November 2014

Glenmorangie Taghta

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glenmorangie The Taghta Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$120 to $130
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Where whisky fans can help design the next Limited Edition whisky! Online voting to decide result!

Glenmorangie is proud to announce the launch of an innovative whisky programme, which will involve fans of Scotland’s favourite malt in the selection of a brand new limited edition whisky.

The programme, known as ‘Glenmorangie Cask Masters’, will run for 18 months and will involve consumers across the world in the development of a new limited edition of Glenmorangie, planned for release in late 2014.

Working with Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation at the Glenmorangie Company, consumers will be able to join him on a five stage journey where their opinions and votes will determine the outcome of the new whisky.

The winning dram will be chosen from three different ageing whiskies that are nearing the end of their maturation at Glenmorangie Distillery. During the 18 month programme consumers will be able to

  • Vote for their favourite of the three maturing whiskies:
  • Get involved in the naming of the new product
  • Decide what direction the packaging and design will take
  • Choose the photographic style that will bring the new expression to life
  • Get involved in the choice of location and win the chance to attend the global launch

At each stage participants will also be able to win prestigious prizes including a VIP visit to the Glenmorangie Distillery and a trip to the country of origin of the oak cask in which the winning whisky has been matured.

Dr. Lumsden has already revealed his selection of the 3 whiskies to a group of leading international whisky experts, who have all independently offered their initial views on his selection. Their taste notes are available on the Glenmorangie Cask Masters website to guide participants.

At the later stages of the programme design and photography experts will also offer their thoughts on the naming, packaging and launch suggestions received from Glenmorangie whisky fans.

Taghta is the exclusive result of Glenmorangie Csk Masters – a programme giving Glenmorangie fans the opportunity to shape a Limited Edition. The extra maturation in ex-Manzanilla casks gives Glenmorangie Taghta a rich, mellow taste of caramelised orange and lemon, some salty notes and hints of toasted oak.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Definitely get the sherry on the nose with a bit of honeysuckle and citrus zest. Underlying everything is a weird note that reminds me of saline contact lens rinse.
Palate: Raisin syrup, more citrus zest, and salted caramels.
Finish: A very oak forward finish but not in an over aged way. It really just lacks a counter balancing structure to offset the oak. It’s a mellow pleasant oak with a spicy back.
Comments: From the first pour this goes into the glass with oily smoothness. It foretells the smooth rich nature of the malt. At first taste it is almost cloying, very sweet-tooth-drinker oriented but that does a quick about face. Give it some time and it develops more of the background flavors. This is a very nice malt, especially in the age of over priced/under performing no age statement scotch. That said, I’m not sure I would buy a second bottle at $120 a pop. Maybe at $80. The only other thing (besides price) I’m not jazzed about is the whole “crowd sourcing” hullabaloo. It’s a bit hokey and over done. It reminds me a bit of Sazerac’s Single Oak Project which also just annoys me at this point.
Rating: Stands Out

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Highland Park Dark Origins

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46.8% ABV
$80 to $90
Website
HP-Dark-Origins-bottle-pack-70cl-1000
What the Distillery Says:
Dark Origins is inspired by the cunning spirit and courageous personality of Highland Park’s infamous founder, Magnus Eunson. This latest addition to the core expressions uses twice as many first fill sherry casks than in the classic Highland Park 12 year old resulting in a naturally darker, richer flavour.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Rich mahogany
Nose: Sherried spice and ripe bananas combine with toasted hazelnuts and baked apple
Palate: Well-balanced, dry peat at first mellowing out to maraschino cherries, warm dark chocolate entices the palate
Finish: Enduring sweet smoke

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry for sure. This has a much thicker and meatier nose than standard Highland Park bottlings.
Palate: So if a sherry butt and a peat brick had a fight, beat the hell out of each other, put antiseptic ointment on it and wrapped the whole thing in old Band-aids it would be this whisky.
Finish: Surprisingly sweet on the finish but it quickly fades to a dry soot-like quality.
Comments: I understand where Edrington is coming from. You have a great but under valued malt. You use some of those same great sherry casks that you use for Macallan but not too many. Your malt is a great balance of flavor and finesse with a bit of peat. You kind of missed out on the uber-peak band wagon last decade and now things are swinging heavily sherried. So you don’t have enough aged sherry stock to make a second line like with Macallan but you can bring what you do have together and make a no age statement version for the sherry bomb lovers out there and hopefully capitalize on the sherry wave to bring in some extra profits.

