Category: Single Malt whisky Page 5 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.

Laphroaig PX Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/28/2022

In Single Malt whisky

It is my second Laphroaig I am tasting this year. Earlier in 2015, I tasted the Laphroaig An Cuan Mor whisky. The Laphroaig PX Cask Islay single malt Scotch whisky and the An Cuan Mor bottling are part of three travel retail exclusive releases from Laphroaig.

I notice that the PX Cask and the An Cuan Mor are now available more widely, even in South Africa.

The third bottle in this series is the Laphroaig Quarter Cask whisky. Laphroaig is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery on the beautiful Islay. It is named for the area of land at the head of Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of Islay.

The Johnston brothers founded the distillery in 1810 on what was originally a family-run farm. Laphroaig’s distinctive flavour comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed in the distillery’s floor maltings.

The Laphroaig PX Cask single malt whisky is matured in three types of cask. The spirit is aged initially in American oak bourbon casks and then in quarter casks before a final finishing period in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It has no age statement, but looking at some of the comments on line, it seems that the release is at least 10 years old.

The three different casks give this Laphroaig PX bottling a flavour profile which ties together the classic, peaty Laphroaig smoke and the sherry sweetness. The distillery and brand are owned and operated by Beam Suntory, the American subsidiary of Japan’s Suntory Holdings.

We took this bottle with us on our escape to the Golden Gate National Park in the Free State. What more can you ask for, the mountains in the back and a Laphroaig in the glass in front of you?

Related Article: Ardbeg Uigeadail whisky

Laphroaig PX Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: A wonderful old gold colour.

NOSE: Hints of sweetness, followed by the traditional smoke and peat that Laphroaig is known for. There are hints of raisins with bits of seaweed and nuts. The nose is a wonderful balance between the peaty Laphroaig notes and the sherry sweetness.

PALATE: This dram is something else. It is a riot of different tastes. There are smoke, Christmas Cake, oak, seaweed, peat and tar mixed with hints of a coal pit and some ash. Bit of spiciness floats around in between the bare hints of the sweet wine notes.

The sweetness is not overwhelming but also does not disappear in the peat. It has a beautiful balance. Water brings out more of the fruity sweetness and smooths out the peaty notes. But you need to add the water sparingly.

FINISH: Long and lingering with hints of tar, oak, hints of spice and ending in fruity sweet notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

An amazing dram. I did not give this a Divine rating because the flavours seemed a bit disjointed. There are lots of flavours, but it is as if they did not spend enough time together in the last cask.

My regular readers would know, John loves his peaty whiskies while I prefer the sweeter, softer drams. But this peaty PX Cask Scotch blew us both away. We both loved it. The balance is perfect, and the sweetness makes the coal pit, ash and tar taste like something from heaven. Strange but true!

I paired this Laphroaig PX cask with coconut macarons for my New Years Eve celebration. I was hesitant to try this combination, but was pleasantly surprised when the Laphroaig paired beautifully with the sweet coconut.

The Laphroaig PX Cask release is rather expensive though. In South Africa, it retails for around R2400 and in the UK for around £110 on Amazon.

Laphroaig has also released a Port Cask Finish. It is not part of this specific series, but I have managed to taste the Laphroaig Brodir release as well as the Laphroaig Four Oak whisky as well.

Also Read: Lagavulin Distillers Edition whisky

GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/14/2022

In Single Malt whisky

Time for an 18 yo Highland release, so today I am looking at the GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice single malt Scotch whisky. The GlenDronach opened its doors way back in 1826. A syndicate headed by James Allardes started the distillery, and it iss located at the Dronach Burn in the Deveron area.

Ownership changed frequently and nearly all the big whisky brands owned this distillery at one stage or another. Chivas Brother, Charles Grant and William Teacher and Sons left a mark.

BenRiach’s owners purchased the GlenDronach distillery in 2008. The new owners added a visitors centre and re-launched the old core range of 12 year old, 15 year old, 18 year old and GlenDronach 21 year old whisky releases. They also introduced a Peated expression to showcase their innovative streak.

In 2016 GlenDronach (and BenRiach Distillery Company) was purchased by Brown-Forman. The GlenDronach 18 year old release is named after the distillery’s founder, James Allardice. The current Master Blender is Dr Rachel Barrie.

This single malt release was matured exclusively in ex-oloroso sherry casks and was initially released in 2009. It is not chill-filtered and of natural colour.

GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Burnished mahogany

NOSE: A big and rich sherry bomb. So delicious with notes of Christmas cake and fresh red berries drizzled with sugar. Chocolate covered cherries and fudge with bits of cinnamon and vanilla. Something tropical in the background mixed with raisins and lemon peel.

PALATE: Brandy soaked Christmas cake sweetness, chocolate-coated nuts, stewed fruits and allspice mixed with rich sherry. Overripe figs with bits of dried orange peel, vanilla, fresh cream and pepper.

