Category: Whisky of the Week Page 54 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.

Three Ships 5 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/14/2016

In Blended whisky

Many years ago, I was travelling through Ireland. It is a beautiful green country with great beer and of course, Jameson’s Irish whiskey. In Dublin, I visited the Jameson’s distillery visitors centre.

It was a remarkable experience. The visitors’ centre in Dublin showcased the art of whisky-making and the passion that goes into creating a brand like Jameson’s.

Fast-forward a couple of years to 2016. The James Sedgwick’s distillery in Wellington becomes the first (and only) commercial whisky distillery on the African continent to open a visitor centre.

After many years of asking, the Distell whisky powers approved the concept. What an excellent way to experience this award-winning South African whiskies. Now you can see the whisky passion for yourself! So, in celebration of this special occasion, I try the Three Ships 5 year old blended whisky.

The James Sedgwick Distillery Tour

The beautiful town of Wellington has become one of the top places to visit while in Cape Town. Everyone can now experience first-hand how whisky is made and see the passion and people behind the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky brands. The distillery and visitor centre is beautiful.

There are sweeping views of the Hawekwa and Groenberg Mountains that surround the town. We were fortunate to visit the distillery a couple of years ago.

Three Ships Premium Select 5 yo Blended whisky james-sedgwick-distillery-lr

Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

The tastings and tours are limited to 10 people at a time to ensure a personal experience. Tours are undertaken on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 am and again at 2 pm. Visitors can come to understand the art of whisky-making, learn about the rich history of the distillery and taste some of the world’s best whiskies.

The tour starts with a whisky-cocktail followed by an informative video. Then follows an on-foot tour of the distillery to see first-hand how the whiskies are made. It covers all the various stages from raw material to distillation to maturation.

The tour concludes with the best bit, a tasting of three whiskies paired with five sample dishes, allowing guests to explore how the flavours of certain dishes complement the aromas found within a particular whisky The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select pairs wonderfully with mature cheddar and I have paired it with a Blue Rock Cheese.

Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

Another exciting feature is the small micro-distillery. Visitors get the opportunity to create their own blend. An amazing experience! You can blend your version of a Three Ships whisky.

However, if you don’t get the opportunity to visit Wellington, it is just as easy to head over to your local liquor shop and grab yourself a bottle of Three Ships and enjoy a little bit of Wellington heaven. It is an affordable whisky. The price for the Three Ships 5 year old whisky in South Africa is around R 200.

Also Read: How to make a whisky bottle lamp

Three Ships 5 year old Whisky Review

The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select whisky launched in 1991. This whisky is a blend of specifically selected grain and malt whiskies that have been aged for a minimum of five years.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Orange golden sunrise

NOSE: Rich notes of oak, peaty smoke mixed with hints of fruit, vanilla sweetness, freshly baked sugar biscuits and malt.

PALATE: The peaty smoke from the nose is balanced out by a fruity sweetness and robust maltiness. Hints of pear, citrus mixed with cinnamon spice intertwined with nutty fruitcake, cherries and ginger. Bold and robust, water smooths out the Three Ships 5 yo to make it even easier drinking.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in peaty fruit and spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The versatile Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select blended whisky is the perfect dram to have with cheese! All kinds of cheese. And food. And BBQ. You get my drift. It is the ideal accompaniment to food. If you buy only one bottle of whisky a year; this should be it!

If you are fortunate to visit Cape Town and have some time, do visit the distillery. The tours and tastings are for over 18’s only. It is essential to book in advance at Ticketweb.

Also Read: Nikka Miyagikyo whisky

Checkers Private Barrel Co No 41 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/07/2016

In Single Malt whisky

One of the hardest things to do is to build a whisky collection on a budget. With an increase in demand and a hunger for unique and aged whisky, prices have been going through the roof and distilleries are releasing NAS versions at crazy prices.

With the Rand playing yo-yo against all major currencies (Nene-gate, State Capture report and Brexit), getting my hands on quality, affordable whisky has become harder and harder.

