Whisky of the Week

Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Tag: Heineken Beverages Page 6 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 Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky

By

On 01/16/2017

In Blended 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 Read: Private 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



Top 5 Single Malt under R750

By

On 12/07/2016

In Lifestyle

top 5 single malts 2016 edition-under-r750
Following my post last week on the ‘Top 5 Blends under R600’, I have worked hard to define my Top 5 Single Malt under R750. I have tasted a considerable variety of whiskies to sort the good from the bad, the cheap from the tasty.

Keeping it under R650 for the single malts have become impossible. With the decline in the currency and the general increase in single malt prices, I had to lift the price point to around R750.

But fear not, there are many delicious single malts at this price point. So, are you looking for a gift for your boss? You want to impress someone but not break the bank? Look no further, to my Top 5 Single Malt under R750 Edition. All available in South Africa.

Also Read: Gin and Olives Pairing

Top 5 Single Malt under R750

1. Glen Grant The Major’s Reserve Whisky

Glen Grant Major's Reserve Single Malt Whisky header
First up on the Top 5 Single Malt underR750 Edition: What a stunning dram! It is under R500 and delicious. One of the bottles I replace regularly. The Glen Grant Major’s Reserve is rich with spice, banana, green mango and pears. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg perfectly balanced with malt, toffee and hints of oak.

2. Glen Moray Elgin Classic Whisky

Glen Moray Elgin Classic Whisky header
I got this Speyside staple from my brother in law, and his taste in whisky impressed me. An excellent buy for a whisky lover. The Glen Moray is delicate with hints of malty sweetness, vanilla and oak floating about.

Fresh cut flowers, grass and green apples mixed with whispers of condensed milk and cinnamon biscuits. The Glen Moray has the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. It is a very easy drinking dram. The sense of lightness remains the whole way through.

3. Laphroaig Quarter Cask Whisky

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Single Malt Whisky header
This classic Islay dram squeezes into the list on the price point. But it has to be here! It is a delicious classic that is perfect for any peat lover. For me, the Quarter Cask epitomizes the Laphroaig style. Burnt peat, seaweed and iodine mixed with mild smoke and a surprising hint of spicy sweetness.

In the background lurk some oak, liquorice and fruity notes. The palate feels rich and thick, befitting a proper Islay whisky. The addition of water makes the Laphroaig Quarter Cask smoother and softens the medicinal notes. Big and bold!

4. Three Ships 10 yo Whisky

Three Ships 10 yo 2005 Vintage Whisky header
So glad I can add this exceptional Vintage to my list this year! Released earlier in 2016 and available for under R750, this South African dram is a MUST for whisky aficionados!
The Three Ships 10 yo Vintage edition has notes of malt, fruitiness, spices and fresh with hints of honey and butterscotch. Once you add water, peat and smoke are released, and the earthy character of this proudly South African dram comes through.

The Three Ships 10 yo has a beautiful body and is a nice big mouthful. Even without water, this is wonderfully smooth. The addition of water transforms the whisky. Water releases all the peaty earthy notes. But the peat is smooth, rich and not overwhelming. Perfect for someone who wants to expand his or her whisky tasting experience.

5. Checkers Private Barrel Co No 41 Whisky

Checkers Private Barrel Co. Barrel No 41 Single Malt whisky
Last but not least on my Top 5 Single Malts 2016 list, the Checkers Private Barrel Co No 41. This “Odd Bins” release from Checkers does not have a distillery name but comes in at a very affordable price. It is a 12 yo and has a fantastic taste for the price.

There’s a lot of toffee sweetness with a bit of spice. The Private Barrel Co No 41 is bursting with fruity flavour mixed with creamy, buttery fudge, toffee sweetness and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

The addition of water certainly brings out a lot more smoothness and brings some floral notes to the front. The strong point of this dram is the finish. It is probably one of the longest finishes that I have “tasted” in a long time. The addition of water seems to improve the finish.

Also Read: Laphroaig 10 vs Quarter Cask Whisky



Three Ships 5 year old Whisky

By

On 11/14/2016

In Blended whisky

Three Ships 5 yo Premium Select Whisky header
Many years ago, I was travelling through Ireland. It is a beautiful green country with great beer and of course, Jameson’s Irish whiskey. In Dublin, I visited the Jameson’s distillery visitors centre.

It was a remarkable experience. The visitors’ centre in Dublin showcased  the art of whisky-making and the passion that goes into creating a brand like Jameson’s.

Fast-forward a couple of years to 2016. The James Sedgwick’s distillery in Wellington becomes the first (and only) commercial whisky  distillery on the African continent to open a visitor centre.

After many years of asking, the Distell whisky powers approved the concept. What an excellent way to experience this award-winning South African whiskies. Now you can see the whisky passion for yourself! So, in celebration of this special occasion, I try the Three Ships 5 year old blended whisky.

