Old Pulteney Clipper Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% ABV $50 Website What the Distillery Says: The Limited Edition Old Pulteney Clipper Commemorative bottle launched in July 2014. Only 2,700 cases of 6 available world-wide. Matured in ex bourbon and ex sherry casks.
Colour: Polished gold Nose: Sweetness of dried fruits and crispiness of green apples is accompanied by notes of fresh vanilla and white chocolate. Palate: Waves of honey and orange zest, a rounded oaky structure and an unmistakable coastal note which sets Old Pulteney apart. Smooth and long-lasting.
What Richard Says: Nose: Meaty with a wisp of sea air. Deeper exploration brings up oatmeal crisp cookies and citrus zest. Palate: More cinnamon oatmeal cookies eaten by the shore while the salty sea air washed over you. It’s a nice rich flavor in the mouth. Finish: A lovely note of brown sugar cookies fading to slow oak and intense malty and salty notes. Comments: I’ve been a bit dubious on not age statement (NAS) single malts lately. My forthcoming Dark Origins review will not be kind. But this isn’t bad at all. It’s a nice malt that ventures out a little but doesn’t lose a solid core. The cookie notes are very nice but it tends to be overly malty and salty. I don’t think I would buy a bottle but it’s worth a try in bar. Rating: Average
We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.
an Cnoc 22 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% ABV $ 159 Website What the Distillery Says: Matured predominately in American oak, ex-bourbon casks as well as Spanish oak, ex-sherry butts, anCnoc 22 Years Old displays complexity and a wealth of character but its long lasting rich, smoky finish sets this dram apart from the younger offerings.
Colour: Bright gold with a copper tint.
Nose: Sweet and spicy with notes of honey and toffee. Warm Christmas cake is accentuated by the freshness of lemons, green apples and cut flowers. All wrapped in a delicate whiff of wood smoke.
Taste: Full bodied and complex. Distinct crushed clove, raisin and blood orange flavours are at the front, closely followed by layers of fragrant vanilla and leather. The long, rich finish is smoky and spicy.
What Richard Says: Nose: A slight meaty sherried note. A bit of crisp citrus drizzled with honey. Palate: Very nice round body with a sherry accent but not too much. It reminds me of my own homemade scones: raisins, allspice, cinnamon and ginger. Finish: Aggressive at 46% but not hot. Cocoa powder and dried fruits with a nice oak base. Comments: Delicious. The mix of sherry and exbourbon wood make for a balanced sherry influence without being in your face about it. The whole whiskey from nose to finish shows great depth and balance. Rating: Stands Out
We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.
Speyburn 25 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% ABV $315 Website What the Distillery Says: Speyburn 25 Year Old is a whisky of rare quality. The finest Scottish spirit is matured for a quarter of a century in American white oak Fino sherry and bourbon casks carefully selected by the distillery manager Robert Anderson. This slow process produces a multi-award winning single malt whisky of exceptional depth, complexity and balance.
Appearance: Clear Light Amber, Golden Honey, Red Gold, Bright Amber
Finish: Spicy, sweet, long lasting with a dry finish
What Richard Says: Nose: Creamy rich vanilla custard, sweet stone fruit cobbler, marzipan, and that great “old scotch” smell. Palate: Lemon cheesecake drizzled with a sherry reduction but much lighter than the nose would lead you to believe. There is a nice little spicy kick as you let it settle on the palate. Finish: A little hotter and more sherry like with hints of cocoa powder. Comments: The mix of ex fino sherry and bourbon casks makes for a delicious scotch. This is one for the sherry wood lovers but it’s not an over the top sherry bomb. It’s more balanced and nuanced than that. The ease of drinkability shown in the 10 year old still holds but with more depth of flavor. Spend time with it and layers begin to open up. This is no one trick pony. Rating: Stands Out
We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.
Speyburn 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky %40 ABV $29 Website What the Distillery Says: This perfectly-balanced Scottish single malt whisky was born in the Highlands of Scotland more than a century ago. It’s created using fresh spring water from Speyside. And, it’s this soft water which gives our whisky its distinctive character and unique flavour.
Nose: Fresh, clean and aromatic with a rich lemony fruitiness
Colour: Pale gold with amber highlights
Taste: Medium-bodied with a delicate, fruity character with hints of toffee and butterscotch. A sweet long lasting finish.
