Whisky of the Week

Highland Queen Majesty Whisky

On 11/23/2015

I had to pick up a gift in Pretoria the other day, and as I was a bit early, I stopped at the closest shopping centre for a cup of coffee. While strolling around looking for the best coffee place, I walked into a Checkers Liquor store, and much to my surprise, saw a bottle of single malt that I have not noticed before.

It was a Highland Queen Majesty single malt Scotch whisky, and it retailed for around R200. In South Africa, most single malts retail for slightly more. So finding an affordable single malt was very interesting. After a few Twitter conversations about this brand, I went back and grabbed a bottle.

The Highland Queen Scotch Whisky Company produces and distributes whisky and operates as a subsidiary of Picard Vins & Spiritueux S.A. Picard also owns Tullibardine. I tasted both the Tullibardine 1993 Vintage and the
Tullibardine Sauternes Cask whisky a while ago and loved it.

In 1893, Roderick Macdonald decided to set up his own business. He had previously worked as an apprentice in the Scotch whisky trade, and his dream was to become a whisky blender. The company was known as Macdonald & Muir Ltd.

Macdonald named his whisky the Highland Queen. This name originates from the connection to the port of Leith and the original production site of Macdonald & Muir. I see that Master of Malt has quite a variety of releases from this company.

It was close to the spot where Mary Stuart made a triumphal return from France. She was later to be crowned Queen of Scots, creating one of Scotland’s most famous legends. Macdonald & Muir acquired the Glenmorangie Distillery in 1918 to supply the whisky for the base of his famous Highland Queen blend. Picard’s bought the Highland Queen and Muirhead’s brands from Glenmorangie Plc in 2008.

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Highland Queen Majesty Whisky Review

The Highland Queen Majesty single malt Scotch whisky does not have an age statement. There is also no distillery mentioned. The Highland Queen Majesty was aged in oak casks.

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat.

NOSE: Fresh tropical fruit notes intertwined with oak and hints of spice. There are traces of vanilla and cereal.

PALATE: Notes of tropical fruit, oak and muscovado sweetness. There are faint hints of coffee, vanilla custard and toffee. The Highland Queen Majesty is not a complex dram. Adding water releases more oak and softens the sweetness. There are plenty of spicy notes, including pepper and nutmeg.

FINISH: Medium length and end in spicy notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is an affordable, easy-drinking whisky. Nothing that is going to blow you away, but decent enough. The Highland Queen should work great in cocktails. Also, the spiciness of the whisky allows it to pair quite nicely with a piece of mature cheddar cheese. It is robust enough to stand up to the richness of the cheese.

Have you tried this Highland Queen release? I found the Highland Queen whisky release in the USA, as well.

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Littlemill 25 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/18/2015

In Single Malt whisky

Great was my excitement when I received an email from Steve (The Whisky Wire) confirming that we have been chosen to take part in the Littlemill 25 year old single malt Scotch whisky flash blog. A week or two earlier, I saw a request for bloggers who wanted to take part and responded.

Then the (long) wait began. About a week before the due date (14 Oct), I started ‘stalking’ our local Post Office. I became a regular in the queue. The man behind the counter saw me so often that he handed me the ‘Packages Received’ book as soon as I walked in.

No package arrived. The day of the Littlemill Whisky Flash Blog came and went. I read all the amazing blogs and tasting notes of the other (lucky) bloggers but left the Post Office empty-handed each time. I nearly gave up hope of ever getting our package.

And then, low and behold, a slip of paper arrived in my post box. Just before we depart for a short break away to the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains).

It was with much excitement that I skipped into the Post Office. The man behind the counter reached for the book, but I was waving my slip of paper. I got my Littlemill 25 year old whisky sample.

Established back in 1772, this Lowland distillery fell silent in 1994 and was destroyed by a fire in 2004. The fire only left a few last barrels. Once they are consumed, there will be no more. The whisky chosen for this release was casked in 1989 and 1990, respectively.

The Littlemill 25 year old Scotch whiskywas matured in a mixture of American and European Oak and has been finished in first-fill European Oloroso Sherry casks.

Also Read: Auchentoshan American Oak Whisky

Littlemill 25 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Lowland

ABV: 50.4%

COLOUR: Golden wheat. It is quite an oily whisky.

NOSE: Notes of sherry sweetness, Christmas Pudding and candied fruit. There are hints of oak, caramel, toffee and butterscotch.

PALATE: Without water, the Littlemill 25 year old is creamy and rich with fruity sweetness, crème brûlée and spice. There are hints of nutmeg, black peppercorns and cloves. With water, the Littlemill palate releases notes of grape jam, vanilla and sultanas.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in notes of sweet spiciness, citrus and toasted oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Littlemill 25 year old single malt is a complex and robust whisky. With the beautiful golden Drakensberg in front of us and the sun setting, this dram glowed golden bright. A wonderful dram in an amazing setting. Dinner was a slow-cooked lamb potjie (lamb stew), and the 25 year old was the dessert.

