Whisky of the Week

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky

On 07/05/2021

I was chatting to Steven Saunders, the William Grant Prestige Meta Manager in SA, and he mentioned that they are bringing in more of the Aerstone whisky releases into SA. I have seen a few comments regarding the Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Single Malt Scotch whiskyand Land Cask whisky on social media but have not tried them.

William Grant launched Aerstone whisky in the UK in September 2018. The range consists of the Aerstone Sea Cask and Land Cask, both 10 year old single malt whisky releases. These whiskies aim to simplify the traditional language’ associated with single malt Scottish whisky.

The Aerstone Sea Cask whisky is a Speyside style single malt matured near the Ayrshire coast. The Aerstone Land Cask is a peated malt produced using Highland peat and matured at warehouses situated slightly inland.

The distillery is not named, but it is safe to assume that it is from the Ailsa Bay distillery in the Lowlands. These Aerstone expressions aim to capture two different flavour profiles from Scotland in an approachable, aged whisky.

This week I will explore the Sea Cask, and next week I will chat more about the Aisle Bay distillery and the Land Cask. The Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old single malt is described as ‘smooth and easy’.

William Grant remains one of the few family-owned spirits brands in the world. It is the third largest producer of Scotch whisky. The company have a number of brands including Monkey Shoulder, Grant’s, Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Aside from whisky, William Grant also produces Sailor Jerry rum, Hendrick’s gin and Drambuie liqueur.

Also Read: Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Gold

NOSE: Honey sweetness, vanilla with lots of floral notes. Green grass and fresh-cut flowers mixed with bits of toffee, freshly baked shortbread and hints of oak. Sweet and malty.

PALATE: Medium body with notes of sweetness, vanilla biscuits, and light oak and nutty notes. Hints of flowers and grass. A lovely, delicate and smooth dram that is not too complex. It is unpretentious and drinkable. Quite sweet and perfect for the newbie and someone with a sweeter palate.

However, add water carefully. The delicate notes quickly disappear with the addition of water. The Sea Cask is drinkable without water or just a drop or 2. When you add too much water, it brings forward the lemony pectin notes.

FINISH: Short and sweet with honey sweetness, lemon pepper and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It isn’t the most complex single malt you will encounter, but the Sea Cask is a delightfully smooth, easy-drinking dram. I was expecting the Aerstone Sea Cask to have more of a salty, peaty character. However, it is just as described, smooth and easy drinking. It is an uncomplicated drink you can sip the whole afternoon.

A deliciously moreish lighter style of whisky at a very affordable R360. Compared to other 10 yo single malts, this is an excellent price. Looking online at other single malts, the Glen Grant 10 year old is priced at R 530, and the Highland Park 10 yo at R540.

This low price puts the Sea Cask whisky in a highly accessible category for new single malt consumers and is even affordable when compared against some blends. Certainly worth a try!

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

Also Read: anCnoc Peatheart Whisky

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/28/2021

In Rye Whiskey

It is time for a rye whiskey again, and this week I feature Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey. The distillery was founded by John Shenk in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, in 1753 and known as Shenk’s. In the mid-1800s, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger bought the distillery, and the name changed to Bomberger’s.

After changing hands many times during the subsequent years, it landed up in the hands of Louis Forman, who co-owned the distillery with Charles Everett Beam. Louis created the Michter’s brand name by combining his sons’ names, Michael and Peter.

Sadly, the distillery closed in 1989 due to bankruptcy. After filing for the abandoned Michter’s trademark in 1997, Joseph Magliocco and Richard Newman resurrected the Michter’s brand. The brand re-launched as a Kentucky-sourced brand in the early 2000s.

Every Michter’s Rye is from a single barrel, so there might be taste differences between the different bottlings. I have a bottle from barrel 16F471.

The Michter’s Rye is made from select American rye grain that is sheared to maximize flavour extraction from the grain.

Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51% rye and includes some corn and malted barley. It is a NAS release.  Other releases from this brand include the Michter’s Sour Mash whiskey and the Michter’s bourbon.

Also Read: Arbiki Highland Rye

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 42.4%

COLOUR: Caramel honey

NOSE: Rich and enticing. Butterscotch, dry wood, spicy rye notes with bits of creamy vanilla and a hint of something fruity. Big, bold and just lovely.

PALATE: An outstanding balance of spicy and sweet. Cinnamon and pepper followed by vanilla and sweet cherries. Bits of orange with dry oak and rye spices. Adding water brings more of the cherry notes forward. Creamy and smooth, and I had to pour another glass. This bottle will probably not see the end of winter.

FINISH: Long and warming with hints of peppercorns, tobacco and cinnamon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

WOW! What a delicious, creamy rye! It is bold and easy to drink. I am not the biggest rye whiskey fan, but this will be on rotation during the winter. The balance between the spice and the sweetness just worked faultlessly.

It has enough sweetness for my sweet palate without being overly sugary. John loved it too, which means the spicy notes worked for his more spicy preference. Just lovely.

Now to get my hands on the Michter’s bourbon to also add to my collection.

Also Read: JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/21/2021

In Bourbon whiskey

Today I look at a bourbon that is readily available in SA, the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey. It is also quite affordable, which also helps. Records show that some form of distilling took place on the site in 1775 already.

Today it is known as the Buffalo Trace distillery. The first official distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton.

The Buffalo Trace distillery is in Frankfort, Kentucky. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, was introduced in August 1999.

Related Article: WL Weller Wheated Bourbon

The whiskey 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 was fortunate; during Prohibition, the distillery stayed working. They made whiskey for “medicinal purposes”. The Buffalo Trace distillery also produces other spirits such as Sazerac rye whiskey and vodka.
The Buffalo Trace straight bourbon whiskey mash bill is not disclosed. However, based on research, it combines corn, rye and malted barley. The rye ratio is less than 10%. The Buffalo Trace mash bill is apparently similar to the George T Stagg and the Eagle Rare bourbon mash bill.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 45%.

COLOUR: A reddish copper. Quite a dark colour.

NOSE: Sherry sweetness and is rich and complex. There are hints of candied fruit, caramel, vanilla, brandy pudding and oak. Little bits of spice float in the background.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has quite a big mouthful. There are notes of fruit, orange marmalade and oak. Bits of cinnamon with toasted oak floating about. When you add some water, the palate changes, the bourbon becomes almost watery and more fruity.

The sweetness and the spice disappears, and the complexity reduces. I always add a little water, and this was the first whiskey where the water nearly ruined the taste.

FINISH: The finish before adding water was long and ended in notes of spicy sweetness. After adding water to the Buffalo Trace, the finish shortened, and it was quite flat.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Buffalo Trace is a great straight bourbon, however, drink it neat. When you look at bourbon and cheese pairings, the Buffalo Trace works very well with some aged cheddar. It is perfect for cocktails as a base because it is robust enough. Especially in an Old Fashioned or a Moscow Mule, it works very well.

Another excellent pairing for the Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey is a snickers bar. Bourbon and this caramel and peanuts covered in milk chocolate bar is a match made in heaven.

I have done a side by side comparison between this bourbon and the Maker’s Mark to see how they compare. For my last side by side comparison in 2021, I put this Buffalo Trace next to the Bulleit bourbon to see which one is better. There is even a side by side comparison between this bourbon and the Woodford Reserve.

Also Read: 1792 Bourbon

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/14/2021

In Whisky Comparison

This week, my side-by-side comparison is two high-volume brands against each other; Jim Beam bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Both are from large commercial distilleries, and between these two brands, they command quite a bit of bottle space. They are in a similar price category and are both known globally.

However, Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s are distinctly different in several ways. Jim Beam is a straight bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky, while Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey distilled in Tennessee.

But what happens when you put them side by side in a taste test?

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam Bourbon White with glass
Jim Beam Kentucky Straight whiskey is one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. In 1795 a group of German farming immigrants founded Jim Beam. Jacob Beam noticed how fertile the Kentucky region was for cereal farming, and he grew corn and grains, which he eventually used in his whiskey.

He began selling it under the name of Old Jake Beam, and in 1820 his son David began managing the distillery at just 18 years old. The distillery and brand grew from strength to strength. In 2014, Suntory Holdings bought Jim Beam to create Beam Suntory.

The Beam Suntory bourbon portfolio includes Makers Mark and Knob Creek. The whisky portfolio includes Yamazaki, Laphroaig and Bowmore and a few more.

The Jim Beam White Label bourbon is distilled at lower temperatures and aged for 4 years in newly charred American oak. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. I have also done a comparison between this bourbon and the Evan Williams bourbon and you can read all about it by following the link.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b
Love it or hate it, you will find Jack Daniel’s all around the world! Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1875 in Moore County, Tennessee. Jack Daniel developed the Lincoln County process.

This is where the whiskey is filtrated through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of crucial importance to the finished whiskey’s character. Whiskey from the Jack Daniel’s distillery is bottled as Tennessee whiskey.

The distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956. It was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company. The Jack Daniels’ brand of Tennessee whiskey has become the highest-selling American whiskey in the world.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has a mashbill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley. After the charcoal filtration, the new spirit is aged for at least 4 years in new charred American oak.

