Category: Single Malt whisky Page 8 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.

Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/25/2022

In Single Malt whisky

I bought this bottle of whisky for John’s 5oth birthday, and it is only now, three years later that I get around to opening it. The Glenmorangie Signet single malt Scotch whisky is somewhat unusual. It is the world’s first single malt whisky made with high roasted chocolate malt barley.

Glenmorangie is a well-known Highland Scottish distillery in the town of Tain. I have captured tasting notes for the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX, and Glenmorangie Spios and these posts also deal with the Glenmorangie history.

Glenmorangie released the Signet edition in 2008. It takes its name from the elaborate design that embellishes most Glenmorangie bottles. The Signet itself originated from the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, a Pictish item that dates back to around the year 800 AD. The Signet whisky was a creation of Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Master of Whisky Creation.

Back in his student days, Dr Lumsden became a coffee enthusiast. While studying for the PhD in Biochemistry, he became obsessed over the intricacies of single estate coffee beans and the ideal roasting levels for optimum flavour. Years later, this coffee obsession inspired him to create the Glenmorangie Signet.

The Glenmorangie Signet single malt whisky was aged in American virgin oak casks before it was bottled. It is not chill-filtered and carries no age statement.

The Signet is part of the Glenmorangie Prestige range, together with the 18 year old and the 25 year old single malt whisky. The Signet release retails for around R2 500 in South Africa and around £ 150 in the UK.

Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Whisky

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Notes of marshmallow, vanilla, butterscotch mixed with crunchy toffee brittle. Hints of spices and espresso and lemon peel. So delicious.

PALATE: Malty notes with lots of sweet spices, cinnamon dark chocolate. Bits of roasted coffee beans with a fruity hint and honey sweetness. Faint traces of pepper and ginger. A full-bodied whisky. Rich and delicious. Water releases a bit more complexity and sweetness, but it is delicious without water.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering with notes of lemon peel, toffee sweetness and green pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious single malt. I can’t believe we waited three years to open this bottle. The coffee and chocolate notes are noticeable and delicious. I can sit and nose this whisky for hours. If they made a candle smelling like this, my whole house would be full of it.

A whisky to enjoy late at night with someone special. Probably my favourite Glenmorangie of all times.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

Oban 14 year old Singe Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/21/2022

In Single Malt whisky

I have had this bottle of Oban 14 year old single malt Scotch whisky for so long; I can’t even remember where I got it. The Oban Distillery is situated in the Scottish Highlands near the west coast port of Oban.

It was established in 1794, and a bustling seaside town grew around the distillery. It is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with just two pot stills. Oban only releases a limited variety of bottlings.

They are primarily known for the 14 year old single malt but also have a Distiller’s Edition (finished in Montilla Fino sherry casks) and a NAS Oban Little Bay. The Oban 14 year old is part of the Diageo Classic Malt range.

Also Read: Tamdhu Batch 001 Whisky

The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together. The Classic Malts whisky collection represents the unique diversity of the different Scottish regions, taste and heritage. From the soft flowery Glenkinchie in the Lowlands to the honeyed Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.

Through Speyside and Cragganmore onto the West where the Talisker comes from. Onwards to the Western Highlands where Oban sits and last but not least the peaty Lagavulin on Islay.

Oban 14 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark mahogany gold.

NOSE: Rich with hints of smoke, fruity sweetness, faint spices and bits of peat. The nose is inviting and warming and the best part of this dram. The Oban 14 year old nose softens after adding water, but it keeps the inviting warmness.

PALATE: On the palate, the Oban is a different story, however. I was expecting a rich, creamy peat; however, there are notes of bitter lemon, overwhelming oak, bits of peat and seaweed and very little of the sweetness promised by the nose.

This dram has an unfinished feel to it. As if it was aged in an old cask that had very little to give. Adding water intensifies the bitter lemon notes and takes away the peaty smoky.

FINISH: Long and lingering, unfortunately, it is the bitter lemon that lingers.

RATING: GOOD

It might be that I have a bad batch or funky bottle, but this will never be on my top 20 list of favourite drams. According to the Oban distillery, this dram pairs well with crystallized ginger. I will take their word for it as I will probably not be trying it anytime soon.

What was your take on this 14 year old from Oban? I also tried the Oban Distiller’s Edition and liked it a lot more.
Also Read: Macallan 10 yo Whisky

Ardbeg Scorch Islay Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/14/2022

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at the Ardbeg Day release of 2021: The Ardbeg Scorch Islay single malt Scotch whisky. I seldom buy or open my Ardbeg day releases because the liquid does not always live up to the hype, fanfare (and high price). The Ardbeg Day releases are drinkable but nothing mind-blowing most of the time.

Usually, the Ardbeg Day releases are average, but every couple of years, there is a fantastic bottle; I loved the Ardbeg Supernova release but found Dark Cove a bit bland. I have noticed a similar sentiment looking at other comments on the Ardbeg release.

A limited number of Ardbeg Scorch bottles made it to SA, and I did not get a bottle in the initial offering. Then a whisky friend, Luben, gave me a sample from his bottle.

Ardbeg is John’s favourite distillery, and after tasting the sample, he was in love. I knew I had to get my hands on a bottle if possible.

Fortunately, I found a bottle at the WhiskyShop in Fourways towards the end of 2021 and trust me, it was the best gift John got. He was over the moon.

The 2021 release is “Ardbeg’s tribute to the legendary dragon of Islay.” Ardbeg Scorch whisky is matured in its most heavily charred ex-bourbon American oak casks.

There is no age statement, and it is non-chill filtered and without added colour. Ardbeg distillery is part of the LVMH group of companies.

Also Read: Kilchoman Sanaig Whisky

Ardbeg Scorch Islay Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Amber pale gold

NOSE: Bonfire smoke next to the ocean, peat with toasted oak and vanilla, green pine branches and spices. Tar coated poles with hints of cigar smoke. Salted caramel and toffee apple sweetness. Big and bold, typical Ardbeg nose.

PALATE: Ash, charred wood with earthy peat and salt. Big, creamy and bold, right in your face. There is a fruity sweetness and vanilla behind the smoke mixed with some espresso and bitter chocolate on the second sip.

Sorch has the typical Ardbeg medicinal notes with a meaty flavour and a light lemon pepper sprinkling. It was so amazing; we finished our first glass without water. Complex and not an every day drinking dram.

FINISH: A long and lingering finish. With notes of ash and smoke and toasted oak and lemon pepper.

RATING: DIVINE

Just delicious! This is the first Ardbeg Day release in many years that I don’t mind owning, opening and drinking. I will be sad when it is finished.

The balance between the smoke and the hints of sweetness and spice is perfect. The smoky flavour is inviting you in for a taste; like BBQ smoke on the wind. You can smell it and know that there is fun to be had, but it does not suffocate or overwhelm you.

It left John and me with huge smiles, and even my sweet palate was not complaining. For a change, the Ardbeg Day release lives up to the hype. My bottle will not last long.

Also Read: How to Start a whisky club

Tobermory 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/07/2022

In Single Malt whisky

During June 2020, I tasted the Ledaig 10 year old whisky, and today I tried the unpeated Tobermory 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Tobermory is the unpeated release from the distillery.

The Tobermory distillery is situated on the island of Mull. John Sinclair founded the distillery in 1798 as Ledaig distillery, and is the only distillery on Mull.

The distillery is currently owned by Burn Stewart Distillers, a subsidiary of Distell Group Limited of South Africa. Tobermory spirit is used in the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blended whisky. The peated release is named after the former name, Ledaig.

The water comes from a private loch near the Mishnish lochs. The water has some peaty phenols that give Tobermory a slightly phenolic character.

Also Read: Slyrs Whisky

The malted barley is shipped in from the Port Ellen maltings, and Tobermory has only a little storage space, so the casks are stored at Deanston Distillery near Doune.

The Tobermory core range includes a 12 year old and an 18 year old release as well as the Sinclair series, the first of which is the Rioja Cask Finish. There are also various independent bottlings and even a gin available.

The Tobermory single malt is distilled from unpeated malted barley and matured in oak casks for at least ten years. It is non-chill-filtered and without artificial colouring.

Tobermory 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Island whisky

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Green notes and fresh flowers. Hints of black pepper, cereal, winter spice and light oak. Not a lot of fruit or sweetness. Bits of mint.

PALATE: Malt, drying oak, black pepper and light herbal notes. Bits of ginger and cinnamon with hints of lemon peel. Medium-bodied. Not a lot of sweetness. Faint honey notes in the background. Water brings more pepper to the front and makes the soft honey notes disappear. Rather one dimensional.

FINISH: Black pepper, lemon peel and oak. Drying and spicy.

RATING: GOOD

The Tobermory 10 year old Scotch whisky reminds me of the Glenglassaugh Evolution. Both have similar drying oak and pepper notes. It is a bit too spicy for my sweet palate. I prefer whisky with more sweetness and fruity notes. Sadly, there was no fruity sweetness or complexity in the Tobermory.

Comparing it to the Ledaig, I liked the Ledaig a lot more. The Ledaig 10 year old was all peat and green with sweet hints. More complex and drinkable when compared to the Tobermory.

Also Read: Hammerhead 1989 Whisky

Paul John Oloroso Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/31/2022

In Single Malt whisky

At the start of December 2021, I tasted the Paul John PX Cask Indian single malt whisky. A rich and dram from India that is ideally suited for winter sipping. December in South Africa is during summer, and as lovely as the PX Cask was, I am keeping my bottle for winter.

The Paul John Master Distiller, Michael D’souza, also released an Oloroso Select Cask finish Indian single malt whisky. Oloroso sherry is traditionally not as heavy and sweet as the PX sherry. Oloroso sherry has notes of toasted nuts with more earthy undertones when compared to the PX sherry, which has more dried fruit and honey notes.

So today, let me try the Paul John Oloroso Select Cask whisky. Like the PX, the Oloroso started life in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and, after at least 5 years moved into first-fill ex-Oloroso casks for about two years.

The Select Cask series does not have an age statement, but it is probably around 7 years old.

Paul John Oloroso Select Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark polished copper

NOSE: Christmas cake, treacle sweetness, nuts, bits of leather, hints of sherry and light woody notes. Bits of summer fruit and cinnamon. Rich and inviting.

PALATE: Red fruits, dark chocolate intermingled with pepper spice and oaky notes. A bit of alcohol heat. Bold without being overwhelming. Bits of leather, sherry and roasted malt.

The Oloroso evolve between intricate sweetness and spicy notes. A complex, full-body whisky. Not for a newbie. Water brings down the alcohol heat and makes it smoother.

FINISH: Lingering with notes of drying oak, fruit and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely drinkable dram. Lighter in mouthfeel when compared to the PX Cask, the Oloroso Select Cask is made for summer sipping. It will be perfect for after dinner, sitting on the patio listening to the sounds of the night. The Paul John Oloroso Select Cask single malt retails in South Africa for around R 1 500.

Putting these two drams next to each other is a great way to experience the impact of the different sherry casks on the whisky. I wondered if the PX compared to the Oloroso cask finishing would significantly differ in taste. And it did. The PX Select is sweeter, heavier, more complex and more of a winter dram; the Oloroso is nutty, lighter and more suited for summer.

There is a marked difference in the sweet notes, with the PX having more grape jam and dried fruit notes. The Paul John Oloroso Cask has more chocolate and Christmas cake notes. The most significant difference is in the finish. The Oloroso has a lighter and softer finish, and it is easy to drink a second glass.

Both are lovely, but I prefer the Oloroso Cask above the PX Cask. It might just be because it was 30C on Friday. During the cooler months, I will retry these two releases again.

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

Also Read: A Whisky and Indian food pairing