Tag: Highland Whisky Page 8 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.

Balblair 2003 Vintage Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/12/2018

In Single Malt whisky

Another of the miniature bottles I found while cleaning up my whisky storage area; the Balblair 2003 Vintage single malt Scotch whisky. This little bottle was leftover from a Balblair Twitter tasting a couple of years ago.

The Balblair distillery was founded in 1790 by John Ross. The distillery was in the Ross family for three generations, and the business was passed down from grandfather to father and son.

The opening of the railway near the distillery, it made shipping their whisky to England and the world more accessible for the Ross family. In 1895 the distillery moved even closer to the railway line and had a refurbishment where all the equipment was replaced by the latest technology.

However, the original water source, the Ault Dearg burn, that was used during the early years was deemed so significant that Balblair distillery still makes use of it. The distillery changed hands a few times and in 1996 Balblair Distillery was purchased by Inver House Distillers Limited.

Other distilleries owned by Inver House include the Speyburn, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and the Balmenach Distillery, as well as the Hankey Bannister and Catto’s blended whisky brands, are part of their portfolio.

The Balblair 2003 single malt was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2015. The release was matured in second fill bourbon casks. The price for the Balblair 2003 whisky is around R 650 in South Africa.

Also Read: Toor Whisky

Balblair 2003 Vintage Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Quite light golden amber

NOSE: Notes of freshly cut oak, vanilla, spring flowers, fruit sweetness and a bold maltiness with hints of honey and spices.

PALATE: Peppery spice and orange blossoms, fresh mint, oak with faint hints of caramel. The 2003 single malt is creamy and smooth. With water, there is more honey sweetness. Faint hints of chocolate cherries in the background.

FINISH: Spicy with a bit of pepper and oranges

RATING: EXCELLENT

A delicious dram. Not heavy or intense, but with enough character to make you sit up and take notice. This dram is the perfect pre-dinner drink. It has a bit of alcohol heat that water tones down, but be careful when adding water. You need to add only a few drops of water to soften the dram.

Balblair whisky is bottled in vintage-looking bottles that stand out in my collection. The bottles don’t have age statements but indicate the year that the spirits were distilled on the label.

Not too many of the older bottlings are still available in SA, but I notice that WhiskyBrother Shop still has a Balblair 1989 as well as some Balblair 2003 available.

The current bottling out at the Distillery is the Balblair 2005. During 2019 the distillery started releasing age statement whiskies starting with a Balblair 12 yo and going up to a 25 yo whisky. The range also includes a Balblair 17 yo whisky that is only available in travel retail.

Also Read: Dalmore Cigar Malt whisky

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/17/2018

In Single Malt whisky

A couple of months ago a beautiful press drop arrived. It was the Glenmorangie Spios whisky, the 10^th release from the Glenmorangie Private Collection series.

While doing research on the Private Collection and the Spios whisky, I realized that I have another bottle from the series, one of the first Private Collection releases to come out. It is the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX single malt Scotch whisky.

Background and history of the Glenmorangie were covered in the Glenmorangie 18 yo whisky and the Glenmorangie Lasanta posts, and you can read all about it in these posts.

With its Private Collection series, in particular, Glenmorangie can explore the possibilities present in whisky production. The Glenmorangie Director of Distilling, Dr Bill Lumsden, travels across the world to find and experiment with different casks, grains, and flavours.

Also Read: Balvenie Portwood whisky

Released in 2009, Sonnalta translates to “Liberal” in Gaelic. This name honours the generous amount of time that the whisky spent in Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks. This gives the Sonnalta PX a significant sherry influence.

The Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX single malt spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks and was then transferred into Spanish ex-Pedro Ximénez casks for its final two years of extra-maturation. Pedro Ximénez Sherry is traditionally known for its very sweet taste with notes of candied fig and dates.

The Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX whisky is a limited release and not available any more.

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX Whisky Review

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REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark gold with red hints

NOSE: You can’t mistake the sherry influence on the nose. The sweetness of sun-dried raisins, hints of oak, vanilla, fruits and spices. Rich and complex, it promises much.

PALATE: The sweetness continues on the palate, but it is nicely balanced with hints of pepper and vanilla spice, red berry fruit with green floral notes, nutty creaminess and toffee. Hints of malty goodness and dark chocolate. Adding water softens the spice and make the Sonnalta very drinkable. It has a medium body and mouthfeel.

