Whisky of the Week

Kamiki Blended Malt Whisky

On 03/26/2021

Time for a world whisky again and this week I look at the Kamiki blended malt whisky. I tasted this interesting expression last year at Bottega Cafe in Parkhurst, where Savi has an fantastic variety of whisky.

Kamiki is a blended malt whisky that combines Japanese malt whiskies with specially selected malt whisky from around the world. After blending, the Kamiki whisky is cut with Japanese spring water and then finished in casks made from Japanese cedar wood.

Also Read: Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

Japanse Cedar or Yoshino Sugi trees are indigenous to Japan and grow at the base of Mount Miwa. These trees are well known as a particularly aromatic type of wood.

The brand website states that Kamiki is the first whisky ever to enjoy a cedar cask finish. According to the experts, the aromatic wood is difficult to handle but imparts immense depth to the final liquid.

Kamiki translates as ‘God’s breath’ and is named after the winds that descend from Mount Miwa in Nara. Kamiki blended malt whisky was bottled at cask strength and is non-chill-filtered and has no age statement.

Kamiki Blended Malt Whisky Review

ABV:48.5%

COLOUR: Rich Gold with hints of red

NOSE: Fruity sweetness and caramel with red berries with lashings of dry wood. Faint spicy hints with smoke. Not a very complex nose and there is a bit of alcohol burn.

PALATE: Tobacco and white pepper with caramel sweetness and raw wood. It is like standing in a carpenters workshop while they are sanding, and the wood dust burns your eyes and throat. The first bit of wood is warming, but then it quickly becomes overwhelming. Light fruity notes with cinnamon.

Many people commented that the Kamiki has some peaty notes, but neither John nor I picked up any peat. It needs a bit of water to tone down the alcohol burn. Water brings more fruity sweetness to the forefront. However, the whisky is a bit one dimensional with not a lot of depth.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of pepper and wood.

RATING: GOOD

I was expecting a bit more from this blended malt. The spice and woody notes quickly become overbearing and drown out any of the other, more subtle notes. My personal view; the cedar wood makes for a clever marketing angle.

However, the impact of the cedar wood finish drowns out of anything else. I also suspect that there are a few rather young malts in the blend, as some of the alcohol has distinct raw notes.

The Kamiki whisky retails for around R800 in SA and is only available in a 500ml bottle. You can find out more about Savi’s Bottega Whisky Club and see what other interesting releases he has.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Classic Whisky

Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/22/2021

In Irish Whiskey

Today I look at a single grain whisky from Ireland. The Teeling Single Grain Irish whiskey was first released in 2013. It is the second release that I try from this innovative, unconventional brand. The first release I tasted was the Teeling Small Batch whiskey.

I was fortunate to be invited to a Zoom tasting where Jack Teeling, Marc from WhiskyBrother&Co and Luke Knox took us through a tasting of three Teeling releases.

Also Read: Waterford The Cuvee whisky

The Teeling Distillery of today was officially opened in 2015. However, the family’s distilling history in Ireland stretches back to 1782, when a chap called Walter Teeling set up a distillery in Dublin’s Liberties area. Today the Teeling distillery is only a stone throw from where Walter set up his distillery in the heart of Dublin.

The Teeling Single Grain Irish whiskey mash bill consists of 95% corn and 5% malted barley. It is triple distilled and matured exclusively in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks from California for just over 5 years.

There is also a Teeling single malt whiskey as part of the core range. Teeling whiskey has no added colour and it not chill-filered.

Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Amber

NOSE: Notes of fruity sweetness and creamy condensed milk. Sweet ripe grapes with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. The nose is elegant, sweet, and clean.

PALATE: Tropical fruit salad drizzled with honey, freshly baked cinnamon rolls with bits of oak and warming black pepper. So smooth and drinkable, you don’t even need to add water.

FINISH: Long and lingering with warming pepper balanced with soft honey sweetness and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Teeling Single Grain Irish whiskey is deliciously drinkable. It has a chewy mouthfeel with a warming finish. This is not the most complex whiskey, but that is what makes it so drinkable.

You can sip it anytime and enjoy it. It is quite a sweet release, and it works for my sweet palate. However, it is wonderfully balanced with some pepper heat and malty goodness.

This release is available at WhiskyBrother&Co and retail for around R670.00. I think that it is pretty affordable for something so delicious! If you like Irish whiskey and want to experiment a bit more, this is a wonderful release to try.

I have done a side by side comparison between this release and the Teeling Single Malt Irish whiskey to see how they differ.

Also Read: Tullamore DEW vs Jameson Whiskey

Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/15/2021

In Whisky Comparison

Ardbeg 10 yo whisky vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky side by side comparison
Today I look at another battle of big Islay malts; Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old whisky. Both these single malt Scotch drams achieved cult status with peat heads. When you mention Islay whisky, one of the first drams that come to mind is the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky.