I have found budget blends and bourbons, but the big challenge has been single malts. Then I landed up at a Checkers lunch close to Hein Herbst (SA’s own MaltDoc), and he told me about the Checkers Private Barrel Co no 41 single malt Scotch whisky.

I have tried a few of the Checkers Private Barrel Co releases before. I have the Glen Grant 17 yo in my collection and tasted the Glendronach 20 yo, and a few others and they are delicious. These releases are, however, not in the budget category, i.e. under R 750. But, during 2014, Checkers released a whisky that doesn’t have a distillery listed at around R 230.

The concept works similar to the Checkers Odd Bins wine and champagne range. Odd Bins work on the idea that Checkers source top-class wine and champagne (and now whisky) from well-known wineries and distilleries and then bottle them under a unique bin number, not revealing where the whisky was sourced.

By not revealing the distillery, Checkers can sell the whisky at a fraction of the cost. It does have an age statement and full tasting notes on the bottle.

I was somewhat sceptical about an ‘Odd Bins’ whisky range, but MaltDoc assured me that he got a whole case of the Barrel 41 as it is so good. Barrel 39 is sold out, but Barrel 41 is still available, and I managed to grab a bottle.

It was bottled in 2015, and only 3 000 were released. If I was to wager a guess, the whisky in the Checkers Private Barrel Co No 41 single malt is from a Speyside distillery close to the Highlands border. Checkers, however, are keeping quiet on the origin.

Also Read: Michel Couvreur Peaty Whisky

Checkers Private Barrel Co No 41 Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark yellow gold

NOSE: On the initial nose there’s a lot of toffee sweetness with a little bit of spice. There is an element of sherry in the nose as well as summer fruits. It is followed by marshmallow and malty goodness floating about.

PALATE: The Private Barrel Co No 41 is bursting with fruity flavour mixed with creamy, buttery fudge, toffee sweetness and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Hints of candied fruits. I finished my first glass without water and then had to pour a second glass to see the impact of water on the dram. The addition of water certainly brings out a lot more smoothness and brings some floral notes to the front.

FINISH: A strong point to this particular release is a long and lingering finish. It is probably one of the longest finishes that I have experienced in a long time. The addition of water seems to improve the finish. The Private Barrel Co No 41 ends in notes of spice and toffee sweetness, perfectly balanced.

RATING: EXCELLENT

When Hein said that he bought a case of the Barrel No 41, I must honestly say, I thought he was overreacting. Can it be that good? But it is! It is delicious, smooth and easy drinking.

Well done Checkers team for choosing this delightful release and bringing it to us at an affordable price point. I am looking forward to many more Private Barrel Co. whisky releases.

The Private Barrel Coo released a James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask during 2018 as well as a Private Barrel Co No 108. It is a 3 yo Irish whiskey release, and you can read all about it too.

Also Read: Nikka Miyagikyo whisky

Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/31/2016

In Single Malt whisky

My never-ending quest to find affordable, drinkable whisky. Finding well priced blended whiskies is relatively easy. There are plenty of them around, and some of them are quite good. However, single malt whisky is a different story. There are not too many new single malts available at a reasonable price in South Africa.

With the worldwide increase in single malt prices and our unstable currency, it might become even more difficult in future. My ongoing search led me to the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Highland single malt Scotch whisky. I found it at a Pick n Pay. I have never heard of Muirhead, but it was in the affordable category, so I grabbed it.

Muirhead is owned by Picard Vins & Spiritueux S.A. An affiliate company that also owns Tullibardine and Highland Queen. According to some research, the brand is today distributed in over 30 markets around the world, both under the Muirhead’s Blue Seal range of blended whiskies, and the Silver Seal range of single malt whiskies.

The Muirhead Clans’ slogan is part of the labelling. It reads: “Auxilio Dei” which means “By the Help of God”. The name Muirhead means, “Head of the Moor” or “Highest Point of the Moor” in Gaelic.