FINISH: Long and lingering with sweet notes

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Sonnalta is a lovely dram. Delicious and easy drinking, but I was hoping for a bit more. After 2 years in PX casks, I was expecting more of the sherry richness to come through. A great release, but comparing it to a few other PX releases, such as the Three Ships PX Cask, it lacked the last bit of sherry boldness and depth.

I have paired the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX with some Wensleydale cheese over here, and it was delicious! It made for a wonderful whisky cheese pairing.

Also Read: The Glenlivet Alpha Whisky

Glenmorangie Spios Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/07/2018

In Single Malt whisky

About two weeks ago, a beautiful press drop arrived at my office. It was an embossed box with golden writing. The box contained a generous sample of the new Glenmorangie Spios Highland single malt Scotch whisky and a Glenmorangie glass. What a treat! Spios is the 9th release in the Glenmorangie’s highly rated Private Edition Series.

Other releases in this series included the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX, Glenmorangie Milsean and the Glenmorangie Bacalta whisky. The Glenmorangie’s Private Edition range is a special once-off and limited release that comes out every year.

The goal of the Private Edition Series is to showcase a new interpretation on the Glenmorangie flavour profile. Glenmorangie, together with Ardbeg, is part of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group.

Spios is Glenmorangie’s first single malt whisky fully matured in American ex-rye whiskey casks. Spios is the Gaelic word for “spice”. Even though this is a NAS release, according to a few hints dropped during the release presentation, it was aged for around 10 years in casks that previously held American rye whiskey.

I have written about rye whisky before when I looked at the Rittenhouse Rye and the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye whisky. Rye whisky had it’s (first) heyday during the early 20th century when it was served in the USA’s most prestigious salons. Rye whiskeys’ distinctive and spicy notes inspired classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan.

Over time, rye whiskey slipped into obscurity, where it would remain until about 10 years ago. A rye whisk revival is bringing more and more rye releases to market as consumers are looking for new flavour profiles.

Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, chose the American rye casks to complement the distinctive Highland Glenmorangie style.

Also Read: The Balvenie Single Barrel whisky

Glenmorangie Spios Whisky

American rye whiskey is distilled from grain which must be at least 51 per cent rye and is matured in new, charred oak barrels only. The Glenmorangie Spios single malt is not chill-filtered.

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Golden Wheat

NOSE: Freshly baked hot cross buns with honey, fresh fruit salad, meadow flowers and herbs with only the faintest hints of spices.

PALATE: The first sip brings the rye spices. Cinnamon, cloves, black pepper comes through, and then comes toffee sweetness and fresh fruit. There is a hint of toasted marshmallows. The spices are bold, but not overwhelming. It is wonderfully balanced with sweetness and complements the Glenmorangie fruitiness perfectly. The Spios has a medium body and is quite oily in the glass.

FINISH: Long and lingering with hints of spice, sweetness and liquorice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I think that this was a very successful experiment. The Glenmorangie Spios Scotch whisky is delicious and inviting. Not too sweet and not too spicy. It will be a fantastic warming dram in winter. It is easy-drinking, and it is suggested that you try this Glenmorangie Spios with a bar of chilli-infused dark chocolate. The Glenmorangie Spios is now available in SA and cost around R1 225.

I have tasted and captured my tasting notes for the Glenmorangie 18 yo and the Glenmorangie Lasanta over here.

Sample disclosure: I received this sample from Glenmorangie. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my honest, fair and independent thoughts of the whisky.

Also Read: Dalmore Cigar Malt whisky

Glenmorangie The Lasanta Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/27/2017

In Single Malt whisky

This is one of the bottles that started my whisky collection before I even realized I was collecting whisky. I tasted the Glenmorangie Lasanta single malt Scotch whisky at my favourite restaurant and loved it. John brought a bottle home soon after to remind us of a great evening.

The Glenmorangie distillery was established in 1843, by brothers William and John Mathesen. This distillery is well known to be one of the first distilleries to experiment successfully with wood finishes. Glenmorangie Lasanta together with Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’Or make up the Glenmorangie ‘Cask Finish’ series.

These expressions start from a similar maturation background – 10 years in white oak ex-Bourbon casks. What makes them different is the additional 2 years spend in “finishing” casks. Glenmorangie Nectar D’or is finished in Ex-Sauternes Casks while the Quinta Ruban uses ex-Port barrels.

Glenmorangie Lasanta single malt spends the final 2 years in ex Olorosso and PX (Pedro Ximenez) sherry casks. According to Glenmorangie, the word ‘Lasanta’ means “warmth and passion” in Gaelic.

