Whisky of the Week

Johnnie Walker Island Green Whisky

On 08/21/2023

This travel retail exclusive whisky is perfect for my current setting. I am trying the Johnnie Walker Island Green blended malt Scotch whisky here on the beautiful green island of Mauritius.

There is, however, nothing tropical about the Island Green whisky. It is Islay rather than island. But the colour of the box and the coconut trees around me matches, so it is as good an excuse as any.

The Johnnie Walker Island Green is a blended malt whisky and retail travel release. It blends malts from Caol Ila, Clynelish, Glenkinchie and Cardhu. So a malt from each Scottish region. Islay, Highlands, Lowlands, and Speyside. Caol Ila malts make up most of the blend, hence the reference to Island.

When you look at the make-up of Island Green vs Green Label, the Green Label has an age statement. It also blends many more malts, including Talisker, Cragganmore and Linkwood.

The Johnnie Walker Island Green blended malt Scotch whisky was released in July 2016. Because it is a travel retail release, it is available in a 1L bottle. It has no age statement. I shared my bottle with friends on the island, and the tasting notes also included their comments.

Johnnie Walker Island Green Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: Smooth, soft peaty goodness mixed with cereals and a green earthy note. Hints of vanilla, wood and light pepper. You can’t miss the Islay base on the Island Green. My friend D said the nose reminded her of her granny’s fashioned emergency kit with rolled-up bandages and disinfectant. The peaty notes are all Caol Ila, but the Cardhu toasted wood, malt and vanilla also have a spot. Rich and delicious.

PALATE: Again, the Caol Ila stands upfront with soft peat, oak and smoke. Hints of oily fish and malt in the background. With a few drops of water, a fruity sweetness comes forward with caramel, marmalade and pepper, probably from the Glenkinchie.

Malty goodness and vanilla with bits of cinnamon. Medium body with an oily mouth feel. A few people around the table got woody notes.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of lemon pepper, oak and drying ash.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious blended malt. Between the 5 of us, we finished the bottle. The peat is drinkable even for a novice, with enough sweetness to suit many tastes. It is complex enough to entice the serious whisky drinkers in our group but approachable enough for the newbie to enjoy.

An outstanding balance between the peppery notes and fruity sweetness. A great bottle. I will restock this Johnnie Walker as soon as I travel again.

Also Read: Big Peat 26 yo Whisky

How to make a Martini

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/07/2023

In Cocktails

Today I look at a cocktail that is sophisticated and elegant. The Martini rose to popularity during the 1950s and 1960s when having a martini during lunch was seen as the height of social sophistication. This classic cocktail is making a current-day comeback. It was one of the most googled cocktails in 2022.

Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve Bourbon

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/31/2023

In Whisky Comparison

More side-by-side fun, and this time I am back comparing bourbons. Today I look at the Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey. A Saceraz vs Brown-Forman Corporation bourbon comparison.

In the past I have done many side by side comparisons, the most resent when I compared the Maker’s Mark against the Woodford Reserve. As usual, we did it as a blind tasting to remove some bias. But as always, comparing drams side by side is always fun and leads to discoveries about the liquid in our glass and our taste buds.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

The Buffalo Trace distillery is in Frankfort, Kentucky, and is owned by the Sazerac Company. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight bourbon, was introduced in August 1999. It has no age statement. The Buffalo Trace mash bill is not disclosed. However, it is speculated to contain a high corn percentage and less than 10% rye.

The bourbon 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 also produces other spirits, such as rye whiskey and vodka. Other brands in the SAzerac portfolio include Blanton’s, Sazerac Rye, 1792 Bourbon, WL Weller and Eagle Rare, to name but a few.

Readily available around the globe and is priced in the affordable category. It is perfect for cocktails such as an Old Fashioned and pairs well with chocolate.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. The distillery changed hands a few times, and Brown-Forman purchased the property in 1993 and refurbished it. They renamed it The Woodford Reserve Distillery in 2003.

