Whisky of the Week

Yellow Spot 12 year old Irish Whiskey

On 04/04/2022

Green, Yellow, Red, Blue; you can be forgiven if you thought today was another edition of the Johnnie Walker range. But today, I am looking at an Irish whiskey. Yellow Spot 12 year old Irish whiskey is the second addition to the ‘Spot’ range of Irish whiskies.

Mitchell devised a simple colour-coding scheme for identifying casks, using spots of coloured paint on each cask in the warehouse to track the age of the whiskey in each barrel. Blue Spot was 7 years old, Green Spot was 10 years old, Yellow Spot was 12 years old, and Red Spot whiskey was 15 years old.

The name stuck, and today the ‘Spot’ range is produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland. Yellow Spot whiskey is part of the Pernod Ricard brand portfolio.

Also Read: Jameson Whiskey

Green Spot was first released in 1933, followed by a few more Spot colours. However, the bonder’s style category whiskies disappeared when distillery bottled releases took over the market. Green Spot was the last to be discontinued in the 1950s.

Fortunately, Green Spot was reintroduced to the market in the early 2000s, and Yellow Spot whiskey followed in 2012

Yellow Spot is a single pot still Irish whiskey, matured in three types of cask: American Bourbon cask, Spanish Sherry butts and Spanish Malaga casks (a sweet fortified wine) for a sweeter flavour. It has been aged for at least 12 years.

Yellow Spot 12 year old Irish Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Light caramel.

NOSE: Fresh nectarines, dried fruit, wood, and barley heaps of fruity sweetness. Pepper and vanilla with caramel sweetness.

PALATE: Yummy! Fruit drizzled stone fruit with vanilla and anise mixed with red apples, wood and sherry notes. Hints of dark roast coffee and barley. Medium-bodied and inviting. Bits of fresh toast with melted butter. Lovely balance between the fruity sweetness, wood and spices.

Very drinkable and velvety smooth. Bits of citrus zest and black pepper. A few drops of water releases more wood and sweetness, but it does not need extra water. It is delicious just like that.

FINISH: Long, sweet, warming and wonderfully balanced. Fruity, sweetness and wood.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Every aspect of this Yellow Spot whiskey is just yummy. It is not the most complex whiskey, but very drinkable and delicious. When I tasted it, the words that came to mind were “accessible and inviting”.

The Yellow Spot 12 year old Irish whiskey is probably my favourite “Spot” so far. (I tried Green Spot at a whisky festival). It is available in SA and retail for around R930. Which is your favourite “Spot”?

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Compass Box No Name No 2 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/28/2022

In Blended Malt Whisky

I tasted the Compass Box No Name No 1 and the Compass Box No Name No 2 blended malt Scotch whisky about 18 months ago and have not gotten around to capturing the tasting notes. Released in 2019, this is the second limited edition in the Compass Box No Name series. The third bottling in this series was released in 2021.

Like the Compass Box No Name No 1, the Compass Box No Name No 2 is a blended malt Scotch. It is made up of the following whisky:

– 75% from Caol Ila (Refill Sherry casks)
– 10.5% from Talisker (re-charred American oak hogshead)
– 13.5% Clynishlish (re-charred American oak hogshead)
– 0.5% Highland malt blend (French oak, heavy toast)

Also Read: Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21 yo Whisky

Compass Box is a producer, bottler and marketer of a range of blended Scotch whiskies. It was founded in 2000 by American entrepreneur John Glaser, who was a former marketing director at Johnnie Walker. The Compass Box whiskies create quite a stir when they are released.

The bottlings have distinctive labels and provocative names. Some of my favourites include Hedonism and Spice Tree. Other releases include Peat Monster, Circus and The Spaniard.

Compass Box No Name No 2 Whisky Review

A total of 8,802 bottles were produced. The Compass Box whisky is non-chill-filtered, with natural colour.

REGION: Islay and Islands with some Highland

ABV: 48.9%

COLOUR: Honey hay

NOSE: Islay ocean breezes with peat, hints of salty fish, seaweed and smoke. Bits of honey sweetness and candy floss. There is tropical fruit in the background with red berries, oak and honey. Lovely and complex.

PALATE: Drying ash, peat and wood smoke with fruity sweetness. Like tropical fruit salad in a wooden bowl next to a bonfire on the beach. Malty goodness, hints of dark chocolate, honey and pepper. Oak spices and salt with bits of orange peel and nuts.

Lovely. I nearly finished my glass before putting in a few drops of water. The water soothes the peat and ash to bring more fruit to the front. Medium body elegance with a beautiful symmetry between the peat and the fruit.

FINISH: Long and drying with pepper spice, peat and fruit.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I enjoyed No Name No. 1 (and this is a reminder that I still need to capture my tasting notes), but Compass Box No Name No 2 is my favourite. The Compass Box No Name 1 had a significant portion of Ardbeg and was quite bold.

In comparison, No 2 is softer, slightly more delicate and sophisticated. Don’t let this fool you. The Caol Ila and Talisker bring a rich fruit and peat experience that is delicious and very approachable.

No Name No 2 is still available, and I see that WhiskyBrother&Co still have some available. It retails for around R2300. This bottle will make a wonderful gift for the peat lover in your life.

Also Read: Tobermory 10 yo Whisky

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.

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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.

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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.

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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