I paired this bourbon with some KFC to see how it would work. See which bourbon paired best with the fried chicken. I have also done a side-by-side comparison between the Old No 7 and Gentleman Jack to see how big the difference is.

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

Comparison: Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel's Whiskey

	Jim Beam Bourbon	Jack Daniel's Old no 7
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Tennessee Whiskey
Mash Bill	5% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Golden Mahogany	Light amber
Nose	Subtle vanilla, spice, pine forests, toasted oak and lemon zest with hints of toffee. Sticky pudding and caramelized fruit.	Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan.
Palate	Spicy with toasted oak and mint freshness. Hints of dry paper and pepper. A faint hint of vanilla. Water brings more citrus and pepper It has a light body and is not very complex.	Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body.
Finish	Long and dry with citrus and pepper.	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.
My Rating	Very Good	Very Good
Comments	A bit bland. Great inoffensive for cocktails.	Not very complex, easy-drinking and comforting. It is a very mellow and smooth whiskey.
Price	$15	$20

The Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon whiskey has notes of pine forest, toasted oak, vanilla, and lemon pepper. It is quite spicy with not many sweet notes. It is also a bit cheaper than Jack Daniel’s whiskey. The Jim Beam makes for quite a light drinking experience, and I found it a bit bland.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has more butterscotch sweetness, vanilla notes, marzipan, and toasted oak. Again, it is not the most complex dram but more memorable than the Jim Beam. The Jack Daniel’s also has an oily note that helps to capture the sweetness.

I have a sweet palate, so Jack wins hands down. John enjoyed the more spicy notes of the Jim Beam bourbon, but in the end, the mellow note of the Jack won him over.

So in my book, the Jack Daniel’s whiskey easily takes the crown for the best between these two.

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Last but not least, I did a side by side comparison between the Evan Williams and the Jack Daniels to see how they stack up against each other.

Balblair 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/11/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I have slowly been working through my collection of Balblair Vintage mini’s this past year. Just as I finished my last review on the 1990 Vintage, Balblair surprised me with something new. They moved away from their well-known vintage releases in favour of aged statement releases.

Staying with their house style of apricots, oranges, spices, floral notes, and green apple notes, Balblair released a 12 year old, the Balblair 15 year old, 18 year old whisky and a 25 year old single malt whisky.

There is also a Balblair 17 year old whisky that is a travel retail release. Still aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, the goal was to revive interest in their creaminess and fruit-forward flavour profile.

There has been quite a bit of comment, both positive and negative, in the whisky halls regarding the change. Many people wanted to stock up on their favourite Balblair Vintages before they disappear.

However, I think change is good ,and this allows me a new look at Balblair, starting with the Balblair 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky. It also makes understanding their core range easier, and according to some information, Balblair distillery will continue to release Vintage bottles regularly.

I was invited to take part in the Balblair Twitter tasting during May, where they introduced their new releases to some whisky bloggers. However, South African Customs had other ideas (as usual).

The samples only arrived two weeks after the Twitter tasting. But now I have a leisurely time to look at each release and evaluate it without any interruption.

Balblair is a Highland Distillery surrounded by beautiful by rugged mountains and uses the Allt Dearg springs as their water source. It is owned by Inver House Distillers, who also own Catto’s, Hankey Bannister and Speyburn whisky.

The range comes in new packaging but retains the Balblair’s signature bottle shape. The new logo is beautiful and inspired by the nearby Struie Hill. The Balblair 12 year old Scotch was matured in ex-bourbon and double fired American oak casks and is non-chill filtered and has no added colour.

Also Read: The Arran Malt Sherry Whisky

Balblair 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Polished gold

NOSE: Wood, wispy sweetness, green notes fruit, grass, and spices. The nose is soft and delicate.

PALATE: Barley and oak mixed with wood, ripe red berries and hints of honey. Bits of pepper heat, vanilla, and orange peel. Not as sweet as the nose promised. I was expecting more sweetness on the palate. Water softens the pepper spice heat and brings more orange blossoms to the front.

FINISH: Long and lingering and the best bit of dram. It ends in pepper and orange notes and is beautifully warming.

RATING: VERY GOOD

What an exciting start to the age statement releases from Balblair. For me, the Balblair 12 year old captures the essence of their house style and is the foundation from which all the other age statements follow.

I found the spiciness of this release a bit too much for my specific liking, I have a sweet palate and prefer a bit sweeter whisky. But that is my personal palate preference. The hubby loved the spicy notes (it suits his palate).

It is a way to start a new set of releases, and I am very excited to taste the rest of the range. According to Balblair, this 12 year old whisky will go very nicely with some hot-smoked salmon niçoise salad.

Also Read: The Belgian Owl Whisky

Sample disclosure: I received this sample directly from Balblair. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts on the whisky.