Yeah I get all that but the problem is this sucks. It might be passable if it wasn’t 1) a NAS mystery mix, 2) $80+ a bottle when your 12 year old is around $45 to $50, and 3) a Highland Park that is a bare shadow of the rest of the line. I’ve passed this bottle around and gotten some not negative feedback but if you for some reason value my opinion then I wouldn’t waste your money.
Rating: Probably Pass

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Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Parker’s Heritage Collection, 8th Edition (2014),
Original Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Aged 13 years
63.7% ABV
$90
Website
parkers-heritage-whiskey
What the Distillery Says:
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the 2014 limited edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill, who holds the world’s second largest inventory of aging American Whiskey, will be shipping the rarity into selected markets across the country beginning in mid-September and it will hit retail shelves in September and October. The annual release of the Parker’s Heritage Collection bottling, of which this represents the eigth in the series, is always highly anticipated by whiskey lovers worldwide and the bottlings are some of the most lauded and coveted releases of the year.

This year, for the first time, Heaven Hill will be using an American Straight Whiskey style other than Bourbon for the Parker’s Heritage Collection release. The 2014 edition will feature 13-year-old straight wheat whiskey, bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered. The barrels used for this year’s offering were from the very first run of what later would become Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey. With a minimum of 51% soft winter wheat in the mashbill or grain recipe, Bernheim is the only straight wheat whiskey produced by a major American distiller and has been available since 2005. For this reason, this year’s Parker’s Heritage Collection release has been dubbed “Original Batch Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey”.

The release will be comprised of two small batch dumps, the first of which will be bottled at a robust 127.4° proof or 63.7% alcohol by volume. The cask strength and lack of chill filtering mean the whiskey is bottled much as it came out of the barrel after 13 years of aging on the top floors of Rickhouse Y on the Heaven Hill property in Bardstown. Heaven Hill announced in June that they were repackaging the Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey to add a 7 year age statement, but the additional 6 years of maturation gives the Parker’s Heritage Collection Original Batch Wheat Whiskey even greater complexity and depth. The soft, biscuity profile of Bernheim is tempered with additional oak and char notes, and the finish is long and spicy.

Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) several years ago. Last year’s edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection, called the “Promise of Hope” release, raised over $300,000 for the ALS Association’s Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund through a $20 per bottle contribution made by Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill will continue with this cause-related campaign, and will contribute $5 from the average national retail cost of $89.99 for every 750ml bottle sold of this year’s “Original Batch” release to ALS research and treatment. With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection selling out of Heaven Hill’s warehouses, the company expects to generate an additional $65,000 to battle ALS through this year’s edition, which is not as broad a release as last year’s “Promise of Hope” bottling.
This year’s release of Parker’s Heritage Collection promises to be a worthy successor to the previous seven releases, which, having won multiple awards from Whisky Advocate magazine, Whisky Magazine and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, stand as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Past bottlings have won awards ranging from “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year” to “Best of Show, Brown Spirits.” As a result, the Parker’s Heritage Collection releases have become some of the most anticipated and sought after bottlings of every new year.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Clearly high-proof; allspice, bit of clove, honey, pound cake and sandalwood. A bit of water helps knock the alcohol down, and brings out more cereal (malted milk?)
Palate: Heat at first, followed by hints of vanilla, cream of wheat (or oatmeal – I get those confused). A bit of water dissipates the heat and leaves a lovely honey-suckle sweetness with cinnamon and baking spices.
Finish: Nice, moderate to long, although a bit dry. Water helps this out as well.
Comments: Like the Bernheim 7 yr Wheat Whiskey, important to have expectations that this is not a bourbon, although there are some similarities. Almost twice as old as the Bernheim 7 yr Wheat Whiskey, I think this whiskey showcases how well the wheat grain takes age without taking on a lot heavy oak characteristics. I diluted some of this to 90 proof (same as Bernheim 7 yr), and there is a marked difference with the added 6 yrs of age (richer, sweeter, wood more evident). To me, this isn’t as woody as a rye bourbon of similar age (say Elijah Craig 12yr). I have had whiskey at 127 proof that is more drinkable and not as hot as this one, but it opens up beautifully with some water.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Whoa, that alcohol punches you in the nose. There are some nice hints of baking spices but the alcohol dominates until you add some water.
Palate: Even at bottle strength this is a delicious palate of vanilla creme brulee and brown sugar & cinnamon oatmeal. A few splashes of water open up a nice honeyed creaminess.
Finish: This is surprisingly smooth at bottling strength with a dry, chalky, woody finish that I’m not too fond of.
Comments: This is definitely a lighter whiskey (not to be confused with “light whiskey”) and I feel that with the age a proof it suffers because of that. It tastes very good, especially if you can get that water ratio just right. However, the nose is too delicate on this wheat whiskey to stand up to the higher proof. It’s a sub 100 proof nose for me. Second, it doesn’t finish well. It doesn’t really matter how I play with the water, the finish just isn’t doing it for me. I’m sure if you are a big Bernheim Wheat Whiskey fan that you will love this but it’s more of niche curiosity than something I think you would have to try or buy.
Rating: Stands Out

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Bernheim Wheat Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Bernheim Original Small Batch Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 7 Years Aged
45% ABV
$30
Website
bernheim__62107.1411550900.1280.1280

What the Distillery Says:
At its launch, Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey was the first truly new variety of American straight wheat whiskey introduced since Prohibition. Heaven Hill Master Distillers saw an opportunity to give today’s whiskey connoisseurs a unique taste experience. Bernheim was the only straight whiskey to use winter wheat as the primary grain in its mashbill, giving it a soft, sweet flavor and medium finish.

Today, on the front of the bottle, Bernheim proudly displays its finest attributes: Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, small batch, and a 7 year age statement. With an age statement of 7 years, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey truly is well worth the wheat. It is the only straight wheat whiskey distributed nationally. As a straight whiskey, it meets the same criteria as Bourbon or rye—aged a minimum of two years in new, charred oak barrels, distilled at less than 160 proof, and contains no coloring, flavoring or blending agents. As a small batch product, it is made with a dump of 100 barrels or less.

COLOR – Brilliant copper
AROMA – Mildly sweet with hints of vanilla and honey
TASTE – Hints of toffee, berries, & spice with fresh mint
FINISH – Soft toasted oak, elegant and warm

What Gary Says:
Nose: Light, freshly baked French bread, fruit salad. Reminds me of a young single malt Scotch
Palate: A nice citrus fruitiness, peaches, subtle mint with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. A bit thin, and here also reminds me of a young single malt, with a bit more wood (although not woody by any stretch)
Finish: Crisp and clean, bit of spice at the start and then thins out near the end; medium length.
Comments: This is not a powerful, “smack-you-in-the-mouth” dram. Far more nuanced, and makes my mind wander towards single malt Scotch rather than bourbon. More wood notes than a young single malt, but not as forward with sweetness as a bourbon. Perhaps a gateway American whiskey for the Scotch enthusiast who finds bourbon or rye to be a bit too intense?
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is a light grassy kind of note that I more often associate with scotch. Behind that there is a little honeysuckle sweetness and a fresh bread note, more of a white bread than a richer darker bread.
Palate: Vanilla ice cream on peach cobbler. Bits of mint leaves and another vegetal note.
Finish: It’s spicier than I would expect from a wheat whiskey. It’s also a little dry and grassy.
Comments: Memory is a funny thing. This is one of those whiskey like Elmer T Lee that I tried right after it was first released and loved it. Something seems to have been lost over time. Maybe it’s just me and I expect more from my whiskeys now. It’s a bit all over the place. The nose says scotch, the palate says wheat whiskey, and the finish says rye.
Rating: Stands Out

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Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45.5% ABV
$125
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
LAWRENCEBURG, KY (JULY 28, 2014) – Today, a living legend in the global spirits industry gets his due, as the whiskey brand he’s nurtured for an astonishing 60 years releases Wild Turkey® Diamond Anniversary, a commemorative Bourbon in his honor. Celebrating six decades of service with the famous Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery this year, Wild Turkey’s Jimmy Russell is now considered the longest-tenured, active Master Distiller in the world.

