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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.

William Lawson’s Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/29/2019

In Blended whisky

At the end of last year, a few articles on the top-selling whisky brands caught my eye. The one that I was most intrigued with was theTop 10 Blended Whisky’ brands. I mainly collect single malts but have diversified my collection to include quite a few interesting blends and blended malts.

On the -Top 10′ list were a few names that I have noticed in our local bottle store, but never gave a thought. One of these was William Lawson’s blended Scotch whisky.

The bottle is not very premium looking, the branding is stark black and white, and it is in the VERY affordable class.

But it is one of the biggest selling blends in Russia and with over 3,1 million cases sold across the world, I was wondering: am I missing something? William Lawson’s is a blended Scotch whisky owned by the Bicardi Group. I love the Dewar’s whisky, so how bad can this be?

Detail about this whisky is a bit sketchy. William Lawson was born in 1853 or thereabouts. He was an Exports Manager at a spirits company in Dublin. While there, he convinced his employers to name their blended Scotch whisky after him.

He moved between Ireland, Scotland and England. William Lawson’s blended Scotch whisky is produced with a high malt content, similar to the blend was first produced by William Lawson in 1849.

The blend named after him. The bottle mentions that the blend’s heart is the Macduff and Glen Deveron single malt blended with some Highland malts and grains.

Related Article: Black Bottle Old Release Whisky

William Lawson’s Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Very light golden wheat

NOSE: Initial sweetness of grape jelly and preserved grapes. It is followed by toffee and burnt caramel. There is almost a slight cognac note in the background. It’s a not very complex nose. The addition of water seems to bring out some floral notes.

PALATE: After the sweet nose, the spiciness of the palate comes as a surprise. The initial spice is followed up with layers of wood and oak before drifting away into pectin and dried citrus peel. William Lawson’s whisky is a bit rough and unfinished. It is as if the flavour notes haven’t come together properly.

The addition of water transforms the whisky, making it smoother and a bit easier drinking. Gone are most of the spice, but it does bring forward some of the oak and a little bit of a leather flavour.

FINISH: Long and lingering, but not in a good way. It retains an element of raw almost turpentine floating about.

RATING: GOOD

In South Africa, the retail price for the William Lawson blended Scotch is around R180. For R30 more, you can get better drams. If you are looking for a decent whisky – this is a bargain bin drop out.

Instead try something else. However, if you are looking for a bang for your buck, that will not interfere with your mixer’s taste, this will be your whisky.

Also Read: Bell’s Special Reserve whisky

Big Peat 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/10/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

I love what comes out of Douglas Laing. Not only is the packaging for their Remarkable Regional Malts original and fun, but the contents are delicious and exciting. So you can imagine how great my excitement was when I was asked to help Douglas Laing celebrate Big Peat’s 10^th anniversary, by raising a glass of the very special Big Peat 10 year old blended malt Scotch whisky.

Unfortunately, the Sough African Custom Service also had to have their say. My special package only arrived a week after Big Peats’ Anniversary. However, it did arrive, and I am so happy to celebrate 10 wonderful Islay years, even if it is a week or two later.

Douglas Laing is an independent bottler of whisky. They are responsible for some unique blended malts, including Timorous Beastie, Scallywag, and Rock Oyster.

Big Peat was released in 2009 as the first whisky in the Remarkable Regional Malts collection. It is a blended malt that celebrates everything Islay and is peated to about 40 ppm. Big Peat is an energetic Ileach fisherman with a soft side.

He wears a yellow jersey and has regular Christmas releases. There is a Big Peat Cape Town Edition that features a proper South African braai (South African BBQ) as well as a Big Peat 26 yo whisky, the oldest of the lot.

Big Peat 10 yo blended malt whisky contains Islay malt whiskies, including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and even a bit of Port Ellen. It is not chill-filtered and no added colour. This is a limited release edition.

Big Peat 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Lightest wheat

NOSE: Peat, smoke and classic Islay flavours of seaweed, salty air, and iodine. In the background, there are strong hints of soft sweet Dutch liquorice (zacht zoet drop) that take me back to my childhood. Bits of vanilla, green notes, and fruity sweetness.

PALATE: The Islay nose makes way for softer notes of fruity sweetness, hints of cinnamon with gentle peat and smoke. Very unexpectedly, the palate is delicate and soft and wonderfully balanced. Again there is the strong Dutch liquorice notes but with more licorice root (zoet hout). Bits of toasted nuts, sea salt, and tropical fruit. Freshness and green hints.

