Tag: Rating: Very Good Page 15 of 21

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky I rated Very Good. When the dram is enjoyable and memorable, and we don’t mind having another glass later in the week. This is bottles I might use for cocktails and the occasional afternoon sipper. Rating: Very Good

Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/31/2016

In Single Malt whisky

My never-ending quest to find affordable, drinkable whisky. Finding well priced blended whiskies is relatively easy. There are plenty of them around, and some of them are quite good. However, single malt whisky is a different story. There are not too many new single malts available at a reasonable price in South Africa.

With the worldwide increase in single malt prices and our unstable currency, it might become even more difficult in future. My ongoing search led me to the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Highland single malt Scotch whisky. I found it at a Pick n Pay. I have never heard of Muirhead, but it was in the affordable category, so I grabbed it.

Muirhead is owned by Picard Vins & Spiritueux S.A. An affiliate company that also owns Tullibardine and Highland Queen. According to some research, the brand is today distributed in over 30 markets around the world, both under the Muirhead’s Blue Seal range of blended whiskies, and the Silver Seal range of single malt whiskies.

The Muirhead Clans’ slogan is part of the labelling. It reads: “Auxilio Dei” which means “By the Help of God”. The name Muirhead means, “Head of the Moor” or “Highest Point of the Moor” in Gaelic.

Muirhead’s Silver Seal Maturity single malt whisky is aged in oak barrels for 5 years and from the Scottish Highlands. It does not state a distillery name.

Also Read: Glenmorangie 18 yo whisky

Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky Review

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ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Sunset yellow with bits of yellow floating around.

NOSE: The first notes that come through is barley, spices and oak. Hints of condensed milk and marshmallow provide a sweet side. There is a bit of raw alcohol on the nose. The nose is not quite as rich or complex as I would have hoped for, and it seems a bit young.

PALATE: It has quite a nice mouthful feeling. Without water, there is a bit of an alcohol bite and some raw edges. The initial palate is a bold winter spice, but not in a negative way. After a while, some of the sweetness and richness comes through slowly.

There are notes of oak, lemon drops and barley. The addition of water makes the Muirhead Silver Seal softer and takes away some of the harsher alcohol notes. The water also releases more of the sweetness and vanilla and make the dram more drinkable.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering and builds slowly to a nice warm feeling in your stomach. It ends in oak, lemon drops and barley.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Muirhead has an interesting flavour profile. For me, it’s a whisky that I could picture in the middle of winter, in front of a fire after dinner, when you are having a philosophical conversation with someone.

Indeed a good buy at the affordable price point. It is inexpensive but does not taste cheap. It is very similar to the Highland Queen. I would nearly venture to say that it is a spicier version of the Highland Queen. Have you tried this Muirhead whisky release yet?

I was surprised to spot some of the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity whisky in the US. It is the Muirhead Silver Seal 20 year old whisky that is not available in SA, but it was interesting to see it there.

>Also Read:Glenfiddich Gran Reserva whisky

Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/03/2016

In Single Malt whisky

Today I try a new world whisky, the Sullivans Cove Double Cask single malt whisky. New world whiskies are always a treat. I enjoy exploring all the different world whiskies, sometimes more than the Scottish ones.

With Scottish whiskies, you know what you can expect; a peaty Islay, a smoky Highland or a sweeter Speyside. But with world whiskies, the lines are much less defined.

Opening up a dram from the ‘new whisky world’ is very much like opening a lucky packet. You are not sure what you are going to get. Something delicious or “what were they thinking?”.

It is always a fun exploration. Sometimes the bottle shape is more interesting than the inside (like the bottle in the shape of the African continent – Wild Reeds Whiskey from Schoonspruit Distillery), you never know.

I have tried the Sullivan’s Cove Bourbon Cask and loved it, and I am hoping the Double Cask release will also live up to my high expectations. Interestingly enough, there are an estimated 18 licensed whisky distillers in Australia, with the most significant concentration of them around the island of Tasmania.

It might have something to do with the amazing air and water quality. You can read all about the clean air and water of Tasmania in the other blog post.

The Sullivans Cove Double Cask was aged in American oak bourbon casks and French Port oak casks before being bottled.

Also Read: Oban 14 yo whisky

Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: Australia

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Rich Gold

NOSE: Initially, I get hints of grape sweetness and tropical fruits. Malt and toffee apple mix with hints of oak and cinnamon. I find a nose to be quite subtle and fresh. It might be my imagination, but there are faint hints of the typical bourbon vanilla when you add a few drops of water.

PALATE:It starts spicy and then slowly, woody notes come through. There are hints of honey and butterscotch mixed with freshly baked oats cookies and fruit jam. Bits of vanilla and cinnamon float around. Water improves the smoothness and makes it more rounded. Water also brings out more of the ‘bourbon-y’ vanilla sweetness.

FINISH: It builds very slowly from a gentle beginning through to a medium finish. The Double Cask ends in spicy cinnamon and bitter lemon notes.

Rating: VERY GOOD

The Sullivans Cove is an easy-drinking whisky and something that Australia can be very proud of. We had to add water carefully as the dram has a 40% ABV. Generally, whisky in South Africa is bottled at 43%, and I never realised how big a difference the extra bit sometimes make.

Add just a few drops of water to allow the vanilla to come out. Add too much, diluted this whisky, and it became quite watery and thin.

Also Read: Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

Slate Blended Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/05/2016

In Bourbon whiskey

To kick of Bourbon Heritage month, I try a Slate blended bourbon whiskey. This one is a budget bourbon again. And after my last two budget bourbon experiments, I attempt this one with some level of trepidation.

I tried both the Heaven Hill Old Style and the Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon and needless to say, they will be part of our collection for a long time to come. Finishing the bottles will be difficult unless I start making bourbon-based cocktails in bulk.

I found the Slate bourbon in one of the smaller bottle stores that I visit. The amount of information on this brand, distillery, age and origin is so limited that I needed to scroll to the 4^th page on Google before finding anything worthwhile; let’s just say, I have a few antacid ready next to my tasting glass, just for in case.

But before I get to the tasting, here is a bit of the info that I found on Slate blended bourbon. According to the marketing spiel:

“… Slate is known as one of the smoothest bourbons on the market. Silky, smoky and sweet it is great neat over ice or if you would rather, mixed with cola.”

My research indicated that Slate blended bourbon is a Diageo new style product launched in Australia (and South Africa) to test the market before launching globally.

Slate Blended bourbon is blended in Chicago from various bourbons to create a smoother mouthfeel. There is also a Slate ’20 version, which is a ‘ready to drink’ alcopop blend of Slate bourbon, lime and ginger. (Only available in the UK as far as I can see)

Slate ‘20 takes its name from the blended bourbon used in the recipe, which is sourced from the Four Roses distillery in the US. The ’20 refers to 1920 when bourbon was first distilled in Chicago.

In SA, the Slate blended bourbon retails for around R200 ($14). After all of that, let’s try this blended bourbon and see.

Also Read: Bourbon Coffee

Slate Blended Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A dark golden colour.

NOSE: Subtle with cereal and caramel, oak and vanilla notes.

PALATE: Smooth, spicy vanilla, honey sweetness and oak. Medium body bourbon that is not very complex. Easy drinking. Adding water enhances the sweetness and it becomes almost too sweet.

FINISH: Medium length finish which ends in sweet caramel notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It does not give me heartburn, and it is undoubtedly better than the Heaven Hill Old Style and the Evan Williams bourbon. Having said that, it will not win any major prizes.

It is supposed to taste like “real old Chicago bourbon”… I am not sure if there is anyone who still knows what “Real Old Chicago bourbon” tasted like, so I take their word for it.

Has anyone tried this bourbon before?

Also Read: Koval Bourbon Single Barrel

Chivas Regal Extra Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/29/2016

In Blended whisky

When you hear the name Chivas, it brings to mind consistent quality. For me, it reminds me of my father. His favourite was the Chivas Regal 12 yo whisky. The old staple blended Scotch whisky that you can find everywhere.

He used to get a bottle or 2 for Christmas and savoured it through the year. Now and again he would share a sip with me, when my mom was not looking.

During 2014, Chivas released a new bottling, Chivas Regal Extra blended Scotch whisky. In honour of my dad, I had to try it. The Chivas Extra whisky has no age statement and according to my research, has more of a sherry character than the traditional Chivas releases.

All Chivas Regal blends have sherry-aged whisky blended in, but the percentage for the Chivas Regal Extra is slightly higher.

Also Read:Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky

The Sherry casks come from the Sherry Bodegas in Spain, where the casks are filled with the rich, sweet Oloroso sherry, which soaks into the wood during their time in the Bodegas. It was made to fit between the well-loved Chivas 12 year old whisky and the more upmarket (read expensive) Chivas 18 year old whisky.

It is also Chivas’ first global expression since 2007. Chivas Regal is produced by Chivas Brothers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. Founded in 1786, the Strathisla distillery is the home of Chivas Regal.<

According to Colin Scott, the Master Blender, Chivas Regal Extra goes particularly well with steaks and sticky-toffee pudding.

Chivas Regal Extra Blended Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A dark caramel

NOSE: Fruity sweetness mixed with pears, warming nutmeg and caramel. Not overly sweet, but delicate and fresh.

PALATE: Medium bodied whisky with notes of pears and cinnamon mixed with cherries, hints of dry oak and caramel. The Chivas Extra does not have the expected sherry sweetness, and water softens and smooths out the dram.

FINISH: Medium length finish that ends in sweet Christmas cake.

A nice enough expression. The sherry is delicate and not overwhelming, but I was hoping for a bit more. I was expecting the classic Chivas character balanced with a big mouthful of sherry.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I think my father might have liked this new release. It is a great whisky for summer. Not too sweet and well-balanced with some summer spices.

The price for the Chivas Regal Extra in South Africa is around R450. I did a side by side comparison between the Chivas Extra and the 12 yo, and you can read all about the differences.

Also Read: Glengoyne 21 yo Whisky

Kornog Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/22/2016

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at something from France, the Kornog single malt whisky. On the windswept Northern coast of French Brittany, the old farm that houses the Glann ar Mor distillery has sustained life and faced the sea elements since around 1668.

Closer to Plymouth than to Paris, this small distillery makes peated and unpeated whisky. Follow the road from Paris, through Le Mans, Rennes and Saint-Brieuc until it ends by the coast.

Here you will find the small little distillery established by the Celtic Whisky Compangnie in 1999. Their first unpeated single malt was released in 2008 under the Glann ar Mor label. Glann ar Mor translates from “ by the sea” in the Breton language.

Kornog whisky is the peated expression of the distillery. It is peated at about 35 – 40 ppm of phenol. Kornog translates to “West Wind” in Breton. Compared to the Scottish distilleries, Glann ar Mor is a small distillery with only 2 stills. Maturation takes place in Ex-Sauternes casks and ex-bourbon barrels.

The ambition of Glann ar Mor is to offer the world an authentic whisky in the Celtic tradition with a Breton heart. I have the limited release Kornog Taouarc’h Pevared 10SC expression. The peated whisky was aged in ex-Sauternes casks.

Also Read: Ardbeg Wee Beastie Whisky

Kornog Single Malt Whisky Review

Kornog single malt whisky is bottled without artificial colouring or chill-filtration.

COUNTRY: France

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: A light wheat colour.

NOSE: Notes of Peat, light smoke, seaweed and salt. Faint hints of fruity sweetness mixed with oak.

PALATE: Peat, TCP, medicinal notes with soft smoke, oak, seaweed, light peppery taste. The fruity sweetness from the nose is very faint on the palate and only released when water is added. The peat is not overwhelming but nicely balanced with the pepper spice and oak. The Kornog is a medium-bodied whisky and not very complex.

FINISH: The finish is medium length and surprisingly sweet. The caramel sweetness comes through in the end and balances the peppery notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

When I first tried the Kornog Taouarc’h Pevared in 2013, I was not fond of it at all. I found it rough and the medicinal notes to harsh. I think over time, my palate matured as I tried more and more peaty whiskies. Re-tasting this whisky now, I can better appreciate the peaty smoke, and I don’t mind a second glass.

It is also an excellent whisky to pair with mature cheddar cheese such as the Wyke mature Cheddar or a Etorki cheese. Another whisky from France worth trying is the Armorik whisky.

Also Read: Glen Grant 12 yo whisky