Whisky of the Week

Aultmore 18 year old Whisky

On 10/02/2023

Today, I’m diving into the Aultmore 18 year old Foggie Moss single malt Scotch whisky. What immediately captures my attention is the enchanting name of their single malt collection: Foggy Moss. Just mentioning it conjures a vivid image – a hauntingly beautiful scene of fog weaving through the corridors of a moss-draped, long-forgotten castle nestled on the misty moors.

As it turns out, my imagination is pretty close to the mark. Aultmore Distillery is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Speyside region, specifically in Banffshire. This location often finds itself veiled in a dense, mysterious fog, which only adds to the allure of this remarkable distillery.

Aultmore’s story dates back to 1895, when Alexander Edward founded it. At just 25 years old, he joined forces with Peter Mackie to acquire his father’s land. There he establish the renowned Craigellachie distillery.

A few years later, upon his return from an extensive international sojourn, Alexander Edward commissioned the construction of Aultmore Distillery.

The word “Aultmore” originates in the Gaelic term “A t-Allt Mor,” roughly translating to ‘big burn.’ Here, the ‘burn’ refers to the Burn of Auchinderran, the pristine water source for the distillery.

Over the years, Aultmore changed hands, transitioning from John Dewars to Distiller Company and eventually to Scottish Malt Distillers. In 1998, the distillery found its way back to Dewars, a subsidiary of Bacardi.

Interestingly, the bulk of Aultmore’s spirit has traditionally been utilized in blends. The Aultmore 12 year old whisky was released in 2014, followed by the Aultmore 18 year old single malt whisky in 2015.

Notably, a range of independent bottlings of Aultmore exists for enthusiasts seeking distinct expressions of this fine Speyside whisky. The Aultmore 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky undergoes maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and refill sherry casks.

Also Read: Craigellachie 13 yo Whisky

Aultmore 18 year old Whisky Review

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Old gold

NOSE: Delightful scents of fresh orchard fruit kissed by the morning sun, interwoven with nuances reminiscent of freshly baked Pasteis de Nata and the subtle embrace of sherry. Hints of lemon blossom, meadows swaying with tall grasses, and a gentle oak note greet the senses. In the background, there’s a whisper of light spice and a touch of cherries, all elegantly balanced.

PALATE: The first sip is akin to biting into a succulent, fresh peach dusted with vanilla sugar. This is accompanied by playful notes of lemon drops and a touch of greenery. As the journey continues, subtle sherry undertones merge seamlessly with the warm embrace of freshly baked biscuits and a gentle hint of oak.

A subtle nutty maltiness and a dash of pepper on the palate. Adding a few drops of water softens the slight alcohol heat. It brings forth the green notes, creating a complex and utterly delightful experience.

FINISH: The finish lingers for a medium duration, leaving notes of malt, oak, and a gentle kiss of lemon pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delectable Speyside dram! Its oily mouthfeel gracefully carries a symphony of flavours. While it boasts complexity, it remains wonderfully approachable. Personally, I prefer it without water, savouring its natural essence.

After this enchanting encounter with the Aultmore 18 year old Scotch, I’m eager to embark on a quest to explore more from this Speyside distillery. It promises to be a journey filled with rich, flavours and stories from this historic distillery shrouded in the mystique of Foggy Moss.

Also Read: Inchmurrin 18 yo Whisky

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/29/2023

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am looking at the 3rd of my mini Talisker bottles, and it is time for the Talisker Storm single malt Scotch whisky. The Talisker 10 yo whisky easily makes it onto my top 10 desert island drams. I love the smoky, creamy notes of this release.

It is affordable and bursts with flavour. I enjoyed the Talisker Skye but found it a bit rough around the edges.

Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. It is part of the Diageo brands and part of their Classic Malt range. The distillery was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill on the shores of Loch Harport. Talisker was updated over the years and changed hand a few times.

The distillery’s water comes from Cnoc nan Speireag (Hawk Hill). The malted barley used in production comes from Muir of Ord. Talisker whisky is typically peated to a phenol level of approximately 18–22 parts per million (ppm).

Diageo released Talisker Storm in early 2013 with no age statement. The whisky is matured in specifically selected refill and toasted American oak casks. Pre Covid, the Talisker Storm single malt Scotch whisky was occasionally available in SA. Sadly, I have not seen it around for the last couple of months.

Other releases include the Talisker 57 North whisky. There is also a Talisker Dark Storm that was released as a travel retail special. Dark Storm was matured in heavily charred casks compared to the standard Storm release.

