Tag: Speyside Whisky Page 8 of 14

Speyside is a “protected region” for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation.According to Visit Scotland, this region includes the area between the Highlands to the west, Aberdeenshire in the east and extending north to the Cairngorms National Park. Speyside single malt whisky is single malt Scotch whiskies, distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland.

Glenfiddich Project XX Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/11/2018

In Single Malt whisky

During the beginning of 2018, I tasted the Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky and wrote my own tasting notes about it. This release was the first in Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series and I loved it. The second release in this series is the Glenfiddich Project XX single malt Scotch whisky and many people had opinions about this release.

Glenfiddich XX started as a project shrouded in secrecy. Malt Master Brian Kinsman invited 20 Glenfiddich brand ambassadors from 16 countries around the world to the Glenfiddich distillery in Scotland. No one knew what they were about to do. Each person was given free rein to explore the warehouse and select any cask that intrigued them.

The 20 chosen casks were then married together by Brian Kinsman, the Glenfiddich Malt Master. The final 20 selected malts, matured in everything from aged malts matured in port pipes to old sherry butts and virgin oak bourbon casks.

I got a lot of feedback on the blog post and the tweets, so I ran a poll in Instagram asking people which of these two releases are their favourite.

It was clear that the Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX whisky was considerably more popular, so I had to add this to my tasting list and capture the tasting notes.

Also Read: The Balvenie Single Barrel whisky

The XX stands for 20, representing the 20 ambassadors that took part and the thumbprint on the bottle is an amalgamation of the twenty ambassadors’ thumbprints.

Interestingly, both Glenfiddich Experimental series IPA and Glenfiddich Project XX single malt will be permanent additions to the Glenfiddich range; they are not limited editions. Both the IPA and XX is non-chill-filtered and bottled at an unusual 47% ABV.

Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX Whisky Review

ABV: 47%

COLOUR: Amber

NOSE: Ripe Golden Delicious apples, dark stone fruits and spice with hints of fresh flowers. Some vanilla and oak are floating about. Not the most complex nose.

PALATE: Fruity sweetness and spice. Hints of dried citrus, dry grass and wood dust. Bits of cinnamon and vanilla. Adding water softens the citrus and the spice somewhat.

FINISH: Oak and dry lemon peel.

RATING: GOOD

I find this a confusion dram. It is as if it is trying to be too many things. It is an unusual concept and makes for great publicity and an interesting story. The bottle is beautiful and classic. However, the spirit in the bottle is trying to be too many things all at once.

For me, it is a riot of unbalanced flavours. I found it stuffy and dusty with very few of the beautiful sweet fruit notes that Glenfiddich is known for.

Probably not the most popular opinion, but I prefer the Glenfiddich IPA cask miles above this Glenfiddich Project XX release. I bought the two bottles at the same time, and my IPA bottle is nearly empty. This one might take a few years.

Also Read: Glenfiddich 18 yo whisky

Cardhu 12 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/14/2018

In Single Malt whisky

Today I am trying something from a distillery I have never tried before. I am trying the Cardhu 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Cardhu distillery is a Speyside distillery located in Moray. It is part of the Diageo stable and has a long history of female whisky involvement.

The Cardhu distillery has an interesting story. Helen and her husband John Cumming had a farm at Cardow in the late 18^th century. Helen was well known for distilling whisky that she sold from her kitchen window.

She used to keep an eye out for any approaching excise officers and warn farmers in the neighbourhood by hoisting a red flag. When the Excise Act of 1823 changed, the Cummings could afford to buy a distilling license and founded the Cardow distillery.

In 1872 the family business expanded and they built a new Cardhu distillery on an adjoining piece of land. It was run by Elizabeth Cumming, Helen’s daughter-in-law. This new distillery had a more significant output and the whisky from Cardhu became an essential part of the Johnnie Walker whisky blends.

In 1893 when Elizabeth Cumming sold the distillery to Johnnie Walker, it was under the condition that the Cumming family held shares in Walker’s company. This shareholding turned into an excellent investment.

Today other single malt releases in the range include the Cardhu 15 year old, the Cardhu 18 year old, and the Cardhu Amber Rock. The word Cardhu comes from the Gaelic “Carn Dubh,” which means “black rock.”

The shape of the Cardhu bottle is unique with its rectangular shape and the oversized closure. Cardhu has a significant presence in Spain and France but is known worldwide. The Cardhu 12 year old single malt whisky is widely available in South Africa, and the retail price is around R500.

Also Read: Glenfiddich XX whisky

Cardhu 12 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich Gold

NOSE: Honey sweetness, malt, fruits with hints of vanilla. A soft, smooth nose that hints at a great experience.

PALATE: Toasted dry oak, ripe pears, honey, toffee apples and pepper with faint hints of vanilla. Medium body but nicely balanced and smooth.

FINISH: The Cardhu 12 year old has a dry oak with honey and pepper finish.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a lovely, drinkable, affordable dram. Can’t believe I have not tried this before. This bottle will not last very long. The Cardhu 12 year old is not the most complex whisky, but it is soft and delicate without being a wallflower. It has a presence without being overbearing. The smooth and delicious notes would work wonderfully with food.

The Cardhu 12 year old whisky will compliment a piece of perfectly grilled steak nicely. According to research, it is also magic when paired with a strawberry flavoured chocolate; something I will have to try soon.

I paired this Speyside whisky with some Swiss Appenzeller cheese for World Whisky Day. Following the link to see my thoughts on this whisky and cheese pairing.

Also Read: Dalwhinnie 15 yo Whisky

The Singleton 15 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/26/2018

In Single Malt whisky

On February the 8^th, the world celebrated International Scotch Day. Initiated by Diageo, International Scotch Day was started to celebrate everything that gives the world’s favourite dram its unique character, flavour and personality. Over 70 countries worldwide had celebrations with large-scale events held in India, Mexico and South Africa.

I was privileged to share this day with model Shanina Shaik, one the Global Ambassadors for International Scotch Day. Diageo celebrated the day in style.

Held in the very hip Bolton Road Collection bar, Diageo treated guests to a variety of whisky-based cocktails and several glasses of Scotch. One of the releases I was fortunate to taste was the Singleton 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

I have tasted the Singleton 12 year old whisky and the Singleton Tailfire before. The Singleton 12 year old was my first introduction to this whisky from this Dufftown distillery in Banffshire in Speyside, so it was exciting to taste a bit more from this distillery.

According to some research, the Dufftown is one of the larger producers in Diageo’s whisky portfolio. However, Diageo markets only 3-4% of the malt as single malt. The majority of the alcohol produced is used in blends such as Bells Blended whisky and Johnnie Walker.

The Singleton 15 yo whisky was initially released for the travel retail market but is now available in general retail. It is aged in a mix of European and American oak casks.

Also Read: Dewar’s 15 yo whisky

The Singleton 15 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich Gold

NOSE: Sweet fruitiness, oak, hints of honey, sweet anise seed spices mixed with ripe fruit, cereals and sugar cookies. Not the most complex nose, but bold and delicious.

PALATE: Sweet honey, pears, lightly toasted oak, white pepper, malt, vanilla and fresh plums. Nicely balanced between the sweetness and the spices. Needs a bit of water to release more complexity. Easy drinking.

FINISH: Sweet with hints of malt and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is an easy-drinking 15 year old whisky. Indeed not the most complex whisky I have tasted this year, but it is fun, creamy and delicious with a great balance between sweet and peppery spices. According to the Malt.com, this Singleton 15 year old Scotch is perfect when paired with milk chocolate. Now that is a pairing I can get behind.

The Singleton of Dufftown range includes the Singleton Sunray’s as well as a Singleton 18 year old whisky. A traditional hip flask inspired the unique Singleton bottle shape. It retails for around R900 which is comparable to the Glenfiddich 15 year old.

Have you tried this Dufftown release yet?

Also Read: Balblair 15 yo whisky

Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/12/2018

In Single Malt whisky

Many years ago, I worked for the South African Breweries. Based in Johannesburg at the Sandton head office, I had regular visits to the various distilleries. Each distillery has an individual culture, but the one constant was the smell. The delicious, malty, hoppy aroma of beer being brewed.

It is a lovely smell; a warm, comforting cup of Horlicks smell. One of my favourite breweries to visit was Prospecton, on the Durban South coast. When you arrived, the malty aroma mixed with warm sea air. It was just incredible.

It has been many years since I was in Prospecton, but last year, nostalgia overcame me when Glenfiddich launched the Glenfiddich IPA Cask. I was fortunate to be one of the first people in SA who tasted the new Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask single malt Scotch whisky.

When I nosed it, I was reminded of walking around Prospecton brewery, the sea air, and the malted barley. It was just perfect. I had to add this Experimental release to my whisky collection.

During 2016 Glenfiddich released the first two expressions in their Experimental series. Glenfiddich IPA Cask and Project XX. During 2017 a third expression was released, the Glenfiddich Winter Storm. A 21 yo whisky finished in rare Canadian ice wine barrels.

I have tasted many Glenfiddich releases; it is a distillery that I love. But today is about the IPA Casks bottling. A single malt whisky finished for three months in casks seasoned with India Pale Ale. India Pale Ale is an ale that had been brewed from pale malt.

Also Read: The Glenlivet Alpha Whisky

Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask Whisky Review

The Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky is a NAS released. It is not the first whisky finished in a beer cask. During 2017 I tasted the Jamesons Caskmates also finished in Stout beer casks. But will this release stand out?

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: First on the nose is the hops, the smell that takes me back to my days visiting breweries. Toasted oak, fruity sweetness, freshly cut pine needles and faint floral hints with bits of spices.

PALATE: The palette is exciting. It has a unique freshness and crispness to it. Medium-bodied with creamy sweet summer fruit, hints of lemon pepper balanced with dried oak and toffee sweetness. It’s not the most complex whisky, but it works well. I almost get a whiff of malted porridge as well. This dram is so easy to drink without water. The addition of water adds smoothness but masks some of the subtle notes. I would not rush to add water to this.

FINISH: The finish builds beautifully and richly, ending on crisp notes of oak and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The IPA Cask Experiment is an easy-drinking whisky. It is refreshing, fun and unpretentious. A very successful experiment. It pairs wonderfully with steak and probably most foods that you would pair with a beer. It is a bottle I can quickly finish and I don’t think it will see the end of this year.

Have you tried the Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask whisky, and what was your thoughts?

I asked Instagram to vote between the Glenfiddich Project XX vs Glenfiddich IPA Cask. This was the results…

Also Read: Glenmorangie Lasanta whisky

Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/04/2017

In Single Malt whisky

The Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition 1990 single malt Scotch whisky – another release from the Diageo stable that I have had for AGES, but never adequately written about.

Representing the Highlands in the Diageo Classic Malts Collection Dalwhinnie, together with Oban, Glenkinchie, Lagavulin and Talisker complete the collection of the six original malts launched and marketed jointly by United distillers in 1988.

Where the Great North Road and the Highland Railway meet, the Dalwhinnie distillery was first called Strathspey. The name changed to Dalwhinnie after it was sold to a Mar A Blyth. Dalwhinnie translates to “The Meeting Place”. It is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland sitting at around 350 m above sea level.

The town with the same name has recorded some of the coldest winter temperatures and has an average annual temperature of 6.6 C. Rather cold compared to Centurion’s average winter temperature of around 17 C.

Dalwhinnie has the benefit of the clear spring water from Lochan-Doire-Uaine and an abundant supply peat from the surrounding bogs. The distillery releases a Dalwhinnie 15 year old, The Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition and a Dalwhinnie Winters Gold Scotch whisky.

Some friends joined us for this tasting, and it was exciting to share this Distillers Edition 1990 single malt with Roelia and Jan from Social Savage.

Also Read: Ballechin 10 yo Whisky

Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Whisky

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark amber gold

NOSE: Dried fruit, sherry and cherries with hints of winter spice. Warming and inviting, there are faint hints of Christmas pudding and vanilla.

PALATE: Rich, creamy and complex. Notes of sherry, fruitcake and fruit mingle with nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon with hints of allspice. Hints of honey sweetness balanced with little bits of black pepper.

Adding water brings more of the winter spice to the front. The Distillers Edition whisky is a fantastic, smooth, sophisticated release. As John would say ” This properly puts a smile on my face.”

FINISH: Long and lingering alternating between the sweet vanilla and the spicy pepper with hints of sweetness. Warming.

RATING: DIVINE

A perfectly balanced whisky. The sweetness is wonderfully matched with the spiciness. The layers of tastes just keep on building. In the end, all of us agreed. This Distiller’s Edition was an amazing dram. Sadly you can’t find this release anymore. Master of Malt lists it as “discontinued”. If you see a bottle on auction, it is worth grabbing.

I loved the Dalwhinnie 15 yo Scotch whisky, but this is on a different level. In the past, I have tried the Dalwhinnie 1990 Distillers Edition with some Lindt hand-made dark chocolate and vanilla pieces. It made for a superb whisky chocolate pairing combination. I love the various Diageo Distillers Editions; we recently opened a bottle of Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition, and it was amazing!

I started the year with a Divine when I tasted the Three Ships Pinotage Cask, and just before I end the year, this Divine whisky pops up. Now to see which of these two will be our “Whisky of the Year” for 2017. But that will come later. Now to sit back and enjoy more of this delicious release.

Also Read: Dimple Pinch 15 yo Whisky