Tag: Beam Suntory Page 6 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

Bowmore 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/20/2016

In Single Malt whisky

This is a dram I have tried a few times with food, but never written about. The definition of Enigma is a thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Will this Bowmore 12 year old Enigma single malt Scotch whisky show its secrets?

Situated on the Inner Hebrides, the Bowmore distillery lies on the South-Eastern shore of Loch Indaal. Loch Indaal is a sea lock that opens out into the Atlantic Ocean. On the other side, sits Bruichladdich.

Islay is the Queen of the Hebrides. Early hunter-gatherers have inhabited Islay from around 7500 BC, and the area is seen as an archaeological treasure trove.

John P Simons established the distillery in 1779, before passing ownership to the Mutter family in 1837. It has changed ownership a few times since and is now owned by Suntory.

Similar to the Islay whiskies, Bowmore is known for their peaty smokiness due to their peat-fired kiln. Looking at Islay on a map, I want to get on a plane to go and explore! The island is home to only around 3 000 people and eight distilleries.

The Bowmore Enigma is a 12 year old Islay single malt whisky with a higher proportion of sherry matured spirit than the standard bottling. The Bowmore 12 yo Enigma Scotch is bottled for the travel retail market.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 yo whisky

Bowmore 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Darkish gold

NOSE: Initially the nose is sweet quite sweet with a sticky, overripe fruit sweetness to it. Oak, peat and bits of grassiness follow. Hints of sherried fruit, grape jam, candied Christmas pudding float about.

PALATE: The Bowmore Enigma has an interesting palate. In the beginning, there are lots of peat, oak and spice and then slowly transforms, and burnt caramel comes through. There are notes of peat and ashy smoke with a few sharp alcohol edges mixed with bitter citrus in the background.

It starts boldly but dissolved into a thin drinking experience at the end. Adding a few drops of water smooths out the rough edges, but take away the bit of complexity and almost neutralises some of the interesting bits to this dram.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, smoke and pectin.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It seems that the notes just don’t gel together. It is as if the flavours are disjointed. This 12 year old Bowmore Enigma is appropriately named. It is a bit of an enigma. The Bowmore Enigma single malt leaves you hanging in terms of what it’s trying to be. Is it sweet, peat or smoky? Nothing fits quite right. It does, however, work very nicely with Blue Tower Cheese.

What did you think of this Enigma?

Also read: Longmorn 15 yo whisky

Peaty whisky and blue cheese pairings

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/21/2015

In Whisky & Cheese

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

Jim Beam Black Label Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/21/2015

In Bourbon whiskey

Some time ago, I tried the Knob Creek bourbon whiskey and loved it. It has become one of my favourite whiskies, and if you follow me on Twitter, you would have seen me pair the Knob Creek bourbon with a brisket smoked on my Big Green Egg.

I started to look around for more bourbon from the Jim Beam Company, but sadly, the availability of bourbon whisky in South Africa is declining. However, I managed to get my hands on the Jim Beam Black Label 6 year old Kentucky Straight bourbon whisky.

Whiskey in the USA has a long history. In the late 1700s, German, Scotch and Irish settlers farmed in Western Pennsylvania. When the U.S. government promised incentives for moving to Kentucky’s wild frontier to grow corn, Jacob Beam jumped at the opportunity. At times when he had excess corn, he turned it into whiskey.

Related Article: Slate Blended Bourbon

Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey around 1795. In 1830, corn-whiskey distillers shipped their whiskey in used fish or vinegar barrels on the long journey from Kentucky to New Orleans.

Not quite the tasting notes you want in your whiskey. But they found that charing the barrels on the inside removed the unpleasant smell and ready them for whiskey storage. The charred wood produced sugars that added a spectacular caramel taste and a golden colour to their whiskey. This style became known as bourbon.

The Jim Beam Black Label is a 6 year old Kentucky Straight bourbon that was triple aged in American oak.

Jim Beam Black Label Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich dark gold with hints of red shimmers.

NOSE: Not as sweet as you would expect from a traditional bourbon. The nose has notes of spice and is infused with smokiness. Cherries are floating about with lots of vanilla notes and hints of caramel.

PALATE: Big and bold. There are heaps of cinnamon spice with a wonderful balance between the spiciness and the sweetness. This Jim Beam has a freshness that I have not encountered before in a bourbon. After adding water, it becomes smooth and releases more sweetness. There are notes of toffee and hints of BBQ smoke.

FINISH: Hangs around for the longest time. It ends in notes of cinnamon and orange.

RATING: EXCELLENT

At the price point (R260 or around $20 and ₹ 4,323 in India), this is excellent value for money. I think Knob Creek bourbon just got knocked off the No. 1 spot on my favourite bourbon list. I paired this bourbon with some KFC to see how it would work. See which bourbon paired best with the fried chicken.

