2010

New Releases – August ’10

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

I’m a little late with August this month. Life outside of Whisk(e)y Apostle has been a little hectic. Here’s what we heard about in August.

Parker’s Heritage Collection, 4th Edition
Timeframe: September 2010
ABV: 65.6%
Price: $79.99
This is the newest release in the acclaimed Parker’s Heritage Collection. This year’s release is a 10 year old wheated bourbon. Heaven Hill began distilling wheated bourbon back in 1999 after they acquired the Old Fitzgerald portfolio. 52 barrels totaling 4,800 bottles are being released so get yours while you can.

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection
There are two releases this year, both 15 years old. One was aged in new toasted French oak casks and the other was aged in used charred American oak casks seasoned with toasted oak chips.
Timeframe: Fall 2010
ABV: 45%
Price: $47/375 ml
I should also note a couple of things about these releases. First, these were both fully matured, not just finished in their respective casks. Second, because these weren’t aged in new charred oak casks these can’t actually be called bourbon. However, they still sound tasty to me!

Canadian Mist Black Diamond
Timeframe: Fall 2010
ABV: 43%
Price: $14.99
This is a new release from Canadian Mist that is supposed to be “a richer, more robust blended Canadian whisky.” Is this CM’s answer to Crown Royal Black?

Glendronach Grandeur
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 45.8%
Price: $700
This is a new 31 year old release from Glendronach. Bottled at cask strength, this looks very interesting if you have the means to afford the bottle.

Glendronach 33 Year Old
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 40%
Price: $379.99
This one is another release from Glendronach and is matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. I’m not sure why the 31 year old is twice the price of the 33 year old but either way they look to be interesting luxury drams.

The Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Year Old
Timeframe: September 2010
ABV: 43%
Price: $129.99
This is the latest release in Balvenie’s annual 17 year old releases. This one is finished in casks previously containing exceptionally peaty whisky. Didn’t Glenfiddich do this with Caoran?

The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
Timeframe: September 2010
ABV: 43%
Price: 59.99
This is a new line extension from Balvenie with their lovely whisky finished in Caribbean rum casks. They’ve had a Golden Rum finished Travel Retail Only bottling at 14 years old for a while. I wonder if this is the same thing released to the masses?

That’s it for August. Balvenie, Glendronach, and Buffalo Trace led the way this month. I also heard about a couple of Benromach releases in their Origins line but no word yet on whether they are coming stateside. As always, if I missed anything please let me know.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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A Great Evening in Atlanta

/ / Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky

I missed out on the Rare XI Balvenie dinner at New York Prime this past Sunday because I was a little under the weather. I have a young daughter and she’s always bringing home colds from day care. However, I found out that New York Prime’s sister restaurant Joey D’s was doing a more casual version on Tuesday night. I called up my buddy Sam and he was game so off we went!

Joey D’s does their dinners outside on the patio, the whisky list is usually one count smaller (no 21 year old in this case), and the food and atmostphere is more casual than New York Prime. The price tag is also a little cheaper too. Tuesday night they were pouring Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood, Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel, and Balvenie 17 Madeira Cask. Oh, and they were REALLY pouring. I think I ended up having seven or eight scotches Tuesday night…not that I’m complaining.

Sam and I get there about half an hour early and sat down at a four top. We were soon joined by Don and DeMark, a couple of gents who bravely came solo. We couldn’t have asked for better table company. Copious amounts of scotch and good conversation flowed all night. Shortly after we sat down we were welcomed by the new Global Brand Ambassador for Balvenie, Sam Simmons. You all probably know him as the venerable . Then the Buckhead Cigar Club representative brought over some very nice La Flor Dominicana cigars and we were off. Dinner included courses of she crab soup, caesar salad, danish baby back ribs, and apple pie a la mode. The food was okay.

We all had a very good time. I will be going back. In comparing it to New York Prime’s dinner there are pluses and minuses to each.

Joey D’s is outside so not as smoky, more casual, the music isn’t too loud so you can still have good conversation, you’re at smaller tables, and they are much more generous with the number of drinks they bring. On the downside the food is just okay. The price tag is $39.99 plus tax and gratuity.

New York Prime offers more variety of whisky with the dinner (usually one more higher end offering), has much better food, and a real guy’s club kind of feel. However, it’s pretty loud when there lounge singer kicks in and there are mostly large tables. Also, it’s indoors so even the seasoned cigar smoker might find it a bit much with all the smoke. The price tag is $59.99 plus tax and gratuity.

