Tag: Wemyss Malts

Wemyss Malts is a family-owned business based in Edinburgh and markets three blended malts, namely Spice King, Peat Chimney and The Hive. Alongside the blended malts is a regularly-changing range of vintage single cask expressions, each bearing the name of the distillery from which the whisky was sourced, along with a descriptor of the whisky.

Wemyss Brandy Casket Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/09/2015

In Single Malt whisky

On this blog, Wemyss Malts needs no introduction. Although they are not available in SA, I have managed to get my hands on a few of their releases. I have tried both the Wemyss Sweet Mint Infusion and the Wemyss Gooseberry Marmalade and just loved them.

This week I try the Wemyss Brandy Casket – the last of the three bottles I bought.Wemyss Malts is an independent bottler. They name their whiskies after one of the prominent flavours the cask reminds them of. The Wemyss Brandy Casket whisky is a 1989 Glen Garioch single malt Scotch whisky release.

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Only 322 bottles were released. Glen Garioch (pronounced ‘Glen Geery’) lies at Old Meldrum’s village in the Aberdeenshire portion of the Scottish Highlands. The distillery buildings sit huddled on a little outcrop flecked with heather gorse and grasses and surrounded by barley pastures.

The Japanese Suntory company owns Glen Garioch. Records show that Glen Garioch was established in 1797 and seen as one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. I see that there is a wide range of Wemyss releases available via Master of Malt.

Wemyss Brandy Casket Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Rich copper. It is a very oily whisky with long slow fingers forming in the glass.

NOSE: is sweet with brandy and brandied raisins coming straight from the bottle. There are hints of cognac floating around with bits of sweet spice. Adding water releases more florals and some fruit appear on the Wemyss Brandy Casket nose.

PALATE: On the palate, without adding water, it is very complex and interestingly spicy. There are notes of cinnamon and nutmeg intertwined with the brandied sweetness. Adding water releases more of the sweeter spices and brings forward butterscotch and caramel.

After adding a bit of water to the Brandy Casket, the oak is also more pronounced. It has an oily mouthfeel and is a medium-bodied whisky. It is rich, smooth and complex and reminiscent of cognac. There are hints of sweet sandalwood and vanilla.

FINISH: The Wemyss Brandy Casket finish is long, lingering and warming. It ends in notes of spice and oak.

RATING: DIVINE

A fantastic whisky that leaves me with a smile on my face and reaching for a second (and third) glass. The Wemyss Brandy Casket single malt whisky reminds me a bit of cognac. If you love cognac, you will love this whisky.

I see that this limited edition is sold out at Master of Malt, so this bottle will be treated with very special care and only taken out for very special occasions.

Update: Wemyss Malts is slowly becoming more accessible in SA, and I have written about Wemyss The Hive whisky over here.

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Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/04/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Today I try the Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion single malt Scotch whisky. What a unique name! Wemyss Malts is an independent bottler of malt whiskies from Scotland. They regularly release limited editions of Single Cask Whiskies.

The names they choose for their limited releases are not only exotic and interesting but also reflect the unique aromas and flavours found within the bottle.

Wemyss Malts select their Single Cask releases, under the expert guidance of Charlie Maclean. The Single Cask range is bottled at 46% ABV and labelled according to their region of origin.

I tried my first Wemyss release in Dullstroom, on one of our visits to the quant little whisky bar ‘Wild About Whisky’. After this visit, we added a few bottles to our collection. I choose this Sweet Mint Infusion release to remind me of warm summer days. Something I am longing for during this cold SA winter.

The Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion is a 1991 distillation from the Aultmore Distillery. Only 354 bottles of this 22-year-old single cask were released.

Built in 1895 by Benrinnes-owner Alexander Edward, the Aultmore distillery sits just north of Keith, in the heart of Speyside. Aultmore, which originates from the Scotch Gaelic for ‘Big burn’, takes its water from the Burn of Auchinderran.

Aultmore closed for several years around the turn of the 20th century and was affected during WW1 due to barley shortages. It has changed ownership various times and is now owned by John Dewar & Sons Ltd, part of Bacardi.

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Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 46 %

COLOUR: The official colour description is “Pale Straw”.

NOSE: The mint hits you at once when nosing this whisky. Behind the mint is a layer of oak and cereals with hints of fresh-cut flowers. Adding a few drops of water releases more flavour in the nose and some peppermint and fudgy sweetness comes through.

PALATE: On tasting this Wemyss Malts Sweet Mint Infusion, the mint again immediately comes through. It is very different from other whiskies. It has a more herbal taste with green notes of crushed mint, cut grass, eucalyptus and oak.

There are notes of barley and toffee sweetness next, followed by some spices and fresh fruit. It is a smooth and rich whisky that is suitably complex.

FINISH: It has a medium finish. The finish has notes of spice and ginger with some hints of sweetness

RATING: EXCELLENT

The freshness of the whisky remains. This is like a mint toffee version of a whisky. A wonderfully different whisky. I had a second glass and had visions of a sunny South African summer that is hopefully only 6 weeks away.

I paired this Wemyss dram with some Anthon Berg Mint & Caramel dark chocolate and the pairing made the mint pop.

Other Wemyss Malts releases I have tried include the Wemyss The Hive whisky, Wemyss Gooseberry Marmalade, Wemyss Brandy Casket as well as Wemyss Malts Dark Chocolate Orange.

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Wemyss Malts Gooseberry Marmalade Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/03/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Today I try the Wemyss Malts Gooseberry Marmalade single malt Scotch whisky. A Single Cask release from the Dalmore distillery bottled by Wemyss Malts. Wemyss Malts is an independent bottler of malt whiskies from Scotland.

The Wemyss Malt offices are in Edinburgh, but the Wemyss Estate is in Fife, Scotland.The Wemyss family whisky connection dates back to the beginning of the 19^th century. The first distillery on Wemyss land was built when John Haig constructed his distillery on Wemyss land.

The family has a longstanding passion for malt whisky. Even today, barley from the Wemyss Estate is prized by many of the leading distillers.

John Haig’s Cameron Bridge distillery, famous for the first distillery to produce grain whisky using the column still method, is located just a few miles from the castle. Wemyss Malts has a range of both blended malts and Single Cask releases. The blended malts include The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney.

Wemyss Malts also has specially selected Single Cask whisky releases, all of which chosen under the expert guidance of Charlie Maclean. The team choose each cask to represent the best characteristics of its regional origin. The strict selection process limits the number of casks in this range.

After the nosing panel has selected the casks, they then delve into the flavour profile of the casks. This ensures that the name given to each whisky reflects the unique aromas and flavours found within the bottle. All of the Wemyss Single Cask offerings are not chill-filtered and free of artificial colouring.

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Wemyss Gooseberry Marmalade Whisky Review

I managed to get my hands on a Wemyss Malts Gooseberry Marmalade single cask release. The whisky is from the Dalmore distillery on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, deep in the spectacular Scottish Highlands. It was distilled in 1997, bottled in 2013. Only 372 bottles of this edition were released.

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Virgin olive oil.

NOSE: The Gooseberry Marmalade nose brings sweet notes reminiscent of fruits of the forest. It has a beautiful warm, enticing nose, tempting you to try the whisky.

PALATE: Rich with oak, spice, liquorice sweetness and tart gooseberry with hints of bitter marmalade. The Gooseberry Marmalade is a sweet, medium-bodied whisky.

FINISH: The Wemyss Malts Gooseberry Marmalade whisky finish brings wood with more citrus, and it is a medium-length finish. A special bottle of whisky for a special occasion. Something to savour and enjoy. If you can get your hands on a bottle, it is undoubtedly worth it.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I have tried various Wemyss releases including, the Wemyss Brandy Casket, Wemyss Malts Dark Chocolate Orange, and the Wemyss Velvet Fig Blended Whisky. And I see that a few of the blended malts are now available in SA, and I have written about Wemyss The Hive as well.

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