Muirhead’s Silver Seal Maturity single malt whisky is aged in oak barrels for 5 years and from the Scottish Highlands. It does not state a distillery name.

Also Read: Glenmorangie 18 yo whisky

Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky Review

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ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Sunset yellow with bits of yellow floating around.

NOSE: The first notes that come through is barley, spices and oak. Hints of condensed milk and marshmallow provide a sweet side. There is a bit of raw alcohol on the nose. The nose is not quite as rich or complex as I would have hoped for, and it seems a bit young.

PALATE: It has quite a nice mouthful feeling. Without water, there is a bit of an alcohol bite and some raw edges. The initial palate is a bold winter spice, but not in a negative way. After a while, some of the sweetness and richness comes through slowly.

There are notes of oak, lemon drops and barley. The addition of water makes the Muirhead Silver Seal softer and takes away some of the harsher alcohol notes. The water also releases more of the sweetness and vanilla and make the dram more drinkable.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering and builds slowly to a nice warm feeling in your stomach. It ends in oak, lemon drops and barley.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Muirhead has an interesting flavour profile. For me, it’s a whisky that I could picture in the middle of winter, in front of a fire after dinner, when you are having a philosophical conversation with someone.

Indeed a good buy at the affordable price point. It is inexpensive but does not taste cheap. It is very similar to the Highland Queen. I would nearly venture to say that it is a spicier version of the Highland Queen. Have you tried this Muirhead whisky release yet?

I was surprised to spot some of the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity whisky in the US. It is the Muirhead Silver Seal 20 year old whisky that is not available in SA, but it was interesting to see it there.

>Also Read:Glenfiddich Gran Reserva whisky

Glendronach 13 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/24/2016

In Single Malt whisky

A small little whisky shop in Hydepark, Johannesburg, has become the Johannesburg whisky community’s central point. Since they opened their doors in 2012, WhiskyBrother has brought an incredible whisky variety to Johannesburg. Their whisky tastings are also legendary!

Every year around this time, WhiskyBrother brings out an exclusive release, which is no different this year. Some of the WhiskyBrother’s earlier releases include the Arran WB Private Cask and the 15 yo Glenlivet. All exceptionally delicious!

This year, they had the opportunity to select a Glendronach cask, and after much tasting and choosing, Marc and Neil chose the Glendronach 13 year old single cask Scotch whisky.

Glendronach has consistently been one of the WhiskyBrother shop’s top-selling whiskies, so it made for a natural fit. The GlenDronach 13 yo single cask whisky is matured in a second fill Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon.

The Glendronach distillery is a Highland whisky distillery located near Forgue in Scotland, owned by the BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd.

James Allardes founded the distillery in 1826 and it was only the second distillery to apply for a license to legally produce whisky under the Excise Act of 1823.

The distillery was bought and sold a few times, and the sherry characteristics changed. Subsequent owners each brought their own cask and wood philosophy. In 2008, when the BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd bought the distillery, they returned to the original GlenDronach character. The new owners relaunched the old core range of 12 year old, 15 year old and 18 year old, along with several single cask bottlings.<

So once again, the Glendonach is proudly known as the Sherry Cask Connoisseurs. Back to their original roots of heavily sherried drams. All new Glendronach releases are unpeated.

Also Read: Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky

Glendronach 13 year old Whisky Review

This bottle was distilled in March 2003, and bottled in April 2016; the cask yielded 519 bottles. Each bottle is individually numbered and bottled at cask strength.

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 54.1%

COLOUR: A light amber-gold colour with hints of yellow sunshine.

NOSE: Rich and complex, heavy with brandy-soaked raisins, rich Christmas pudding, toffee, cherries and candied fruits. After a bit of time, some spice and woody notes come through.

PALATE: A very surprising palate! The toffee and Christmas pudding sweetness I was expecting was not there. Instead, the warming spices came through. Cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg intertwined with oak and cherries.

