2014

Compass Box The Lost Blend

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box The Lost Blend
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$115 to $125
Website
TheLostBlend-Bottle

What the Blender Says:

In 2001, we created our first single malt blend which we called Eleuthera. It was an elegant and simple blend of approximately 80% unpeated Highland and 20% peaty Islay single malts. Alas, after 3 years, we were suddenly no longer able to obtain one of the key whiskies required for the recipe so, sadly, we retired Eleuthera in 2004. Quietly, I have always been looking for whiskies that we could use to bring it back, even if temporarily, but not with any luck. Until now.

“Yes, sir, the stuff was distilled elixir of battle, money and high life.”
From The Lost Blend by O. Henry, 1907

I’ve had a name that I’ve been waiting to use for a whisky project like this—The Lost Blend, inspired by the O. Henry story of the same name. This sharp and witty portrait of life in a New York bar in the early 1900s was published in 1907 and centres around two business partners who try to recreate a blend of different spirits with close to supernatural properties.

Having been blending Scotch whiskies as an amateur and a professional for the better part of 20 years, I can say with confidence that I believe there exist “magic” combinations of whiskies. For me, they are like the whisky blending equivalent of spiritual truths. And what better name to lend to our lost blend, but “The Lost Blend”!
John Glaser, Whiskymaker

Availability: A limited edition of 12018 bottles. Bottled in August 2014.

Flavour Descriptors: An elegantly complex union of two fruity Highland single malts and a peaty Islay single malt. An ethereal fruit and herbal character and a sweetness on the palate is buttressed by an underlying smokiness.

Distillery Sourcing: Single malt whisky (of a certain age) from the Clynelish distillery, and a small cache of extraordinary whisky from the Allt-A-Bhainne distillery, aged in American oak barrels and just a few years shy of two decades old, combined with malt whisky from the Caol Ila distillery.

The Labels: We’ve created three different front label designs all around the same theme: lost items. The whisky behind each label is the same ,and the three labels have been randomly bottled and put into cases, which allows you an additional discovery to the whisky itself: which label did I get?

What Richard Says:

Nose: It is an interesting interplay of sweetness with a smokey peat nose. As it airs out a bit it becomes more herbal.
Palate: Much less peaty on the palate than the nose. It’s more like brined honey chews with more lovely herbal notes.
Finish: Salty and smokey before settling to slow, long honey and herb mix.
Comments: Delicious! I was sad to see Eleuthera go years ago and while this isn’t exactly the same thing it is a terrific whiskey in its own right. There are so many layers and so much nuance to this whiskey that you could contemplate it for days. My notes purposely appear to gloss over specifics because it changes every time I go back. Sometimes the sweetness is honey, then candied pineapple, then peach cobbler. This is a really fun dram to play with and explore.
Rating: Must Try

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft peat smoke, earthy mineral notes, herbal with fennel and lemongrass, vanilla, honey, subtle fruit notes of kiwi and peaches.
Palate:  Peaches and pears with earthy peat, cracked pepper, honey and a bit of chocolate.
Finish:  Long and drying with pepper, peat and grilled peaches.
Comments:  Reviewed this in a side-by-side with Eleuthera, and by comparison this is more rich and fruity with the intensity turned up a notch. Really delicious dram with a nice balance between the smoke, peat and fruit notes.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Dewar’s Monarch

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Dewar’s The Monarch Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years
40% ABV
$40
Website
dewars-15-year-blended-scotch-whisky
What the Blender Says:
Known as “The Monarch”. This rare and special whiskey is named after the famous painting, “The Monarch of the Glen”.

In 1851, Sir Edwin Landseer created the famous painting, an instant masterpiece, that depicts a stag in the Scottish Highlands. John Dewar and Sons purchased the painting in 1919 and hung it proudly.

Master blender Stephanie Macleod used the painting as inspiration for this rare and special whiskey.

DEWAR’S 15 Blended Scotch Whisky is a blend of very rare vintage single malt and single grain scotch whiskies. The blend is then married in oak casks for a light, velvety finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich and floral. Shaved coconut like the bagged kind you find in the grocery store mixed with wildflowers and just a hint of honey.
Palate: In the mouth it has that great Dewar’s custard creaminess. Vanilla flan with toffee crumbles on top. There’s also a bit of fresh cut grass back note to it too.
Finish: The finish a little dry and short. Wet popsicle sticks and a grassy, earthy note. As you continue to drink it the finish gets a little more hint of pepper and spice but again, it is short and fades to the popsicle sticks again.
Comments: I’ve often thought that the Dewar’s slogan should be “Dewar’s, the drinker’s dram.” By that I mean its blends don’t stretch the boundaries of scotch in anyway but they make for pleasant everyday drinkers. Even the Signature if your pocket book allows a $200+ table whiskey. It’s a nice alternative to the Johnnie Walkers (hit or miss as they continue to try new things) and the Chivases (trying too hard to be sophisticated) out there. Dewar’s seems to have more of a consistent soul shared by all their offerings. Plus, at $40 for a 15 year old blend it’s at a great price point.
Rating: Stands Out

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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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