March 2014

Compass Box, Empire State South, & The GBS

/ / Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky

Last night I went to a Compass Box event featuring John Glaser at Empire State South with a few of the guys from the Georgia Bourbon Society including Dave whose new blog you can check out . We had a blast but to be honest we usually do. The event was structured a little differently from whiskey events I attended in the past. We had the bar area of the restaurant and Empire gave everyone a Compass Box centric menu. The menu featured some tasty bits plus 0.5, 1, and 2 ounce pours of Asyla, Great King Street Artists Blend, Great King Street NY Blend, Oak Cross, Spice Tree, Peat Monster, Delilah’s, and Peat Monster 10th Anniversary along with some tasty cocktails featuring Compass Box whiskies. All were a la carte and not inexpensive. While we were imbibing Mr. Glaser was floating from table to table to answer questions and talk about his great whiskies and his craft. If you haven’t had a chance to meet John Glaser then I will tell you that he is a very approachable and knowledgeable gentleman who enjoys talking about what he does.

During the discussions with Mr. Glaser we got the background on the making of his recent Delilah’s limited release. This lovely whisky was made at the request of the owner of the namesake bar in Chicago. It was supposed to be a bourbon inspired easy drinking whisky that would go equally well with a beer or in a nosing glass. On both accounts Compass Box succeeded with flying colors. The secret to the blend is some 12 year old Cameronbridge single grain that Diageo was experimenting with in new oak barrels. This is the source to the lovely vanilla notes coming through. Delicious!

Toward the end of the night after we had certified our whisky-geekdom street cred Mr. Glaser comes over with a few small pours of The General. In addition to being amazing he also regaled us with the story of this bottling. This new limited release is the result of two blends that came into the possession of Compass Box. One is around 33 years old and of unknown province. This one came via a whisky broker. The other is around 40 years and came from Gordon and MacPhail. The uniqueness of this whisky has many layers. It’s very old. It is a blend of blends. And those blends were pre-blended and aged as blends subsequent to blending. The back story is almost as interesting as the whisky.

For those interested in The General your local options are limited. Tower is only getting a couple of bottles and those may already be spoken for. Call and ask for Matt. Green’s also has a few so that may be your best local option. I’m told that the only other retailer in Georgia getting any is Habersham’s in Savannah.

Our final piece of inside information was Mr. Glaser’s reveal of the next release. In the fall will be a release of Great King Street The Glasgow Blend. This will be a sherry smoky new addition to the regular line coming out of experimental work done in the European market. For those that don’t know Compass Box release a sherry focused experimental blend and a smoky focused experimental blend in Europe only. The purpose was to gauge interest in which direction they should go with their next blend. Apparently, it was split down the middle. As a result, the new blend will be the best of both worlds.

My only gripe about the whole evening is that I would’ve preferred a set price and whisky list similar to other tasting but it was a minor inconvenience. This was a great time featuring great whisky and a great whiskymaker. Fittingly, during April we will be featuring reviews of Compass Box whiskies here so be sure to check back. Oh, and we sort of made John Glaser an honorary member of the Georgia Bourbon Society too.

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Bushmills 16 Year

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Bushmills 16 Year
Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Matured in Three Woods

40% ABV
$80-$85
Website
bushmills
What the Distiller Says:
“Well‚ it takes a special dedication to create the Bushmills 16 year-old‚ that and lots of patience. Two whiskies are matured for 16 years‚ one in a bourbon barrel and the other in sherry‚ and then they are married together in a sweet port infused cask. It’s a marriage made in heaven!”
– Master Distiller Colum Egan

NOSE: Aromatic nose with hints of almonds and a nutty sweetness
TASTE: A warm port sweetness on the back of the throat that drifts up to form an almond‚ marzipan fusion with hints of Honey beehoney and praline
FINISH: Deep‚ jammy and dark chocolate.

Recommended Serving:
45mls Bushmills 16 Year-Old. (1.5 oz)
1 Whiskey Glass
A drop of water

What Richard Says:

Nose: It starts out abrupt and a little meaty. From there it is grainy with a heavy focus toward cereal grains. The wood interplay is interesting. It get a heave sherry background that is trying to fight through the port. I’m undecided if it works or not.
Palate: The flavor is clean, mellow, and inoffensive. Rolling it around I get crisp apples, toasted pine nuts, an a cereal back. The flavors aren’t particularly bold but this is ridiculously drinkable.
Finish: It comes on delicate and slow but rather elegant. There is almost no finish at first but the port wood slowly creeps in and guides you out.
Comments: Nose….meh. Everything else….great! This would be a “drinker’s dram” in my book. By that I mean that it is not for those that want to spend the evening with their noses in their glasses waxing poetic. Rather, it is a great dram if yo uwna tto sit with some friends and just enjoy some good whiskey. I also feel compelled to own up to something. This is a dram I had to spend a lot of time with. It is really a mood dram for me. If I’m in the mood I love it and review accordingly. If I force then I don’t respond as well. What you see above is the combination of those two experiences.

Rating: Stands Out

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft, fruity and floral with with subtle dark fruits, honey, and hint of the port pipe.
Palate:  Sweet, with soft fruit notes, honey, raisins, almonds, praline, bit of chocolate and a slight pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with honeyed fruit and milk chocolate.
Comments:  This is a significant step up from the 10 year. I agree with Richard that this is ridiculously drinkable – although I’ll bet this would be a LOT better at a higher ABV. Still pretty solid in terms of flavor density. When Richard reviewed this in 2014, it was $80 – $85. In 2020 here in Atlanta, this is over $120. It is still a solid single malt – but overpriced in my book.

Rating: Stands Out

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Powers Special Reserve 12 Year

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey Special Reserve Aged 12 Years
40% ABV
$35-$50
Website
powers-gold-label-special-reserve-12-year-old-blended-irish-whiskey-county-cork-ireland-10391165
What the Distiller Says:
Powers 12 Year Old Special Reserve was launched in 2000. It retains the classic Powers’ spicy, honeyed, full-bodied flavour, enhanced and enriched by years of extra aging in carefully selected American oak barrels. It is best enjoyed neat or with a little water.

Nose
Spicy, honeyed, with a touch of perfumed oils, it is full-bodied and flavoursome.

Taste
The familiar taste of Ireland’s favourite whiskey is enhanced by long ageing to reveal a spicy complexity and additional velvet smoothness.

Finish
The velvet smoothness is finished with a distinguishing touch of gentle woodiness.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is light and floral but it has a hearty backbone that foretells the high pot still content. There is also a slight sherry back note as the nose opens up. This one is a little coy and evasive.
Palate: The whiskey is creamy and approachable. It reminds me of a light vanilla custard or honey drizzled yogurt. As it coats the mouth a flavor of overripe pears comes out.
Finish: This is very dry with surprising hit of burnt peppercorns and wood.
Comments: The finish is a little surprising and off-putting on this one. It doesn’t seem to flow from the palate like the nose to palate transition. It is more of an abrupt about-face. This is still a very drinkable and enjoyable whiskey but the finish make syou want to keep drinking to avoid the finish. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
Rating: Stands Out

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2 Gingers

/ / Cocktails, Irish Whiskey, Review /

2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$19.99
Website

What the Distiller Says:
2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey – the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* from the award-winning Kilbeggan Distilling Co.™ – has grown beyond its Minnesota roots and is now officially available across the United States. The brand has experienced exponential growth, expanding from limited Midwest markets one year ago to all 50 states this month.

2 GINGERS® Founder and CEO Kieran Folliard, former owner of one of the country’s top-selling Irish whiskey pubs, originally created the whiskey and its signature cocktail, the BIG GINGER®, with inspiration from his mother and aunt – the two fiery gingers (red-heads) featured on the bottle. Backed by Folliard’s passion and category expertise, 2 GINGERS® has quickly become the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* since its launch in 2011. After experiencing remarkable popularity and success among women and men within limited regional markets in 2013, the premium blended whiskey – aged 4 years and double-distilled – has increased distribution once more, this time expanding nationwide.

“At its heart, 2 GINGERS® is about following up on a hunch and pursuing your dreams,” said Folliard, who is soon hitting the road in a custom 2 GINGERS® trailer that, like any Irish pub, will ring with stories (most of them true) in cities across the country. “We hope to encourage others to pursue their dreams, to demonstrate what we stand for and to pose the question: ‘Why not try something big?’”

Beam Inc. (NYSE:BEAM) acquired 2 GINGERS® in December 2012, and since that time has rapidly expanded distribution. To support the national launch, Folliard will use the customized 2 GINGERS® trailer to meet with bartenders, distributors and consumers looking to discover the BIG GINGER® cocktail in stops from coast to coast, including: Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, Hoboken, NJ, New Orleans, LA, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN, St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH.

2 GINGERS® is a smooth, malty and slightly sweet premium, blended Irish whiskey. Distilled with mixability in mind, the brand created and trademarked two balanced and simple cocktails, the BIG GINGER® and SKINNY GINGER®. Genderless and appropriate for all seasons, these cocktails combine the refreshing bite of ginger ale with the caramel, vanilla and citrus undertones of 2 GINGERS®, creating the perfect recipe for anyone who may not yet consider themselves whiskey drinkers.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle there is a heavy malty/hoppy note reminiscent of cheaper American lager or IPA. As the nose mellow it’s lighter and more like honeysuckle with a vegetal herb mixture.
Palate: Light with hints of honey and vanilla almond milk fading to a spicy and grassy taste.
Finish: The finish is a little raw and the place where the whiskey shows it’s youth.
Comments: Not a bad whiskey at all. This is clearly Cooley product. It think I could be a better “neat sipper” with some ago on it but they are pushing it as a mixer. With some ginger ale it is quite refreshing.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Rueben his team at DBC PR for the review sample provided.

Recommended Cocktails:

BIG GINGER®
2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey
Ginger Ale
Lemon Wedge
Lime Wedge
METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.

SKINNY GINGER®
2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey
Diet Ginger Ale
Lemon Wedge
Lime Wedge
METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with diet ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.

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SMWS Cask 93.47

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWS Cask No. 93.47
Campbeltown
59.7% ABV
Distilled April 2002
$??
US Allocation: ??
Valentine’s 2014 Release

What the SMWS Says:
The nose seemed unusual – salted almonds and rice crackers; seaweed, sushi, and Earl Grey tea; smoked sausage, tar, hospitals, garage workshops and farmyards. The unreduced palate was enormous – tar, smoke and ash – big time; also salty liquorice, menthol, Arbroath smokies and the seaweed found in Japanese rice crackers. Adding water brought the nuttiness and sweetness forward on the nose; we also identified flying saucers, soap and dried strawberries. The reduced palate was still interesting but more tamed – vanilla sweetness, tongue-tingling ginger and cured sausage with subtle caraway and mace flavourings. The distillery is owned by the Loch Lomond Distillery Company.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Briny delight. Kind of reminds me of nori with light smokiness and a hint of heather.
Palate: This drinks much easier than it’s proof would lead you to believe. There is a little more of that salty brine, very nutty, and a flavor that reminds me of overly strong black tea.
Finish: This finish clings to the tongue forever. Tar like smoke and sea air.
Comments: Exceptionally interesting. I might not make this a staple in my whisky cabinet but it makes for a very conversational dram.
Rating: Stands Out

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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