Sazerac Company, Inc is a privately held American alcoholic beverage company. It’s principal office is in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sazerac brands include brands like Pappy Van Winkle, E.H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, WL Weller and Buffalo Trace bourbon.
A while ago, I was scratching around Google keyword search, looking at the search terms associated with whisky. One of the most searched for terms was for Fireball whisky. A cinnamon flavoured whisky from Canada.
Flavoured whiskies are not prominent in SA. You can find honey flavoured whisky but the shelf space for flavoured whiskies is very small. While travelling, I found all kinds of weird and wonderful flavoured whiskies, from apple and vanilla to maple and pumpkin. I also managed to find some Fireball whisky and grabbed a small bottle to try.
But life got in the way, and I got busy with tasting other things. The Fireball whisky got moved to the back of the cupboard, and I forgot about it.
Then 3 weeks ago, a press release came across my desk, and it immediately made me sit up and frown. It was for Firewater Cinnamon, and the branding looked somehow familiar. I went to dig up my bottle of Fireball, and it was the same branding. Was this some local knock off? No, it is the same thing.
The only difference between the Firewater Cinnamon sold in South Africa and the Fireball Cinnamon sold in other parts of the globe is the name. Due to trademark issues, the name changed for South Africa exclusively.
But what is Firewater Cinnamon?
Firewater is a mixture of Canadian whisky blended with natural cinnamon flavour and sweeteners. So it is technically not a whisky but probably closer to a whisky-based liquor. It is bottled at 33 % ABV and produced by the Sazerac Company who also makes Buffalo Trace and WL Weller Bourbon.
The slogan for Firewater is ‘Tastes like heaven and burns like hell’, and you drink it as a straight shot but can also be added to a mixed drink.
I set up a side by side taste test to check if the Fireball and the Firewater are the same and I can tell you – they both taste like Heaven, but burns like Hell. It makes me think of the Fireball cinnamon sweets we got as kids. Great news – down to the syrupy consistency and burn element, it was the same thing.
Firewater is part of the slowly expanding Truman and Orange collection of Brands which also include the Don Papa Rum and the Malfi and Aviation gin brands.
Despite the ‘burn like hell’ element, Firewater is surprisingly versatile. You can add it to cider, Red Bull, beer or any soft drink. There are a few cocktail suggestions on the Fireball website, but I decided to play around with some coffee, and I made a cinnamon affogato. More of a dessert, this is something you can serve to guests, and they will come back for more.
Cinnamon Affogato
A scoop of vanilla ice cream
A shot of espresso
A shot of Firewater Cinnamon
Just as you would make a standard affogato, pour the espresso over the vanilla ice cream and then top up with the Firewater. The sweetness of the ice cream tones down the burn from the Firewater and the coffee gives a caffeine hit. It is delicious.
The Firewater Cinnamon is available at Spar Tops, Loco Liquor, Liquor City as well as some of the smaller liquor shops around the country.
During the year, I am fortunate to taste many new whiskies. Some are not bad, and some I never want to taste again. Just search for “Ordinary” on this blog, and you will find quite a few examples of these.
However, now and again, I taste something that blows my mind. Something so delicious that I want to go out and buy many more bottles.Sometimes these Divine drams are limited releases, and when my bottle is finished, there will be no more.
But sometimes they are standard releases that are readily available. And this has been such a year. I have tasted 4 whiskies that we rated Divine. And each of these is readily available. They are not mindbogglingly expensive; they are quite affordable actually. But they were stand out drams that I loved.
And as always, at the end of each year, we gathered a few friends and blind taste-tested the year’s Divine whiskies to choose the Whisky of the Year 2018. The friends who helped was Roelia from Boozy Foodie and her hubby Jan from Social Savage.
The process is similar every year, a blind taste test and then every person individually ranked the glasses from 1 to 4. This gives us our Whisky of the Year.
Blanton’s bourbon whiskey was launched in 1984 as a Single Barrel Bourbon. It is part of the Sazerac Company and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
What makes the Blanton’s bottle unique is the eight different stopper designs. The stoppers feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey in eight different scenes of a horse race, from standing at the gate to crossing the finish line with a win. I was wondering if this will be the only stopper in my collection, but after tasting this delicious bourbon, I am going to be looking for more bottles.
The Blanton’s Gold has notes of oak, warming rye, condensed milk, hints of sun-dried oranges and vanilla. It is rich and creamy bursting with a complex mix of tastes. There are notes of toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, Sichuan pepper with faint hints of cherries.
