Whisky of the Week

Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Caol Ila 12 year old Single Malt Whisky

By

On 08/14/2023

In Single Malt whisky

Caol Ila 12 yo Single Malt Whisky header
Johannesburg has been graced for over a decade by an annual Oyster, Wine, and Food Festival. This June tradition draws in crowds of hungry, enthusiastic foodies. This weekend extravaganza sees over 60,000 Knysna oysters vanish into eager palates alongside an array of delectable dishes and wines. It’s no wonder that this festival remains a perennial favourite.

And when you find yourself basking in the winter sun, surrounded by friends, good music, and mouthwatering food, you might wonder what could make this perfect weekend even better. Well, here’s a secret we’ve been cherishing: a small flask of Caol Ila 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

It’s the key to elevating the flavour of fresh oysters, infusing them with the rich, peaty, and smoky essence of Islay. It’s nothing short of perfection.

While Caol Ila may not be as renowned as Ardbeg or Laphroaig, it holds a special place in my heart. The distillery’s name, Caol Ila, is derived from the Gaelic term for the Sound of Islay, which separates the island from Jura.



Situated near Port Askaig on the Sound’s shores, it was first chosen as a location by Hector Henderson in 1846. Over the years, it has changed hands multiple times and is currently under the ownership of Diageo.

Pronounced ‘cull-eela’, most of Caol Ila’s output is used in popular blends like Johnnie Walker. In recent years, the distillery has expanded its repertoire to include peated and unpeated expressions.

The Caol Ila 12 year old single malt is the gateway into the world of this distillery. Introduced in 2002, it offers a more subtle peat and smoke profile than its Islay counterparts.

Also Read: Laphroaig 10 yo whisky

Caol Ila 12 year old Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Caol Ila 12 yo single malt whisky with glass
REGION: Islay

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light golden wheat

NOSE: When you raise a glass to your nose, you’ll encounter classic Islay notes of peat, sea salt, smoke, and the scent of dry seaweed along the shore, all interwoven with hints of spicy toasted oak. It’s not a big, bold presence; instead, it’s soft and gentle.

PALATE: The palate unfolds with soft peat, oaky smoke, citrus fruit, malt, and a reminiscent aroma of sun-dried oily fish hanging on racks by the shore. As you savour it, notes of vanilla and cinnamon gracefully dance on your taste buds, creating a well-balanced, complex, and rich flavour profile. Adding a few drops of water to your glass reveals even more sweetness.

FINISH: The finish is where this whisky truly shines, as it lingers on your palate with notes of peat, cinnamon, and salt.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Caol Ila 12 year old single malt whisky stands apart from the boisterous dramatics of Ardbeg or Lagavulin. It’s akin to a perfect winter’s afternoon by the coast, with a refreshing salty breeze carrying whispers of fish, fried seaweed, and untold adventures.

Picture golden sunshine gently drying the sand and only the sea’s rhythmic roar to break the soothing silence. This Scotch whisky is a sophisticated yet easy-drinking dram.

Pairing this Caol Ila with some White Rock cheese, I discovered that while it wasn’t an ideal match, it offered a delightful experience. This whisky truly shines when accompanied by a cheese with a bit more body, complementing its unique character perfectly.

So, whether you’re savouring it with oysters or exploring its pairings, Caol Ila 12 year old whisky promises a taste journey bound to leave an indelible mark on your palate.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 yo whisky



How to make a Gin Martini

By

On 08/07/2023

In Cocktails

How to make a Gin Martini cocktail
Today I look at a cocktail that is sophisticated and elegant. The gin martini rose to popularity during the 1950s and 1960s when having a martini during lunch was seen as the height of social sophistication. This classic cocktail is making a current-day comeback. It was one of the most googled cocktails in 2022.

The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth. It is served in a martini glass and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.

Also Read: Negroni Cocktail 

Cocktail aficionados dispute the origin of the cocktail. Some people suggest that it was named after the vermouth brand Martini. Another theory suggests that a bartender in San Francisco made it for a miner on his way to Martinez.

The cocktail was mentioned in an old bartenders manual from the 1800s, and it gave the gin to vermouth ratio at 1:1. So 1/2 glass of gin and 1/2 a glass of vermouth. Then the recipe included some bitters added as well. As people’s tastes changed, the ratio of gin to vermouth changed. Over time, the gin to vermouth ratio went up and down from 3:1 to 6:1.



Variations of Martini cocktails

Dirty Martini: The recipe for a dirty martini has a dash of olive brine is added for a salty kick. This should be made with classic London dry gin to ensure the drink balances the added salty notes.

Vodka Martini: In this version, high-quality vodka replaces the gin in this version. James Bond might have requested it “shaken, not stirred” but according to barkeepers, it is better to stir it for a smoother mouth feel.

Vesper Martini: in this recipe, there are both gin, vodka and vermouth in a ratio 3:1:1/2. This was the first drink James Bond ordered in Casino Royale.

Dry Martini: In the recipe for the dry martini, the gin to vermouth ratio becomes bigger. An extra dry martini will have only a drop of vermouth in it.

Perfect Martini: this recipe uses equal amounts of dry and sweet vermouth.

Wet Martini: A wet martini has an equal volume of vermouth to the gin.

Burnt Martini: Similar to the wet version above, but uses vermouth and peaty Scottish whisky. The ratio will be 1:1/2:1/2.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Blue vs Black Label Whisky

Martini cocktail recipe

The Ingredients

Gin: because there is no mix to hide lousy quality gin, it is crucial to use your favourite premium quality gin. A London-style gin with crisp, clean notes should work best. If you choose to make a vodka martini, the same rule applies. Make use of premium unflavoured vodka to ensure the best drinking experience.

Vermouth: Vermouth is a type of fortified wine blended and infused with different herbs and botanicals. After opening the bottle of vermouth, store it in the fridge. Use the best quality vermouth that you can find.

Garnish: The garnish you use is up to you. If you don’t like an olive or two, you can rub a bit of lemon peel around the rim of the glass and drop it into the Martini.

Martini cocktail header

How to make a Gin Martini

Ingredients

  • 3 units of gin
  • 1 units dry vermouth
  • lemon twist or olives

Method

Add the gin, dry vermouth into a mixing glass with ice and stir until very cold.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish the drink with a lemon twist or olives.

Also Read: Bloody Mary Cocktail



Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve Bourbon

By

On 07/31/2023

In Whisky Comparison

Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve  Bourbon comparison
More side-by-side fun, and this time I am back comparing bourbons. Today I look at the Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey. Comparing Saceraz vs Brown-Forman Corporation bourbon next to each other.

In the past I have done many side by side comparisons, the most resent when I compared the Maker’s Mark against the Woodford Reserve. As usual, we did it as a blind tasting to remove some bias.

But as always, comparing drams side by side is always fun and leads to discoveries about the liquid in our glass and our taste buds.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon with glass b

The Buffalo Trace distillery is in Frankfort, Kentucky, and is owned by the Sazerac Company. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight bourbon, was introduced in August 1999. It has no age statement. The Buffalo Trace mash bill is not disclosed. However, it is speculated to contain a high corn percentage and less than 10% rye.

The bourbon was named in tribute to the mighty buffalo that carved paths through the wilderness in the trek to the Great Planes and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them.

The distillery also produces other spirits, such as rye whiskey and vodka. Other brands in the SAzerac portfolio include Blanton’s, Sazerac Rye, 1792 Bourbon, WL Weller and Eagle Rare, to name but a few.

Readily available around the globe and is priced in the affordable category. The Amazon retail price is around £28. It is perfect for cocktails such as an Old Fashioned and pairs well with chocolate.




Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon with glass Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. The distillery changed hands a few times, and Brown-Forman purchased the property in 1993 and refurbished it. They renamed it The Woodford Reserve Distillery in 2003.

Woodford Reserve bourbon was introduced to the market in 1996. In 1995 the distillery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The mash bill for Woodford Reserve bourbon features a high percentage of rye. It has a 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt ratio. Unusual also for being triple distilled and having the lowest proof upon entering the barrel, where it matures for at least six years.

