2016

Aultmore 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aultmore Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
46% ABV
$50
Website

aged12

What the Distillery Says:
John Dewar & Sons Ltd., one of the most respected names in the world of Scotch whisky, today announced plans to release a range of new expressions and never-before-released single malts – the hidden gems of its single malt portfolio. This bold move, unprecedented in recent years, will introduce a treasure trove of top-shelf whiskies to consumers around the world.

The distinguished drams of ABERFELDY®, AULTMORE®, CRAIGELLACHIE®, THE DEVERON® and ROYAL BRACKLA® are launched under the title of the “Last Great Malts,” each with a compelling story and character.

For generations, these distinctive whiskies have been distilled and left to mature undisturbed in oak casks. Now, at last, whisky aficionados the world over will be able to taste the single malts from these distilleries in their authentic form. “The single malt category is one of our industry’s great growth opportunities. We are blessed with five of Scotland’s finest, high-quality whiskies,” says John Burke, dark spirits category director. “We have great respect for the category and are confident that each of the Last Great Malts will be a fitting addition to the repertoire of the most discerning single malt enthusiast.”

AULTMORE is a rare Speyside malt known locally as “a nip of the Buckie Road.” The distillery’s water filters down through the misty, mysterious area called the Foggie Moss. AULTMORE is rated top-class and is a dram sought after for its gentle grassy notes. AULTMORE will be available from November with a 12- year-old, a 21-year-old in Travel Retail, and a 25-year-old in limited quantities.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy and very inviting. A dry kind of vanilla with a floral, fruity backing.
Palate: Rich and ripe sweetness. Poached orchard fruits drizzled with honey syrup. Del Monte canned pears in the best possible way.
Finish: Crisp apples, and a slight bitter dryness.
Comments: Wow what a difference those few proof points make in terms of richness, depth, and mouthfeel. This is my first experience with an Aultmore bottling and it is delicious. It is rich, creamy, sweet, inviting, and painfully drinkable. I will easily be seeking out more expressions from this distillery.
Rating: Must Try

We would like to thank Bacardi for sending over a sample for us to review.

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1792 Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46.85% ABV
$30
Website
1792-bottle-sm
What the Distillery Says:
Sophisticated and complex. A distinctly different bourbon created with precise craftsmanship. Made from our signature “high rye” recipe and the marriage of select barrels carefully chosen by our Master Distiller. 1792 Bourbon has an expressive and elegant flavor profile. Unmistakable spice mingles with sweet caramel and vanilla to create a bourbon that is incomparably brash and bold, yet smooth and balances. Elevating whiskey to exceptional new heights, 1792 Bourbon is celebrated by connoisseurs worldwide.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sharp, woody, sour oak with light sweetness, cinnamon spice, subtle licorice.
Palate: Cinnamon sharp, oaky, bit of cloves; more spice than sweet.
Finish: Moderate and drying.
Comments: As a small batch bourbon, there is variability – and I’ll confess that my last couple of bottles of 1792 were single barrel (private selections from a local retailer). I wondered if this was also a single barrel pick (or I’ve just got accustomed to the other picks). I didn’t love this one; it felt out of balance to me, very oak/wood prominent and not enough sweetness. But if you like more oak – this could be right up your alley!
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Burnt vanilla syrup, caramel, crushed chalk, and a little citrus zest.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet and drinkable with notes of toffee crisps, cocoa powder, vanilla cream filling (like in donuts and Boston Cream Pie), and gooey butter bars that are slightly burnt.
Finish: Wet toothpicks dusted with cocoa powder.
Comments: I put off buying a bottle of “1792 Small Batch” for years because the old “1792 Ridgemont Reserve” I found to be blah many years ago when the brand first came to Georgia. If you told me these two were even remotely the same whiskey I would laugh. I only gave it another go because friends whose opinions I value kept talking up this newer iteration. I’m glad they did. This a very drinkable bourbon that can regularly be found in the $30 range. I highly recommend adding it to your home bar as a very good example of the whiskey coming out of the lesser known Barton Distillery.
Rating: Stands Out

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Royal Brackla 12 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Royal Brackla Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
40% ABV
$75
Website
royal-brackla-12-year-old-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
John Dewar & Sons Ltd. has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from Royal Brackla distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest and most venerable distilleries.

The new expressions of this regal single malt, ROYAL BRACKLA® 12 year-old, ROYAL BRACKLA® 16 year-old and ROYAL BRACKLA® 21 year-old will be available initially in 10 markets from September 2015; a regal opportunity to savour whisky fit for a King.

Standing on the fertile farmland of the Cawdor Estate, Royal Brackla Distillery was established in 1812 by the fiery Captain William Fraser who returned to the family farm after military service and took advantage of the fine barley it grew. Within 25 years his distillery’s reputation for spirit of sterling taste received its crowning moment when King William IV bestowed ‘Royal’ status to Brackla, in 1835. It thus became the first ever Scotch to garner a royal warrant, a revelation that led to its nickname: ‘The King’s Own Whisky’.

Traditional production techniques help to protect a distilling heritage that spans more than two centuries and preserves the unparalleled quality of a rather special spirit. To allow for the development of intriguing complexity and fruitiness, extra time is taken at the fermentation stage, which acts for up to 80 hours; far longer than most Scottish distilleries.

The notably tall stills run at an unusually slow pace. Their height allows plenty of reflux, with the leisurely nature of the operation increasing the contact that the spirit shares with copper, thus filtering out unwanted sulphury notes. Instead, delicate and lightly perfumed notes of grass and green foliage develop, alongside inviting fruity aromas. Crucially, the whisky is finished in premium first-fill sherry casks, enriching it with notes of muscovado sweetness and dates, alongside opulent walnuts.

Stephen Marshall, Bacardi’s Global Marketing Manager – Single Malts says: “This is the one that was described as ‘The Drink Divine’ by the Royal household in the 1830s, that’s no small claim, so we had to take our time and the entire team have done an amazing job that really does justice to Royal Brackla’s incredible heritage. There’s only one whisky in the world that can be the first Royal whisky, I feel privileged to have worked on this”.

The new portfolio consists of three age statements, each bottled at 40% ABV: Royal Brackla 12 Years Old, Royal Brackla 16 Years Old and Royal Brackla 21 Years Old. Each expression has been launched in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail.

Tasting Notes: Salute a superior Scotch: almonds, vine fruits, opulent spices; steeped in sherried richness. Ennobled nectar, fit for a king.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green, nutty, herbal, and vegetal. The sherry is more understated on the nose but it is there too.
Palate: Oven toasted almonds, sherry forward, and Granny Smith apples.
Finish: Nutty and slightly spicy finish of medium length.
Comments: In recent years my tastes have moved more towards the robust kick that I find in higher proof whiskeys. This Royal Brackla is a bit of an enigma. It punches well above it’s weight for an 80 proofer. It is a nice, easy drinking, and versatile malt. It is great to see more single malts coming from the Dewar’s stable. I’m excited to try more.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Bacardi for sending over a sample for our review.

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WhistlePig 15 Year

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey 15 Year
46% ABV
$200
Website
whistlepig-15YO
What the Bottler Says:
Within this bottle is the culmination of years of patience – a liquid chosen from our finest stocks to be aged for more than a decade, only disturbed as it was transferred from specially selected former bourbon casks to barrels made from slow-growing Vermont Oak harvested on the WhistlePig farm.

The harsh winters and shorter growing seasons of the Green Mountains bestow a tighter grain pattern upon these trees, imparting nuanced flavors into the whiskey. After being milled, seasoned, and raised by some of the best coopers in America, the new barrel receives a long toast and heavy char designed to draw out a rich sweetness that complements the natural spice of aged rye.

The final product mingles rye spice with wood sugar, earthy oakiness and lush citrus notes, all wrapped in a velvet smoothness unique to the finest aged spirits. We are proud to share with you the fruit of our labors the WhistlePig 15 Year.

Nose: Deep and rich, dominated by caramel, vanilla, and oak with hints of all spice and burnt orange.
Taste: Warm, rich, and slightly creamy; Loads of butterscotch and baking spice with leather and a hint of tobacco
Finish: Ultra long and rich, warm, and inviting

What Gary Says:
Nose: Big, bold, crisp rye spice; citrus punch with underlying oak.
Palate: Thick/viscous/creamy mouthfeel, orange bitters with caramel chews, hints of pipe smoke and pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long, and not as dry as I expected for the age.
Comments: Very bold rye whiskey – not very oaky/woody. In fact, on both the nose and palate I’d have pegged it as younger because of the lack of oak, but it has enough complexity and bold flavor to make up for it (and for my palate, I prefer less oak – so this is right in my wheelhouse). This has the kind of nose where I could pour and just smell it for hours, and while the palate is quite enjoyable – it isn’t quite as bold as the nose advertises (but is still very nice). I think rye fans would appreciate this, but the price tag makes it challenging – and I definitely recommend a “try before you buy” approach if you have the opportunity.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla extract, orange zest, something like lacquer, and a minty woody backbone.
Palate: Creamy and spicy with light notes of sweetness. Cigar tobacco, fennel seed, caramel, and oiled leather.
Finish: Much lighter than I would expect. Linger mint, polished wood, and more oiled leather.
Comments: This is a very nice rye. It smells absolutely stellar but the palate is a little lacking to me. I find a little less than I expected. I thought the Boss Hog bottling was richer and more robust of flavor for a bit less. $200? Well that is steep and it is up to you to determine that for yourself. I wouldn’t drop that kind of coin for it but value is very subjective.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank WhistlePig for sending over a sample for us to review.

WhistlePig 15 Year Read More »

Whiskey Irreverent with Stefan Part 2

/ / Irish Whiskey

Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton review (part 2): Consummation

Apparently based on reader feedback, some of you drunken SOBs felt slighted due to the lack of details around the actual contents of the bottle. While what follows is that actual review, I would like to say I write it under protest as I am not normally one to succumb to this new-fangled hipster lifestyle that you all have clearly adopted as your battle flag. I mean seriously, how do you call yourself a man when you focus on the actual contents of the bottle rather than the superficial packaging?! I was so outraged by this feedback that I had to spend an entire day with my beard trimming consultant and listening to music you probably won’t hear about for months just to get in the right headspace. But since Richard told me I had to here goes….

Yeah it was ai’ght.

Next.

– Stefan

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