What Richard Says: Nose: This is light on the nose with hints of vanilla and honey. The nose very much foretells the bourbon wood aging. Palate: Light with fruity sweetness coming from poached pears and pineapple with a hint of ginger. Finish: The finish is soft and relatively clean with a surprising roasted peanuts note. Comments: I got a sample of this as part of an online tasting of International Beverage single malts. I was surprised to find out that this is the number five selling single malt in the U.S. I was even more surprised how easily drinkable and enjoyable this is. I’m asking myself why I haven’t spent time with this before. Like Glen Grant 10 Year Old I would say this is a great introductory or sharing single malt. It would be especially good if you aren’t sure the guests or recipient will like single malts. Rating: Stands Out, Great Value
We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels 2014 Release 59.65% ABV $169 Website What the Bottler Says: Louisville Distilling Company is proud to announce the limited-edition release of the critically acclaimed Angel’s Envy Cask Strength. The Expression will be available this October in select markets including: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OR, TN, TX, WA. Due to the scarcity of barrels necessary for the enhanced finishing process, Angel’s Envy will only release 6,500 bottles. Previous releases quickly sold out.
Named “best spirit in the world” by Paul Pacult in the June 2013 edition of Spirit Journal, Cask Strength shared top honors with a 25-year-old single malt whisky that sold for nearly twice the price. In his review, Pacult awarded the brand five stars – his highest recommendation – noting, “this masterpiece deserves a sixth rating star.”
As with Angel’s Envy, the super-premium bourbon of uncompromising character and quality, Cask Strength is aged to the perfect level of richness and maturity (up to seven years) in the few American white oak barrels that made the cut. The barrels are then blended into a single batch and finished in hand-selected port casks.
“Cask Strength is rare and rich bourbon worth savoring,” said Wes Henderson, Chief Innovation Officer, Angel’s Envy. “The first couple of releases sold out quickly so we’re thrilled to make it even more widely available this year.”
The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle, which may vary by market, is $169. A remarkably complex bourbon at 119.3-proof and 59.65% alcohol by volume, Cask Strength is best enjoyed with just a bit of water to release the flavor nuances.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Tasting Notes Color: Deep Amber red tint, coppery Nose: Toffee, Butterscotch, Toasted Oak, Cherries, Ripe Peach, Berry Jam, Vanilla, notes of banana Palate: Lots of port notes: Cherries, Oak, raisins. Still get a beautiful bourbon feel with Vanilla, Honey, a butter velvet feel, a little bit of clove spice, honeysuckle Finish/Feel: Glides around your palate, lingers for a few moments, but not too long as to keep you from another sip. Add some water and it opens nicely. Warm and sweet, but still tingly.
What Gary Says: Nose: Old leather furniture (the comfortable stuff!); orange marmalade on toast, caramel crème candy and tobacco. The port finish is just beneath all of this, and holds it together beautifully. Palate: A rich, chewy mouthfeel of dark candied fruit with cinnamon, caramel and toffee; a dry sweetness. Finish: Shorter than I would like, but well organized with a soft landing that leaves me looking to refill the glass. Comments: This is the kind of whiskey I could pour a dram of and just sniff the glass for a few hours; a really intriguing nose. Despite being nearly 120 proof, I find this quite drinkable neat. With a bit of water, you don’t lose the balance between the port pipe influence and the bourbon, and the mouthfeel nicely transitioned from chewy to creamy. The port shines through more for me on this cask strength offering, much more than it did on the initial release. To be candid, I was not a big fan of the first release, but I think this is a beautifully crafted whiskey. Rating: Must Try
What Richard Says: Nose: The nose is a little heavier on the port that what comes across in the regular bottling. Hints of vanilla but there is also a treacly syrup note that reminds me more of single scotch than a bourbon. Palate: The mouth feel is so rich and creamy that it’s almost like bourbon and port syrup. Citrus, tree pitch, and a fair dose of vanilla. Finish: Long, slow, and surprisingly smooth for a cask strength bourbon. Comments: Very nice. The price makes this one hard to swallow but it’s a delicious bourbon none the less. Rating: Stands Out
We would like to thank Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
