Whisky of the Week

Johnnie Walker Black vs Double Black Label Whisky side by side comparison
I love a glass of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky during the week. It is a bottle I replace quite frequently. Over weekends, however, you will find me with a glass of Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky. Why do I drink them so differently?

I have never tried them side-by-side. This past weekend I pitted these two bottles against each other. Is the Double Black really double the goodness?I think you sometimes get a better sense of how good whisky is if you do a side-by-side comparison. So today I look at the Johnnie Walker Black Label vs Double Black whisky.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky

Review and tasting notes Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 yo with glass Review and tastingnotes Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky with glass Johnnie Walker Black vs Double Black
This whisky has consistently been one of the top-selling blends in the world since 1909. Johnnie Walker is considered the most widely distributed brand of Scotch whiskey globally, and this blend has an affordable price point. In South Africa, the Johnnie Walker Black Label blended Scotch whisky retails for around R 320 ($39 ).

Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of about 40 whiskies from all around Scotland. It is part of the Diageo stable of brands. From the smoky Islands to the sweeter Speyside with some Highland malts in between. All the whisky is at least 12 years old.

Johnnie Walker Double Black Whisky

Review and tastingnotes Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky with glass ohnnie Walker Black vs Double Black

Johnnie Walker Double Black blended Scotch whisky, released in 2011, takes the iconic flavours of Johnnie Walker Black to the next level. Diageo, Jim Beveridge, Master Blender for Diageo wanted to create a darker, smokier interpretation of the famous Johnnie Walker Black.

Double Black is matured in heavily charred oak casks and uses a higher proportion of Scottish West coast and Island whiskies to elevate the Johnnie Walker Black flavours to a new level of intensity. It retails for around R 500 ($ 56 ).

Also Read: Jameson vs Johnnie Walker Black Label Comparison

Johnnie Walker Black vs Double Black Whisky

	Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky	Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky
Region	Blended Whisky	Blended Whisky
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Amber with a little bit of red and copper	Polished amber
Nose	Richness, complexity and luxury. There are notes of smoke, sherry rich Christmas pudding, red berry fruits and nuts. Hints of vanilla with touches of malt.	Faint smoke, red berries and tropical fruit, Christmas pudding with heaps of vanilla toffee and winter spice.
Palate	A burst of peppery spices, followed by waves of smoke and oak. A robust, mouth-filling experience marked by a buttery richness in flavour. Subtle peat notes harmonize beautifully with the embrace of malt and honey sweetness.	Smooth and easy drinking with smoke and peat perfectly balanced with fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A creamy toffee sweetness with hints of spice and cereal. You don't even need to add water, but water releases a bit more sweetness.
Finish	It has a brilliant finish that builds slowly. The finish ends in notes of pepper, malt and citrus. Without water, the finish is better. Some citrus bitterness is released in the finish when you add water.	Awesome. Long and rewarding balanced between fruity sweetness, smoke, citrus peel, vanilla and warming pepper spice.
My Rating	Excellent	Divine
Comments	Big, bold and robust. Rich and delicious with a luxurious feel.	Easy drinking, affordable and rewarding. Full bodied.
Price	$50	$40
Pairs well with	Blue Cheese, smoked leg of lamb or a rump steak.	A cheese platter or roasted pork.

From the colour to the palate intensity, the difference is quite noticeable. The Black Label is slightly lighter in colour compared to the Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky.

The Black Label brings notes of smoke, peat with a toffee sweetness and hints of citrus blossoms. A fruity sweetness balanced with cereals and spice.

Double Black is spicier at the start but settles with notes of peat, malt and a honey sweetness. The Double Black finish is shorter and with more citrus pepper notes. The Double Black also has a softer peat profile when compared to the Black Label.

The strong point of the Black Label is the fact that it is more approachable, easy drinking and smooth with rich peat. It has more fruity notes and is slightly less spicy than the Double Black. The finish on the Black Label is long and rewarding and end in warming spices.

The Double Black is bold, vibrant and luxurious. Double Black is a more grown-up version of the Black Label whisky. It is the whisky to show you have arrived. The whisky to drink when you celebrate your achievements. The Johnnie Walker Black Label is like an old friend that pops around anytime and is always welcome.

