Category: Single Malt whisky Page 10 of 43

Single Malt whisky

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for Single Malt Whisky. A collection of all the interesting releases I have tried. Not only Scotch but from around the world.

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/27/2021

In Single Malt whisky

My third blog post on the Glenglassaugh distillery from the Scottish Highlands. For some reason, I have not liked any whisky from this distillery. Both the Glenglassaugh Revival and the Evolution release I rated as Good. Today I try to finish the last of my mini bottle from this Highland distillery, and it is time for the Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch whisky.

I found the Revival release drying on the palate, and the Evolution Scotch overly spicy. Both of these had an amazing nose that was rich and complex, with a promise of fruity sweetness. But on tasting them, I was left disappointed. I have to say, I am opening this mini bottle with a bit of trepidation.

The Glenglassaugh distillery sits on a hillside, on the Moray Firth coast overlooking the North Sea. James Moir and two of his nephews established the distillery in 1875. He chose the site due to its proximity to a clean water supply, the Glassaugh Springs and easy access to the nearby barley fields.

It changed hands a few times but continued to produce whisky. However, during the economic downturn of 1986, this small remote distillery stopped production. It was mothballed and all but forgotten.

In 2008, the Dutch-based Scaent Group acquired the distillery for £5 million and reopened it. In 2013 Billy Walker and the BenRiach Whisky Company purchased it. BenRiach is a subsidiary of the Brown-Forman Corporation.

Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch was released in 2014 and refer to the Old Norse word for turf or peat. It has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and peated to 20 ppm.

Torfa has no age statement and has a natural colour, and is non-chill-filtered. In SA, it retails for around R670.

Also Read: Mackmyra Svensk Rok Whisky

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Yellow gold.

NOSE: Rich earthy peat, smoke and custard sweetness in equal measures. Hints of cold ocean breeze and warming pepper spices. Wood smoke and a gentle fruit note in the background; just a lovely nose.

PALATE<: Warming earthy peat, drying ash and smoke. It has quite an alcohol bite. Letting it breathe for a while allows a mellow, fruity note to appear with hints of sour cherries. Earthy moss with hints of sea salt and honey drizzled over red apples. Light pepper and ginger notes with a medium body.

However, adding a few drops of water changes the Torfa. The water brings out more pepper spice and lemon peel bitterness and mutes the complexity. After the water, it has the same overwhelming pepper notes that I found in Revival and Evolution whisky releases.

FINISH: Medium length that, before water, lingers with peat and honey and hints of liquorice. After adding some water, it is all lemon pepper and pectin.

RATING: VERY GOOD

This Glenglassaugh Torfa whisky poses a predicament. If you let it stand long enough for the worst of the alcohol to float away, it is elegant and drinkable without water. The moment you add the water, the spicy notes overwhelm everything else, and you are left with bitter pectin, which is not ideal.

This one would be my favourite of the three releases, but I would hesitate to buy more bottles from this distillery. Just like Dalmore and Highland Park, the distillery flavour profile just does not suit my tastes. If you like more spicy drams, this will be perfect.

However, I would rather spend some time with Brown Forman’s other Scottish Highland whisky, Glendronach, which has a much sweeter taste profile.

Also Read: Millstone 8 yo French Oak Whisky

Ballechin 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/20/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Ballechin 10 yo whisky header
Today it is time for a peaty Highland release; the Ballechin 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Edradour distillery was officially established in 1825 in the Perthshire region. The name in Gaelic is Eadar Dhà Dhobhar, which translates to “between two rivers”.

It was founded by farmers who resided in the neighbourhood and grew all the barley used at the distillery. The distillery is seen as one of Scotlands smallest. Most of the spirit from the distillery went into blended whisky.

Ownership changed in the years that followed until 1982 when it was bought by Campbell distilleries, which is part of the Pernod Ricard Group. They opened a visitors centre and released the first single malt under the Edradour label.

In 2002, Andrew Symington from the Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky company took over the distillery, and he expanded production to include a peated variety.

Also Read: Teerenpeli Whisky

He called the peated release Ballechin. The name Ballechin (pronounced “Bell-eck-in”) pays homage to the history of the surrounding area and was the name of a closed farm distillery. Ballechin whisky, which was first distilled in 2003, is peated to a minimum level of 50 ppm. Signatory launched the Ballechin 10 year old whisky in 2014.

The Ballechin 10 year old whisky is matured in a combination of ex-Oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon casks. It is non-chill-filtered and naturally coloured.

