Tag: Rating: Good Page 2 of 8

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky I rated Good. When the whisky is drinkable but forgettable. One of us sometimes doesn’t finish the glass. The bottle might be in my collection for a long long time. Rating: Good

Black & White Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/16/2023

In Blended whisky

I love the older James Bond movies. After the passing of Sean Connery at the end of 2020, there was a Bond movie marathon on TV, and I noticed that James drinks Black & White blended Scotch whisky in Dr No. It also gets mentioned in Moonraker. I have a Scottie as well, so I had to at least try this well known and affordable blend.

Black & White whisky is a classic old blend. James Buchanan created the brand during the early 1880s and was initially called Buchanan’s Blend. It was sold in the House of Commons Bar and became known as the Buchanan’s House of Commons blend. The packaging was in a black bottle with a white label.

James got the idea for the brand logo and name change on his way home from a dog-show. The Scottish terrier and West Highland terrier on the label were added in the 1890s and became iconic Scotch whisky symbols.

Mergers and acquisitions followed, and the brand ended up in the Diageo stable. It is popular in France, Italy, Canada, Latin America and South Africa. In South Africa, it is priced in the affordable category around R170. Black & White whisky contains a high proportion of grain whisky. It is a NAS release.

According to some research, Physicist Richard Feynman drank Black & White whisky, as described in his book ‘Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman’. As the hubby is a huge fan of Mr Feynman, he was quite eager to try this blend. Needless to say, he was not very inspired by Mr Feynman’s whisky taste.

Also Read: White Horse Blended Scotch Whisky

Black & White Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich Gold

NOSE: Raw alcohol notes with caramel sweetness. I let the glass stand for a good couple of minutes for the worst of the alcohol, and mentholated spirit notes to disappear. Not the best introduction to this blended whisky.

PALATE: Grain sweetness with bits of vanilla, caramel and cinnamon. Not the most complex whisky. After the raw alcohol notes on the nose, I was not expecting much, but there is something drinkable in the Black & White whisky. Hints of bourbon and fruit. Adding water softens the rough edges a bit but makes it even sweeter.

FINISH: Short, with a caramel sweetness.

RATING: GOOD

The raw alcohol notes on the nose can be overwhelming. It was only after letting the glass breath for a good 15 minutes that you can get past the raw notes to the sweet grains on the palate.

I was expecting quite an unrefined and harsh mouthful, but the palate is softer and more drinkable than what the nose suggests. Not something I want to drink every day, but with a good mixer, it will be quite drinkable.

Water brings forward even more sweetness, so it can easily become just a bit too sweet. I would not mix this with something sweet, but rather something with a ginger or spicy kick to balance the sweetness.

Daisy, my Scottie, watched the tasting with her usual indifference and I think I need to add a Westie to the family just to get the picture right.

Also Read: Royal Challenge Whisky

Heaven Hill Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/23/2022

In Bourbon whiskey

With the fall of the South African Rand against most currencies, my little hobby is becoming expensive. So image my surprise when I walked past a liquor shop that had some “bargain bourbon”. It was the Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey.

At about R150 and in a glass bottle, this looked interesting. I was, however, sceptical about the quality. I first went to visit Google; just to see if I am buying a real bargain or a cheap knock off.

Some reviewers think that this no age statement, screw-top Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey is not too bad. According to my research, it will not win international prizes for complexity, but it is, according to some people, drinkable and affordable.

So, I bought it, and we are going to give it a try. Heaven Hill was founded in Bardstown, Kentucky shortly after Prohibition ended in the US. The Shapira family wanted to produce and market bourbon and premium American whiskeys. During the 1990s the Heaven Hill company diversified their portfolio.

They acquired more brands and obtaining import rights for gin, malt whiskey vodka and various other liqueurs and spirits brands. Today, Heaven Hill is the seventh-largest distributor of bourbon in the US. Other brands in their portfolio include Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbon whiskey and Rittenhouse Straight Rye whiskey.

In 2014, the name changed to Heaven Hill Brands. The Heaven Hill company remain independently owned. The Heaven Hill bourbon whiskey is aged for about 4 years.

Related Article: Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon

Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Not as dark as some of my other bourbons. It has a pale golden mahogany colour.

NOSE: Not quite as rich as its peers. There are notes of condensed milk, caramel and fruit mixed with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a bit of alcohol bite on the nose. Not a very complex nose.

