Tag: Diageo Page 7 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

Ardbeg 10 yo whisky vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky side by side comparison
Today I look at another battle of big Islay malts; Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old whisky. Both these single malt Scotch drams achieved cult status with peat heads. When you mention Islay whisky, one of the first drams that come to mind is the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky.

Another Islay legend is the Ardbeg Scotch whisky and the passion for Ardbeg reaches fever pitch all over the world on Ardbeg Day. But when you put these drams in a blind tasting next to each other, how do they stack up?

Ardbeg 10 year old Whisky

Ardbeg 10 yo whisky with glass
Ardbeg Distillery is situated on the south coast of the isle of Islay. Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy owns the distillery and produces a heavily peated Islay whisky. Ardbeg single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 55 ppm. The Ardbeg 10 year old whisky is aged for at least 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

review and tasting notes Lagavulin 16 yo whisky with glass
Lagavulin’s name is the English translation of the Gaelic ‘Lag a’a’ Mhuilinn’, which means the mill’s hollow. Lagavulin was one of the six whiskies marketed as part of the Diageo’ Classic Malts of Scotland’ range.

Lagavulin distillery is known for its use of a slow distillation speed and pear-shaped pot stills. The Lagavulin 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky is peated to 35 ppm.

Also Read: GlenDronach 18 vs 21 yo Whisky

Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 16 yo whisky comparison

	Ardbeg 10 yo whisky	Lagavulin 16 yo whisky
ABV	46%	43%
Region	Islay Whisky	Islay Whisky
Peat Level	55 to 65 ppm	35 ppm
Colour	Pale Straw with green hints	Dark Gold
Nose	Peat and smoke with hints of vanilla, sea salt and citrus sweetness. It is not overwhelming but inviting and intriguing.	Liquorice, smoke, hints of peat with a fruity sweetness. Bits of oak, iodine, and vanilla. Delicate and well balanced.
Palate	After the initial peat, some warming citrus and hints of vanilla. It continues to bring you hints of coffee and a bit of iodine. This Ardbeg 10 yo is a big whisky but not overwhelming at all.	Dry oak, peat with hints of cherry sweetness and smoke. Medium body with iodine and tar in the background. A bit one-sided.
Finish	What an epic finish! You will remember the Ardbeg 10 yo long after you have emptied the glass.	Medium length with peat and hints of oak and vanilla.
My Rating	Excellent	Very Good
Comments	Complex and well balanced	Lacks some complexity and has a few sharp edges.
Price	$65	$108
Pairs well with	Garlic leg of Lamb or a charcuterie platter	Blue Stilton

When John and I first tasted the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky, we looked at each other and frowned. It did not live up to our expectations. We felt that it was a bit one dimensional and boring. In the blind tasting, against the Ardbeg 10 year old whisky, the difference was even more evident.

The first difference between these two Islay drams is the peat level. The Lagavulin is peated at 35 ppm, and the Ardbeg sits at 55 ppm. There is also a big difference in the taste of the peat. The Lagavulin has more medicinal notes, and the Ardbeg has more ocean salt and fishy notes.

The Lagavulin 16 year old Scotch brings notes of dry oak, cherries and vanilla. Yes, it is peaty with smoke and fruity sweetness, but it lacks the complexity and wow factor. It has a medium body and a medium length finish.

The Ardbeg 10 year old has peat, smoke, sea salt, vanilla and citrus notes. There are hints of coffee and light iodine with an epic finish. It is big, bold, and complex. Just delicious.

Ardbeg is less medicinal than Laphroaig, however, it is more balanced and complex. Lagavulin has a more oily mouthfeel than the Ardbeg; however, the oiliness also seems to capture some raw alcohol notes.

The Ardbeg is drinkable and smooth and invites you back time after time. For my palate, this has a clear winner! The Ardbeg 10 year old every time.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Ardbeg Uigeadail and the Lagavulin 16 year old whisky as well to see how they stack up against each other.

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Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky

Talisker Skye Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/01/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I love the Talisker 10 year old whisky. It is one of those drams that I will take to a desert island with me. It is smooth, smoky and comforting, and of course, very drinkable. However, I need to expand my tasting notes from this Scottish Island distillery, so today, I am trying the Talisker Skye single malt Scotch whisky.

The Talisker distillery is a whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye. It is part of the Diageo stable. Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill founded the distillery in 1830. It was rebuilt and upgraded a few times over the years.