Perfectly balanced. Chewy and delicious. I finished my first glass without water. It was just perfect! Adding water releases a bit more complexity in the dram.

FINISH: Red berries and cinnamon sugar. Complex and long.

RATING: DIVINE

Just sublime! I have no other words. The GlenDronach 18 year old single malt leaves me speechless with wonder. This Scotch whisky is everything I could dream of in a whisky. Rich, delicious and perfectly balanced. Sherry sweetness, spices and fruity notes all work together to make something bold and smooth.

For me, with my sweet palate, it ticks all the boxes. I looked up at John to see his thoughts, and I could see he feels the same. Even though he prefers a peated whisky, this sherry bomb just bowled him over.

I loved the GlenDronach 12 year old release. I think the GlenDonrach 21 year old whisky should also make an appearance on my tasting lists quite soon. In South Africa the GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice single malt retails for around R1 600 and in the UK for around £180 on Amazon.

I have done a side by side comparison between the GlenDronach 21 yoParliament release and the 18 year old whisky to see how they rate next to each other.

Also Read: Amrut Two Continents Whisky

GlenDronach Peated Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/07/2022

In Single Malt whisky

I have tried at least one GlenDronach each year for the last three years, and in 2022 I want to continue this streak. So this year, I chose a peated release from this typical sherry forward distillery; the GlenDronach Peated single malt Scotch whisky.

I love the GlenDronach 18 year old and rated it, Divine. It is a perfect example of all that is delicious in sherry forward whisky from Speyside. The GlenDronach 21 year old is good, but not as nice as the 18 year old. Other releases in the core range include the 12 year old and the GlenDronach 15 year old.

James Allardice founded the GlenDronach Distillery Company in Forgue, near Huntly. The distillery was damaged in a fire in 1837, and five years later, Allardice went bankrupt. It was bought and rebuilt, and various well-known companies owned the distillery during the following 120 years.

Also Read: Black Bottle Whisky

During the 60s, it passed on to William Teacher & Sons, and they expanded the production. In 1996 it was mothballed, and through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the distillery ended up with French Pernod Ricard in 2005. They sold it to the BenRiach Distilling Co. in 2008. In 2016, the distillery changed hands again, this time going to the US distiller Brown-Forman.

GlenDronach introduced the Peated edition in 2015. It is made using lightly peated barley. First matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The GlenDronach Peated is not chill-filtered and is a NAS release. The spirit is peated to around 25ppm. Similar to Paul John Bold and Talisker Skye.

GlenDronach Peated Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark amber

NOSE: Soft peat, toasted wood, oak spices and fruity sweetness. I was hoping for some of the sherry and fruity red notes to come through, but the fruit notes are more baked apple and orange flavours. Bits of raisins, vanilla and cinnamon.

PALATE: Soft, elegant peat with woody notes. Bits of honey sweetness, roasted pear, nuts and cinnamon. Chewy and bold but still drinkable. Oak spices and pepper.

Water softens the peat a bit and brings more malt to the front. Medium body but not as complex and smooth as the 18 yo. Again I was looking for the sherry notes, but it is negligible.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of smoky wood, oak spices and honey.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I was hoping that more of the delicious red Oloroso sherry notes would come through, but the fruit profile was more ripe green than red fruit. The peat is not the fishy, medicinal Islay peat, but a more heather and dried earth kind of peat.

I love the GlenDronach 12 year old and was hoping it would be a bit more of a sherry bomb integrated with peaty notes, similar to the Laphroaig PX cask, but the Peated is not that.

Not quite sherried enough and not quite the right peat. A Jack of all trades but a master of none comes to mind. It is a lovely release but doesn’t quite tick the sherry or peat boxes. I will stick to the unpeated releases from this distillery and pour me a glass of the Glendronach 12 year old.

The GlenDronach Peated single malt Scotch retail for around R 1 000 in South Africa and I have seen some recently at Bottega Whiskey.

Also Read: Dunville’s Three Crowns Peated Whiskey

Helden Hickory Wood Spirit

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/24/2022

In Single Malt whisky

On the 24th of September, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day. I was invited to the Whisky Shop’s Heritage Day celebrations and got the opportunity to try some proudly South African whisky. Except for Bain’s whisky, there was also Boplaas with their whisky and brandy, as well as the Helden Distillery with the Helden Hickory Wood single malt spirit.

I know that WhiskyBrother& Co have bottled a Young Single Malt from Helden distillery. And if the WhiskyBrother &Co team liked it enough to bottle something from here, I had to explore more of this Free States distillery.

The Helden Distillery is a South African whisky distillery situated in Parys in the Vredefort Dome. The Vredefort Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage area, the world’s largest meteor impact site. Helden is the Dutch word for “hero”.