I have tried the Jim Beam Double Oak Bourbon, and you can see what I thought about it if you follow the link. Other Jim Beam releases include Jim Beam White Label as well as the Devil’s Cut.

Also Read: Evan Williams Bourbon

DYC 8 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/31/2015

In Blended whisky

I keep my eyes open for whisky from non-traditional whisky-producing countries. As delicious as whiskies from Scotland and Ireland are, it is even more exciting to find whisky from a non-traditional country like Spain or India. Like this DYC 8 year old blended whisky.

I was not even aware that there is a whisky culture in Spain, but then I managed to get my hands on this bottle. The DYC 8 yo whisky is a blend and not a single malt whisky. DYC does produce a 10 yo single malt, but I have not managed to find it yet. DYC blended whisky is aged for 8 years in American oak.

Destilerías y Crianza del Whisky S.A. (or Whisky DYC) is a Spanish company formed by businessman Nicomedes García Gómez in 1958. Whisky DYC is a subsidiary of Beam Suntory.

Palazuelos de Eresma in Segovia was the site of the first distillery and began operation in February 1959. In March 1963, it started to produce Whisky DYC, the first Spanish whisky.

The DYC brand is well-liked whisky in Spain and less expensive than most imported whiskies. Popularly, DYC is mixed with non-alcoholic beverages like Coca-Cola or Fanta.

It is relatively unknown outside of Spain, but, Beam Global is exporting this Spanish whisky to India as part of its global expansion. I will certainly be looking out for it on my next visit to Bangalore.

Related Article: Belgian Owl Evolution Whisky

DYC 8 year old Whisky Review

The DYC 8 year old is a blend of malt and grain whiskies aged in American oak casks.

COUNTRY: Spain

ABV: 40%.

COLOUR: Light golden

NOSE: Delicate and sweet with notes of vanilla, grain, honey sweetness and fresh flowers. The DYC 8 year old has a complex nose that invites you to dive in and try it.

PALATE: Without water, the palate is spicy with lots of fruity notes. It is not as sweet or delicate as promised by the nose. After adding a bit of water, the fruity notes disappear, and more spicy pepper and lemon notes come out.

Strangely, this blend becomes rougher around the edges after adding water. The sweetness and complexity suggested by the nose are not to be found on the palate.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, lemon peel and pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

For a whisky traditionally used as a mixer, I was not expecting very much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Now to get my hands on the DYC 10 year old single malt version. Perhaps I will be fortunate to find it in India on my next trip.

Also Read: Wemyss Velvet Fig whisky

Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/08/2015

In Bourbon whiskey

Named after the small stream that flows through President Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home in Kentucky, today is time for some Knob Creek Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey. It is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by Beam Suntory at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

At the end of Prohibition and a boom in demand, re-starting bourbon production was challenging, and distilleries were forced to age their bourbons’ for briefer periods. Due to this, Americans developed a palate for softer whiskies.

However, Booker Noe wanted to bring back the quality bourbon produced in Kentucky before Prohibition collapsed the bourbon boom. He fathered the small batch movement and created Knob Creek Bourbon whiskey.

These smaller batches allowed him to create a ‘Pre-Prohibition’ bourbon that was aged longer (9 years) than other bourbons. He then aged his spirit in the deepest charred American oak barrels to fully draw out more of the natural sugars.

Knob Creek straight bourbon is bottled at 50% ABV, higher than the average bourbon ABV. It comes in a rectangular bottle reminiscent of an old apothecary bottle with a black wax seal. The Whisky Bible gave this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey a rating of 94,5, so I am expecting quite a lot from this bottle.

Related Article: 1792 Bourbon

Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Dark amber syrup

NOSE: Packed full of sweet maple, oak and cereal. There are hints of caramel and raisins. After adding a bit of water, the nose develops more floral notes.

PALATE: Without water, this Knob Creek Bourbon packs a big punch. Not an alcohol punch despite the ABV, but a full flavour, mouthfeel. There are notes of caramel sweetness, oak and cinnamon and pumpkin spice on the palate.

After adding a bit of water to the Know Creek, the sweetness softens, and the oak, vanilla and fruit come through. The big mouth full feeling softens a bit, and the Knob Creek bourbon becomes very, very easy drinking.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in notes of oak and cereals. This is no shrinking violet – this is a full-bodied, big, in your face, bourbon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It has jumped up to my number 1 spot for bourbons this year. I loved the big, bold flavours of this American whiskey and could not resist a second glass. Best of all, it is readily available in South Africa and retails for less than R500. And for the mouthful deliciousness, you are getting, that is a bargain!

Also Read: Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon