Whisky of the Week

Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

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Tag: Pernod Ricard Page 5 of 7

Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces alcoholic beverages. The brands include:
Aberlour whisky
Ballantine’s blended whisky
Chivas Regal whisky
Glenlivet whisky
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Longmorn whisky
Powers Irish whiskey
Redbreast whiskey
Royal Salute whisky
Scapa whisky
Absolut vodka
JP Wiser Canadian whisky

Powers John’s Lane Irish Whiskey

By

On 05/21/2018

In Irish Whiskey

Review and tasting notes Powers John's Lane Release 12 yo Irish whiskey
I am trying an Irish whiskey today, something from the Midleton Distillery; the 12 yo Powers John’s Lane Irish whiskey. In 1791 James Power, an innkeeper from Dublin, established a small distillery at his public house.

In 1822 it was renamed John Power & Son and had moved to new premises at John’s Lane. Production grew exponentially, and so did the prominence of the Powers family.

In 1841, John Power, grandson of the founder was awarded a Baronet title. From its humble beginning, the distillery grew to a facility with an output of about 900 000 gallons annually during the 1880s. The distillery covered over 6 acres of central Dublin and had a staff of about 300 people.

The last member of the Powers family to sit on the board was Sir Thomas Talbot Power, who died in 1930, and with him the Power’s Baronetcy. However, ownership remained in the family until 1966.

Also Read: Jameson Caskmates Whiskey

During the 1960s the Irish whiskey landscape went through changes. The whiskey industry was struggling during Prohibition in the USA, the Anglo Irish Trade War and the rise of competition from the Scottish whisky industry.  There was also a change in consumer preference toward blended whiskeys.

Powers distillery was one of the first distilleries to install a coffey still to allow for grain whiskey production. Towards the end of the 60s Powers joined forces with the only other remaining distillers in the Irish Republic to form Irish Distillers. All existing distilleries were closed and consolidated at a new purpose-built facility in Midleton. The brand is part of the Pernod Ricard stable.

The Powers range includes the Powers Gold label, a blend of 70% pot still and 30% grain whiskey. However, the Power John Lane returns to the Powers whiskey’s origin and celebrates the style that made Powers so famous.

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.




Powers John’s Lane Irish Whiskey Review

Review and tasting notes Powers John's Lane Release 12 yo Irish whiskey with glass
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.

REGION: Ireland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark golden honey

NOSE: Malt, rich autumn fruit,  dark chocolate with hints of caramel and bits of  toasted oak in the background. The John’s Lane whiskey nose is inviting and warming.

PALATE: Smooth and warming. No need for water. Notes of malt, rich fruit dusted with cocoa, sherry hints balanced with vanilla, freshly buttered toast, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Water softens the spices and brings more honey notes.

FINISH: Creamy and elegant ending on hints of fruit.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a nice dram. It is probably my current favourite Irish whiskey. Smooth and warming, 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 hubby was not quite as crazy about this release as I was, but I suspect he had a crazy week at work and was not really concentrating. This Irish whsikey will feature a lot more regularly in my glass. The Powers John’s Lane Irish whiskey retails for around R900, so it is not that expensive.

Also Read: The Wild Geese Whiskey


JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky

By

On 09/11/2017

In Rye Whiskey

JP Sizer's Deluxe Rye Canadian Whisky header
Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary on the 1st of July. I was fortunate to be in Canada during these celebrations, and it was wonderful to raise a glass (or 2) in celebration. One of the glasses we raised was filled with JP Wiser’s Deluxe blended Canadian Rye whisky. I spent quite a bit of time rummaging through Canadian liquor stores during our trip.

It was fascinating to see all the flavoured whiskies available. Flavoured whisky is not readily available in S.A. The occasional Jack Daniels Apple or Honey, but nothing as exotic as what I found in Canada.

There is a broad selection of flavoured vodka on the South African market, but very little flavoured whisky. The other noticeable thing was the different bottle sizes. You can find from a 375 ml to a 1.5L bottle readily available in the liquor stores.

The JP Wiser range had quite a few flavoured releases. There was a JP Wiser Apple, Vanilla and even a Hopped flavoured relese (at the end of the process the blended whisky is dry-hopped in the same fashion as India Pale Ale beers).




Another thing I had to get used to was the 40% ABV. I had to be very careful when adding water. We have to a bit more of a bite in S.A. with our 43% ABV, and it was remarkable the difference the little extra made. ABV on the flavoured whisky was typically around 35%.

On to the JP Wiser Deluxe blended Canadian whisky; in 1857, John Philip Wiser set out at a steady pace to build a distilling company. He began a long tradition of Canadian whisky making.

Produced from cereal grains, the dominant, base ingredient is typically corn, with rye, wheat and barley being used as blending agents to create a distinctive flavour. JP Wiser’s is Canada’s oldest continuously produced Canadian whisky. JP Wiser is produced in Windsor Ontario by Hiram Walker & Son’s which is owned by Pernod Picard.

Also Read: Floki Icelandic Young Malt

JP Wiser’s Deluxe Canadian Rye Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes JP Wiser's Deluxe Canadian Rye whisky with glass
The JP Wiser Deluxe Rye whisky is Wiser’s signature blend and has no age statement.

COUNTRY: Cananda

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Golden Amber

NOSE: Vanilla, toffee sweetness, hints of fruit and lemon. Not the most complex nose and the Rye spices that I was expecting did not make an appearance.

PALATE: Now the spices come through. Toasted oak and grain, toffee sweetness, hints of vanilla and fruit with heaps of rye spices. After the soft nose, I was not expecting all the rye spices, and it was a bit overwhelming. Water softens the rye notes and releases a bit more sweetness. Not the most complex of drams and certainly not as lovely as some of the other rye’s that I have tried. A few blunt edges.

FINISH: Medium length ending in notes of spice and lemon rind.

RATING: VERY GOOD

After trying the Crown Royal Rye and the Rittenhouse Rye, I was excited to try another Rye release. However, the balance in this JP Wiser’s Deluxe version was just not there. It is not a bad whisky and definitely in the affordable category, especially as we were shopping in South African Rands.

It will make a great mix for cocktails, and after this tasting, my bottle is empty. Definitely not too bad. I used this JP Wiser’s Deluxe whisky in some mulled wine that I made and it worked well.  I also tried the Forty Creek Barrel Select on my trip to Canada and captured the tasting notes about my experience.

Also Read: Bulleit Rye Whiskey



Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Whiskey

By

On 05/08/2017

In Irish Whiskey

Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey header

When friends meet up for a drink, great things tend to happen. I know! When I meet up with my friends for drinks, we solve a world full of problems in an evening. Other friends met up for a drink during a ski holiday, and Mackmyra was created. The same is true for the Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition whiskey.

In 2013, two long-time friends met for drinks at a local pub in County Cork, Ireland. The friends were Dave Quinn, Master of Whiskey Science at Jameson distillery and Shane Long, Head Brewer at local Irish micro-brewery Franciscan Well. Dave shared the Jameson proprietary oak whiskey barrels from the Midleton Distillery with Shane, who created a unique Irish stout aged in Jameson barrels.

Afterwards, the casks were returned to Midleton distillery where they were subsequently used to give a stout finish to Jameson whiskey.



Jameson is a blended Irish whiskey produced by the Irish Distillers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. The original distillery on this site was called the Bow Street Distillery and was established in 1780 by the Steins.

John Jameson was a Scottish lawyer from Alloa in Clackmannanshire and became the first General Manager for Bow Street Distillery. In 1805, with his son, took full ownership and expanded the distillery. The distillery was officially renamed to John Jameson & Son’s Bow Street Distillery in 1810.

In 1966 Jameson merged with Cork Distillers and John Powers to form the Irish Distillers Group. With the opening of a New Midleton distillery outside Cork in 1976, both the Dublin whiskey distilleries of Jameson in Bow Street and John’s Lane closed down.<

The old Jameson distillery in Bow Street near Smithfield in Dublin now serves as a museum that offers tours and tastings.

Also Read: Teeling Single Grain Whiskey

Jameson CaskMates Stout Edition Whiskey Review

Review and tasting notes Jameson Caskmates Stout editin Irish whiskey with glass
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition is the standard triple-distilled Jameson Original finished in stout seasoned barrels.

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich dark copper colour with amber hints.

NOSE: Faints hints of coffee and dark chocolate, notes of oak, fruity sweetness, toffee and malt. The nose is subtle and sweet.

PALATE: Smooth and crisp. There are notes of spicy black pepper, bits of hops and oak. Water smoothes out the spicy pepper and releases more sweetness. Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition whiskey has a medium body.

FINISH: Ends in notes of sweetness balanced with dried orange.

RATING: VERY GOOD<

Not the most complex of whiskeys. I spent some time working at a distillery and was expecting a bit more of that malty, toasted barley taste with a bit more fullness on the palate. Still, it is an exciting dram due to the Stout Cask finish. Certainly a lot more exciting than the standard Jameson release. The Jameson Caskmates pairs very nicely with a meaty pizza.

What started as a discussion over a pint or 2 and some experimentation, ended up in an enjoyable dram. At a retail price of around R380 in South Africa, this is certainly affordable. Even more delicious than the Caskmates release is the Jameson Select Reserve whiskey. I wrote about my experience tasting it and it is probablay my favourite Jameson’s to date.

Also Read:  Tullamore DEW vs Jameson Irish Whiskey Comparison



Whisky Chocolate Truffles

By

On 10/12/2016

In Lifestyle

Whisky truffles header
Chocolate truffles, those delectable nuggets of indulgence, have been enchanting taste buds for generations. This symphony of flavours wrapped in a velvety chocolate embrace has become a symbol of culinary elegance. Now imagine that you add a few drops of peated whisky your chocolate truffle.

The origins of truffles are shrouded in a few charming legends, with one story attributing their accidental discovery to the renowned French chef Escoffier.

Picture this: a bustling kitchen, the intoxicating aroma of chocolate filling the air. Escoffier, the maestro of French cuisine, was experimenting with a pastry cream when, in a twist of fate, he poured scalding cream into a bowl of chocolate chunks instead of the intended sugared egg mixture.




Rather than lamenting the mishap, he found that the chocolate paste was malleable, easily shaped into delightful spheres. And thus, the truffle was born, a confection that blended elegance with happenstance.

Truffles, characterized by their invitingly rounded forms, entered the culinary stage between 1890 and the 1920s. Their popularity soared as their recipes travelled the world, giving rise to regional variations like European, Belgian, American, French, and Swiss truffles.

Moroccan and Peated whisky truffles

A tantalizing journey into the world of truffles reveals a range of delightful infusions. Among them, the marriage of a hint of alcohol like brandy or Champagne has emerged as a beloved choice. Yet, today’s truffles transcend these classics.

Enthusiasts embrace coatings as diverse as crushed peppercorns, sweet curry, paprika, and even chocolate vermicelli. Regardless of the chosen coating, each truffle promises a symphony of taste.

I still remember when I first encountered whisky truffles as a child. In honour of Whisky Chocolate Month, I took on the challenge of crafting these delights myself. My initial attempts adhered to the traditional ganache recipe, yielding a rich but slightly daunting texture. Pursuing perfection led me to reconsider my approach, prompting me to dial my mom’s number.

Also Read: Whisky and Brie Cheese

Ah, the wisdom of mothers! She shared a recipe she had cherished for years that deviated from the conventional ganache method. It departs from tradition yet promises a smooth, creamy delight. With renewed determination, I embarked on the journey to refine the recipe.

But the flavour was the true heart of the matter. My experimentation led me to add some Ardbeg 10 yo whisky, birthing a peaty whisky truffle that captured the essence of Islay. Yet the journey wasn’t over; a Moroccan Ras el Hanout spice paired perfectly with Chivas Extra, resulting in a spicy-sweet variant.

In a world where culinary exploration knows no bounds, truffles are a testament to the artistry of accidental discovery and the harmony of flavours. These little spheres, once borne from a mishap, have become a canvas for gastronomic imagination.

The Basic recipe for Whisky Chocolate Truffles

  • 100 grams dark chocolate broken into little pieces (I used the Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa
  • 63 grams of butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • 4 tablespoons cacao (+ extra for dusting if required)

Peated Whisky Truffles

Ardbeg 10 yo single malt whisky peated truffles
ADD:

30 ml peated whisky – I used the Ardbeg 10 yo (the peatier, the better)

 Moroccan Truffles

Truffles with Chivas Regal Extra blended whisky and Ras el Hanout spice
ADD:

2 teaspoons Ras el Hanout spice
30 ml whisky (I used the Chivas Extra blended whisky)

Directions

Add the chocolate and butter to a small pot and heat gently to melt. When melted, take off the heat and add in the rest of the ingredients. Add the peated whisky for the peaty truffles or the Ras el Hanout for the Moroccan flavoured whisky chocolate truffles.

Stir well until everything is incorporated. Cool the mixture in the fridge for an hour until it starts setting. While the mixture is still soft enough to handle, but stiff enough to hold the shape, roll into small balls.

If you like, roll the truffles in some cocoa powder to coat.

I am not the most patient person in the world, so I spooned the mixture into heart-shaped chocolate forms. For the Moroccan whisky chocolate truffles, I dusted the form lightly with some Ras el Hanout seasoning.

Allow truffles to set in the fridge for at least 5 hours and serve straight from the fridge.

Ardbeg 10 yo single malt whisky peated truffles
It is that easy. You can quickly make it in an afternoon and it makes the ideal gift for the whisky lover in your life.

Also Read: Coconut Panna Cotta



Chivas Regal Extra Whisky

By

On 08/29/2016

In Blended whisky

Chivas Regal Extra Blended Whisky header
When you hear the name Chivas, it brings to mind consistent quality. For me, it reminds me of my father. His favourite was the Chivas Regal 12 yo whisky. The old staple blended Scotch whisky that you can find everywhere.

He used to get a bottle or 2 for Christmas and savoured it through the year. Now and again he would share a sip with me, when my mom was not looking.

During 2014, Chivas released a new bottling, Chivas Regal Extra blended Scotch whisky. In honour of my dad, I had to try it. The Chivas Extra whisky has no age statement and according to my research, has more of a sherry character than the traditional Chivas releases.

All Chivas Regal blends have sherry-aged whisky blended in, but the percentage for the Chivas Regal Extra is slightly higher.

Also Read:Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky

The Sherry casks come from the Sherry Bodegas in Spain, where the casks are filled with the rich, sweet Oloroso sherry, which soaks into the wood during their time in the Bodegas. It was made to fit between the well-loved Chivas 12 year old whisky and the more upmarket (read expensive) Chivas 18 year old whisky.

It is also Chivas’ first global expression since 2007. Chivas Regal is produced by Chivas Brothers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. Founded in 1786, the Strathisla distillery is the home of Chivas Regal.<

According to Colin Scott, the Master Blender, Chivas Regal Extra goes particularly well with steaks and sticky-toffee pudding.




Chivas Regal Extra Blended Whisky Review

Review and tasting notes Chivas Regal Extra Blended whisky with glass
ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A dark caramel

NOSE: Fruity sweetness mixed with pears, warming nutmeg and caramel. Not overly sweet, but delicate and fresh.

PALATE: Medium bodied whisky with notes of pears and cinnamon mixed with cherries, hints of dry oak and caramel. The Chivas Extra does not have the expected sherry sweetness, and water softens and smooths out the dram.

FINISH:  Medium length finish that ends in sweet Christmas cake.

A nice enough expression. The sherry is delicate and not overwhelming, but I was hoping for a bit more. I was expecting the classic Chivas character balanced with a big mouthful of sherry.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I  think my father might have liked this new release. It is a great whisky for summer. Not too sweet and well-balanced with some summer spices.

The price for the Chivas Regal Extra in South Africa is around R450. I did a side by side comparison between the Chivas Extra and the 12 yo, and you can read all about the differences.

Also Read:  Glengoyne 21 yo Whisky


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