I expected a typical sherry PX Cask taste, but this Glendronach is anything but regular. Adding water softens the cask strength and makes the whisky smoother.

FINISH: An unusual finish that ends in notes of pepper, cinnamon and citrus fruit. Long and lingering.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is an unusual release. I can understand why the WhiskyBrother team chose this particular cask. If you are expecting the more traditional Glendronach sherry taste, this whisky is not it. This Glendronach 13 year old is big and bold.

Warming spices with cherries. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, something interesting for someone interesting, this is the bottle you want.

Best of all, you don’t have to be in Johannesburg to get your hands on this release. You can order it online from WhiskyBrother right here. This Glendronach 13 yowhisky is going to be perfect for winter. The spicy character will probably also pair well with food.

I poured a bit of the Glendronach 12 year old straight after, to compare. Interesting how one more year in a cask can make such a difference. From the fruity sweet 12 year old whisky to the spicy, rich 13 year old. All in the space of an extra 12 months.

Well Done WhiskyBrother Team! I have also captured the tasting notes for the Glendronach 16 yo release and the Glendronach 12 yo .

Also Read: Craigellachie 13 yo Whisky

Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/10/2016

In Rye Whiskey

My first experience with rye whisky was earlier in the year when I tasted the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. Rye based whisky is relatively unknown in SA. I liked the spiciness of rye and looked around for some more.

I saw a few more releases, such as the Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve 13 yo at R 19 000 a bottle. Hmmm; slightly out of my budget. Fortunately for me, I found this bottle of Rittenhouse Straight Rye whiskey at WhiskyBrother for a lot less.

Before Prohibition, rye whiskey distilleries dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Rye was the most popular grain American farmers’ distilled regularly. Rye grain is easy to grow and durable. Surplus grain was fermented and distilled, which was a cheaper option than transporting it to other areas.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a well-known rye enjoying a comeback throughout the USA, as today’s American whisky consumer re-discovers classic whiskey styles.

Likewise, the brand is beloved by mixologists for its robust style and enjoys a renaissance as cocktails regain popularity. Prohibition destroyed the rye whiskey industry. After Prohibition, Americans adjusted their palates towards the softer Canadian whiskies and sweeter bourbons.

Rye whiskey was relegated to the back room. However, slowly over the years, rye crept back. Micro distilleries across Pennsylvania and New York are releasing new rye whiskies regularly. Rye has increasingly been in demand since the 2016 Whisky Bible rated the Crown Royal Northern Harvest rye as their top whisky. A rye whiskey reawakening.

The Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye was a polarizing whisky. Some people loved it; some people could not understand the hype. For me, however, it opened a new taste avenue.

I find rye whiskies slightly spicier than the traditional bourbons, and the new flavour nuances have interesting possibilities with food pairings. Heaven Hill Distilleries produce the Rittenhouse rye. The Rittenhouse rye is aged for 4 years.

Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Spicy and rich. Notes of nutmeg, eucalyptus and vanilla. Faint hints of fresh-cut grass, lemon blossom and liquorice.

PALATE: Freshly baked lemon sugar biscuits and spices. Adding water releases more vanilla notes.

FINISH: Medium length that ends in spicy notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Probably not the best rye on the market, but a decent mouthful. My brother, not usually a whisky drinker, joined me for the tasting. He finished his glass, without water, even before I could finish writing down my tasting notes.

So it can’t be too bad. It might be that I rate this rye whisky highly because of my limited experience with rye whiskey. But I will look out for more rye releases so that I can do a better comparison. John liked the spiciness of Rittenhouse Rye, and I liked the sweeter notes.

I paired this Rittenhouse Rye with some Cadbury Milk chocolates. I have also done a side by side comparison between the Rittenhouse Rye and the Sazerac Rye whiskey to see how much they differ.

I have also tasted a Scottish Rye whisky, the Arbiki Highland Rye release. A different spice profile, but interesting.

Also Read: Pikesville Rye Whiskey