Scottish Whisky

New U.S. Releases – July ‘11

/ / Bourbon, Other Spirits, Other Whisk(e)ys, Scottish Whisky

It’s been a busy summer. We have a whole mess of new stuff coming in.

Highland Park Earl Haakon
Timeframe: July 2011
ABV: 54.9%
Price: $260
This 18 year old is the third Earl Magnus release. It’s supposed to be a darker take on both the Magnus series and the standard 18 year old. It’s named for Saint Magnus’s “deceitful and murderous” cousin!

HighWest 36th Vote
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 36%
Price: $45
This is High West’s “Barreled Manhattan” celebrating Utah’s vote to repeal Prohibition. It’s 2 parts High West Rye, 1 part sweet vermouth and bitters that was put together and aged for 90 to 120 days in rye whiskey barrels.

Auchentoshan Bordeaux Cask
Timeframe: Summer 2011
ABV: 58%
Price: $75
This limited release is an 11 year old Auchentoshan matured in Bordeaux casks and comes non-chill filtered. You read that right, not finished but fully matured in Bordeaux casks.

Auchentoshan Valinch
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 57.5%
Price: TBD
This new release is a response from the distillery to long time fans requesting a cask strength, non-chill-filtered version of the Auchentoshan Classic. It gets its name from the pipette used to draw the whisky out of the cask.

Black Bull Special Reserve No. 1
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 46.6%
Price: $105
This is Duncan Taylor’s newest Black Bull extension. This blend uses a 50% malt to grain ratio like the 12 and 30 year olds. There’s only 978 bottles of this so grab it if you can.

Tomatin Decades
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 46%
Price: $115
Those familiar with the Parker’s Heritage Golden Anniversary release will be familiar with this idea. To celebrate Master Distiller Douglas Campbell’s 50th year of serve this is mixture of whiskies from all the decades of Mr. Campbell’s career. Only 9,000 bottles worldwide!

Tomatin 30 Year Old
Timeframe: Late 2011
ABV: 46%
Price: $200
This new release is replacing the old 25 Year Old. It will be an ongoing limited release of 2,000 bottles per year.

Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 46%
Price: $65
The latest Kilchoman release is a marriage of three and four year old whiskies aged in first-fill bourbon barrels. The four year old component was finished in oloroso sherry casks.

American Spirit Whiskey
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 40%
Price:
Marketed as an alternative to vodka, this new white dog release comes to us from a Charleston, SC bottler.

Arkansas Young Bourbon Whiskey
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 46%
Price: $24.99/375ml
This one is a new wheated bourbon from Rock Town Distiller in Arkansas.

Laphroaig Cairdeas
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 50.5%
Price: $65
Laphroaig’s latest in this release series is an 8 year old aged exclusively in Maker’s Mark barrels. Apparently, the barrels and warehouse location make this 8 year old worthy of a price tag rivaling the old 15 year old. You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve
Timeframe: August 2011
ABV: 44%
Price: $125
This new limited release from Dalmore isn’t a replacement for the old Cigar Malt. Rather this is a whole new expression the vein of other recent limited releases. This one is specifically formulated for cigar pairing. Some of our good friends were nice enough to send me a review sample so I hope to have that posted this weekend.

As always, if we missed or misstated anything please let us know.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Highland Park 18 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 18 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$80 to $100
Widely available

What the Distillery Says:
First released in 1997, Highland Park immediately found favour with whisky writers and enthusiasts all over the world. It is a perfectly balanced single malt with a toffee sweetness and a mouthwateringly smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Natural colour; burnished gold, clear and bright
Nose:Rich, mature oak; top note of aromatic smoke
Palate:Rich, full flavour; honey and peat
Finish:Soft, round and long

The nose of Highland Park 18 Year Old displays characteristic toffee sweetness and an almond nuttiness reminiscent of marzipan. The finish is a prolonged, full, smokey aftertaste.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dark fruit, sherry, polished oak, heather, buttery sweetness.
Palate: Smokey, rich, kind of oily, sweet and salty playing together, a little nutty.
Finish: Warm, peaty, a little spicy, and hotter than I expected.
Comments: A true classic. This is an amazingly complex whisky. It changes every time I try another dram. To me, this is the best sub-$100 18 Year Old single malt available. I almost don’t want to say that you must buy it because I don’t want to run low.
Rating: Must Buy

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Highland Park 16 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky, The Collector's Cabinet /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 16 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$100
Collectible (Previously Travel Retail Exclusive)

What the Distillery Says:
This variant of Highland Park was created exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in October 2005, it was withdrawn in April 2010. Highland Park 16 Year Old is gloriously smooth, sweet single malt with an island-infused flavour and a rich smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Natural colour, clear and bright
Nose:Sherried smoke peat, spicy
Palate:Rich, full flavour, smokey heather honey
Finish:Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry

Highland Park 16 Year Old has an emphatic honeyed sweetness on the nose with notes of citrus fruits and sea spray. On the palate this whisky tingles the front of the tongue then immediately makes the mouth water, leaving a rich smokey sensation.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much more earthy and sherried than the 1994. Citrus and vanilla.
Palate: Not nearly as sweet as the 1994. Smokey and herbal/vegetal come to mind. A little bitter.
Finish: Dry. Again very little in common with the 1994.
Comments: This fella was discontinued in 2010 and replaced by the 1994 vintage as part of the duty free/travel retail range. I personally think it’s a very big improvement. There’s nothing about this that makes me want to drop the $100+ to scrounge up a bottle.
Rating: Average

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Highland Park 1994

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Vintage 1994
40% ABV/80 Proof
$75
Travel Retail Exclusive

What the Distillery Says:
This variant of Highland Park is exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in April 2010 having been distilled in 1994.

Midway through the decade the world was gaining confidence after the early 1990s recession. Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa. France and England were joined physically as the Channel Tunnel welcomed its first passengers. The Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer and Schindler’s List picked up seven Academy Awards.

George Foreman was still boxing and became the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Brazil won the FIFA World Cup Final. Michael Schumacher won his first Formula One world title in the same season that the mercurial Ayrton Senna lost his life the day after Roland Ratzenberger died in practice. British teen diving sensation Tom Daly was born.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Rich, warm amber hue.
Nose:Warm caramel to the fore coupled with hints of almonds. Dark fruit, including cherries and figs, are slowly revealed as the whisky opens up.
Palate:Caramel and soft smoky notes intertwine with cinnamon and rich dried fruits. Beautifully mature.
Finish:Lingering warming smoky finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich and welcoming like fresh baked monkey bread. A lot of cherry.
Palate: Much sweeter than anticipated. Rich and smokey.
Finish: Slow…very slow. The oak and smoke (great name for a whiskey/cigar bar) dance well together.
Comments: Oh this is quite nice. It’s not a classic like the 18 Year but well worth a sip if you get the chance.
Rating: Must Try

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Highland Park 15 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$65 to $70
Available Worldwide

What the Distillery Says:
First released as a UK exclusive in 2003 and now globally available, Highland Park 15 is a fabulously smooth, easy to drink single malt with a luxuriously light floral flavour and a gentle smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Full golden, clear and bright
Nose: Aromatic smokiness with a hint of camphor
Palate: Rich, initially sweet developing into a dry smokiness
Finish: Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry

Highland Park 15 Year Old has a remarkably complex nose with notes of camphor, peat and citrus fruits and flowers. The drying sensation on the finish leaves a rich smoky feeling and the immediate desire to refill your glass.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Savory and sweet play back on forth over the heather and smoke.
Palate: Very easily drinkable. Honey and floral sweetness (lavender maybe) laid over a smoky oak flavor.
Finish: A little briny, peat, floral smoke, and a little heat transitioning from late palate to early finish.
Comments: An odd thing about this bottling is that on Highland Park’s website and just about every other European mention I’ve seen lists this at 40% ABV while the bottle in front of me is 43%. I’m glad for the discrepancy. I don’t know that it would hold up as well watered down. I’m kind of at odds with this expression. I think the 12 Year Old at about half the price is a great dram at a great price. Is this better? Yes but for about $20 more you can get the 18 Year Old which is superb. I don’t know if I would ever choose this over either of those.
Rating: Stands Out

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