Whisky of the Week

Peaty whisky and blue cheese pairings

On 10/21/2015

Blue Tower cheese whisky pairing header
Going past a well-stocked Woolworths is a treat, and last week I found a Fairview Blue Tower cheese. Pairing whisky and blue cheese is usually a match made in heaven, and I wanted to explore more of these pairing options.

This Blue Tower has won the South African National Dairy Championships first prize in the Blue or White Veined Cheese Category for 2015. This Blue Tower cheese is a full fat blue-veined Gorgonzola-style cheese with a mild flavour and a rich, creamy texture.

The Fairview Blue Tower is made with more cream than a Blue Rock, resulting in a creamier texture. It also has a slightly higher moisture content, making it a bit softer and more decadent. This high-fat blue mould cheese is made from jersey milk and matured for three months to give a sharp, almost spicy flavour.

After the success of the Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength and Stilton pairing, I decided to pair this cheese with some other interesting peaty whiskies from my collection.

Peaty whisky and blue cheese pairings

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Whisky

Blue Tower cheese whisky pairing Laphroaig Quarter Cask whisky
First up, I paired it with the Laphroaig Quarter Cask whisky. My tasting notes for this Islay single malt Scotch included iodine, peat, smoke toffee sweetness with fruity notes, some citrus and oak. I rated this Scottish whisky as Excellent. What an incredible pairing this made! The Blue Tower cheese made the Laphroaig Quarter Cask sweeter and smoothed out the medicinal notes.

The whisky and Blue Tower cheese pairing brought out the creamy butter taste in both the whisky and the cheese and softened the cheese’s spicy, mouldy taste. The Laphroaig release is readily available whisky in South Africa. I give this pairing a Rating: 4,5/5.

Dalmore Cigar Malt

Blue tower and Dalmore whisky cheese pairing
My tasting notes for this Highland single malt Scotch whisky included notes of raisins, vanilla, toffee and caramel on the nose. But for me, water unravelled this whisky, and after adding water, it was all smoke, old wet leather and orange zest mixed with a few notes of cinnamon spices. I rated the Dalmore Cigar Malt as Good during my tasting in September 2013.

However, I wanted to see if the cheese could transform this dreary whisky (and allow me to finish this bottle). Pairing the Dalmore whisky and Blue Tower cheese softens the wet leather and tobacco notes in the whisky and made it more drinkable. However, the Dalmore does nothing to the Blue Tower, and I give this pairing a Rating: 2,5 /5.

Also Read: Jura Origin & Comté Cheese

Bowmore Enigma 12 year old Whisky

blue tower cheese bowmore enigma whisky cheese pairing
The third whisky and Blue Tower cheese pairing were the Bowmore Enigma 12 year old whisky. I bought this single malt Scotch bottle at Wild About Whisky in Dullstroom on one of our weekends’ visits to the quaint little town.

The tasting notes for this Islay release include sherry, malty toffee, biscuit oats, a wisp of wood smoke and a white pepper sweetness. Again, what a great whisky cheese pairing.

The Blue Tower cheese and Bowmore 12 yo whisky creates a smooth, rich, creamy mouthfeel, and this pairing brings the best of each element to the front. A slightly more expensive pairing, but worthy of a try. I give this pairing a Rating: 4/5.

Three Ships 5 year old whisky

blue tower cheese Three Ships 5yo whisky cheese pairing
Next up, I tried a truly South African whisky from the beautiful Western Cape. I have previously seen that the Bain’s whisky paired wonderfully with the Fairview Camembert. I wanted to try this Woolworths Blue Tower with South Africa’s very own peaty classic. The tasting notes for the Three Ships 5 yo whisky included oak, barley, and hints of peat, cinnamon and honey.

There are hints of vanilla and fresh fruit. This whisky and Blue Tower cheese pairing blew me away. The whisky becomes peatier and smoky paired with the Blue Tower cheese. The spiciness of the cheese is enhanced, and together they have that yummy factor. A readily available and affordable pairing. I give this pairing a Rating: 4/5.

Amrut Two Continents Whisky

blue tower cheese and Amrut Two continents whisky cheese pairing
Last but not least, I tried an Amrut Two Continents Indian single malt whisky. It is one of my favourite whiskies, and my tasting notes for this Indian whisky included honey, spice and vanilla. There was a hint of peat but no smoke. I gave the Amrut Two Continents a Divine rating. Pairing this great whisky with the Woolworths Blue Tower cheese created magic.

The whisky and cheese combined to become a smooth, complex and rich experience. It is an incredibly special pairing. The subtle sweet notes of the Amrut Two Continents is enhanced and the whisky brings out a nuttiness in the cheese. I give this pairing a Rating: 5/5.

It seems like this Blue Tower cheese pairs well with many smoky or peaty type whiskies. What would you pair with this cheese?

Also Read: Brie Cheese and whisky pairing

The Singleton 12 year old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/19/2015

In Single Malt whisky

I tried the Singleton Tailfire a while ago after a friend mentioned how much she loved it. It did not blow me away. However, I got quite a bit of feedback, with most people recommending the Singleton 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

While the Tailfire is still fresh in my mind, I decided to try the 12yo. Singleton is produced by the Dufftown distillery, which is located in the small Speyside town of Dufftown. The Dufftown distillery was not originally built as a malt whisky distillery.

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Wine merchant Peter Mackenzie and friends converted it from an old Mill to a Distillery in 1895 /6. The Dufftown distillery first drew water from John’s Well in 1896 and still do. Today, the brand is owned by Diageo.

The majority of the malt whisky produced at the Dufftown distillery is used for blended whiskies – particularly Bell’s and Johnnie Walker whisky.

The Singleton 12 year old single malt Scotch is matured in a combination of American and European oak casks. A traditional hip flask inspires the unique bottle shape of The Singleton of Dufftown, while the glass’s colour reflects the blue flint glass used at the turn of the previous century.

Singleton 12 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A deep polished copper.

NOSE: Sweet with caramel, toffee and vanilla coming through. There are notes of rich fruit and sweet spice. After adding water, some of the sweetness disappears.

PALATE: Tasting the Singleton 12 year old whisky brings notes of spice, creamy oak and toasted malt. It is a rich and buttery whisky with a rich mouthfeel. There are lots of sweet vanilla, and hints of fruit dipped in dark chocolate. It is a well-balanced whisky, with the spicy and sweet in perfect harmony.

FINISH: Medium length and ends in notes of sweet cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. There is an underlying layer of butter toffee sweetness, which is delicious.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Singleton 12 year old Scotch whisky is surprisingly good! I was not expecting fireworks after tasting the Singleton Tailfire, but I was pleasantly surprised. I can now understand why my friend loves this dram. And at a price below R400 in South Africa, this is good value for money.

I have also tasted the Singleton 15 year old, and you can read all my thoughts on this slightly older Dufftown release. I have also done a side by side comparison of this Singleton release against the Glenfiddich 12 year old whisky.

Also Read: Ballechin 10 yo Whisky

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/12/2015

In Single Malt whisky

I love innovative cask finishes, and today I try the Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish single malt Scotch whisky. The history of Tullibardine has been linked to brewing and distilling for hundreds of years.

The distillery is in Blackford, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Rumour has it that in 1488, the young King James 4th of Scotland stopped here on his way to his coronation.

The story goes that he purchased some beer from the brewery. Some years later, the King granted the brewery a royal decree. During the 1940s, the architect William Delmé-Evans noticed the brewery and converted it into a distillery.

They reopened the modern Tullibardine whisky distillery in 1947 and spirit ran from the stills two years later. The distillery changed owners a few times and was mothballed again in 1995.

Also Read: Amrut whisky

In 2003, the owners sold it to Tullibardine Distillery Ltd for £1.1 million, and production resumed during December 2003. In 2011, they sold the distillery to the French firm Picard Vins & Spiritueux. Other brands in their portfolio include Muirhead and Highland Queen whisky.

The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish whisky was finished in Chateau Suduiraut Casks which previously held Sauternes dessert wine. The Sauternes cask is 225 litres in size, and that is where the name originates.

Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Bordeaux district. It is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by noble rot. The noble rot causes the grapes to become partially raisin-ed, resulting in a distinctively flavoured wine.

Sauternes wine flavours are characterized by the balance of sweetness with the zest of acidity. Some typical flavour notes include apricots, honey, peaches but with a nutty note. It will be interesting to see how all of this translated into the whisky.

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV : 43%.

COLOUR: Light golden-yellow.

NOSE: Notes of fruity sweetness, sultana jam and condensed milk. There are hints of vanilla with spicy sweetness. The nose is light and fresh.

PALATE: On the palate, the Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish is surprisingly spicy with hints of citrus and oak. The peppery sweetness mixes with winter spice such as nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Notes of condensed milk float around. Adding a bit of water smooths out the spices and releases more of the sweeter fruity notes.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of spicy sweetness and orange peel.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Looking at the flavour notes of a Sauternes wine, I was expecting a sweeter dram. But the spicy fruitiness of the Tullibardine 225 was a refreshing surprise. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish single malt also received a 90.5 rating in the Whisky Bible.

Best of all, this affordable whisky is available in South Africa. It retails for around R650. I need to explore more from this distillery. Perhaps I can try the Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Finish next.

Also Read: Glen Scotia Dunnage whisky

Schoonspruit 2010 Single Barrel Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/05/2015

In Single Malt whisky

WordPress has a feature where it shows you what search terms lead people to your blog. The one thing that astounds me is that the most search term is Wild Reeds whiskey and Schoonspruit whiskey. These are not well-known whisky in South Africa. The Wild Reeds bourbon cask is also my most read article on the blog.

It might have a lot to do with the bottle shape. Looking at the blog stats, I noticed that we have not tasted the Schoonspruit 2010 single barrel whiskey release yet. And what better time to taste this South African whisky, while on holiday in the beautiful Karoo.

And to see if this ‘premium’ release can compete with South Africa’s award-winning Three Ships whisky made down in Wellington. Ernst Henning established the Schoonspruit whiskey distillery in Ventersdorp, South Africa in 1992.

Distilling with water from the original Schoonspruit gives the whiskey its distinct character. They also own the Totpak Company and is known in the USA as Portashot.

They not only make whiskey but distil, pack and store a variety of other alcoholic beverages. According to the website, “…the Schoonspruit 2010 Single Barrel whiskey is a premium class whiskey in which each bottle comes from an individual ageing barrel. The finest whiskey in the world comes from a single barrel.” Totpak and Schoonspruit Distillers are an independent family business and proudly Africa.”

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Schoonspruit 2010 Single Barrel Whiskey Review

The Schoonspruit 2010 is pot stilled and aged for 3 years.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: A light wheat colour.

NOSE: Notes of methylated spirits, hints of oak and refined white sugar sweetness mixed with paint stripper. Best nosed very carefully. The strong raw alcohol smell can easily overwhelm you. Or better yet, let it stand for a good 35 minutes for the worst of the rawness and turpentine to evaporate.

PALATE: Surprisingly, the Schoonspruit 2010 whiskey tastes (a bit) better than it smells. On the palate, it still has many raw and un-aged notes. It has hints of oak and sweetness. I would, however, hesitate to light a cigar while drinking this. Adding water makes this Schoonspruit flat and dull. Rather like cheap petrol.

FINISH: Long and lingering – unfortunately. Long lingering methylated spirit notes are not fun. Lingering notes of Yuck also comes to mind.

RATING: ORDINARY

If you want to spite your father in law, this is the dram to buy. It also works as a firelighter or fuel for a lawnmower.

Is it competition for any of the Three Ships whiskies? O hell no! It is not even in the same competition. The Three Ships 10 yo single malt is an excellent whisky! Fortunately, I also packed some of my Three Ship 10 yo whisky for our Karoo visit and could wash away the raw spirit taste with some real whisky.

Related Article: Three Ships PX cask finish whisky

Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/28/2015

In Blended whisky

I have quite a few bottles from William Grant & Sons. My whisky collection started with a bottle or two from The Balvenie, and I added some Glenfiddich as I went along. Monkey Shoulder blended malt whisky is a favourite, and I was delighted to get my hands on a Kininvie 17 yo. All these brands are part of the William Grant stable.

Looking over our collection, I realized that there was still a piece missing. I did not have anything from Grant’s brand of blended whisky. I added a bottle of the Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition blended Scotch whisky to my collection.

William Grant lived in Dufftown, in the heart of Speyside. He went to father not only seven sons and two daughters but also some of the worlds best know Scottish whisky brands.

William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned company. W Grant & Sons Ltd own the following distilleries:

Glenfiddich Distillery
Balvenie Distillery
Girvan Grain Distillery
Kininvie Distillery (1990-2010)
Ailsa Bay Distillery

In 1957 Grant’s unveiled the now iconic, triangular bottle. It is still released in this triangular bottle. The Spanish Olorosso sherry casks are hand-picked before being filled with aged Grant’s blended whisky. It is then finished for 4 months to acquire a rich flavour.

Related Article: Ballantine’s 12 yo whisky

Grant’s Sherry Cask Edition Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light golden with hints of green

NOSE: Sherry sweetness right out of the bottle with hints of raisins. Not a very complex nose. There are delicate hints of oak ad grape jam. Adding a bit of water takes some of the sweetness from the nose.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has some sweet notes, but after adding a bit of water, the sweetness gives way to more spicy notes. There are notes of condensed milk and stewed prunes. Grant’s Sherry cask is not a big mouthful but pleasant and more robust than the nose hinted. Water releases more spicy pepper notes but also more citrus notes.

FINISH: Long and lingering but end in notes of bitter orange and dried fruit.

RATING: VERY GOOD

As this is a blend of some of my favourite distilleries, I was expecting a big, bold, interesting whisky. Unfortunately, I was left a bit disappointed at the lack of complexity and depth in this dram.

The Grant’s is not a bad whisky by any means; and at a great price point. I will explore more from this blended whisky when I get the chance. It retails for around R250 in South Africa.

Just not as good as the single malts. What did you think of this release?

Also Read: The Famous Grouse whisky