Whisky of the Week

Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Cocktail

On 11/12/2020

Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve
Old Fashioned Week is celebrated around the globe during the beginning of November. Despite Covid, this year was no exception. More home-based than previous years perhaps, but with just as much enthusiasm. Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned cocktail enthusiasts took the opportunity to celebrate this delicious cocktail in a variety of shapes.

I love watching the mixologists put their own twists on the theme. The creativity in cocktails that I have seen over the last couple of years shows how mature the industry is becoming. I spend some time to create a few variations on the theme to highlight specific elements of the Woodford Reserve bourbon.

What is an Old Fashioned Cocktail?

It is a blend of bourbon, bitters, water and sugar that date back to the 1800s. According to research, it was founded at The Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe is said to have been invented by a local bartender, in honour of a prominent bourbon distiller who brought the recipe to the internationally acclaimed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York city.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

An outstanding bourbon when you are in the mood for something sweet and bold. One of my favourite bourbon whiskey releases. It has notes of honey sweetness with apricots and dark chocolate. Hints of oak balanced with a few cherries and cinnamon spice. A bold and smooth bourbon whiskey.

Also Read: Mint Julep Cocktail

The Classic Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Recipe

Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon Ingredients

50 ml Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select
1 tsp brown sugar
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
lemon peel (for garnish)

Method

Put brown sugar and bitters into a rock glass.
Add the ice and stir.
Add the Woodford Reserve bourbon and stir again.
Serve with a twist of lemon peel.

Variations on the Theme

Black Forrest Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Cocktail

Chocolate cherry Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Switch the Angostura bitters for chocolate bitters. Garnish with maraschino cherries. This variation complements and enhances the chocolate and cherry notes of the Woodford Reserve bourbon and gives it a Black Forest cake feel.

Spicy Simple Syrup Old Fashioned Recipe

Spicy Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Replace the brown sugar with a teaspoon of spice-infused simple syrup. Make a simple syrup using 1 unit of sugar and 1 unit of boiling water. Add a cinnamon stick and star anise to the hot syrup and let infuse until cool. The spices balance out the sweetness and add a depth of flavour.

Smoky Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

< Smoky Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve bourbon
Add a drop or 2 of liquid smoke to the water used to make the ice before freezing.

This version as my favourite. The husband frowned at me when I started dropping liquid smoke in the ice trays, but the result was worth it. The slight smokiness from the ice slowly impacts on the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned cocktail and highlights the oak notes while adding a new dimension to the drink.

Recently the Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey reached South African shores and I need to try an Old Fashioned with this spicier whiskey as well.

Disclaimer: Header photo supplied by the PR company. I received a bottle of Woodford Reserve and bitters as part of the Old Fashioned Week promotion.

ALWAYS ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

Also Read: Ciroc Mango Mimosa Cocktail Recipe

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/09/2020

In Grain Whisky

It feels like it is Loch Lomond’s year on the blog. It is the fourth release I have tried from this versatile Highland distillery this year. A couple of years ago, I tasted the Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky. My tasting notes included freshly baked cookies, flowers and grass mixed spicy hints of fruit and citrus zest. I rated it as very good and commented that it seemed a bit young with some rough edges.

During my Inchmurrin chat with Muzi, the Loch Lomond Brand Ambassador, he mentioned that they are bringing out a new Single Grain release. John saw it in the shops and loved the packaging, so he bought it. I added it to my whisky collection and scheduled it for tasting sometime next year.

However, an interesting article on Malt Musings highlighted the fact that the Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is made from malted barley and not the standard grains like wheat, rye or maize. The article also mentioned the Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Grain whisky.

The article explains why it is classified as a single grain and not as a single malt. It all has to do with the unusual still set up of Loch Lomond and the continuous still distillation process.

After reading all of this, I had to try this release, and it jumped my tasting schedule to this week. I asked Muzi regarding the differences in the two releases and he confirmed that both have the same mash bill and continuous still process.

The Loch Lomond Single Grain whisky is matured exclusively in American oak. It is a NAS release.

Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask Whisky

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Pale gold

NOSE: Sweet and fruity. Notes of fresh ripe fruit and malt. Freshly cut mango and pear drizzled with honey, sugar biscuits, hints of vanilla and bits of lemon.

PALATE: Light and easy drinking. More spice than sweetness. Nutmeg and vanilla with condensed milk. Hints of pineapple, banana and tropical notes together with toffee, oak spice, and pepper. Malty notes. Water brings more sweetness.