And with an impressive ABV! A beautiful finish that leaves you with fudge, cinnamon, pepper and hints of orange peel.
Best Blend: Johnnie Walker Black Label
Affordable, available all around the world and an icon! Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of about 40 whiskies from all around Scotland. Smoother and more drinkable than its little brother the Johnnie Walker Red, the Black Label has reached cult status. And I can understand why. It offers a consistent, delicious experience which I keep on going back to.
The Johnnie Walker Black label Scotch whisky has notes of smoke, red berries, fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A toffee sweetness with hints of spice. You don’t even need to add water, but water releases a bit more sweetness.
This Black Label is an all-together impressive dram. I always have a bottle of this in the house, and I love this (FAR) more than the more expensive Johnnie Walker releases I have tried.
Best World Whisky: Paul John Classic Cask Select
Paul John is a brand of Indian single malt whisky and single cask whisky, manufactured by John Distilleries in Goa. John Distilleries was founded by Mr Paul P. John in 1992, when they began producing several spirits, including Indian molasses-based ‘whisky’.
In 2008, John Distilleries attempted a single malt whisky, and the rest is history. Paul John Single Malt was launched in 2012 in the UK, and there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the golden liquid from this Indian distillery. And I am so glad that it is readily available in South Africa too.
The Paul John Classic Select Cask is an unpeated single malt that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled without chill-filtration at cask strength. Again it comes at an impressive 55.2% ABV.
The Paul John Classic Select Cask has notes of freshly baked apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, barley, faint hints of vanilla and candied fruits. Hints of toffee, oak with warming cinnamon and soft pepper nicely balanced with honey sweetness. It has a delicious finish rich with oak, cinnamon and fruit.
This year, the winning whisky and the runner up was only 1 point apart. But in the end, there can only be 1 winner.
And the winner of the Whisky of the Year 2018 is…
I have to mention the runner up – it was the Paul John Classic Cask select. A delicious dram. From a distillery that I will be exploring more of!
Well, that it is for 2018. Thank you for all your support this year. Wishing you many wonderful glasses of whisky in 2019. Early next year I will start again. But now it is time to sit back and relax and enjoy a glass of An Oa.
Here are the 4 whiskies in alphabetic order.
Best Single Malt: Ardbeg An Oa Whisky
It was with great fanfare that Ardbeg launched an extension to their core range – Ardbeg An Oa. The first permanent expression to join the Ardbeg core range since Corryvreckan in 2009. I have been less impressed lately by the Ardbeg Day releases, so I was rather sceptical about this new release. Was this just another premium-priced release that does not live up to the hype?
O Hell No. This Islay dram was just perfect. It warms you up with the traditional peat and smoke, but it is elegant and smooth. The Ardbeg An Oa single malt Scotch whisky is not the salty, TCP and strong tar pole notes of an Ardbeg Uigeadail, but a softer, more classic version of it.
Notes of peat, creamy honey, salted liquorice with hints of cough syrup. Bits of toasted nuts and pine needles mixed with vanilla, lemon pepper and chocolate. It’s a fascinating and glorious mix of aromas and tastes. It’s complex, subtle and different all at once. It has a finish that is a mile long and lingers around you like a favourite old jersey.
Best Bourbon: Blanton’s Gold Edition
Blanton’s bourbon whiskey was launched in 1984 as a Single Barrel Bourbon. It is part of the Sazerac Company and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
What makes the Blanton’s bottle unique is the eight different stopper designs. The stoppers feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey in eight different scenes of a horse race, from standing at the gate to crossing the finish line with a win. I was wondering if this will be the only stopper in my collection, but after tasting this delicious bourbon, I am going to be looking for more bottles.
The Blanton’s Gold has notes of oak, warming rye, condensed milk, hints of sun-dried oranges and vanilla. It is rich and creamy bursting with a complex mix of tastes. There are notes of toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, Sichuan pepper with faint hints of cherries.
And with an impressive ABV! A beautiful finish that leaves you with fudge, cinnamon, pepper and hints of orange peel.
Best Blend: Johnnie Walker Black Label
Affordable, available all around the world and an icon! Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of about 40 whiskies from all around Scotland. Smoother and more drinkable than its little brother the Johnnie Walker Red, the Black Label has reached cult status. And I can understand why. It offers a consistent, delicious experience which I keep on going back to.
The Johnnie Walker Black label Scotch whisky has notes of smoke, red berries, fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A toffee sweetness with hints of spice. You don’t even need to add water, but water releases a bit more sweetness.
