Tag: Rating: Very Good Page 8 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

Famous Grouse Smoky Black Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/31/2021

In Blended whisky

Today I look at a smoky budget blend; the Famous Grouse Smoky Black blended Scotch whisky. I have tasted my way through some of the top-selling budget blends this year. The Bell’s whisky was not too bad and brought back lots of childhood memories.

However, the Black and White whisky was too sweet. A characteristic of these budget blends is the very high grain percentage that leaves the dram (quite frequently) overly sweet and overwhelms many (if any) of the more peaty notes.

I was looking for a budget blend with a more peaty profile and then realized that I have not tasted or captures my tasting notes for the Famous Grouse Smoky Black whisky yet.

Famous Grouse launched The Smoky Black towards the end of 2015 to replace the Black Grouse whisky. According to some Internet research, the recipe of the Smoky Black is the same as Black Grouse whisky. It is described as a “smoky yet sweet whisky.”

The Famous Grouse blend is one of the top-selling brands globally, and as with many blends, it was conceived by a grocer and drinks merchant named Matthew Gloag. The Famous Grouse blend comprises whisky from various distilleries, including Macallan, Glenrothes and Highland Park.

Other releases in the Famous Grouse portfolio include the Naked Grouse and Famous Grouse Bourbon cask whisky. The Smoky Black is a NAS release and retails for around R 290 in South Africa and about £21 on Amazon in the UK. It is readily available world wide.

I loved the Black Grouse blended Scotch whisky and found it the perfect bottle to pair with Indian food and use in marinade for lamb. Will I love the Smoky Black Scotch just as much?

Also Read: Whisky and Pizza

The Famous Grouse Smoky Black Whisky Review

ABV:43%

COLOUR: A dark golden amber

NOSE: Hints of alcohol that first needs to evaporate. Sweetness with bits of smoke, cherries and lots of vanilla. Fresh pine needles and dry wood. Light peat and spices.

PALATE: Medium body with drying oak, peat and dried fruit. Pepper and cloves with smoke and grainy sweetness. Quite a bit of alcohol heat that needs a few drops of water to soften. It has the green Highland type of peat notes and not the fishy Islay kind of peat. Water tones down the heat but also washes out the peat. It becomes fairly sweet with water.

FINISH: Short with notes of bitter pectin, caramel and drying oak.

RATING: VERY GOOD

I love the new branding/packaging on this release. The bottle looks more premium when compared to the Black Grouse. However, looking at the liquid in the glass, it needs to breathe a bit for the alcohol to waft off.

Comparing it to my tasting notes for the Black Grouse, I am not convinced that the recipe stayed the same. Take into account, my last bottle of Black Grouse is long gone, and I am just comparing by memory, but I can’t remember the Black Grouse having so much alcohol heat with the grainy sweetness and very light peat.

My notes for the Black Grouse included peat and smoke followed by ginger and pepper notes, a woodiness in the palate with notes of oak and rich chocolate sweetness. I found none of that decadent chocolate sweetness with the Smoky Grouse, more of a caramel and cherry type sweetness.

The Smoky Grouse is not a bad whisky and will work nicely in a cocktail, but I am not sure that I will repurchase this bottle. I have also managed to get hold of a Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask release and really enjoyed it.

Also Read: William Lawson’s Whisky

Chivas Regal 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/28/2021

In Blended whisky

When you hear the name Chivas Regal, it’s like stepping back in time to a bygone era of whisky, where it was served in dimly lit, dark wood and leather-clad libraries. For me, it evokes memories of my father, reclining with a “scotch” in hand, especially the Chivas Regal 12 year old blended Scotch whisky, his all-time favourite, some four decades ago.

This dram has stood the test of time and maintained a stellar reputation that continues to captivate whisky enthusiasts.

Paul Pacult, in the year 2000, aptly described it as “the blend for grown-ups, for people who have made their rites of passage and are ready to enjoy their success. Sweet, but not cloying. Buxom, but not overblown.”