FINISH: Short and soft with fruity notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky is the perfect summer dram. Fresh and easy drinking and perfect for a braai (BBQ) and a hot summer’s afternoon. It retails for R290 and is readily available at most liquor shops. I like this release more than the previous one.

I am not sure if it is my taste buds, but it feels like the new release is more rounded and matured. Just delicious. Muzi suggested that in this heat, the Single Grain makes for a great ginger ale high ball.

Another delicious Loch Lomond release that I have tried is the Loch Lomond Steam and Fire single malt whisky that I was fortunate to taste during my trip to Scotland.

Also Read: The Belgian Owl Whisky

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/02/2020

In Whisky Comparison

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Tennessee Whiskey side by side comparison
A few weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to chat to Bradley Watson, the South African Brand Ambassador for Jack Daniels about all things Jack and especially the Jack Daniels Rye whiskey. Even though this release has been around since 2017, it is only now available in SA. As part of our chat, we also did a side-by-side comparison between the Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey.

These two releases are both produced according to the Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. However, the mash bill for the Rye release is different. Jack Daniel’s whiskey isn’t bourbon, despite bearing most of the same characteristics, in production methods at least.

There is, however, one key difference. Jack Daniel’s filtrates their whiskey through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of key importance to the finished whiskey’s character, bottled as Tennessee whiskey.

Also Read: Jack Daniel’s vs Gentleman Jack Whiskey

Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1866. It is one of the oldest registered distilleries in the United States of America. The distillery remained family-owned until 1956 when it was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company.

Moore County, where the Jack Daniel’s distillery is located, is one of Tennessee’s dry counties. While it is legal to distil the product within the county, it is illegal to buy it there. An exception is made where a distillery can sell one commemorative product.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee Whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b
Jack Daniels Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey is the entry-level whiskey from the distillery. The mash bill for this release is 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye. It is a NAS release, but maturation is estimated to be around 4 years.

Jack Daniel’s Rye Tennessee Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Rye whiskey with glass
Brown Forman released the Rye whiskey in September 2017 as a new addition to the standard Jack Daniel’s lineup. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Straight Ryewhiskey is produced using a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley.

It follows the same Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. It is a NAS release, and it also has an excellent ABV.

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 comparison

	Jack Daniel's Old no 7	Jack Daniel's Rye
Type	Tennessee Whiskey	Tennessee Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye	70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley
ABV	43%	45%
Colour	Light amber	Light amber
Nose	Sweet with caramel, vanilla and dry oak and a hint of smoke. Some dried fruit and marzipan.	Tropical banana, hints of dark chocolate and toasted oak. Cinnamon and sweetness
Palate	Toasted oak and butterscotch sweetness. Hints of vanilla, overripe cherries and nuts. Something like sour cherries and cereal on the palate. It is quite an oily whiskey. Mellow and smooth.	Freshly baked banana bread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Drying cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of chocolate sweetness. Bits of oily wood and vanilla. Medium body.
Finish	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.	Medium length with lack pepper and spicy cinnamon and oak spices
My Rating	Very Good	Excellent
Comments	Not very complex. However, it is easy-drinking and great to use in marinades or basting sauce when cooking.	Tropical notes with an oily mouthfeel. Smooth and warming
Price	$27	$28
Pairs well with	Smoky chicken, KFC	Aged steak, dark chocolate

Putting these two releases side by side shows the difference in the mash bill very nicely while keeping to the smooth Jack Daniel’s distillery character.

The standard Jack Daniel’s has notes of caramel, vanilla, and dry oak, with cherries and cereal. The Jack Rye release has a tropical tone, with banana, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The standard release showcases cherry and vanilla notes with toasted oak. The Rye release is spicier than the standard release and more complex than the Old No. 7.

Both releases are readily available in SA and affordable, and if you enjoy Jack Daniel’s, I would recommend that you try this comparison.

I prefer the Rye release. It is better balanced, more versatile and just delicious. It reminds me of freshly baked banana bread and chocolate. The Rye suits my sweet palate but with enough bits of rye spice to make it distinguishable.

I got this nice breakdown from the friendly folks at Jack Daniel’s. A quick way to see the differences.