Also Read: Springbank 18 yo Whisky

Talisker Storm Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Island of Skye

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Dark Gold

NOSE: Delicate and soft with peat, smoke and sweetness. Sea salt and honey with a soft fruity note. Surprisingly sweet.

PALATE: Medium body with notes of peat, oak and honey sweetness. A bit of a chilli bite mixed with smoke and hints of black pepper. Bolder than what the nose suggested. Lovely and warming on a cold Friday afternoon. Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking. Quite a bit sweeter than the 10 yo release. Water tones down the chilli heat.

FINISH: Peat and oak dryness with a fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely dram. It warmed me up on a cold Friday evening, and I will undoubtedly be looking for a big bottle of this when it becomes available in SA again. I was surprised at how much sweeter it is when compared to the Talisker 10 yo whisky.

As soon as I managed to find a big bottle, I will do a side by side comparison. The 10 yo is still my favourite of the lot, but this Talisker Storm single malt whisky is not far behind.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky

Tamnavulin Double Cask Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/25/2023

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at the Tamnavulin Double Cask Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, produced at one of the younger Scottish whisky distilleries. The Tamnavulin distillery was built in 1966, mainly to supply the booming market for whisky to use in blends including Whyte & Mackay and Mackinlay’s.

Tamnavulin distillery was built on the remains of a wool mill, and Tamnavulin is a translation of the Gaelic for ‘mill on the hill’. The water used is from underground springs in the neighbouring hills.

The distillery changed hands a few times and spend some time closed. It ended up in the Emperador/ Whyte & Mackay stable together with Jura and Dalmore.

Also Read: Springbank 18 yo Whisky

In 2016, Tamnavulin was re-launched in the UK as a single malt brand. It marks the 50th anniversary of the distillery. The Tamnavulin range also includes a Sherry cask edition, a red wine cask edition as well as a Vintage Collection.

The Tamnavulin Double Cask single malt whisky is the first official release from the distillery in more than two decades! It is first matured in American oak barrels before a finishing period in sherry casks.

Tamnavulin Double Cask Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Amber gold.

NOSE: An unusual nose. It took me a while to identify the notes. Fermented grapes, wet moss with bits of caramel sweetness. Some alcohol notes floating around—something like mouldy bread in the background.

PALATE: Oak, pepper with bits of caramel, lemon and tobacco. Not a very complex whisky. Adding water renders it flat and one dimensional. Water brings the honey sweetness to the front and softens the oak and pepper notes.

FINISH: Drying oak and pectin.

RATING: GOOD

I have seen very positive reviews on this release, and I was excited to try it. However, it left me disappointed. I saw people mentioning flavours including chocolate mousse, brownies and marzipan. I am wondering if there is something wrong with my bottle.

According to the reviews, I could look forward to Christmas pudding and some fruit, but could not find any of these in my glass; I did not even want to finish my drink. Sadly, I think this bottle of Tamnavulin will be in my collection for quite some time.

It retails for an affordable £30 on Amazon, and perhaps I should go give some of the other expressions a try before judging to harshly.

Also Read: Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

Recipe for a Manhattan Cocktail

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/18/2023

In Cocktails

Manhattan glass cocktail recipe
I have some vermouth left from my Negroni cocktail experiments and looked for other cocktail recipes to use it in. I found the best recipe for a Manhattan cocktail, and I have all the ingredients on hand. The Manhattan cocktail is a mix of rye whiskey and sweet vermouth looked perfect. So let’s explore.

As with so many cocktails, the origin of the Manhattan recipe is a bit murky. One claim was that Iain Marshal created the drink at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the mid-1870s. It was supposedly for a dinner party hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill.

Also Read: Cosmopolitan Cocktail

According to claims, the party and the drinks were so fashionable that people started to request the cocktail by referring to the name of the club where it originated. However, Lady Randolph was not in the USA then, so probably not true.

A recipe with a similar combination of ingredients was included in the 1884 book The Modern Bartender’s Guide by O.H. Byron. There are also other references to comparable recipes in cocktail books from this time.

These cocktail recipes had the basic whiskey and vermouth ingredients but added other elements such as absinth. As taste changed and evolved, the formula became standardised to the version we see today.

Manhattan ingredients

Rye whiskey: Rye whiskey is traditionally used to make a Manhattan cocktail. Rye whiskey has a spicier flavour than bourbon. My favourite rye releases for a Manhattan cocktail include the Pikesville and Michters Rye whiskey. You want to use a rye whiskey that is a bit more spice-forward to ensure you get a good balance between the spices and the sweet vermouth. But whichever rye you have available will work.

Sweet vermouth: Vermouth is a fortified wine infused with botanicals. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (typically white). Sweet vermouth has sweetness and herbal notes with a hint of bitterness in the finish.

Angostura bitters: The most versatile item in my cocktail cupboard. Angostura bitters are used in cocktails to add a complex and bitter undertone.

Cocktail cherry: The traditional garnish for a Manhattan cocktail is a Luxardo cherry. Luxardo cherries are a dark red, nearly black cocktail cherry. If you can’t find any, a Maraschino cherry would also work.

Manhattan cocktail recipe 2

Manhattan Variations

There are many popular variations on the Manhattan theme.

Bourbon Manhattan: Use bourbon for a sweeter version of the Manhattan with notes of oak and vanilla.
Brandy Manhattan: A stylish spin on the classic cocktail recipe using brandy or Cognac.
Rob Roy: Using Scottish whisky instead of rye whiskey. I have also used Islay whisky for a smokier version.
Perfect Manhattan: This twist on the classic Manhattan recipe involves using a 50/50 blend of sweet vermouth and dry vermouth instead of the sweet vermouth only.
Dry Manhattan: In this variant, dry vermouth completely replaces the traditional sweet vermouth.

But regardless of all the options, there is only one classic Manhattan cocktail recipe: two parts whiskey, one part sweet vermouth and bitters.

Recipe for a Manhattan Cocktail

Manhattan cocktail make

Ingredients

2 ounces rye whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Ice
Cocktail cherry as garnish

Method

Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters into a mixing glass.
Add ice and stir with a bar spoon until cold.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

Also Read: Suncamino Rum Cocktails

Ballantine’s 17 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/11/2023

In Blended whisky

Earlier this year, I received a Ballantine’sFinest Whisky as a gift from good friends. Neither John nor I had ever tried a Ballantine’s, so we did not know what to expect. We were blown away by what we found. Not only was it a fantastic whisky, but it also earned my first Divine rating for that year.

No blend has ever received a ‘Divine’ rating in our books. I grabbed my Whisky Bible and scanned it to see what Jim Murray’s views were. And lo and behold, he liked it as well. I was not far wrong in my views. But I noticed that he liked the Ballantine’s 17 year old blended Scotch whisky even more.

My friend Marc from WhiskyBrother tweeted that he had a few Ballantine’s 17 year old Scotch whiskies in stock. And so I added a second Ballantine’s to my collection. Ballantine’s Scotch whisky dates back to 1827. George Ballantine began supplying a selected range of blended Scotch whiskies to distinguished customers from his grocery store in Edinburgh.

Sales were good, and Ballantine employed his son, George Jr, to help with the expansion. They soon began exporting products to Europe, and the business went from strength to strength.

Based on 2012 sales, Ballantine’s is one of the top 10 whisky brands in the world. Today Ballantine’s whisky is owned by Pernod Ricard and produced in Dumbarton, Scotland.

The Ballantine’s 17 year old whisky was first blended in the 1930s and created in the true Ballantine family style. “Ballantine’s 17 year old displays all the flavours of Scotland, with a careful combination of malt and grain whiskies from all over Scotland.”

The Ballantine’s 17 year old won the Whisky Bible 2011 World Whisky of the Year. A controversial choice by Jim Murray, so I was quite interested in trying it.

Also Read: Highland Queen Majesty whisky

Ballantine’s 17 year old Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden amber. When you at first open the bottle, sherry and toffee notes float up. The Ballantine’s 17 year old makes long thick oily fingers in the glass.

NOSE: After the initial sherry sweetness, the nose brings notes of tropical fruit, pineapple and banana. There are hints of oak and cereal at the back. The nose is complex, luxurious and creamy.

PALATE: The Ballantine’s is incredibly smooth. The palate brings notes of creamy oak and spice. There are hints of vanilla sweetness balanced with little bits of smoke. It is a complex whisky that reminds us of liquid gold. Drinking this 17 year old is an amazing experience.

FINISH: Long and lingering with fruit and hints of sweetness, oak and spice at the end. This blended whisky is impressive.

RATING: DIVINE

The Ballantines 17 year old blended whisky is amazingly smooth, complex and well balanced. I can understand why Jim Murray rated this blend so highly. One of the best Scotch whiskies I have ever tasted. Perfectly balanced and complex with many intricate layers.

I will certainly extend my collection of Ballantine’s whiskies based on this delicious dram.

Note: I have been extending my Ballantine’s Scotch whisky collection with a variety of releases. Some of my favourite Ballantine’s releases include: