Tag: Beam Suntory Page 3 of 7

Beam Suntory, Inc. is an American multinational company that produces alcoholic beverages. It is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan, and the company’s headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois. It is the third largest producer of distilled beverages worldwide. The company’s principal brands include :

Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Booker’s, Knob Creek bourbon
Laphroaig, Bowmore, Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Teacher’s Highland Cream whisky
Connemara and Kilbeggan Irish whiskey
DYC whisky
Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, Chita whisky

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It is one of the bottles that have been in my collection for ages. I keep on drinking it but never writing about it. So, with the Laphroaig Distillery 200th anniversary during 2015 and before I finish this bottle, I decided that it is time to write down my tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Laphroaig is named after Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of Islay. Donald and Alexander Johnston established the distillery in 1815. Members of the Johnston family mainly ran the distillery.

There was a short spell where Donald Johnston died after falling into a scalding kettle and for a period the manager of Lagavulin, Walter Graham, ran Laphroaig. Lagavulin is only a short distance from Laphroaig.

Laphroaig returned to Johnston’s hands again in 1857. In 1954, Ian Hunter, a nephew of Sandy Johnston died and left the distillery to one of his managers. After this, the distillery changed hands a few times and ended up as part of the Beam Suntory brands in 2014.

The Laphroaig flavour is recognised worldwide and comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed on the distillery’s maltings floor.

Laphroaig is celebrating 200 years of making whisky on Islay in 2015. They released the very entertaining #OpinionsWelcome campaign. You can also go to their website and add your Laphroaig opinion.

The Laphroaig Quarter Cask was released in 2004. This expression is first aged in the standard oak casks and then transferred to smaller quarter casks for a further period. Due to the smaller barrels used, the oak surface whisky contact is more significant than with standard barrels.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: A beautiful gold

NOSE: This is a classic Islay malt and epitomizes the Laphroaig style. Burnt peat, seaweed and iodine come to the front. Mild smoke and a surprising hint of spicy sweetness. The typical medicinal notes are floating in the background. A bold, rich, and complex aroma.

PALATE: It’s a perfect dram at the end of a long and hard week. There are notes of peat, smoke and some seaweed floating about. Hints of iodine, citrus and honey. In the background lurks some oak, liquorice and fruity notes. The palate feels rich and thick, befitting a proper Islay whisky.

The addition of water makes the Quarter Cask smoother and softens the medicinal notes. Water brings out more of the ashy notes; however, the dram remains big and bold.

FINISH: It’s long, and it’s lingering, and it’s complex. It changes from peat to sweet to spicy. Nevertheless, it leaves you with a warm feeling in your stomach. Long after you’ve swallowed, the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is still serenading you with its brilliance.

RATING: EXCELLENT

When you had a long hard week, and you want to sit back and relax with a complex dram that will take your mind off the drama, this Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay whisky is the perfect dram. It is the embodiment of the Islay style. Rich, big, bold, peaty in your face wonderful.

I have tried various Laphroaig’s and captured tasting notes as follows:

I have done a side by side comparison between the Laphroaig 10 year old and the Quarter cask whisky to see how they differ.

Here is my Laphroaig Quarter Cask #OpinionsWelcome version; What is yours?

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/14/2021

In Whisky Comparison

This week, my side-by-side comparison is two high-volume brands against each other; Jim Beam bourbon vs Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Both are from large commercial distilleries, and between these two brands, they command quite a bit of bottle space. They are in a similar price category and are both known globally.

However, Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s are distinctly different in several ways. Jim Beam is a straight bourbon whiskey made in Kentucky, while Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey distilled in Tennessee.

But what happens when you put them side by side in a taste test?

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam Bourbon White with glass
Jim Beam Kentucky Straight whiskey is one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. In 1795 a group of German farming immigrants founded Jim Beam. Jacob Beam noticed how fertile the Kentucky region was for cereal farming, and he grew corn and grains, which he eventually used in his whiskey.

He began selling it under the name of Old Jake Beam, and in 1820 his son David began managing the distillery at just 18 years old. The distillery and brand grew from strength to strength. In 2014, Suntory Holdings bought Jim Beam to create Beam Suntory.

