Whisky of the Week

Cutty Sark Whisky

On 04/29/2022

Many many years ago, a group of friends went for a holiday in Zimbabwe. We first stopped off in the rugged Eastern Highland for some trout fishing and then made our way up to Lake Kariba.

There we stayed in the Cutty Sark Hotel while exploring the beautiful dam and finding tiger fish. The name Cutty Sark always stayed with me and reminded me of fun times with good friends. When I saw a Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky, I just had to have it.

I found the distinctive green bottle with the bright yellow label at Normal Good Fellows, and it was very affordable. Cutty Sark is a range of blended Scotch whisky produced by the Edrington Group. The base of Cutty Sark came from The Glenrothes distillery in the Speyside region of Scotland.

Other Edrington brands include the Macallan, Highland Park and The Famous Grouse.

The whisky was created on the 23rd of March 1923 by Francis Berry and Hugh Rudd, when they met with Scottish artist James McBey for lunch. They wanted to create a lighter style of blended whisky for the US market.

McBey suggests the name, as the famous tea clipper had recently been retired to England for naval training. The Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky range also includes a Prohibition Edition that is bottled at 50% ABV. There was one little challenge before we could get to the tasting though; after opening the bottle, no liquid would come out.

The plastic thingie (flow regulator) inside the neck of the bottle only allowed 5 ml at a time. I had to break open the regulator to pour two glasses in a reasonable time.

Also Read: Naked Grouse whisky

Cutty Sark Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: Cream, malt, spices, bits of fresh fruit with hints of vanilla.

PALATE: There is a bit of alcohol heat but not too bad. Malt, fruits, florals with vanilla and cinnamon. Adding a few drops of water allows the butterscotch sweetness to come forward. Faint hints of peppery oak.

FINISH: Lemon peel and pepper

RATING: VERY GOOD

Smooth, easy-drinking and non-offensive. Just a nice dram to enjoy. I see on the Cutty Sark website that they have a few cocktails perfect for Cutty Sark and with a dram this affordable but still drinkable; it is a great whisky to use in cocktails. My favourite cocktail on their list was the Cutty Buck.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

Firstwatch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/25/2022

In Blended whisky

It is my first blend for 2017, the Firstwatch whisky. This year, I want to do something a bit different. It is great to try some of the more expensive blends available, and over the years, I have managed to taste quite a few exciting (and costly) blends.

However, the higher-priced blends are not always worth it, and I was wondering if some of the inexpensive blends are worthwhile. So this year, in terms of blended whisky, I am drinking my way through the bottom of the budget.

I am looking for a whisky that retails for less than R250 per bottle. In currency terms, that is drinkable whisky for around $18 or £15. Some of the whiskies in this category I have tried include the Teacher’s and the Cutty Sark blended whisky.

And there are plenty of whiskies in this price range. Walk into your local bottle store, and there is a long row of inexpensive whiskies. But how do you choose between these whiskies? There are seldom tasting notes for them.

How do you know that spending your hard-earned money on a cheap whisky will not leave you with indigestion? So, I will be doing to hard work for you. It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it!

I saw a big billboard in Johannesburg while I was driving and it advertised the FirstWatch Selected Extra Fine Imported whisky. It is bottled for the company E Snell, that also import Glenfiddich and Balvenie to SA, so I decided to start here.

There is not much information available on this blend. Some desktop research revealed that FirstWatch whisky is a blend of imported rye and cereal grain whiskies. A Canadian whisky, Firstwatch is distilled, blended and matured in Canada before being bottled in South Africa.

The Firstwatch whisky has been matured for at least 3 years, and it was awarded gold medals at both IWSC and ISC in 2015. It might have some potential.

Also Read: Drayman’s Solera Whisky

Firstwatch Whisky Review

Rye whisky culture is not well established in SA. However, it might be interesting to see how many of the more spicy rye notes come through. Firstwatch is a Canadian whisky available only in South Africa.
ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark golden amber

NOSE: Overwhelming caramel, artificial caramel. It reminds me of the little hard corn syrup sweets a waiter brings with your bill. After letting the glass breath for a bit, notes of vanilla and toffee come through.

PALATE: After the sweet nose, I was expecting a sweet taste, but the palate was surprisingly spicy. Overwhelming notes of pepper and nutmeg with an alcohol burn.

There is very little of the sweetness from the nose translated onto the palate. Without water, the FirstWatch whisky has quite a light body. Adding water brings out some sweetness and soothes the spices and alcohol burn, but makes it very thin drinking.

