Category: Single Malt whisky Page 29 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 Peated Cask 17 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/01/2016

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am raising a glass to the Balvenie Malt Master, Davd Stewart, with the Balvenie Peated Cask 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky. In honour of the Queen presenting him with a MBE medal.

This was in honour of his services to the Scotch whisky industry. He is the longest-serving Malt Master in the world. An amazing 54 years in the industry. What an amazing achievement!

David was born in 1945 in Ayr in Scotland and started his career at the Balvenie Distillery in 1962 on a 12-year apprenticeship, aged 17. He was appointed as Malt Master in 1974. David was one of the first people to experiment with cask finishes during the 1980s.

This experimentation led to a few of my favourite Balvenie expressions. Releases such as the Balvenie Doublewood, Balvenie Caribbean Cask, The Balvenie Roasted Malt and the Balvenie Portwood. The Balvenie distillery is part of the William Grant stable of brands.

Malt Master David Stewart

This week, in honour of this great man of whisky, we try the Balvenie Peated Cask 17 year old whisky – another of his “experiments”. Released during 2010, the whisky was aged traditionally, to begin with, but finished in a cask that previously held peated whisky.

Back in 2001, The Balvenie did a heavily peated malt run that was then aged in ex-bourbon barrels. At some point, the spirit transferred out of the American Oak barrels and into new casks to continue its maturation.

It is into these now empty-cask that David poured some 17 year old Balvenie to see what would happen. To further enhance the whisky, David then blended it with some similarly aged Balvenie finished in new charred oak.

The result – the Balvenie Peated Cask release. Unfortunately, this was a limited release and is not available anymore.

Balvenie Single Malt Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd. Founded by William Grant in 1886 and today still an independent family-owned distiller run by his direct descendants.

Also Read: Macallan 15 year old whisky

The Balvenie Peated Cask 17 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Liquid golden sunshine.

NOSE: Rich and creamy with very subtle hints of peat. There are notes of candied sweets and fresh fruit with hints of vanilla, cinnamon sugar and butterscotch sweetness.

PALATE: A riot of contrasting flavours. Initially, there are heaps of peat mixed with some smoke and ashy notes followed by spicy sweetness. The next layer has juicy fruitiness with bits of honey and cinnamon spice.

The Balvenie Peated Cask single malt has an interesting flavour development profile. The addition of water brings smoothness to the whisky and makes it easier to drink. It softens some of the ashy smoky and brings forward the sweetness.

FINISH: Long and lingering and warms you up from the inside. It ends in notes of smoky fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This expression is certainly not the usual Balvenie style. It’s unusual and different. However, it does a fantastic job of standing out as something unique.

This peated expression will probably not appeal to traditional Balvenie lovers. It also has too little peat intensity for Islay lovers. However, this is a unique and interesting whisky, made by a man who is not scared to try something new. A whisky as unique and interesting as the man who created it – David Stewart.

Also Read: Kininvie 17 yo Whisky

Bowmore 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/20/2016

In Single Malt whisky

This is a dram I have tried a few times with food, but never written about. The definition of Enigma is a thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Will this Bowmore 12 year old Enigma single malt Scotch whisky show its secrets?

Situated on the Inner Hebrides, the Bowmore distillery lies on the South-Eastern shore of Loch Indaal. Loch Indaal is a sea lock that opens out into the Atlantic Ocean. On the other side, sits Bruichladdich.

Islay is the Queen of the Hebrides. Early hunter-gatherers have inhabited Islay from around 7500 BC, and the area is seen as an archaeological treasure trove.

John P Simons established the distillery in 1779, before passing ownership to the Mutter family in 1837. It has changed ownership a few times since and is now owned by Suntory.

Similar to the Islay whiskies, Bowmore is known for their peaty smokiness due to their peat-fired kiln. Looking at Islay on a map, I want to get on a plane to go and explore! The island is home to only around 3 000 people and eight distilleries.

The Bowmore Enigma is a 12 year old Islay single malt whisky with a higher proportion of sherry matured spirit than the standard bottling. The Bowmore 12 yo Enigma Scotch is bottled for the travel retail market.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 yo whisky

Bowmore 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Darkish gold

NOSE: Initially the nose is sweet quite sweet with a sticky, overripe fruit sweetness to it. Oak, peat and bits of grassiness follow. Hints of sherried fruit, grape jam, candied Christmas pudding float about.

PALATE: The Bowmore Enigma has an interesting palate. In the beginning, there are lots of peat, oak and spice and then slowly transforms, and burnt caramel comes through. There are notes of peat and ashy smoke with a few sharp alcohol edges mixed with bitter citrus in the background.

It starts boldly but dissolved into a thin drinking experience at the end. Adding a few drops of water smooths out the rough edges, but take away the bit of complexity and almost neutralises some of the interesting bits to this dram.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, smoke and pectin.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It seems that the notes just don’t gel together. It is as if the flavours are disjointed. This 12 year old Bowmore Enigma is appropriately named. It is a bit of an enigma. The Bowmore Enigma single malt leaves you hanging in terms of what it’s trying to be. Is it sweet, peat or smoky? Nothing fits quite right. It does, however, work very nicely with Blue Tower Cheese.

What did you think of this Enigma?

Also read: Longmorn 15 yo whisky

The Macallan 15 Year Old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/16/2016

In Single Malt whisky

A lot has been written about the Macallan distillery and brand. Some people love it; some people hate it. Many stories about it exist; some true, some not quite. It often makes the ‘Most Expensive whisky’ lists.

If anything, it is a polarizing whisky and distillery. John loves it. I find it pretentious and old-fashioned. Regardless of my personal view, let’s try the Macallan 15 year old Fine Oak single malt Scotch whisky.

Macallan started life as Elchies Distillery. The name changed, and it expanded as the demand for the product soared. Over time, the Macallan had become very sought after. The Macallan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group.

Related Article: The Glenlivet 18 yo whisky

Regardless of all the controversy surrounding the brand, Macallan is situated in a beautiful part of Scotland. Next to the River Spey on the Macallan Estate, it is not too far from Glenrothes.

The Macallan 15 year old whisky has been discontinued. Initially, the Macallan was matured only in oak sherry casks. The ‘Fine Oak’ series was launched in 2004. Whisky from this series was aged in bourbon oak casks as well as sherry ones. I have had it for quite a while; I just never to around to writing about it.

Macallan 15 year old Fine Oak Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: It is a beautiful golden colour. A rich straw.

NOSE: Oak and orange blossom sweetness. It is rich and rewarding and invites you to dive in. There are faint hints of orange peel and honey.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has notes of florals, barley, vanilla sweetness mixed with some pepper spice and nutmeg. Adding water smooths out the spiciness, but takes away some of the sweetness. Faint hints of orange blossom and fruit float about. I was expecting a lot more bourbon notes on the palate, but the bourbon notes are a very faint part of the vanilla sweetness.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, orange and spice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This 15 year old Highland whisky is not the most complex of drams. I was expecting a bit more of the bourbon complexity to come through on the palate. But it is a great all-round, well-balanced, smooth whisky. One of the few Macallan whiskies that I actually like. Yes, this one is worth the hype!

I paired this Macallan release with some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries. I have also captured tasting notes for the Macallan 10 year old whisky as well as The Macallan 12 year old whisky. See what I think about these releases.

This is a fun whisky to play around with and I have done a side by side comparison between the Macallan and the Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky. Go and take a look at how they differ.

Arran Napoleon Cognac Finish Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/09/2016

In Single Malt whisky

I love adding whisky finished in interesting casks to my collection. A rum finished whisky or a Sauternes cask finish adds interesting dimensions to the whisky and also to my collection. I have plenty of bourbon, and Sherry cask finishes, a Madeira cask finish and even a Merlot cask finish.

But one of the finishes I enjoy the most, looking at the nearly empty bottle on my shelf, is the Arran Napoleon Cognac single cask finish Scotch whisky. I can’t find many whiskies aged in Cognac casks. Not currently in South Africa anyway.

To learn more about Arran Malts, you can read my review on the Arran Sherry cask. The Arran Malt has also done a Lepanto PX Brandy cask finish as well together with a host of other unique cask releases.