The retail price for this release on Amazon is around £35.

Other brands in the Brown Forman stable include Jack Daniel’s, GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh whisky. There is also a Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey as well as a Double Oaked release.

Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve Bourbon

buffalo trace vs woodford reserve bourbon

Buffalo Trace
Woodford Reserve
TypeBourbon whiskeyBourbon whiskey
MashbillNot disclosed72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt
ABV
45%
43.2%
Colour
A reddish copperDark copper
NoseFruity sweetness, rich and bold.  There are hints of candied fruit, caramel, vanilla, brandy pudding and oak.  Bits of spice float in the background.Honey sweetness with apricots and oranges. Bits of condensed milk richness mixed with vanilla, dark chocolate and hints of spices.
PalateThere are notes of fruit, orange marmalade, white pepper and oak.  Bits of cinnamon with toasted oak.  Water tones down the spice.
Oak and sweetness perfectly balanced with apricot and cinnamon spiciness.  Tangy winter fruits and vanilla mixed with toffee. Creamy and smooth with a full body and a satisfying mouthfeel.
FinishBefore adding water long and ended in notes of spicy sweetness.  After adding water, the finish was quite flat.
Long and lingering and ends in notes of sweetness and spices
My RatingVery GoodExcellent
CommentsDrink it neat!Delicious and bold.
Price point


$35$40

Guessing which glass contained the Buffalo Trace was relatively easy. I find the Buffalo Trace quite spicy and concentrating on the spicy notes on the palate in the two glasses allowed me to identify it. From the nose alone, I would not get it.

The nose on the Buffalo Trace was bold and sweet with lots of vanilla and fruity sweetness. Quite pronounced. The nose of the Woodford Reserve is softer and sweeter with notes of fruity apricot, vanilla and oak. More elegant.

When you taste them, the differences come through, and the differences are big and bold. The Buffalo Trace is spicier and less complex. It has fruity notes and a nice drinkable mouthfeel. Buffalo Trace has a medium body and lovely toasted oak notes. However, don’t add water.

The Woodford Reserve has a creamy base with sweetness, oak and vanilla notes. Much bolder than the nose suggests. The Woodford Reserve was my favourite. The condensed milk, vanilla, and dark chocolate notes suit my sweeter palate.

Both are great bottles to have in your collection. If you prefer spicier bourbon, the Buffalo Trace is perfect. If, like me, you like something a bit sweeter, grab that bottle of Woodford Reserve. Whatever your choice, it is a good one.

Also Read: My Favourite Margarita Recipe



Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

By

On 07/24/2023

In Rye Whiskey

Pikesville rye 6 yo whiskey header
This bottle of Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye whiskey has been in my cupboard for a couple of years after the hubby brought it back from a trip to the UK. I have been in the mood for something more spicy after the sweetness of the last couple of weeks, so a rye whiskey is perfect.

Pikesville Rye whiskey was initially produced in Maryland by L. Winand & Brothers Distillery, established in 1895. The brand went through several changes of ownership and survived Prohibition. The last batch of rye whiskey was produced in Maryland in 1972 by the Majestic Distilling Corporation.

In 1972 Majestic Distilling closed down. However, they left enough filled barrels, and the brand continued until 1982. In 1982, Heaven Hill bought the brand. Heaven Hill released the Pikesville Rye in 2015, and it is currently produced at the Bernheim Distillery.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

Heaven Hill has an extensive whiskey and bourbon brand collection, and the Evan Williams, Rittenhouse and Henry McKenna brands fall under their banner. They are the biggest privately owned whiskey company in the USA.

The mash bill for the Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey is 51% rye, 39% corn and 10% malted barley. Compared to the other rye whiskies I have tried, this is the bare minimum rye to quality as a rye whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Rye and the Bulleit Rye are considerably higher with 70% and 95%, respectively.

Another different aspect is the higher ABV when looking at the other rye releases. Sazerac and Bulleit Rye has a 45% ABV while the Pikesville rye is at 55% (110 proof).




Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey Review

Pikesville rye 6 yo whiskey with glass
The Pikeville Rye is a 6 year old release.

REGION: USA

ABV: 55%

COLOUR: Pale copper

NOSE: The nose is subtle with hints of grassy rye, brown sugar, oak, pepper and baking spices. Hints of cherry and liquorice in the background. A whiff of alcohol on the first sniff, so let it stand a few minutes.

PALATE: The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey starts quite spicy with notes of cloves, pepper and rye spices, but then comes red fruits and cherries with toasted oak. Maple syrup sweetness balances out the spicy notes. Not as spicy or complex as some of the other rye releases I have tried, but it is relatable and easy to drink. A few drops of water cool down the alcohol heat.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of vanilla, cinnamon spice and bits of drying oak. A faint dark chocolate-covered cherry note makes me want to go back to try this rye again.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a drinkable bottle of rye whiskey. Not quite as spicy as I expected, which is a good thing. I have a sweeter palate, and some rye releases can quickly become too spicy. It does need a few minutes to breathe and a few drops of water to cool down the alcohol heat, but this is an impressive rye.

The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey retail for around $58. I will pick up another bottle when I travel again.

Also Read: Pike Creek 10 year old Whisky



Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey

By

On 07/17/2023

In Rye Whiskey

review and tasting notes bulleit rye whiskey
Rye whiskey is exploding in South Africa. Even regular bottle shops have started to carry some rye whiskey. It is wonderful to see ow the category is growing. This spicy style whiskey adds an exciting new taste dimension compared to Scottish whisky or bourbon.

I try to taste as many rye releases as I can to expand my taste buds. I found this bottle of  Bulleit Straight 95% American Rye whiskey locally and just had to try it. The first Bulleit bourbon was produced by Augustus Bulleit.

He wanted to create a bourbon with a unique flavour profile and experimented with varying recipes until he found a whiskey that he was happy with. He created his bourbon, and it was available until he died in 1860.

Years later, his great-great-grandson, Tom Bulleit dreamt of continuing his ancestor’s distilling tradition, and in 1987, he created a small batch bourbon, bearing the family name. The bottles are modelled on old fashioned medicine bottles, with distinctive raised lettering.

Also Read: Sazerac Rye

Seagram acquired Bulleit Bourbon in 1997, and the facilities were relocated to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Today, Diageo owns the Bulleit brand. In March 2017, Diageo opened a new Bulleit distillery just east of Shelbyville in Shelby County, Kentucky.

Bulleit Rye American Frontier whiskey was introduced during March 2011. It is made with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and produced in small batches.




Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey Review

review and tasting notes Bulleit Rye whiskey with glass
COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 45%

COLOUR: Light golden caramel

NOSE: Sweet and fresh. Cherries and vanilla with hints of grain and toasted oak. Subtle spices with hints of  cinnamon and cloves.

PALATE: Not as spicy as the Sazerac whiskey. More caramel sweetness followed by fresh fruit before the spicy notes hits. Overripe cherries, dry roasted peanuts and crunchy grain. Then follows the rye spice mixed with vanilla, cinnamon and hints of pepper and cloves.

Delicious. I finished my first glass without water and had to pour a second glass to see the impact of water. Water brings more orange notes forward.

FINISH: A spicy rye finish with cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Medium length. Warming.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious rye whiskey! Probably my favourite rye so far. Spiciness to let you know you are drinking rye, but enough sweetness and balance to make it easy drinking and inviting. I love it. Another great thing about this rye whiskey is the price.  It is very affordable which makes it a great whiskey for cocktails.  I see it retails on Amazon for around £35.

Now to go and play with this rye whiskey and make some cocktails. I think this Bulleit Rye will work really well in an Old Fashioned.

I found an article on the history of rye whiskey in America and more on the Bulleit Bourbon. Other rye releases that I have tasted include a Scottish Rye whisky, the Arbiki Highland Rye release.  A different spice profile, but interesting nevertheless.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Bulleit Rye and the Woodford Reserve Rye to see what the differences are. I have also done a side by side comparison between the Bulleit Rye and Bulleit bourbon to see how the mash bill profile changes the taste.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey



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