Ballechin 10 year old Whisky Review

Ballechin 10 yo whisky with glass
REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Amber

NOSE: A lovely rich nose with peat, oranges and barley. Bits of smoke and wood mixed with vanilla and grainy sweetness. Not overwhelming, but elegant and delicious.

PALATE: Ash, peat with a floral sweetness. More of the orange notes but not as bold as I was expecting after the rich nose. A bit flat with oak and malt and faint vanilla. After the lovely nose, I was hoping for a more complex taste.

It is not bad; it is just a bit one dimensional. I was expecting the sherry and bourbon ageing to show up somewhere. Adding water softens the peat considerably, so add water carefully.

FINISH: Short to medium with drying ash, smoke and bits of citrus peel.

RATING: VERY GOOD

During the week, I tasted an Edradour whisky, and it was a big and bold sherry bomb. The Ballechin 10 year old single malt was finished in sherry, and I was perhaps hoping for a little bit of the sherry richness and complexity to come through.

A pleasant enough dram, but at ten years old, I was hoping for a bit more weight. The peat takes a step back when you add water, so it might be a good whisky for peat novices.

I don’t think the 10 year old is available in SA currently, but I saw a bottle of Ballechin 9 year old 2010 Vintage whisky at Navigate World Whisky.

Also Read: Drayman’s Solera Whisky

Glenkinchie 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/17/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Time to move back down to the Scottish Lowlands this week. The Lowlands has three well-known malt distilleries, namely Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie. Today I investigate Glenkinchie and especially the Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Lowland whiskies traditionally were softer and more floral compared to the more Northern releases. The name Glenkinchie Distillery was registered in 1837 and lay a stone through from Edinburgh near the charming village of Pencaitland. It draws it water from the Lammermuir Hills. Together with Oban (West Highlands), Dalwhinnie (Highland), Talisker (Islands), Cragganmore (Speyside) and Lagavulin (Islay), Glenkinchie represents the Lowlands in the Diageo Classic Malts Range.

Also Read: Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX whisky

The Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt is the entry-level single malt bottling from the distillery that replaces the previous 10 year old. Glenkinchie also releases a Distillers Edition. The year 2017 is an important year for Glenkinchie. They will be celebrating the 180th anniversary of the distillery.

So in honour of this outstanding achievement, let’s try this Lowland whisky. I have paired this Glenkinchie 12 year old with some Wensleydale cheese with mango and ginger, and it made for a delicious pairing.

Glenkinchie 12 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat

NOSE: Fresh cut flowers and grass with hints of mint leaves. The nose is delicate and sweet with notes of liquorice, orange cake, vanilla, toffee and toasted oak.

PALATE: Oak with vanilla and hints of butterscotch. Lots of citrus and pepper spice and very little of the subtle flowery notes promised by the nose. Orange marmalade and lemon rind with bits of toffee sweetness and fresh fruit. Water releases a bit more fruity notes but also makes the lemon rind more pronounced.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of pepper and lemon drops. Drying.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I was hoping that the floral notes of this Lowland whisky would translate from the nose to the palate. Not a bad dram, but a bit too peppery for my liking. I prefer something a bit sweeter. Still not bad for the price point.

In South Africa the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky retails for around R 850 which, for an aged single malt Scotch whisky, is not bad. In India the price is around ₹ 6,780. Worth adding to your collection.

Recently I got to taste the Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition, and it was terrific. What did you think of the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky?

Also Read: Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky

Glenfiddich Fire and Cane Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/06/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at the 4th release in the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, the Glenfiddich Fire and Cane single malt Scotch whisky. This whisky follows the very successful Glenfiddich IPA Cask, the Glenfiddich Project XX and the Glenfiddich 21 year old Winter Storm Experimental series whisky released by Glenfiddich over the last couple of years.

The Experimental Series allows Glenfiddich the freedom to play around with unusual combinations to expand their boundaries and test new ideas.

The Glenfiddich Fire and Cane whisky was released in mid-2018. Malt Master Brian Kinsman finished some of Glenfiddich’s peated single malt and bourbon barrel matured malts for three months in various Latin American rum casks.

Also Read: Aerstone Land Cask Whisky

He wanted to enhance the campfire smokiness, balanced with a toffee sweetness in the whisky. When it was available in South Africa, it retailed for around R1000. With covid hampering the industry, I have not seen it around for a while.

Like the other Experimental Series releases, I have seen people both love and hate the Fire and Cane release. Just like some people adore the Glenfiddich Project XX, and others (me included) found it boring and stuffy.

I loved the Glenfiddich IPA cask whisky as it reminds me of brewery visits. Other people found it uninspiring and ordinary. I have seen similar sentiments for this Fire and Cane. However, I think it is an interesting whisky to try and was quite excited to add it to my collection.

Glenfiddich Fire and Cane Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Deep gold

NOSE: Billowing smoke, bits of peat with a honey sweetness. The nose reminded me a bit of liquid smoke. It has notes of sweet toffee with fresh fruit notes and bits of spiciness. Unique.

PALATE: Wood fire smoke, dry wood with toffee sweetness. It reminded me a bit of the Big Peat Cape Town Edition whisky from Remarkable Malts. It has a similar “braai” (BBQ) note on the palate. A charred wooden note with fruity sweetness.

Baked apple, ginger and chocolate orange. Some alcohol heat. Medium body. The Fire and Cane needs a few drops of water to release flavour. Not the most complex dram.

FINISH: Short with notes of pepper and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What an interesting bottling. Unfortunately, the finish on this Fire and Cane single malt is a bit short. I was also expecting the tropical fruity rum notes to be bolder. That being said, just like the Glenfiddih IPA Cask, I think this is a successful experiment. It allows the drinker to experience a tropical smoke flavour that you don’t get to try every day.

It is not an everyday drinking dram, but a drinkable and unique whisky to enjoy on occasion. A great addition to my whisky collection. Thank you, Luben, for spotting and getting the bottle for me.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/30/2021

In Single Malt whisky

In honour of Ardbeg Day, I decided to try the Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay single malt Scotch whisky. The Corryvreckan is seen as the personification of ‘the untamed spirit of Islay’ and was released to replace Airigh Nam Beist. Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay.

Ardbeg Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the south coast of the isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides. Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy owns the distillery. Ardbeg was legally established as early as 1815, but claims of some distilling pre-dates its legal start by a decade or two.

With the official 2014 FIFA World Cup start just weeks away, the theme for this year’s Ardbeg Day is predictably Football. Or as Ardbeg define it “the Ardbeggian take on the football World Cup.”

Football has a rich and noble history in mainland Scotland where kings and lords would take to the pitch and teams were made up of gentlemen. Playing on Islay, however, has its own unique challenges like playing knee-deep in peaty pitches.

Wild About Whisky in Dullstroom hosted Ardbeg Day in South Africa this past weekend. Events for the day included Peaty Football South African style and shorty foosball. And the most important activities during the day was Ardbeg tastings.

Limited information is available on the age and what casks this Corryvreckan single malt was aged in, but some sources indicate that it was ex-bourbon and virgin French Limousin oak.

Related Article: Kilchoman Sanaig Whisky

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 57.3%

COLOUR: A dark amber. It is a wonderfully oily whisky that clings to the side of the glass.

NOSE: Peat even at a distance. Classic peat, smoke and sea salt come through. There are medicinal notes with some creamy butter and hints of sweetness. All dark and brooding and the smell of seawater and fishing boats during a storm at night.

PALATE: The Corryvreckan is a huge mouthful. At first, it tastes like having a peat bog in your mouth. The initial notes are followed by liquorice and vanilla. There are smoke, tar and medicinal notes on the tongue.

This whisky is wonderfully smooth with hints of salt, spice and perhaps a little fresh fruit. Both the nose and palate have a remarkable complexity that stays.

FINISH: Long and lingering. It slowly builds and reaches a crescendo long after you put your glass down. It builds and builds warming your soul along the way. There are notes of spice, pepper and toffee. Oak and vanilla float about. This complex whisky leaves you with some liquorice and salt at the finish.

RATING: DIVINE

It is my first Divine rating for a single malt this year. And it is well deserved. If you have another dram of Ardbeg Corryvreckan, a whole new range of nose, palette and finish pops out. It is, however, a polarizing whisky.

You will either hate it or love it. Nothing about this whisky is average. There will be some firm opinion from people. The price for the Ardbeg Corryvreckan whisky is around £62 in the UK.

I paired this single malt with some Lindt Cranberry Intense chocolate, and the results were terrific. This Ardbeg Corryvreckan is part of the Ardbeg standard release and readily available. Some other magnificent Ardbeg core range releases include the Ardbeg Uigeadail and Ardbeg An Oa whisky.

Also Read: Aberlour A’bunadh whisky