Tag: Highland Whisky Page 10 of 13

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky from the Highland Region in Scotland. Highland single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies produced in the Highland region of Scotland. This category includes the whiskies produced on the islands around Scotland. However it excludes Islay.

The Macallan 15 Year Old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/16/2016

In Single Malt whisky

A lot has been written about the Macallan distillery and brand. Some people love it; some people hate it. Many stories about it exist; some true, some not quite. It often makes the ‘Most Expensive whisky’ lists.

If anything, it is a polarizing whisky and distillery. John loves it. I find it pretentious and old-fashioned. Regardless of my personal view, let’s try the Macallan 15 year old Fine Oak single malt Scotch whisky.

Macallan started life as Elchies Distillery. The name changed, and it expanded as the demand for the product soared. Over time, the Macallan had become very sought after. The Macallan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group.

Related Article: The Glenlivet 18 yo whisky

Regardless of all the controversy surrounding the brand, Macallan is situated in a beautiful part of Scotland. Next to the River Spey on the Macallan Estate, it is not too far from Glenrothes.

The Macallan 15 year old whisky has been discontinued. Initially, the Macallan was matured only in oak sherry casks. The ‘Fine Oak’ series was launched in 2004. Whisky from this series was aged in bourbon oak casks as well as sherry ones. I have had it for quite a while; I just never to around to writing about it.

Macallan 15 year old Fine Oak Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: It is a beautiful golden colour. A rich straw.

NOSE: Oak and orange blossom sweetness. It is rich and rewarding and invites you to dive in. There are faint hints of orange peel and honey.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has notes of florals, barley, vanilla sweetness mixed with some pepper spice and nutmeg. Adding water smooths out the spiciness, but takes away some of the sweetness. Faint hints of orange blossom and fruit float about. I was expecting a lot more bourbon notes on the palate, but the bourbon notes are a very faint part of the vanilla sweetness.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of oak, orange and spice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This 15 year old Highland whisky is not the most complex of drams. I was expecting a bit more of the bourbon complexity to come through on the palate. But it is a great all-round, well-balanced, smooth whisky. One of the few Macallan whiskies that I actually like. Yes, this one is worth the hype!

I paired this Macallan release with some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries. I have also captured tasting notes for the Macallan 10 year old whisky as well as The Macallan 12 year old whisky. See what I think about these releases.

This is a fun whisky to play around with and I have done a side by side comparison between the Macallan and the Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky. Go and take a look at how they differ.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/02/2016

In Single Malt whisky

One of the more dusty bottles in my collection is the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve single malt Scotch whisky. This Dalmore whisky bottle has been part of my whisky collection at least nine years, and I have barely touched it.

Dalmore is located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, part of the Scottish Highlands. Alexander Matheson founded Dalmore distillery in 1839. After building Dalmore and running it for 28 years, he decided in 1867 it was time to pass on the distillery to new owners. Andrew and Charles Mackenzie stepped forward.

They brought with them the iconic 12-pointed Royal Stag emblem, which has adorned every bottle of The Dalmore since. Dalmore now stands as Whyte and Mackay’s largest distillery as well as being the flagship for the brand.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve whisky was discontinued in mid-2009, causing an uproar among its fans. It was brought back in this new format.

The whiskies that make up the reworked Cigar Malt release are slightly older. The percentage of sherry wood is higher. The Dalmore is initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks and 30 yo Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts; it is then finished in Premier Cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels.

Related Article: Glenlivet 15yo whisky

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 44%

COLOUR: A dark copper.

NOSE: The name implies smoky cigar notes, and that is the first impression when you get nosing this whisky. Elements of the tobacco mixed with sherry sweetness and juicy raisins. There are faint hints of malt and leather.

PALATE: This malt lives up to its name again. It’s very spicy, with bitter citrus. My first impression on tasting the Dalmore Cigar Malt, without water, reminds me of the smell of overflowing ashtrays in a closed room.

There are some bitter notes and something a bit like old cigarette smoke. Adding water softens the slight alcohol bite. Water also brings out more sherry sweetness and hints of orange and ripe cherries. It is not a complex whisky.

FINISH: The Cigar Malt Reserve whisky has a medium body and finishes in notes of cigarette smoke bitterness.

