Whisky of the Week

Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Tag: Heineken Beverages Page 3 of 8

Heineken Beverages bought the Distell Group in 2023.   Their brands include:
Klipdrift Brandy
Richelieu Brandy
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky
Black Bottle blended whisky
Bunnahabhain Islay single malt Scotch whisky
Deanston single malt Scotch whisky
Harrier whisky
Knights whisky
Ledaig single malt Scotch whisky
Scottish Leader whisky
Three Ships whisky
Tobermory single malt Scotch whisky
Hunters Cider
Savanna cider

Amarula Gold

Three Ships Virgin Oak Whisky

By

On 10/04/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Three Ships Virgin Oak whisky Header
It is no secret that I love the whisky that comes out of the James Sedgwick distillery. The
Three Ships single cask and limited editions sell out quickly. The Master’s Collection usually disappears within hours. When Pick n Pay brought out the Three Ships Virgin Oak Cask single malt whisky, I immediately picked up a bottle.

But with alcohol bans and everything going on, I have not captured my tasting notes yet; And it is time.

After many years of asking, in June 2018, the first independent bottled Three Ships was released when Checkers bottled the Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky. It was the first South African whisky to join the exclusive Private Barrel Co. collection of whiskies.

The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky is a lightly peated whisky that spent its first 3 years in older American Oak, followed by 3 years in a seasoned Fino Cask. It was bottled at a very respectable 54.6% ABV, and I rated it Excellent.

Also Read: Santis Malt Alpstein Edition Whisky

That Boutique-y Whisky Company quickly followed with a Three Ships 6 yo whisky. This 6 yo was matured in American oak and finished in PX casks. Only 1 150 bottles were produced. The artwork on the label depicts Master Distiller Andy Watts filling a Three Ships whisky cask with whisky. It was bottled at 53.7% ABV, and I rated it Very Good.

WhiskyBrother and Co have also collaborated with Three Ships, and their latest release was a 9 yo single casks that were bottled in 2020. These independently bottled releases are extremely popular and sell out quickly.

Now Pick n Pay also jumped on the bandwagon and released a Virgin Oak Cask single malt botting. This specific single malt was hand-selected by Andy Watts, Master Distiller.




Three Ships Virgin Oak Whisky Review

Three Ships virgin oak whisky with glass
It is non-chill-filtered, natural in colour, and matured in virgin American oak. It was exclusively bottled for Pick n Pay and limited to 2 480 bottles.

ABV: 48.6%

COUNTRY: South Africa

COLOUR: Rich amber

NOSE: Sweet oak spices, vanilla, subtle smoke and fresh pine needles. Unusual and inviting with a nearly tropical fruitiness in the background.

PALATE: Toasted oak, smoky black tea with pepper and nutmeg. It is quite oily, and there are hints of toffee.  Bits of fruity sweetness with bread pudding and apricot jam. White pepper, subtle smoke and cinnamon apples. A few drops of water brings the pepper spices to the front but dampens the complexity.

FINISH: Medium length and warming with pepper vanilla and a maltiness.

RATING: VERY GOOD

As usual, the whisky coming from the James Sedwick distillery in Cape Town is world-class. The releases are unusual and complex, with bold flavours. For me personally, the Virgin Oak Cask is a bit too spicy. My palate prefers a sweeter dram and gravitates more towards the Bain’s whisky releases.

John enjoyed this release more as his palate is not quite as sweet. I think this release will work wonderfully with a robust, creamy cheese such as an aged cheddar or something similar.

Also Read: A visit to Chamarel Rum Distillery



Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo Whisky

By

On 11/30/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo single malt Whisky
During October 2019, the James Sedgwick Distillery invited a few loyal and enthusiastic Cape supporters to celebrate the Three Ships birthday at the distillery. What they did not know was that this not only was a celebration but a small consumer testing opportunity as well.

Andy Watts, the Master Distiller, wanted some end-user feedback in choosing his next Three Ships Master’s Collection release.

During the event, he gave the fans a few of his ‘work-in-progress’ drams to sample. Unbeknown to them, their feedback during the evening determined the 2020 Master’s Collection release.

A year later, they launched the new Three Ships Master’s Collection Edition. It is a limited edition Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 year old single malt whisky.

During the launch, 400 bottles were available for purchase and similar to previous years, the bottles flew off the shelves. The 400 bottles sold out within 8 minutes.




The Shiraz Cask finish whisky was first matured for eight years in American oak barrels, before being finished in seasoned Shiraz oak casks for three years. The Shiraz casks were selected from across Distell’s wineries, and no specific winery was given preference.

This is the second red wine finish release from the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington. During 2016 they released the Pinotage Cask Finish 15 yo whisky, which was amazing,

Shiraz wine is typically a bold and full-bodied wine with notes of smoke, bacon, blackberry, blueberry and pepper spice.

