Category: Single Malt whisky Page 38 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.

Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/04/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Today I try the Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion single malt Scotch whisky. What a unique name! Wemyss Malts is an independent bottler of malt whiskies from Scotland. They regularly release limited editions of Single Cask Whiskies.

The names they choose for their limited releases are not only exotic and interesting but also reflect the unique aromas and flavours found within the bottle.

Wemyss Malts select their Single Cask releases, under the expert guidance of Charlie Maclean. The Single Cask range is bottled at 46% ABV and labelled according to their region of origin.

I tried my first Wemyss release in Dullstroom, on one of our visits to the quant little whisky bar ‘Wild About Whisky’. After this visit, we added a few bottles to our collection. I choose this Sweet Mint Infusion release to remind me of warm summer days. Something I am longing for during this cold SA winter.

The Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion is a 1991 distillation from the Aultmore Distillery. Only 354 bottles of this 22-year-old single cask were released.

Built in 1895 by Benrinnes-owner Alexander Edward, the Aultmore distillery sits just north of Keith, in the heart of Speyside. Aultmore, which originates from the Scotch Gaelic for ‘Big burn’, takes its water from the Burn of Auchinderran.

Aultmore closed for several years around the turn of the 20th century and was affected during WW1 due to barley shortages. It has changed ownership various times and is now owned by John Dewar & Sons Ltd, part of Bacardi.

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Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 46 %

COLOUR: The official colour description is “Pale Straw”.

NOSE: The mint hits you at once when nosing this whisky. Behind the mint is a layer of oak and cereals with hints of fresh-cut flowers. Adding a few drops of water releases more flavour in the nose and some peppermint and fudgy sweetness comes through.

PALATE: On tasting this Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion, the mint again immediately comes through. It is very different from other whiskies. It has a more herbal taste with green notes of crushed mint, cut grass, eucalyptus and oak.

There are notes of barley and toffee sweetness next, followed by some spices and fresh fruit. It is a smooth and rich whisky that is suitably complex.

FINISH: It has a medium finish. The finish has notes of spice and ginger with some hints of sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The freshness of the whisky remains. This is like a mint toffee version of a whisky. A wonderfully different whisky. I had a second glass and had visions of a sunny South African summer that is hopefully only 6 weeks away.

I paired this Wemyss dram with some Anthon Berg Mint & Caramel dark chocolate and the pairing made the mint pop.

Other Wemyss Malts releases I have tried include the Wemyss The Hive whisky, Wemyss Gooseberry Marmalade, Wemyss Brandy Casket as well as Wemyss Malts Dark Chocolate Orange.

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The English Whisky Co Chapter 6 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/30/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Whisky from England? Today I try The English Whisky Co Chapter 6 single malt whisky made in Norfolk at the St Georges Distillery. Although whisky distilling has been widespread in Scotland, just south of the border in England, whisky production was almost non-existent.

It stopped more than 100 years ago with the closing of the Lea Valley Distillery in 1903. It all changed when James Nelstrop retired. After spending his working life on projects around the globe, he decided to follow his dream upon retiring.

His vision was to make whisky in Norfolk. Together with his son Andrew, he obtained a distilling license in January 2006, and the English Whisky Co was born.

St. Georges Distillery in Roudham, Norfolk was built and the first barrels filled at the end of 2006. The grain for the whisky comes from Fakenham, the yeast comes from Kingston upon Hull, and the water comes from the Breckland. The first whisky came on to the market during 2009 and was three years old.

To indicate a sequence in their release schedule, St. Georges Distillery uses a sequential bottling system. Starting with Chapter 1, the distillery released a range of aged malt spirits and single malt whiskies.

Odd numbers in the range have been made using peated malt. Some exception exists such as Chapter 7 which was aged in Rum Casks. Now England has a place in the history of whisky again. The Saint George Distillery is stepping up and with courage and boldness, producing a magnificent golden liquid that England can be proud of.

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The English Whisky Co. Chapter 6 Whisky Review

I have a bottle from Cask Type ASB, Cask Number 463,464, 465 and 466. Distilled in September 2007 and bottled in March 2011. It is not chill-filtered. The English Whisky Co. Chapter 6 single malt is unpeated. Iain Henderson was the distillery manager.

COUNTRY: England

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: The whisky is a light golden colour.

