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.

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

Paul John PX Select Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/06/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Something sweet to start December on; the Paul John PX Select Cask Indian single malt whisky. Sherry reminds me of December and my Dutch grandmother. During the festive season, she enjoyed a late afternoon sherry on the patio.

They were usually quite sweet, and in my mind, the smell of sherry became associated with Gauteng summer evenings, purple Hydrangeas, bright red Poinsettias and long chats.

When Hector from WhiskyShop gifted me a sample of the Paul John PX Cask whisky, I realised it was the perfect dram to open at the beginning of December and the start of the Festive season. All the sherry to bring back special memories.

Paul John has released two sherry cask single malt whiskies as part of its Select Cask series. These drams were finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks, respectively. Oloroso and PX are just two of the various sherry varietals.

Also Read: Scottish Cousin Whisky

Fino is the driest, PX is the sweetest, and Oloroso falls about in the middle. Oloroso typically has caramel, walnut, and deep fruit notes. I will capture my tasting notes on the Oloroso early next year. Pedro Ximénez is sweeter, and you’ll get flavours like toffee, fig, raisin, and molasses.

Paul John makes use of six-row barley for their whisky. The six-row barley has a higher fibre and protein content when compared to the more traditional two-row barley. More proteins in the barley translate to more fatty acids in the liquid that adds to the whisky’s character.

This Paul John PX Cask whisky was first aged for about 5 years in 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels before spending 2 years in the PX casks. It is a NAS release. The Paul John Pedro Ximénez Cask is not chill-filtered.

Paul John PX Select Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark Copper

NOSE: Sherry sweetness, raisins, dried stone fruit with bits of wood and Christmas Cake. Hints of muscadel wine and ripe plums. Sweet, rich and complex. Delicious!

PALATE: Drying oak with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. The sweetness comes through on the second sip with raisins, dried cherries and bits of dark chocolate. Freshly buttered toast with orange marmalade and black pepper. Toasted nuts and warm bread pudding. A maltiness in the background. Water softens the spices but takes away the complexity. Despite the higher ABV, the Paul John PX Cask does not need any water.

FINISH: Long and lasting with cinnamon and orange peel sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This is a sipping whisky. An after-dinner dram to savour and sip slowly. Especially in winter, this Indian whisky will warm you up from the inside. It is not a whisky for beginners. It is complex and heavy, and you need to take your time with this. Even at a 48% ABV, you don’t need to add water. Rich and delicious, I can’t wait for winter to relax with this dram. A beautiful release.

Other expressions of Paul John whisky include Paul John Nirvana, Paul John Brilliance, Paul John Bold, and Select Cask Classic and Select Cask Peated. The Paul John Pedro Ximénez Select Cask Whisky retails for R 1700. I spotted some at the WhiskyShop.

During my visit to the WhiskyShop, I also spotted the Paul John Christmas Edition. I have tasted this beauty, and it is also a dram worth adding to your festive wish list.

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.

Linkwood 8 year old Very Cloudy Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/25/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Three weeks ago, Morris invited me to join the Joburg Whisky Club for a whisky tasting. A real-life, in person, getting to shake people’s hands, whisky tasting. After so many months of lockdown and online tastings, this was the most exciting event on my calendar.

A further bonus was that the very knowledgeable Candice Baker hosted the tasting, and she presented some exciting drams.The first dram that Candice introduced us to was the Linkwood 8 year old Vintage 2012 single malt Scotch whisky released under the Very Cloudy label by the Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Company.

It is such a memorable dram that the next day I ordered myself a bottle for my collection. The other releases we tried were the Very Cloudy Bunnahabhain Staoisha 2013 Vintage, the Waterford Cooladine 1.1 and Knockroe 1.1 and lastly, the Edradour 9 year old Vintage 2010 whisky.

These releases are imported to South Africa by Navigate World Whisky. They don’t only do whisky but bring exciting rum releases to SA. I will also be exploring the rum selection later in the year.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Spice Road Whisky

Signatory is an independent bottler based at the Edradour distillery near Pitlochry in Perthshire. Launched in September 2005, the Very Cloudy range is a variant of “The un-chill-filtered collection”. The cloudy appearance of the whiskies comes from the suspended fats loaded with aromas that were not eliminated at the time of filtration at room temperature. Especially when you add a drop or 2 of water, the cloudiness comes through.

The original Linkwood distillery was founded in 1821 by Peter Brown in Elgin in the Speyside region of Scotland. Then, in 1971, a new adjoining distillery, called Linkwood B, was built. The two distilleries operated together until 1996 when the old Linkwood was closed down for good. The distillery draws its water from the springs of Millbuies Loch.

Diageo currently owns the distillery. The vast majority of the spirit distilled at Linkwood is used in Diageo-owned blends like Johnnie Walker and White Horse whisky. However, the distillery also sells much of the spirit to other blenders.

Linkwood 8 year old Very Cloudy Whisky Review

Aged in bourbon barrels. Distilled on 08.05.20212 and bottled on 16.11.2020 from Cask no 306311 + 306317. Selected by Navigate World Whisky and La Maison du Whisky.

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Pale gold.

NOSE: Fruity and green with notes of freshly cut green grass, pine needles, mint and bits of grain and malty richness. Bits of summer fruit and hay. Fresh and elegant. A lovely inviting nose.

PALATE: Tropical fruit with mild black pepper, salted liquorice and sun-dried hay. Malt and woodiness with citrus notes. More mint and hints of florals mixed with guava and pineapple sweetness. Quite oily with a medium body .

FINISH: Medium length with mild spice, some green earthy notes and malt.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Not the most complex dram, but unique, well-balanced and very drinkable. The Linkwood is a great summer sipping whisky for when you are looking for something different but approachable.

As this is not a distillery from which you find regular independent bottlings (not in SA anyway), it makes for a great addition to the collection. It is available at selected retail stores, and I got mine via Navigate World Whisky Online. It retails for R995 in South Africa.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Island Green Whisky

Balblair 15 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It is time to look at the second sample that I received from Balblair when they launched their new age statement releases. First up was the Balblair 12 year old single malt whisky which was a great start to the new range and a perfect introduction to the Balblair Distillery house style.

Today I look at the Balblair 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky. This release was first matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts.

According to the distillery tasting notes, the 15 year old have a deeper concentration of fruit notes compared to the 12 year old and have some yummy chocolatey elements too. Together with the Balblair 12 year old and the 15 year old, Balblair has also released a 17 year old whisky, an 18 year old as well as a Balblair 21 year old whisky.

I have a small love affair with 15 yo whiskies. For me, it is as if the little bit extra time in the wood adds something unique to the dram. Some of my favourite releases are 15-year-olds. Will this release also join my favourite 15?

The Balblair 15 year old single malt is non-chill-filtered and natural colour. It was aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts. Balblair distillery is owned by Inver House Distillers.

Balblair 15 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Bright amber

NOSE: Fruity sweetness, ginger with toasted oak. Freshly baked sugar cookies with cinnamon and dried fruit. Rich and inviting.

PALATE: Dried apple rings, cinnamon and nutmeg spiciness and dried oak. Dark chocolate covered orange slices, red berries and summer fruit salad drizzled with honey. Delicious and rich. I so enjoyed the 15 year old that I finished my glass without even adding a bit of water.

FINISH: The best part of this dram. Delicious and long filled with dried oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cream.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is interesting how the additional time spent in sherry casks have changed this release compared to the Balblair 12 year old whisky. A very different mouthfeel and more complex when compared to the 12 year old.

You can recognize the house style, but the extra time in the casks added depth and intensity to the Balblair 15 year old whisky. Very delicious!

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.