James Sedgwick Distillery released only 2 994 bottles of the Shiraz Cask. The first 400 are sold, and the remaining bottles are available at leading retailers. The Three Ships Shiraz Cask retails for R 950.  The Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish whisky is non-chill-filtered.

Also Read: Bain’s 15 yo Sonically Matured whisky

Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo Whisky Review

Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo single malt Whisky with glass
I invited some friends to share this release with me on Twitter and have included their comments.

ABV: 51.4%

REGION: South Africa

COLOUR: Rose Gold

NOSE: Dry toasted oak, fruity sweetness with a hint of peat.  Red fruits, toasted nuts, honey and caramel in the background.  Bits of chocolate orange.

PALATE: Peat and spices. The fruity sweetness from the nose continues on the palate together with the caramel bits. Adding a few drops of water allows the complexity to come through. It enables the spices to become more defined, and now you can taste pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Dark chocolate and  liquorice. Despite the higher ABV, there is no alcohol heat, and I managed to finish my first glass without water. The peaty notes are a green Highland kind of peat.

FINISH: Complex with notes of drying oak, sweetness and peat.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Take time over this dram; it has so many layers to uncover. It is beautifully balanced between the spicy and fruity sweet notes.  For me, the shiraz shines through in the drying oak and red fruit notes. The shiraz finish softened the spicy notes.

You can pair this bold, spicy whisky with bold food choices, and I think the Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish whisky will work well with a big, juicy BBQ burger or grilled beef. Even a spicy sausage stew will match nicely. The James Sedgwick Distillery has also released a Bain’s Shiraz Cask Finish whisky which is rather delicious.

Also Read: The English Whisky Co Chapter 6 Whisky



Ledaig 10 year old Whisky

By

On 06/29/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Ledaig 10 yo single malt whisky
During 2019, at one of the whisky festivals, I tasted a Ledaig whisky for the first time. At the beginning of 2020, I tasted another Ledaig release and again loved it. I thought that both these special bottlings from Ledaig were impressive.

A friend brought me a mini of the Ledaig 10 year old single malt Scotchwhisky from London. So I am very excited to see what this distillery is all about. The Tobermory distillery, a whisky distillery situated on the Hebridean island of Mull, produces Ledaig whisky. It is the only distillery on Mull Island.

The distillery was first known as Ledaig and was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. It is located at the foot of a steep hill, at the head of the bay. The water for the distillery comes from the Mishnish lochs.




Ledaig distillery had periods of significant expansion followed by periods of closure with various changes in ownership and name changes. Ledaig translates to a safe haven in Celtic and pronounced “lea-chick”.

Burn Stewart Distillers, a subsidiary of the Distell Group Limited currently own the distillery and brand. The main product, Tobermory single malt, is used in the Scottish Leader blended whisky as well as in Black Bottle whisky. The distillery also produces a smaller amount of heavily peated whisky, which is known under the former name, Ledaig.

The Ledaig portfolio consists of just two permanent expressions, the Ledaig 10 year old and an 18 year old. Various single cask releases are also available. I have tasted the Single And Single Ledaig 13 year old and That Boutiquey Whisky Company Ledaig 18 year old.

The Ledaig 10 year old single malt is aged in ex-bourbon casks and has a peat level of 35 ppm. It is non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Also Read: Glenfarclas 17 year old Whisky

Ledaig 10 year old Whisky Review

Ledaig 10 yo Single Malt Whisky with glass
REGION: Scottish Islands

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: Gentle peat with soft fruity sweetness. Hints of barley and malt with briny moss. Quite light and well-balanced.

PALATE: Light peat, ash and wet green moss. Earthy notes with spices. Something in the background that reminds me of cough lozenges. Without water, the pepper and chilli overwhelm the peat a bit. Some alcohol heat. The sweetness promised by the nose only comes out when you add a few drops of water. Medium-bodied. Water softened the ash and promoted the peat.

FINISH: Medium length with sweet peat and pepper.

RATING:VERY GOOD

I loved the other releases that I tasted from this island distillery. This release is the start of the core range and gives a fascinating insight into the distillery style. The peat is soft and mild with more island brine notes and less Islay medicinal notes.

A great dram to introduce someone to peat. The Ledaig 10 year old whisky is not the most complex of drams but with a few drops of water it is easy drinking. Sadly I don’t think this release is currently available in South Africa. I see that at Master of Malt it retails for around R700.

Also Read: King Car Conductor Whisky



Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky

By

On 04/27/2020

In Whisky of the Week

review and tasting notes bunnahabhain eirich na greine whisky
I tasted the Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Islay single malt Scotch whisky for the first time a couple of years ago at a function when Pierre Meintjies poured me a tot. It was delicious, and I asked John to buy me a bottle.

Originally it was only available in travel retail, and he brought me a bottle on one of his trips via Heathrow. I decided to try this again as I need something to cheer me up after nearly 30 days of Covid lockdown.

Bunnahabhain distillery was founded in 1883 near Port Askaig on Islay. The name Bunnahabhain is Gaelic for Mouth of the River. It is different than the traditional Islay malt whiskies. Milder and softer with a lightly peated taste compared to the other well-known heavier peated whiskies.

Since 2014, the distillery has been part of the Distell portfolio and is one of nine active distilleries on the island.




Eirigh Na Greine translates to ‘morning sky’ in Gaelic. It is a reference to the colour of the morning sky on Islay. Bunnahabhain mature this single malt is exclusively in French ex-red wine casks. It is now available more widely than just travel retail.

The Bunnahabhain core range includes the 12 year old single malt whisky, the 18 year old and the 25 year old Scotch whisky. There are various independent bottlings as well as special editions and Distillery releases.

I see that Wild About Whisky has a few bottles left. The Eirigh Na Greine whisky is not too expensive either; it retails for just over R 1050 in South Africa.

Bunnahabhain single malt whisky is produced not chill-filtered, with natural colour.

Also Read: Lagavulin 16 yo Whisky

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky Review

review and tasting notes Bunnahabhain eirich na greine whisky with glass
REGION: Islay

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Warm, amber-gold

NOSE: Red fruits, some sweetness, oak with hints of Merlot red wine, raisins and nut and vanilla. Is that the smell of salty sea air in the background? Rich and delicious.

PALATE: Big, bold and delicious. Pears cooked in red wine, with sultanas and stone fruit. Hints of  paprika, sea salt, black pepper, oak and red berry sweetness. Well balanced with a medium body. Bit of alcohol heat that is tempered by a few drops of water.

FINISH: Quite long, sweet and drying with bits of spice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This dram is just as fantastic as I remember. When you taste whisky at a special event, there is always the risk of event bias. Because everything around you is beautiful, your mind can interpret the food and whisky you are having as delicious. When you taste it later in a normal environment, you wonder what you were thinking.

This Bunnahabhain whisky did not disappoint. It is rich and elegant and simply delicious. Just what I need after four weeks of being confined to our house. It warms my heart and makes me smile. I am pouring a second glass.

But after that, I am stopping.  I need to ration myself as alcohol sales are still prohibited in SA, and I don’t know when I can stock up again.

Hopefully, it will not be too expensive one day when things return to some sort of normal; this whisky is worth getting.  The Eirigh Na Greine is a beautiful tribute to the golden-red Islay mornings. My heart is happy.

Also Read: Macallan 15 vs Glenfiddich 15 yo Whisky



Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky

By

On 01/13/2020

In Blended whisky

review and tasting notes Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Finis
2020 – A new year and a new decade. And what better way to start the new decade with than with a proudly South African whisky. My first official whisky tasting notes for 2020 is the Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask whisky.

The Fino Cask Finish is the 4th addition to the Three Ships Whisky Master’s Collection. First came the PX Cask Finish, then the Pinotage Cask Finish and thirdly the 8 yo Oloroso Cask Finish whisky. My favourite thus far was the Pinotage Cask which was my Whisky of the Year 2017.

On the 24th of October 2019, the annual Master’s Collection store was opened online again. This event has become so popular that 90% of the whisky was sold within the first hour.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Elements Sherry

For the Fino Cask release, the whisky was matured for 5 years in ex-American oak, followed by an additional 4 years in ex-Fino sherry casks. From this, Andy hand-selected only 4 barrels to create this expression. It is a limited edition with only 2,940 bottles produced.

The Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Finish is not chill-filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 48.6%. The accent colour on the label is bright green. The green accents are fresh and bright and make the bottle stand out. I love it.




Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky Review

review and tasting notes Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Finish with glass
I have bottle 643 of 2840.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 48.6%

COLOUR: Dark Gold

NOSE: Notes of BBQ smoke, stone fruit sweetness with bits of spice. Dried peach and apricot with bits of peat and a tropical hint.

PALATE: Complex and rich. Raisins, soft spices and citrus notes. Hints of smoke and peat balanced with sherry notes and tropical fruit sweetness. Medium body and easy drinking. No need to add water; however, a few drops of water releases a richer dimension on the palate and brings more fruity sweetness forward.

FINISH: Medium length ending in sweetness with hints of pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Very delicious! This release is sweeter than the last 2 Three Ships releases I have tasted. The Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick 6 yo Fino and the Boutique-y Whisky Company 6 yo release both had a more spicy mouthfeel with less fruit.

With this release, there is a more fruit-forward profile again. I love how the Fino sherry shines through. It is a lovely release and probably my next favourite after the Master’s Collection Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish.

I noticed that both the Private Barrel Co 6 yo release and this both have a Fino Cask Finish and during the year, I will certainly do a comparison between the 6 yo and this 9 yo whisky. Pick n Pay also jumped onto the single cask release bandwagon and released a Three Ships Virgin Oak Cask during 2021.

Also Read: Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo Whisky



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