Whisky of the Week

Wild Reeds Whiskey

On 06/15/2014

My most read blog post of this past year was the arrival of the Wild Reeds Bourbon Cask whiskey. I found this interesting looking bottle at my local Pick n Pay liquor store. It’s produced by Schoonspruit Distillers in the North-West Province of South Africa. I have never heard of this distiller or whiskey, so I immediately purchased a bottle.

Schoonspruit Distillery is an independent business owned by the Henning family. Ernst Henning established the Schoonspruit whiskey distillery in South Africa in 1992. They are better known for the Totpak concept. The Henning family founded Totpak more than 20 years ago. Totpak popularised the then unfamiliar concept of a liquor sachet in South Africa.

The whiskey is distilled with water from the Schoonspruit river (meaning clean river). The origin of the Schoonspruit river is about 6km from Ventersdorp on the Koster road.

The bottle is interesting in that it is the shape of the African continent. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is pot stilled, charcoal filtered and aged in ex-bourbon casks.

This Schoonspruit Distillery Wild Reeds whiskey was aged for between three and five years. The label says it was pot stilled from South African grain and charcoal filtered to a bourbon taste. With no history of whisky making from this region in South Africa, this is a journey into the unknown!

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Wild Reeds Blue Bourbon Cask Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: It is a fairly dark whiskey. It is a deep red copper. It is not an oily whiskey at all and comes across as somewhat thin in the glass.

NOSE: There is a sweet sherry nose that hits you at once. The sherry notes dominates the nose with some oak and methylated spirits. This Wild Reeds bourbon cask whiskey needs to breathe for quite a while for the smell of methylated spirits to evaporate. After the addition of some water, the whiskey changes significantly.

PALATE: The first thought on tasting the Wild Reeds whiskey is that this is a bourbon. There are notes of marshmallow, dried sultanas and the familiar bourbon sweetness. It is not a very complex whiskey.

FINISH: Lingers around for a bit and then ends quite sharply with some sweet notes at the end. We had to put aside our prejudice on this bourbon cask.

RATING: GOOD

I was not expecting too much from this bottle. But it was not as bad as I had feared. It is not by any means a great whiskey, but it is sort of drinkable. Just let it stand for a good 10 minutes to breathe and for most of the raw spirit alcohol to evaporate.

It might show a bit of potential if it was aged a couple of years longer. Have you tried it yet? What did you think? They also released a Schoonspruit 2010 whisky which I also tasted. This is a slightly better tasting release than the Schoonspruit release that received an ordinary rating on my rating scale. But it still does not get close to a Bains or a Three Ships whisky.

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The Macallan 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/09/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Today I taste one of John’s favourites, the Macallan 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Macallan has managed to position their whisky in the premium whisky category. It has not been without controversy, especially around their antique collection.

The Macallan holds the Guinness world record for the most expensive whisky ever sold at auction. However, if there is one thing that I have learnt during our tasting sessions over the years, expensive whisky does not necessarily equate to great whisky.

Some of the best whiskies in my collection are in the more affordable range. Examples such as Ballantine’s Finest, The Black Grouse and South Africa’s very own Bain’s whisky comfortably stand alongside more expensive releases.

I have enjoyed some of the more affordable whiskies of late, and it is time for a change. Let’s take something a bit more expensive out of the box. The Macallan 12 year old Sherry Cask is not the most expensive whisky, but it carries a significant premium over many other 12 yo whiskies.

This particular expression has since been discontinued, so I am keen to try it. The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Craigellachie, Moray. The River Spey, one of Scotland’s most famous rivers, borders the estate to the south and southeast.

Even though Macallan is located right in the middle of the Speyside region, it’s not labelled as such. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations, the “Speyside” designation can only be used by distilleries in certain wards in the traditional Speyside region. The Macallan falls into the Scottish Highlands.

The Macallan Distillers Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group that purchased the brand from Highland Distillers in 1999.

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Macallan 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: It has spent lots of time exclusively maturing in Jerez Sherry Oak casks, which probably explains the very dark colour. The colour is almost red gold, and it is easily one of the darker whiskies in my collection.

NOSE: The immediate Sherry sweetness that you would expect from a whisky aged in a Sherry cask. There are fresh fruits and some flowers on the nose. The sweetness has little hints of vanilla in the background. It is not a very complex nose. Adding a drop or two of water opens this Macallan 12 year old and brings more fresh fruit and flowers.