FINISH: Beautiful and warming, but not overwhelming. Soft peat and fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

One of my favourite treats as a child was when the family from the Netherlands came to visit and brought us some pieces of liquorice root. I have not tasted it for years, but the liquorice notes in the Big Peat 10 year old has brought back such good memories of us chewing on pieces of sweet wood.

This is an excellent whisky for someone new to Islay whiskies. It has the classic Islay notes, but it is at a softer intensity than an Ardbeg or a Lagavulin.

I don’t even know what water does to the dram. I finished it all without even thinking of adding water. You don’t need any water as it is smooth and easy drinking. John described it as a summer Islay, the perfect peaty whisky to drink in summer. Happy 10th anniversary to the big man in the yellow jersey. I am looking forward to 10 more years of smashing Islay drams.

Also Read: Big Peat Christmas Edition whisky

Sample disclosure: I received this sample as part of the 10 year celebration of Big Peat’s release, directly from Douglas Laing. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Rock Oyster Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/27/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

A whisky I have written about before in a twitter tasting, but I think it deserves its own blog post. The Douglas Laing’s Rock Oyster blended malt Scotch whisky is a firm favourite. Rock Oyster was released in 2015 as a blend of single malts from Scottish islands, including Orkney, Arran, Jura and Islay.

And like all the Douglas Laing releases, it has a lovely nautical themed label. The idea behind Rock Oyster was to create a maritime personality that reminds you of sea-salt, sweet peat, smoke, honey and pepper.

This is just the malt to make you miss the Scottish Islands. Rocky Oyster blended malt Scotch whisky is part of the Remarkable Malts range, together with the Scallywag and the Timorous Beastie and Big Peat.

Also Read: Big Peat 26 yo whisky

During 2018, Douglas Laing changed the name from Rock Oyster to Rock Island, which might be a bit more appropriate. However, this is still capturing my tasting notes for the Rock Oyster whisky release. I would love to try the Rock Oyster and Rock Island next to each other, but that will be a blog for another day.

Rock Oyster is a blended malt and is not chill-filtered, naturally coloured with no age statement, and bottled at 46.8%.

Rock Oyster Blended Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46.8%

COLOUR: Golden

NOSE: Peat, medicinal notes and iodine. Hints of smoke with newly cut green grass, hints of fruity sweetness, stormy ocean air.

PALATE: Peat, smoke with bits of summer fruit like peaches and apricots drizzled with caramel sauce. Hints of pepper, vanilla and heather. Delicious ocean character with bits of salt, seaweed and green notes. Big and bold and just delicious. Despite the bold palate, it is easy drinking, and I want a second glass.

FINISH: Wonderfully balanced between the peat and the fresh fruit with pepper. Big and bold, and it goes on forever. Warming you from the inside while you are standing on the windswept cliff.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I love this. It is like comfort food. Not fancy and spectacular, warming, comforting and it hits just the right notes. And at the price point, it is perfect. It has beautiful Islay notes, but they are perfectly balanced with the softer Highland heather and green notes and sweetness from Arran.

I can’t wait to see what the Remarkable Malts Rock Island will be priced at and how it compares to this release. I will do a side by side comparison between the two when the time comes.

Also Read: Bennachie Whisky

Balblair 1990 Vintage Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/06/2019

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am looking at the last of the Balblair miniature bottles that I found in a cupboard at the end of last year. This one is the Balblair 1990 Vintage single malt Scotch whisky release. John Ross founded the Balblair distillery in 1790, and he situated it close to the railway.

This made shipping the whisky easy for the Ross family. Inver House Distillers Limited purchased the Balblair distillery in 1996.

Other distilleries owned by Inver House include the Speyburn Distillery, Knockdhu Distillery, Old Pulteney Distillery and the Balmenach Distillery. Inver House Distillers also own the Hankey Bannister and Catto’s blended whisky brands.

Also Read: Balblair 17 yo whisky

Balblair whisky is bottled in beautiful bottles that stand out in my collection. The design is inspired by the nearly Pictish stone Clach Biorach. The bottles don’t carry age statements but have Vintages – the year that the spirits were distilled. The current vintage at the distillery is the Balblair 2005.

The Balblair 1990 was distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2014 making it a 23 yo. The spirit was matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Oloroso Sherry butts for another 2 years. It has a natural colour and is non-chill-filtered. The price for the Balblair 1990 is around R 1 750 in South Africa.