RATING: GOOD

The whisky lives up to its name. It tells you it is going to deliver cigar/cigarette smoke. And it does just that. If you like an old smoke lounge, you will probably love this dram. I’m not too fond of old cigar smoke. The spice and smoke overwhelmed all the other notes. A bit one sided.

It has put me off trying anything else from Dalmore; which might be a shame. Any suggestions for a Dalmore worth trying?

Also Read: The Balvenie GoldenCask whisky

Highland Queen Majesty Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/23/2015

In Single Malt whisky

I had to pick up a gift in Pretoria the other day, and as I was a bit early, I stopped at the closest shopping centre for a cup of coffee. While strolling around looking for the best coffee place, I walked into a Checkers Liquor store, and much to my surprise, saw a bottle of single malt that I have not noticed before.

It was a Highland Queen Majesty single malt Scotch whisky, and it retailed for around R200. In South Africa, most single malts retail for slightly more. So finding an affordable single malt was very interesting. After a few Twitter conversations about this brand, I went back and grabbed a bottle.

The Highland Queen Scotch Whisky Company produces and distributes whisky and operates as a subsidiary of Picard Vins & Spiritueux S.A. Picard also owns Tullibardine. I tasted both the Tullibardine 1993 Vintage and the
Tullibardine Sauternes Cask whisky a while ago and loved it.

In 1893, Roderick Macdonald decided to set up his own business. He had previously worked as an apprentice in the Scotch whisky trade, and his dream was to become a whisky blender. The company was known as Macdonald & Muir Ltd.

Macdonald named his whisky the Highland Queen. This name originates from the connection to the port of Leith and the original production site of Macdonald & Muir. I see that Master of Malt has quite a variety of releases from this company.

It was close to the spot where Mary Stuart made a triumphal return from France. She was later to be crowned Queen of Scots, creating one of Scotland’s most famous legends. Macdonald & Muir acquired the Glenmorangie Distillery in 1918 to supply the whisky for the base of his famous Highland Queen blend. Picard’s bought the Highland Queen and Muirhead’s brands from Glenmorangie Plc in 2008.

Also Read: The Chita Suntory Whisky

Highland Queen Majesty Whisky Review

The Highland Queen Majesty single malt Scotch whisky does not have an age statement. There is also no distillery mentioned. The Highland Queen Majesty was aged in oak casks.

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat.

NOSE: Fresh tropical fruit notes intertwined with oak and hints of spice. There are traces of vanilla and cereal.

PALATE: Notes of tropical fruit, oak and muscovado sweetness. There are faint hints of coffee, vanilla custard and toffee. The Highland Queen Majesty is not a complex dram. Adding water releases more oak and softens the sweetness. There are plenty of spicy notes, including pepper and nutmeg.

FINISH: Medium length and end in spicy notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is an affordable, easy-drinking whisky. Nothing that is going to blow you away, but decent enough. The Highland Queen should work great in cocktails. Also, the spiciness of the whisky allows it to pair quite nicely with a piece of mature cheddar cheese. It is robust enough to stand up to the richness of the cheese.

Have you tried this Highland Queen release? I found the Highland Queen whisky release in the USA, as well.

Also Read: Teerenpeli Whisky

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/12/2015

In Single Malt whisky

I love innovative cask finishes, and today I try the Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish single malt Scotch whisky. The history of Tullibardine has been linked to brewing and distilling for hundreds of years.

The distillery is in Blackford, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Rumour has it that in 1488, the young King James 4th of Scotland stopped here on his way to his coronation.

The story goes that he purchased some beer from the brewery. Some years later, the King granted the brewery a royal decree. During the 1940s, the architect William Delmé-Evans noticed the brewery and converted it into a distillery.

They reopened the modern Tullibardine whisky distillery in 1947 and spirit ran from the stills two years later. The distillery changed owners a few times and was mothballed again in 1995.

Also Read: Amrut whisky

In 2003, the owners sold it to Tullibardine Distillery Ltd for £1.1 million, and production resumed during December 2003. In 2011, they sold the distillery to the French firm Picard Vins & Spiritueux. Other brands in their portfolio include Muirhead and Highland Queen whisky.

The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish whisky was finished in Chateau Suduiraut Casks which previously held Sauternes dessert wine. The Sauternes cask is 225 litres in size, and that is where the name originates.

Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Bordeaux district. It is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by noble rot. The noble rot causes the grapes to become partially raisin-ed, resulting in a distinctively flavoured wine.