NOSE: The nose is very delicate. There are notes of barley, fresh fruit sweetness and fresh-cut grass. There are hints of vanilla and almond sweetness.

PALATE: Add water carefully as to not overwhelm this delicate whisky. The palate is an amazing surprise. I was expecting a delicate soft whisky but got a wonderfully robust full-bodied taste. There are notes of oak, barley and some citrus. The English Whisky Co Chapter 6 whisky has hints of fresh apples, vanilla sweetness and some nuts.

FINISH: It is a complex whisky with a long finish. It ends in notes of spice and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

A surprising mouthful of taste for a 3 yo whisky. It is probably one of the youngest whiskies in my collection, but this shows that age is not always a predictor of quality. It is a whisky that England can be proud of. I will certainly extend my collection with a few more bottles from this distillery when I get the chance.

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Glenfiddich 18 year old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/28/2014

In Single Malt whisky

The Glenfiddich distillery is one of my favourite distilleries, and I have quite a few bottles from this distillery. Today I talk about the Glenfiddich 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Located in Dufftown in the Speyside region of Scotland, the distillery was founded in 1886. Glenfiddich is one of three William Grant-owned whisky distilleries which sit in relative proximity to each other.

Glenfiddich was the first distillery with a visitor centre. The differently shaped Glenfiddich has become one of the world’s best selling single malts. The distinctive triangular-shaped bottles have been a Glenfiddich feature since 1957.

The shape and packaging were introduced during the difficult times’ whisky producers faced in the 60s and 70s. Today, partly because of these innovations, Glenfiddich remains one of the few distillers still in family ownership.

My bottle of Glenfiddich 18 year old is a 1L bottle from Glenfiddich’s core range, and it was matured in a mix of Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon casks.

Every batch is individually numbered, and I have a bottle from batch no 3104. The prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2005 and 2006 judged it to be the best 18 year old Scottish whisky in the world.

I have previously tasted the Glenfiddich 12 year old whisky and rated it Excellent. It is one of my favourite whiskies for when there are guests who are new to whisky. The Glenfiddich 15 year old Solero Reserve is also a favourite in my house.

Related Article: The Glenlivet 18 yo whisky

Glenfiddich 18 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden colour. It hints at a rich experience ahead. However, it is not a very oily whisky.

NOSE: In terms of the nose, the oak and fresh apple notes intertwine with barley and cereals. There is a definite sweetness of dried fruits and hints of toffee in the background. The 18 yo has a fairly complex nose.

PALATE: Tasting the whisky after adding a few drops of water brings notes of oak, barley and cereal. There is a mild spice note on the palate. It seems like an extraordinary smooth whisky. There are notes of sweet fruit cake and Christmas pudding with some warming cinnamon spice at the end. Some roast nuts come through. It is a layered whisky that takes time to unpack fully.

FINISH: Long and lingering with lots of spice. A lingering spicy finish with mild nuts and toffee at the end.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Glenfiddich 18 year old single malt has a wonderfully complex nose and an easy-drinking and relaxing whisky. Just what you expect from Glenfiddich. I am delighted that I have a 1-litre bottle of this Glenfiddich expression because I certainly would want to have another glass or two.

The price for the Glenfiddich 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky is around $105 or £68.

Playing around with this release, I paired it with a Brebirousse d’Argental cheese. Not a bad pairing to try. I have also compared this release with the Glenmorangie 18 year old whisky to see how these two iconic 18 year old’s stack against each other.

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Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/02/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Up to about 18 months ago, Taiwanese whisky was not available in South Africa. On a business trip to London during 2013, John popped into the Whisky Exchange in London. This splendid emporium of whisky is a regular stop when we are in London. John took the opportunity to acquire a few whiskies, including the Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask single malt whisky.

Distilled by the King Car Group, the whisky was named after the Kavalan people. They are seen as the indigenous people of Taiwan. Legend has it that the Kavalan arrived by sea from the East.

When they saw the stunning beauty of the Island, they decided to settle in the bountiful land that later became Taiwan. Who would have thought that a country usually associated with electronics would be able to produce a drinkable whisky?

Solist is German, meaning a musician in a concert who performs a solo piece. The Solist range refers to the fact that this expression is from Kavalan’s single cask releases. The Kavalan range has a musical theme that flows through more releases, such as the ConcertMaster.

The whisky is matured in hand-selected American ex-bourbon casks. It has been awarded the Best Rest of the World Single Malt Whisky 2010 and International Spirits Challenge’s gold medal 2010.

The Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon single malt whisky is bottled at cask strength and is non-chill-filtered.

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Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky Review

I have Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask bottle no 178 of 228 from cask no B080616020.

COUNTRY: Taiwan

ABV: 57.1%

COLOUR: Rich golden yellow.

NOSE: Deep rich sherry with some vanilla and spices. The Solist show hints of caramel sweetness and dried fruit. Adding a few drops of water allows the smoothness to come through.

PALATE: Bourbon sweetness with fresh cherries. There are nuances of dried fruit, toffee balanced perfectly with spices. The Kavalan shows bits of oak and vanilla in the background. A smooth, complex whisky that makes you want to have another glass.

FINISH: Long and lingering and hugely satisfying.

RATING: DIVINE

The first words I captured on my tasting notes for the Kavalan Solist ex-bourbon cask was “WOW”! Regardless of the high ABV, it is incredibly smooth and amazingly drinkable. You don’t need water; there is no alcohol heat.

The Solist ex-bourbon cask was my Whisky of the Year for 2013! Lately, there has been an influx of releases from this amazing distillery into SA, and I hope to add to my collection soon with a few more bottles. If you buy one bottle of whisky only this year, this is the one to get. It is so worth it.

I have also paired this special dram with some dark chocolate enrobed cherries, and it was a match made in heaven.

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Glengoyne 21 year old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/30/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Time for something a bit older, the Glengoyne 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Positioned in the Highlands, Glengoyne Distillery is situated in a valley close to a river that flows into the famous Loch Lomond. In the past, the woodlands, which covered the surrounding area, gave good shelter for illicit whisky distilling.

The Glengoyne Distillery began distilling legally in 1833 and was known as the Burnfoot distillery. The story goes that the owner intended to name the distillery Glengoyne, but due to a mistake by a clerk, it was recorded as Glen Guin. Later it was changed to Glengoyne, which translates from ‘Glenguin’ or ‘Glen of the Wild Geese’.

Glengoyne is one of the few distilleries left producing whisky in this part of Scotland today. Glengoyne is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd., a Scottish, family-owned business. Various features make Glengoyne unique. They produce Highland single malts, but the whisky is matured in the Scottish Lowlands.

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The boundary line runs underneath the A81 road and passes in front of the distillery. Glengoyne’s stills are situated in the Highlands, while the maturing casks of whisky rest across the road in the Lowlands.

Unlike many malt whisky distilleries, Glengoyne does not use peat smoke to dry their barley but instead uses warm air. As a result, Glengoyne has been noted as being stylistically closer to a Lowland single malt than a Highland single malt. Glengoyne is also one of only two distilleries remaining today that uses Golden Promise barley.

This barley is low in yield but high in quality. Glengoyne also enjoys the slowest distillation rate in Scotland (the spirit comes from the still at around 4-5 litres per minute). It encourages the formation of ‘esters’, giving Glengoyne its distinctively sweet, smooth taste.

Glengoyne 21 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

The Glengoyne 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky is matured in oak casks from Spain, which previously contained sherry.

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: Another dark whisky where the colour is closer to red copper than gold. It is quite oily and leaves long legs in the glass.

NOSE: at once brings sherry sweetness. There are dried fruits, Christmas cake and hints of oak and vanilla. The addition of a few drops of water changes the nose. With the water, the Glengoyne nose brings more fresh fruit.

PALATE: This is quite a spicy whisky on the palette. It is wonderfully smooth and rich. Mixed with the spiciness, there are notes of sherry, oak and honey sweetness. The Glengoyne 21 year old balances the sweetness with the spicy to create a warming and comforting taste. There are hints of barley, vanilla and toffee.

FINISH: Long and lingering and goes on and on. It is a full-bodied whisky that ends in notes of spice, oak and ginger. John forgot to finish his notes and had to pour a second glass to complete the tasting notes.

RATING: DIVINE

This whisky makes you want to sit in front of a fire with loved ones and just stop to appreciate life. It’s delicious! The Glengoyne 21 year old whisky is well-balanced, smooth and rich.

It is a satisfying whisky that lifts your spirits and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling that everything is well with the world. I can’t wait to try more expressions from this interesting distillery.

Also Read: The Old Pulteney 21 yo whisky