The Beam Suntory bourbon portfolio includes Makers Mark and Knob Creek. The whisky portfolio includes Yamazaki, Laphroaig and Bowmore and a few more.

The Jim Beam White Label bourbon is distilled at lower temperatures and aged for 4 years in newly charred American oak. The mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. I have also done a comparison between this bourbon and the Evan Williams bourbon and you can read all about it by following the link.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b
Love it or hate it, you will find Jack Daniel’s all around the world! Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1875 in Moore County, Tennessee. Jack Daniel developed the Lincoln County process.

This is where the whiskey is filtrated through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of crucial importance to the finished whiskey’s character. Whiskey from the Jack Daniel’s distillery is bottled as Tennessee whiskey.

The distillery remained in Jack’s family until 1956. It was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company. The Jack Daniels’ brand of Tennessee whiskey has become the highest-selling American whiskey in the world.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has a mashbill of 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley. After the charcoal filtration, the new spirit is aged for at least 4 years in new charred American oak.

I paired this bourbon with some KFC to see how it would work. See which bourbon paired best with the fried chicken. I have also done a side-by-side comparison between the Old No 7 and Gentleman Jack to see how big the difference is.

Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

Comparison: Jim Beam vs Jack Daniel's Whiskey

	Jim Beam Bourbon	Jack Daniel's Old no 7
Type	Bourbon Whiskey	Tennessee Whiskey
Mash Bill	5% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Golden Mahogany	Light amber
Nose	Subtle vanilla, spice, pine forests, toasted oak and lemon zest with hints of toffee. Sticky pudding and caramelized fruit.	Quite sweet with honey, vanilla and toasted oak with a hint of smoke. Dried red fruit and marzipan.
Palate	Spicy with toasted oak and mint freshness. Hints of dry paper and pepper. A faint hint of vanilla. Water brings more citrus and pepper It has a light body and is not very complex.	Oak and butterscotch sweetness. A hint of sour cherries and cereal. Bits of fruit and loads of vanilla. It is quite an oily whiskey and has a medium body.
Finish	Long and dry with citrus and pepper.	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.
My Rating	Very Good	Very Good
Comments	A bit bland. Great inoffensive for cocktails.	Not very complex, easy-drinking and comforting. It is a very mellow and smooth whiskey.
Price	$15	$20

The Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon whiskey has notes of pine forest, toasted oak, vanilla, and lemon pepper. It is quite spicy with not many sweet notes. It is also a bit cheaper than Jack Daniel’s whiskey. The Jim Beam makes for quite a light drinking experience, and I found it a bit bland.

The Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 whiskey has more butterscotch sweetness, vanilla notes, marzipan, and toasted oak. Again, it is not the most complex dram but more memorable than the Jim Beam. The Jack Daniel’s also has an oily note that helps to capture the sweetness.

I have a sweet palate, so Jack wins hands down. John enjoyed the more spicy notes of the Jim Beam bourbon, but in the end, the mellow note of the Jack won him over.

So in my book, the Jack Daniel’s whiskey easily takes the crown for the best between these two.

Last but not least, I did a side by side comparison between the Evan Williams and the Jack Daniels to see how they stack up against each other.

KFC and Bourbon pairings

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/07/2021

In Lifestyle

Top KFC and Bourbon Pairings to try this weekend
In my house, take away is a treat. We only eat it when I have not had any time to cook, or when the weekend was just so lazy that I could not bother. One of our preferred fast-food is KFC.

And it seems that I am not alone in loving the crispy fried chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is the most prolific brand in South Africa, with over 800 stores spread across the land. Kentucky in KFC and Kentucky in bourbon made me think… would the two work together?

You know I am always up for experimenting, so this past weekend, off I went to KFC for a bucket of chicken. John was in the mood for Zinger wings, so I grabbed a few of those as well.

In the summer of 1955, Colonel Harland Sanders was a relatively unknown entrepreneur in Corbin, Kentucky, with a roadside restaurant, a fried chicken recipe, some spices, and a dream. He probably messed up his wife’s kitchen and drove her crazy; he looked at using a pressure cooker for cooking the chicken quickly.

The Colonel identified the potential to franchised this idea to bring it into the fast-food market. As competitors could easily use the pressure cooker, he came up with exciting herbs and spice combination to make his chicken stand out.