FINISH: Medium length ending on spice and artificial caramel

RATING: GOOD

I bought this Firstwatch in the hope of finding an affordable alternative to the more expensive rye whiskies. This, however, is not it. It is not a bad whisky. I have tasted far worse. And at R114 per bottle, definitely bang for your buck. John called this “cooking whisky”. The rye notes however is nowhere to be seen.

If you are looking for some alcohol to cook or to flambé with, but don’t want to ruin the food, this release is perfect. Looking for some affordable whisky to add to you mixer, sure, go ahead. I have seen the First Watch whisky at Pick n Pay and Checkers.

If you want to sit down and enjoy a whisky neat or investigate some rye whisky, this is not the one. There are many more affordable blends that will better serve this purpose.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Classic Whisky

Johnnie Walker Swing Blended Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/18/2022

In Blended whisky

This week I try another blend, one in a unique bottle, the Johnnie Walker Swing blended Scotch whisky. Johnnie Walker is owned by Diageo and originated in Kilmarnock, Scotland. It is the most widely distributed Scottish blended whisky brand in the world.

Yearly sales exceed 100 million bottles. John “Johnnie” Walker started to sell whisky in his grocer’s shop. Originally it was known as Walker’s Kilmarnock Whisky.

After Walker died in 1857, it was his son Alexander Walker and grandson Alexander Walker II who were largely responsible for establishing the whisky as a famous brand.

Sir Alexander Walker, the grandson of John Walker, created Swing during the golden age of travel in 1932. On transatlantic voyages, bartenders desperately stowed loose bottles on racks to prevent breakages. The unrelenting pitch and roll of stormy weather on the high seas causing havoc with their whisky stocks.

Johnnie Walker Swing’s unique glass decanter allowed it to swing back and forth on a convex base. Known and respected as a captain of industry for his role in the international success of the Johnnie Walker brands, Sir Alexander was a familiar sight on these voyages himself. Today the Swing bottle remains instantly recognizable amid a myriad of newer offerings.

The Johnnie Walker Swing is a blend of 35 whiskies with a high proportion of Speyside malts. These are complemented by malts from the northern Highlands and Islay. There are also whiskies matured in sherry casks.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Platinum Label vs Gold Label whisky

Johnnie Walker Swing Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: An amber golden colour and quite dark.

NOSE: The sherry cask sweetness comes through. There is also some mild smoke and spice. The nose has an old-world feel to it. Hints of dried fruits, tobacco and leather. Nosing this Johnnie Walker Swing, you can almost imagine the old leather couches in a gentleman’s club in London during the early 1900s.

PALATE: On the palate, the Johnnie Walker Swing is very smooth and quite oily. Spicy notes balance the sherry sweetness. There are notes of smoke and faint peat, probably from the Islay whiskies. There are some cereal flavours and oak. The spice is reminiscent of pepper with hints of ginger.

FINISH: Long and rich. It ends in rich notes of spice and oak with a hint of cloves. Swing is an easy-drinking whisky.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is medium-bodied and not too complicated, and you should be careful when you add water. Water can quickly overwhelm this whisky. However, it is an excellent addition to any whisky collection. I paired this release with some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries over HERE. See how this pairing worked.

Also Read: Chivas Royal Salute 21 yo whisky

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/15/2022

In Bourbon whiskey

During March this year, I got to meet Cam Dawson at a Jack Daniel’s function and taste a few exciting Jack Daniel’s releases. It was a great function that introduces a few whisky friends to more of how Jack Daniel’s is made.

We got to taste a variety of releases, however, the Jack Daniel’s release that impressed me most was the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Tennessee whiskey. I liked it so much, I went out and bought a bottle. At R600 a bottle, it is not too expensive and quite readily available.

Jack Daniel’s whiskey is not bourbon, but it is classified as a Tennessee whiskey. Despite bearing most of the same characteristics as bourbon in production methods, Jack Daniel’s whiskey enjoys filtration through a 10-foot stack of sugar maple charcoal before maturation.

This extra step, known as the Lincoln County Process, removes impurities and the taste of corn. It is what makes a Tennessee whisky different from a bourbon. Jack Daniel’s refers to this filtering step as “mellowing”.

The mash bill for Jack Daniel’s is made from corn, rye and malted barley, and is distilled in copper stills. Jack Daniel’s is labelled as a sour mash” whiskey, which means that when the mash is prepared, some of the wet solids from a previously used batch are mixed in to help make the fermentation process operate more consistently.

Jack Daniel’s is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee, by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which has been owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation since 1956. Other releases include the Gentleman Jack whisky and Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select whiskey.

Also Read: Jim Beam Double Oak Bourbon

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey Review

All Jack Daniel’s whiskey start out as Old No. 7. To become Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, the whiskey is matured in toasted and charred new white American oak barrels and stored in the uppermost part of the warehouse. Here the dramatic changes in temperature cause its colour and taste to deepen further. It is bottled at 94 proof.

