Tag: Rating: Excellent Page 15 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

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/05/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I was chatting to Steven Saunders, the William Grant Prestige Meta Manager in SA, and he mentioned that they are bringing in more of the Aerstone whisky releases into SA. I have seen a few comments regarding the Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Single Malt Scotch whiskyand Land Cask whisky on social media but have not tried them.

William Grant launched Aerstone whisky in the UK in September 2018. The range consists of the Aerstone Sea Cask and Land Cask, both 10 year old single malt whisky releases. These whiskies aim to simplify the traditional language’ associated with single malt Scottish whisky.

The Aerstone Sea Cask whisky is a Speyside style single malt matured near the Ayrshire coast. The Aerstone Land Cask is a peated malt produced using Highland peat and matured at warehouses situated slightly inland.

The distillery is not named, but it is safe to assume that it is from the Ailsa Bay distillery in the Lowlands. These Aerstone expressions aim to capture two different flavour profiles from Scotland in an approachable, aged whisky.

This week I will explore the Sea Cask, and next week I will chat more about the Aisle Bay distillery and the Land Cask. The Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old single malt is described as ‘smooth and easy’.

William Grant remains one of the few family-owned spirits brands in the world. It is the third largest producer of Scotch whisky. The company have a number of brands including Monkey Shoulder, Grant’s, Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Aside from whisky, William Grant also produces Sailor Jerry rum, Hendrick’s gin and Drambuie liqueur.

Also Read: Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask Whisky

Aerstone Sea Cask 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Gold

NOSE: Honey sweetness, vanilla with lots of floral notes. Green grass and fresh-cut flowers mixed with bits of toffee, freshly baked shortbread and hints of oak. Sweet and malty.

PALATE: Medium body with notes of sweetness, vanilla biscuits, and light oak and nutty notes. Hints of flowers and grass. A lovely, delicate and smooth dram that is not too complex. It is unpretentious and drinkable. Quite sweet and perfect for the newbie and someone with a sweeter palate.

However, add water carefully. The delicate notes quickly disappear with the addition of water. The Sea Cask is drinkable without water or just a drop or 2. When you add too much water, it brings forward the lemony pectin notes.

FINISH: Short and sweet with honey sweetness, lemon pepper and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It isn’t the most complex single malt you will encounter, but the Sea Cask is a delightfully smooth, easy-drinking dram. I was expecting the Aerstone Sea Cask to have more of a salty, peaty character. However, it is just as described, smooth and easy drinking. It is an uncomplicated drink you can sip the whole afternoon.

A deliciously moreish lighter style of whisky at a very affordable R360. Compared to other 10 yo single malts, this is an excellent price. Looking online at other single malts, the Glen Grant 10 year old is priced at R 530, and the Highland Park 10 yo at R540.

This low price puts the Sea Cask whisky in a highly accessible category for new single malt consumers and is even affordable when compared against some blends. Certainly worth a try!

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

Also Read: anCnoc Peatheart Whisky

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/28/2021

In Rye Whiskey

It is time for a rye whiskey again, and this week I feature Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey. The distillery was founded by John Shenk in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, in 1753 and known as Shenk’s. In the mid-1800s, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger bought the distillery, and the name changed to Bomberger’s.

After changing hands many times during the subsequent years, it landed up in the hands of Louis Forman, who co-owned the distillery with Charles Everett Beam. Louis created the Michter’s brand name by combining his sons’ names, Michael and Peter.

Sadly, the distillery closed in 1989 due to bankruptcy. After filing for the abandoned Michter’s trademark in 1997, Joseph Magliocco and Richard Newman resurrected the Michter’s brand. The brand re-launched as a Kentucky-sourced brand in the early 2000s.

Every Michter’s Rye is from a single barrel, so there might be taste differences between the different bottlings. I have a bottle from barrel 16F471.

The Michter’s Rye is made from select American rye grain that is sheared to maximize flavour extraction from the grain.

Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51% rye and includes some corn and malted barley. It is a NAS release.  Other releases from this brand include the Michter’s Sour Mash whiskey and the Michter’s bourbon.

Also Read: Arbiki Highland Rye

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 42.4%

COLOUR: Caramel honey

NOSE: Rich and enticing. Butterscotch, dry wood, spicy rye notes with bits of creamy vanilla and a hint of something fruity. Big, bold and just lovely.

PALATE: An outstanding balance of spicy and sweet. Cinnamon and pepper followed by vanilla and sweet cherries. Bits of orange with dry oak and rye spices. Adding water brings more of the cherry notes forward. Creamy and smooth, and I had to pour another glass. This bottle will probably not see the end of winter.

FINISH: Long and warming with hints of peppercorns, tobacco and cinnamon.

RATING: EXCELLENT

WOW! What a delicious, creamy rye! It is bold and easy to drink. I am not the biggest rye whiskey fan, but this will be on rotation during the winter. The balance between the spice and the sweetness just worked faultlessly.

It has enough sweetness for my sweet palate without being overly sugary. John loved it too, which means the spicy notes worked for his more spicy preference. Just lovely.

Now to get my hands on the Michter’s bourbon to also add to my collection.

Also Read: JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky

Redbreast 12 year old Irish Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/24/2021

In Irish Whiskey

I tasted the Redbreast 12 year old single pot still Irish at a whisky show a year before Covid and bought a bottle on the spot. I am not the biggest Irish whiskey fan, but the 12 year old convinced me to explore more. So it got added to my collection, and it is time for me to explore it a bit further.

Redbreast is a single pot still Irish whiskey produced by Irish Distillers at the Midleton distillery in Cork. Single pot still Irish whiskey is made from a mash using both malted and unmalted barley. It is then triple distilled in copper pot stills. Scottish whisky only uses malted barley. This style of whiskey is unique to Ireland.

Redbreast was originally produced by Gilbey’s, a Dublin spirits merchant using distillate sourced from Jameson’s Bow Street Distillery. In the 1980s, the brand was purchased by Irish Distillers, the producer of Jameson.

Other Redbreast releases available include Redbreast 12 year old Cask Strength, Redbreast 15 year old, Redbreast 21 year old, Redbreast Lustau Edition (matured for its final year in Bodegas Lustau sherry casks) and Redbreast 27 year old whiskey.

The first official mention of “Redbreast” only dates back to 1912, when Gilbey’s referred to the sale of “Redbreast” J.J. Liqueur Whiskey 12 year old. “Redbreast” was a nickname given to one of the whiskeys by Gilbey’s chairman at the time, who was an avid birdwatcher, in reference to Robin Redbreast.

Irish Distillers relaunched the brand in 1991. Midleton distillery also produces Jameson and Tullamore Dew whiskey. The Redbreast 12 year old whiskey is aged in first-fill Olorosso sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels.

Also Read: Dunville’s Three Crowns Peated Whiskey

Redbreast 12 year old Irish Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Yellow gold

NOSE: Sweet ripe red fruits sprinkled with toasted nuts, banana and pears. Vibrant and fresh. Hints of vanilla, spice, and freshly baked sugar cookies.

PALATE: Fruity sweetness and toasted oak. The Redbreast is luxurious and creamy with hints of marzipan, lots of fruit salad sweetness and roasted nuts. A balance of wood and red berry sweetness mixed with bits of pepper and ginger.

Add water carefully. Only a drop or two is needed. The water can quickly tone down the fruity sweetness too much.

FINISH: Long and creamy sweetness, lemon rind and pepper spice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a lovely late summer afternoon sipping whisky. Not the most complex dram, but memorable and fruity. The sherry casks shine through on this release, and from here on, it just gets better.

The Redbreast 12 year old whiskey is an excellent start to the range, and I have tasted both the Lustau and the 15 year old whiskey, and the delicious taste expansion continues in the older releases.

Also Read: Bushmills 16 yo Whiskey

Glen Grant Major’s Reserve Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/26/2021

In Single Malt whisky

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The highlight in the yearly whisky calendar is the Whisky Life Festival in Sandton. It is one of the biggest whisky shows in the world. The festival is about meeting up with old friends and making new whisky friends.

The whisky variety to taste is enormous. I try to focus on only a few whiskies that I have not tried before. Otherwise, it just becomes overwhelming.

Last year, I walked into Bernard Gutman, a good friend, at the Glen Grant exhibition. Bernard took the time to introduce me to the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve single malt Scotch whisky. And that is where I spend quite a lot of time. I also tried the Glen Grant 10 year old and the 16 year old whisky.

The 10 yo was nice, and I loved the 16 year old, but it was the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve whisky, that blew me away. I am always on the lookout for affordable quality whiskies. The Glen Grant Major’s Reserve is in the affordable category. The price is around R 300 in South Africa, and it is readily available.

The Glen Grant distillery was founded in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant in the Rothes, Speyside. It is close to the port of Garmouth.

The River Spey and the barley-growing plains are nearby. When the founders passed away, James “The Major” Grant inherited the distillery. He proved to be a worthy successor. The Campari Group purchased Glen Grant in 2005.

Half of Glen Grant’s Scotch whisky production is used as a blending product, notably in Chivas blends. The Glen Grant Major’s Reserve was Inspired by James ‘The Major’ Grant and his innovative lifestyle. It has no age statement and retail in SA for around R250.

Related Article: Glenmorangie Lasanta whisky

Glen Grant Major’s Reserve Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: A pale wheat

NOSE: First thought when opening the bottle is that it smells like a tropical fruit salad. It is rich with spice, banana, green mango and pears. In the background the vanilla and condensed milk balances with hints of fresh flowers and cereals.

PALATE: Summer spice jump out at you. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. However, it is perfectly balanced with malt, fresh apples, pears, toffee and hints of oak. Hints of vanilla sweetness mix with honey. Water smooths out the Glen Grant Major’s Reserve and releases more flowery notes. It is rich and complex.

FINISH: Long and builds to notes of vanilla and oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT.

Looking at my collection, this is probably one of the best single malts in the affordable category. This Glen Grant can easily stand up to more expensive single malts. It is easy drinking and rewarding, and you will undoubtedly want a second glass.

Addition: During 2017 I tasted the Glen Grant 12 year old – again because my good friend Bernard introduced us. O my word. What a beautiful release. See my tasting notes of this Speyside dram. I have also tasted the 12 year old Non-Chill-Filtered version and captured all my notes on this release.

Also Read: Glen Moray Classic whisky

Milk & Honey Elements Sherry Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/29/2021

In Single Malt whisky

In 2020 I was fortunate to be invited to join an online tasting of whisky from Israel. The tasting included the Milk & Honey Classic whisky as well as samples from the Elements range. I enjoyed the Milk & Honey Elements Sherry Cask single malt whisky the most from all the samples that I received. And I am happy to see that it is now available in SA.

The Milk & Honey distillery is situated in Tel Aviv, Israel. Planning started around 2012, and the distillery started operating n 2014. The middle eastern climate is hot and humid, and this speeds up maturation.

Also Read: Inchmurrin 11 yo Single Cask Whisky

The distillery hired the late Dr Jim Swan, one of the world’s most accomplished master distillers, to assist with the recipe and ensure that the production was optimal for warm weather.

Other Elements releases include a red wine cask and an Elements Peated expression. There is even a whisky ageing in pomegranate wine casks that I also got to taste. The Milk & Honey Elements Sherry Cask Single Malt whisky is aged in kosher Oloroso, and PX sherry casks from Jerez Bodega made exclusively for the distillery.

Milk & Honey Elements Sherry Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: Israel

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark Gold with hints of red

NOSE: The nose is sweet and fruity. It has notes of ripe red berries and plums with hints of malt and oak; quite a sweet nose.

PALATE: The red fruity sweetness makes way for mild spice and dried fruit. Hints of citrus and white pepper with dry wood and bits of cocoa nibs. Vanilla and cinnamon in the background. Medium body. The glass needs a few drops of water to bring back the fruity red berry sweetness promised by the nose. Water also brings forward a yummy maltiness.

FINISH: Drying and medium length. Notes of pepper, cherries and dark chocolate with oak.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Milk & Honey Elements Sherry Cask whisky is a lovely release. The sweetness promised by the nose disappeared on the palate until I added a few drops of water. Then the fruity sweetness burst forth again. It is not the most complex whisky, but it is easy drinking and delicious.

From the four Milk & Honey releases I tried, this one was my favourite. This release is now available in South Africa, and you can order it online from WhiskyBrother&Co. It retails for around R 980.

Sample Disclosure: I received this whisky from the WhiskyBrother team. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Kavalan Concertmaster Whisky