Chivas Brothers, with roots tracing back to 1801, initially opened a grocery store in Aberdeen, catering to an affluent clientele by offering luxury products like coffee, exotic spices, and imported French brandies. This establishment had a cellar, where the brothers initiated the tradition of ageing whiskies.

As times evolved, their discerning patrons sought a smoother, more opulent whisky experience. In response, the brothers began blending these aged whiskies. They crafted a proprietary blend, Royal Glen Dee, followed by another, Royal Strathythan.

In the early 1900s, with the U.S. economy booming and a surge in demand for luxury goods, Chivas Brothers introduced a new blend for export, christening it Chivas Regal.

However, Prohibition and World War 2 intervened, causing a temporary halt in production. But once the dust settled, Chivas Regal re-emerged as the beloved Chivas Regal 12 year old whisky.

To meet the ever-growing demand, Chivas Brothers acquired the Strathisla distillery, which plays a pivotal role in producing one of the primary components of the blend. The heart and soul of Chivas Regal is still the Strathisla distillery, nestled in Moray in Speyside, Scotland. Notably, Strathisla distillery holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating distillery in Scotland.

The Chivas range extends beyond the Chivas Regal 12 year old blended Scotch whisky. It includes other delightful offerings like Chivas Extra, the exquisite Chivas XV, and the sophisticated Chivas 18 year old whisky. The brand is owned by Pernod Ricard.

Now, let’s delve into the Chivas Regal 12 year old whisky itself:

Also Read: How to start a whisky club

Chivas Regal 12 year old Blended Whisky Review

The Chivas Regal 12 year old whisky is a blend of many different malt and grain whiskies, matured for at least 12 years.
ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Golden wheat with hints of mahogany

NOSE: Sweet aromas with hints of fresh cherries, caramel toffee, freshly cut flowers, and a subtle woodiness. There’s a refreshing green note on the nose, complemented by traces of cinnamon and vanilla.

PALATE: Neat, the Chivas offers a peppery spice kick. Notes of toasted oak, malt, and a touch of fruity sweetness make it a smooth, medium-bodied dram. Adding a few drops of water transforms the experience, softening the peppery notes and accentuating the creamy toffee and malt.

FINISH: A medium-length finish with lingering notes of peppery spice and zesty lemon rind.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It’s a drink that holds a special place in my heart and my hubby, who once considered it an aspirational choice. It was my father’s preferred pour and John’s dream drink when he grew up. However, as John and I revisit it after many years, we can’t help but wonder what all the fuss was about.

While it remains a smooth, easy-drinking option that won’t break the bank, it tends to blend into the background. It’s nicely balanced and well-crafted, but nothing truly stands out.

In South Africa the Chivas 12 year old retail for around R420 and in India it costs around ₹ 3,280.

Perhaps our palates have evolved towards whiskies with bolder flavour profiles over the years. Nevertheless, it’s still a pleasant choice, especially with a few drops of water to enhance the experience.

For those curious about how Chivas Regal 12 year old stacks up against Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky or even intrigued by a side-by-side comparison with Chivas Extra, stay tuned for our rainy afternoon experiments in exploring the nuances of these blended drams.

I have also experimented with the Chivas 12 year old and the Glenfiddich 12 year old to see how the blend match up to the single malt. Follow the link to see my views on this comparison.

Also Read: Dewar’s 12 yo Whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Today I look at a whisky from a whisky region that almost disappeared. The Glen Scotia Double Cask single malt Scotch whisky is from Campbeltown.Around a century ago Campbeltown was the most prolific of all of Scotland’s whisky regions.

There were more than 20 distilleries in the small geographic whisky region. It dwindled to just 3. One of the reasons for the decline was the fact that most distilleries in the Campbeltown region had a strong focus on quantity instead of quality.

Thanks to strong international demand, the Campbeltown distilleries could quickly sell their entire output. There was little need to innovate or improve the whisky. Then Prohibition was introduced in the USA, and the demand declined sharply.

Today there are three distilleries in the Campbeltown Region: Springbank, GlenGyle (Kilkerran) and Glen Scotia. Campbeltown whiskies are a mixed bag of flavours. Their characteristics include a dryness with a pungency, smoke and saltiness.

Imagine a cross between the Lowlands and the Western Highlands with a pinch of salt thrown in. Campbeltown sits on the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula protruding from the western coast. Glen Scotia Distillery was founded in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith and Co and remained in the family until 1919.

It changed ownership various times and spent some years closed down. After years of opening and shutting down, some stability arrived in 2000 when the Loch Lomond Group bought the distillery.

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a single malt, which has no age statement and is matured in oak barrels then finished in a combination of American 0ak barrels followed by time in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

The Glen Scotia Double Cask won a gold medal at the 4th Annual Berlin International Spirits Competition in 2017.

Also Read: Checkers Private Barrel Co No 68 whisky

Glen Scotia Double Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Campbeltown

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Reddish copper

NOSE: Sweet red berries and rich dark fruits. There are notes of freshness associated with fresh-cut flowers and honey with hints of vanilla. In the background some dark bitter chocolate.

PALATE: More of the red berries and fruity sweetness with burnt toffee sweetness. The Glen Scotia Double Barrel is quite spicy with woody hints and a medium body. Over time the palette changes to mild citrus and black pepper.

Without water, it has a bit of an alcohol burn. Adding a few drops of water softens the burn. However, it feels like the water separates the elements and the fruity sweetness becomes overwhelmed by the pepper spices.

FINISH: Pepper and berries of the forest.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Glen Scotia Double Cask is not the most complex dram, and the peppery nature nearly overwhelms the fruity sweetness. The sherry cask also comes through more noticeable than the bourbon cask. It is a great whisky if you like a more peppery bite. I have a sweet palate and prefer something sweeter and fruity.

However, I wonder how this pepper nature will work with a mature cheese? I suspect, it might make for a great pairing. Hmmm, let me go and experiment again.

Another Glen Scotia release I have tried and liked was the Victoriana as well as the Glen Scotia 15 yo whisky. The Glen Scotia Double Cask was also included in the Glen Scotia Dunnage tasting set that I wrote about.

Also Read: McCarthy’s Oregon Whiskey

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/12/2021

In Blended whisky

Today I look at an affordable brand with a memorable catchphrase. It was also my dad’s every day drinking whisky. So it has been around for quite a while; the Bell’s blended Scotch whisky.

An advert aired in SA round 2014 showed an elderly gentleman in his ambition to learn to read. Throughout the commercial, viewers watch the lead character attend reading classes, spell messages of devotion to his wife using fridge magnets, and play scrabble with his friends.

Ultimately, his motivation is to read the book his son has written. As he gives his son the news he has, at last, read his book, his jubilant son remarks, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

This catchphrase has become part of SA social culture. If someone achieves something extraordinary, people will comment, “Give that man a Bell’s”.

In 1851, Perth based Arthur Bell began to blend various single malts to create a more consistent blended whisky. His two sons, Robert and Arthur, joined the business in partnership in 1895.

By the 1880s, the company was focused on blended whisky. At the end of Prohibition in America, there was a sudden surge in demand, and Arthur Bell & Sons acquired Blair Athol and Dufftown distilleries in 1933.

In 1936 they added the Inchgower distillery to the portfolio. By 1970, Bell’s was the highest-selling whisky in Scotland. Today the brand still has significant market shares in the UK, South Africa, the Nordic countries, Spain and Brazil.

In 1994, an 8 year old age statement was added. It was at a time when there was a surplus of mature Scotch whisky. But in 2008, the supply of mature whisky became a problem, and the age statement was removed.

The Well Known Bell’s Decanter

Bell’s is also known for the ceramic bell-shaped decanters that it released for special occasions such as Charles & Diana’s wedding and Christmas.
There is a Bell’s Special Reserve that is (was) available in SA. Bell’s is a blend of about 40 grain and malt whiskies. It includes whisky from all around Scotland, including Dufftown, Inchgower, Glenkinchie and Caol Ila.

These are all blended with Blair Athol’s malt. Bell’s is a brand of blended whisky initially produced by Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd and now owned by Diageo.

Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Amber gold

NOSE: A few alcohol notes that need a few minutes to dissipate. After the alcohol evaporates, there is a fruity sweetness, gentle spice with cereal bits. Hints of shortbread and grain.

PALATE: Not as sweet as the nose. Notes of malt, oak, pepper and apricots. The Bell’s blended whisky has a medium body. Some alcohol heat. A few drops of water soften the pepper and alcohol notes and bring more fruity sweetness to the front. I managed to finish the glass with no trouble. The Bell’s whisky is not the most complex dram, but never the less drinkable.

FINISH: Medium long finish. End in notes of pepper and citrus.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The moment I opened the bottle, it brought back so many memories. There was always a bottle of Bell’s in the house growing up, and it was my dad’s regular drinking whisky. His special occasion whisky was the Chivas or the Dimple. The nose immediately reminded me of his glass of whisky.

Also, when we were sick, my mother would make us a remedy of hot milk with sugar and a shot of whisky. The whisky she used was always the Bell’s, and the moment I tasted it, I had clear memories of drinking it with the hot milk in bed.

It was not as sticky sweet, or harsh as the Black & White whisky I had a few weeks ago; quite drinkable, actually. For the price point, it is not a bad buy. What makes this whisky unique, for me, is all the cherished childhood memories that it brings back.

For that alone, it deserves a place in my whisky collection. In South Africa, this blend retails for around R210 and is widely available.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish whisky

Talisker Skye Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/01/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I love the Talisker 10 year old whisky. It is one of those drams that I will take to a desert island with me. It is smooth, smoky and comforting, and of course, very drinkable. However, I need to expand my tasting notes from this Scottish Island distillery, so today, I am trying the Talisker Skye single malt Scotch whisky.

The Talisker distillery is a whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye. It is part of the Diageo stable. Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill founded the distillery in 1830. It was rebuilt and upgraded a few times over the years.

Talisker’s water comes from Cnoc nan Speireag (Hawk Hill) and flows over peat, which adds an extra dimension to the whisky. Talisker has an unusual feature—swan neck lye pipes.

Diageo introduced Talisker Skye whisky in early 2015. They named it after the rugged landscape and jagged peaks of the Cuillin Mountains and the island’s wild seas. The Talisker core range also includes the Talisker Storm and the Port Ruighe.

Also Read: Ledaig 10 yo Whisky

It was great to see this distillery in the TV adaptation of one of my favourite books. In Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, the demon Crowley (played by Scotsman David Tennant) drinks Talisker by the bottle as he awaits the coming apocalypse.

This expression aims to create a more well-rounded and sweet flavour profile combined with the traditional Talisker maritime notes. It’s matured in a combination of refill and toasted American oak casks, with a slightly higher proportion of toasted casks. It is peated to an estimated 20 ppm and is a NAS release.

Talisker Skye Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Island

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: The nose is clean and fresh. There are bits of fresh fruit, a peaty earthiness mixed with underlying smoke. Hints of honey and salt.

PALATE: The Talisker Skye has a medium body. There are notes of dry oak, citrus fruit, fresh apples and peat. Bits of smoke and lemon pepper. Adding water bring forward more barley and softens the pepper. It is not the most complex dram and rather delicate.

FINISH: Drying oak and pepper.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Talisker Skye whisky has a few unfinished edges and feels like it is not quite rounded off. It is not a bad whisky, but it is difficult not to compare this release to the Talisker 10 year old whisky. The 10 year old whisky is easier drinking, more complex and smoother than the Skye.

Although the taste difference between these two is quite pronounced, the price difference between these two releases is relatively small. On Amazon, the Skye retails for £45 and the Talisker 10 year old single malt for
£43. I would rather grab the 10 year old release than the Skye.

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