Talisker’s water comes from Cnoc nan Speireag (Hawk Hill) and flows over peat, which adds an extra dimension to the whisky. Talisker has an unusual feature—swan neck lye pipes.

Diageo introduced Talisker Skye whisky in early 2015. They named it after the rugged landscape and jagged peaks of the Cuillin Mountains and the island’s wild seas. The Talisker core range also includes the Talisker Storm and the Port Ruighe.

Also Read: Ledaig 10 yo Whisky

It was great to see this distillery in the TV adaptation of one of my favourite books. In Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, the demon Crowley (played by Scotsman David Tennant) drinks Talisker by the bottle as he awaits the coming apocalypse.

This expression aims to create a more well-rounded and sweet flavour profile combined with the traditional Talisker maritime notes. It’s matured in a combination of refill and toasted American oak casks, with a slightly higher proportion of toasted casks. It is peated to an estimated 20 ppm and is a NAS release.

Talisker Skye Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Island

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: The nose is clean and fresh. There are bits of fresh fruit, a peaty earthiness mixed with underlying smoke. Hints of honey and salt.

PALATE: The Talisker Skye has a medium body. There are notes of dry oak, citrus fruit, fresh apples and peat. Bits of smoke and lemon pepper. Adding water bring forward more barley and softens the pepper. It is not the most complex dram and rather delicate.

FINISH: Drying oak and pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Talisker Skye whisky has a few unfinished edges and feels like it is not quite rounded off. It is not a bad whisky, but it is difficult not to compare this release to the Talisker 10 year old whisky. The 10 year old whisky is easier drinking, more complex and smoother than the Skye.

Although the taste difference between these two is quite pronounced, the price difference between these two releases is relatively small. At Master of Malt, the Skye retails for GBP 30.21 and the Talisker 10 year old single malt for GBP 30.38. I would rather grab the 10 year old release than the Skye.

Also Read: Arran Napoleon Cognac Finish Whisky

Bell’s Special Reserve Blended Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/22/2021

In Blended Malt Whisky

Today I look at the Bell’s Special Reserve blended malt Scotch whisky. One of my favourite whiskies during my student days was Bell’s whisky. It was a bit more upmarket than the cheap nasty bottles with “whiskey” printed on it. Best of all, it was affordable and accessible. We spent many a night solving world problems around a bottle of Bell’s.

But after university, my taste (and budget) changed and I have not had a Bell’s whisky in many, many years. Because I associated it with cheap university days, it had very little appeal. But then I saw a blog post on the Bell’s Special Reserve blended malt whisky I was intrigued. So what better time to try a Bell’s again.

Related Article: Bennachie 10 yo Whisky

The Special Reserve has been available in South Africa since 2004. Until someone wrote about it, I never noticed it before. Bell’s Special Reserve blended malt is owned by Diageo. It is a malt whisky described as a mixture of Highlands, Speyside and a subtle hint of Islay. The Blair Atholl distillery is seen as the “home” of the Bell’s brand.

Other distilleries used in the blend is the Inchgower and Dufftown distilleries from Speyside, Glenkinchie and the Caol Ila from Islay. The Bell’s Special Reserve is a blend of single malt whiskies, each aged for at least 8 years.

Bell’s Special Reserve Whisky Review

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: The Special Reserve has a wonderfully rich golden amber colour that radiates warmth.

NOSE: Rich and complex with smoky sherry notes. There are brandy-soaked fruit and malt mixed with caramel and hints of spice. Adding a few drops of water releases more peaty characteristics on the nose.

PALATE: Without water, the palate is peppery and sweet with fresh fruit and honey. Fresh cut flowers and mint toffee come to mind. The palate is not as complex as the nose suggested. The Bell’s Special Reserve is a medium-bodied whisky. Adding water smooths the pepper notes and brings more sweetness and smoke.

FINISH: Medium length and end in sweetness, tobacco and a bit of woody orange.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is certainly better than the Bell’s whisky that I had all those years ago. And at the price point of R270, not a bad buy. However, there are a few other blended malts that I would rather pick up. What did you think of this Bell’s Special Reserve?

Also Read: Compass Box Peat Monster whisky

Johnnie Walker Red vs Black Label Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/23/2020

In Whisky Comparison

Johnny Walker Red Label vs Black Label whisky comaprison
One of the search queries that bring quite a few people to my blog is a comparison between the Johnnie Walker Red vs Black Label whisky. Google brings them to my site because I have written about both, but let me do a proper comparison for people who want to have it all on one page.

Johnnie Walker is considered the most widely distributed brand of Scotch whisky globally. John “Johnnie” Walker started to sell whisky in his grocer’s shop. His blends were trendy at the time.

It wasn’t until he died in 1857, when Alexander Walker with his son Alexander Walker II inherited the company, that the brand took off. Johnnie Walker whisky was sold in the distinctive rectangular bottles for the first time during 1870.

In 1909, as part of a rebranding exercise, the company started to name their blends to match the colours on the bottles. The Special Old Highland became Johnnie Walker Red Label, and Extra Special Old Highland became the Johnnie Walker Black Label. Today the brand is owned by Diageo.

Johnnie Walker Red Label Whisky

review and tasting notes Johnnie Walker red label whisky with glass
Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch whisky is a blend of 30 single malt and grain whiskies. It’s a combination of light whiskies from Scotland’s East Coast and more peaty whiskies from the West.

It has no age statement. Affordable, consistent taste and quality that is an excellent base for cocktails. The price for the Red Label whisky is around R230.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 yo with glass
The Johnnie Walker Black Label blended Scotch whisky has a consistent taste profile and an affordable price point. It is a blend of about 40 whiskies from all around Scotland. All the whiskies are at least 12 years old.

You find this bottle of whisky in nearly every bottle store and bar around the world. The price for the Black Label is R 330.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Black vs Double Black Label

Johnnie Walker Red vs Black Label whisky

Johnny Walker Red Label vs Black Label whisky Comparison

	Johnnie Walker Red Label	Johnnie Walker Black Label
Type	Blended Whisky	Blended Whisky
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Honey gold	Polished amber
Nose	Fruit, malt and wildflowers. Green notes with bits of vanilla and hints of smoke. Not the most complex nose.	Faint smoke, red berries, Christmas pudding with heaps of toffee and hints of winter spice.
Palate	Toasted oak, toffee sweetness with hints of smoke and peat. Medium body with vanilla, pepper and cardamom heat. A few unrefined alcohol notes that are softened with water.	Smooth and creamy with smoke and peat perfectly balanced with fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A toffee sweetness with hints of spice. You don't even need to add water, but water releases a bit more sweetness.
Finish	Medium length with pepper, pectin and honey	Long and rewarding balanced between fruity sweetness, citrus peel, vanilla and warming pepper spice.
My Rating	Very Good	Divine
Comments	Not the most complex and refined whisky, but certainly drinkable.	Smooth, easy drinking, perfectly balanced peat and sweetness.
Price	$26	$37
Pairs well with	Good in cocktails.	A cheese platter or roasted pork.

One of the things I appreciate about the Johnnie Walker Red and Black Label blended whisky is the consistent taste. Bottle after bottle you get excellent drinking whisky. However, it is a massive jump from Red Label to Black Label; in both price and on the palate.

The Red Label whisky has sweet fruit, malt, toasted oak and peat notes. There is vanilla mixed with cardamom and pepper. The Red Label has a few raw alcohol notes and intends a few drops of water to soften the alcohol.

On the other hand, the Black Label has notes of peat, smoke, red berries, Christmas pudding, flowers, malt, and oak. Hints of spices mingle with the fruity sweetness. It is bold and complex, and you don’t need to add water.

The Black Label is more complex, bolder, and more drinkable than the Red Label. The difference is noticeable on both the nose and the palate. The finish on the Black Label also stands out far more than the finish on the Red Label.

If you look at the Johnnie Walker Red Label vs Black Label price change, it is more than worth paying extra for the Johnnie Walker Black Label. The increased smoothness and delicious taste makes the roughly R100 / $11 price difference worth it.

The Johnnie Walker Red Labelis the good, affordable whisky to make cocktails with. It is spicy and unique enough to use in a variety of cocktails but still price-sensitive. If you want to enjoy a delicious peaty experience and spoil your self, the Black Label is ideal.

My favourite cocktail with the Red Label is a ginger highball made with ginger ale and with the Black Label is a Rusty Nail.

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Also Read: Ardbeg Corryvreckan vs Uigeadail Whisky

Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit Bourbon

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/28/2020

In Whisky Comparison

Today I look at another side by side bourbon comparison; this week between one of my favourite bourbons against one of John’s favourite bourbons. I look at the Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit Bourbon.

Both very well known and readily available in South Africa. I wonder which of these two will be the favourite after our side by side afternoon experiments.
For these side by side comparisons, we usually move out onto the patio (it is summer in SA right now and pleasantly warm) and then pour two glasses of each and then sit back and taste.

When you have two bourbons next to each other, you can better understand the different spices and sweet notes that each bourbon has.

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

Review and tasting notes Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey with glass Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit
Bulleit Bourbon whiskey was inspired by a 150-year-old family recipe created by founder, Tom Bulleit’s, great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit. The original recipe was for a rye whiskey made with 2/3 rye and 1/3 corn. It was produced between 1830 and 1860 in Louisville, Kentucky. The younger Bulleit first served in the US Marine Corps and then went to law school.

But he always dreamt of recreating his ancestor’s recipe. In 1987, he created a small batch bourbon, bearing the family name. To make sure it is qualified as bourbon, he’s adjusted the mash bill to 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% malted barley.

The Bulleit bourbon bottle shape is modelled on the medicine bottles of old, with raised lettering and a skew label. Just like it might have looked in the 1860s. Today it is owned by Diageo and is produced at the Kirin Brewing Company Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. This bourbon is readily available in SA.
Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Review and tastingnotes Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon with glass Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit

Woodford Reserve is a brand of small-batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. A distiller named Elijah Pepper began producing small amounts of whiskey in 1797 and soon afterwards built a distillery.

Following Elijah’s death in 1831, his son Oscar Pepper inherited the distillery. The distillery became known as The Oscar Pepper Distillery. He hired a Scotsman, Dr James Crow as the head distiller.

Crow was a qualified physician and a chemist. He championed the sour mash fermentation process that is key in the production of bourbon. After changing hands a few times and falling in disrepair, Brown-Forman purchased the property in 1993 and refurbished it to bring it back into operation. They renamed it The Woodford Reserve Distillery in 2003.

The mash bill for Woodford Reserve features a high percentage of rye. It has a 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt ratio. Unusual also for being triple distilled and having the lowest proof upon entering the barrel where it matures for at least 6 years.

Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve vs Bulleit bourbon whiskey comparison

	Bulleit Bourbon	Woodford Reserve Bourbon
ABV	45%	43.2%
Type	Bourbon whiskey	Bourbon whiskey
Mashbill	68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley	72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt
Colour	Light amber	Clear honey amber
Nose	Quite spicy, lacking the more traditional bourbon sweetness. Some sweetness reminiscent of sticky toffee pudding and vanilla bean. After standing for a while, some caramel comes through.	Honey sweetness with apricots and oranges. There are bits of condensed milk richness mixed with vanilla and hints of spices.
Palate	Loads of spice, but is not overwhelmingly spicy. After the initial spice, there are notes of toffee caramel and vanilla with a bit of wood and orange floating about. Freshly baked sugar biscuits. Water brings sweetness forward.	Oak and sweetness perfectly balanced with a bit of apricot and cinnamon spiciness. Notes of tangy winter fruits and vanilla mixed with toffee. Creamy and smooth with a full body and a satisfying mouthfeel
Finish	Long and lingering, it stays with you long after finishing the glass. Notes of mild spice and hints of oak.	Long and lingering and ends in notes of sweet spices
My Rating	Excellent	Excellent
Comments	It's a rich, chewy mouthful of bourbon. Bold character	Smooth with a great balance between sweet and spicy.
Price	$33	$40
Pairs well with	Bacon, spicy BBQ chicken wings	Aged Parmesan cheese, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, Hawaiian Pizza

The Woodford Reserve bourbon is softer, sweeter with notes of fruity apricot, vanilla and oak. The balance between sweetness and oak spice is inviting, and this bottle leaves a smile on my face. In comparison, the Bulleit is bolder, spicier with notes of orange and vanilla.

Both of these releases have a strong finish, and the traditional oak and vanilla note that, for me, characterises a bourbon. The Bulleit bourbon has a unique character that makes it more memorable, and John loves it. He does not need any help in finishing the Bulleit bourbon.

If you like a softer, sweeter bourbon, the Woodford Reserve is perfect. If you are looking for something bolder and spicier, then grab the Bulleit. Both of these releases are worth space on your whiskey shelf. I am rather happy that John prefers to Bulleit, now I don’t have to share my bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon with him.

I have also done a side by side comparison between the Woodford Rye and the Bulleit Rye as well as with the Buffalo Trace to see how they stack up against each other.

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Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve