Whisky of the Week

JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky

On 09/11/2017

Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary on the 1st of July. I was fortunate to be in Canada during these celebrations, and it was wonderful to raise a glass (or 2) in celebration. One of the glasses we raised was filled with JP Wiser’s Deluxe blended Canadian Rye whisky. I spent quite a bit of time rummaging through Canadian liquor stores during our trip.

It was fascinating to see all the flavoured whiskies available. Flavoured whisky is not readily available in S.A. The occasional Jack Daniels Apple or Honey, but nothing as exotic as what I found in Canada.

There is a broad selection of flavoured vodka on the South African market, but very little flavoured whisky. The other noticeable thing was the different bottle sizes. You can find from a 375 ml to a 1.5L bottle readily available in the liquor stores.

The JP Wiser range had quite a few flavoured releases. There was a JP Wiser Apple, Vanilla and even a Hopped flavoured relese (at the end of the process the blended whisky is dry-hopped in the same fashion as India Pale Ale beers).

Another thing I had to get used to was the 40% ABV. I had to be very careful when adding water. We have to a bit more of a bite in S.A. with our 43% ABV, and it was remarkable the difference the little extra made. ABV on the flavoured whisky was typically around 35%.

On to the JP Wiser Deluxe blended Canadian whisky; in 1857, John Philip Wiser set out at a steady pace to build a distilling company. He began a long tradition of Canadian whisky making.

Produced from cereal grains, the dominant, base ingredient is typically corn, with rye, wheat and barley being used as blending agents to create a distinctive flavour. JP Wiser’s is Canada’s oldest continuously produced Canadian whisky. JP Wiser is produced in Windsor Ontario by Hiram Walker & Son’s which is owned by Pernod Picard.

Also Read: Floki Icelandic Young Malt

JP Wiser’s Deluxe Canadian Rye Whisky Review

The JP Wiser Deluxe Rye whisky is Wiser’s signature blend and has no age statement.

COUNTRY: Cananda

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Golden Amber

NOSE: Vanilla, toffee sweetness, hints of fruit and lemon. Not the most complex nose and the Rye spices that I was expecting did not make an appearance.

PALATE: Now the spices come through. Toasted oak and grain, toffee sweetness, hints of vanilla and fruit with heaps of rye spices. After the soft nose, I was not expecting all the rye spices, and it was a bit overwhelming. Water softens the rye notes and releases a bit more sweetness. Not the most complex of drams and certainly not as lovely as some of the other rye’s that I have tried. A few blunt edges.

FINISH: Medium length ending in notes of spice and lemon rind.

RATING: VERY GOOD

After trying the Crown Royal Rye and the Rittenhouse Rye, I was excited to try another Rye release. However, the balance in this JP Wiser’s Deluxe version was just not there. It is not a bad whisky and definitely in the affordable category, especially as we were shopping in South African Rands.

It will make a great mix for cocktails, and after this tasting, my bottle is empty. Definitely not too bad. I used this JP Wiser’s Deluxe whisky in some mulled wine that I made and it worked well. I also tried the Forty Creek Barrel Select on my trip to Canada and captured the tasting notes about my experience.

Also Read: Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Glenfiddich 15 year old Solera Reserve Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/28/2017

In Single Malt whisky

Glenfiddich is one of my favourite distilleries, and today I write about the Glenfiddich 15 year old Solera Reserve single malt Scotch whisky. I love the sweet fruity releases that consistently come from this Speyside gem.

My bottle of Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21 yo whisky did not last long, and I had to replace it less than a year from opening it. It was just that good! The Glenfiddich 12 yo whisky is the perfect dram for whisky newbies and the Rich Oak whisky release pairs well with cheese.

I have written nearly ten blog posts that feature Glenfiddich in some way or another. More than the blog posts I have done about Balvenie. It is a distillery I love. I received this Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky as a gift and did not wait too long before opening up this bottle.

Glenfiddich matures the 15 year old Solera Reserve whisky in American bourbon, Portuguese sherry and virgin oak casks. The whisky is then mellowed in a handcrafted Oregon Pine Solera vat (that is always kept half full) before being married in Portuguese oak tuns. This is roughly based on the Spanish sherry solera vat method.

Being part of the William Grant stable, naturally the great Malt Master, David Stewart was behind this. It is not the most affordable bottle in the collection and comes in at around R 900. However, it is worth it!

Also Read: The Macallan 12 yo whisky

Glenfiddich 15 year old Solera Reserve Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden red

NOSE: Complex and creamy with notes of sweet sultanas, honey, stewed apple crumble with cream and caramel. Bit of oak and vanilla combining with hints of sherry and fudge.