Only 1500 individually numbered bottles were released. The remaining Littlemill casks are owned by the Loch Lomond Group. The Littlemill 25 year old retails for GBP 1690. (R36 500)

Also Read: The Balvenie Roasted Malt whisky

Maraska ABC Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/09/2015

In Blended whisky

My whisky collection focuses on whisky from around the world. Living in South Africa makes getting my hands on unique bottles quite tricky. So imagine my delight when I spotted a bottle of whisky from Yugoslavia on an international whisky auction.

Sadly, I can’t find much information about Maraska ABC whisky. According to its website, the Maraska Company have a rich and glorious tradition in producing liquor.”Maraska has more than five centuries of experience and tradition in the production of making liquor items and for making one of the worlds best-known liqueurs, ‘Maraschino’.”

This special cherry is authentic only to Croatia and grows in the climate and area around Zadar, Croatia. The cherry has a unique flavour found nowhere else in the world.”

Looking at the printing on the bottle and the fact that it still refers to Yugoslavia, I guess that this Maraska ABC whisky was bottled around mid-1980s. Zadar, where Maraska is situated, is in Croatia.

Croatia declared independence and dissolved its association with Yugoslavia in 1991. The bottle is a bit bashed and bruised and does not seal well anymore. However, in our collection, it has a special place.

A small piece of history. Maraska does not create whisky anymore, and I can find no further information on their website. Maraska liquors are, however, available in the United States.

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Maraska ABC Whisky Review

Unfortunately, the cork crumbled when I opened it. It has no age statement. It is a 1 L bottle.

COUNTRY: Yugoslavia

ABV: 41%

COLOUR: A light golden colour.

NOSE: I don’t think that it was not aged very long. The Maraska ABC has hints of methylated spirits, cherries, mothballs and condensed milk. Not a very complex nose.

PALATE: On the palate, it is somewhat anonymous. Rather forgettable. There are methylated spirit notes mixed with mild bitter citrus and a bit of raw wood. A few sweet fruit notes make an appearance. Adding water dulls down the raw spirit notes in the Maraska.

It does not release any other new flavours. The Maraska ABC becomes rather soulless with water. It is a dram that reminds us of the old Soviet times. The Soviet version of what life and whisky should be. Dull and grey and with no personality.

FINISH: The Maraska does have a rather long finish. Unfortunately, this finish is reminiscent of the bitter white part of citrus peel.

RATING: ORDINARY

The fact that the cork is damaged might have impacted the dram, and some of the better notes might have evaporated over time. Even though this Maraska whisky reminds me of the old Soviet Union, I am excited to have it in our collection. It represents a piece of history of a country that does not exist any more.

Another whisky from a country that does not exist anymore is the Hammerhead whisky from Czechoslovakia. But it is a lot nicer than this Maraska release.

Anyone else ever heard of this Maraska whisky?

Also Read: Reisetbauer 12 yo Whisky

Naked Grouse Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/02/2015

In Blended whisky

In addition to my regular single malt favourites, I add a blended whisky to my tasting schedule to spice things up now and again. Last year, this led me to the Black Grouse whisky, which I loved and I paired with some spicy Indian food. On reading up about the Grouse brand, I noted that they made a Naked Grouse blended Scotch whisky.

And with a name like that, I had to have it. So, on the way back from London, I grabbed this award-winning Grouse. I see that it is available in SA as well. The Famous Grouse is a brand of blended Scotch whisky, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son.

The Edrington Group owns the Famous Grouse brand as well as The Macallan, Cutty Sark and Highland Park. This Naked Grouse has a high proportion of spirit from Macallan & Highland Park. The Macallan bringing the sweet sherry influence, and Highland Park bringing a slightly malty, smoky sharpness.

This is the previous blended Scotch whisky release. The new release was relaunched as a blended malt. Other releases in the range include the Famous Grouse Smoky Black whisky.

The Naked Grouse whisky has been matured in sun-dried sherry oak casks. I have also managed to add two more bottles to my Famous collection: the Famous Grouse Port Wood Cask and the Black Grouse Alpha edition.

In keeping with the Naked theme, the labelling is limited with only a Grouse embossed in the glass. So let get Naked…

Related Article: Bell’s Special Reserve whisky

Naked Grouse Whisky Review

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: A very dark colour. It is a rather unusual dark mahogany red colour.