Now that I’ve experienced dinners at both restaurants I can say that both are definitely worth while. It really just depends on what atmosphere you would prefer. Hopefully, I’ll see some of you at an upcoming Speakeasy dinner.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Is Here (almost)

/ / Bourbon, Matt's Blog

I’ve been MIA for a while and I know it.  I promised Richard I would get him a review tonight, but I’m feeling a little under the weather so I am taking the coward’s way out and giving you a press release from the good folks at Brown-Forman.  It seems that the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is finally ready:

Vintage Dated Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Set to Hit Shelves
2010 Release Aged 12 Years and Bottled at 95 Proof

Louisville, Ky. (August 31, 2010)  – Old Forester has released the 2010 expression of its vintage-dated Birthday Bourbon in honor of George Garvin Brown, the founder of Louisville-based Brown-Forman and Old Forester, America’s First Bottled Bourbon™. Launched eight years ago to commemorate Brown’s Birthday on September 2, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a limited-edition, historically award-winning bourbon which is released annually.

“This year’s vintage release of Old Forester is crafted from a 72 barrel batch that was put into barrels on October 24, 1997,” said Chris Morris, Brown-Forman Master Distiller. “These barrels were evenly matured together in the very middle of Warehouse K, on the 5th floor in ricks 42, 43 and 45, surrounded by open space. This environment allowed the barrels to easily breathe during maturation and develop a rich fruit and spice character.”

Unlike the standard Old Forester, which is a batch of whisky from several different years, Birthday Bourbon is a vintage-dated bourbon, hand-selected by Morris from one specific day of production. The result is a one-of-a-kind character and flavor that will never be replicated again. Its unique decanter style glass bottle is a throwback to the late 1800’s when Old Forester was first produced. Old Forester is the only bourbon still in existence today that was produced before, during and after Prohibition by its original distiller.  No other bourbon brand sold in the U.S. today can make that claim.

Since its introduction in 2002, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has received unprecedented acclaim and has collected honors from USA Today, Malt Advocate, Whisky Magazine, Spirit Journal, and Santé.  A favorite among critics, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has taken home gold from numerous tasting competitions including a gold medal in the 2005, 2006 & 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 2007 expression was also named American Whiskey of the Year at Malt Advocate WhiskyFest New York.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, a Brown-Forman product, has a suggested retail price of $49.99 and is sold at most liquor stores with a wide and varied range of bourbons. The 2010 edition of Birthday Bourbon is bottled at 95 proof.

For more information on Old Forester and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, visit the Old Forester website at www.oldforester.com or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oldforester.

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More Information on the New Knob Creek

/ / Bourbon, Richard's Blog

We first talked about the new new single barrel Knob Creek release coming out in our roundup of July’s New Releases. At the time we were pretty short on details. Since then we’ve got a little more information for you. It will be called “Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve” and will be available in the February 2011 time frame. It’s going into the bottle at 60% ABV will be around $40. Here’s a shot of the new bottle:

Oh, and it’s still going to be 9 years old.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Johnnie Walker Gold

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Johnnie Walker Gold Label, The Centenary Blend
40% ABV/80 Proof
$65
Available Worldwide

What the Distillery Says:
Johnnie Walker Gold Label was blended to celebrate the first 100 years of the House of Walker in 1920. A well-kept secret, it’s only been available outside the company since the 1990s. It has a distinctly smooth, sweet and luxurious character, with a stylish elegance and refined quality.

Gold Label is crafted using whiskies such as Clynelish for a honeyed flavor and creamy texture yet still retaining the signature Johnnie Walker smokiness.

With its rich gold color and old-gold glints, it reveals a full, round, deep nose. There are notes of soft raisins and toffee, fresh malt and light cream – Gold Label is as enticing as it is sensuous.

Its palate is rich and broad with full malt flavors and honeyed spices with almonds and marzipan, which leads to a distinctive creaminess.

Cardhu provides strong yet smooth malt and oak flavors. Extra-mature grain whiskies deliver some of the lingering sweetness, while Clynelish from the northern Highlands is responsible for the unusual aromatic creaminess. The finish is multidimensional and satisfyingly long.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fresh woodchips added to a fire.
Palate: Slightly sweet with hints of shortbread cookies and mild oak. No water with this one.
Finish: Short and crisp. This is a whisky that gets the heck out of Dodge.
Comments: Gold Label is actually recommended by Diageo to be served out of the freezer. I guess given the muted flavor the chill doesn’t have much to hide. I know this is Matt’s favorite of the Johnnie Walker blends but I’ve never really taken to it. It’s very mild and easily approachable but there’s nothing there to make me specifically want a glass of Johnnie Gold. I do think that overall it stands out because it’s not offensive and shows a great balance similar to Dewar’s Signature. On a side note, I find Gold Label to be a great palate cleanser to prep me for tasting other whiskies.
Rating: Stands Out

What Matt Says:
Nose: caramel, smoke, orchard fruit, light zesty citrus
Palate: Heavier sherry influence than younger Johnnies; dark berries, smokey sweetness
Finish: Lingering traces of peat smoke and brine
Comments: Wow!  Richard and I could not disagree more.  Perhaps its because the sample I sent over was the last drops of a bottle that was open for a while.  I think this is the best JW has to offer.  It’s complex and bold, but smooth.
Rating:  Must Try

Overall Rating:  Stands Out

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