Tag: Rating: Excellent Page 11 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

Paul John Oloroso Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/31/2022

In Single Malt whisky

At the start of December 2021, I tasted the Paul John PX Cask Indian single malt whisky. A rich and dram from India that is ideally suited for winter sipping. December in South Africa is during summer, and as lovely as the PX Cask was, I am keeping my bottle for winter.

The Paul John Master Distiller, Michael D’souza, also released an Oloroso Select Cask finish Indian single malt whisky. Oloroso sherry is traditionally not as heavy and sweet as the PX sherry. Oloroso sherry has notes of toasted nuts with more earthy undertones when compared to the PX sherry, which has more dried fruit and honey notes.

So today, let me try the Paul John Oloroso Select Cask whisky. Like the PX, the Oloroso started life in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and, after at least 5 years moved into first-fill ex-Oloroso casks for about two years.

The Select Cask series does not have an age statement, but it is probably around 7 years old.

Paul John Oloroso Select Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark polished copper

NOSE: Christmas cake, treacle sweetness, nuts, bits of leather, hints of sherry and light woody notes. Bits of summer fruit and cinnamon. Rich and inviting.

PALATE: Red fruits, dark chocolate intermingled with pepper spice and oaky notes. A bit of alcohol heat. Bold without being overwhelming. Bits of leather, sherry and roasted malt.

The Oloroso evolve between intricate sweetness and spicy notes. A complex, full-body whisky. Not for a newbie. Water brings down the alcohol heat and makes it smoother.

FINISH: Lingering with notes of drying oak, fruit and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely drinkable dram. Lighter in mouthfeel when compared to the PX Cask, the Oloroso Select Cask is made for summer sipping. It will be perfect for after dinner, sitting on the patio listening to the sounds of the night. The Paul John Oloroso Select Cask single malt retails in South Africa for around R 1 500.

Putting these two drams next to each other is a great way to experience the impact of the different sherry casks on the whisky. I wondered if the PX compared to the Oloroso cask finishing would significantly differ in taste. And it did. The PX Select is sweeter, heavier, more complex and more of a winter dram; the Oloroso is nutty, lighter and more suited for summer.

There is a marked difference in the sweet notes, with the PX having more grape jam and dried fruit notes. The Paul John Oloroso Cask has more chocolate and Christmas cake notes. The most significant difference is in the finish. The Oloroso has a lighter and softer finish, and it is easy to drink a second glass.

Both are lovely, but I prefer the Oloroso Cask above the PX Cask. It might just be because it was 30C on Friday. During the cooler months, I will retry these two releases again.

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky sample from WhiskyShop. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: A Whisky and Indian food pairing

Jameson Select Reserve Irish Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/24/2022

In Irish Whiskey

At the end of 2021, we were invited for drinks by some friends just up the road. Sats received a bottle of the Jameson Select Reserve Irish whiskey from a colleague, and knowing our whisky love, he saved his bottle for our visit. I have to say; there was not much left by the time we walked home.

I am not the biggest fan of the standard Jameson Irish whiskey, and I was not expecting much. But we all loved the Select Reserve, and I went to buy us a bottle. So, before anything else, thank you, Sats, for sharing your bottle with us.

The Jameson Select Reserve is a triple distilled blend of rich pot still and grain whiskey. The whiskey is matured in a mixture of sherry casks and flame charred bourbon barrels. It has no age statement, but it is believed to be around 10 to 12 years old.

The Select Reserve is part of the Pernod Ricard stable together with Redbreast, Green Spot and Yellow Spot whiskey. Other Jameson Irish whiskey releases include the Jameson 18 year old and the Jameson Black Barrel whiskey.

Also Read: Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon

Jameson Select Reserve Irish Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Pale Gold

NOSE: Bold with butterscotch sweetness, toasted malt and peaches. Something that reminds me of freshly baked palmier cookies. Cinnamon and faint bits of tropical fruit and oak. Hints of cream and milk chocolate and red berries.

PALATE: Buttery pastry with vanilla, toasted oak and stone fruit. Something green in the background. Tropical fruit and oak come through, especially after a few drops of water. In terms of spices, it is warming and lovely with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg notes. Rich and complex and just very, very smooth. A lovely dram.

FINISH: Long and lingering with toasted wood and vanilla. Bits at light pepper and fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely drinkable whiskey. Smooth and wonderfully balanced. Someone called it a “breakfast whiskey”, and I think that is a perfect description. It is bold and fruity, and a few drops into a steaming bowl of oats will make your day start with a big smile.

Between the 4 of us, we made a significant dent in Sats’ bottle. If nothing else, that is a testament to how drinkable this Jameson is. I was also impressed with the affordability of the Select Reserve.

In South Africa, it retails for about R 420. Compared to the standard Jameson at R 330, this is outstanding value. Undoubtedly the nicest Jameson whiskey I have tasted thus far. Worth adding to your collection.

Also Read: Woodford Reserve Rye vs Jack Daniel’s Rye Whiskey

Dewar’s 15 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/17/2022

In Blended whisky

Towards the end of last year, I wrote about a great whisky I tasted at The Only Whisky Show. The Dewar’s 12 year old blended whisky made quite an impression on me. I went straight out to buy a bottle. Delicious and affordable, this excellent blend quickly made it onto my Top 5 Blends for 2017 list.

Fast forward a couple of months. A week or two before the Whisky and Spirit Show in Sandton in November, a very curious package arrived. A small box with an egg inside. Inside the egg was a message I could only get to if I break the eggshell.

The message was an invitation to join Dewar’s at their Whisky Live stand to taste more Dewar’s whisky paired with some Scotch Eggs.

The first dram I tasted that evening at the Scotch Egg evening at Whisky Live was the Dewar’s 15 year old blended Scotch whisky. I tried it with Scotch Eggs (it nice), nuts (tasty) and dark chocolate (delicious). I walked straight to the Norman Goodfellows shop at Whisky Live and bought a bottle. It was that good.

Dewar’s 15 year old whisky was created by Dewar’s master blender Stephanie Macleod and introduced in 2010. Initially targeted at the Asian market and travel retail, the Dewar’s 15 year old is now more widely available.

The Dewar’s 15 year old is known as “The Monarch”. The inspiration for the blend came from a famous Sir Edwin Landseer oil painting known as “The Monarch of the Glen”.

This famous painting was purchased by John Dewar & Sons in 1919 and is currently owned by the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is a beautiful Royal Stag.

The Monarch is one of only a few blended whiskies to carry a 15 year age statement. It is created from selected single malts and single grains, across both sherry and bourbon barrel ageing. The blend is then married in select oak casks for an additional period. The Dewar’s brand is part of the Bacardi stable.

Also Read: Dimple Pinch 15 yo Whisky

Dewar’s 15 year old Whisky Review

The Dewar’s 15 year old Scotch whisky has a raised relief design on the glass. The simplistic black and gold labelling add to the premium feel of this dram.

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: Sherry, fresh fruit salad with apples, melons and pears, honey, fresh flowers, hints of spices and fresh meadow flowers. Rich and quite complex with hints of vanilla and butterscotch grape jam mixed with oak.

PALATE: Rich, sweet nicely balanced with oak spices, orange peel, wood, and vanilla. Enough pepper notes to give a bit of a bite, but well balanced enough not to overwhelm the sweeter notes. Fresh fruit, hot pancake with cinnamon sugar.

You don’t even have to add water. Hints of lemon sorbet and freshly cut wood. Water softens the dram slightly and makes it very easy drinking.

FINISH: A bit short and dry, but pleasant. The Dewar’s 15 year old ends in notes of pepper and fruity sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This 15 year old reminds me a bit of the Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky . It has that same sweet richness that the Glenfiddich has. However, looking at the price point of this blend, it is real value for money! For a 15 year old whisky! It is so easy drinking and enjoyable. It also has a rich complexity underlying the well-balanced fruit and spicy notes.

I paired this blended whisky with some Swiss Appenzeller cheese. You can see what I thought about the pairing by following the link. The Dewar’s 15 year old whisky retails for only R 450 in South Africa. It will definitely make it onto my Top 5 blend list for 2018.

Also Read: Singleton 15 yo Whisky

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/03/2022

In Blended whisky

Black Bottle is a blended Scotch whisky bottled by Burn Stewart Distillers. Gordon Graham and Co., based in Aberdeen, created Black Bottle in 1879. The three Aberdonian tea blender brothers decided to try their hand at blending whisky.

Their blending skills proved to be respectable and demand for their whisky increased.The name came from its original bottle design based on black German glass. In 1914, following the outbreak of World War 1, it was impossible to get the glass from Germany.

Since then, the non-vintage bottle has been dark green. The company remained in family hands until 1959.

Related Article: Teacher’s Whisky

After a couple of different owners, the brand was acquired by Burn Stewart and is now part of the Distell stable. In 2013, the brand was relaunched. Owners Burn Stewart decided to return the brand to its 1879 origins, including the black glass that gave the blend its name.

I have gotten hold of the older green bottle and below is a bit of a comparison between the two releases. The older green bottle is said to be a blend of all the Islay distilleries. Compared to the old release, the new release is smoother and has Speyside drams blended in. Closer to the original tea blender recipe.

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark cold colour in the glass. It has hints of polished copper. Rich and oily.

NOSE: Very subtle with hints of florals, toffee sweetness and spices. After having stood for a bit, there are faint hints of vanilla and caramel pears. A bit of smoke and malts peep through in the background.

PALATE: Without water, the Black Bottle palate is smoky and rich. It has a nice big body filled with fruity notes, burnt sugars and spice. After adding water, this blended Black Bottle whisky becomes remarkably smooth. It is complex and rich. When you add water, more floral notes appear on the palate. It is a very easy drinking whisky.

FINISH: Well rounded and smooth and end in notes of smoke and honeyed sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a wonderfully unpretentious blended Scotch whisky that will have you reaching for a second glass. The best thing about this whisk; it is affordable. It retails for around R300 in South Africa. Showing once again, whisky does not have to be expensive to be great. I also used the Black Bottle to make a Valentines Day cocktail.

During a chat with Pierre Meintjies, (SA’s own Master of the Quaich), he suggested that we put our Black Bottle whisky in the freezer for a week and pair it with dark chocolate. I paired it with a bar of organic dark chocolate.

The 72% cacao chocolate has an intense fruity flavour and is slightly spicy. The Black Bottle came out of the freezer syrupy and ice-cold. It paired very nicely with the bitter dark chocolate. A great combination.

Also Read:Compass Box Peat Monster

Comparing: Black Bottle Old vs New

I found an older Black Bottle whisky in a small liquor shop and decided to do a side by side comparison with the new bottle. What a big difference. I think a picture defines the difference best.

Notable differences: Old vs New

The older Black Bottle is a lighter golden colour compared to the newer release. The nose tells you that this is Islay. There are notes of peat, spice smoke and seaweed. It is big and bold and rough around the edges. There is an alcohol burn that is softened by adding a bit of water. The water brings out the peaty ash and TCP and some sweetness.

Side by side, the new release has more fruity notes. The new bottling is smoother, softer and easier to sip. It is more versatile and does work well in cocktails. I would not even think of bringing the older bottling close to a cocktail.

The older bottling is big, bold in your face – ‘take it or leave it” whisky. You can taste the salty Islay coast. The older version is big and bold and unquestionable Islay. It reminds me of an old fisherman with his pipe. With a few drops of water, I like it, a lot! Big and bold and uncompromising.

The new version is great in a different way. It appeals to a broader market and is more adaptable. It reminds me of a young Mr Darcy from Bridget Jones. Handsome, intelligent, mature, but fun. Sadly they don’t release the older version of the Black Bottle anymore.

If you like Islay whiskies and you spot the odd bottle in retail, pick it up. It is a bit of Islay history worth having. A unique and special part of any collection.

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Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/27/2021

In Blended Malt Whisky

An intriguing name for a Scottish whisky – Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch whisky. The name stems from the shoulder strain (often temporary) that maltmen experienced due to the repetitive hand-turning of barley during the whisky-making process.

Monkey Shoulder whisky, crafted by Speyside legends William Grant & Sons, is a blended malt whisky that embodies the spirit of Scottish tradition and innovation.

This spirit is meticulously produced using malt from the company’s three prestigious Dufftown distilleries: Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, and Kininvie. All three malts are aged in first-fill bourbon casks before being expertly blended in small batches, with 27 casks coming together to create the magic.

I have tasted many Glenfiddich and Balvenie expressions. Kininvie is, however, not quite as well known. Kininvie, one of Scotland’s youngest distilleries, began its journey on July 4, 1990, nestled within the grounds of the Balvenie distillery.

While Kininvie boasts computer-controlled distillation, it notably lacks its own mash house. The age-old tradition of hand turning is still honoured by the Balvenie maltmen.

The bottle proudly displays three metal monkeys on its shoulder, symbolizing the three distilleries contributing to this exceptional blend.

Monkey Shoulder whisky has garnered critical acclaim, with Jim Murray awarding it an impressive 93 points in his Whisky Bible and a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards in 2013.

Approximately 10% of my whisky collection comprises bottles from The Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries, making Monkey Shoulder blended malt a fitting addition to my lineup.

Related Article: Clan Denny Islay Edition Whisky

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Review

REGION: Speyide

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark golden. It is a very thick and oily whisky.

NOSE: The nose has notes of bourbon sweetness, fruitcake, toffee, and vanilla notes; this whisky offers an exquisite drinking experience. Oak and cereals float past, and with the addition of a bit of water, there are hints of fresh cut-flowers.

PALATE: On the palate, Monkey Shoulder delights with a creamy texture and subtle notes of barley, cereals, spices, honey sweetness, and vanilla. It’s an easy-drinking whisky that will leave you yearning for a second glass.

FINISH: The finish is medium long, leaving a beautiful, warming sensation with hints of spice and caramelized nuts.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch whisky is an outstanding standalone spirit and an excellent base for crafting cocktails. As the holiday season approaches, it will undoubtedly find a prominent place on my cocktail menu.

I’ve even acquired the Kininvie 17 year old expression, completing my trio of distilleries contributing to this fine dram’s magic.

I played around with a chocolate pairing. I found that Monkey Shoulder whisky proved a robust and versatile companion, beautifully complementing the sweet indulgence of Caramello chocolate.

Cheers to the perfect blend of tradition and innovation in every sip of Monkey Shoulder whisky!

The Monkey Shoulder is available around the world and the price is around R450 in South Africa, £24 in the UK and ₹ 3,990 in India.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Green Label Whisky