Tag: Rating: Very Good Page 6 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

Dimple Pinch 15 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/21/2022

In Blended whisky

It is no secret that my dad loved whisky, especially blended whiskey. My mom always bought him a Chivas 12 year old whisky for his birthday. But for special celebrations and anniversaries, she purchased his favourite favourite, the Dimple Pinch 15 year old blended Scotch whisky.

The distinctive triangular bottle with pinched (dimpled) sides and the gold thread netting has been around since 1893. During the late 19th-century, demand for blended Scotch whisky expanded in all directions. John Haig founded the Haig distillery in 1824.

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Today it is known as Cameronbridge. In 1830, it became the first distillery to produce grain whisky using the column still method. He experimented and mixed different kinds of whisky, creating the Dimple Scotch whisky recipe we know today.

According to some research, Dimple contains a higher than normal malt proportion, including liquid from Glenkinchie and Linkwood distillery. Precisely what this means remains undisclosed.

In the US, it is known as Dimple Pinch, and in the rest of the world, it is simply Dimple whisky.

Today it is owned by Diageo. Other releases under the Haig brand include the Haig Gold Label whisky and Haig Club, associated with David Beckham. Haig Club is a grain whisky sourced from the Cameronbridge distillery.

Dimple Pinch 15 year old Scotch Whisky Review

Dimple Pinch blended Scotch whisky consists of over thirty malt and grain whiskies.

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light amber

NOSE: Elegant and soft with notes of fruit, malt and honey. Not the most complex nose. Bits of green and pear mixed with lemon. No defined spicy notes on the nose. Light woody notes in the background.

PALATE: Notes of malt and fruit. It has a medium body with oak, banana, pear and honey. The Dimple has a few rough edges that need a few drops of water to mellow. The green notes from the nose come through, and it has a mild pepper bite. Easy drinking summer whisky. Not too complex.

FINISH: Short ending on notes of oak, honey and pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

My dad loved his Dimple whisky and only poured a glass on special occasions. Remember, that was the 80’s in South Africa, so the whisky variety was minimal. It is not a bad whisky, but I found it a bit forgettable. It starts delicate but gets better on sip 2 or 3. More flavour comes to the front after a few drops of water.

Perhaps I am spoilt, having enjoyed some big and bold drams lately. This light body dram is probably perfect for summer and will work well for introducing a newbie to whisky. The packaging is impressive and stands out.

In South Africa, Dimple whisky costs around R600. In the US it retails for around $40. You can pick it up on Amazon for around £66. Not a bad price for a 15 year old blended whisky.

Also Read: Ballantine’s 17 yo Scapa Whisky

Nikka from The Barrel Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/21/2022

In Blended whisky

I started my year on a high note. My first tasting was a world whisky – the Paul John Classic Select Cask. And what a high note that was. Creamy and delicious and full of exquisite flavours. The weeks following the Paul John tasting, I tried a blend, a bourbon and a few single malts. I think it is time again for another world whisky.

This week I want to try something else from the East, and I grabbed the Nikka from The Barrel Japanese single malt whisky from my collection. It feels like Japanese whisky currently is their moment in the sun with a high demand for products from there.

First a bit about Nikka: It was the year 1918 when a young man set off from Takehara City for Glasgow to study Chemistry. This man was Masataka Taketsuru. Growing up in a distillery family, he thought that he would continue the family tradition of making sake.

However, soon after arriving in Scotland, he discovered the golden water of life. He found whisky, and it stole his heart. The rest is history.

He studied and apprenticed at distilleries, learning first-hand from craftsmen and received training as a blender. He married Rita and returned to Japan. In 1934 Masataka established Nikka Whisky and built its first distillery in Yoichi. Nikka went from strength to strength.

Today it has a reputation for award-winning whiskies from both the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

I have tried the Nikka Coffee Grain and the Nikka Miyagikyo and loved it. Now it is time for Nikka from the Barrel. This release is a blend of matured whisky including Miyagikyo and Yoichi single malts and a grain whisky that is re-casked (a process known as marriage) for a further 3 to 6 month period.

It is also where the name comes from Nikka from the “re-casked” Barrel. Nikka From the Barrel whisky is bottled at a near cask strength ABV. It is one of the few blended whiskies that are bottled at cask strength.

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Nikka from the Barrel Whisky Review

COUNTRY: Japan

ABV: 51%

COLOUR: Gold red copper

NOSE: Clean and crisp with hints of candied cherries, sherry sweetness, vanilla, and it smells like I am walking through a Japanese pine forest. Bits of banana, lots of oak and spicy cinnamon. The whisky needs to breathe a bit for the alcohol to disappear.

PALATE: Big and bold with some alcohol bite. Oak, caramel, fruit with hints of vanilla and sweet paprika. Citrus notes that border on pectin with strong alcohol notes. Not as smooth as other expressions and somewhat one dimensional on the tongue.

It needs quite a few drops of water to tame the alcohol. Water brings more sweetness to the forefront and tames the pectin notes a bit.

FINISH: Crisp with notes of fruit and oakiness, hints of pepper and caramel.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I am a bit disappointed. After the other Nikka’s I have tasted, I was expecting something more complex and rewarding. Perhaps I was expecting too much. My measure is always, do I finish my glass? I did finish my glass, but just because I was too lazy to get up and change it to something else.

It is not a bad whisky. I have seen glowing reviews on this dram with people loving it. I found it a bit flat. However, everyone’s taste is different. Perhaps I had a hectic day, and this influenced my experience. I will give this another try again in a few weeks and see what I think then.

The Nikka bottle size is only 500ml. The good news, however, is that Nikka is readily available in South Africa. Whisky Brother & Co and other good stores will certainly have it. Other releases from Nikka include the Nikka Pure Malt Red and Nikka Pure Malt Black whisky.

Also Read: Kamiki Malt whisky

Scottish Leader Original Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/10/2022

In Blended whisky

I love tasting whiskies with South African connections, like this Scottish Leader Original blended Scotch whisky. It is even more special when I have had the privilege to meet the Master Distiller and hear all about their vision for a whisky.

And when this Master Distiller is the phenomenal Dr Kirstie Mccallum, it makes the experience even more special.Scottish Leader is owned by Burn Stewart Distillers, part of the Distell Group. Other brands in the Distell portfolio include the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky as well as Bunnahabhain.

The Scottish Leader blend was only created in 1976, so a rather young blend, compared to some of the more established blends around. Regardless of the young status, Scottish Leader is already sold in over 30 countries around the world.

I was fortunate to meet Dr Mccallum during one of her visits to SA, and it was so refreshing to listen to her talk about her vision for the blend. I wrote extensively about Dr Mccallum in this blog post.

Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask whisky

At the end of 2014, the Scottish Leader whisky was re-launched with a new look and updated packaging. The old logo of a deer was replaced with a soaring eagle. At the same time, they also released the new Scottish Leader Signature whisky expression to complement the Scottish Leader Original.

The updated blend includes an increased single malt content to create a richer blend with improved body and balance while retaining the existing characteristics of the original blend.

The blending team used the original 40-year-old recipe to ensure the DNA of Scottish Leader is maintained. The blend includes over 40 different grain and single malt whiskies, including some Tobermory.

Scottish Leader Original Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Copper gold

NOSE: Malt, oak, honey-drizzled fruit salad with a soft smokiness in the background. Hints of sherry sweetness, greenery wood spices.

PALATE: Creamed honey sweetness with hints of smoke and fruit. There are bits of orange with a caramel and nut base. The Original is smooth with a great spice/sweetness balance. Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking with a few drops of water.

FINISH: Medium length and ends in notes of sweetness and smoke with hints of oak.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Scottish Leader Original blended Scotch whisky is smooth and rich. A lovely release. I do prefer the 12 yo and the Signature release to this bottle as they have more complexity, but that is a personal preference. It is a great all-round dram.

It is also very affordable in SA. The retail price is around R 200. It is a versatile whisky that can easily be added to cocktails and work well with food. This is a dram that should be on your ‘To try’ list – if you have not tried it already.

The award-winning Scottish Leader Original pairs beautifully with some Royal Ashton cheese.

Also Read: Bell’s Whisky

Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/20/2021

In Irish Whiskey

Like the vibrant green spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day, Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey proudly wears its distinctive green label. This Irish whiskey is one of the quintessential choices to pay homage to this cherished Irish celebration.

Tullamore DEW, a well-known Irish whiskey brand, is owned by William Grant & Sons. They also own the Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries. The Tullamore distillery traces back to 1829 when Michael Molloy founded the distillery in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. Following Molloy’s passing, the distillery found itself in the capable hands of the Daly family.

Interestingly, it was during the tenure of Daniel E. Williams as General Manager that the iconic DEW initials came into play, derived from his name. Quite the revelation, as many of us might have assumed it stood for dew, that glistening morning moisture on exposed surfaces.

This rich tapestry of Irish whiskey heritage continued to evolve, with the brand changing hands several times, ultimately being acquired by William Grant in 2010. Like the shamrock with its three leaves, Tullamore DEW’s distillation process also unfolds in threes.

The whiskey undergoes triple distillation, blending, and cask maturation. These casks include traditional refill, ex-bourbon, and ex-sherry casks, each imparting its unique character to the final product.

As for the tasting experience, let’s dive into the flavours of Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey:

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Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey Review

Looking at my tasting notes, this is only the 3rd Irish whiskey that I have tasted in the last 4 years.

COUNTRY: Ireland

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A dark amber.

NOSE: A blend of vanilla and caramel greets the senses, accompanied by subtle notes of fresh flowers, butterscotch, and hints of citrus, reminiscent of subtropical fruits. In the backdrop, a delicate interplay of spice, moss, and wood adds depth. After adding water, the spice and wood elements take centre stage.

PALATE: Abundant notes of spice and oak dominate, intermingling with touches of grapefruit and lemon rind. A subtle toffee sweetness and hints of malt dance in the background, but the peppery spice starts to overwhelm. A drop of water tempers some of the whiskey’s fiery aspects, offering a smoother experience.

FINISH: Rather short and end in spicy notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

My experience with Irish whiskies may be limited, but I anticipated a smoother, more approachable whiskey. Surprisingly, the spiciness of Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey takes centre stage, eclipsing other flavour notes. The spice and the oak nearly drown out the sweetness.

Due to the spicy nature, it pairs wonderfully with cheese, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this Irish classic. I indulged in some Tullamore DEW alongside some Irish Dubliner cheese. The synergy between the whiskey and cheese was nothing short of lovely.

Tullamore DEW amplified the vanilla sweetness of the cheese while the cheese softened the peppery notes. The cheese lent its creamy texture to the whiskey, enhancing the woody undertones for a harmonious duet on the palate.

As a bonus, I conducted a lively side-by-side comparison between Tullamore DEW and Jameson whiskey to uncover their distinctive charms.

Also Read: Glenfiddich 18 vs Glenmorangie 18 yo whisky

Three Ships Virgin Oak Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/04/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It is no secret that I love the whisky that comes out of the James Sedgwick distillery. The
Three Ships single cask and limited editions sell out quickly. The Master’s Collection usually disappears within hours. When Pick n Pay brought out the Three Ships Virgin Oak Cask single malt whisky, I immediately picked up a bottle.

But with alcohol bans and everything going on, I have not captured my tasting notes yet; And it is time.

After many years of asking, in June 2018, the first independent bottled Three Ships was released when Checkers bottled the Private Barrel Co. James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky. It was the first South African whisky to join the exclusive Private Barrel Co. collection of whiskies.

The James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky is a lightly peated whisky that spent its first 3 years in older American Oak, followed by 3 years in a seasoned Fino Cask. It was bottled at a very respectable 54.6% ABV, and I rated it Excellent.

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That Boutique-y Whisky Company quickly followed with a Three Ships 6 yo whisky. This 6 yo was matured in American oak and finished in PX casks. Only 1 150 bottles were produced. The artwork on the label depicts Master Distiller Andy Watts filling a Three Ships whisky cask with whisky. It was bottled at 53.7% ABV, and I rated it Very Good.

WhiskyBrother and Co have also collaborated with Three Ships, and their latest release was a 9 yo single casks that were bottled in 2020. These independently bottled releases are extremely popular and sell out quickly.

Now Pick n Pay also jumped on the bandwagon and released a Virgin Oak Cask single malt botting. This specific single malt was hand-selected by Andy Watts, Master Distiller.

Three Ships Virgin Oak Whisky Review

It is non-chill-filtered, natural in colour, and matured in virgin American oak. It was exclusively bottled for Pick n Pay and limited to 2 480 bottles.

ABV: 48.6%

COUNTRY: South Africa

COLOUR: Rich amber

NOSE: Sweet oak spices, vanilla, subtle smoke and fresh pine needles. Unusual and inviting with a nearly tropical fruitiness in the background.

PALATE: Toasted oak, smoky black tea with pepper and nutmeg. It is quite oily, and there are hints of toffee. Bits of fruity sweetness with bread pudding and apricot jam. White pepper, subtle smoke and cinnamon apples. A few drops of water brings the pepper spices to the front but dampens the complexity.

FINISH: Medium length and warming with pepper vanilla and a maltiness.

RATING: VERY GOOD

As usual, the whisky coming from the James Sedwick distillery in Cape Town is world-class. The releases are unusual and complex, with bold flavours. For me personally, the Virgin Oak Cask is a bit too spicy. My palate prefers a sweeter dram and gravitates more towards the Bain’s whisky releases.

John enjoyed this release more as his palate is not quite as sweet. I think this release will work wonderfully with a robust, creamy cheese such as an aged cheddar or something similar.

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