2016 | Whisk(e)y Apostle: Proselytizing the way of the malt

Knappogue Castle 12 Year

March 1, 2016 / Richard / Irish Whiskey, Review / Average

Knappogue Castle Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 12 Years
40% ABV
$40
Website

What the Bottler Says:
Introducing Knappogue Castle® 12 Year Old. Continuing an Andrews family tradition of exceptional quality Irish Single Malts. Our Passion is for Perfection.

Knappogue Castle announces the first time release of its 12 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey. A new package design reflects the change from vintage dating to age designation. As the original vintage dated whiskey, Knappogue is undertaking this change to bring greater clarity to the age of the product.

“We found that some consumers didn’t realize how long Knappogue Castle Single Malt was aged, therefore missing a very important part of what we do to make it smooth, bright and spicy” observes Mark Andrews, son of the brand’s founder. “We want to be perfectly clear about the age of Knappogue Castle Single Malt. Now, there’s no need to calculate how long it was aged because we’re stating it boldly on the front label. The age of the product is something we’re proud of along with the fact that no color is added” says Mr. Andrews. “Although our standard offering will be the 12 year old single malt, we will continue to have special bottlings of rare and unique distillations which will most likely bear a vintage date.”

Tasting Notes:
Mellow, well rounded, well balanced, medium intensity; a bright, elegant fruit and mildly spicy taste with a medium-long, clean finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy, fresh and light with a fruity and slightly herbaceous nose.
Palate: Creamy with a light fruity sweetness that reminds me of peaches and cream with a marshmallow on top.
Finish: A hint of pepper on the transition and then mild and mellow.
Comments: Irish whiskey is not unmalted triple distilled scotch from an island to the west. There are very fine flavors and textures that make Irish whiskey delicious and sought after in it’s own right. One of the more divisive things is a more mild and mellow drinkability. Scotch detractors will say it is more easy drinking without all the harsh things they don’t like about scotch. Scotch lovers may say Irish is too bland. I judge each whiskey individually and try at all costs to avoid generalization. This one however, I feel is under proofed and too bland. It doesn’t have anything about it that makes me want more. Another 6 to 12 proof points and maybe a smattering of sherry barrels in the mix would help a lot. That said, others may really enjoy this as a smooth go-to whiskey. Only your taste can tell you. [Source Distillery: Bushmills.]
Rating: Average

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Collingwood 21 Year Old

February 27, 2016 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey / Must Buy, Must Try, Stands Out

Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye Canadian Whisky
40% ABV
$70
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Sadly, we waited so long to review this that all the distillery commentary was taken down from the Collingwood website.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Soft, oaky, minty spice with hints of leather, nutmeg and cereal; lot of subtle nuance going on.
Palate: Rounded, sweet, mellow fruitiness with toasted oak and maple-glazed pecans.
Finish: Wet, and a bit short
Comments: This was a one-time release a couple of years ago, and I passed on it as “too good to be true”. I mean, 21 yr rye whiskey for $70 (or less at some stores)?? I finally had a chance to sample it, and immediately regretted not buying it. I lucked into a bottle while traveling and immediately grabbed it. There aren’t a lot of whiskies at 80 proof that really hit me right, but this delivers a lot of flavor and nuance. I absolutely love the nose on this whiskey, and I really like the palate. This is softer – not as sharp-spicy as most US rye, but I wouldn’t let one slip by again.
Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

What Richard Says:
Nose: The “typical” rye mint note is a subtle back up. Creamy fruity notes play with more of grain saddle oil center. Yee-ha!
Palate: Rye bread topped with orange marmalade and sprinkled with cracked pepper.
Finish: Creamy and seriously mellow. You get just a bit of wood and pepper carry through.
Comments: All the way back in 1991 the 50 barrel lot that was batched together for this limited release was laid down at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood. 21 Years and some maple wood finishing later and this limited release only hit shelves in Ontario, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming only. So being in Georgia I jumped at the chance for a 21 year old rye at $70. The packaging alone is hilarious. The weird cologne shaped bottle and the speed pour spout are a humorous diversion from the over-hyped newer ryes coming out now. The liquid itself will surprise you too. It is not maple syrupy or rye spicy or over woody. Everything you would think when you hear “21 year old maple wood finished rye” is put aside on this one. Not necessarily my style of rye but it is an accomplishment.
Rating: Stands Out

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Alberta Rye Whisky Dark Batch

February 25, 2016 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / Average, Must Try

Alberta Rye Whisky Dark Batch
Canadian Blended Rye Whisky
45% ABV
$30
Website

What the Distillery Says:
There is no quaint, “Old Grandpa So-and-So”, ancient family story here.

Truth be told, you have to be unusually patient, persistent, fanatical, and the right amount of crazy to make rye whisky. Alberta Distillers embraced this challenge and not only made rye whisky, they mastered it. Today, Alberta Distillers is the number one rye producer in North America with more than 450,000 barrels aging on site.

After years of perfecting their craft, the master distillers at Alberta Distillers wanted to continue to push the rye envelope and come up with not just another rye whisky, but a better rye whisky.

And so, Alberta® Rye Dark Batch™ was born. A true expression of the skilled craftsmen who have made rye whisky their passion for nearly 70 years.

91% Rye Whisky
8% Bourbon
1% Sherry

What Gary Says:
Nose: Malted rye, cereal grain, sherry, with subtle smoke
Palate: Soft, subtle-malty-cereal thing, cherries, not sharp/crisp like American rye, more Earthy; sherry is less prominent than on the nose
Finish: Moderate, with the sherry peeking through
Comments: When I first nosed this, I thought of Lot 40 (another Canadian Rye) . . . but different. When I tasted it, that comparison disappeared. This is much more of a subtle/gentle whiskey on the palate, and reminds me a bit of a bottled cocktail. I really love how unique it is (and unique in a good way – not a “well that was odd for the sake of being odd” way). I also really appreciate that it doesn’t break the bank to take it out for a spin.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: The rye kind of gets muted by a creamy sherry nose. There is a minty sweetness there but the sherry stands out. It’s kind of like a mint julep made with sherry instead of bourbon.
Palate: Dark fruits, more sherry, peppery rye spice, with a minty back.
Finish: A little touch harsh. Not hot, like young but more industrial. It’s like licking a rubber band.
Comments: I recently had a barrel aged Manhattan that a coworker had worked on for some time. His secret ingredient was a bit of tawny port. Wow did that overwhelm the drink. I applaud the inventiveness of Alberta here but the sherry, and really all fortified wines, should be reserved for finishing/aging barrels and not as an actual additive to the whiskey. It really overpowers the nose, is the 800 pound gorilla on the palate, and oddly leaves the finish unfortunately untouched. It stands out as being different to me but not in a “you should consider that in purchasing choice” kind of way. I’m not a fan of this one. This will be my first and last bottle. [Or I may just gift the rest to Gary 😉 ]
Rating: Average

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Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

February 23, 2016 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey / Stands Out

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
90% Rye Whisky
Fine Blended Canadian Whisky
45% ABV
$25 to $35
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye was first released in the U.S. in early 2015. The variant showcases the distinctly Canadian rye whiskey featured in the traditional Crown Royal Deluxe Blend that consumers have grown to love throughout the last 75-plus years. The latest variant to be introduced by Crown Royal, Northern Harvest Rye (90 proof, 45% ABV) is the brand’s first ever blended, 90% rye whisky and embodies a smooth and spicy flavor profile that can be mixed into traditional rye cocktails or enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

NOSE: Baking spices, cereal, light wood spices
PALATE: Gentle oak note, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, develops into soft peppery notes
FINISH: Smooth and creamy

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet & mellow spearmint with kiwi; rye bread with pickles; subtle baking spices.
Palate: Soft mouthfeel, sweet malt w/ vanilla & fruit salad that builds to some spice notes.
Finish: Short, with pepper spice notes perking up a bit.
Comments: This tastes more mellow than I expected for 90 proof. Nice character, although different from its southern rye cousins (more like a very gentle rye). I’m not a huge Crown Royal fan these days (just too sweet for my preference), but I enjoy this quite a bit more. Do I understand why it was selected by Jim Murray as World Whisky of the Year? Nope (and believe me – I really, really wanted to fall head over heels in love with this whiskey; but I thought Crown’s single barrel offering last year was far more interesting).
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Minty, with heavy doses of tropical fruit and cloves.
Palate: Delightfully mellow and vanilla fruity sweet. This isn’t the least bit cloying but rather a nicely balanced fruity sweetness that fans of slightly overripe fruits and light fruit tarts would enjoy.
Finish: As mellow and soothing as this is you get a bit of a kick on the way out. The finish is dry, woody, and a little spicy.
Comments: This U.S. only release has apparently taken the world by storm because one guy who rewrites one book annually said in his sole opinion that this is buckets of awesome sauce. Is it? No. Hell no. I really don’t get the hullabaloo. I realize we are “proselytizing” here at Whisk(e)y Apostle but that’s more whiskey in general. Rare is the dram that I feel like running out and telling everyone that they need to get a piece of it. All that aside, this is a very nice whiskey. I really REALLY don’t like regular Crown Royal. But the last two (non flavored crap) things to come out of the brand have really impressed me. I agree with Gary that the Single Barrel Coffey still rye is much better but this is no slouch. It is a really easy to drink and easy to enjoy whiskey that will play well in multiple situations. I have no problem recommended this as a stand out Canadian whiskey. And for me and Crown that really is saying something.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Crown Royal’s representatives for sending over a sample for us to review.

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Four Roses 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch

February 14, 2016 / Richard / Bourbon, Review / Must Buy, Must Try

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
2015 Release
54.3%ABV
$100
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon is timed with the retirement of Master Distiller Jim Rutledge and the appointment of Brent Elliot to the post.

Four Roses is the only distillery that combines two mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to produce ten distinct Bourbon recipes, each with its own unique characteristics. The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch features a 16-year-old Bourbon from Four Roses’ OBSK recipe, a 15-year-old OESK, a 14-year-old OESK and an 11-year-old OBSV.

“This combination of mature bourbons is something truly special,” said Rutledge. “It’s great when you can go out on a high note, and this Bourbon delivers that.”

Bottled at barrel strength with a proof of 108.5, the 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch mingles together aromas of ripe cherry, caramel custard and fresh magnolia. Spicy cinnamon and clove flavors give way to subtle tastes of orange peel, apricot and light honey. The long, velvety finish leaves lingering hints of creamy vanilla and fresh spearmint.

“This Bourbon is a great tribute to Jim Rutledge, whom I’ve had the privilege to work with closely over the past decade. His knowledge and passion, along with the strong team at our distillery, are responsible for the high-quality Bourbon we produce every day,” said Brent Elliott, who takes the post of master distiller September 1. “I couldn’t think of a better way to toast Jim’s exceptional career.”

Four Roses will produce and distribute approximately 12,600 hand-numbered bottles of the 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, which are expected to hit retail outlets in mid-September, during National Bourbon Heritage Month.

The limited edition release also highlights a year in which Four Roses announced an expansion that will increase its aging capacity and double its distillery in size and annual production by 2020.

“It’s an exciting time of growth for Four Roses, but what’s not going to change is the attention to detail that’s put into every Bourbon we handcraft,” said Elliott.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Ripe cherry, caramel custard, fresh magnolia
Palate: Spicy cinnamon, clove, orange peel, apricot, light honey
Finish: Long, velvety finish, lingering hints of creamy vanilla, fresh

What Gary Says:
Nose: Rich sweetness, spice, caramel, oak (more so than 2014), mincemeat pie.
Palate: Thick, robust dark fruit sweetness, toffee, more oak but nice balance; toasted orange zest.
Finish: Dries out after a bit, but not unpleasantly.
Comments: Different from the 2014 Small Batch Limited Edition; more oaky, and a bit more robust, but very nice. This one is thicker on the palate, but dries out more on the finish. Each year I wonder if this will be the year I’m disappointed with Four Roses’ fall limited edition offering (especially since the market is driving prices higher). This is not that year – I bought my bottle at the gift shop for $120, and have zero regrets.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Layers of sweet mints, caramel chews, vanilla custard, orange zest, and cloves.
Palate: Rich doesn’t begin to describe it. Cinnamon, cloves, citrus marmalade, oak staves, and poached stone fruits with a pinch of pepper around the edges.
Finish: Dry, spicy, minty, and slightly peppery.
Comments: The last Jim Rutledge Four Roses Limited Edition. It’s everything great about Four Roses. It’s not the absolute best Four Roses I’ve had but the sentimental value sends this through the roof. It’s a little drier and woodier than the best examples but the nose is the best I’ve ever sniffed from this distillery. For the uber whiskey geeks (like me) the recipes for this one are a 16 year OBSK, a 15 year OESK, a 14 year OESK, and an 11 year OBSV.
Rating: Must Buy

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