These whiskies are both available via Amazon as well. You can see the Johnnie Walker Black Label and the Johnnie Walker Double Black Label by following the respective links.

Both of these Johnnie Walkers are excellent blended whiskies. I don’t mind either of these two in my glass! However, looking at how quickly the level in my two bottles go down, it is clear that I prefer the Black Label slightly more.

Also Read: Ardbeg Corryvreckan vs Uigeadail Whisky

Three Ships 6 year old TBWC Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/11/2019

In Single Malt whisky

This past week was our wedding anniversary. I wanted to open a special bottle to celebrate this special occasion. What can be more memorable as a celebration than opening the first South African whisky bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company, the Three Ships 6 year old single malt whisky. The first independent Three Ships bottling.

Earlier in the year, at the Only Whisky Show, I was fortunate to meet Dave Worthington and attend one of his Master Classes. It was a fantastic night out, and it was great to meet up with old and new whisky friends. The Master Classed allowed for an opportunity to learn more about That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC).

If you still don’t know, TBWC is an independent whisky bottler that bottle a huge variety of distilleries as limited-edition releases. They bottle single edition malts, grains and bourbons from all over the world.

Also Read: Bushmills 16 yo Whiskey

The label of each release is done in a graphic novel style that is fun and contains humorous references to the distillery, liquid in the bottle or the master distiller/blender behind the brand.

This 6 year old from Three Ships is batch one from the James Sedgwick distillery, matured in American oak and finished in PX. Only 1 150 bottles were produced. The artwork on the label depicts Master Distiller, Andy Watts, filling a Three Ships whisky cask with whisky. The barrel in question is branded with PX.

In one hand, Andy carries the filling nozzle, and in the other, he’s hammering the bung into the cask with a Derbyshire Club cricket bat (the team he used the play for).

Three Ships 6 year old TBWC Whisky Review

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 53.7%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Sherry sweetness with berry jam, red plums, raisins and oak. Hints of cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. Rich and complex with multiple layers. Bits of old leather and polished wood mixed with sweetness and malt. Rich and opulent and just inviting and wonderful.

PALATE: The first sip brings chocolate-covered cherries, fruity sweetness and fresh wood shavings. The second sip brought more pepper and lemon with some alcohol heat. The red plumbs and fruity notes are mixed with hints of earthy moss and wet forests.

The Three Ships 6 year old needs to breathe a bit, and the alcohol heat needs a few drops of water to soften it. Water softens the spices and brings a new sweetness layer to the front.

FINISH: Wonderfully warming and long. Dry wood and spices that lingers with bits of fruity sweetness.

RATING: VERY GOOD

What an interesting whisky. The nose is impressive and elaborate. On the first sip, you taste the sweet fruitiness promised. But the second sip tasted like a different whisky. If I had this blindfolded, I would have thought you switched my glass around.

The second sip of That Boutique-y Whisky Company Three Ships 6 year old single malt brought the alcohol heat, and it needed to stand for a few minutes to soften. It requires a few drops of water to bring the complexity forward. Only then can you appreciate the multi-layers of flavour that it offers.

This release is a weighty whisky. John called it a cognac type whisky. Something fruity but heavy that you need to take your time over and sip slowly. It is for a more maturity palate that enjoys bolder tastes.

I have done a side by side comparison between this release and the Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick 6 year old Fino Cask release. Here you can read about the differences between these two 6 year old whiskies.

Also Read: Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye whiskey

Big Peat Cape Town Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/04/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

This weekend is the Rugby World Cup Final and what better way to prepare for South Africa’s part than to taste the Big Peat Cape Town Edition blended malt Scotch whisky. It feels like it was Remarkable Malts’ year on the blog.

I have tasted quite a few of their expressions during this last couple of months. I covered Rock Oyster and Timorous Beastie as well as Big Peat. I covered Big Peat quite a few times.

Even at the whisky shows, I ended up at the Remarkable Malts stand, tasting the various age statement releases available. The Timorous Beastie 18 yo whisky especially stands out. I have captured tasting notes for the Big Peat 10 yo whisky and the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition (Divine) as well.

But what better way to celebrate SA winning the final of the Rugby World Cup than with the Big Peat Cape Town Edition blended malt whisky. In June I tasted this release at The Only Whisky Show and was blown away.