Another Islay legend is the Ardbeg Scotch whisky and the passion for Ardbeg reaches fever pitch all over the world on Ardbeg Day. But when you put these drams in a blind tasting next to each other, how do they stack up?

Ardbeg 10 year old Whisky

Ardbeg 10 yo whisky with glass
Ardbeg Distillery is situated on the south coast of the isle of Islay. Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy owns the distillery and produces a heavily peated Islay whisky. Ardbeg single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 55 ppm. The Ardbeg 10 year old whisky is aged for at least 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

review and tasting notes Lagavulin 16 yo whisky with glass
Lagavulin’s name is the English translation of the Gaelic ‘Lag a’a’ Mhuilinn’, which means the mill’s hollow. Lagavulin was one of the six whiskies marketed as part of the Diageo’ Classic Malts of Scotland’ range.

Lagavulin distillery is known for its use of a slow distillation speed and pear-shaped pot stills. The Lagavulin 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 35 ppm.

Also Read: GlenDronach 18 vs 21 yo Whisky

Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 yo whisky comparison

	Ardbeg 10 yo whisky	Lagavulin 16 yo whisky
ABV	46%	43%
Region	Islay Whisky	Islay Whisky
Peat Level	55 to 65 ppm	35 ppm
Colour	Pale Straw with green hints	Dark Gold
Nose	Peat and smoke with hints of vanilla, sea salt and citrus sweetness. It is not overwhelming but inviting and intriguing.	Liquorice, smoke, hints of peat with a fruity sweetness. Bits of oak, iodine, and vanilla. Delicate and well balanced.
Palate	After the initial peat, some warming citrus and hints of vanilla. It continues to bring you hints of coffee and a bit of iodine. This Ardbeg 10 yo is a big whisky but not overwhelming at all.	Dry oak, peat with hints of cherry sweetness and smoke. Medium body with iodine and tar in the background. A bit one-sided.
Finish	What an epic finish! You will remember the Ardbeg 10 yo long after you have emptied the glass.	Medium length with peat and hints of oak and vanilla.
My Rating	Excellent	Very Good
Comments	Complex and well balanced	Lacks some complexity and has a few sharp edges.
Price	$65	$108
Pairs well with	Garlic leg of Lamb or a charcuterie platter	Blue Stilton

When John and I first tasted the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky, we looked at each other and frowned. It did not live up to our expectations. We felt that it was a bit one dimensional and boring. In the blind tasting, against the Ardbeg 10 year old whisky, the difference was even more evident.

The first difference between these two Islay drams is the peat level. The Lagavulin is peated at 35 ppm, and the Ardbeg sits at 55 ppm. There is also a big difference in the taste of the peat. The Lagavulin has more medicinal notes, and the Ardbeg has more ocean salt and fishy notes.

The Lagavulin 16 year old Scotch brings notes of dry oak, cherries and vanilla. Yes, it is peaty with smoke and fruity sweetness, but it lacks the complexity and wow factor. It has a medium body and a medium length finish.

The Ardbeg 10 year old has peat, smoke, sea salt, vanilla and citrus notes. There are hints of coffee and light iodine with an epic finish. It is big, bold, and complex. Just delicious.

Ardbeg is less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. Lagavulin has a more oily mouthfeel than the Ardbeg; however, the oiliness also seems to capture some raw alcohol notes.

The Ardbeg is drinkable and smooth and invites you back time after time. For my palate, this has a clear winner! The Ardbeg 10 year old every time.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Ardbeg Uigeadail and the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky as well to see how they stack up against each other.

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Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky

The Capital Gin Small Batch Gin

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/10/2021

In Lifestyle

Capital Gin Small Batch WhiskyBrother&Co Gin header
Something different this week; I capture my tasting notes for the Capital Gin Small Batch gin. A gin selected and bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother&Co. Last week I got the opportunity to visit my favourite local gin distillery, the Capital Gin in Silvertondale in Pretoria.

I went to visit my friend Kelly to see what she has been up to now that the SA Government has lifted the Covid alcohol restrictions.

Craft distilleries and breweries in South Africa have been through a rough year with three alcohol bans and sales limitations. But restrictions have been lifted, and distilling can start again.

The Capital Gin tasting rooms are also open, and more people can get the opportunity to experience the distillery and taste their excellent gin. It makes for a great weekend outing when you grab a snack platter and get to taste various gins.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Blue Label vs XR Whisky

These past couple of months, Kelly has been busy experimenting with and testing recipes for gin and rhum-agricole. I was fortunate to taste some of her rhum-agricole experiments, but I will write about that later.

What sets Kelly apart is her quest to make her gin as perfect as possible. She distils her own gin, which allows her the opportunity to start with the best possible ingredients. Right from the start, she uses locally sourced ingredients as far as possible and can ensure quality throughout the whole process.

I love tasting the new make spirit as it comes off Kelly’s still. At 90% ABV, you can get a feel for the base spirit’s quality and taste. The Capital Gin is triple distilled, and vapour infusion is used to instil the flavours.

The Exclusive WhiskyBrother&Co Gin

In 2020, WhiskyBrother&Co asked them to experiment with some recipes for an exclusive Capital Gin Small Batch WB release gin. The brief was it needs to be predominantly citrus in flavour and aroma and be navy strength! Gin at 57% ABV.

Navy strength refers to a spirit that is bottled at 57% alcohol by volume. Gin at 57% is fantastic for cocktails as the gin characteristics can stand up to the other flavours. At a higher ABV, the botanicals and their respective ratios need to be robust enough to shine through regardless of the spirit strength.

Kelly created nine different recipes and then narrowed it down to six options. The last six recipes were macerated for 48hrs with either lemon or orange rind in 90%ABV before distillation.

Whisky Brother ended up with five samples for a blind tasting at 57%. Once they made their choice regarding botanicals, Kelly started distilling and bottling the Whisky Brother exclusive release. The recipe chosen in the end had citrus notes together with juniper, coriander, ginger, cassia bark and lavender. The result is an ultra-smooth and balanced gin with plenty of citrus notes.

It is the first gin bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother&Co. Truly small-batch, with only 60 bottles produced. Bottled at the authentic “navy strength” of 57%. (Bottle size 750ml)

The Capital Gin Small Batch Gin Review

Capital Gin Small Batch WhiskyBrother&Co Gin with glass
ABV: 57%

NOSE: Juniper and citrus

PALATE: It has notes of citrus and warming ginger spice. It reminded me of a pomander ball (a citrus fruit studded with cloves and dusted with other spices). There are notes of aniseed, cinnamon and nutmeg, balanced with hints of coriander and a flowery freshness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Capital Gin small batch WB release is a smooth, delicious gin. Even at the “navy strength” that I tasted it at, it is drinkable with no alcohol heat. The Capital Gin is perfect for drinking neat. Or add a few blocks of ice, and it is the perfect sipper on a warm day. After tasting the Small Batch gin, my friend Roelia suggested that it is ideal for a Tom Collins cocktail.

You can order it from WhiskyBrother&Co online, and it retails at R 780. Don’t wait too long; there was only a limited number of bottles left.

Also Read: Cuba Libre Cocktail

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Earlier in 2020, I started exploring whisky from the Glenglassaugh distillery. The first whisky I tried was the first release of the series, the Revival release. It’s named to celebrate the reopening and revival of the distillery. Today it is time for the second release in the series, the Glenglassaugh Evolution single malt Scotch whisky.

Col. James Moir founded the Glenglassaugh distillery in 1875. He ran the distillery with his two nephews until 1892, when Highland Distillers sold Glenglassaugh. The distillery had periods of being closed, and then in 1960 was completely re-built.

Glenglaussagh distillery mainly produced whisky for blends, including Cutty Sark and the Famous Grouse. The distillery continued to produce whisky until 1986, when it was mothballed.

Also Read: Whisky rating system

On the lookout for a Scottish distillery to buy, Scaent Company acquired this Highland distillery in 2008. The intention was to bring this distillery fully backs to life. They restarted production and upgraded some of the processes. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery

Company acquired the Glenglassaugh distillery, and they continued to build upon the work done by Scaent.

Torfa followed Glenglaussaugh Evolution, and there are various Limited Editions also available. The Evolution release is a NAS whisky matured in a unique combination ex-Tennessee first-fill whiskey barrels. It has a natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Crisp gold

NOSE: Delicious sweetness with white grapes, green grass, cinnamon and vanilla. Warming and inviting. A bit of alcohol on the nose, and it needs to stand for a bit to breathe. The nose is lovely and promises many delights.

PALATE: White pepper and dry oak with hints of malt. Only later does some of the fruitiness come through. Some alcohol heat. The sweetness promised by the nose has disappeared. There are hints of lemon rind, which softens with the addition of a bit of water. The water softens the alcohol and pepper heat but does not bring any more sweetness. Medium body with not a lot of complexity.

FINISH: Lemon pepper and dry oak.

RATING: GOOD

I could not finish my glass. The pepper is just too overwhelming on the palate and the finish. The nose was delicious and promised all kinds of pleasures, but the promised sweetness did not appear.

Looking back at the Glenglassaugh Revival release I tasted a year ago, my tasting notes were pretty similar for that release, just to peppery. I might only try the Torfa release next year at this rate.

Also Read: Maraska ABC Whisky