I have an older bottling still bottled at 46%. The ABV of newer bottlings is 43%. Glenmorangie, like Ardbeg, is owned by luxury giant LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy). It is an affordable release retailing at around R600. I see that the Glenmorangie Lasanta retails for approximately £40 at Master of Malt.

Also Read: The Macallan 12 yo whisky

Glenmorangie The Lasanta Whisky

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Warm gold

NOSE: Sherry, dried apricots, apples and peaches, warming oaky spiciness with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and honey sweetness.

PALATE: Warming and spicy with notes of sherry sweetness, pepper, raisins, dried lemon slices in dark chocolate and a caramels sweetness. Without water, the Glenmorangie Lasanta has a bit of alcohol heat that is tempered when a few drops of water is added. Water makes this release very easy drinking.

FINISH: Medium length with lemon and warming black pepper balanced with hints of caramel.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is a lovely easy-drinking dram that is perfect for winter. It warms you from the inside out. The only problem of drinking it today, here in the Southern Hemisphere, is it is a scorching hot summers day.

I should have scheduled this dram for winter when it is cooler. Regardless, I have finished the last little bit of the bottle and will undoubtedly restock.

An article I found on Food24 suggests that the Glenmorangie Lasanta pairs perfectly with biltong tartlets. It also works well with cured meats and food that resembled Spanish dishes. Now I have to buy another bottle to try these food pairing ideas.

I have also tried the Glenmorangie Spios, a whisky aged in casks that previously held American rye whiskey as well as the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX.

Also Read: Glenfiddich 15 yo Solera Reserve whisky

Oban Distillers Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/13/2017

In Single Malt whisky

A short distance from the sea, right in the heart of the town of Oban, sits the Oban Distillery. Oban is part of the Diageo stable, and the Oban 14 yo is part of the Diageo Classic Malt Series. It is one of Diageo’s smaller distilleries and uses water from Loch Glenn a’Bhearraidh. But today I am tasting the Oban Distillers Edition single malt Scotch whisky.

Established in 1794 by two brothers on the site of an old brewery, Oban town grew around the distillery and today, Oban is one of the last few surviving urban distilleries.

A Highland Distillery, the Oban range of official bottlings available include a 14 yo, an 18 yo and the NAS Oban Little Bay release. The Oban Distillers Edition bottling completes the foursome. This single malt Distiller’s Edition whisky is finished in a Montilla Fino sherry cask before bottling.

Montilla Fino is a sherry-like, dry fortified wine, matured near the coast of Spain. The coastal character of the wine perfectly enhances the seaside character found in the Oban whisky, at the same time, adding some complexity.

I received this Oban Distillers Edition as a gift from a friend visiting from India. I was not particularly impressed with the Oban 14 yo whisky. As much as I love the sea, the bitter lemon and old wood character of the 14 yo was underwhelming.

I have been hesitant to try the Oban Distillers Edition. But the bottle has been staring at me, begging to be tasted, so I decided that today is the day. Lets’ see if this Oban release can change my mind about the Oban distillery. The fact that it was aged in Montilla Fino might add that interesting sweeter note, that I like in a whisky.

Also Read: Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition

Oban Distillers Edition Whisky Review

Distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2014.

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark golden colour with hints of polished teak.

NOSE: Sherry, rich dark fruit, raisin fruit cake, hints of nutmeg, marzipan sweetness balanced with bits of vanilla and butterscotch. Bit of an alcohol smell and letting the Distiller’s Edition breath for a few minutes helped to soften the alcohol notes.

PALATE: Smoky hints with oak, cream and pepper spice. A bit of water softens the alcohol burn and makes it a bit sweeter. It is easy-drinking, clean and uncomplicated. Not as sweet as the nose suggested, but creamy and delicious. Subtle notes of vanilla and bits of salt.

FINISH: Without water, the finish is long and spicy. With some water, the alcohol is softened, but the finish becomes medium length with notes of oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a surprise! This Oban Distillers Edition single malt whisky was like a breath of fresh air. That cooling sea breeze that blows down the coast on a hot day filled with salty notes. I am glad that I have a 1L bottle, as we will be pouring this dram quite often. It might even motivate me to try more from the distillery.

Another reason for choosing this dram on Friday the 10th is International Scotch Day. It is an initiative launched by Diageo, where the company opened all of its Scottish distillery visitor centres free of charge, as well as the Diageo Archive to the public for the first time.

Also Read: Jura 10 yo Origin whisky