone of the Diageo portfolio, this whisky carries no age statement.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Honey gold

NOSE:As you bring the glass to your nose, there are gentle notes of fruit, malt, and wildflowers. There’s a hint of greenery, a touch of vanilla, and subtle wafts of smoke. While not the most intricate bouquet, it offers a warm and inviting introduction.

PALATE: The first sip reveals toasted oak and a delightful toffee sweetness, punctuated by wisps of smoke and peat. It boasts a medium body with underlying vanilla undertones and a whisper of pepper and cardamom heat.

Though not excessively intricate, it’s eminently drinkable. A few raw alcohol notes are tempered with a drop of water, which also elevates the malt’s presence.

FINISH:The Red Label has a medium-length finish featuring notes of pepper, pectin, and honey, leaving a pleasant impression on your palate.

RATING: VERY GOOD

In summary, the Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch whisky may not have the complexity and refinement of its siblings. However, as my hubby aptly described, it’s “cheap and cheerful.”

You can rely on its consistent Johnnie Walker signature taste without breaking the bank, making it a perfect companion for crafting cocktails.

Affordability and unwavering quality are the hallmarks of Johnnie Walker Red Label. In South Africa, a bottle will retail for around R240 and India is sells for around ₹ 2,830, making it affordable.

In my quest for exploration, I couldn’t resist a side-by-side comparison with the Black Label whisky to uncover the nuances that set these two releases apart.

Also Read: Royal Challenge Whisky

Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/13/2020

In Blended whisky

2020 – A new year and a new decade. And what better way to start the new decade with than with a proudly South African whisky. My first official whisky tasting notes for 2020 is the Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask whisky.

The Fino Cask Finish is the 4th addition to the Three Ships Whisky Master’s Collection. First came the PX Cask Finish, then the Pinotage Cask Finish and thirdly the 8 yo Oloroso Cask Finish whisky. My favourite thus far was the Pinotage Cask which was my Whisky of the Year 2017.

On the 24th of October 2019, the annual Master’s Collection store was opened online again. This event has become so popular that 90% of the whisky was sold within the first hour.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Elements Sherry

For the Fino Cask release, the whisky was matured for 5 years in ex-American oak, followed by an additional 4 years in ex-Fino sherry casks. From this, Andy hand-selected only 4 barrels to create this expression. It is a limited edition with only 2,940 bottles produced.

The Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Finish is not chill-filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 48.6%. The accent colour on the label is bright green. The green accents are fresh and bright and make the bottle stand out. I love it.

Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky Review

I have bottle 643 of 2840.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 48.6%

COLOUR: Dark Gold

NOSE: Notes of BBQ smoke, stone fruit sweetness with bits of spice. Dried peach and apricot with bits of peat and a tropical hint.

PALATE: Complex and rich. Raisins, soft spices and citrus notes. Hints of smoke and peat balanced with sherry notes and tropical fruit sweetness. Medium body and easy drinking. No need to add water; however, a few drops of water releases a richer dimension on the palate and brings more fruity sweetness forward.

FINISH: Medium length ending in sweetness with hints of pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Very delicious! This release is sweeter than the last 2 Three Ships releases I have tasted. The Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick 6 yo Fino and the Boutique-y Whisky Company 6 yo release both had a more spicy mouthfeel with less fruit.

With this release, there is a more fruit-forward profile again. I love how the Fino sherry shines through. It is a lovely release and probably my next favourite after the Master’s Collection Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish.

I noticed that both the Private Barrel Co 6 yo release and this both have a Fino Cask Finish and during the year, I will certainly do a comparison between the 6 yo and this 9 yo whisky. Pick n Pay also jumped onto the single cask release bandwagon and released a Three Ships Virgin Oak Cask during 2021.

Also Read: Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo Whisky

The Belgian Owl Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/06/2020

In Single Malt whisky

On my whisky journey, I seek to obtain a bottle of whisky from every whisky producing country in the world. I was fortunate to get my hands on a bottle of Belgium single malt – The Belgian Owl single malt whisky.

This single malt is the first to be produced in Belgium. It shows just how whisky creation has expanded around the world.
The Belgian Owl distillery is in the town of Grâce Hollogne, near the city of Liège. Etienne Bouillon and two partners founded the distillery in 1997. The original name of the distillery was Pure.

The barley for the whisky is grown in the fields around Liège, and the malting, mashing and fermentation processes take part in an old converted farm on the city’s outskirts. They filled the first barrel in October 2004.

The first 3 year old single malt whisky was bottled in October 2007 and called Identité. From then, they have grown from strength to strength.

The Belgium Owl Identité whisky is matured for 3 years and then bottled in small batches at a strength of 46% ABV. The ageing takes place in 1st fill bourbon casks. The Belgian Owl whisky is unpeated and not chilled-filtered.

There is a great legend posted on the distillery website that tells how the whisky came by its interesting name.

Related Article: Millstone 8yo French Oak whisky

The Belgian Owl Whisky Review

COUNTRY: Belgium

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: A pale golden yellow. It is one of the lightest coloured whiskies in my collection. It is a medium oily whisky with some slow fingers on the side of the glass.

NOSE: Freshness and sweetness as soon as you open the bottle. There are hints of cereal and oak. The nose is quite subtle with fresh flowers and vanilla. The bourbon sweetness delicately comes through in the background.

PALATE: Quite spicy with floral undertones. There are notes of green grass with hints of lavender flowers floating by. The palate also brings oak and barley, and the bourbon sweetness comes through very subtly. The whisky is creamy smooth and has a medium body.

FINISH: Medium length. It ends in spicy and oak notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

For a 3 year old this Identité is an amazing whisky; one of the better whiskies in this young age group. It is not the most complex whisky, but it is easy to drink and quite spicy. So it should pair quite nicely with some young creamy Dutch cheese.

Unfortunately, the bottle is 50cl volume, which means I will drink this very sparingly, as it is not available in South Africa as yet.

I will be looking out for more expressions from this Belgium distillery when we travel to Europe again. It is a worthy addition to any collection.
The Whisky Bible 2015 chose the Belgian Owl Single Malt ‘64 Months’ as their European Whisky of the Year (Single Malt).

I was fortunate to taste quite a few more of the Belgian Owl whisky and I have captured my tasting notes for the Belgian Owl Passion and the Belgian Owl Evolution Whisky.

Also Read: Glengoyne 17 yo whisky

Balblair 18 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/02/2019

In Single Malt whisky

The last of my tasting notes for Balblair for this year. I have reached the last of my Balblair samples and today I look at the Balblair 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Earlier in the year, I started with the Balblair 12 year old and moved on to the Balblair 15 year old whisky.

The 15 year old was a definite favourite. The Balblair 17 year old is a travel retail release and also delicious but a lot harder to get your hands on. It is worth looking out for it when you travel.

One of the unusual things about this Highland Distillery is the hits of history that stands just outside of the door. There is a Clach Biorach, a four-thousand-year-old standing stone with Pictish carvings on. The new (and older) branding celebrates this stone age artwork and I love the design.

The Balblair 18 year old single malt whisky has been matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts. It is not chill-filtered and has a natural colour. In terms of pricing, the 18 year old retails for around R 1 900 and is available in South Africa through WhiskyBrother Shop.

Balblair 18 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: Creamy toffee and fresh fruit with a hint of warm spices and malt. Freshly baked pastries, toasted oak and sherry sweetness. Lots of sweet ripe fruity sweetness.

PALATE: Ripe summer fruits sprinkled with vanilla sugar and hints of toasted oak. Fresh pineapple, apricot and freshly baked buttery pastry with bits of toasted nuts and cherries. Creamy and full-bodied. Mild spices including nutmeg and pepper. Water releases more fruity notes, but it is so easy drinking that you don’t need to add water.

FINISH: Fruity sweetness with bits of warming spices. Long and lingering

RATING: EXCELLENT

Simply delicious. I enjoyed the Balblair 15 year old tremendously and did not expect the Balblair 18 year old whisky to top it. But this bottling had the perfect balance between fruity sweetness and warming spices. The spiciness in the Balblair is soft and engaging while highlighting the creamy fruitiness and rich malty character of the whisky.

For me, it had a perfect balance. Of all of the four releases that I was fortunate to try, this is the one I want to buy for myself.

Also Read: Dunville’s Three Crowns Sherry Whiskey

Sample disclosure: I received this sample from Balblair. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Deanston 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/25/2019

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at another whisky with a strong SA connection; the Deanston 12 year old single malt Scotchwhisky. The Deanston distillery is situated on the banks of the River Teith in the Scottish Highlands and is part of the Distell Group.

During the 18^th century, a cotton mill was situated just outside the village of Doune in Perthshire. After 180 years, the cotton mill closed. However, all was not lost, and in 1966 it was transformed into a distillery. The first spirit was bottled in 1974. The distillery started using local skills and Scottish grown barley to create their spirit.

The classical architecture of the Mill was one of its best features, and many of the Mill buildings were reused and slightly modified for the distillery. The vaulted warehouse, which was previously the weaving shed, has been recognised as one of the most remarkable surviving Regency buildings in Scotland and is now used to mature the Deanston whisky.

Also Read: Teerenpeli Whisky

Deanston changed ownership a few times, but in 1990 was purchased by Burn Stewart Distillers (which is part of the Distell Group). Distell Group Limited also own Bunnahabhain Distillery as well as Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull.

A big part of the Deanston whisky is used in blends, including Scottish Leader blended whisky. The Master Blender is (was) Dr Kristie Mccallum. (During October 2019 Dr Mccallum moved to Glen Moray.) The Deanston 12 year old whisky is the entry-level of the core range, followed by the Deanston virgin Oak. There are also Distillery exclusives and a few independent releases.

The Deanston 12 year old single malt whisky is aged in ex-bourbon barrels, not chill-filtered and has no added colouring.

Deanston 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Light honey gold

NOSE: Soft, sweet and delicate with notes of cereals, grassy green fields, flowers and orange sweetness. Hints of vanilla, oak and cinnamon. Freshly baked sugar cookies.

PALATE: More spice than what the nose suggests. Dry oak, pepper and nutmeg mixed with water biscuits, vanilla, toffee and orange. Vanilla cookies and orange peel. A few rough edges that soften with the addition of water.

Water also brings sweetness and wood forward. It becomes fruity and easy drinking with a few drops of water. The cereal notes from the nose are still there.

FINISH: Medium length ending in oak, pepper and orange peel.

RATING: VERY GOOD

A soft and sweet Highland 12 year old whisky. From here, it invites you to try more from this Scottish distillery. Not the boldest of drams, but very drinkable and indeed a great whisky to start exploring the Highlands with.

According to some research, the Deanston 12 year old whisky will pair well with cocoa dusted truffles. That sounds like a pairing I should try!

Also Read: Redbreast 12 yo Whiskey