Balblair 1990 Vintage Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Golden copper

NOSE: Fruity sweetness, vanilla, hints of spice and citrus. Elegant and soft with a wonderful balance between the fruity sweetness and the spice. Bits of dried fruit, florals and soft wood.

PALATE: Plums, toffee apple, citrus fruit, oranges with hints of black pepper. Citrus fruits come through first, followed by honey-covered raisins. There are hints of spicy cloves, nutmeg and dry oak, dried fruit, honey and raisins. A bit of water releases more sweetness, but you only need a few drops.

FINISH: Medium length with hints of citrus and pepper

RATING: EXCELLENT

Every time I try this Balblair single malt release, I notice something else about it. The first time I tried it, it reminded me of a library full of old leather-bound books. Rich and dark. This weekend it reminded me of a fruit orchard in high summer. Overripe fruits, and citrus with honey bees buzzing past. Fresh and elegant. A lovely dram worth sharing with special people.

During 2019, Balblair moved away from their vintage releases into age statement releases. I captured some tasting notes for the Balblair 15 yo whisky as well as for the Balblair 18 yo whisky and a few other of their releases.

Also Read: Tullibardine 1993 Vintage Whisky

Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/29/2019

In Single Malt whisky

An extraordinary tasting this week: The Paul John Mars Orbiter Indian single malt whisky! During this last year or two, this whisky brand from India has taken SA by storm. From being an unknown distillery to being stocked in all the good liquor stores, the Paul John whisky is the one people want to try.

The Paul John Classic Select Cask was one of the best drams I tasted during 2018. I have tasted most of the expressions available in SA and love them all. Michael D’Souza, the Master Distiller, has impeccable taste.

Now and again, the John Distillery also brings out limited releases such as their annual Christmas releases and limited cask finish releases. Thanks to WhiskyShop, a few of these bottles make it to SA for enthusiasts, and I can stock up.

During March, there was a Paul John whisky dinner that I was invited to, but due to family commitments could not attend. I was unfortunate to miss out on tasting more, but Brett from Valotone saved me the last bit of the Paul John Mars Orbiter single malt whisky, and I got a wonderful surprise when the sample arrived at my office.

The Paul John Mars Orbiter Peated is a limited edition single malt whisky which celebrates the successful launch of India’s first interplanetary mission. An Indian space probe to Mars that has also provided observations on Phobos, the Martian moon.

The Mars Orbiter has been orbiting Mars since September 2014 and has sent back incredible pictures of never before seen areas of Mars. It designed mission life was only 6 months, but Orbiter has been circling Mars for 4 years and is still in good health. What a remarkable achievement.

The John Distillery produced only 330 bottles of the Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky in celebration. So it is a very limited edition. This single malt was drawn in the same month that Orbiter was launched. I have a sample from bottle no: 278.

Also Read: Glenfarclas 12 yo Whisky

Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 57.8%

COLOUR: Aged Red copper

NOSE: Bit of alcohol heat. It needs to breathe a bit. Then comes soft peat, fruity sweetness, maple syrup, bits of burnt wood and vanilla. The second sniff brings floral notes. The nose is delicate and elegant.

PALATE: Peat and ash mixed with fruity sweetness, pepper and nutmeg spice. Woody notes balanced with bits of dark chocolate-covered oranges and hints of salt. The peat perfectly balanced with the sweeter fruit notes. But it is not a fishy type of peat such as Lagavulin or Laphroaig. It is a more woody type of peat.

A bit of alcohol heat but add water carefully. Despite the high ABV, just a few drops of water is needed to bring down the heat and bring more sweetness to the front.

FINISH: The finish is like a smoky campfire next door. You can smell the wood burning in the air, but it not overwhelming. Ends on notes of sweetness and peat with bits of pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a special bottling. A fitting release for a special achievement. From the luxurious red box with the gold lettering to the stylish bottle, it is obvious that attention to detail went into every step. Even the bottle top; it feels like it is solid gold, it is heavy and grand.

The whisky and the drinking experience is unique and a celebration. If you are looking for a release with a special story, this is a collector’s item worth having. From what I have heard, the few bottles that did make it to SA got snatched up rather quickly. As I am writing this, only 2 bottles of the Paul John Orbiter remain in retail.

If you are lucky enough to travel via Bangalore, you might also spot a bottle or 2.

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

Also Read: Paul John Nirvana whisky