Sauternes wine flavours are characterized by the balance of sweetness with the zest of acidity. Some typical flavour notes include apricots, honey, peaches but with a nutty note. It will be interesting to see how all of this translated into the whisky.

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV : 43%.

COLOUR: Light golden-yellow.

NOSE: Notes of fruity sweetness, sultana jam and condensed milk. There are hints of vanilla with spicy sweetness. The nose is light and fresh.

PALATE: On the palate, the Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish is surprisingly spicy with hints of citrus and oak. The peppery sweetness mixes with winter spice such as nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Notes of condensed milk float around. Adding a bit of water smooths out the spices and releases more of the sweeter fruity notes.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of spicy sweetness and orange peel.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Looking at the flavour notes of a Sauternes wine, I was expecting a sweeter dram. But the spicy fruitiness of the Tullibardine 225 was a refreshing surprise. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes cask finish single malt also received a 90.5 rating in the Whisky Bible.

Best of all, this affordable whisky is available in South Africa. It retails for around R650. I need to explore more from this distillery. Perhaps I can try the Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Finish next.

Also Read: Glen Scotia Dunnage whisky

Highland Whisky and Gouda Cheese with Cumin Pairing

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/15/2015

In Whisky & Cheese

Whisky and Gouda cheese pairing
About two weeks ago, I blogged about a mature Gouda and Highland whisky pairing. I tried the mature Gouda cheese with various Highland whiskies as well as with a Dutch whisky. The 8 year old Millstone French Oak whisky was a great companion to the mature Gouda.

To my surprise, the Tomatin 12 year old single malt whisky also made a good pairing. Besides the mature Gouda, I also picked up a Gouda with cumin cheese from the Gestam range at Checkers Cheese World. I wanted to try a whisky and Gouda cheese with cumin pairing.

Also Read: Pairing bourbon and cheese

I decided to try the Gouda with cumin cheese with the same Highland whiskies to see if the results would be similar. The Gouda with cumin is a young cheese only aged for about four weeks and flavoured with whole cumin seeds.

This Gouda cheese had a rich butter taste spiced with whole cumin seeds. Cumin adds an earthy and warming feeling and has a nutty flavour. As this Gouda was not aged, it did not have the small crystals and stronger aroma that the mature Gouda had.

Millstone French Oak Whisky and Gouda with Cumin Cheese

Millstone French Oak Whisky & Gouda cheese with Cumin Pairing Whisky and Gouda
First, I tried it with the Millstone French Oak whisky. My tasting notes included woody spices with subtle notes of fresh flowers, hints of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and barley. There was some biscuit sweetness in the background. This Dutch whisky and Gouda with cumin pairing was wonderful.

The Gouda cheese made the Millstone whisky sweeter, and the whisky sweetness balanced the spicy cumin. The 8 yo made the Gouda creamy smooth, and it was a great pairing. I gave this Millstone French Oak whisky and Gouda pairing a RATING: 4/5.

Macallan 15 yo Whisky and Gouda Cheese with Cumin

Macallan 15 yo Whisky & Gouda with Cumin cheese Pairing Whisky and Gouda
Next up was the Macallan 15 year old whisky. My tasting notes for the Macallan included notes of oak, rich fruit, floral notes, vanilla sweetness and a medium finish. The Macallan 15 single malt Scotch has a nice body, and I gave it a Rating: Excellent. When I tried it with the mature Gouda, it was not the best pairing.

However, this Macallan 15 yo whisky and Gouda cheese with cumin pairing worked wonderfully. The spices and the creaminess in the younger Gouda cheese brought out more oak and fruity notes in the whisky. The Macallan whisky enriched the Gouda and made it even more creamy and delicious. I gave this whisky and Gouda cheese pairing a RATING: 4/5.

What did not work

I also tried the Gouda with cumin pairing with the Tomatin 12 year old whisky. The Tomatin worked magic with the more mature Gouda, but with the younger cheese, it was nothing spectacular. I gave it a Rating: 3/5.

I tried the Gouda with Cumin with the Highland Park 18 year old and the Glendronach 16 year old. This pairing did not work at all. I gave it a Rating: 1/5. You tasted whisky; you tasted cheese; there was no interaction or enriching of the whisky and Gouda.

It was interesting to try both the mature and the younger Gouda cheese with the Highland whiskies. The combinations gave me wonderful inspiration for a cheeseboard.

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