Category: Whisky of the Week Page 45 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.

Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/18/2018

In Single Malt whisky

A couple of weeks ago, The House of Fine Whisky at Checkers unveiled its latest addition. Something exceptional. A Proudly South African release. The Checkers Private Barrel Co. frequently makes an appearance here on my blog.

The Private Barrel Co No. 41 and Private Barrel Co no 68 is a firm favourite in my house, and their Distillery releases always promise something unusual. They have even released a Private Barrel Co no 108 – a 3 yo Irish whiskey.

This is the first South African whisky to join the exclusive Private Barrel Co. collection of whiskies. And it is a single malt from the award-winning James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington.

The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky a slightly peated single malt that spent its first 3 years in older American oak, followed by 3 years in a seasoned Fino cask. During the beginning of 2017, the Checkers team got the approval to go ahead with the project.

On the 23rd of August 2017, they made the selection, and it has been released into the trade during June 2018. I have a suspicion that by the end of August 2018, this release will have sold out.

Only 677 bottles of the Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask is available, so this whisky is set to become a collector’s item. Fortunately, I managed to get my hand on two bottles, 1 to taste now and 1 to keep for a special occasion.

All the bottles carry the signature of master distiller Andy Watts who was recently awarded the 2018 Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky World Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year award.

Another thing worth noting: This is the highest ABV to ever come out of the James Sedgwick Distillery. Both the Three Ships PX Cask and the Three Ships Pinotage Cask was bottled at 46.2% and the Three Ships 10 yo is bottled at 44.6%. So this 54.6% ABV is rather respectable.

James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask Whisky Review

This is bottle 112 / 677

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 54.6%

COLOUR: Deep mahogany, a similar colour than the Aberlour A’Bunadh whisky.

NOSE: A basket of mixed fruit berries (berries of the forest or in Dutch, bosbessen). Blackberries, juicy cherries and blueberries. Brandy soaked raisins. Sweetness floating in the background. Hints of creme brûlée with the faintest hint of cinnamon.

PALATE: The palate is spicier than the nose suggested. Rich chocolate cherry flavours with cinnamon and bit of vanilla. It’s chewy and delicious. The spice is not overwhelming, but warming and beautiful. The mouthfeel is creamy, and there is this suggestion of lightly toasted macadamia nuts.

The addition of water transforms this and releases more of the sherry sweetness. It’s chewy, delicious and fun drinking. Easy on the palette and super smooth.

FINISH: The finish is a little short, but that could be me just being super greedy on not wanting this pleasant taste to end. There are notes of light pepper and fruity berries with a nutty flavour.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a beautiful whisky. Perfectly balanced, rich and satisfying with a very decent ABV. This release shows why Andy is one of the top Master Distillers in the world. And I know that there are more where this comes from. This is a limited release that is probably flying off the shop floor. If you have not got your hands on this, go quickly.

Pick n Pay also jumped on the single cask band wagon and released a Three Ships Virgin Oak bottling.

Comparing the Three Ships 10 yo PX Cask and the James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask Whisky

My ‘official’ Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask tasting happened on Friday, as usual. However, Saturday afternoon, while sitting next to the braai keeping an eye on the World Cup Soccer Iceland vs Argentina game, we decided to try a side by side comparison.

We did a blind tasting in my green Ardbeg glasses. The 6 yo Fino is so much darker than the PX Cask, and these were the only glasses I have that could hide the colour difference.

Even on a blind tasting, these two whiskies are so different – its unbelievable. Both from the same distillery, both finished in sherry, but two very different drams. A Pedro Ximénez sherry versus a Fino sherry.

The Three Ships PX cask has more spice, peat and smoke with light fruit cake notes. The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask is sweeter with soaked Christmas pudding notes and a more woody finish. Both delicious and very difficult to choose a favourite.

These beautiful drams are a great testament to the craftsmanship of a world-class Master Distiller. A skill that needs to be celebrated. How special would it be if Distell could celebrate the 5th consecutive Gold medal in the New York International Spirits Competition for Bain’s whisky and release some of the older casks (such as the 15 yo Bain’s release) as a limited release?

Or celebrate their Master Distiller winning the Top Icon of Whisky Master Distillers Award by releasing a few more of his extraordinary creations as limited editions. We can but hope!

Also Read: Mackinlay’s Whisky

Glenfiddich Project XX Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/11/2018

In Single Malt whisky

During the beginning of 2018, I tasted the Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky and wrote my own tasting notes about it. This release was the first in Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series and I loved it. The second release in this series is the Glenfiddich Project XX single malt Scotch whisky and many people had opinions about this release.

Glenfiddich XX started as a project shrouded in secrecy. Malt Master Brian Kinsman invited 20 Glenfiddich brand ambassadors from 16 countries around the world to the Glenfiddich distillery in Scotland. No one knew what they were about to do. Each person was given free rein to explore the warehouse and select any cask that intrigued them.

The 20 chosen casks were then married together by Brian Kinsman, the Glenfiddich Malt Master. The final 20 selected malts, matured in everything from aged malts matured in port pipes to old sherry butts and virgin oak bourbon casks.

I got a lot of feedback on the blog post and the tweets, so I ran a poll in Instagram asking people which of these two releases are their favourite.

It was clear that the Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX whisky was considerably more popular, so I had to add this to my tasting list and capture the tasting notes.

Also Read: The Balvenie Single Barrel whisky

The XX stands for 20, representing the 20 ambassadors that took part and the thumbprint on the bottle is an amalgamation of the twenty ambassadors’ thumbprints.

Interestingly, both Glenfiddich Experimental series IPA and Glenfiddich Project XX single malt will be permanent additions to the Glenfiddich range; they are not limited editions. Both the IPA and XX is non-chill-filtered and bottled at an unusual 47% ABV.

Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX Whisky Review

ABV: 47%

COLOUR: Amber

NOSE: Ripe Golden Delicious apples, dark stone fruits and spice with hints of fresh flowers. Some vanilla and oak are floating about. Not the most complex nose.

PALATE: Fruity sweetness and spice. Hints of dried citrus, dry grass and wood dust. Bits of cinnamon and vanilla. Adding water softens the citrus and the spice somewhat.

FINISH: Oak and dry lemon peel.

RATING: GOOD

I find this a confusion dram. It is as if it is trying to be too many things. It is an unusual concept and makes for great publicity and an interesting story. The bottle is beautiful and classic. However, the spirit in the bottle is trying to be too many things all at once.

For me, it is a riot of unbalanced flavours. I found it stuffy and dusty with very few of the beautiful sweet fruit notes that Glenfiddich is known for.

Probably not the most popular opinion, but I prefer the Glenfiddich IPA cask miles above this Glenfiddich Project XX release. I bought the two bottles at the same time, and my IPA bottle is nearly empty. This one might take a few years.

Also Read: Glenfiddich 18 yo whisky

Slaughter House Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/04/2018

In Bourbon whiskey

I love to explore the artwork on bottles. Many of the wine producers have re-invented their old fashioned, standard labels into works of art to stand out in a crowded market place. Especially in the last couple of years, there has been an explosion of striking and fun labels.

Whiskey is slowly changing too, from the more traditional labels to fun and colourful labelling. Leading this change is the beautiful labels on the Douglas Laing Remarkable Malt releases including Timorous Beastie and Scallywag whisky and the beautiful labels coming out of Japan. Filled with flowers and soft colours, they stand out in between the dark traditional whisky labelling.

A few weeks ago, I found a bottle of whiskey from the USA with a colourful and striking label (and name). The Slaughter House American whiskey is a newish entrant to the SA whisky market, and I added a bottle to my collection. After reading a bit more about the Splinter Group (owner of Slaughter House), I noticed a wine connection.

A casual conversation between the Wilkinson family and renowned winemaker, Dave Phinney sparked an idea to mellow whiskey in seasoned wine barrels. Dave Phinney, the founder of Orin Swift Cellars in Napa Valley, California, is a very well known name in the USA’s wine and spirit industry. And so The Splinter Group started.

The Slaughter House label shows a butchers meat cleaver with a white backdrop. This image invokes a murderous intention similar to an old school slasher movie. Slaughter House American whiskey was released in 2015 and followed its first product, Straight Edge bourbon.

Also Read: Koval Bourbon

Slaughter House American Whiskey Review

The Slaughter House mash bill comprises 85% corn, 8% wheat, 6% rye and 1% malted barley. The whiskey spends 9 years in American oak before being finished in Orin Swift Cellars’ Papillon barrels (French oak barrels). It gives it a distinct Bordeaux barrel finish.

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 44%

COLOUR: Dark copper

NOSE: Vanilla, cinnamon and honey with hints of oak. The nose is rich and sweet and inviting and promises a sweet experience.

PALATE: The intense sweetness and vanilla do not translate into the palate. There are notes of hot pepper spices, stone fruit and oak with hints of honey. In the background, crumbs of buttered toast with marmalade. Medium body with lots of lemon pepper.

FINISH: Black lemon pepper with hints of sweetness.

RATING: GOOD

The nose was lovely and promised vanilla and sweetness, but left me with lemon black pepper overwhelming everything else in the end. It was so spicy that I did not finish my glass. I read quite a few reviews on this and was expecting a lot more. I don’t know if I have a defective bottle, but this bottle might be in my collection for quite a while.

Looking at my previous notes, I found another American whiskey that I have tried, the McCarthy’s single malt whiskey from Oregon. See my thoughts on this young release.

The range also includes Whip Saw rye whiskey and Partner Sweet Vermouth. Slaughter House American whiskey was awarded a Gold Medal and Best in Class at the 2015 Whiskies of the World competition.

Also Read: Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon

Johnnie Walker King George V Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/28/2018

In Blended whisky

A month or so ago, I saw a very exclusive cocktail that the Maxim Lounge at the Davinci hotel makes. This extraordinary cocktail makes Johnnie Walker King George V blended Scotch whisky the main attraction. It made me realize, I have a bottle of King George V at home, and it is open. I have never written about it, and it is time.

We opened this exclusive Johnnie Walker bottling to celebrate the birth of our daughter. After struggling to have a baby, this bottling seemed a fitting release to open in celebration. John and I have enjoyed a small glass of this whisky every year on her birthday. She turned seven not too long ago, and I better write about this bottle quickly before we finish it.

The Johnnie Walker King George V is presented in a beautifully packaged box. The cap is heavy and engraved and the whole presentation of this bottle is regal and beautiful.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky

John Walker started his empire in his grocery business with a single small shop in 1820. Just over a century later in 1934, John Walker & Sons was awarded a Royal Warrant by King George V.

By then, Johnnie Walker was already well on its way to becoming the world’s most popular Scotch Whisky. This Johnnie Walker King Georg V celebrates the granting of the Royal Warrant. It is created using whiskies from distilleries operating during George’s 25-year reign (1910 – 1936), some of which, like the famed Port Ellen, no longer exist.

Other distillery stock used in the blend includes Cardhu whisky and Lochnagar. They are blended together to reflect the distinctive Johnnie Walker style of the era. The Johnnie Walker King George V whisky was named Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition 2015.

Johnnie Walker King George V Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: Rich berry fruit and Christmas pudding with hints of spice and vanilla. Sweetness and caramel are floating about. The nose is complex but subtle at the same time.

PALATE: Winter spice and oak notes mixed with pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bits of honey and toffee, but not as sweet as the nose suggested. The second sip brings some citrus peel to the forefront. Faint hints of vanilla lurk somewhere. The addition of water adds smoothness. It takes some of the spice and citrus peel away and brings out more butterscotch and vanilla notes.

FINISH: Hints of nuts balanced with spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The price for a bottle of Johnnie Walker King George V blended whisky is around R8 000 in South Africa. It’s smooth and easy drinking – but maybe I expected more for this price. I think for the price and presentation, I expected a little more. It lacks the uniqueness and depth that I was looking for.

It is not the most complex release. Regardless, this Johnnie Walker King George V whisky will always have a very special place in my heart. It was the bottle I celebrated my only daughter’s birth with. And hopefully, it will last until she turns 18.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Gold Label whisky

Powers John’s Lane Irish Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/21/2018

In Irish Whiskey

I am trying an Irish whiskey today, something from the Midleton Distillery; the 12 yo Powers John’s Lane Irish whiskey. In 1791 James Power, an innkeeper from Dublin, established a small distillery at his public house.

In 1822 it was renamed John Power & Son and had moved to new premises at John’s Lane. Production grew exponentially, and so did the prominence of the Powers family.

In 1841, John Power, grandson of the founder was awarded a Baronet title. From its humble beginning, the distillery grew to a facility with an output of about 900 000 gallons annually during the 1880s. The distillery covered over 6 acres of central Dublin and had a staff of about 300 people.

The last member of the Powers family to sit on the board was Sir Thomas Talbot Power, who died in 1930, and with him the Power’s Baronetcy. However, ownership remained in the family until 1966.

Also Read: Jameson Caskmates Whiskey

During the 1960s the Irish whiskey landscape went through changes. The whiskey industry was struggling during Prohibition in the USA, the Anglo Irish Trade War and the rise of competition from the Scottish whisky industry. There was also a change in consumer preference toward blended whiskeys.

Powers distillery was one of the first distilleries to install a coffey still to allow for grain whiskey production. Towards the end of the 60s Powers joined forces with the only other remaining distillers in the Irish Republic to form Irish Distillers. All existing distilleries were closed and consolidated at a new purpose-built facility in Midleton. The brand is part of the Pernod Ricard stable.

The Powers range includes the Powers Gold label, a blend of 70% pot still and 30% grain whiskey. However, the Power John Lane returns to the Powers whiskey’s origin and celebrates the style that made Powers so famous.

First released in 2011, it was an instant hit. It won the ‘Irish Whiskey of the Year’ in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Powers John’s Lane Irish Whiskey Review

The Powers John’s Lane Release is a combination of 12 year old single pot still whiskey aged in two different types of casks. The majority is matured in bourbon casks and the remaining spirit in Oloroso sherry casks.

REGION: Ireland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark golden honey

NOSE: Malt, rich autumn fruit, dark chocolate with hints of caramel and bits of toasted oak in the background. The John’s Lane whiskey nose is inviting and warming.

PALATE: Smooth and warming. No need for water. Notes of malt, rich fruit dusted with cocoa, sherry hints balanced with vanilla, freshly buttered toast, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Water softens the spices and brings more honey notes.

FINISH: Creamy and elegant ending on hints of fruit.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a nice dram. It is probably my current favourite Irish whiskey. Smooth and warming, I can understand why Jim Murray gave this a 96.5 in the 2015 Whisky Bible. For a change, I agree with him. It is delicious.

The hubby was not quite as crazy about this release as I was, but I suspect he had a crazy week at work and was not really concentrating. This Irish whsikey will feature a lot more regularly in my glass. The Powers John’s Lane Irish whiskey retails for around R900, so it is not that expensive.

Also Read: The Wild Geese Whiskey