PALATE: It is quite a smooth whisky, and the first tasting brings spices. This is followed by raisins, oak and red fruit sweetness. It leaves a spicy taste on the palette. There are notes of marmalade and dried fruits. Again, this Macallan 12 year old is not very complex, but it is an easy-drinking whisky.

FINISH: The whisky is quite warming with a medium finish. The Macallan finishes in notes of condensed milk and spice, particularly ginger and hints of black pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is a nice whisky to add to a collection, but other 12 year old whiskies may prove better value for money. In some ways, it is a perplexing whisky. I suspect that in time it grows on you. The Whisky Bible scores this Macallan 12 year old whisky at 93 and calls it almost flawless.

I did not rate it as highly, but it’s by no means a bad whisky. I just find it a bit bland. Other Macallan releases I have tasted include the Macallan Fine Oak 15 year old and I liked it a lot more.

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The Black Grouse Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/26/2014

In Blended whisky

Time for a blended whisky again – the Black Grouse blended Scotch whisky. The Famous Grouse whisky is a brand of blended Scotch whisky, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son in 1896. The brand is now produced and owned by The Edrington Group.

Its emblem is the Red Grouse, Scotland’s national game bird.Matthew Gloag was a grocer and wine merchant in Perth, Scotland. He purchased whiskies from distilleries around Scotland and sold them at his shop.

In 1860, his son, William Gloag, took over the company and began producing blended whiskies. But the Grouse brand only started taking shape when William’s nephew, also named Matthew, took over the company. He created The Grouse Brand blend in 1896.

This brand was so popular that they renamed it “The Famous Grouse” in 1905. Matthew Gloag’s daughter Phillippa first designed the label’s grouse icon. In 1970, Matthew Gloag & Son was sold to Highland Distillers, after the death of the chairman, Matthew Frederick Gloag.

The marketing and distributive power of the new company saw Famous Grouse become the highest selling Scotch in Scotland by 1980 and the second highest-selling in the United Kingdom.

In 2007 they released a peated version of the Famous Grouse called The Black Grouse whisky. The packaging displays a black grouse in place of the usual red grouse. It is readily available in South Africa and retails for around R250. Jim Murray awarded it 94 points in the Whisky Bible.

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The Black Grouse Whisky Review

The Black Grouse blended whisky combines the Famous Grouse blend with specially selected Islay whiskies to create this peaty expression.

COLOUR:A dark gold. It is not a very oily whisky.

ABV: 43%

NOSE: Peat and smoke come through at once when nosing. There are some medicinal notes, sweetness and wood as well. Notes of fresh pear and malt.

PALATE: This Black Grouse is quite light on the palate. Peat and smoke are followed by spice. Especially ginger and pepper notes come through. There is a woodiness in the palate with notes of oak and rich chocolate sweetness. The peat and smoke notes continue into the finish.

FINISH: Medium length and ends with spicy notes. It is quite a complex whisky for the price point. This whisky proves again that you don’t have to pay exorbitant prices for good whisky. It has a finish that makes you want another glass. The peat is also not too overwhelming. Even a non-peat-head like me enjoyed this peaty expression.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is an affordable whisky from the Edrington Group that you can proudly offer to whisky enthusiasts. It is also an amazing whisky to pair with Indian food. I have also used the Black Grouse whisky in a marinade for a Leg of Lamb that I roasted. The smoky notes work wonderfully with the meat.

At the end of 2015, the Black Grouse was renamed the Famous Grouse Smoky Black whisky. It has new labeling and I have captured my tasting notes for this release as well.

I have also managed to taste the Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask blended whisky and it is probably my second favourite Grouse whisky after the Black Grouse.

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Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/19/2014

In Single Malt whisky

During December, I tasted the Japanese Yamazaki 12 yo whisky. I enjoyed it and rated it as excellent. It prompted me to start looking around for more Japanese whisky. Another big player in the Japanese whisky industry is Nikka – a subsidiary of the Asahi brewing company. So today, I look at the Nikka Miyagikyo single malt Japanese whisky.

Nikka was founded in 1934 and now owns two distilleries; Miyagikyo (built in 1969) and Yoichi (est. 1934). In 1918, Masataka Taketsuru, son of a sake brewing family, was recruited by the Settsu Shuzo Company to produce the first authentic Japanese whisky.

With a background in chemistry, Taketsuru left for Scotland in 1918. He aimed to discover the secrets of whisky production.

In Scotland, he married Jessie Roberta “Rita” Cowan of Middlecroft, despite opposition from their families. Initially, they lived in Campbeltown and Taketsuru worked at Hazelburn distillery.

