Tag: Rating: Excellent Page 20 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

I bought this bottle of whisky for John’s 5oth birthday, and it is only now, three years later that I get around to opening it. The Glenmorangie Signet single malt Scotch whisky is somewhat unusual. It is the world’s first single malt whisky made with high roasted chocolate malt barley.

Glenmorangie is a well-known Highland Scottish distillery in the town of Tain. I have captured tasting notes for the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX, and Glenmorangie Spios and these posts also deal with the Glenmorangie history.

Glenmorangie released the Signet edition in 2008. It takes its name from the elaborate design that embellishes most Glenmorangie bottles. The Signet itself originated from the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, a Pictish item that dates back to around the year 800 AD. The Signet whisky was a creation of Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Master of Whisky Creation.

Back in his student days, Dr Lumsden became a coffee enthusiast. While studying for the PhD in Biochemistry, he became obsessed over the intricacies of single estate coffee beans and the ideal roasting levels for optimum flavour. Years later, this coffee obsession inspired him to create the Glenmorangie Signet.

The Glenmorangie Signet single malt whisky was aged in American virgin oak casks before it was bottled. It is not chill-filtered and carries no age statement.

The Signet is part of the Glenmorangie Prestige range, together with the 18 year old and the 25 year old single malt whisky. The Signet release retails for around R2 500 in South Africa and around £ 150 in the UK.

Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Whisky

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Notes of marshmallow, vanilla, butterscotch mixed with crunchy toffee brittle. Hints of spices and espresso and lemon peel. So delicious.

PALATE: Malty notes with lots of sweet spices, cinnamon dark chocolate. Bits of roasted coffee beans with a fruity hint and honey sweetness. Faint traces of pepper and ginger. A full-bodied whisky. Rich and delicious. Water releases a bit more complexity and sweetness, but it is delicious without water.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering with notes of lemon peel, toffee sweetness and green pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious single malt. I can’t believe we waited three years to open this bottle. The coffee and chocolate notes are noticeable and delicious. I can sit and nose this whisky for hours. If they made a candle smelling like this, my whole house would be full of it.

A whisky to enjoy late at night with someone special. Probably my favourite Glenmorangie of all times.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/13/2020

In Single Malt whisky

The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask single malt Scotch whisky; this is one of those bottles that I have to review before I finish it. When I find great chocolate I want to pair with whisky, this is often one of the first bottles I grab. Likewise, when looking for a whisky to pair with soft cheese, this bottle regularly comes to mind.

Only when looking back on my whisky and food posts and tasting notes, did I realize, just how much I relied on the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old whisky for its fruity notes.

According to some research, the Balvenie Caribbean Cask Scotch whisky was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of David Stewart joining the Balvenie distillery. It has since become a permanent part of the Balvenie range.

Related Article: Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask whisky has been matured in traditional oak casks for 14 years. Afterwards, it was finished in casks that previously held Malt Master David Stewart’s personal blend of select West Indian rum.

You can read more of the Balvenie distillery history in my blog on The Balvenie Doublewood, The Balvenie Portwood 1993 and the Balvenie Single Barrel whisky

I have paired the Balvenie Caribbean Cask with Lindt Excellence Blueberry Intense. The tartness of the blueberries cuts through the sweetness of the whisky. The dark chocolate compliments the toffee flavours of the whisky superbly. A great whisky chocolate pairing.

I have also paired it with a creamy South African Camembert. Another great pairing! This dram works well with a Brie cheese too. A very versatile whisky! One I will certainly replace it when the bottle is empty. So below my official tasting notes on this versatile whisky.

Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%.

COLOUR: It is golden wheat with flashes of ruby.

NOSE: Rich with sweet notes of ripe mango, pineapple and guava, toffee, Christmas cake and plump rum-soaked raisins. Hints of florals and malt intermingling with oak come to mind. Notes of fudge and lashings of spices.

PALATE: Without water, the fruitiness continues with mango and spicy notes, creamy caramel toffee and bits of oak, vanilla and ginger. There is a tipsy tart yumminess in the background. The Caribbean Cask has a creamy mouthfeel and is quite chewy.