But for today, let’s stand still and appreciate the Arran Napoleon Cognac cask whisky. Cognac is a variety of brandy produced in the wine-growing region around the town of Cognac.

The production methods of Cognac must meet specific legal requirements, and it is made from specified grapes. Cognac is aged and graded based on the time in cask.

This whisky was aged in Napoleon Cognac casks from A Hardy. A Napoleon Cognac designates a blend in which the youngest cognac was aged for at least 6 years. I have The Arran Napoleon Cognac cask bottle no 15 of 456. It was bottled 19 Sept 06 at an ABV of 51.8%.

Related Article: Amrut Intermediate Sherry whisky

Arran Napoleon Cognac Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Scottish Islands

ABV: 51.8%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Initially there are rose florals, fresh grapes and oak with hints of honeycomb sweetness floating about. It’s got a remarkably clean and flavourful aroma. Slowly the cognac notes start to build on the nose. When you nose it for the second time, more of the cognac sweetness comes through.

PALATE: Very surprising. It has far more cognac then expected. It hits you with a lot of cinnamon spice and then the traditional long slow lingering cognac finish. Some of the fermented grape notes, associated with Cognac, come through beautifully.

There are hints of leather and wood. The addition of water brings a lot of smoothness and takes away some of the spice. Water releases a bit more sweetness as well.

FINISH: It lingers and warms the heart. With the addition of water, the dram finishes on the more classic notes of dried wood, citrus and notes of leather.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This Arran Napoleon Cognac cask whisky is a dram that will polarize people. For the lovers of Cognac, this is a brilliant dram. Those who prefer the traditional style of whisky may not rush to this particular expression.

However, I find this an excellent dram. It’s different, it’s unique, it has personality and balances the oak sweetness wonderfully with the fruity Cognac notes.

Also Read: Glen Moray Classic whisky

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/02/2016

In Single Malt whisky

One of the more dusty bottles in my collection is the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve single malt Scotch whisky. This Dalmore whisky bottle has been part of my whisky collection at least nine years, and I have barely touched it.

Dalmore is located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, part of the Scottish Highlands. Alexander Matheson founded Dalmore distillery in 1839. After building Dalmore and running it for 28 years, he decided in 1867 it was time to pass on the distillery to new owners. Andrew and Charles Mackenzie stepped forward.

They brought with them the iconic 12-pointed Royal Stag emblem, which has adorned every bottle of The Dalmore since. Dalmore now stands as Whyte and Mackay’s largest distillery as well as being the flagship for the brand.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve whisky was discontinued in mid-2009, causing an uproar among its fans. It was brought back in this new format.

The whiskies that make up the reworked Cigar Malt release are slightly older. The percentage of sherry wood is higher. The Dalmore is initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks and 30 yo Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts; it is then finished in Premier Cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels.

Related Article: Glenlivet 15yo whisky

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 44%

COLOUR: A dark copper.

NOSE: The name implies smoky cigar notes, and that is the first impression when you get nosing this whisky. Elements of the tobacco mixed with sherry sweetness and juicy raisins. There are faint hints of malt and leather.

PALATE: This malt lives up to its name again. It’s very spicy, with bitter citrus. My first impression on tasting the Dalmore Cigar Malt, without water, reminds me of the smell of overflowing ashtrays in a closed room.

There are some bitter notes and something a bit like old cigarette smoke. Adding water softens the slight alcohol bite. Water also brings out more sherry sweetness and hints of orange and ripe cherries. It is not a complex whisky.

FINISH: The Cigar Malt Reserve whisky has a medium body and finishes in notes of cigarette smoke bitterness.

RATING: GOOD

The whisky lives up to its name. It tells you it is going to deliver cigar/cigarette smoke. And it does just that. If you like an old smoke lounge, you will probably love this dram. I’m not too fond of old cigar smoke. The spice and smoke overwhelmed all the other notes. A bit one sided.

It has put me off trying anything else from Dalmore; which might be a shame. Any suggestions for a Dalmore worth trying?

Also Read: The Balvenie GoldenCask whisky