Continuing with my notes from the Loch Lomond distillery visit, I’m diving into the Loch Lomond Steam and Fire single malt Scotch whisky today.
Tag: Rating: Excellent Page 1 of 41
Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whiskies that I rated as Excellent. Excellent means that after tasting the whisky, I want to pour a second and third glass. It is whisky that I want to keep on drinking and when the bottle is finished, I will buy another one. Rating: Excellent
My husband John is a frequent traveller. Recently, he brought home the Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla edition of Islay single malt whisky. On his way back to the island, he picked it up at ORT airport.
In 2022, I tried the Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish whisky. I decided it was time to open another of the Johnnie Walker expressions. This week it is the Johnnie Walker Select Casks 10 year old Rye cask finish whisky.
The Johnnie Walker Select Casks 10 year old Rye Casks Finish (a big mouth full) is a blended Scotch whisky. It was crafted under the meticulous eye of Master Blender Jim Beveridge. The base is a Cardhu single malt, blended with other whiskies matured for at least ten years in first-fill American oak casks. The blended whisky was then finished in ex-rye whiskey casks.
Introduced in October 2015, the Johnnie Walker Rye Casks Finish marks the inception of a series of limited-edition wood-finished blends from Johnnie Walker.
The Rye Cask finish is the first in a series of limited edition wood-finished blends from Johnnie Walker. It was released in October 2015.
The only experimental release I can find from Johnnie Walker is the Sweet Peat, a limited edition experimental blended Scotch whisky. I can’t see mention of any other releases in the Select Cast range.
Also Read: Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 year old Whisky
Johnnie Walker Select Casks 10 Year Rye Casks Finish Review
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Dark Wheat
NOSE: Prepare your senses for a symphony of creamy wood, vanilla, and rye spices adorned with a hint of malt and honeyed sweetness. Let it stand for a bit for the alcohol to evaporate.
On second nosing, it reveals freshly baked coconut loaf intertwined with delicate notes of cinnamon and a subtle nuttiness. A complexity that warms the soul and tantalizes the taste buds.
PALATE: Immerse yourself in a palate of creamy vanilla, gentle rye spices, and oak nuances harmonized by a sugary sweetness. It needs a few drops of water to temper the alcohol heat. Yet, the essence of coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla persists, weaving a tapestry of flavours.
FINISH: A medium-length finish with lingering echoes of drying oak, rye spices, and a whisper of black pepper.
RATING: EXCELLENT
Elegant and refined, the Johnnie Walker Select Casks 10-Year-Old Rye Cask Finish embodies a symphony of soft rye spices, oak, vanilla, and grain sweetness. Each element seamlessly interlocks, creating a flawless mosaic of flavour.
Perfectly balanced with a delightful interplay between wood and vanilla, sweetness and spice. The coconut notes bring a unique dimension, making it perfect for drinking here on the tropical island. The Johnnie Walker Select Cask 10 year old Rye cask finish whisky is one of the nicest drams I have had in a while.
Rarely do we encounter such experimental cask finishes in blended Scotch whisky, and this one is an unequivocal triumph. Should you chance upon this remarkable creation, buy it without hesitation.
Also Read: Royal Challenge Whisky
I looked through my social media for last year and noticed that quite a few of the bottles I tried during 2023 had green labelling. The colour unintentionally caught my eye, probably due to our move to the green island of Mauritius. Whatever the reason, it was a great excuse to start 2024 on a green note with the GlenDronach 15 yo Revival single malt Scotch whisky.
The story of GlenDronach began in 1826 when it was founded by a group led by James Allardes. The distillery was among the first to legally produce whisky under the Excise Act of 1823. The fifth Duke of Gordon played a significant role in encouraging the construction of GlenDronach, leading to its establishment.
GlenDronach, officially classified as a Highland malt, lies on the edge of the Speyside boundary. Over the years, the distillery changed hands multiple times. The owners included Walter Scott of Teaninich, Charles Grant, son of Glenfiddich’s founder, William Teacher and Sons, Allied Distillers, and Chivas Brothers.
Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask Whisky
In 2008, BenRiach’s owners took over GlenDronach, investing £7 million in the distillery. New expressions, including a GlenDronach Peated, were introduced in 2015, showcasing the distillery’s innovative spirit.
However, in 2016, GlenDronach found a new home when the company was purchased by the renowned Jack Daniel’s producer, Brown-Forman, along with the rest of the BenRiach Distillery Company. This marked a significant chapter in GlenDronach’s history.
The GlenDronach 15 year old single malt was discontinued in 2015 due to stock shortages. However, much to the joy of whisky connoisseurs everywhere, it was re-released only 3 years later. The new edition was called Revival to celebrate the return of the release. The Revival Edition is matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. It has a natural colour.
GlenDronach has become a favourite among Sherried malt enthusiasts and has garnered a considerable following in countries like Taiwan. I loved the GlenDronach 18 year old Scotch and have also tasted the 21 year old Parlement whisky.
GlenDronach 15 year old Revival Whisky Review
COUNTRY: Scotland
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Polished bronze
NOSE: You can’t mistake the sherry cask maturation on the nose. Ripe plums and sultanas mixed with fig jam. Dark roasted coffee and red cherries with bits of cocoa. Toasted nuts in the background with light malt and oranges.
PALATE: Buttery pastry wrapped around figs and roasted apricots. There is a sherry sweetness with hints of wood and nuts mixed with bits of cloves and nutmeg. The roasted coffee nose from the nose is still here. Honey sweetness comes forward after adding a few drops of honey and brings vanilla notes to the front.
FINISH: A long and lingering finish that ends in notes of ripe plums, cinnamon and dried fruit.
RATING: EXCELLENT
What a lovely dram. This edition is a huge step up from the GlenDronach 12 year old whisky and probably my favourite after the 18 year old release. I personally think that it is better than the 21 year old edition. I have not tasted the older GlenDronach’s, so I can’t say if it is better, but I love what this distillery does with sherry casks.
When available, this release retails for around R1600 or around GBP 65. Worth adding to your collection.
Also Read: Macallan Quest Whisky
Here I am, once again, closing out the year with a bottle of Bain’s whisky. I ended 2022 on the Bain’s 15 yo whisky, my all time favourite, and this year, the last bottle I am opening is the Bains 15 yo Sonically Matured single grain whisky.
If you’ve been following my whisky adventures, you might recall that I tasted the Bain’s Symphony whisky in 2021. This was a 7 year old gem that spent three months in a unique ” sonic cellar” at the distillery. The Bain’s brand team played South African artist Tellaman’s music into the barrels, which caused the maturing whisky inside to move and constantly interact with the wood.
I was so smitten with that release that I stocked up on several backup bottles. When the Bain’s 15 year old sonically mature whisky was unveiled, it was a no-brainer to add it to my collection.
This year, the occasion was particularly special. We had just moved into our new house in a different country, marking the start of a thrilling new adventure. What better way to commemorate this milestone than by uncorking a bottle of our favourite South African whisky brand?
The Bain’s 15 yo Sonically Matured edition is a limited release that embodies the pinnacle of artisanal expertise.
Four casks of standard Bain’s whisky were aged for 15 years, after which they spent five months in a bespoke sonic cellar. Only 1,200 bottles of this triple-matured whisky were released, making it a true collector’s item.
Over the years, the distillery has unveiled a captivating array of releases, each with the unique Bain’s character and flavour profile. Notable mentions include Bain’s 10 yo Shiraz Cask, an expression that marries the rich, fruity notes of Shiraz wine casks with the elegance of Bain’s whisky.
There is also the Bain’s Founders Collection 18 year old PX Finish whisky as well as the Bain’s 21 year old Double Cask whisky.
Also Read: Toor Whisky
Bains 15 yo Sonically Matured Whisky Review
I have bottle 0282 /1200
ABV: 45.9%
COLOUR:Golden amber
NOSE: Tropical banana and grain sweetness with a nutty creaminess. Wet wood and hints of leather with black pepper and vanilla.
PALATE: The first sip brings wood spices before the tropical sweetness. It needs to breathe a bit before the sweetness can come through. Hints of vanilla and grain with a taste that reminds me of grilled pineapple dusted with chilli salt. Water allowed the fruity sweetness to come forward but also increased the wood note.
FINISH: Drying oak with pepper and vanilla.
RATING: EXCELLENT
John loved it. He prefers a spicier dram. My palate prefers the sweeter notes in the standard Bains 15 year old. I found the first sip overwhelmingly spicy, and only after adding a generous dash of water did the spices cool down enough to enjoy.
I looked back at my Bains 15 yo tasting notes; the most significant difference is in the spices. The tropical fruity notes are all still there, together with the creamy vanilla. The Sonically Matured bottle just has the extra spice layer.
Don’t get me wrong, the spices did not stop us from finishing the bottle. It is still a smooth, delicious grain whisky and another of Andy’s masterpieces. Fortunately, I have another bottle squirrelled away for the future.
Also Read: Tweeddale Grain of Truth Peated Whisky