NOSE: Sherry sweet. It made me think of a glass of Old Brown Sherry in front of a log fire. That sticky sweet, warming smell after spending the afternoon hiking in the cold mountains. There are notes of toffee, caramel and vanilla.

Hints of cherry and ripe red fruits float around. The nose promises a rich, delicious experience.

PALATE: An interesting flavour development. The first sip is just spicy notes. Sweetness develops a bit more by the second sip. The second sip has remnants of bubblegum, plump cherries and bits of butterscotch.

But not the rich sweetness promised by the nose. There are notes of oak, cinnamon, cardamom and grape. Water softens the spices a bit but does not release any additional sweetness.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of dried fruit, toffee and faint hints of chocolate.

RATING: VERY GOOD

After all the positive reviews I read about this Naked Grouse whisky, as well as the rich sweet nose, I was expecting a more complex and richer dram. It did not quite live up to my expectations. What did you think of this Naked Grouse?

I have also managed to taste the Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask blended whisky and captured my tasting notes for this affordable release as well.

Also Read: Grant’s Sherry Cask whisky

Wild Turkey Kentucky Bourbon 101 Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/26/2015

In Bourbon whiskey

In early May, I had the pleasure of savouring the Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon. This experience left me craving more of this exceptional bourbon. Determined to restock my collection, I embarked on a spirited quest, only to be met with a challenge. The bourbon landscape in South Africa had dwindled over the past year, resulting in a somewhat limited selection.

Fortunately, my search yielded the Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey . I eagerly seized the opportunity to add it to my collection. Wild Turkey is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey crafted and bottled by the renowned Wild Turkey Distilling Co., nestled on Wild Turkey Hill near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

The origins of this distillery trace back to the Ripy brothers, who established the original distillery. Their bourbon found its way into the hands of various wholesalers who, in turn, bottled it under their own labels. One of these wholesalers were Austin Nichols.

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According to a old tale, the “Wild Turkey” brand was born during a wild turkey hunting expedition in 1940, when an Austin Nichols executive named Thomas McCarthy sampled warehouse treasures with friends.

The whiskey was so beloved that they couldn’t resist asking for “that wild turkey bourbon.” In 1942, Austin Nichols officially began bottling Wild Turkey.

In 1949, the Ripys sold their distillery to Robert and Alvin Gould. A significant turning point occurred in 1971 when Austin Nichols purchased the distillery, then called Boulevard Distillery, from the Goulds and bestowed the name Wild Turkey Distillery upon it.

In 1980, Pernod Richard acquired the distillery and Wild Turkey brand. As time went on, Wild Turkey became part of the Campari Group.

Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 Whiskey Review

The “101” denotes its robust 101 proof, equivalent to 50.5% alcohol by volume. This bourbon is a blend comprising 6, 7, and 8 yo bourbons that emerge from the barrel at a potent 109 proof. Only a slight dilution is applied before bottling, preserving its bold character.

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 50.5%

COLOUR: Rich amber. It’s quite an oily bourbon.

NOSE: Rich and sweet, with layers of dark fruits. Hints of candied plums and ripe cherries, with maple syrup and caramel, form a delightful backdrop, offering a glimpse of the spiciness yet to unfold. Cinnamon whispers around, intermingling with the comforting embrace of vanilla. It’s an enticing beginning.

PALATE: The Wild Turkey 101 coats your palate with a chewy richness. Up to this point, John and I shared similar impressions. However, our tasting notes diverged from here. John perceived an outstanding balance of sweetness and spice, together with oak.

He described it as an intricate tapestry of spice layered over caramel toffee, with cherries adding depth. In contrast, I encountered a pepper spice bomb, overwhelming any lingering sweet notes. A touch of water does help, mellowing the pepper and taming some of the spice.

FINISH: John described the finish as a great body that builds to a smooth, spicy end. For me, it was a bold interplay of cinnamon and pepper vying for dominance.

RATING: VERY GOOD

Typically, our tasting notes and assessments align closely, but on this bourbon, our perspectives diverged significantly. John relished the Wild Turkey 101 bourbon whiskey, whereas I found it challenging to finish my glass. It’s a testament to the enigmatic nature of whiskey, capable of evoking diverse reactions.

This unpredictability is precisely what makes our whisky journey so thrilling; sometimes, we agree to disagree. This Kentucky bourbon secured an impressive 91 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. In our deliberations, we settled on a rating of “Very Good” for the Wild Turkey 101 bourbon whiskey.

It’s a bourbon that shines if you have an affinity for robust spices. While it may not be my preference, John managed to single-handedly make a dent in the bottle, attesting to its undeniable appeal for spicy, bold bourbon fans.

This is the perfect pairing with a blue cheese. The whiskey has enough bold spiciness to stand up to the pungent cheese.

Also Read: Jim Beam White Label Bourbon