Tag: Diageo Page 6 of 15

Diageo plc is a British multinational beverage alcohol company, with its headquarters in London, England. It operates in more than 180 countries and produces in more than 140 sites around the world. It is a major distributor of spirits and the world’s largest producer of Scotch whisky.
Brands include:
Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker, Cardhu, Justerini & Brooks, Bell’s, Black & White, White Horse, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Clynelish, Singleton, Dimple, Glen Elgin, Knockando, Blair Athol, Dailuaine, Glenlossie, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Strathmill, Teaninich.
American whiskey: Bulleit, Seagram’s
Canadian whisky: Crown Royal
Vodka: Smirnoff, Cîroc, Ketel One
Rum: Captain Morgan,
Gin: Gordon’s, Tanqueray, Gilbey’s, Aviation Gin

Glenkinchie 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/17/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Time to move back down to the Scottish Lowlands this week. The Lowlands has three well-known malt distilleries, namely Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie. Today I investigate Glenkinchie and especially the Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Lowland whiskies traditionally were softer and more floral compared to the more Northern releases. The name Glenkinchie Distillery was registered in 1837 and lay a stone through from Edinburgh near the charming village of Pencaitland. It draws it water from the Lammermuir Hills. Together with Oban (West Highlands), Dalwhinnie (Highland), Talisker (Islands), Cragganmore (Speyside) and Lagavulin (Islay), Glenkinchie represents the Lowlands in the Diageo Classic Malts Range.

Also Read: Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX whisky

The Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt is the entry-level single malt bottling from the distillery that replaces the previous 10 year old. Glenkinchie also releases a Distillers Edition. The year 2017 is an important year for Glenkinchie. They will be celebrating the 180th anniversary of the distillery.

So in honour of this outstanding achievement, let’s try this Lowland whisky. I have paired this Glenkinchie 12 year old with some Wensleydale cheese with mango and ginger, and it made for a delicious pairing.

Glenkinchie 12 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat

NOSE: Fresh cut flowers and grass with hints of mint leaves. The nose is delicate and sweet with notes of liquorice, orange cake, vanilla, toffee and toasted oak.

PALATE: Oak with vanilla and hints of butterscotch. Lots of citrus and pepper spice and very little of the subtle flowery notes promised by the nose. Orange marmalade and lemon rind with bits of toffee sweetness and fresh fruit. Water releases a bit more fruity notes but also makes the lemon rind more pronounced.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of pepper and lemon drops. Drying.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I was hoping that the floral notes of this Lowland whisky would translate from the nose to the palate. Not a bad dram, but a bit too peppery for my liking. I prefer something a bit sweeter. Still not bad for the price point.

In South Africa the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky retails for around R 850 which, for an aged single malt Scotch whisky, is not bad. In India the price is around ₹ 6,780. Worth adding to your collection.

Recently I got to taste the Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition, and it was terrific. What did you think of the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky?

Also Read: Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/26/2021

In Blended whisky

Continuing my exploration of budget whisky blends and today, I look at the very popular J&B Rare Blended Scotch whisky. It is another well known and affordable release from Diageo.

In 1749, Giacomo Justerini fell in love with an opera singer, Margherita Bellini, and followed her to London. He was the son of an Italian master distiller and brought with him various recipes for liqueurs.

In England, Bellini introduced him to George Johnson and together, they established the wine merchants Johnson & Justerini. In 1760, Justerini sold his part of the business to Johnson and went back home to Italy.

Johnson and subsequently his family continued to grow the business. In 1831, Johnson’s family sold the company to Alfred Brooks. The firm was renamed Justerini & Brooks.

Seeing the potential of blended whisky, J&B was one of the first London spirits merchants to buy up malt whisky stocks and create its own “house” blend.

In the early 1930s, J&B Rare Scotch whisky was developed to appeal to the American palate and as a chief rival to another new-style blended Scotch; Cutty Sark. The American market loved the blend, and over time it became one of the best-known budget blends in the world.

J&B whisky is a blend of 42 malt and grain whiskies. It includes single malts from Knockando, Auchroisk and Glen Spey. It is a NAS release, and in South Africa, it retails for around R 190.

Other releases in the J&B whisky portfolio include the J&B Jet, J&B Reserve and the J&B Urban Honey liqueur.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Grain sweetness, alcohol notes with malt and wood. Delicate hints of fruit salad sweetness. Not very complex.

PALATE: Drying oak and malt with caramel sweetness and hints of vanilla. Raws alcohol notes on the palate, which makes the dram rather rough. Water softens the alcohol notes but brings forward pepper and bitter lemon.

FINISH: Medium length with oak and bitter lemon.

RATING: GOOD

The nose has a very distinctive grain sweetness that reminds me of my university days. We could not afford anything more expensive, and we mixed the J&B whisky with some Appletiser. John used to drink this with lemonade at university. A reasonable whisky to use in cocktails.

I find that it has a cloying sweetness and too many rough alcohol notes. The bitter lemon finish is also a bit off-putting. I need to do a budget whisky side by side review to see where this fits in with the other affordable drams I have tried this year. It is not my favourite.

Also Read: Vat 69 Scotch Whisky

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/07/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am looking at the 3rd of my mini Talisker bottles, and it is time for the Talisker Storm single malt Scotch whisky. The Talisker 10 yo whisky easily makes it onto my top 10 desert island drams. I love the smoky, creamy notes of this release.

It is affordable and bursts with flavour. I enjoyed the Talisker Skye but found it a bit rough around the edges.

Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. It is part of the Diageo brands and part of their Classic Malt range. The distillery was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill on the shores of Loch Harport. Talisker was updated over the years and changed hand a few times.

The distillery’s water comes from Cnoc nan Speireag (Hawk Hill). The malted barley used in production comes from Muir of Ord. Talisker whisky is typically peated to a phenol level of approximately 18–22 parts per million (ppm).

Diageo released Talisker Storm in early 2013 with no age statement. The whisky is matured in specifically selected refill and toasted American oak casks. Pre Covid, the Talisker Storm single malt Scotch whisky was occasionally available in SA. Sadly, I have not seen it around for the last couple of months.

Other releases include the Talisker 57 North whisky. There is also a Talisker Dark Storm that was released as a travel retail special. Dark Storm was matured in heavily charred casks compared to the standard Storm release.

Also Read: Springbank 18 yo Whisky

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

REGION: Island of Skye

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Dark Gold

NOSE: Delicate and soft with peat, smoke and sweetness. Sea salt and honey with a soft fruity note. Surprisingly sweet.

PALATE: Medium body with notes of peat, oak and honey sweetness. A bit of a chilli bite mixed with smoke and hints of black pepper. Bolder than what the nose suggested. Lovely and warming on a cold Friday afternoon. Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking. Quite a bit sweeter than the 10 yo release. Water tones down the chilli heat.

FINISH: Peat and oak dryness with a fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely dram. It warmed me up on a cold Friday evening, and I will undoubtedly be looking for a big bottle of this when it becomes available in SA again. I was surprised at how much sweeter it is when compared to the Talisker 10 yo whisky.

As soon as I managed to find a big bottle, I will do a side by side comparison. The 10 yo is still my favourite of the lot, but this Talisker Storm single malt whisky is not far behind.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky

Johnnie Walker Blue vs Black Label Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/17/2021

In Whisky Comparison

One of the search terms, according to Google Analytics, that bring many hits to the blog is a query relating to Johnnie Walker Blue vs Black Label blended Scotch whisky. The exclusive and expensive Blue Label versus the more affordable, standard range Johnnie Walker Black Label.

At first glance, it seems like an unreasonable comparison to do. A luxurious blend of older drams compared with a younger blend that is affordable and widely available. However, perhaps the real question is, is the Johnnie Walker Blue worth the high price, and if I can’t afford it, what is a quality alternative?

The Johnnie Walker story started as a blend in a grocery store in Ayrshire, Scotland. John Walker sold made-to-order whiskies, blended to meet specific customer requirements because he did not have any brand of his own. As his blends became successful, he started creating blended drams that he labelled Walker’s Kilmarnock whisky.

His grandson introduced the brand’s signature square bottle in 1860. The popularity of the blended releases grew steadily, and today it is one of the world’s top-selling brands.

Let’s put them side by side and see how they compare.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Red vs Black Label whisky

Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 yo with glass
Johnnie Walker Black Label blended whisky is a blend of about forty whiskies from all around Scotland. Smoother and more drinkable than its little brother, Johnnie Walker Red Label.

This release has a consistent taste profile and an affordable price point. In SA, the Black Label retail for around R 340.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky

Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky with glass b
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a blended whisky made from thirty five grain and malt whiskies aged for up to 60 years. Master Distiller Jim Beveridge created the Johnnie Walker Blue Label to mirror whiskies’ style in the early 19th century.

Only one in ten thousand casks from the extensive Diageo inventory make the grade. It has no age statement, but each bottle has a serial number. In South Africa, it is seen as the whisky to drink to show that you have arrived. It retails for around R 2 700.

Johnnie Walker Blue vs Black Label Whisky

Johnnie Walker Blue vs Black label whisky comparison

	Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky	Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky
Type	Blended Whisky	Blended Whisky
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Light golden amber	Polished amber
Nose	Peat, smoke with oak and malt. Christmas cake, spice and dried fruit. Adding some water unlocked fresh flowers and florals.	Faint smoke, red berries, Christmas pudding with heaps of toffee and hints of winter spice.
Palate	Peat and old wood. Water smooths it toward a more floral, sweeter bouquet with notes of oak and toffee.	Smooth and creamy with smoke and bold peat, perfectly balanced with fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A toffee sweetness with hints of spice.
Finish	Medium length with notes of pepper and nutmeg, caramels and oak.	Long and rewarding balanced between fruity sweetness, citrus peel, vanilla and warming pepper spice.
My Rating	Excellent	Divine
Price	$250	$40
Pairs well with	Roast Beef or tiramisu or a light blue cheese.	A cheese platter or roasted pork.