This Black Label is an all-together impressive dram. I always have a bottle of this in the house, and I love this (FAR) more than the more expensive Johnnie Walker releases I have tried.
Best World Whisky: Paul John Classic Cask Select
Paul John is a brand of Indian single malt whisky and single cask whisky, manufactured by John Distilleries in Goa. John Distilleries was founded by Mr Paul P. John in 1992, when they began producing several spirits, including Indian molasses-based ‘whisky’.
In 2008, John Distilleries attempted a single malt whisky, and the rest is history. Paul John Single Malt was launched in 2012 in the UK, and there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the golden liquid from this Indian distillery. And I am so glad that it is readily available in South Africa too.
The Paul John Classic Select Cask is an unpeated single malt that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled without chill-filtration at cask strength. Again it comes at an impressive 55.2% ABV.
The Paul John Classic Select Cask has notes of freshly baked apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, barley, faint hints of vanilla and candied fruits. Hints of toffee, oak with warming cinnamon and soft pepper nicely balanced with honey sweetness. It has a delicious finish rich with oak, cinnamon and fruit.
This year, the winning whisky and the runner up was only 1 point apart. But in the end, there can only be 1 winner.
And the winner of the Whisky of the Year 2018 is…
I have to mention the runner up – it was the Paul John Classic Cask select. A delicious dram. From a distillery that I will be exploring more of!
Well, that it is for 2018. Thank you for all your support this year. Wishing you many wonderful glasses of whisky in 2019. Early next year I will start again. But now it is time to sit back and relax and enjoy a glass of An Oa.
The second in my series on my Top whisky gift guide and I titled it ‘ Great Whisky gifts under R1000 to make you smile’. I am moving to a more accessible group, looking at whisky between R500 and R1000. In this category, you are spoilt for choice.
There are some fantastic releases in this price class that will not break the bank but will make for a very appreciated gift for the whisky lover in your life. Many of these releases come with gift packs during this time of the year, so it is a great time to shop.
Again, I am trying to find releases that I have tasted this last period and that have not previously made of my top 5 lists. There are many more. Just search the Excellent category on the blog, and you will find many many delicious drams. But these stood out for me in 2018. All in alphabetical order.
It was with great fanfare that Ardbeg launched an extension to their core range – the Ardbeg An Oa single malt Scotch whisky. The first permanent expression to join the Ardbeg core range since Corryvreckan in 2009. I was rather sceptical. I am not always so crazy about the Ardbeg Day releases. But wow, this release was impressive.
The whisky is named after the Mull of Oa in the south-west of Islay. Maturation of Ardbeg An Oa took place in a combination of casks including PX, spicy charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon.
It has notes of peat, creamy honey, salted liquorice with hints of cough syrup. Bits of ash, sweet vanilla and cinnamon sugar, hints of chocolate and toasted oak. The Ardbeg An Oa has a big mouthfeel, and it’s smooth and velvety on the palate. Water softens the medicinal notes and adds more sweetness.
The Ardbeg An Oa Islay whisky is not the salty, TCP and strong tar pole notes of an Ardbeg Uigeadail, but a softer, more classic version of it. It retails for around R 800 at major retailers and is so worth it!
Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon Whiskey
This bourbon was my first Divine rated whiskey for 2018. The bottle is short and round with a unique stopper – easily recognizable. The Blanton’s Gold bourbon whiskey is bottled at a whopping 51.5% ABV, and it is part of the Sazerac Company and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
What makes the Blanton’s bottle unique is the very collectable eight different stopper designs. The stoppers feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey in eight different scenes of a horse race. From standing at the gate to crossing the finish line with a win.
The Blanton’s Gold is rich and creamy bursting with a complex mix of tastes. There are notes of toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, Sichuan pepper, hints of cherries, honey and vanilla.
Big and beautiful. It needs just a few drops to tone down the bit of alcohol burn and release more complexity. Blanton’s Gold Edition bourbon is bold and demands your attention. All of it!
Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo Whisky
I had to add this release to my ‘Whisky gifts under R1000’ list. The only whisky I have not tasted before. But Andy Watts is an absolute master at distilling and blending, and I love everything that comes from the James Sedgwick Distillery.
I am keeping this release for a special occasion and will publish my formal tasting notes probably early 2019. But you can rest assured, the Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo is beautiful. And a gift worth giving.
A specially selected single malt was matured for 5 years in American Oak and then transferred to Oloroso Sherry casks for a further 3 years. It has notes of dried fruit, crunchy nuts, rich chocolate with red berries and cinnamon. I see that there are still a few bottles available at Norman Goodfellows and they retail for R 749.
Powers John’s Lane 12 yo Whiskey
In 1791 James Power, an innkeeper from Dublin, established a small distillery at his public house. The little distillery grew, and grew and ownership remained in the family until 1966.
Powers distillery was one of the first distilleries to install a Coffey still to allow for the production of grain whiskey. Through the ups and downs, the Powers brand continued.
Power John Lane Release returns to the origin of the Powers Irish whiskey and celebrates the style that made Powers so famous. The Powers John’s Lane Release is a combination of 12 year old single pot still whiskey aged in two different types of casks.
The majority is matured in bourbon casks and the remaining spirit in Oloroso sherry casks. First released in 2011, it was an instant hit. It won the ‘Irish Whiskey of the Year’ in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
The Powers John’s Lane Release has notes of malt, rich autumn fruit dusted with cocoa, dark chocolate with hints of caramel and bits of toasted oak, nutmeg and sherry. Smooth and warming. Water softens the spices and brings more honey notes.
I can understand why Jim Murray gave this a 96.5 in the 2015 Whisky Bible. For a change, I agree with him. It is delicious. The Powers John’s Lane Release retails for around R900.
Wemyss The Hive Whisky
Last but not least, in my ‘Whisky gifts under R1000’ list, I have had a long love affair with Wemyss releases. Since the first time I tasted Wemyss in Dullstroom, I have been in love. Wemyss was not available in SA until about 2 years ago. But all this changed with Wemyss bringing a few of their standard releases into SA.
However, the core of the Wemyss blended malts is the three releases aptly named The Hive, The Spice King and The Peat Chimney. All bottled at 46% ABV.
The Hive was launched in 2011, and the release that is available in SA has no-age-statement (NAS). Wemyss The Hive focuses on sweet honey qualities with a few Speysider style notes at the core of this blend. It is a blend of at least 10 single malts.
Wemyss The Hive has lashings of floral honey sweetness, freshly baked apple pie malt and oak with bits of vanilla, ginger. Adding water makes it easier to drink and releases more of the honeycomb sweetness. Rich and delicious.
Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking and fun. Perfect for summer! Let it stand for a few minutes and add enough water. The Hive also pair wonderfully with fresh French pastry. It retails for around R 650 in SA.
There you have it. A fun selection of five great whiskies that will put a smile on your or your whisky lover partner’s face. Next week I will explore whisky under R1500 with which to spoil someone. Until then, Sláinte!
I was captivated when I saw the bottle with its elegant floral adornments. There’s something enchanting about a distinctive bottle shape, especially when you can envision repurposing it once the contents are gone. The Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon whiskey takes bottle aesthetics to a new level.
Its unique, eye-catching design features a distinct shape and exquisite raised roses embedded in the glass.
The origin of the Four Roses brand has a touch of mystery surrounding it. Some sources suggest that Rufus Mathewson Rose was the brand’s founder and that it was likely named as a tribute to the Rose Family.
However, the version I find more enchanting is the romantic tale of Paul L Jones Jr falling head over heels for a charming Southern belle. Instead of proposing in person, he opted for a heartfelt letter.
Her response was equally poetic – she promised to wear a red rose to the local ball to signal her favourable response. To his delight, she wore not one but four red roses.
Sadly, the fact that Paul L Jones Jr never tied the knot hints at an untold twist in this love story. But let’s shift our focus to the liquid gold inside the bottle.
Four Roses employs a unique approach by using two different mash bills and five distinct yeast strains to craft ten distinctive bourbon recipes. The Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon whiskey boasts a mash bill consisting of 60% corn, 35% malted rye, and 5% malted barley, complemented by yeast blends that impart fruity, vanilla, and caramel notes.
Today, the Four Roses brand is owned by the Kirin Brewery Company. In addition to the Single Barrel, their portfolio features the classic Four Roses Bourbon and the Four Roses Small Batch bourbon.
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Review
COUNTRY: USA
ABV: 50%
COLOUR: Dark reddish copper
NOSE: Fruity sweetness with some cinnamon, toffee, maple syrup, vanilla spice, hints of dark chocolate.Prepare to be greeted by a symphony of fruity sweetness intertwined with hints of cinnamon, toffee, maple syrup, vanilla spice, and subtle undertones of dark chocolate.
PALATE: Buckle up for a bold and spicy journey. While the fruity sweetness from the nose takes a step back, you’ll be hit with a robust burst of rye spices – think nutmeg, allspice, and cloves – with intriguing hints of dried fruit. Amidst it all, notes of bitter chocolate dance around toasted oak.
There’s no need to dilute this bourbon, as there’s no harsh alcohol burn, even at its high ABV. However, a drop of water works magic, coaxing forth more sweetness. The spices mellow, and the fruity sweetness takes centre stage, transforming the dark chocolate into luscious, chocolate-covered cherries.
FINISH: The finish is spicy with lingering oaky nuances.
RATING: EXCELLENT
This Single Barrel bourbon whiskey is delicious. Creamy and indulgent, it boasts a substantial body that leaves a lasting impression. There may be more budget-friendly options, retailing at around R700 at Whisky Brother.
Furthermore, its availability might be limited in South Africa. However, the experience it offers is well worth the investment. If you chance upon it, seize the opportunity to savour this gem.
Pairing this bold and spicy Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon whiskey with a perfectly aged steak is a culinary match made in heaven. Have you had the pleasure of enjoying this exquisite bourbon? Share your thoughts; we’d love your take on the Four Roses Single Barrel.
Last week, while binge-watching NCIS New Orleans Season 3, a bottle of whiskey caught my eye. Pride and Gregorio were sharing a whiskey from a very distinctive bottle. As I scrutinized the screen, I realized it was none other than Blanton’s Gold edition bourbon whiskey—a bottle I had in my own collection. I knew I had to join the NCIS team and savour it.
Blanton’s Gold edition bourbon boasts the iconic Blanton’s bottle shape – short, round, and crowned with a unique stopper. This particular release, Blanton’s Gold, is a rare gem in the bourbon world, bottled at an impressive 51.5% ABV.
The origins of Blanton’s bourbon trace back to 1984, when it was introduced as a single barrel bourbon. This spirit is created at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and owned by the Sazerac Company.
In the world of whiskey, a single-barrel bourbon like Blanton’s is distinctive because each batch originates from the contents of a single barrel, never blended with other barrels.
Now, what sets the Blanton’s bottle truly apart, besides its elegant stature, are the eight different stopper designs. These ornate stoppers each feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey, capturing various scenes of a horse race, from the starting gate to the thrilling finish line. Will I be collecting more stoppers, or will this solitary horse stand alone in my collection?
Blanton’s Gold Edition bourbon whiskey undergoes aging for a commendable 6 to 8 years. The mashbill has a higher rye percentage, and each bottle is meticulously hand-filled, sealed, labelled, and individually numbered.
NOSE: Prepare for an aromatic journey with robust oak, warming rye, condensed milk, subtle hints of sun-dried oranges, and the inviting embrace of vanilla. The nose alone is a testament to the excellence of this bourbon.
PALATE: While there’s a hint of alcohol burn initially, give it some time to breathe. The palate is an symphony of flavours featuring toasted oak, fudge, notes of cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, a touch of Sichuan pepper, whispers of cherries, honey, and the soothing essence of vanilla.
It’s big, beautiful, and complex. If you choose to add water, proceed cautiously, as only a few drops are needed to unlock further intricacies while taming the alcohol intensity.
FINISH: The bourbon’s grandeur extends to its long-lasting finish, filled with the delightful aftertaste of fudge, cinnamon, a pinch of pepper, and subtle hints of orange peel.
RATING: DIVINE
Blanton’s Gold Edition is a bourbon whiskey that left me and John in awe. We’ve savoured many outstanding bourbon whiskeys, including the beloved Maker’s 46 and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon, but none have earned the “divine” label until now.
The Gold Edition bourbon is more than just a whiskey; it’s a special occasion dram. Its sophistication and complexity command your full attention, making it a treasure worth savouring. In fact, it almost made us cancel our dinner plans, as it enticed us to spend the evening getting better acquainted with its exceptional character.
A while ago, I was scratching around Google keyword search, looking at the search terms associated with whisky. One of the most searched for terms was for Fireball whisky. A cinnamon flavoured whisky from Canada.
Firewater is a mixture of Canadian whisky blended with natural cinnamon flavour and sweeteners. So it is technically not a whisky but probably closer to a whisky-based liquor. It is bottled at 33 % ABV and produced by the Sazerac Company who also makes Buffalo Trace and WL Weller Bourbon.
I set up a side by side taste test to check if the Fireball and the Firewater are the same and I can tell you – they both taste like Heaven, but burns like Hell. It makes me think of the Fireball cinnamon sweets we got as kids. Great news – down to the syrupy consistency and burn element, it was the same thing.
The Firewater Cinnamon is available at Spar Tops, Loco Liquor, Liquor City as well as some of the smaller liquor shops around the country.