Adding water brings more wood to the front and softens the spiciness. Water brings together all the symphony of notes in this whisky.

FINISH: Long and lingering, smooth and creamy. It stays around long after the glass is empty. Notes of light pectin and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This Scottish dram has me dreaming of a hammock strung between 2 palm trees with the ocean lapping softly at the nearby shore. It is memorable and evolves as you drink it. If you see one, grab it. It is a worthy addition to any collection.

Balvenie Golden Cask whisky, which is also a 14 year old and finished in rum. I did a side by side comparison between the Golden Cask, and I did a side by side comparison between these two beautiful drams.

Furthermore, I have done a side by side comparison between the Caribbean rum and the Balvenie Doublewood single malt releases. You can read all about how they differ.

Also read: The Balvenie Peated Cask whisky

Paul John Nirvana Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/02/2020

In Single Malt whisky

If you have been following me on social media for a while, you would know that I love whisky from the Paul John Distillery in India. I have tasted all the releases in their core range and loved it.

Additional to the core range, the Paul John Christmas Edition and Kanya release is heavenly, and I get very excited then something new appears from this Goan distillery.

During 2019 the distillery released the Paul John Nirvana Indian single malt whisky as the entry-level single malt to the core range and eventually it has reached South African shores.

Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness. Nirvana is defined as the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

According to Paul P John, Chairman, ‘Nirvana is an expression for those willing and keen to experience single malts, especially for the first time. Its exotic richness is sure to captivate whisky connoisseurs and amateurs equally. It is an expression for those who discover happiness in their purpose of being.

Paul John whisky is created from the Indian 6 row barley (unpeated) and matured in charred American oak casks. The casks are stored in non-climate controlled warehouses. It is not chill-filtered with no added colour.

Paul John Nirvana Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Deep Copper

NOSE: Malty and sweet with dry prunes, fruitcake and dark chocolate. Vanilla, tropical fruit and hints of cinnamon. A molasses sweetness in the background.

PALATE: Spicy notes make way for honey, butterscotch and fruity sweetness. Drying oak, vanilla and chewy barley mix with apples, cinnamon, ginger and bits of bourbon. Hints of fruitcake in the background with something coastal.

Like standing on the beach on a humid, windy evening with salty notes in the air. Very drinkable and utterly delicious! Water brings more sweetness forward.

FINISH: Medium length with sweetness and soft spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Nirvana whisky is delicious. It reminded me of summer evenings in Kerala with the warm, humid wind blowing through the palm trees. The Paul John Nirvana whisky retails for around R 500 in South Africa and is worth every cent.

I have seen it at Whiskybrother and Wild About Whisky. If you have not tried whisky from India, this is a great place to start. I have also tried the Paul John PX whisky as well as the Oloroso Select Cask release and both are lovely.

Also Read: Signature whisky

Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/13/2020

In Blended whisky

2020 – A new year and a new decade. And what better way to start the new decade with than with a proudly South African whisky. My first official whisky tasting notes for 2020 is the Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask whisky.

The Fino Cask Finish is the 4th addition to the Three Ships Whisky Master’s Collection. First came the PX Cask Finish, then the Pinotage Cask Finish and thirdly the 8 yo Oloroso Cask Finish whisky. My favourite thus far was the Pinotage Cask which was my Whisky of the Year 2017.

On the 24th of October 2019, the annual Master’s Collection store was opened online again. This event has become so popular that 90% of the whisky was sold within the first hour.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Elements Sherry

For the Fino Cask release, the whisky was matured for 5 years in ex-American oak, followed by an additional 4 years in ex-Fino sherry casks. From this, Andy hand-selected only 4 barrels to create this expression. It is a limited edition with only 2,940 bottles produced.

The Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Finish is not chill-filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 48.6%. The accent colour on the label is bright green. The green accents are fresh and bright and make the bottle stand out. I love it.