The James Sedgwick Distillery Tour

The beautiful town of Wellington has become one of the top places to visit while  in Cape Town. Everyone can now experience first-hand how whisky is made and see the passion and people behind the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky brands. The distillery and visitor centre is beautiful.

There are sweeping views of the Hawekwa and Groenberg Mountains that surround the town. We were fortunate to visit the distillery a couple of years ago.

Three Ships Premium Select 5 yo Blended whisky james-sedgwick-distillery-lr


Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

The tastings and tours are limited to 10 people at a time to ensure a personal experience. Tours are undertaken on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 am and again at 2 pm. Visitors can come to understand the art of whisky-making, learn about the rich history of the distillery and taste some of the world’s best whiskies.

The tour starts with a whisky-cocktail followed by an informative video. Then follows an on-foot tour of the distillery to see first-hand how the whiskies are made. It covers all the various stages from raw material to distillation to maturation.

The tour concludes with the best bit, a tasting of three whiskies paired with five sample dishes, allowing  guests to explore how the flavours of certain dishes complement the aromas found  within a particular whisky The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select pairs wonderfully with mature cheddar and I have paired it with a Blue Rock Cheese.

Three Ships Premium Select 5 yo Blended whisky james-sedgwick-distillery-lr

Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery

Another exciting feature is the small micro-distillery. Visitors get the opportunity  to create their own blend. An amazing experience! You can blend your version of a Three Ships whisky.

However, if you don’t get the opportunity to visit Wellington, it is just as easy to head over to your local liquor shop and grab yourself a bottle of Three Ships and enjoy a little bit  of Wellington heaven. It is an affordable whisky. The price for the Three Ships 5 year old whisky in South Africa is around R 200.

Also Read:  How to make a whisky bottle lamp

Three Ships 5 year old Whisky Review

Review and Tastig notes for the Three Ships 5 yo Premium Select with glass
The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select whisky launched in 1991. This whisky is a blend of specifically selected grain and malt whiskies that have been aged for a minimum of five years.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Orange golden sunrise

NOSE: Rich notes of oak, peaty smoke mixed with hints of fruit, vanilla sweetness, freshly baked sugar biscuits and malt.

PALATE: The peaty smoke from the nose is balanced out by a fruity sweetness and robust maltiness. Hints of pear, citrus mixed with cinnamon spice intertwined with nutty fruitcake, cherries and ginger.  Bold and robust, water smooths out the Three Ships 5 yo to make it even easier drinking.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in peaty fruit and spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The versatile Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select blended whisky is the perfect dram to have with cheese! All kinds of cheese. And food. And BBQ. You get my drift. It is the ideal accompaniment to food. If you buy only one bottle of whisky a year; this should be it!

If you are fortunate to visit Cape Town and have some time, do visit the distillery. The tours and tastings are for over 18’s only. It is essential to book in advance at Ticketweb.

Also Read: Nikka Miyagikyo whisky



The Don Pedro Cocktail

By

On 10/06/2016

In Cocktails

Don Andy Don Pedro with Three Ships 5 yo
It was a special treat to go out for dinner as a student. If you still had enough money left over at the end of the meal, the dessert choice was always a Don Pedro. I assumed that Don Pedro is a standard dessert throughout the world. It is only when I started travelling abroad that I realized, it is not known outside of our beautiful country.

Asking for a Don Pedro in Amsterdam was met with much bewilderment. I tried again in Paris in broken French and sign language, and my request was met with frowns and growls. I did not even try when I arrived in Moscow. To me, whisky and ice cream was a natural fit. For the rest of the world, apparently no quite.<

For my non-South African readers, a Don Pedro is not something your uncle Pedro is famous for. It is an adult milkshake. Vanilla milkshake with a tot (or 2) of whisky or liqueur.

Like milkshake, you sip it with a straw. I am not sure if it is more a cocktail or a dessert, but I know one thing; it is tasty!

What is a Don Pedro?

According to Eat Out, the first Don Pedro was made by Danny Ferris at Belinzona in Blouberg, Cape Town in the 1970s. The basic ingredients are always some vanilla ice cream, cream or milk and some liqueur. Many restaurants have their own version of the classic and name them based on the liqueur used.

A popular option is to use Amarula cream liqueur (a very popular South African marula fruit flavoured liqueur) or Frangelico or even a Bailey’s Irish cream.

At a fancy restaurant, you might not find it on the menu, but a good South African barman should have no trouble in whipping you up a tasty Don Pedro without looking for his cocktail book.

Don Andy Don Pedro with Three Ships 5 yo

In honour of this truly South African dessert, here is a simple recipe for Don Pedro. Keeping with the South African theme, I made it with some Three Ships Premium Select 5 yo. I specially chose this peaty expression as the peat adds a different dimension to the Classic Don Pedro.

Because this whisky is made by the well-known Master Distiller Andy Watts, I have dubbed my expression, Don Andy. He released the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish whisky and has become a South African whisky legend over the last couple of years

Don Andy Don Pedro with Three Ships 5 yo

Also Read: Three Ships 10 yo Vintage Single malt

Don Andy with Three Ships 5 yo

Ingredients

Serves 2

  • 6 scoops of vanilla ice crea
  • 60 ml peated whisky (I used the Three Ships 5 year old whisky)
  • 50 ml cream or milk
  • grated dark chocolate
  • 2 cherries

Method

  • Pour the first 3 ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.  Or use a stick blender and wiz away.
  • Pour the mixture into 2 glasses.
  • Top with a cherry and grated dark chocolate.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy.

Note: You can replace the Three Ships 5 year old with any whisky (or liqueur for that matter) of your choice. A peated whisky adds an interesting dimension to the drink; I recommend that you try it. It is delicious.

Also Read: Nectarine Bourbon Smash Cocktail




Three Ships 10 year old 2005 Vintage Whisky

By

On 09/26/2016

In Single Malt whisky

Three Ships 10 yo 2005 Vintage Whisky header
This weekend was Heritage Day and I am sipping on a proudly South African whisky; the Three Ships 10 year old 2005 Vintage single malt whisky. A public holiday in South Africa celebrated on the 24th of September.

On this day, all the people of our beautiful country are encouraged to celebrate their different cultures and traditions. Before 1995, Kwa-Zulu Natal observed 24 September as King Shaka Day.

Shaka was a Zulu King who played an important role in uniting Zulu clans into a cohesive nation. However, when the Public Holidays Bill was presented to the new democratic Parliament of South Africa in 1994, it did not have 24 September included on the list of proposed public holidays.

As a result of this exclusion, the Inkatha Freedom Party, a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill. Parliament and the IFP reached a compromise and Heritage Day was established.

Heritage Day was informally renamed as National Braai Day in 2007. It is in recognition of the South African culinary tradition of holding informal backyard barbecues or braais.

Heritage Day recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. What better way to celebrate this amazing nation than with a proudly South African whisky – the Three Ships 10 year old 2005 Vintage single malt whisky.

Review and tasting notes Heritage Day Three Ships 10 yo single malt whisky

The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington was the first whisky distillery in South Africa to produce Single Malt. Their first Three Ships 10 year old single malt was released in 2003 and 3 times after that in 2010, 2011 and 2012. This year marks the first release of the single malt as a vintage.

Three Ships and Andy Watts

Up to the middle of 2016, Andy Watts was the Master Distiller at JSD. He handed the baton over to Jeff Green, but not before leaving behind a magnitude of experimental cask finishes, single malts and blend expressions.

The Three Ships PX Cask Finish  was the first of these cask finishes to be released at the end of 2015. The James Sedgwick Distillery followed this with the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish whisky, and during 2018, they released the Three Ships 8 yo Oloroso Cask Finish whisky. I can’t wait to see what James Sedgwick Distillery has planned for us during 2019. (updated info 2019)

But for now, let’s focus on the new Three Ships 10 year old 2005 Vintage whisky. It was created using heavily peated barley and aged for 10 years in older American Oak casks.

I invited a Twitter friend to join us for this tasting as well. He tasted this dram for the first time on Friday afternoon. The Three Ships 10 year old price here in South Africa is around R560 per bottle.

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

Three Ships 10 year old 2005 Vintage Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Three Ships 10 yo single malt whisky with glass
COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV:  44.6%.

COLOUR: Beautiful gold with faint hints of green.

NOSE: There are elements of malt, fruitiness, spices and fresh fruit and in the background hints of honey and butterscotch. After the Three Ships 10 yo has breathed a bit, notes of grain come through. Once you add water, peat and smoke are released, and the earthy character of this proudly South African dram comes through.

PALATE: There are notes of oak and spice  with hints of peat.  Tiaan picked up bits of dark chocolate. The Three Ships 10 yo has a wonderful body and is a nice big mouthful. Even without water, this is wonderfully smooth. The addition of water transforms the whisky and releases all the peaty earthy notes. But the peat is velvety rich and not overwhelming. Perfect for someone who wants to expand their whisky tasting experience.

FINISH: Without the addition of water this Three Ships 10 yo 2005 Vintage whisky has a wonderfully long complex, quite a bold, finish. The addition of water mellows the finish but helps more of the sweet toffee notes appear.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Three Ships 10 yo is bigger, bolder and peatier than the previous 10 yo release. Moving towards an Islay style of whisky. It is a dram worth defining a legacy by. Well done Andy. In the end, Tiaan said it best!
Eritage Day Three Ships 10 yo single malt whisky
I finished this bottle some time ago but did not want to put it into the recycling bin. So it stood, all empty, in my whisky room. Good thing that I kept it because I had the opportunity to make a whisky bottle lamp and this was the perfect bottle to do it with. See how I did it in the post on whisky bottle lamp.

Also Read: Top 5 Single Malts


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