2017

Glendalough 13 Year Old

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Glendalough Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 13 Years
46% ABV
$90
Website
Glendalough-13-Year-Old-2
What the Bottler Says:
While we’re talking numbers and lucky numbers… Did you know 13 is Ireland’s luckiest number? For us it means a glimpse at Ireland’s heroic age, a new golden age and a perfect age for an Irish single malt whiskey. This very special whiskey herald’s a second coming of Irish single malt that’s been a long time coming. After almost a century of blends defining Irish whiskey, Glendalough brings you a 13 year old single malt that has put in the hard yards. The style of whiskey that first made Irish whiskey great. The style of whiskey your great grandad drank. And a stylish whiskey whose time to be great is once again. It comes to you with hints of spice, creamy vanilla, biscuity malts, and that unmistakable clout of dedication that embodies the outstanding spirit of Ireland.

TASTING NOTES:

The nose is deep butterscotch, honeycomb and rich lemon meringue balanced with citrus fruits and just a hint of a clove spice.

The taste. Jumps to the front with an intense vanilla fudge luxurious sweetness and almost rock candy mixed with touches of fruit – lemon citrus, peach and dried apricot.
This is followed by deep spices; red peppercorn and light cloves. A truly velvety mouth feel that just hovers on the palate.

The finish. The spice is left lingering with under-layers of robust malt characteristics and deep oak notes. And again vanilla fudge reoccurs with a finish that lasts an eternity.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, with dark notes of stewed cherries, raisins, cinnamon, and caramel.
Palate: The flavors are very forwardly sweet. Heavily sugared dark chocolate covering a chocolate orange.
Finish: The finish is a mid length with vanilla cream and polished oak.
Comments: Wow, I’m really impressed with this offering. $90 a bottle is steep for the age but Irish Distillers’ offerings in that age range are all near that price point. I find this to be a very interesting and pleasing offering from Glendalough’s sourced whiskey stock and something that you should try if you are an Irish whiskey fan.
Rating: Must Try

We would like to thank Glendalough for sending us a bottle for review.

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Glendalough 7 Year Old

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Glendalough Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 7 Years
46% ABV
$50
Website
Glendalough-7YO
What the Bottler Says:
The 7 seas bridge 7 continents that some say were made in 7 days. Even the light we see them in splits into 7. It’s the world’s favourite number and some say, a lucky one. But that’s not why we’ve released the first of our single malts as a 7 year old. Here at the Glendalough Distillery, we’re not superstitious, we find it brings bad luck.

As ever it’s all about the man on our bottle, St Kevin. Before he built his “City of 7 Churches” at Glendalough, Kevin spent 7 savage years in the wilderness. You see the number 7 has always been associated with the seekers, the thinkers and the searchers of truth. St Kevin was all of these and more.

He lived off the land around the upper lake, completely at one with nature, he was the kind of outdoorsman that’d put some of today’s action-men to shame. Tested through 7 sharp winters and inspired by the blush of 7 summers, it shaped him to be the man we revere. This whiskey was made in the traditional style its character shaped by 7 years.

Have a look on our bottle, you’ll see 7 silver crosses. These will lead you to each of the 7 churches, should you ever be stirred into going to Glendalough.

TASTING NOTES:

The nose is rich and sweet, a premium single malt Irish whiskey with a touch of cinnamon and more than a hint of citrus fruits – orange zest, lemon infused with vanilla ice cream. A touch of fresh floral notes like meadow flowers.

The taste. A silky velvety smooth palate with the returning orange zest tones to the fore, with rich creme brulee and dark chocolate notes
and just enough cinnamon and white pepper spice to keep it interesting, followed by the beautiful robust malt and oak influenced flavours, almost butterscotch, which mix wonderfully as the warmth expands through.

The finish is luxurious and lingering, the spicy, sweet notes elegantly marry on the finish and stay an eternity. Everything you’d expect from the perfect sipping whiskey.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Raisins, orange marmalade, peach preserves, and a crispness that reminds me of a mix of fresh split hardwood and dewy grass.
Palate: The palate is a bit of a struggle between a stone fruit sweetness (peaches and apricots), a cinnamon and pepper spiciness (Red Hots sprinkled with black pepper), and woody bitterness.
Finish: The finish is slightly hot but a bit of water will tame it. The lingering notes are cayenne pepper, mild tobacco, and bitter wood.
Comments: This is a fun dram to play around with. There is a lot going on and layers to unravel if you find yourself in a contemplative mood. The only detraction for me is that the different parts of the palate just don’t seem to bring themselves together as cohesively as I would like. Even still, this is a nice pour. The flavors and proof bring more to the table than like priced Irish competitors. Glendalough doesn’t say where this whiskey comes from. They are laying down whiskey and distilling gin and poitin too but this and the 13 year old are too old to have been distilled there. My guess would be Cooley. That’s not a bad thing at all. We in the States have been raising hell about bottlers pseudo pretending to have distilled spirits but it hasn’t hit that fervor level in Ireland yet. Regardless of who distilled the spirit it is good. Oddly enough, I’ve enjoyed the Cooley spirits bottled by others like Glendalough and Teeling a lot more than I ever cared for Cooley’s bottlings. So give this one a try when you see it.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Glendalough for sending us a bottle to review.