PALATE: Slightly more complex, but still not equal to some of our other bourbons. There are notes of spice, caramel sweetness. A bit of bitter orange in the background. Water softens the alcohol bite and makes it marginally smoother. The Heaven Hill bourbon is medium-bodied.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of inoffensive spice.

RATING: GOOD

I suspect that this Heaven Hill bourbon whiskey might work great in marinades for meat. For some or other reason, this bourbon reminds me of the old spaghetti westerns.

The scene: A bar in a small town in the middle of a God forgotten, desert area. The good guy (Clint Eastwood) riding into town on his horse, to track down the bad guy. The bad guy is sitting in the bar, drinking a bourbon neat, the bottle next to him: this bottle of Heaven Hill Old Style bourbon.

And when Clint Eastwood enters the bar, the Heaven Hill is the first thing he shoots at. The glass bottle next to the bad guy explodes as Clint’s bullet eliminates it. And then the fighting starts. Can you picture it?

Also Read: Evan Williams Bourbon

Firstwatch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/25/2022

In Blended whisky

It is my first blend for 2017, the Firstwatch whisky. This year, I want to do something a bit different. It is great to try some of the more expensive blends available, and over the years, I have managed to taste quite a few exciting (and costly) blends.

However, the higher-priced blends are not always worth it, and I was wondering if some of the inexpensive blends are worthwhile. So this year, in terms of blended whisky, I am drinking my way through the bottom of the budget.

I am looking for a whisky that retails for less than R250 per bottle. In currency terms, that is drinkable whisky for around $18 or £15. Some of the whiskies in this category I have tried include the Teacher’s and the Cutty Sark blended whisky.

And there are plenty of whiskies in this price range. Walk into your local bottle store, and there is a long row of inexpensive whiskies. But how do you choose between these whiskies? There are seldom tasting notes for them.

How do you know that spending your hard-earned money on a cheap whisky will not leave you with indigestion? So, I will be doing to hard work for you. It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it!

I saw a big billboard in Johannesburg while I was driving and it advertised the FirstWatch Selected Extra Fine Imported whisky. It is bottled for the company E Snell, that also import Glenfiddich and Balvenie to SA, so I decided to start here.

There is not much information available on this blend. Some desktop research revealed that FirstWatch whisky is a blend of imported rye and cereal grain whiskies. A Canadian whisky, Firstwatch is distilled, blended and matured in Canada before being bottled in South Africa.

The Firstwatch whisky has been matured for at least 3 years, and it was awarded gold medals at both IWSC and ISC in 2015. It might have some potential.

Also Read: Drayman’s Solera Whisky

Firstwatch Whisky Review

Rye whisky culture is not well established in SA. However, it might be interesting to see how many of the more spicy rye notes come through. Firstwatch is a Canadian whisky available only in South Africa.
ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark golden amber

NOSE: Overwhelming caramel, artificial caramel. It reminds me of the little hard corn syrup sweets a waiter brings with your bill. After letting the glass breath for a bit, notes of vanilla and toffee come through.

PALATE: After the sweet nose, I was expecting a sweet taste, but the palate was surprisingly spicy. Overwhelming notes of pepper and nutmeg with an alcohol burn.

There is very little of the sweetness from the nose translated onto the palate. Without water, the FirstWatch whisky has quite a light body. Adding water brings out some sweetness and soothes the spices and alcohol burn, but makes it very thin drinking.

FINISH: Medium length ending on spice and artificial caramel

RATING: GOOD

I bought this Firstwatch in the hope of finding an affordable alternative to the more expensive rye whiskies. This, however, is not it. It is not a bad whisky. I have tasted far worse. And at R114 per bottle, definitely bang for your buck. John called this “cooking whisky”. The rye notes however is nowhere to be seen.

If you are looking for some alcohol to cook or to flambé with, but don’t want to ruin the food, this release is perfect. Looking for some affordable whisky to add to you mixer, sure, go ahead. I have seen the First Watch whisky at Pick n Pay and Checkers.

If you want to sit down and enjoy a whisky neat or investigate some rye whisky, this is not the one. There are many more affordable blends that will better serve this purpose.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Classic Whisky

Oban 14 year old Singe Malt Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/21/2022

In Single Malt whisky

I have had this bottle of Oban 14 year old single malt Scotch whisky for so long; I can’t even remember where I got it. The Oban Distillery is situated in the Scottish Highlands near the west coast port of Oban.

It was established in 1794, and a bustling seaside town grew around the distillery. It is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with just two pot stills. Oban only releases a limited variety of bottlings.

They are primarily known for the 14 year old single malt but also have a Distiller’s Edition (finished in Montilla Fino sherry casks) and a NAS Oban Little Bay. The Oban 14 year old is part of the Diageo Classic Malt range.

Also Read: Tamdhu Batch 001 Whisky

The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together. The Classic Malts whisky collection represents the unique diversity of the different Scottish regions, taste and heritage. From the soft flowery Glenkinchie in the Lowlands to the honeyed Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.

Through Speyside and Cragganmore onto the West where the Talisker comes from. Onwards to the Western Highlands where Oban sits and last but not least the peaty Lagavulin on Islay.

Oban 14 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark mahogany gold.

NOSE: Rich with hints of smoke, fruity sweetness, faint spices and bits of peat. The nose is inviting and warming and the best part of this dram. The Oban 14 year old nose softens after adding water, but it keeps the inviting warmness.

PALATE: On the palate, the Oban is a different story, however. I was expecting a rich, creamy peat; however, there are notes of bitter lemon, overwhelming oak, bits of peat and seaweed and very little of the sweetness promised by the nose.

This dram has an unfinished feel to it. As if it was aged in an old cask that had very little to give. Adding water intensifies the bitter lemon notes and takes away the peaty smoky.

FINISH: Long and lingering, unfortunately, it is the bitter lemon that lingers.

RATING: GOOD

It might be that I have a bad batch or funky bottle, but this will never be on my top 20 list of favourite drams. According to the Oban distillery, this dram pairs well with crystallized ginger. I will take their word for it as I will probably not be trying it anytime soon.

What was your take on this 14 year old from Oban? I also tried the Oban Distiller’s Edition and liked it a lot more.
Also Read: Macallan 10 yo Whisky

Tobermory 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/07/2022

In Single Malt whisky

During June 2020, I tasted the Ledaig 10 year old whisky, and today I tried the unpeated Tobermory 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Tobermory is the unpeated release from the distillery.

The Tobermory distillery is situated on the island of Mull. John Sinclair founded the distillery in 1798 as Ledaig distillery, and is the only distillery on Mull.

The distillery is currently owned by Burn Stewart Distillers, a subsidiary of Distell Group Limited of South Africa. Tobermory spirit is used in the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blended whisky. The peated release is named after the former name, Ledaig.

The water comes from a private loch near the Mishnish lochs. The water has some peaty phenols that give Tobermory a slightly phenolic character.

Also Read: Slyrs Whisky

The malted barley is shipped in from the Port Ellen maltings, and Tobermory has only a little storage space, so the casks are stored at Deanston Distillery near Doune.

The Tobermory core range includes a 12 year old and an 18 year old release as well as the Sinclair series, the first of which is the Rioja Cask Finish. There are also various independent bottlings and even a gin available.

The Tobermory single malt is distilled from unpeated malted barley and matured in oak casks for at least ten years. It is non-chill-filtered and without artificial colouring.

Tobermory 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Island whisky

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Green notes and fresh flowers. Hints of black pepper, cereal, winter spice and light oak. Not a lot of fruit or sweetness. Bits of mint.

PALATE: Malt, drying oak, black pepper and light herbal notes. Bits of ginger and cinnamon with hints of lemon peel. Medium-bodied. Not a lot of sweetness. Faint honey notes in the background. Water brings more pepper to the front and makes the soft honey notes disappear. Rather one dimensional.

FINISH: Black pepper, lemon peel and oak. Drying and spicy.

RATING: GOOD

The Tobermory 10 year old Scotch whisky reminds me of the Glenglassaugh Evolution. Both have similar drying oak and pepper notes. It is a bit too spicy for my sweet palate. I prefer whisky with more sweetness and fruity notes. Sadly, there was no fruity sweetness or complexity in the Tobermory.

Comparing it to the Ledaig, I liked the Ledaig a lot more. The Ledaig 10 year old was all peat and green with sweet hints. More complex and drinkable when compared to the Tobermory.

Also Read: Hammerhead 1989 Whisky