When I look at the ratings on Whizzky, it seems more people like the Blue Label than Johnnie Walker the Black Label whisky. However, I’m afraid I have to disagree. I think the Black Label is far superior to the Blue Label whisky. Let me explain why.

Both these releases bring the characteristic Johnnie Walker peat, smoke and a fruity sweetness. However, the Black Label is more memorable and bolder. The nose on the Bue Label is soft with more floral notes.

On the palate, the Blue Label exhibit a more wooden character when compared to the Black Label. It is also slightly spicier. The Black Label brings bold fruits, malt and mixed spices.

It is better balanced, richer, and more complex than the Blue Label. Make no mistake. The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch is a good dram. It is elegant, smooth and delicious, with a lovely palate. But I am not convinced that what you are paying is worth it.

Then, there is the hefty price difference. I will keep my current Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky for occasional celebrations. The bottle should last me quite a while. And I don’t know if I will restock when it is finished.

On the other hand, I will always have a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky in my collection. What do you think?

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Exploring further, I have done a side by side comparison between the Green and Blue Label whisky to get a better understanding of their differences.

Also Read: Glenfiddich 18 vs Glenmorangie 18 yo Whisky

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/12/2021

In Blended whisky

Today I look at an affordable brand with a memorable catchphrase. It was also my dad’s every day drinking whisky. So it has been around for quite a while; the Bell’s blended Scotch whisky.

An advert aired in SA round 2014 showed an elderly gentleman in his ambition to learn to read. Throughout the commercial, viewers watch the lead character attend reading classes, spell messages of devotion to his wife using fridge magnets, and play scrabble with his friends.

Ultimately, his motivation is to read the book his son has written. As he gives his son the news he has, at last, read his book, his jubilant son remarks, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

This catchphrase has become part of SA social culture. If someone achieves something extraordinary, people will comment, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

In 1851, Perth based Arthur Bell began to blend various single malts to create a more consistent blended whisky. His two sons, Robert and Arthur, joined the business in partnership in 1895.

By the 1880s, the company was focused on blended whisky. At the end of Prohibition in America, there was a sudden surge in demand, and Arthur Bell & Sons acquired Blair Athol and Dufftown distilleries in 1933.

In 1936 they added the Inchgower distillery to the portfolio. By 1970, Bell’s was the highest-selling whisky in Scotland. Today the brand still has significant market shares in the UK, South Africa, the Nordic countries, Spain and Brazil.

In 1994, an 8 year old age statement was added. It was at a time when there was a surplus of mature Scotch whisky. But in 2008, the supply of mature whisky became a problem, and the age statement was removed.

The Well Known Bell’s Decanter

Bell’s is also known for the ceramic bell-shaped decanters that it released for special occasions such as Charles & Diana’s wedding and Christmas.
There is a Bell’s Special Reserve that is (was) available in SA. Bell’s is a blend of about 40 grain and malt whiskies. It includes whisky from all around Scotland, including Dufftown, Inchgower, Glenkinchie and Caol Ila.

These are all blended with Blair Athol’s malt. Bell’s is a brand of blended whisky initially produced by Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd and now owned by Diageo.

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Amber gold

NOSE: A few alcohol notes that need a few minutes to dissipate. After the alcohol evaporates, there is a fruity sweetness, gentle spice with cereal bits. Hints of shortbread and grain.

PALATE: Not as sweet as the nose. Notes of malt, oak, pepper and apricots. The Bell’s blended whisky has a medium body. Some alcohol heat. A few drops of water soften the pepper and alcohol notes and bring more fruity sweetness to the front. I managed to finish the glass with no trouble. The Bell’s whisky is not the most complex dram, but never the less drinkable.

FINISH: Medium long finish. End in notes of pepper and citrus.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The moment I opened the bottle, it brought back so many memories. There was always a bottle of Bell’s in the house growing up, and it was my dad’s regular drinking whisky. His special occasion whisky was the Chivas or the Dimple. The nose immediately reminded me of his glass of whisky.

Also, when we were sick, my mother would make us a remedy of hot milk with sugar and a shot of whisky. The whisky she used was always the Bell’s, and the moment I tasted it, I had clear memories of drinking it with the hot milk in bed.

It was not as sticky sweet, or harsh as the Black & White whisky I had a few weeks ago; quite drinkable, actually. For the price point, it is not a bad buy. What makes this whisky unique, for me, is all the cherished childhood memories that it brings back.

For that alone, it deserves a place in my whisky collection. In South Africa, this blend retails for around R210 and is widely available.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish whisky