>In 1920 Taketsuru returned to Japan and joined the Kotobukiya Group, a beer industry giant later renamed Suntory. However, in 1934 he founded his own distilling company, Dai Nippon Kaju K.K., in Yoichi on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō.

He believed that this part of Japan was the most similar to Scotland. He later renamed the company Nikka. His growing success with Nikka whisky allowed him to set up a second distillery on the main island of Honshu in 1969.

I found this bottle of Nikka Miyagikyo whisky at WhiskyBrother’s shop in Hydepark.

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Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt Whisky Review

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This particular Nikka Miyagikyo single malt is unusual in several ways. The Nikka Miyagikyo whisky has no age statement, although it is a single malt. The bottle comes without any packaging, and the size is not the typical 700 ml or 750 ml but is presented in a 500 ml bottle.

COUNTRY: Japan

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: The Nikka Miyagikyo is quite oily and has a pale golden colour.

NOSE: My first impression on nosing is that it was perhaps aged in a sherry cask. Bold red fruit and malt. There are floral notes with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. Add only a few drops of water to open this Nikka Miyagikyo up.

PALATE: Oak, spice and vanilla. It is a medium-bodied whisky. It has a very smooth taste with a wonderful balance between the elements. The Nikka Miyagikyo tastes a lot lighter than expected. There are hints of florals and dried fruit coming through. It is undoubtedly an easy-drinking whisky.

FINISH: Long and lingering with notes of spice and oak at the end. It has a nice build up in the finish.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I have been looking forward to tasting this Nikka Miyagikyo with great anticipation. After the delicious nose, I was expecting a bolder palate. The palate is softer and elegant and makes it very drinkable.

An excellent world whisky to have in any collection, and I certainly had a second glass. Have you tried this Nikka Miyagikyo whisky?

Other interesting whiskies from Japan that I have tasted include the Nikka from the Barrel as well as the Nikka Coffey Grain whisky.

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Millstone 8 yo French Oak Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/14/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Finding international single malt whiskies is always great, but more so when the whisky is from a country with wich I have a special relationship with. One of these special finds is from the Netherlands. I am from a Dutch background, and when I saw this Millstone 8 yo French Oak single malt whisky, I had to get it.

Millstone whisky is handcrafted in a traditional distillery owned and operated by the Zuidam family. Zuidam Distillers was started back in 1975 by Fred van Zuidam.

He built a small whisky distillery of 300 square meters with one small copper still and one small production line. To keep in the best of Dutch tradition, windmills are used to mill the malted barley. It helps in preserving the world-famous heritage of windmills that dot the Dutch countryside.

This tradition does not only help in preserving the windmills but, due to the slow milling speed, keep the grain temperature stable and helps keep the wonderful aroma’s.

After a careful double distillation process, the whisky is aged in small barrels. Zuidam uses new barrels of American white oak as well as barrels that have previously held bourbon and Olorosso Sherry.

Zuidam Distillers still creates its products in the traditional artisan way. All ingredients are 100% natural. Ingredients are carefully selected and processed into products that they can be proud of.

The distillery has no less than 600 different product lines, including many liqueurs and gins. All recipes are designed by father Fred and son Patrick van Zuidam.

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Millstone 8 yo French Oak Whisky Review

I first tried the Millstone 8 yo during 2013. It is packaged in a black wooden box with the distillery name in gold. I have bottle no 202 from Cask number 355 bottled during June 2009.

COUNTRY: The Netherlands

ABV: 40%.

COLOUR: The Millstone 8 yo is a beautiful light golden colour.

NOSE: Woody spices with subtle hints of fresh flowers. The Millstone 8 yo has a very light and delicate nose. There are hints of cinnamon, cloves and pepper.

PALATE: After adding a drop or 2 of water, the palate brings subtle aromas of spice, oak, ginger and barley. There are notes of nutmeg and pepper and a biscuit sweetness in the background. Also, hints of raisins and fresh fruit.

FINISH: Medium length and not very complex. Hints of salt, spice and fresh fruit intermingle in the finish.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is a light fragrant whisky perfect for a late evening drink. Not too heavy and complex but with enough spice and oak. A wonderful whisky for an 8 yo.

I will be on the lookout for more of these Millstone whiskies for my collection. I have also tried the Millstone 8 yo French Oak with different cheeses. Both the Gouda with Cumin pairing and the Mature Gouda pairing worked wonderfully with this Dutch whisky.

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