Tag: Rating: Good Page 3 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

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Review

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/26/2021

In Blended whisky

Continuing my exploration of budget whisky blends and today, I look at the very popular J&B Rare Blended Scotch whisky. It is another well known and affordable release from Diageo.

In 1749, Giacomo Justerini fell in love with an opera singer, Margherita Bellini, and followed her to London. He was the son of an Italian master distiller and brought with him various recipes for liqueurs.

In England, Bellini introduced him to George Johnson and together, they established the wine merchants Johnson & Justerini. In 1760, Justerini sold his part of the business to Johnson and went back home to Italy.

Johnson and subsequently his family continued to grow the business. In 1831, Johnson’s family sold the company to Alfred Brooks. The firm was renamed Justerini & Brooks.

Seeing the potential of blended whisky, J&B was one of the first London spirits merchants to buy up malt whisky stocks and create its own “house” blend.

In the early 1930s, J&B Rare Scotch whisky was developed to appeal to the American palate and as a chief rival to another new-style blended Scotch; Cutty Sark. The American market loved the blend, and over time it became one of the best-known budget blends in the world.

J&B whisky is a blend of 42 malt and grain whiskies. It includes single malts from Knockando, Auchroisk and Glen Spey. It is a NAS release, and in South Africa, it retails for around R 190. On Amazon it retails for around £26.

Other releases in the J&B whisky portfolio include the J&B Jet, J&B Reserve and the J&B Urban Honey liqueur.

Also Read: Black & White Whisky

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Grain sweetness, alcohol notes with malt and wood. Delicate hints of fruit salad sweetness. Not very complex.

PALATE: Drying oak and malt with caramel sweetness and hints of vanilla. Raws alcohol notes on the palate, which makes the dram rather rough. Water softens the alcohol notes but brings forward pepper and bitter lemon.

FINISH: Medium length with oak and bitter lemon.

RATING: GOOD

The nose has a very distinctive grain sweetness that reminds me of my university days. We could not afford anything more expensive, and we mixed the J&B whisky with some Appletiser. John used to drink this with lemonade at university. A reasonable whisky to use in cocktails.

I find that it has a cloying sweetness and too many rough alcohol notes. The bitter lemon finish is also a bit off-putting. I need to do a budget whisky side by side review to see where this fits in with the other affordable drams I have tried this year. It is not my favourite.

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Kamiki Blended Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/26/2021

In Blended Malt Whisky

Time for a world whisky again and this week I look at the Kamiki blended malt whisky. I tasted this interesting expression last year at Bottega Cafe in Parkhurst, where Savi has an fantastic variety of whisky.

Kamiki is a blended malt whisky that combines Japanese malt whiskies with specially selected malt whisky from around the world. After blending, the Kamiki whisky is cut with Japanese spring water and then finished in casks made from Japanese cedar wood.

Also Read: Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

Japanse Cedar or Yoshino Sugi trees are indigenous to Japan and grow at the base of Mount Miwa. These trees are well known as a particularly aromatic type of wood.

The brand website states that Kamiki is the first whisky ever to enjoy a cedar cask finish. According to the experts, the aromatic wood is difficult to handle but imparts immense depth to the final liquid.

Kamiki translates as ‘God’s breath’ and is named after the winds that descend from Mount Miwa in Nara. Kamiki blended malt whisky was bottled at cask strength and is non-chill-filtered and has no age statement.

Kamiki Blended Malt Whisky Review

ABV:48.5%

COLOUR: Rich Gold with hints of red

NOSE: Fruity sweetness and caramel with red berries with lashings of dry wood. Faint spicy hints with smoke. Not a very complex nose and there is a bit of alcohol burn.

PALATE: Tobacco and white pepper with caramel sweetness and raw wood. It is like standing in a carpenters workshop while they are sanding, and the wood dust burns your eyes and throat. The first bit of wood is warming, but then it quickly becomes overwhelming. Light fruity notes with cinnamon.

Many people commented that the Kamiki has some peaty notes, but neither John nor I picked up any peat. It needs a bit of water to tone down the alcohol burn. Water brings more fruity sweetness to the forefront. However, the whisky is a bit one dimensional with not a lot of depth.

FINISH: Medium length and end in notes of pepper and wood.

RATING: GOOD

I was expecting a bit more from this blended malt. The spice and woody notes quickly become overbearing and drown out any of the other, more subtle notes. My personal view; the cedar wood makes for a clever marketing angle.

However, the impact of the cedar wood finish drowns out of anything else. I also suspect that there are a few rather young malts in the blend, as some of the alcohol has distinct raw notes.

The Kamiki whisky retails for around R800 in SA and is only available in a 500ml bottle. You can find out more about Savi’s Bottega Whisky Club and see what other interesting releases he has.

Also Read: Milk & Honey Classic Whisky

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Earlier in 2020, I started exploring whisky from the Glenglassaugh distillery. The first whisky I tried was the first release of the series, the Revival release. It’s named to celebrate the reopening and revival of the distillery. Today it is time for the second release in the series, the Glenglassaugh Evolution single malt Scotch whisky.

Col. James Moir founded the Glenglassaugh distillery in 1875. He ran the distillery with his two nephews until 1892, when Highland Distillers sold Glenglassaugh. The distillery had periods of being closed, and then in 1960 was completely re-built.

Glenglaussagh distillery mainly produced whisky for blends, including Cutty Sark and the Famous Grouse. The distillery continued to produce whisky until 1986, when it was mothballed.

Also Read: Whisky rating system

On the lookout for a Scottish distillery to buy, Scaent Company acquired this Highland distillery in 2008. The intention was to bring this distillery fully backs to life. They restarted production and upgraded some of the processes. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery

Company acquired the Glenglassaugh distillery, and they continued to build upon the work done by Scaent.

Torfa followed Glenglaussaugh Evolution, and there are various Limited Editions also available. The Evolution release is a NAS whisky matured in a unique combination ex-Tennessee first-fill whiskey barrels. It has a natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Crisp gold

NOSE: Delicious sweetness with white grapes, green grass, cinnamon and vanilla. Warming and inviting. A bit of alcohol on the nose, and it needs to stand for a bit to breathe. The nose is lovely and promises many delights.

PALATE: White pepper and dry oak with hints of malt. Only later does some of the fruitiness come through. Some alcohol heat. The sweetness promised by the nose has disappeared. There are hints of lemon rind, which softens with the addition of a bit of water. The water softens the alcohol and pepper heat but does not bring any more sweetness. Medium body with not a lot of complexity.

FINISH: Lemon pepper and dry oak.

RATING: GOOD

I could not finish my glass. The pepper is just too overwhelming on the palate and the finish. The nose was delicious and promised all kinds of pleasures, but the promised sweetness did not appear.

Looking back at the Glenglassaugh Revival release I tasted a year ago, my tasting notes were pretty similar for that release, just to peppery. I might only try the Torfa release next year at this rate.

Also Read: Maraska ABC Whisky

The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/13/2020

In Single Malt whisky

When it comes to distilleries, Balvenie holds a special place in my heart, landing a spot in my top five favourite distilleries. It’s a sentiment shared by John, and our recent adventure into the world of whiskies led us to the Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. A name that resonates with connoisseurs, Balvenie also boasts a 17 year old counterpart.

Nestled in the picturesque region of Speyside, Scotland, the Balvenie distillery has been crafting exceptional spirits since 1892. Founded by the skilled William Grant, who honed his craft at the renowned Mortlach distillery, Balvenie has an illustrious heritage. The man behind the magic today is none other than the esteemed Malt Master, David Stewart.

I’ve delved deep into the rich history and various releases from Balvenie, and one of my all-time favourites has to be the Balvenie Caribbean Cask. It’s the kind of dram that pairs perfectly with cheese or chocolate, offering a symphony of flavours.

Back to the Doublewood 12 year old Scotch, this whisky is initially matured in refill American oak casks before moving into first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry butts for an additional nine months.

After this, the whisky is transferred to large oak vessels for 3-4 months, allowing the flavours from different casks to beautifully “marry.” This expression was unveiled by Balvenie in 1993.

You can easily recognise Balvenie whisky on the shelf. They are bottled in the classic Balvenie bottle that exudes timeless charm. The bottle’s shape harks back to a bygone era, and the traditional dark cream colours and fonts evoke a sense of nostalgia.

Now, let’s talk about what really matters – the tasting experience.

Related Article: Glenfiddich 12 yo Whisky

The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: The Balvenie 12 year old Doublewood is a dark, almost polished amber and burnt copper colour.

NOSE: On the nose, the Balvenie 12 year old greets you with a blend of oak and sherry notes. Hints of fresh grapes, red berries, and an array of spices dance around, with vanilla gently lingering in the background. It’s a rich and inviting start that promises a memorable journey.

PALATE: The palate takes a slightly unexpected turn. The dominant note is unmistakably oak, with the sherry influence remaining more subtle than anticipated. Those delightful hints of fresh grapes, red berries, and spices promised by the nose remain present but are somewhat subdued.

There are bits of vanilla trailing along. However, it’s not as complex as one might expect from a whisky aged in two distinct types of wood. The Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old whisky feels a tad flat, leaving me underwhelmed.

FINISH: The finish drops off rather swiftly, which is a tad disappointing.

RATING: GOOD

Now, as someone with a collection boasting at least six bottles of Balvenie, I was possibly expecting more from this one. I distinctly remember a previous encounter with the 12 year old single malt that I enjoyed. Perhaps I encountered a dud bottle this time.

The nose is lovely, warming and inviting, promising a unique experience, but on the palate, it falls flat. The finish is also short and unmemorable.

Balvenie Distillery has a well-earned reputation for crafting excellent whiskies. I’m eager to revisit this release, possibly from a different bottle. It’s worth noting that the success of the 12 year old Doublewood led to the creation of a 17 year old Doublewood edition.

For those seeking a more in-depth exploration, I’ve compared this release with the Balvenie Caribbean Cask whisky side-by-side, highlighting the nuances in a dedicated blog post. Explore the intricate world of Balvenie with me.

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Laphroaig Brodir Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/20/2020

In Single Malt whisky

A Port finish release from Islay is not something you see every day. Today I try the Laphroaig Brodir single malt Scotch whisky. Over the years, my palate has evolved. In the beginning, I was not able to appreciate the peaty whiskies.

I found the Ardbeg and Octomore releases to harsh for my sweeter palate. But as I was exposed to more and more whisky, I learned to appreciate and even enjoy the more earthy drams. Now I am quite happy with a peaty Octomore or Laphroaig.

Whisky with some sweet notes remains my favourite. However, I discovered peated whisky, aged in Port, sherry or rum casks, and I fell in love. I find the balance between the earthy notes and the sweetness perfect for my palate.

One of my favourite ‘sweeter’ peated whiskies is the Laphroaig PX Cask. The balance between the spice and sweetness combined with earthy peat is wonderful. Looking at the Laphroaig range, I saw that the Laphroaig Brodir single malt had a Port wood finish and this is something unique I have to try.

I have captured tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask and the Laphroaig 10 yo and also covered some of the Laphroaig history. The distinctive Laphroaig’s flavour comes in part from its closeness to the coast and the high moss content of the peat, which is processed in the distillery’s own floor maltings.

The Laphroaig Brodir Batch 001 single malt whisky was originally released in 2012 as an exclusive bottling for a Scandinavian ferry. Laphroaig launched Batch 002 in 2014. Brodir is the ancient Norse translation for the word “brother”, which is a nod to the ancient connections between Islay and Norway.

Laphroaig Brodir Whisky Review

Laphroaig Brodir is a NAS release. The whisky was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a second maturation in European oak casks seasoned with Ruby Port.

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark copper

NOSE: Seaweed, soft iodine and heavy, rich port notes. Hints of tropical fruit, red berries, salty sea winds and smoke. Cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with bits of peat and a light chocolate note.

PALATE: Tobacco and ash mixed with fruity sweetness and dry oak. Peat and cream with some wood spice, toffee, marmalade, plums and salt. Quite sweet, but in a sticky sweetness kind of way. Medium-bodied. It comes over disjointed and unbalanced. Water makes it slightly more drinkable.

FINISH: Peaty smoke with pepper and cinnamon and a port sweetness.

RATING: GOOD

An interesting experiment, however, I battled to finish the glass. It is heavy drinking and somewhat sweet. Not something I would rush to try again.

Brodir is not even close to as refined and smooth as the Laphroaig PX Cask. The sweet notes overwhelm the peat and leave some raw edges. Probably my least favourite Laphroaig I have tasted so far. Not to far ahead of the Brodir is the Laphroaig Four Oak whisky. I found this release similarly uninspiring.

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