The Colonel’s original recipe of 11 herbs and spices is one of the best-kept trade secrets in the catering industry. Many people have claimed to have discovered it. Going to the KFC down the road is so much easier than messing up my kitchen.

Also Read: Whisky Truffles Recipe

Pairing Bourbon with KFC

KFC and Bourbon pairing to try this weekend

Pairing bourbon with fried chickenis about finding balance. The bourbon’s spices and sweetness should not overpower the well-known crunchy crust of the KFC but work together to enhance the flavourful juicy meat. KFC is very much comfort food.

When you are travelling across the globe, and you need some comfort, there is bound to be a KFC not far off. Pairing this with bourbon might just create a match made in foodie heaven…Let’s try…

I first lined up the bourbons from my favourite (Makers Mark) to my least favourite (Elijah Craig). Then for ‘testing purposes’added the Jack Daniel’s at the end of the line. The results were interesting, and not what I expected. I also rated the chosen bourbon suitability with the Zinger wings as the results were quite different from the friend chicken bourbon pairing.

Makers Mark Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Makers Mark bourbon pairing
One of my favourite bourbons! The Makers Mark is probably the bourbon I replace most often. The notes of condensed milk, cherries, brandied fruit, toasted oak and sweet vanilla and cinnamon spice are just so satisfying. It is wonderfully smooth with a fantastic balance between the vanilla sweetness and the cinnamon toasted oak spicy notes.

However, this was the worst pairing with the KFC. It just created a peppery, spicy combination that made my eyes water. I looked up at John and realized he felt the same way. I give this pairing a RATING: 2/5.

John sees himself as a bit of a Zinger Wings connoisseur. He has tried Zinger Wings on various continents, and when he paired the Zinger Wings with the Makers Mark, he had a big smile on this face. The Makers Mark worked perfectly with the spicy Zinger Wings. No surprise that I give this KFC and Bourbon pairing a RATING: 4.5 / 5.

Eagle Rare Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Bourbon eagle rare bourbon pairing
Next up was the Eagle Rare that was our first Bourbon for 2017. Not as sweet as other bourbons, the Eagle Rare had notes of vanilla, toffee sweetness, brandy pudding, fresh-cut flowers, hints of toasted oak and pepper, chilli peppers, nuts, and creamy cocoa.

This pairing offered nothing. You taste KFC, you taste Eagle Rare, but nothing special. Thus, I give this KFC and Bourbon pairing a RATING: 2.5 /5.

Pairing it with Zinger Wings was disastrous. John described it as drinking methylated spirits. Not a good pairing at all. RATING: 1/5

Jim Beam Black & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Jim Beam Black bourbon pairing
Last year the Jim Beam Black bourbon impressed me. It is super affordable and delicious. Notes of cinnamon spice, cherries, lots of vanilla notes, BBQ sauce and hints of caramel. This Jim Beam has an unusual freshness, and it is smooth and creamy.

Pairing the KFC with the Jim Beam Black bourbon brought out lots of spices in the whiskey, while the chicken became sweeter and creamier. As a result, I give this pairing a RATING: 3.5/5.

The spicy Zinger Wings brought out lots of vanilla notes in the bourbon, and the pairing was quite lovely. Again, this KFC and Bourbon pairing gets a RATING: 3.5/5.

Elijah Crag 12 yo Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Elijah craig 12 yo bourbon pairing
I tasted the Elijah Craig 12 yo bourbon sometime in 2015 and found it quite bold. My notes captured hints of toasted warm oak spice, pepper and nutmeg, citrus peel, candy apple, toffee, Christmas pudding and cinnamon baked apples with faint bits of jasmin. Not a bourbon I drink regularly.

However, the KFC transformed this whiskey. It made the whisky creamy and smoothed out the spicy notes. The chicken became rich and delicious and the pairing was excellent. I give this pairing a RATING: 4.5/5.

And with Zinger Wings? Not so much. It did not work. Do not try. It gets a RATING: 1/5.

Also Read: Suncamino Rum Cocktails

Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Jack Daniel's whiskey pairing

Purely for testing purposes, I grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 as well. Just to see if it did anything with the KFC. My notes for Jack Daniels include butterscotch sweetness with some honey, vanilla and oak with a hint of smoke, dried fruit and marzipan.

