Category: Single Malt whisky Page 17 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.

The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/13/2020

In Single Malt whisky

The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask single malt Scotch whisky; this is one of those bottles that I have to review before I finish it. When I find great chocolate I want to pair with whisky, this is often one of the first bottles I grab. Likewise, when looking for a whisky to pair with soft cheese, this bottle regularly comes to mind.

Only when looking back on my whisky and food posts and tasting notes, did I realize, just how much I relied on the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old whisky for its fruity notes.

According to some research, the Balvenie Caribbean Cask Scotch whisky was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of David Stewart joining the Balvenie distillery. It has since become a permanent part of the Balvenie range.

Related Article: Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask whisky has been matured in traditional oak casks for 14 years. Afterwards, it was finished in casks that previously held Malt Master David Stewart’s personal blend of select West Indian rum.

You can read more of the Balvenie distillery history in my blog on The Balvenie Doublewood, The Balvenie Portwood 1993 and the Balvenie Single Barrel whisky

I have paired the Balvenie Caribbean Cask with Lindt Excellence Blueberry Intense. The tartness of the blueberries cuts through the sweetness of the whisky. The dark chocolate compliments the toffee flavours of the whisky superbly. A great whisky chocolate pairing.

I have also paired it with a creamy South African Camembert. Another great pairing! This dram works well with a Brie cheese too. A very versatile whisky! One I will certainly replace it when the bottle is empty. So below my official tasting notes on this versatile whisky.

Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: It is golden wheat with flashes of ruby.

NOSE: Rich with sweet notes of ripe mango, pineapple and guava, toffee, Christmas cake and plump rum-soaked raisins. Hints of florals and malt intermingling with oak come to mind. Notes of fudge and lashings of spices.

PALATE: Without water, the fruitiness continues with mango and spicy notes, creamy caramel toffee and bits of oak, vanilla and ginger. There is a tipsy tart yumminess in the background. The Caribbean Cask has a creamy mouthfeel and is quite chewy.

Adding water brings more wood to the front and softens the spiciness. Water brings together all the symphony of notes in this whisky.

FINISH: Long and lingering, smooth and creamy. It stays around long after the glass is empty. Notes of light pectin and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This Scottish dram has me dreaming of a hammock strung between 2 palm trees with the ocean lapping softly at the nearby shore. It is memorable and evolves as you drink it. If you see one, grab it. It is a worthy addition to any collection.

Balvenie Golden Cask whisky, which is also a 14 year old and finished in rum. I did a side by side comparison between the Golden Cask, and I did a side by side comparison between these two beautiful drams.

Furthermore, I have done a side by side comparison between the Caribbean rum and the Balvenie Doublewood single malt releases. You can read all about how they differ.

Also read: The Balvenie Peated Cask whisky

Glenglassaugh Revival Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/09/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at the Glenglassaugh Revival single malt Scotchwhisky. What a great name for a whisky release: Revival. I realised that this whisky comes with a unique story. The Glenglassaugh distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in the Highland Region.

It sits on a hillside, not too far from the sea. A local entrepreneur James Moir and his two nephews established the distillery in 1875. Another distillery connected to a grocery store, like so many others.

Moir had an expanding grocery business and wanted to establish a distillery that would produce a whisky for his customers. The site was chosen due to its proximity to a clean water supply, the Glassaugh Springs and easy access to the nearby barley fields.

Highland Distillers bought the company in 1892. In 1960 it was rebuilt and upgraded to double the production capacity and to yield lighter spirit. However, during the economic downturn of 1986, this small remote distillery stopped production. But there was a light at the end of the still.

Also Read: Mackmyra Svensk Rok Whisky

In 2008 an independent investment group bought the distillery from the Edrington Group (where it landed up) and started production again. They released some of the pre-1986 stock as exclusive releases and won various prices with their releases.

The first spirit distilled under the new ownership was bottled and released as Glenglassaugh during 2011. In 2013 the Benriach Distillery Company purchased the distillery.

That is why the name Revival is such a fitting name for this release. This distillery kept on coming back time and time again. The Glenglassaugh Revival single malt is the first single malt Scotch released from this distillery available for retail.

Glenglassaugh Revival Whisky Review

Revival has been matured in a mix of ex-red wine and fresh ex-bourbon casks and then finished for 6 months in ex-Oloroso sherry butts. It is a NAS release. It is not chill-filtered with no added colour.

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Amber gold with green hints

NOSE: Green grass, pine needles, caramel sweetness and fresh earth. Dry apricot with bits of butterscotch and vanilla. Quite sweet.

PALATE: Drying oak, citrus and pepper. The sweetness promised by the nose does not carry through to the taste. Bits of sawdust, cocoa powder and bitter lemon. Medium-bodied. Not very complex. Water brings more lemon pepper forward.

FINISH: Medium with bitter lemon and pepper.

RATING: GOOD

This Glenglassaught is a very dry whisky. John described it as licking an oak plank. I found it quite astringent. After a finish in sherry casks, I was expecting more sweetness and red fruits, but neither of us picked up any of these notes.

I am glad that I only have a small bottle because if it were a big bottle, it would still be standing in my whisky room in 10 years. It did not put me off tasting more from this distillery, and I will continue to explore the Glenglassaugh Evolution, and Glenglassaugh Torfa releases over the next couple of months.

Also Read: Maraska ABC Whisky

Paul John Nirvana Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/02/2020

In Single Malt whisky

If you have been following me on social media for a while, you would know that I love whisky from the Paul John Distillery in India. I have tasted all the releases in their core range and loved it.

Additional to the core range, the Paul John Christmas Edition and Kanya release is heavenly, and I get very excited then something new appears from this Goan distillery.

During 2019 the distillery released the Paul John Nirvana Indian single malt whisky as the entry-level single malt to the core range and eventually it has reached South African shores.

Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness. Nirvana is defined as the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

According to Paul P John, Chairman, ‘Nirvana is an expression for those willing and keen to experience single malts, especially for the first time. Its exotic richness is sure to captivate whisky connoisseurs and amateurs equally. It is an expression for those who discover happiness in their purpose of being.

Paul John whisky is created from the Indian 6 row barley (unpeated) and matured in charred American oak casks. The casks are stored in non-climate controlled warehouses. It is not chill-filtered with no added colour.

Paul John Nirvana Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Deep Copper

NOSE: Malty and sweet with dry prunes, fruitcake and dark chocolate. Vanilla, tropical fruit and hints of cinnamon. A molasses sweetness in the background.

PALATE: Spicy notes make way for honey, butterscotch and fruity sweetness. Drying oak, vanilla and chewy barley mix with apples, cinnamon, ginger and bits of bourbon. Hints of fruitcake in the background with something coastal.

Like standing on the beach on a humid, windy evening with salty notes in the air. Very drinkable and utterly delicious! Water brings more sweetness forward.

FINISH: Medium length with sweetness and soft spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Nirvana whisky is delicious. It reminded me of summer evenings in Kerala with the warm, humid wind blowing through the palm trees. The Paul John Nirvana whisky retails for around R 500 in South Africa and is worth every cent.

I have seen it at Whiskybrother and Wild About Whisky. If you have not tried whisky from India, this is a great place to start. I have also tried the Paul John PX whisky as well as the Oloroso Select Cask release and both are lovely.

Also Read: Signature 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.