Woodford Reserve bourbon was introduced to the market in 1996. In 1995 the distillery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The mash bill for Woodford Reserve bourbon features a high percentage of rye. It has a 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt ratio. Unusual also for being triple distilled and having the lowest proof upon entering the barrel, where it matures for at least six years.

Other brands in the Brown Forman stable include Jack Daniel’s, GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh whisky. There is also a Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey as well as a Double Oaked release.

Buffalo Trace vs Woodford Reserve Bourbon

	Buffalo Trace	Woodford Reserve
Type	Bourbon whiskey	Bourbon whiskey
Mashbill	Not disclosed	72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt
ABV	45%	43.2%
Colour	A reddish copper	Dark copper
Nose	Fruity sweetness, rich and bold. There are hints of candied fruit, caramel, vanilla, brandy pudding and oak. Bits of spice float in the background.	Honey sweetness with apricots and oranges. Bits of condensed milk richness mixed with vanilla, dark chocolate and hints of spices.
Palate	There are notes of fruit, orange marmalade, white pepper and oak. Bits of cinnamon with toasted oak. Water tones down the spice.	Oak and sweetness perfectly balanced with apricot and cinnamon spiciness. Tangy winter fruits and vanilla mixed with toffee. Creamy and smooth with a full body and a satisfying mouthfeel.
Finish	Before adding water long and ended in notes of spicy sweetness. After adding water, the finish was quite flat.	Long and lingering and ends in notes of sweetness and spices
My Rating	Very Good	Excellent
Comments	Drink it neat!	Delicious and bold.
Price point	$35	$40

Guessing which glass contained the Buffalo Trace was relatively easy. I find the Buffalo Trace quite spicy and concentrating on the spicy notes on the palate in the two glasses allowed me to identify it. From the nose alone, I would not get it.

The nose on the Buffalo Trace was bold and sweet with lots of vanilla and fruity sweetness. Quite pronounced. The nose of the Woodford Reserve is softer and sweeter with notes of fruity apricot, vanilla and oak. More elegant.

When you taste them, the differences come through, and the differences are big and bold. The Buffalo Trace is spicier and less complex. It has fruity notes and a nice drinkable mouthfeel. Buffalo Trace has a medium body and lovely toasted oak notes. However, don’t add water.

The Woodford Reserve has a creamy base with sweetness, oak and vanilla notes. Much bolder than the nose suggests. The Woodford Reserve was my favourite. The condensed milk, vanilla, and dark chocolate notes suit my sweeter palate.

Both are great bottles to have in your collection. If you prefer spicier bourbon, the Buffalo Trace is perfect. If, like me, you like something a bit sweeter, grab that bottle of Woodford Reserve. Whatever your choice, it is a good one.

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Also Read: My Favourite Margarita Recipe

Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/24/2023

In Rye Whiskey

This bottle of Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye whiskey has been in my cupboard for a couple of years after the hubby brought it back from a trip to the UK. I have been in the mood for something more spicy after the sweetness of the last couple of weeks, so a rye whiskey is perfect.

Pikesville Rye whiskey was initially produced in Maryland by L. Winand & Brothers Distillery, established in 1895. The brand went through several changes of ownership and survived Prohibition. The last batch of rye whiskey was produced in Maryland in 1972 by the Majestic Distilling Corporation.

In 1972 Majestic Distilling closed down. However, they left enough filled barrels, and the brand continued until 1982. In 1982, Heaven Hill bought the brand. Heaven Hill released the Pikesville Rye in 2015, and it is currently produced at the Bernheim Distillery.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

Heaven Hill has an extensive whiskey and bourbon brand collection, and the Evan Williams, Rittenhouse and Henry McKenna brands fall under their banner. They are the biggest privately owned whiskey company in the USA.

The mash bill for the Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey is 51% rye, 39% corn and 10% malted barley. Compared to the other rye whiskies I have tried, this is the bare minimum rye to quality as a rye whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Rye and the Bulleit Rye are considerably higher with 70% and 95%, respectively.

Another different aspect is the higher ABV when looking at the other rye releases. Sazerac and Bulleit Rye has a 45% ABV while the Pikesville rye is at 55% (110 proof).

Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey Review

The Pikeville Rye is a 6 year old release.

REGION: USA

ABV: 55%

COLOUR: Pale copper

NOSE: The nose is subtle with hints of grassy rye, brown sugar, oak, pepper and baking spices. Hints of cherry and liquorice in the background. A whiff of alcohol on the first sniff, so let it stand a few minutes.

PALATE: The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey starts quite spicy with notes of cloves, pepper and rye spices, but then comes red fruits and cherries with toasted oak. Maple syrup sweetness balances out the spicy notes. Not as spicy or complex as some of the other rye releases I have tried, but it is relatable and easy to drink. A few drops of water cool down the alcohol heat.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of vanilla, cinnamon spice and bits of drying oak. A faint dark chocolate-covered cherry note makes me want to go back to try this rye again.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a drinkable bottle of rye whiskey. Not quite as spicy as I expected, which is a good thing. I have a sweeter palate, and some rye releases can quickly become too spicy. It does need a few minutes to breathe and a few drops of water to cool down the alcohol heat, but this is an impressive rye.

The Pikesville Straight Rye whiskey retail for around $58. I will pick up another bottle when I travel again.

Also Read: Pike Creek 10 year old Whisky

Jack Daniels Apple Tennessee Whiskey Liqueur

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/10/2023

In Lifestyle

Today I look at the Jack Daniels Apple Tennessee whiskey liqueur. While travelling in Canada a couple of years ago, seeing all the flavoured whiskey liqueurs readily available was interesting.

There were whisky liqueurs from Crown Royal and Jim Beam with maple syrup and apple flavours. And later, I also spotted Bacon and Peanut Butter infused whiskey.

In South Africa, flavoured whiskey liqueur is less popular, and we have only been able to get honey and cinnamon flavoured. Both Jack Daniel’s Fire and Firewater (Fireball) liqueur is/was available. I have seen (and tasted) a locally made chilli-flavoured whisky a couple of years ago, but the less said about that, the better.

I was excited when I spotted Jack Daniel’s Apple Tennessee whiskey liqueur in a supermarket in Tamarin. The hubby just frowned.

Not strictly a whiskey at a 35% ABV with green apple flavouring added, but something fun to try nevertheless.

Jack Daniel’s brought out the Tennessee Honey in 2011 and followed that with the Tennessee Fire a few years later. I like the Honey release as a sipping liqueur in summer over ice; it is excellent for cocktails.

The Tennessee Apple Tennessee whiskey was released in 2019. It’s the standard Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 with tangy green apple.

Also Read: How to make a whisky bottle lamp

Jack Daniels Apple Tennessee Whiskey Liqueur Review

TYPE: Apple-flavoured liqueur

ABV: 35%

COLOUR: Golden mahogany

NOSE: Crispy fresh Granny Smith apples with bits of vanilla and oak. Quite sweet and not very complex.

PALATE: Fruity sweetness, vanilla and oak. The green apple is subdued on the palate. Hints of Old No 7 come through with bits of cherry and caramel. Smooth and easy drinking.

FINISH: Short and sweet with hints of white pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

Not the most complex drink, but it was not meant to be. The Tennessee Apple is a fun, light, delicious play on Jack Daniels and apples. If you love all things Jack, it is a great bottle to have on your drinks trolley and is perfect for a summer BBQ and cocktails.

I hope that it makes its way to South Africa at some stage. It retails for around Rs 2 500 in Mauritius, and I see it online for about $27 in the USA. Now to try the Jack Fire as well.

Also Read: Shackleton Whisky