O WOW. Paired with the KFC chicken, this was great. Both elements were creamy and rich, and the vanilla and charred oak of the Jack Daniels enhanced the chicken. I give this pairing a RATING: 4.5/5.

Zinger Wings? No, the wings did nothing for the Tennessee whiskey and visa versa. I give it a RATING: 2/5.

Conclusion:KFC and Bourbon Pairings

The best whiskey to grab when you have KFC is an Elijah Craig or Jack Daniel’s Old No 7. It just creates a comfort food pairing with which you can relax.

The best whiskey to pair with Zinger Wings was the Makers Mark. It balanced out the spicy wings very nicely. In a pinch, the Jim Beam Black is probably the best all-round bourbon whiskey to pair with anything from KFC. There you go. Dinner sorted. 😉

What do you think?

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food pairings

Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/04/2021

In Bourbon whiskey

If you’re a bourbon whiskey enthusiast, you’ve undoubtedly come across the iconic Maker’s Mark bottles, sealed with their striking blood-red wax tops. The golden liquid inside is as exceptional as the recognizable red wax seal.

My husband, John, and I are no strangers to the pleasures of Maker’s Mark. It graces our shelves quite often, but recently, our eyes have been on the highly anticipated Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whiskey.

During one of John’s frequent travels, he managed to secure a bottle of this whiskey. And, to our delight, we’ve learned that Maker’s Mark 46 will soon be available in South Africa, making it easier to replace our beloved bottle when the time comes.

Now, the burning question is, what sets the “standard” Maker’s Mark bourbon apart from the Maker’s 46 bourbon? According to the website, Maker’s 46 is the first new addition to their lineup since the 1950s, designed to introduce a spicier dimension to their classic release.

The process behind Maker’s 46 whiskey starts with their standard Maker’s Mark bourbon. They insert heavily seared French oak staves into freshly emptied Maker’s Mark barrels, which are then refilled and returned to the ageing warehouses.

The “46” designation represents the culmination of countless experiments, with experiment No. 46 ultimately achieving the desired flavour profile.

Maker’s Mark is unique because it doesn’t include rye in its mash bill. Instead, it relies on red winter wheat (16%), corn (70%), and malted barley (14%) in the mash bill.

Also Read: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon Whiskey Review

The Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whiskey is aged longer than the standard Maker’s Mark, so the wood has a longer time to impact on the bourbon.

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 47%

COLOUR: Dark polished copper with red notes.

NOSE: The nose boasts a rich and sweet bouquet with notes of plump maraschino cherries, oak, vanilla, caramel, hints of honey, and buttery cinnamon toast.

PALATE: Rich and creamy. There are notes of oak, vanilla cinnamon, all perfectly balanced. The Maker’s Mark 46 has a big mouthfeel. It is smooth like creamed honey. After the second sip butter toffee, toast and hints of pepper show up. While water can mellow the heat, sipped neat’s just as delightful.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering, concluding with notes of caramel, pepper, and vanilla.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Maker’s Mark 46 is a bolder and spicier alternative to the traditional Maker’s Mark bourbon whiskey, featuring an oilier mouthfeel and a delightful complexity. It’s an easy-drinking and delicious bourbon.

Our bottle is rapidly depleting and is unlikely to last through September, making it a fitting tribute to Bourbon Heritage Month. We eagerly await October to restock this bottle.

For those looking to experiment, the Maker’s Mark website offers an array of amazing recipes, such as the Mint Julep Lamb Chops.

In another blog post, I conducted a side-by-side comparison between Maker’s 46 and standard Maker’s Mark, revealing which one I preferred.

With its distinct character and unique production process, this bourbon is a must-try for any bourbon connoisseur.

Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace Bourbon

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/27/2020

In Whisky Comparison

Makers Mark vs buffalo trace bourbon comparison
Let’s talk about bourbons. I discovered bourbons later on my whiskey journey. One of the first bourbons I tried was the Makers Mark, and this inspired me to explore more from this category. My palate loved the sweeter oak and vanilla notes.