Three Ships 9 yo Fino Cask Whisky Review

I have bottle 643 of 2840.

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 48.6%

COLOUR: Dark Gold

NOSE: Notes of BBQ smoke, stone fruit sweetness with bits of spice. Dried peach and apricot with bits of peat and a tropical hint.

PALATE: Complex and rich. Raisins, soft spices and citrus notes. Hints of smoke and peat balanced with sherry notes and tropical fruit sweetness. Medium body and easy drinking. No need to add water; however, a few drops of water releases a richer dimension on the palate and brings more fruity sweetness forward.

FINISH: Medium length ending in sweetness with hints of pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Very delicious! This release is sweeter than the last 2 Three Ships releases I have tasted. The Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick 6 yo Fino and the Boutique-y Whisky Company 6 yo release both had a more spicy mouthfeel with less fruit.

With this release, there is a more fruit-forward profile again. I love how the Fino sherry shines through. It is a lovely release and probably my next favourite after the Master’s Collection Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish.

I noticed that both the Private Barrel Co 6 yo release and this both have a Fino Cask Finish and during the year, I will certainly do a comparison between the 6 yo and this 9 yo whisky. Pick n Pay also jumped onto the single cask release bandwagon and released a Three Ships Virgin Oak Cask during 2021.

Also Read: Three Ships Shiraz Cask Finish 11 yo Whisky

The Belgian Owl Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/06/2020

In Single Malt whisky

On my whisky journey, I seek to obtain a bottle of whisky from every whisky producing country in the world. I was fortunate to get my hands on a bottle of Belgium single malt – The Belgian Owl single malt whisky.

This single malt is the first to be produced in Belgium. It shows just how whisky creation has expanded around the world.
The Belgian Owl distillery is in the town of Grâce Hollogne, near the city of Liège. Etienne Bouillon and two partners founded the distillery in 1997. The original name of the distillery was Pure.

The barley for the whisky is grown in the fields around Liège, and the malting, mashing and fermentation processes take part in an old converted farm on the city’s outskirts. They filled the first barrel in October 2004.

The first 3 year old single malt whisky was bottled in October 2007 and called Identité. From then, they have grown from strength to strength.

The Belgium Owl Identité whisky is matured for 3 years and then bottled in small batches at a strength of 46% ABV. The ageing takes place in 1st fill bourbon casks. The Belgian Owl whisky is unpeated and not chilled-filtered.

There is a great legend posted on the distillery website that tells how the whisky came by its interesting name.

Related Article: Millstone 8yo French Oak whisky

The Belgian Owl Whisky Review

COUNTRY: Belgium

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: A pale golden yellow. It is one of the lightest coloured whiskies in my collection. It is a medium oily whisky with some slow fingers on the side of the glass.

NOSE: Freshness and sweetness as soon as you open the bottle. There are hints of cereal and oak. The nose is quite subtle with fresh flowers and vanilla. The bourbon sweetness delicately comes through in the background.

PALATE: Quite spicy with floral undertones. There are notes of green grass with hints of lavender flowers floating by. The palate also brings oak and barley, and the bourbon sweetness comes through very subtly. The whisky is creamy smooth and has a medium body.

FINISH: Medium length. It ends in spicy and oak notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

For a 3 year old this Identité is an amazing whisky; one of the better whiskies in this young age group. It is not the most complex whisky, but it is easy to drink and quite spicy. So it should pair quite nicely with some young creamy Dutch cheese.

Unfortunately, the bottle is 50cl volume, which means I will drink this very sparingly, as it is not available in South Africa as yet.

I will be looking out for more expressions from this Belgium distillery when we travel to Europe again. It is a worthy addition to any collection.
The Whisky Bible 2015 chose the Belgian Owl Single Malt ‘64 Months’ as their European Whisky of the Year (Single Malt).

I was fortunate to taste quite a few more of the Belgian Owl whisky and I have captured my tasting notes for the Belgian Owl Passion and the Belgian Owl Evolution Whisky.

Also Read: Glengoyne 17 yo whisky