I took a bottle home, and it went with us on our holiday to Mapunbugwe National Park. There we nearly finished the bottle.

As the sun goes down, the elephants come down to the watering hole for a drink. Watching them with a visitor from Islay. #africansunset #remarkablemalts #bigpeat #bigpeatcapetown @HectorMcBeth @valotone @RemarkableMalts pic.twitter.com/5FA99Xg2Av

— WhiskyoftheWeek (@WhiskyoftheWeek) September 26, 2019

Big Peat Cape Town Edition is exclusive to South Africa and part of the Big Peat World Tour City Series. It is a blended malt using Islay whisky and peated to 44ppm.

The label honours South Africa’s Mother City with a braai in front of the famous Devils Peak in Cape Town. As with all Remarkable Malt releases The Big Peat Cape Town Edition whisky is not chill-filtered and bottled at a rather decent ABV.

Big Peat Cape Town Edition Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Lightest gold

NOSE: Peat and ‘braai’ smoke with hints of blueberry sweetness. Bits of spice and earthy notes mixed with oak and red apples.

PALATE: Ash, peat and smoke. Like standing next to a ‘braaivleis vuur’ (BBQ fire). Fresh fruit sweetness with hints of salted caramel and dark chocolate. Bits of crispy bacon and pepper. Adding water brings forward the sweetness. It is big and bold but in a laid-back and unpretentious way. It is just delicious!

FINISH: Peat and smoke that goes on forever with hints of salt and pepper.

RATING: DIVINE

John is originally from Cape Town, and this Big Peat Cape Town Edition made him nostalgic. It brought back many good memories.

The notes I took while in Mapungubwe read: Sometimes you find a whisky that makes you want to sit down and have deep philosophical discussions with a loved one. But once in a while, you find a whisky that makes you forget about everything else and requires you to be present.

Not solve world problems, not deep philosophical discussions. But the quietness of nature, to look into the eyes of the elephant and just be.

I loved Big Peat the first time I tasted it, and I loved it on holiday. And I still loved it when I poured it for my Friday afternoon tasting session. The bottle will not see the end of this year. The next bottle of Big Peat is already ordered. Just don’t tell John. He is getting it for Christmas.

Also Read: Powers John’s Lane 12 yo Irish whiskey

Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/28/2019

In Whisky Comparison

Comparison: Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye whiskey side by side
It is exciting to see more and more rye whiskies becoming available in South Africa. It adds a rich dimension to the whiskey tasting options available. Rye whiskey in South Africa is still relatively unknown, but slowly I am getting the opportunity to taste more and more of these spicier drams.

Today I am looking at a comparison between Sazerac rye vs Rittenhouse rye whiskey. From one of the first rye whiskies that I tried, the Rittenhouse rye to the latest rye whiskey I have tried, the Sazerac rye whiskey

Before Prohibition in the USA, rye whiskey distilleries dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Rye was a popular grain in America. Rye grain is easy to grow and durable. Surplus rye was fermented and distilled, which was a cheaper option than transporting it to other areas. Rye has a more spicy palate compared to bourbons.

Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

Review and tasting notes: Sazerac Rye Whiskey with glass Comparison: Rittenhouse Rye vs Sazerac Rye Whisky
Sazerac rye whiskey is produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery. Other brands in the Buffalo Trace portfolio include WL Weller bourbon, Eagle Rare bourbon, Blanton’s bourbon and Fireball Cinnamon.

Sazerac Straight rye whiskey is aged for around 6 years and the mash bill is not disclosed. It is suggested that the mash bill is the minimum required, around 51%. I love the old school bottle shape that stands out compared to the other standard bottles on my whisky shelf.

Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

REview and Tasting notes: Rittenhouse Rye whiskey with glass comparisong rittenhouse Rye vs Sazerac Rye whiskey
Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskies, Rittenhouse Straight rye whiskey is an acclaimed rye enjoying a comeback throughout the USA.

Heaven Hill Distilleries produce Rittenhouse rye. It is aged for 4 years. The mash bill is not disclosed.

Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

Sazerac Rye vs Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey Comparison

	Rittenhous Rye Whiskey	Sazerac Rye Whiskey
Type	Rye whiskey	Rye whiskey
ABV	40%	45%
Colour	Dark Gold	Dark gold with hints of red.
Nose	Spicy and rich. Notes of nutmeg, eucalyptus and vanilla. Faint hints of fresh cut grass, lemon blossom and liquorice.	Sweetness blended with a variety of spices. Bits of pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. Woody notes with red berries, vanilla and caramel.
Palate	Freshly baked lemon and sugar biscuits and spices. Adding water releases more vanilla notes. Rich spices including warming pepper with a hint of dry oak. Medium Body.	Toasted oak notes with spices mixed with red berry and orange flavours, bits of toffee. Cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper heat with a vanilla and caramel creaminess. Medium body. Water tones down the spicy heat and makes it very drinkable.
Finish	Medium length that end in spicy lemon pepper notes .	Medium length ending in pepper spice and orange sweetness.
My Rating	Excellent	Excellent
Comments	Delicious and different.	Smooth and easy drinking.
Price	$30	$35
Pairs well with	Milk chocolate, ribs and savory cornbread	Aged cheddar, jambalaya

If I had to do a blind taste test between these two rye whiskies, I don’t know if I will be able to tell them apart. They are so incredibly similar. From the colour to the spicy notes, these two rye whiskies are very much alike.

What the side by side tasting has shown, is the subtle differences between them, which was interesting.

The Rittenhouse rye whiskey has a more lemony profile. Hints of nutmeg, eucalyptus and rye spices mingle with fresh cut grass and vanilla.

The Sazerac rye whisky has a more orangey profile. Caramel, cinnamon and oak mixed with red berries and black pepper.

Looking at only the oak notes, these also differ slightly from dryer oak notes in the Rittenhouse Rye to more toasty oak notes in the Sazerac.

I prefer the Sazerac Rye when I have these two side by side. The Sazerac Rye is somewhat smoother and more drinkable, but only marginally.

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Also Read: Pikesville Rye Whiskey

Timorous Beastie Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/21/2019

In Blended Malt Whisky

Today I try a whisky named after a well known Scottish poem from the Scottish National Bard, Robert Burns. A part of the poem “To a Mouse” goes “Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! ” This release is part of the Remarkable Malt range and can stand tall next to Big Peat, Scallywag and Rock Oyster is Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie blended malt Scotch whisky.

Timorous Beastie is a blended malt made of Highland whiskies from distilleries such as Blair Athol, Dalmore, Glen Garioch, Glengoyne and more. A release from Douglas Laing to celebrate all that is the Scottish Highlands and part of their Remarkable Malts series.

The name is a nod to Scotland’s National bard Robert Burns and his poem. Scotland’s famous poet wrote this after disrupting a timid field mouse nest on his farm. The packaging has the sweetest little mouse drawing on.

The Beastie whisky range also includes a 12 year old as well as an 18 year old Beastie. There is even a limited edition 25 year old Beastie that was just released by Douglas Laing.

The non-age statement Timorous Beastie blended malt is bottled without colouring or chill-filtration. It is readily available and retail in South Africa for R 850. It is also available in the US for $ 56.

Timorous Beastie Whisky Review

ABV: 46.8%

COLOUR: Light golden yellow

NOSE: Notes of meadow honey, barley, fresh-cut green grass and flowers, grapes, apples, hints of oak, sherry and liquorice. Somewhere in the background, there is lemon and cinnamon with hints of ginger.

PALATE: Malt and oak, honey sweetness with crisp Granny Smith apples, fennel and freshly cut grass. Bits of malt, black pepper, cinnamon and smoke. Rich and creamy. It has a crisp green note. I was expecting a bit more of the sherry notes that the nose promised. Water softens and releases more sweetness. Medium body with some drying oak notes.

FINISH: Sweet and creamy with notes of oak, honey and malt with hints of lemon and chocolate.

RATING: VERY GOOD

This blended malt whisky is not a timid little mouse at all. The Timorous Beastie is drinkable and bold. It has a green freshness that makes it perfect for summer. Timorous Beastie is not the most complex whisky, but at the price point, it is value for money. A wonderful mix of the best that the Scottish Highlands have to offer.

Have you tried this release yet?

Also Read: Big Peat Cape Town Edition whisky