A man who has dedicated his life to preserving the centuries-old craft of whiskey making deserves a Bourbon befitting this unique milestone. Enter Eddie Russell, who’s been making whiskey by his father’s side for more than 30 years. With Jimmy and Eddie’s seal of approval, Wild Turkey is proud to release Diamond Anniversary, an exclusive, limited-edition mingling of 13- and 16-year-old whiskies that’s as special a Bourbon as Jimmy is a distiller.

Known among peers, Bourbon fans and aficionados as the “Buddha of Bourbon, the “Master Distiller’s Master Distiller” and the “Elder Statesman,” never before has such a product been created to honor a single individual who has so substantially contributed to the long success of a spirits brand. Jimmy has long been recognized as an innovator in the category and a steward of Bourbon history and craft, remaining staunchly committed to making Bourbon using traditional methods.

Since his first day on the job in 1954, Jimmy has seen man land on the moon, the walls of communism crumble, the invention of the Internet and more liquor fads come and go than he can count. He has raised a glass of Wild Turkey with countless thousands of people around the globe, created or co-created no less than 10 Bourbons, invented the first honey-flavored Bourbon, was inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame™, and received a formal acclamation in the Kentucky legislature thanking him for his life-long contributions to the Bourbon industry and Commonwealth of Kentucky. It’s been a long and exciting road for Jimmy Russell, but the journey isn’t over yet.

“After 60 years of making whiskey, I still love what I do and all the incredible people I’ve had the chance to meet,” said Jimmy. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, as soon as it feels like work I’ll retire. If it hasn’t happened after getting up and driving my Ford pickup over to the distillery about 20,000 times at this point, I don’t think it will be happening anytime soon.”

Eddie is a veteran at Wild Turkey as well, working there for 33 years. Together, the father and son duo – another rarity in the industry – have crafted several bourbons together. For Jimmy’s 60th anniversary, Eddie wanted to make something extra special for his beloved father and mentor. To create Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary, Eddie hand selected rare barrels that had been aging for 13 and 16 years (nearly twice as long as the flagship Wild Turkey 101) that yielded a spirit with tantalizing notes of caramel and vanilla, complete with a spicy oak finish. Fortuitously, these barrels were filled around the time Jimmy was celebrating his 45th anniversary, and Eddie was thinking about planning Jimmy’s retirement party.

“When I was creating Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary, my father’s voice was in my head guiding me. He taught me everything I know, so I wanted to craft something that reflected all of the invaluable knowledge he passed on to me; something that was worthy of one of the greatest Master Distillers of all time,” remarked Eddie.

Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary is exclusively offered at a suggested retail price of $124.99, and will be available nationally, but in small quantities starting in August 2014.

What Gary Says:
Nose: A cedar chest filled with old leather-bound booked, bit of orange zest, honey, wildflowers and a touch of vanilla and nutmeg. For its age, not as much wood as I would have expected.
Palate: Smooth mouthfeel that starts off sweet before slowly bringing in the rye spice you expect from Wild Turkey. Toasted caramel and honey, sour apple chips with cinnamon and nutmeg, rice pudding with some pepper near the end.
Finish: Moderately long finish, where the wood becomes more predominant but not overly so. A dry peppery note.
Comments: Like nearly every other review I’d read, I too wish this had been bottled at a higher proof personally. It isn’t the oak bomb that I anticipated based on it being a combination of 13yr and 16yr bourbon barrels. Unfortunately it comes off as less intense for me than standard Wild Turkey 101 bourbon. When I think “Wild Turkey”, I think of dense, rye spice – and unfortunately the 91 proof point leaves me wanting more from this pour (especially when considering the price point). For someone who prefers a more nuanced pour to study, this might fit the bill – but I would try to pick it up on sale if you can.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla, nut brittle, caramel, creme brulee, with hints of cherry blossom.
Palate: The flavor is a bit more muted than I would’ve expected with the nose. If you roll it around a bit it begins to open a little. Oranges, cinnamon, and a little mint standout.
Finish: There is a bit of hang time here. It’s a bit dry with a black peppercorn dominance. A bit of oak peaks around but not too much.
Comments: So someone clearly asked for an older more easy drinking Wild Turkey. It wasn’t me but I can appreciate what they are going for. I find it a little too tame for Turkey but it’s pleasant and very drinkable.
Rating: Stands Out

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