Even though the category is relatively small in South Africa, I have still managed to taste quite a few releases over the years. Today I look at two of the best-known bourbon brands against each other; Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey.

Comparing the distinctive red wax seal versus the bourbon that pay tribute to the pioneering spirit and the great herds of buffalo that used to roam the planes. I am always amazed at how whiskey or bourbon taste differs when you try them side by side. And how, within the bourbon category, there can be so many aroma and flavour variations.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon with glass Makers Mark vs Buffalo Trace bourbon comparison
The Buffalo Trace Distillery is in Frankfort, Kentucky. Harrison Blanton constructed the first official distillery on the side around 1812. Today it is owned by the Sazerac Company who also own Blanton’s and Eagle Rare bourbon.

Buffalo Trace was named in tribute to the mighty buffalo that carved paths through the wilderness in the trek to the Great Planes and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them. It has no age statement.

The Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight bourbon mash bill is not disclosed, however it is speculated that it contains a high corn percentage and less than 10% rye.

Also Read: Jameson vs Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky

Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whiskey

Makers Mark vs buffalo trace comparison
Maker’s Mark is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky by Beam Suntory. Production of Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey started in 1954, after William Samuels, purchased the distillery known as Burks’ Distillery. The whisky was named by Samuels’ wife, Marjorie ” who gave it the name of Maker’s Mark.

She also designed the now-classic label and came up with the red wax dipping top that gives the Makers Mark bottle its distinctive look. Maker’s Mark has no age statement. It is bottled when the maker agree that it is ready, roughly around 6 years.

The Maker’s Mark’s mash bill consists of 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat and 14% malted barley.

Buffalo Trace vs Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Maker's Mark vs Buffalo Trace bourbon comparison

	Buffalo Trace	Maker's Mark
Type	Bourbon whiskey	Bourbon whiskey
ABV	45%	45%
Colour	A reddish copper	Light golden copper
Nose	Fruity sweetness, rich and bold. There are hints of candied fruit, caramel, vanilla, brandy pudding and oak. Bits of spice float in the background.	Cherries, brandied fruit, toasted wood and vanilla spice. Adding a few drops of water brings out more spice and woody notes.
Palate	There are notes of fruit, orange marmalade, white pepper and oak. Bits of cinnamon with toasted oak. Water tones down the spice.	Full of vanilla, followed by sweet cherries and fresh red fruit. Cinnamon and toasted oak. A few drops of water brings butterscotch and warming nutmeg. Delicious and very easy drinking.
Finish	Before adding water long and ended in notes of spicy sweetness. After adding water, the finish was quite flat.	Long with hints of sweetness, vanilla and caramel.
My Rating	Very Good	Excellent
Comments	Without water it is bold and interesting. Drink it neat!	Delicious, A great introduction to bourbon It is smooth and easy drinking.
Price point	$33	$36

It is interesting to note that people rated the Buffalo Trace higher on Whizzky compared to the Makers. The Buffalo Trace has a sweet, bold nose with lots of vanilla and fruity sweetness. The Maker’s Mark nose is less pronounced and spicier with distinctive red fruit and oak.

However, when you taste them next to each other, the Buffalo Trace is spicier and less complicated compared to the Maker’s Mark. The Buffalo Trace bring notes of orange marmalade, cinnamon, oak and pepper. The Maker’s Mark bourbon has more cherries and vanilla on the palate. Butterscotch and nutmeg notes adds a delicious edge to the mix. The Maker’s is smooth and easy drinking.

The finish on the Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace is also different. On the Buffalo Trace, the finish is medium length and spicier. The Maker’s Mark finish is warming and long with vanilla sweetness.

The price differential between these two releases are quite small. On Amazon, the Buffalo Trace retails for around £24 and the Makers Mark for around £27. (There are regular specials on Amazon to look out for.)

Yes, I have a favourite; the Maker’s Mark bourbon whiskey. It is what I like in a bourbon. Vanilla, juicy red cherries and toasted oak. It might be a bit more expensive than the Buffalo Trace, but I think it is worth it.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Maker’s 46 and the standard Maker’s Mark and you can see in that blog post which one I prefer. I have also compared the Buffalo Trace to a Bulleit bourbon as well as a Woodford Reserve bourbon to see which one is better.

Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve