Cutty Sark Prohibition

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky
50% ABV
$29.99
Website
Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says:
Cutty Sark is announcing a new edition to its line of blended Scotch whiskies. A nod to the brand’s origins during the Prohibition era, Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky pays tribute to the style of liquid consumed during the 1920s.

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition (coined “Cutty Pro” by its early adopters) salutes the notorious Captain William McCoy, who courageously smuggled Cutty Sark into American speakeasies. McCoy possessed an infamous reputation as a distributor of the highest quality products, always genuine and never adulterated, giving rise to Cutty Sark’s affectionate nickname, “The Real McCoy.” The black opaque bottle design and cork seal are a respectful hat tip to the type of whisky bottles prevalent during the Prohibition era.

“This blend is created with exact precision as Captain McCoy himself would approve to celebrate the 80th anniversary of such a significant era,” said Kirsteen Campbell, Cutty Sark Master Blender. “We look forward to sharing this whisky with those who possess the same free spirit as McCoy’s original fans did in the 1920s.”

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition is handcrafted in Scotland in small batches from top quality grain and single malt whiskies, matured in American Oak casks and bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof).

Tasting Notes:
The full flavor of Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition is composed of black pepper and toffee notes with a subtle hint of vanilla and citrus fruits and a smooth finish due to its cold filtration process.

Appearance: Warm golden color
Nose: Soft, ripe citrus fruits, honey and vanilla
Palate: Creamy richness, hints of toffee with peppery notes
Finish: Smooth with subtle hints of spice

What Elizabeth Says:
Nose: Licorice wrapped buttery wood.
Palate: Buttery, vanilla.
Finish: Overwhelmingly tart.
Comments: I’ll skip the chance of being caught drinking Prohibition.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Roasted nuts drizzled with a sherry reduction, woody, and creamy.
Palate: A fruit tart that I just can’t place. Creamy rich mouth feel. Vanilla creme brulee with a nutty back.
Finish: The proof is great on the palate but a little rougher on the finish. Dry and medium length. Nothing offensive, just a little hot.
Comments: Very nice. I haven’t always been the biggest fan of other Cutty Sarks I’ve tried but I’ really digging this bottle. It’s a taste dram though. The nose and finish don’t add much to the party but it is surely tasty.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Vicki Loo with Three Sixty Communications for sending us a bottle to review.

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Alexander Murray Mortlach 22 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Alexander Murray & Co Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 22 Years
40% ABV
$50 (Costco Exclusive)
Alexander Murray Mortlach 22 Year

What the Bottler Says:
Mortlach distillery was established in 1823 by John Findlater, Mortlach was the first of Dufftown’s seven distilleries. The distillery has always been held in high regard and is locally thought on, as one of the very best Speyside whiskies. Alexander Murray brings you this rare bottling of Mortlach distilled in 1989, matured for 22 years in oak casks. It is dark golden in color, on the nose is quite subtle with elegant depth. Notes of barley, hints of oaked tannins and dry wood. The palate is smooth and buttery, with a long warm spicy finish. Perfect for any occasion.

What Elizabeth Says:
Nose: Cherry oak furniture stored in your great grandfather’s barn.
Palate: Swishes well, delightfully smooth.
Finish: Strong spicy berry taste but not overpowering.
Comments: Yummy. Not complicated at all but sometimes simple is best.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fresh butter, apricots, hints of grass, grain, and sherry.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet and delicate. Brown sugar crumbles on peaches and cream.
Finish: A little harsher than the I would’ve expected after the nose and palate. Oak, rubbery, and very dry.
Comments: This one is a Costco exclusive bottled under the Alexander Murray label. Not nearly as aggressive as other Mortlach’s I’ve had but very drinkable. The nose is nice and the palate is great. The finish leaves a little to be desired but at less than $50 you can’t go wrong.
Rating: Must Buy

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Balvenie 21 Year Portwood

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Balvenie Portwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years
43% ABV
$180 – $230
Website
Balvenie 21 Year Portwood
What the Distillery Says:
To create The Balvenie PortWood Aged 21 Years, a marriage of rare Balvenie is transferred to port casks, or pipes, which have held fine port wines. Here it is sampled regularly by The Balvenie Malt Master to ensure that just the right amount of character is imparted by the port casks, enhancing and developing the single malt whilst preserving its original characteristics. In duty free The Balvenie PortWood Aged 21 Years is non chill-filtered and bottled at a higher strength of 47.6% abv.

NOSE: A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness

TASTE: Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes.

FINISH: Long, gentle, nutty.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Granny’s muscadine jelly, honey roasted peanuts, and stewed cherries.
Palate: Creamy but not overly viscous. Fruitcake, allspice, and almond shortbread cookies.
Finish: Warm smokey wood finish that lingers a bit but doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Comments: This is one of my all time favorite whiskeys. Period. Those favorites I always try to keep on hand. Granted, as scotch prices continue to rise that gets harder but I do my best. This is an absolutely terrific dram. I’ve loved it for years and it never disappoints. At nearly two bills it’s hard to tell you that you must buy it but if it is within your means then I can’t recommend it enough.
Rating:Must Buy

I would like to thank Kimberly and Sonia over at the Susan Magrino Agency for sending over a sample to review.

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Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Irish Whiskey
55% ABV
$54.99
Website
Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Irish Whiskey
What the Distiller Says:
Today, Tullamore D.E.W., one of the world’s fastest growing Irish whiskeys, is proud to announce the release of a new variant, Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix. Born by the strength of a town who witnessed the first ever air disaster on record, the new limited edition Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix celebrates the ultimate courage and optimism of the Tullamore people, who driven by a positive spirit, rebuilt their town, and established the Tullamore Distillery in 1829.

It was May 10th, 1785, when the famous hot-air balloon fire occurred at Barrack Street (now Patrick Street) in Tullamore town. The accident created a huge inferno that destroyed much of the town. In the face of this destruction, the undaunted people of Tullamore rebuilt their town over the following decades, including construction of the Tullamore D.E.W. distillery on the very site of the disaster, and the subsequent introduction of its whiskey to the world. Building on that tradition of courage and optimism, they placed the phoenix symbol in the town’s coat of arms to signify a basic belief – ‘all will be well when you face life with optimism.’

“Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix pays homage to the incredible spirit of the people of Tullamore and reaffirms our commitment to the town and its people,” said Tullamore D.E.W. Senior Brand Manager, Cindy Wang. “The release of this new whiskey bridges the re-opening of the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre last year and the expected return of Tullamore D.E.W. to its hometown when our new distillery opens in 2014.”

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix packaging features the symbol of the Phoenix from Tullamore’s town crest and adorns streetlights throughout its main streets. The packaging design reflects the revamped styling of the Tullamore D.E.W. Original variant which highlights the heritage of the brand and gives founder Daniel E. Williams’ initials “D.E.W.” more prominence within the brand name. Phoenix is available in elegant gift boxes with cork tops and is perfect for holiday and special occasion gifting.

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix just took home a Gold Medal at the 2013 Irish Whiskey Masters for its taste. It is an exceptional whiskey, with mellow complexity, deep leafy, malty notes and smooth vanilla oakiness. It is a limited edition high strength, 55% ABV triple distilled Irish whiskey and finished in Old Oloroso Sherry casks. It is a blend of all three types of Irish whiskey, pure pot-still, malt and grain whiskey. It is non-chill filtered, and crafted to perfection in small exclusive batches. Each bottle is uniquely numbered.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle it’s very light on the nose. A little bit cereal and a wisp of alcohol. A bit of orange zest comes out with water.
Palate: Richer, sweeter, and creamier than regular Dew. It’s like Dew kicked up about four levels. Not watering it down does amazing things to the whiskey. Dark chocolate, vanilla custard, more cereal and a later dose of wood. Water makes it a little sweeter focusing in more on the vanilla custard than anything else.
Finish: Clean and mildly woody. The finish is pretty short. Water opens up the sherry notes in the finish.
Comments: More please! I haven’t reviewed any Dew on Whisk(e)y Apostle and I think I need to correct that in short order. This is a very tasty expression. Lovely sweetness overlaying oak and cereal notes this very Irish and very delicious. The higher proof and non-chill filtering do wonders for the dram. I used to not enjoy higher proofs in my Irish whiskeys because I thought they were too delicate to handle it. Redbreast cask strength and Dew Phoenix are changing my tone. There’s so much more depth here. You really need to try it.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank Kimberly and Sonia over at the Susan Magrino Agency for sending over a sample to review.

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Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bourbon Cask Reserve
40% ABV
$150
Website
Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky Bourbon Cask Reserve
What the Distillery Says:
This fall, Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, will launch the Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve, celebrating the intrepid journeys of the most determined pioneers. This release is a toast to the American bourbon industry, which has provided barrels to Scotch distilleries for maturing their whiskies.

The Bourbon Cask Reserve is exclusively aged for 19 years in American oak casks – casks that once traveled great American rivers and now serve as the inspiration for this limited edition release. Some of these rivers – the Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Ohio – all flow into the most famous and important waterway of America’s South: The Mississippi. These were the roads along which hundreds of people traveled over history, ultimately cultivating the land, bringing commerce and industry to the areas around which the cities of the South arose. As the cities grew, so did the American whiskey distilling industry, which used local grains to produce their own distinctive whiskeys most notably bourbon and rye whisky. For many years, these spirits mellowed in barrels as they were carried down the Mississippi River on the great paddle steamers of the 19th century to the bustling port of New Orleans to be bottled and shipped to their final destination. Since bourbon can only be aged in new white oak barrels, these empty casks were and still are shipped across the Atlantic to Scotland where distilleries such as Glenfiddich use them to mature Scotch whisky.

“We were inspired by the journey that takes bourbon barrels from U.S. whiskey distilleries to the Glenfiddich distillery and as a result, this rich, single malt Scotch whisky is 100% bourbon cask matured and is the first time we have used bourbon barrels to fully age a whisky,” said Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman. “This release celebrates the adventurous spirit we share with intrepid explorers, starting with our founder, William Grant, who set out on his own journey to fulfil a lifelong ambition of creating the best dram in the valley.”

Kinsman continued, “Aging this single malt entirely in a bourbon cask has created a spirit that has a balance of spicy sweetness tempered by rich, dried fruit flavors. Its nose consists of toffee and deep citrus notes, balanced by dry, faint smoky notes of oak. The taste is complex and layered with vanilla, fine leather and tobacco, which develops a sweet, velvety mouth feel enhanced by spicy hints of cardamom and nutmeg, which fade slowly into a warm and long finish.”

The Age of Discovery Glenfiddich Bourbon Cask Reserve’s distinctive packaging is adorned with striking illustrations that represent the meandering Mississippi River with each panel displaying a landmark along the casks’ expedition from America to Scotland. The deep blue box and the black glass bottle, embellished with a red cartouche compass, reflects the richness and exclusivity of the single malt whisky that is the reward of the long journey, making it an ideal gift for the adventurous and discerning drinker.

NOTE: Gary reviewed this more recently, not from a sample but as part of a 3 part series.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pears, the malty whiff of an IPA, and orange-mint chewing gum.
Palate: A hint of sweet vanilla at first, then Christmas spices, old rough leather like a pair of old buckskin work gloves.
Finish: Very mellow, wet toothpicks, mint notes, fading to old cigar.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram. Personally, if I was going to spend $150 on a bottle of Glenfiddich it would be the 21 year old finished in rum casks. That’s not a knock on this bottle, it’s just not the best Glenfiddich has to offer at the price point. It’s still an interesting iteration and a nice glass of scotch. However, I think this would be more for the Glenfiddich devotee rather than the uninitiated.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank Kimberly and Sonia over at the Susan Magrino Agency for sending over a sample to review.

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