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Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky Review

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/19/2020

In Grain Whisky

Some time ago, I managed to get my hands on a bottle of the Nikka Coffey Grain whisky on one of the whisky auctions. I tasted the Nikka Miyagikyo during 2014 and loved it. So to add another Japanese whisky to my collection, was for me, a great treat. My bottle was distilled during 1992 and bottled in 2007.

Nikka is a subsidiary of the Asahi brewing company. Nikka was founded in 1934 and now owns two distilleries; Miyagikyo and Yoichi. What makes this specific Japanese whisky so interesting is that it is a grain whisky.

Crafted from a mash bill mainly made up of corn with a bit of malted barley added, it’s produced in continuous distillation using a Coffey still. Nikka operates 2 Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery. The Coffey still were imported from Scotland in 1963.

Related Article: Galloway Single Grain whisky

Grain whisky is cheaper and easier to produce than malt whisky. It is made in continuous column stills rather than pot stills. This allows much of the distillation process to be automated and reduces overheads.

The flavours and aromas of grain whiskies tend to be softer and lighter than those of malts whiskies. Because of this, most grain whisky is blended with malt whisky to produce blended whisky. The Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese whisky got a rating of 94,5% in the Whisky Bible.

Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese Whisky Review

The pinkish label makes this bottle stand out from the more traditional whisky bottles in my collection. This bottle is a 1992 Vintage.

COUNTRY: Japan

ABV: 57%

COLOUR: Quite a light gold colour.

NOSE: Sweet with notes of vanilla and oak mixed with cereals and spice. The Nikka Coffey Grain whisky has a complex and layered nose and has great promise.

PALATE: On the palate, this grain whisky is chewy and spicy. There are notes of Wilson Toffee, cake and coffee mingling with the spice and sweetness. The Coffey Grain is wonderfully smooth after adding a bit of water. There are hints of plump fruit, chocolate layered with caramel, coffee cake and wood.

FINISH: This Nikka finish is wonderful. It lingers for the longest time and ends in notes of spice and wood. The finish is rich and layered and perfect for this cold winters afternoon. It warms you up from the inside.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a beautifully smooth, rich and complex grain whisky. Probably the best grain whisky we have tasted this year. Have you tried this Japanese whisky yet? I see that this fantastic Japanese release is still available via Master of Malt.

Other interesting whiskies from Japan that I have tasted include the Nikka from the Barrel, Yamazaki 12 yo, the Suntory Chita whisky as well as the Nikka Miyagikyo.

Also Read: Balblair 2000 Vintage whisky

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/12/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Trying the Inchmurrin 13 yo from Bottega whisky club made me interested in trying more from this distillery. It was bold and delicious, and when I got the opportunity to listen to the Master Distiller, Michael Henry, talk about the Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky and to taste it, I grabbed the chance.

It is the 3rd time that Loch Lomond feature on the blog this year. Exploring more from this versatile distillery has been lots of fun. Loch Lomond is in the Highland region in Scotland. You can read more about the Loch Lomond 12 year old whisky and the Loch Lomond history here.

Inchmurrin is one many single malt styles produced at the Loch Lomond distillery. The distillery is capable of producing at least eight styles of spirit.

Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, and it sits in Loch Lomond. They also produce Inchmoan, also named after an island on Loch Lomond. Inchmurrin’s character is typically fruity, floral and soft, while Inchmoan offers a peaty variation. The Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old single malt whisky is aged in ex-bourbon, refill and recharred casks.

Also Read: Loch Lomond Steam and Fire Whisky

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Golden Amber

NOSE: Fruity sweetness, banana and tropical fruits with oak and butterscotch. Hints of butterscotch, malt and vanilla. Some red berries and hard candy in the background. Rich and inviting.

PALATE: The fruity sweetness continues on the palate, but now there are green grass and herby notes added. Bits of black pepper with old leather and caramel. Toasted oak and vanilla, bits of tropical fruit and tobacco. It has a bit of alcohol heat, but it makes the Inchmurrin chewy and full-bodied. Water softens the pepper spices and alcohol heat and brings more fruit to the front. Very drinkable.

FINISH: Long, warming finish with spice and liquorice; drying oak and caramel.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Delicious. If you see a bottle, grab it. It is a lovely addition to any collection, and if you like 18 year old whisky, then this will be a unique and different addition. The Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old whisky is available in SA and retail for around R1500.

I have seen some at Whiskybrother online and Bottega’s Whiskey Club. The next on my list, I want to try the Inchmoan to make sure that I have tasted my way around this whole distillery.

Also Read: Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher’s whisky