PALATE: The complexity from the Glenfiddich 15 year old nose carries over to the palate and do not leave you disappointed. There are notes of honey, oak, cinnamon and nutmeg spice, brandy-soaked fruit cake, hints of nuts perfectly balanced with more fruit and vanilla. Water smooths out this already delicious dram.

FINISH: Long and lingering with hints of malt, honey and cinnamon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is an all-round, amazingly delicious release. It is only 3 years older than the 12 year old and about double the price, but it is so worth it. Rich, delicious, sophisticated and easy drinking. I got so many responses on Friday after posting my review; this is probably the Glenfiddich that most people love.

I have also done a side by side comparison between the Glenfiddich and the Macallan 15 yo whisky. See how they differ.

Also Read: Glenlivet 12 yo whisky

Boplaas Single Grain Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/07/2017

In Grain Whisky

Every month, WhiskyBrother & Co publish their top 5 sellers for the month. It is always interesting to see the old favourites (Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and Glendronach) share space with newcomers. The June the list had an exciting surprise. A South African whisky aged in Brandy Casks – Boplaas single grain whisky.

Obviously, after Ardbeg Day at the end of May, it was expected that the Ardbeg Kelpie would make an appearance. However, number 2 on the list was unusual.

Also Read: Helden Hickory Wood Single Malt Spirit

I saw the Boplaas whisky a while ago on social media and managed to grab a bottle. It is great to see that this local release is getting more exposure. I was rather intrigued by this SA release and did some more research on Boplaas.

The Boplaas Family Vineyards in Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo is known for crafting and distilling pot still brandy, port and wines. The brandy distillery dates back to 1880, with the first order of brandy sent to Cape Town harbour for export to London.

In the early 1920s, the distilling license was repealed, and the pot still stood dormant for nearly 70 years. However, it was fired up again in 1989, and in 1994, Boplaas released the very first estate brandy – the Boplaas 5 yo potstill estate brandy.

The Boplaas brandy, ports and wine have won numerous prizes around the world. I have also seen a Boplaas gin but is yet to get my hands on this one.

Boplaas Single Grain Whisky Review

The Boplaas Whisky is a blended cask-aged grain whisky.It is made from maize, and distilled to an alcohol content of 93% and then diluted with distilled water to 68% strength. The ageing takes place in American oak barrels for between 54 and 60 months. The spirit is then finished in Boplaas brandy barrels for a short time. The Boplaas single grain whisky is bottled unfiltered.

COUNTRY: South Africa.

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden amber

NOSE: Brandy and sweet fruits. Bits of vanilla. Let it breathe for a bit to allow some of the alcohol notes to disappear.

PALATE: Brandy, sweet fruit, cinnamon and bits of orange peel. Hits of wood. Medium body. Not too complex. Water smoothes out the alcohol bite but releases more of the sweetness.

FINISH: Brandy and spices

RATING: VERY GOOD

There is no age statement on the Boplaas, and it drinks more than a 3 yo than a 5 yo. It is not the most complex of whiskies, with mainly brandy fruitiness. After my experience with the Schoonspruit, I opened this bottle with reluctance. It is not a Bain’s Grain whisky, but it has potential. It is better than the Wild Reeds and a few of the well known Scottish releases I have tried over the years.

I shared it with a few whisky loving friends, and they all agreed. It has definite potential and was better than expected. Have you tried this South African release?

Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/31/2017

In Single Malt whisky

Something different today, in honour of World Whisky Day I try the Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 single malt Scotch whisky. Founded in 2012 and celebrated on the third Saturday in May, World Whisky Day is a global event to celebrate all that is whisky or whiskey.

An opportunity to bring people together and to share a glass of your favourite dram. This year Checkers invited a group of whisky lovers around the country to participate in a special Twitter tasting. An event to celebrate the friendship that whisky creates.

Anel Grobler, the editor of DrinksFeed, ran the Twitter tasting and we had the opportunity to taste four whiskies from the Checkers Private Barrel Co. I have written about the Private Barrel Co whisky before. The team behind Private Barrel company source unique limited single barrel whisky and bottle it under the Private Barrel Co label.

The aim is to offer the whisky lover something unique, different and above all, affordable. Private Barrel Co sources single casks from distillers that would not typically bottle a single cask or distilleries not well known in South Africa. The team look for finishes and releases that are out of the ordinary.

The Twitter Tasting

During the Twitter tasting we got to taste:

The Glenlossie 15 yo single malt with its palate of pineapple, subtle spice and honey;
The Glen Grant 17 yo that I have written about;
The latest addition to the Private Barrel Co. is a 10 yo Glen Scotia from the award-winning Campbeltown distillery of the year and matured in first-fill American oak casks. The Glen Scotia 10 yo has notes of pineapple and lemon zest along with hints of orange marmalade, sliced apple with honey and vanilla syrup on the palate.
The Private Barrel Co No 68 and it stood out. A 12 yo single malt Scotch whisky matured in American oak bourbon casks. I have written about the Private Barrel Co. No 41 single malt before and that release quickly made it into my Top 5 affordable Single Malts. After tasting this No 68 Scotch and seeing the price, I had to go out and get a bottle.

Also Read: Balvenie Triple Cask 16 yo Whisky

Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Polished copper with red hints

NOSE: Initially, the Private Barrel Co No 68 has the classic sweet vanilla notes of bourbon and toasted oak. This is followed by faint winter spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper balanced with fudge and toffee sweetness.

PALATE: Smooth and spicy. On second sip hints of oak appear with some brandied fruit sweetness and berries. Bits of Christmas pudding, wet wood and vanilla. This release is quite spicy, but it is a warming cinnamon, and nutmeg winter spice taste, more than a pepper spice.

The addition of water transforms this dram – removing some the spice and releasing the sweetness. The Private Barrel Co No 68 has a medium body. <

FINISH: Medium length ending in vanilla and hints of lemon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

For the price range, this Private Barrel Co No 68 is excellent quality! A great addition to the Private Barrel Co. Range This release is widely available and will make it onto my Top 5 affordable Single Malts for 2017.

I was not the only one who loved it. It also paired very well with an aged cheddar as well as an oxtail. It is drinkable and warming and perfect for winter.

The Private Barrel Co released a James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask during 2018, and you can read all about it too.

Also Read: Galloway Single Grain Whisky

Balvenie Triple Cask 16 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/24/2017

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at a bottle I opened for to celebrate a special event; the Balvenie Triple Cask 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky. One of the best things for me about whisky is the opportunity to open it celebrate something special.

You create memories when you open a bottle to celebrate a special occasion. Months later, when you open up that bottle again, you are immediately reminded you of what you have achieved and celebrated.

I found this quote in Patrick Lindsay,’ book ‘It’s Never Too Late’. He says “Every new friend is a new adventure… …the start of more memories.” Such an apt quote. Especially for the adventure that is whisky and making memories.

And when you have an interesting bottle like the Balvenie Triple Cask 16 yo whisky to open and share, you know it will be a great adventure.

My child always says, “sharing is caring”. Mostly when I have some chocolate in my hand, but she is right. Sharing is caring, especially with whisky. After John’s trip to Dubai (the 3rd one this year), it was great to sit down and open this bottle of Balvenie Triple Cask 16 year old whisky.

We have been saving it for a while and was looking forward to something special. It was the perfect bottle to open after a busy week.

I have covered the Balvenie history plenty in some of my other blog posts, starting with the Balvenie Doublewood. It is one of my favourite distilleries, and I love The Balvenie Roasted Malt and The Balvenie Peated Cask release. The Balvenie Triple Cask range include a 12 year old and a 25 year old whisky.

The Balvenie Triple Cask 16 yo whisky is created by combining Balvenie whisky that has matured in the three most traditional types of cask – first-fill bourbon, refill bourbon and sherry – in a large wooden marrying tun before bottling.

Also Read: Aberlour A’bunadh whisky

The Balvenie Triple Cask 16 year old Whisky

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Light golden amber.

NOSE: Lots of toasted oak spices, chocolate covered dried pineapple, fresh banana and vanilla sweetness. All beautifully blended together to make a rich and complex nose. In the background, hints of dried grass, fruity sweetness and nuts.

PALATE: The first sip brings cinnamon and pepper spice. More than what I expected based on the nose. The second sip brings sun-dried pears, oak woodiness but very little of the sweetness that I expected based on the nose.

Faint hints of malt, honey and vanilla. The Balvenie Triple Cask 16 is oily with a medium body. The addition of water smoothes out the dram but increases the pepper bite. Not what I was expecting after the rich, complex nose.

FINISH: Medium length finish with notes of pepper, bits of citrus peel and tobacco.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I had hight hopes for this 16 year old single malt whisky. It is one of my favourite distilleries, and I have quite a few Balvenie’s in my collection. The best part of this Balvenie Triple Cask whisky is the nose. It is rich and complex and promises much pleasure.

However, the palate does not live up to the expectations and for a 16 year old disappointed me a little. Perhaps this release will grow on me if I try it again in a couple of months. It does keep on reminding me of an amazing achievement, the reason why I opened this bottle in the first place.

Also Read: Mackinlay’s The Enduring Spirit Whisky