Today, I’m diving into the Aultmore 18 year old Foggie Moss single malt Scotch whisky, and 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.
Tag: Bacardi Limited Page 1 of 2
Bacardi Limited is one of the largest privately held, family-owned spirits companies in the world. Brands include:
Gin: Bombay.
Rum: Bacardi.
Tequila: Cazadores.
Vodka: Grey Goose, Eristoff.
Whisk(e)y: Dewar’s, William Lawson‘s, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Royal Brackla and Craigellachie
During my latest shopping expedition, I looked for something wallet-friendly and novel. This led me to seize a Dewar’s White Label blended Scotch whisky bottle. Given my adoration for Dewar’s 12 yo and 15 yo expressions, adding the White Label to my collection was as instinctive as it was irresistible.
Dewar’s, a respected Scottish whisky brand, takes pride in its membership within the Bacardi lineage. It is also one of the top Scottish whiskies sold in the USA.
Bacardi owns five whisky distilleries nestled in the heart of Scotland’s landscape:
- Aberfeldy
- Aultmore
- Macduff
- Royal Brackla
- Craigellachie
But let’s zero in on the star of this blog post – Dewar’s White Label whisky. The brand was created back in 1899 by the visionary hands of A.J. Cameron, the first Master Blender of John Dewar & Son’s legacy.
Dewar’s White Label whisky is a harmonious blend, uniting around 40 distinct malt and grain whiskies, Aberfeldy at its core. After blending, the whisky returns to oak casks for a further period. This additional maturation serves to create a smooth and seamlessly integrated flavour profile.
White Label Scotch is a NAS release and is available worldwide. I picked this bottle up in Mauritius for around Rs1300.
Dewars White Label Whisky Review
ABV: 40%
COLOUR: Light gold
NOSE: Honey with orchard fruit and cereal. Bits of sun-ripened lemon and peach.
PALATE: Honey and mild chili. Cereal with oak, vanilla, and floral notes. In the background, there are fresh orchard fruits with grass and floral notes. Medium body and not the most complex. Water increases the chili heat a bit and brings forward more lemon rind. Sooth and uncomplicated.
FINISH: Short with honey sweetness and lemon drops.
RATING: VERY GOOD
The Dewar’s White Label is an entryway into Dewar’s world of blended Scotch whisky. A canvas adorned with the fruity and honeyed brushstrokes that hallmark Dewar’s creations.
As one traverses the Dewar’s spectrum, the voyage from the White Label to the 12 yo or the 15-yo expressions sees these familiar flavours transform into a more intricate tapestry.
John found the White Label a tad one-dimensional. However, I liked it and found it unpretentious and perfect for a leisurely afternoon Highball cocktail.
An accessible starting point for a deeper exploration of Dewar’s artistry.
Also Read: Dunville’s PX Cask 12 yo Whiskey
One of the most exciting and indeed the oldest dram I tasted during 2019 was the Craigellachie 51 yo single malt whisky. Georgie Bell, the Global Malts Ambassador for Bacardi, brought a few bottles of this very very limited release to South Africa and I was fortunate to try it.
It was my first foray into whisky from the Craigellachie distillery. So let’s look at the entry-level single malt from this distillery, the Craigellachie 13 year old single malt Scotch whisky.
The Craigellachie distillery was built in 1891 by Craigellachie Distillery Co. Limited, a group of blenders and merchants led by Alexander Edward. It is a Speyside distillery in Banffshire that overlooks the little town of Craigellachie. The Gaelic name means “Rocky Hill” and is pronounced Krai-GELLacky.
Also Read: Milk & Honey Elements Peated Whisky
The brand is part of the John Dewar & Sons stable. For many years, it was only used in blends like White Horse and various Dewar’s blends. It is only in 2014 that distillery releases become available. The distillery is known for its meaty, sulphurous nature.
The Craigellachie single malt range includes a 17 year old as well as a 23 year old whisky. There used to be a 19 year old release, but this has been discontinued. There are also various independent bottling available. It is part of the Bacardi stable of brands.
Craigellachie 13 year old Whisky
REGION: Speyside
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Pale gold
NOSE: Apricots and dried cherries with toffee sweetness. A fruity sweet nose. The nose is like a colourful fruit salad with bits of malt and toasted nuts in the background.
PALATE: Medium body with the sweet fruit salad from the nose continuing on the palate. White pepper, oak, hints and malt with bits of smoky bacon and toasted nuts behind it all. I was hoping for a bolder meaty note on the palate. There was also a bit of alcohol heat. Water softened the alcohol heat and brought more sweetness to the front.
FINISH: Medium long, with some oak, pepper and fruity sweetness.
RATING: VERY GOOD
It is a good introduction to the Craigellachie stable and taste profile. John enjoyed the Craigellachie without the water, and I preferred it with the water. The water toned down the spices and the alcohol heat and created a smooth drinkable dram.
I want to explore more of the meaty notes from this distillery and need to find the 17 year old release somewhere. I do have a bottle of the discontinued 19 year old whisky in my collection, and perhaps I need to go and open that bottle.
Also Read: The Singleton 15 yo Whisky
For World Whisky day, I planned a whole whisky inspired menu. From a cocktail made with Tomintoul 10 yo whisky, whisky infused chicken to a whisky cheese pairing. I wanted to celebrate whisky from around the world. The chicken was infused with a Bain’s whisky marinade, and for the whisky cheese pairing, I chose the Paul John Classic Cask Select whisky and Appenzeller cheese.