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The Lead Distiller, Pieter van Helden was first exposed to the concept of distillation while at school. He went on to obtain a PhD in Chemistry. Pieter gradually matured from producing hobby-level fruit brandies (locally known as mampoer) to focusing on the art of whisky.

With a passion for Africa and innovation, the Helden Distillery was founded in 2018. They share premises with their brewing partner, the well-known The Dog & Fig Brewery. The focus is on combining sustainable African malted grains with innovative African wood maturation for their single malt and single grain spirits.

The Helden Hickory Wood spirit is a small batch single malt spirit is made from specially roasted South African malts and then distilled in a pot and column still. It is matured in toasted Hickory wood using AccelerAge technology.

Helden Hickory Wood Single Malt Spirit Review

The Helden Hickory Wood is about 5 months old. It is not chill-filtered and is a natural colour. Only 174 bottles were produced. I have bottle 20/174.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Light Gold

NOSE: Caramel with ripe red grapes. A fruity sweetness with pepper and a floral note.

PALATE: Dry leather and wood with malt and fruity sweetness. Hints of nutmeg and cardamom mixed with cream and traces of toasted nuts. After standing for a few minutes, I get notes of fragrant tea roses. A medium body. A few drops of water makes it smooth and drinkable.

FINISH: Short finish with lemon pepper and wood. Floral notes with bits of rose and nutmeg.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Helden Hickory Wood single malt spirit is too young to be called a whisky, but it drinks smoother than a 3 yo dram. Interesting and different. This young malt explores and expands the boundaries of what whisky can be. It moves away from the older way of thinking about whisky and looks at embracing new taste experiences. A distillery worth celebrating.

When you combine passion, technology and innovation, you get something individual. And if you like unique wood finishes, the Helden range should get a place in your collection.

The Helden Hickory Wood spirit retail for around R 450 is available online from the distillery, WhiskyShop and WhiskyBrother &Co. If you visit Parys, it is worth booking a private Helden whisky tasting experience. That way, you can experience the whole range of whiskies and learn about the production process and brand.

More from the Helden Range

The Helden whisky range consists of the Innovate Range, Limited and Premium, and the Summer collection. The Innovate range includes Cherrywood, Hickory wood finish, and New Make spirits.

An African Bonfire whisky will be part of the Premium collection. This will be a sorghum malt-based whisky that is matured using indigenous African Camel Thorn wood. I have tasted a bit of this, and it is delicious. It is going to be perfect for a bushveld braai.

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from the Helden Distillery team. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Rhino Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/10/2022

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at a delicious whisky with a great cause. That is a win-win situation. A week ago, this bottle of Rhino whisky arrived. I love the design and packaging, and it comes with an extraordinary story.

Southern Africa is facing a poaching crisis. The killing of rhinos for their horns has reached unprecedented levels. In just a decade, more than 7,500 African rhinos have been killed in the mistaken belief that the horn can heal illness. The horn is mainly composed of keratin, the same protein found in hair and fingernails and holds no medicinal value.

Two friends were sitting around a campfire lamenting the rhino poaching crisis and the possible extinction of these magnificent animals. Tired of just talking, they decided to do something about it.

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Gerrit Wagener and Brin Kuchner (a qualified ranger) decided to create a whisky that would highlight the plight of the African rhino and give back to rhino conservation in Africa. They committed to donating 5% of all sales to rehabilitating orphaned baby rhinos at the Rhino Orphanage in the Limpopo province. And so Rhino whisky was born.

The Rhino whisky is a Scotch single malt whisky from an undisclosed distillery in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Northeastern Scotland. Rhino whisky is double matured in Rum Casks and bottled as a NAS release.

Rhino whisky retails for around R 590.00 and is available online via Takealot and WhiskyBrother & Co in South Africa and at a few select retailers.

Rhino Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Gold red

NOSE: Elegant tropical fruit sweetness with bits of baking spice and malt. Hints of cream and vanilla with a green undertone.

PALATE: Freshly baked vanilla shortbread and toasted oak. Then comes the tropical fruit sweetness with overripe guava and hints of honey and floral notes. There are hints of cinnamon and black pepper in the background. Nice balance between the oaky spices and the sweetness. Medium body. A drop or two of water brings more spices to the front.

FINISH: Medium length with malt oiliness and vanilla.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Rhino whisky is an easy drinking and approachable dram. Perfect for a novice but well-rounded enough for a connoisseur to also enjoy. The whisky worked for my palate as I prefer sweeter drams. This is a delicious whisky and will make a great gift for the whisky lover in your life.

The Rhino Orphanage

The Rhino Orphanage, a non-profit organisation, is the world’s first rhino orphanage. The orphanage is a specialist, dedicated, a non-commercial centre that cares for orphaned and injured baby rhinos with the only aim of releasing them back into the wild.

Visit www.therhinoorphanage.co.za for more information.

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky from the Rhino Whisky PR team. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Clan Denny Islay Edition Whisky