Tag: Rating: Very Good Page 7 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

anCnoc 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/01/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am tasting the anCnoc 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Knockdhu distillery is a whisky distillery in the scenic village of Knock in Aberdeenshire in the Scottish Highlands. Together with Old Pulteney and Balblair, anCnoc is owned by Inver House Distillers Limited.

Also part of the brand portfolio is the Hankey Bannister and Catto’s blended whiskies. Inver House, in turn, is a subsidiary of the Thai Beverage Company.

John Morrison purchased the Knock Estate in 1892. He saw that the surrounding land was ideal for barley growth and had an abundance of peat. It was also helpful that the Great North Railway line ran nearby. Shortly after he bought the estate, he uncovered a spring on Knock Hill’s southern slopes.

He discovered that the water had a wonderful flavour and sent it to a laboratory owned by Distiller’s Company Limited in Edinburgh for evaluation. The tests confirmed that the water was of outstanding quality.

Distiller’s Company Limited made John Morrison an offer for the site, which he accepted. The Knockdhu distillery was built in May of 1893. Knockdhu renamed their whiskies anCnoc to avoid confusion with the nearby Knockando distillery.

In Gaelic, the name anCnoc means “the hill”. It was one of the delicious whiskies I tried on my first visit to the beautiful Dullstroom and the Wild About Whisky bar.

Related Post: Glenlivet 12 yo whisky

anCnoc 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: A light yellow wheat colour.

NOSE: On opening the anCnoc, there is an immediate aroma of pears. On the nose, there are cereals and oak with sweet smelling honey and spice. The rich bouquet of mixed flowers intermingles with the spiciness of vanilla.

PALATE: Without water, the palate is smooth and rich, with spicy notes of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon coming through the sweetness slowly. There are hints of fresh fruit and citrus. Adding water to the anCnoc 12 yo whisky softens the palate, but also releases more citrus, and oak notes that start to overwhelm the sweetness. Water dilutes the whisky a bit, making it less complicated and flat.

FINISH: Without water, the anCnoc’s finish is long and builds with honey and spicy notes. After adding a bit of water, the finish changes to a medium length that ends in pepper and citrus notes.

RATING: VERY GOOD

Is the anCnoc 12 year old whisky a knockout? Not entirely, nevertheless, it is an easy-drinking and affordable dram that should be in your collection. Just add water carefully or rather not at all. There is also the anCnoc Peatheart Edition that I tasted and wrote about.

This release has made it onto my Top 5 Single Malt whiskies under R500 list.

Also Read: Glen Moray Classic whisky

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/27/2021

In Single Malt whisky

My third blog post on the Glenglassaugh distillery from the Scottish Highlands. For some reason, I have not liked any whisky from this distillery. Both the Glenglassaugh Revival and the Evolution release I rated as Good. Today I try to finish the last of my mini bottle from this Highland distillery, and it is time for the Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch whisky.

I found the Revival release drying on the palate, and the Evolution Scotch overly spicy. Both of these had an amazing nose that was rich and complex, with a promise of fruity sweetness. But on tasting them, I was left disappointed. I have to say, I am opening this mini bottle with a bit of trepidation.

The Glenglassaugh distillery sits on a hillside, on the Moray Firth coast overlooking the North Sea. James Moir and two of his nephews established the distillery in 1875. He chose the site due to its proximity to a clean water supply, the Glassaugh Springs and easy access to the nearby barley fields.

It changed hands a few times but continued to produce whisky. However, during the economic downturn of 1986, this small remote distillery stopped production. It was mothballed and all but forgotten.

In 2008, the Dutch-based Scaent Group acquired the distillery for £5 million and reopened it. In 2013 Billy Walker and the BenRiach Whisky Company purchased it. BenRiach is a subsidiary of the Brown-Forman Corporation.

Glenglassaugh Torfa single malt Scotch was released in 2014 and refer to the Old Norse word for turf or peat. It has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and peated to 20 ppm.

Torfa has no age statement and has a natural colour, and is non-chill-filtered. In SA, it retails for around R670.

Also Read: Mackmyra Svensk Rok Whisky

Glenglassaugh Torfa Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Yellow gold.

NOSE: Rich earthy peat, smoke and custard sweetness in equal measures. Hints of cold ocean breeze and warming pepper spices. Wood smoke and a gentle fruit note in the background; just a lovely nose.

PALATE<: Warming earthy peat, drying ash and smoke. It has quite an alcohol bite. Letting it breathe for a while allows a mellow, fruity note to appear with hints of sour cherries. Earthy moss with hints of sea salt and honey drizzled over red apples. Light pepper and ginger notes with a medium body.

However, adding a few drops of water changes the Torfa. The water brings out more pepper spice and lemon peel bitterness and mutes the complexity. After the water, it has the same overwhelming pepper notes that I found in Revival and Evolution whisky releases.

FINISH: Medium length that, before water, lingers with peat and honey and hints of liquorice. After adding some water, it is all lemon pepper and pectin.

RATING: VERY GOOD

This Glenglassaugh Torfa whisky poses a predicament. If you let it stand long enough for the worst of the alcohol to float away, it is elegant and drinkable without water. The moment you add the water, the spicy notes overwhelm everything else, and you are left with bitter pectin, which is not ideal.

This one would be my favourite of the three releases, but I would hesitate to buy more bottles from this distillery. Just like Dalmore and Highland Park, the distillery flavour profile just does not suit my tastes. If you like more spicy drams, this will be perfect.

However, I would rather spend some time with Brown Forman’s other Scottish Highland whisky, Glendronach, which has a much sweeter taste profile.

Also Read: Millstone 8 yo French Oak Whisky

Glenkinchie 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/17/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Time to move back down to the Scottish Lowlands this week. The Lowlands has three well-known malt distilleries, namely Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie. Today I investigate Glenkinchie and especially the Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Lowland whiskies traditionally were softer and more floral compared to the more Northern releases. The name Glenkinchie Distillery was registered in 1837 and lay a stone through from Edinburgh near the charming village of Pencaitland. It draws it water from the Lammermuir Hills. Together with Oban (West Highlands), Dalwhinnie (Highland), Talisker (Islands), Cragganmore (Speyside) and Lagavulin (Islay), Glenkinchie represents the Lowlands in the Diageo Classic Malts Range.

Also Read: Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX whisky

The Glenkinchie 12 year old single malt is the entry-level single malt bottling from the distillery that replaces the previous 10 year old. Glenkinchie also releases a Distillers Edition. The year 2017 is an important year for Glenkinchie. They will be celebrating the 180th anniversary of the distillery.

So in honour of this outstanding achievement, let’s try this Lowland whisky. I have paired this Glenkinchie 12 year old with some Wensleydale cheese with mango and ginger, and it made for a delicious pairing.

Glenkinchie 12 year old Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Lowlands

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat

NOSE: Fresh cut flowers and grass with hints of mint leaves. The nose is delicate and sweet with notes of liquorice, orange cake, vanilla, toffee and toasted oak.

PALATE: Oak with vanilla and hints of butterscotch. Lots of citrus and pepper spice and very little of the subtle flowery notes promised by the nose. Orange marmalade and lemon rind with bits of toffee sweetness and fresh fruit. Water releases a bit more fruity notes but also makes the lemon rind more pronounced.

FINISH: Medium length with notes of pepper and lemon drops. Drying.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I was hoping that the floral notes of this Lowland whisky would translate from the nose to the palate. Not a bad dram, but a bit too peppery for my liking. I prefer something a bit sweeter. Still not bad for the price point.

In South Africa the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky retails for around R 850 which, for an aged single malt Scotch whisky, is not bad. In India the price is around ₹ 6,780. Worth adding to your collection.

Recently I got to taste the Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition, and it was terrific. What did you think of the Glenkinchie 12 year old whisky?

Also Read: Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/21/2021

In Bourbon whiskey

Today I look at a bourbon that is readily available in SA, the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey. It is also quite affordable, which also helps. Records show that some form of distilling took place on the site in 1775 already.

Today it is known as the Buffalo Trace distillery. The first official distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton.

The Buffalo Trace distillery is in Frankfort, Kentucky. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, was introduced in August 1999.

Related Article: WL Weller Wheated Bourbon

The whiskey was named in tribute to the mighty buffalo that carved paths through the wilderness in the trek to the Great Planes and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them.

The distillery was fortunate; during Prohibition, the distillery stayed working. They made whiskey for “medicinal purposes”. The Buffalo Trace distillery also produces other spirits such as Sazerac rye whiskey and vodka.
The Buffalo Trace straight bourbon whiskey mash bill is not disclosed. However, based on research, it combines corn, rye and malted barley. The rye ratio is less than 10%. The Buffalo Trace mash bill is apparently similar to the George T Stagg and the Eagle Rare bourbon mash bill.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 45%.

COLOUR: A reddish copper. Quite a dark colour.

NOSE: Sherry sweetness and is rich and complex. There are hints of candied fruit, caramel, vanilla, brandy pudding and oak. Little bits of spice float in the background.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has quite a big mouthful. There are notes of fruit, orange marmalade and oak. Bits of cinnamon with toasted oak floating about. When you add some water, the palate changes, the bourbon becomes almost watery and more fruity.

The sweetness and the spice disappears, and the complexity reduces. I always add a little water, and this was the first whiskey where the water nearly ruined the taste.

FINISH: The finish before adding water was long and ended in notes of spicy sweetness. After adding water to the Buffalo Trace, the finish shortened, and it was quite flat.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Buffalo Trace is a great straight bourbon, however, drink it neat. When you look at bourbon and cheese pairings, the Buffalo Trace works very well with some aged cheddar. It is perfect for cocktails as a base because it is robust enough. Especially in an Old Fashioned or a Moscow Mule, it works very well.

Another excellent pairing for the Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey is a snickers bar. Bourbon and this caramel and peanuts covered in milk chocolate bar is a match made in heaven.

I have done a side by side comparison between this bourbon and the Maker’s Mark to see how they compare. For my last side by side comparison in 2021, I put this Buffalo Trace next to the Bulleit bourbon to see which one is better. There is even a side by side comparison between this bourbon and the Woodford Reserve.

Also Read: 1792 Bourbon

Balblair 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/11/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I have slowly been working through my collection of Balblair Vintage mini’s this past year. Just as I finished my last review on the 1990 Vintage, Balblair surprised me with something new. They moved away from their well-known vintage releases in favour of aged statement releases.

Staying with their house style of apricots, oranges, spices, floral notes, and green apple notes, Balblair released a 12 year old, the Balblair 15 year old, 18 year old whisky and a 25 year old single malt whisky.

There is also a Balblair 17 year old whisky that is a travel retail release. Still aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, the goal was to revive interest in their creaminess and fruit-forward flavour profile.

There has been quite a bit of comment, both positive and negative, in the whisky halls regarding the change. Many people wanted to stock up on their favourite Balblair Vintages before they disappear.

However, I think change is good ,and this allows me a new look at Balblair, starting with the Balblair 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky. It also makes understanding their core range easier, and according to some information, Balblair distillery will continue to release Vintage bottles regularly.

I was invited to take part in the Balblair Twitter tasting during May, where they introduced their new releases to some whisky bloggers. However, South African Customs had other ideas (as usual).

The samples only arrived two weeks after the Twitter tasting. But now I have a leisurely time to look at each release and evaluate it without any interruption.

Balblair is a Highland Distillery surrounded by beautiful by rugged mountains and uses the Allt Dearg springs as their water source. It is owned by Inver House Distillers, who also own Catto’s, Hankey Bannister and Speyburn whisky.

The range comes in new packaging but retains the Balblair’s signature bottle shape. The new logo is beautiful and inspired by the nearby Struie Hill. The Balblair 12 year old Scotch was matured in ex-bourbon and double fired American oak casks and is non-chill filtered and has no added colour.

Also Read: The Arran Malt Sherry Whisky

Balblair 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Polished gold

NOSE: Wood, wispy sweetness, green notes fruit, grass, and spices. The nose is soft and delicate.

PALATE: Barley and oak mixed with wood, ripe red berries and hints of honey. Bits of pepper heat, vanilla, and orange peel. Not as sweet as the nose promised. I was expecting more sweetness on the palate. Water softens the pepper spice heat and brings more orange blossoms to the front.

FINISH: Long and lingering and the best bit of dram. It ends in pepper and orange notes and is beautifully warming.

RATING: VERY GOOD

What an exciting start to the age statement releases from Balblair. For me, the Balblair 12 year old captures the essence of their house style and is the foundation from which all the other age statements follow.

I found the spiciness of this release a bit too much for my specific liking, I have a sweet palate and prefer a bit sweeter whisky. But that is my personal palate preference. The hubby loved the spicy notes (it suits his palate).

It is a way to start a new set of releases, and I am very excited to taste the rest of the range. According to Balblair, this 12 year old whisky will go very nicely with some hot-smoked salmon niçoise salad.

Also Read: The Belgian Owl Whisky

Sample disclosure: I received this sample directly from Balblair. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts on the whisky.