Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Tag: Heineken Beverages Page 5 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

Great whisky gifts under R1000

Whisky gifts under R1000 to make you smile _ Gift Guide header
The second in my series on my Top whisky gift guide and I titled it ‘ Great Whisky gifts under R1000 to make you smile’. I am moving to a more accessible group, looking at whisky between R500 and R1000. In this category, you are spoilt for choice.

There are some fantastic releases in this price class that will not break the bank but will make for a very appreciated gift for the whisky lover in your life. Many of these releases come with gift packs during this time of the year, so it is a great time to shop.

Again, I am trying to find releases that I have tasted this last period and that have not previously made of my top 5 lists. There are many more. Just search the Excellent category on the blog, and you will find many many delicious drams. But these stood out for me in 2018.  All in alphabetical order.

Also Read:  Espresso Martini Cocktail

Whisky gifts under R1000 

Ardbeg An Oa Whisky

Ardbeg An Oa single malt whisky header It was with great fanfare that Ardbeg launched an extension to their core range – the Ardbeg An Oa single malt Scotch whisky. The first permanent expression to join the Ardbeg core range since Corryvreckan in 2009. I was rather sceptical. I am not always so crazy about the Ardbeg Day releases. But wow, this release was impressive.

The whisky is named after the Mull of Oa in the south-west of Islay. Maturation of Ardbeg An Oa took place in a combination of casks including PX, spicy charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon.

It has notes of peat, creamy honey, salted liquorice with hints of cough syrup. Bits of ash, sweet vanilla and cinnamon sugar, hints of chocolate and toasted oak. The Ardbeg An Oa has a big mouthfeel, and it’s smooth and velvety on the palate. Water softens the medicinal notes and adds more sweetness.

The Ardbeg An Oa Islay whisky is not the salty, TCP and strong tar pole notes of an Ardbeg Uigeadail, but a softer, more classic version of it. It retails for around R 800 at major retailers and is so worth it!

Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon Whiskey

Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon whiskey header This bourbon was my first Divine rated whiskey for 2018. The bottle is short and round with a unique stopper – easily recognizable. The Blanton’s Gold bourbon whiskey is bottled at a whopping 51.5% ABV, and it is part of the Sazerac Company and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

What makes the Blanton’s bottle unique is the very collectable eight different stopper designs. The stoppers feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey in eight different scenes of a horse race. From standing at the gate to crossing the finish line with a win.

The Blanton’s Gold is rich and creamy bursting with a complex mix of tastes. There are notes of toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, Sichuan pepper, hints of cherries, honey and vanilla.

Big and beautiful. It needs just a few drops to tone down the bit of alcohol burn and release more complexity. Blanton’s Gold Edition bourbon is bold and demands your attention. All of it!

Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo Whisky

Three Ships 8 yo oloroso cask finish whisky header I had to add this release to my ‘Whisky gifts under R1000’ list. The only whisky I have not tasted before.  But Andy Watts is an absolute master at distilling and blending, and I love everything that comes from the James Sedgwick Distillery.

I am keeping this release for a special occasion and will publish my formal tasting notes probably early 2019. But you can rest assured, the Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo is beautiful.  And a gift worth giving.

A specially selected single malt was matured for 5 years in American Oak and then transferred to Oloroso Sherry casks for a further 3 years. It has notes of dried fruit, crunchy nuts, rich chocolate with red berries and cinnamon. I see that there are still a few bottles available at Norman Goodfellows and they retail for R 749.




Powers John’s Lane  12 yo Whiskey

Powers John's Lane Release Header

In 1791 James Power, an innkeeper from Dublin, established a small distillery at his public house. The little distillery grew, and grew and ownership remained in the family until 1966.

Powers distillery was one of the first distilleries to install a Coffey still to allow for the production of grain whiskey. Through the ups and downs, the Powers brand continued.

Power John Lane Release returns to the origin of the Powers Irish whiskey and celebrates the style that made Powers so famous. The Powers John’s Lane Release is a combination of 12 year old single pot still whiskey aged in two different types of casks.

The majority is matured in bourbon casks and the remaining spirit in Oloroso sherry casks. First released in 2011, it was an instant hit. It won the ‘Irish Whiskey of the Year’ in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

The Powers John’s Lane Release has notes of malt, rich autumn fruit dusted with cocoa,  dark chocolate with hints of caramel and bits of  toasted oak, nutmeg and sherry. Smooth and warming. Water softens the spices and brings more honey notes.

I can understand why Jim Murray gave this a 96.5 in the 2015 Whisky Bible. For a change, I agree with him. It is delicious. The Powers John’s Lane Release retails for around R900.

Wemyss The Hive Whisky

Wemyss Malts The Hive Blended Malt Whisky header Last but not least, in my ‘Whisky gifts under R1000’ list, I have had a long love affair with Wemyss releases.  Since the first time I tasted Wemyss in Dullstroom, I have been in love. Wemyss was not available in SA until about 2 years ago. But all this changed with Wemyss bringing a few of their standard releases into SA.

However, the core of the Wemyss blended malts is the three releases aptly named The Hive, The Spice King and The Peat Chimney. All bottled at 46% ABV.

The Hive was launched in 2011, and the release that is available in SA has no-age-statement (NAS).  Wemyss The Hive focuses on sweet honey qualities with a few Speysider style notes at the core of this blend. It is a blend of at least 10 single malts.

Wemyss The Hive has lashings of floral honey sweetness, freshly baked apple pie malt and oak with bits of vanilla, ginger. Adding water makes it easier to drink and releases more of the honeycomb sweetness. Rich and delicious.

Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking and fun. Perfect for summer! Let it stand for a few minutes and add enough water. The Hive also pair wonderfully with fresh French pastry. It retails for around R 650 in SA.

There you have it. A fun selection of five great whiskies that will put a smile on your or your whisky lover partner’s face. Next week I will explore whisky under R1500 with which to spoil someone. Until then, Sláinte!

Also ReadValentine’s Day Cocktails

Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Whisky

Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Whisky header
A couple of weeks ago, The House of Fine Whisky at Checkers unveiled its latest addition. Something exceptional.  A Proudly South African release. The Checkers Private Barrel Co. frequently makes an appearance here on my blog.

The Private Barrel Co No. 41 and Private Barrel Co no 68 is a firm favourite in my house, and their Distillery releases always promise something unusual. They have even released a Private Barrel Co no 108 – a 3 yo Irish whiskey.

This is the first South African whisky to join the exclusive Private Barrel Co. collection of whiskies. And it is a single malt from the award-winning James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington.

The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky a slightly peated single malt that spent its first 3 years in older American oak, followed by 3 years in a seasoned Fino cask. During the beginning of 2017, the Checkers team got the approval to go ahead with the project.

On the 23rd of August 2017, they made the selection, and it has been released into the trade during June 2018. I have a suspicion that by the end of August 2018, this release will have sold out.




Only 677 bottles of the Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask is available, so this whisky is set to become a collector’s item. Fortunately, I managed to get my hand on two bottles, 1 to taste now and 1 to keep for a special occasion.

All the bottles carry the signature of master distiller Andy Watts who was recently awarded the 2018 Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky World Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year award.

Another thing worth noting: This is the highest ABV to ever come out of the James Sedgwick Distillery. Both the  Three Ships PX Cask and the Three Ships Pinotage Cask was bottled at 46.2% and the Three Ships 10 yo is bottled at 44.6%. So this  54.6% ABV is rather respectable.

James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask whisky with glass
This is bottle 112 / 677

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 54.6%

COLOUR: Deep mahogany, a similar colour than the Aberlour A’Bunadh whisky.

NOSE: A basket of mixed fruit berries (berries of the forest or in Dutch, bosbessen). Blackberries, juicy cherries and blueberries. Brandy soaked raisins. Sweetness floating in the background. Hints of creme brûlée with the faintest hint of cinnamon.

PALATE: The palate is spicier than the nose suggested. Rich chocolate cherry flavours with cinnamon and bit of vanilla. It’s chewy and delicious. The spice is not overwhelming, but warming and beautiful. The mouthfeel is creamy, and there is this suggestion of lightly toasted macadamia nuts.

The addition of water transforms this and releases more of the sherry sweetness. It’s chewy, delicious and fun drinking. Easy on the palette and super smooth.

FINISH: The finish is a little short, but that could be me just being super greedy on not wanting this pleasant taste to end.  There are notes of light pepper and fruity berries with a nutty flavour.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a beautiful whisky. Perfectly balanced, rich and satisfying with a very decent ABV. This release shows why Andy is one of the top Master Distillers in the world. And I know that there are more where this comes from. This is a limited release that is probably flying off the shop floor. If you have not got your hands on this, go quickly.

Pick n Pay also jumped on the single cask band wagon and released a Three Ships Virgin Oak bottling.

Comparing the Three Ships 10 yo PX Cask and the James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask Whisky

Comparing the Three Ships 10 yo PX cask and the James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask
My ‘official’ Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask tasting happened on Friday, as usual. However, Saturday afternoon, while sitting next to the braai keeping an eye on the World Cup Soccer Iceland vs Argentina game, we decided to try a side by side comparison.

We did a blind tasting in my green Ardbeg glasses. The 6 yo Fino is so much darker than the PX Cask, and these were the only glasses I have that could hide the colour difference.

Even on a blind tasting, these two whiskies are so different – its unbelievable. Both from the same distillery, both finished in sherry, but two very different drams. A Pedro Ximénez sherry versus a Fino sherry.

Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask vs Three Ships 10 yo PX CaskThe Three Ships PX cask has more spice, peat and smoke with light fruit cake notes.  The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask is sweeter with soaked Christmas pudding notes and a more woody finish. Both delicious and very difficult to choose a favourite.

These beautiful drams are a great testament to the craftsmanship of a world-class Master Distiller. A skill that needs to be celebrated. How special would it be if Distell could celebrate the 5th consecutive Gold medal in the New York International Spirits Competition for Bain’s whisky and release some of the older casks (such as the 15 yo Bain’s release) as a limited release?

Or celebrate their Master Distiller winning the Top Icon of Whisky Master Distillers Award by releasing a few more of his extraordinary creations as limited editions.  We can but hope!

Also ReadMackinlay’s Whisky



Whisky Chicken Marinade Recipe

Bain’s whisky chicken marinade recipe
This past Saturday was World Whisky day. A day to celebrate all things whisky-related. A day to share a dram with the people around you. We celebrated the day at home. I decided that it a perfect day to celebrate with whisky from around the world.

And not only to drink whisky but also to cook with it.We stared in Scotland with a Smoky Old Tom cocktail made with the Tomintoul 10 yo. The toasted rosemary notes lightly flavoured the cocktail, and it was crisp and refreshing.

The appetizer was an Appenzeller cheese that I paired with the Paul John Classic Cask Select from India. I have to say; this is one of the nicest cheeses to pair with whisky I have tasted in a long time. I will do a blog post on other Appenzeller cheese and whisky pairings soon.

Bain’s whisky chicken marinade 2
The main course was a whisky marinated chicken in tribute to the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, South Africa. And what a highlight!

The chicken was marinated overnight and came so moist and flavoursome. It was the highlight of the day. I had quite a few requests for the Bain’s whisky chicken marinade recipe, so here it is.

Bain’s Whisky Chicken Marinade

  • 1 Whole chicken
Ingredients – Marinade
  • 1 cup Bain’s whisky
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
  • Place brown sugar and Bain’s whisky in a bowl. Mix well.
  • Add remaining ingredients and mix again.
  • Place the whole chicken in a large zip-lock style bag and pour the marinade over. Seal and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.  The longer you leave it, the better it will infuse.  I left it overnight.
  • Turn frequently to ensure every part of the chicken spends time in the marinade.
  • Cook the chicken on the grill, preferably over medium heat.  We hot smoked the chicken with some maple wood chips on our Big Green Egg. This gave it a wonderful smoky addition.

Bain’s whisky chicken marinade 1
I paired the chicken with a glass of Bain’s whisky and some grilled sweet corn and it was perfect.

Also ReadSmoked Leg of Lamb marinated in Black Grouse



My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings
Today I look at my favourite whisky food pairings that I have tried over the last couple of years.  I capture my whisky tastings in a pretty notebook. I love the act of scribbling notes, pictures and drawing emotions on paper.

Sometimes a whisky creates such strong feelings that it is easier to draw an emotive face on paper than to write down the emotion words. Old school, I know. John loves technology, and he captures his thoughts via speech recognition software.

Perhaps I also prefer paper because paper does not complain about my bad spelling. Capturing my thoughts digitally leaves me with many red-underlined miss spelt words that I first need to fix before I can continue. My beautiful book is more forgiving. My shorthand doesn’t need to be spelt correctly.

Yesterday I was paging through my notebook looking at some of the fun combinations I have tried this past couple of years. Some have made it on to the blog; some have a THICK Black line through them as a reminder not to try that specific combination again. Notable failures include various whiskies and Emmenthal cheese, or Monkey Shoulder whisky and milk chocolate.

However, there have been some excellent whisky food pairings. Pairings I whip out time and time again. So I decided to compile my top 5 whisky food pairings that are a staple in my house.




Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Laphroaig Whisky and Stilton Cheese
Laphroaig 10 yo whisky and Stilton cheese pairing whisky food pairings
The Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength is a pretty unique whisky. It is a big whisky in the best Laphroaig tradition. Big peat flavour, followed by smoke, iodine and seaweed. One of the first whisky food pairings I did was pairing the Laphroaig with a Blue Stilton. And not only is it my most read whisky food post, but it one of our favourite pairings to snack on. Rich and filling but not too heavy.

The strong taste of the Stilton complements the smoke and peat of the Laphroaig. It brings out the creamy, buttery flavour of the cheese in a remarkable way. A perfect pairing!

Bourbon and Snickers

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Wild Turkey 101 whisky food pairings with chocolate

Bourbon pairs wonderfully with Snicker Bars! It is one of those pairings that shouts comfort! Like your favourite slippers and gown after a crazy long week. The bourbon balanced out the sugary sweetness of the chocolate and enhanced the peanuts and caramel notes. The caramel enhanced the bourbon vanilla and softened the alcohol notes. It created a match made in chocolate heaven.

Also Read: Tiramisu with Whiskey

Roasted Lamb and Ardbeg 10 Whisky

Whisky and Lamb Pairing Ardbeg 10 yo whisky food pairings
We eat a lot of lamb over weekends. On the braai in summer and warming stews in winter. Weekends are the perfect time to experiment. I have tried this Garlic and Rosemary roasted lamb with various whiskies, but always return to the Ardbeg 10 yo. My tasting notes for the Ardbeg 10 yo included notes of peat and smoke, citrus and hints of vanilla. The Ardbeg 10 yo is a big complex whisky, but not overwhelmingly so.

It has enough peat to be typically Islay, but not so much that it would frighten a non-peat lover. The Ardbeg is robust enough to stand up to the Garlic and Rosemary flavour and the richness of the lamb. The peat and smoke in the Ardbeg enhanced the lamb’s earthiness and made it simply delicious.

Bain’s Whisky and Camembert Cheese

Whisky and Camembert Cheese pairing Bains whisky food pairings
Another whisky cheese pairing I regularly enjoy. I paired the Camembert cheese with various whiskies, but the pairing with the Bains’ whisky remains my favourite. My tasting notes for the Bain’s whisky included sweet hints of toffee, banana and vanilla.

The sweetness and spice of the Bain’s enhanced the earthy notes of the Camembert. The richness of the cheese softens with the Bain’s, and you want to try the Bain’s whisky food pairing again and again.

Coffee Bourbon Ice Cream

National Coffee Ice cream Day with Bourbon Whisky food pairings
Not technically a whisky food pairing, however something I make regularly. I love coffee; I love ice cream. Add some Knob Creek Bourbon, and you have magic. Perfect for a grown-up dessert in summer. Best of all, it is easy to make, without too much fuss.

Use the best quality ice cream you can get your hands on, add some good quality coffee, grab any bourbon that you have. It is as easy as that. Not too many dishes and the grownups will smile.

What is your favourite whisky food pairing?

Also ReadCheckers Private Barrel Co No 68 whisky


Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish 15 yo Whisky header
The year 2016 started with a BANG. I started my tasting year with a distinctive South African whisky. It was the Three Ships PX Cask, the first in their Three Ships whisky Masters Collection. This year, I am fortunate to start on an even bigger BANG. First up is another Three Ships Masters Collection release, the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish whisky.

A 15 year old blend from the beautiful Wellington in the Western Cape. What makes it so very special is the ageing in the Pinotage Casks.

The 15 yo Pinotage Cask Finish is the oldest whisky crafted by Master Distiller Andy Watts. He sought to capture the unique heritage of South Africa in this vibrant, sophisticated and unique whisky.

Andy has been experimenting with ageing whiskies is a variety of casks. During October 2016, at a glittering event, the next unique ‘experiments’ was released. A whisky finished in casks previously used for the maturation of Pinotage – the uniquely South African wine cultivar.




What is Pinotage?

Pinotage is a grape variety that originated in South Africa in 1925 when Abraham Perold combined the best qualities of the robust Hermitage grape with Pinot Noir. This grape makes great wine but it can be challenging to grow. The result was a grape with high sugar levels and more intense ruby colour than the parents.

Recognition for this new grape variety came at the end of the 50s at as a Pinotage was the champion wine at the Cape Wine Show. But by the 70s, it seemed that the Pinotage lost favour and many producers uprooted large areas of well-established Pinotage vines.

A few producers, however, saw the potential of this grape and continued to look for ways to improve the quality of the grape. Their hard work and dedication paid off at the end of the 80s when a Kanonkop Pinotage won a major prize. Pinotage was back on the wine stage. And with all the exciting bottlings that have been coming out, a variety destined to stay on the stage for a long time.

Pinotage is known for red berry, plum, tropical fruit, banana, smoke, earthy and chocolate flavours. Pinotage wine pairs well with roast turkey, salami, dried meat, Spanish or Italian food, aged gouda and cheddar.

Also ReadPrivate Barrel Co James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky Review

Review and Tasting notes Three Ships Pinotage Cask finish 15 yo whisky with glass
The grain and malt portions were first matured separately in American casks before being finished for different periods in eight casks previously used for Pinotage. For this tasting, I was joined on Twitter by talented photographer Nymless.

REGION: World Whisky, South Africa

ABV: 46.2%

COLOUR: Golden blush pink

NOSE: Berries, sweet caramel, fresh fruits, vanilla, oak, butterscotch, strawberry jam and grapes. The nose is rich and complex.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has pepper, toffee, creme brûlee and hints of toasted oak. Water releases complexity and richness. The fruity nose becomes defined fruits.

Apples, bananas and berries mixed with a cereal maltiness. Honey sweetness balanced with cinnamon and vanilla.  Little hints of pepper for bite. Floral sweetness. The Three Ships Pinotage Cask has a HUGE personality.

FINISH: Long and lingering with sweet, fruity notes, cinnamon. Leaves you wanting more!

RATING: DIVINE  

It was unanimous. All 3 people across the country gave it the same score.

Wonderfully delicious! A true piece of South African history. I love the Three Ships brand, team and whisky.

Because I know the people that make this whisky, I run the risk of making an emotional rating. I want to keep my ratings as objective and as sensible as possible. Without me  knowing it, a few weeks before this tasting, I made the same call on a blind tasting of the Pinotage Cask.

We were playing Monopoly with our 5-year-old daughter. It was a rainy afternoon, and I asked John to pour me something aged in sherry. He came back with a glass and handed it to me. I tasted and realised it was not a sherry cask.

But I was unsure what whisky he poured me. John knew that we were tasting the Pinotage Cask a week later, so I was not expecting him to open that. He asked what I thought of the whisky and it inadvertently became a blind tasting. I immediately rated it, Divine. So no, the Divine rating is not exaggerated  or an emotional rating. It is an exceptional whisky. A HUGE whisky to start 2017 with,

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky and Food

If you like drinking pinotage, this is a whisky that you will enjoy. It has the same fruity, earthy notes of a great pinotage, but with the rich malty cereal whisky notes.

I preferred the Pinotage Cask Finish with a few drops of water to release more of the fruity tones. It will pair well with foods such as cured meats, a great cheddar and a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese.

During 2021 the James Sedgwick distillery released a grain whisky finished in a red wine cask, the Bain’s Shiraz Cask Finish  whisky.

Also Read: Three Ships 6 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company



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