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 47%

COLOUR: Dark copper with hints of mahogany

NOSE: Ripe red berries, vanilla, a hint of mint, caramel sweetness, a bit of toasted oak.

PALATE: The Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel whiskey is creamy with notes of cherries layered with caramel, vanilla, hints of coffee and cereal balanced with cinnamon and pepper spice. It is rich and complex and the layers open up slowly when you take a second sip. Water releases some more of the sweetness and softens the pepper. I just love it.

FINISH: Long and lingering and ends in notes of pepper and citrus.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This Tennessee whiskey is big and bold and has a yummy’ness to it. It is one of those drams that just begs you for a second glass. Easily my favourite of the bunch that I have tasted so far. Rich, rewarding, sophisticated and just simply delicious. I also love the bottle shape.

Playing around, I found that the fruity nature of this whiskey pairs well with a sweeter Monterey Jack cheese.

I have started a series where I compare two whiskies with each other. A side by side comparison to look at the strong point of each whisky. The first comparison is between Woodford Reserve vs Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. Go and look what how they differ and my suggestion for when to drink each release.

Talking about Jack Daniel’s, I have also done a side by side comparison between the Old No 7 and the Gentleman Jack whiskey.

Also Read: Jameson Caskmates Whiskey

Rum vs Whiskey: What are the differences?

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/11/2022

In Lifestyle

Rum vs Whisky header
Rum vs Whiskey; what are the differences? John travelled to Mauritius for business in December, and he brought me back some Saint Aubin rum in a lovely tasting set.

The rum market in SA has slowly been growing, and the range now is far more extensive than just the Redheart and Captain Morgan rum from 10 years ago.

Rum is versatile and approachable, so the wider variety is great to see. The flavoured rums bring a new edge, and the cocktail possibilities with the various flavours are endless. Today, rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Mauritius are available in SA.

Exploring the new rum growth has also led some well-known SA gin distilleries to release a rum or two. Many of the new SA rums are very drinkable. Mhoba, Tapanga and Surgarbird to name but a few. Gone are the days of raw, overly sweet cheap rums.

I associated rum with islands (and holidays) and wondered how rum and whisky differ. So I explored a bit: Rum vs Whisky; what are the differences?

What are the differences?

What is rum?

rum vs whiskey what is rum
Rum conjures images of Caribbean islands and long drinks. The Caribbean Islands and Latin America are among the biggest rum producers globally.

According to some research, rum was first distilled on sugarcane plantations in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Plantation slaves realized that molasses, a by-product of sugar production, could be fermented into alcohol. The first official mention of rum was found in official documents from Barbados in 1650.

Rum is a distilled spirit made from sugarcane, sugarcane juice or molasses. The processes include distillation and fermentation. Rum tends to be aged for shorter periods, often because the distilleries are located in warm environments like the Caribbean. This means the angels’ share is higher than in colder countries like Scotland.

The alcohol content of rum varies from one country to the other and can go from at least 40% to beyond 60%. Sugar syrup is sometimes added back into the finished product to add sweeter notes.

Rum is classified into various categories – rhum agricole. white rum, dark rum, flavoured rum and spiced rum. Spices and flavours such as coffee, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves are added for spiced and flavoured rum.

Rum tends to be sweeter with a rich and spicy flavour when compared to whiskey. Recognized rum cocktails include the pina colada, the mojito, and the daiquiri.

What is Whiskey?

Five ways to spoil the whisky lover in your life _ Gift guide Header rum vs whiskey

European monks brought the art of distillation to Ireland and Scotland in the fifteenth century. The earliest mention of whiskey in Ireland and Scotland comes from sixteenth and seventeenth-century notes. Whiskey or whisky is produced in many countries including the USA, Ireland, India, SA and Taiwan.

Whiskey (whisky) is distilled from a fermented grain mash that may include:  barley, rye, wheat and or corn. The whiskey-making process includes fermentation, distillation and ageing. Whisky is aged for at least three years in oak barrels before being called whiskey. Many distilleries finish their whiskey in barrels that previously held bourbon, sherry and even rum.

Types of whiskey include single malt, bourbon, pot still, grain whisky, blended whisky, and rye whiskey. Whiskey usually has alcohol contents of around 40%, depending on your country. In SA, the standard ABV is 43% for whiskey.

Famous whiskey cocktails include the Sazerac and an Old Fashioned.

Now, let me make myself a Dark and Stormy because research is thirsty work.

Also Read: Whiskey Sour Cocktail