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Clynelish Distiller’s Edition

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Clynelish 1997 Distiller’s Edition (2012)
46% ABV
$75
Website
clynelish-1997-bottled-2012-oloroso-sherry-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
Crafted on the coast of Sutherland high in the North East of Scotland, the Clynelish Distillers Edition is double-matured in dry, nutty, spicy Oloroso Seco cask wood chosen to balance and complement the signature delicate maritime flavors of Clynelish with a deeper, spicier, more fruity and richer character.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Thick waxy sherry, chocolate & sea salt, hints of anise and clove.
Palate: Viscous waxy mouthfeel, sherry forward, dark fruit (raisins) with a bit of cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long and drying, with a little pepper spice.
Comments: I only recently tried Clynelish 14 yr single malt, and wasn’t crazy about it. When I saw this on a shelf, I hoped that the double maturation in oloroso seco cask would bring another dimension, and it absolutely did that. Only one extra year of age on this, but where I’m not a big fan of the standard 14 yr, I really like this. It isn’t quite a “sherry bomb”, but the sherry is quite prominent, and I think plays well with the waxy subtlety that Clynelish is recognized for.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy and rich with strong notes of sweet dark stewed fruits.
Palate: Black pepper jumps forward and assaults the tongue as it enters the mouth. Mild notes of raisins and plums come through but it is not nearly as sweet as the nose would portend.
Finish: Dry and tannic with more black pepper lingering on the back of the tongue.
Comments: I’m not sure where the disconnect is between the nose and palate/finish. It kind of illustrates my disdain for blenders who only nose and never taste. That said, this was a well integrated spicy dram that I thoroughly enjoyed. I agree with Gary that the oloroso worked a lovely magic on this whisky. If you find it for around the $75 price point then consider picking up.
Rating: Stands Out

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Glenmorangie Milsean

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glenmorangie Milsean Highland Single Malt Whisky
46% ABV
$100
Website
glenmorangie-milsean-private-edition-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
Glenmorangie Milsean (Scots Gaelic for ‘sweet things’ and pronounced ‘meel-shawn’) is a single malt whisky full of intense candied fruit flavours and mouth-watering sweetness. It has been created from Glenmorangie matured in ex-bourbon casks and then extra-matured in former wine casks, re-toasted for the purpose. This distinctive cask preparation replicates something of the moreish sweetshop flavours in a single malt whisky.

It is the seventh annual release in our multi-award-winning and always intriguing Private Edition range. And Glenmorangie Milsean, with its remarkable sweetshop allusions, may be the most intriguing of them all.

Aroma: Perfumed, sweet and spicy with hints of sugar cane, ripe fruits, sherbet lemons and fudge
Taste: A sweet, luscious candy-like flavour followed by a mix of tart plummy fruit, candied orange peel, cherries, and angelica.
Finish: Long and spicy, but always with a sweetness in the background, with flavours of ginger, brown sugar, sweet tobacco and cake mix.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cotton candy, pina coladas, and buttercream frosting with a dry herbal backbone.
Palate: Very sweet in a fruit candy kind of way with parts of saltwater taffy. Candied ginger lingers in the background.
Finish: The finish holds onto some of that sweetness but fades into a spicy cinnamon and cigar tobacco finish.
Comments: These private edition Glenmorangies are always odd beasts for me. With the exception of the Ealanta which I loved, they all have very strong points but never seem to come together in a way that appeals to me. The Milsean is no exception. The is a nice, well made dram but it just isn’t my cup of tea.
Rating: Stands Out

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Loch Lomond Single Grain

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Single Grain /

Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$30
Website
Loch-Lomond-Single-Grain-376
What the Distillery Says:
Single Grain is an elegant and full bodied single grain with a smoothness making this exceptionally easy to drink. A single grain scotch whisky with a distinctive background character of soft fruits and creamy vanilla with a hint of smoke and peat. Perfect anytime over ice or with a hint of water.

Nose: Fresh cut barley fields with a malty edge, biscuity with baked apples alongside gentle lemon peel.
Palate: Crisp and delicate. Pineapple juice and a lemon zestiness with a lovely vanilla sweetness at the end.
Finish: Gentle with soft fruits alongside a juicy sweetness.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lemon zest, fresh grated ginger, and pineapple flavor Lifesavers candies.
Palate: Very sweet. All the sweetness hinted at in the nose follows through here. More citrus and candied pineapple with a peppery kick.
Finish: The spiciness kicks it up in the finish but playing around edges of fruity sweetness.
Comments: Usually, I find really sweet scotch to be off putting but with the extra kick of proof it works. This is almost a fresh fruit dessert in a glass. Traditionalists may not be the first to line up for this but old and new hands alike should give it a try. It is kind of like lemoncello, bourbon, and grain scotch had a love child.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank the Loch Lomond Group for sending us a bottle to review.

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