2017

Trail’s End

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Trail’s End Crafted with 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Finished with Oregon Oak
Batch 002
45% ABV
$36
Website

What the Bottle Says
Trail’s End® is an ultra-premium, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished with Oregon Oak. Crafted using premium barrels of Kentucky straight bourbon, Trail’s End traveled along the treacherous terrain from Kentucky to Oregon, following the path that Lewis and Clark once blazed. Not too far from the end of the Oregon Trail, our bourbon is finished with Oregon Oak and the result is exceptional!

Smell the aroma of floral honeysuckle, apricot, spearmint and orange blossom with roasted hazelnut and traces of cereal sweetness and chocolate. Next, take a sip and enjoy the smooth sweet malt and chocolate flavor bolstered by toasted hazelnut with notes of tobacco and a touch of rye. Lastly, savor the long and warm finish, oily and buttery with a lovely malt spice kick and slight char note.

To the Explorer in All of Us!

What Gary Says
Nose: Sweet but sharp, oaky cinnamon with vanilla crème brulee dusted with allspice.
Palate: Almost creamy mouthfeel with sweet vanilla honey and some earthy/oaky spice; cinnamon red hots near the end.
Finish: Moderately long and dry with a slight bite at the end.
Comments: A bit more oak than you’d expect for an 8 year old bourbon but not too oaky (although getting close for my taste), although you have to keep in mind that being finished in new oak after aging for 8 years is going to make it more oak forward. The finishing gives it a unique earthiness that I think is interesting; gives it a sharp edge that emphasizes a rye kick.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says
Nose: Caramel, under cooked toffee, vanilla bean ice cream, and a bit of mint.
Palate: Straight up rye bourbon goodness. It presents in a vanilla, honey, and caramel sweetness with nutty undertones. But then you get a kick in the mouth. The rye spice and oak are aggressive to the point of being rough.
Finish: The finish is big doses of aged tobacco, cocoa powder, and mint.
Comments: To be clear, this is 8 year old Kentucky straight bourbon. It spent a little time in some Oregon oak and was cut with local water but it’s Kentucky bourbon. I mention this, not to dispute the bottling classification, but rather to make the point that if you don’t like bourbon, you won’t like this. It is not some super special and unique Oregon whiskey unlike all others. It presents like an 8-ish year old rye forward bourbon. However, the aggressiveness of the palate is something of which you should be aware. For a 90 proofer, it drinks like a 110-120. Not in terms of mouthfeel or fullness but in terms of heat. I do commend the pricing. For sub-$40 it’s worth taking a gamble on a bottle. You find that it is right up your alley.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Hood River Distillers for sending us a bottle to review.

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Glencadam 13 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glencadam The Re-Awakening 13 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$65
Website

What the Distillery Says
Glencadam Distillery opened in 1825 and since then little has changed.

Glencadam Distillery proudly announces the release of a rare 13 year old expression.

Rare because in the Autumn of the year 2000, Glencadam distillery fell silent. This silence became a deep sleep for three years until its joyous “Re-Awakening” in the Autumn of 2003. This rare, 13 years old limited edition from the re-start of distillation truly represents and commemorates “The Re-Awakening” of Glencadam Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

What Gary Says
Nose: Bright herbal sweetness with a hint of citrus (lime zest), bit of smoke and anise.
Palate: Nice creamy mouthfeel, fruity sweetness (figs, dates, pears, bit of nectarines) and vanilla spice; hint of oak with pepper.
Finish: Moderately long and wet, soft to start with a spicy build up.
Comments: I’ve never had any Glencadam before, but this certainly won’t be my last. This is a very nice single malt. The nose is nice, although not special – but the palate was a pleasant surprise. It isn’t overly complex, but nicely balanced and quite drinkable. I appreciate this being offered as non-chill filtered without coloring being added (as well as the 92 proof versus 80).
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says
Nose: Brooding on the nose. Malt forward with notes of under ripe apples, hay, and wildflowers.
Palate: The palate is very assertive. Baklava and baked apple dumplings interplay with a bit of Vegemite and fall leaves.
Finish: Woody, minty, and grassy.
Comments: This is now slouch of a malt. The higher proof and lack of chill filtration are worn very well on this whisky. This a great example of a well formed highland single malt. It’s a bit like a Glenmorangie that has been aggressively hitting the gym and coming out a monster.
Rating: Stands Out

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

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Dewar’s 25 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 25 Years Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$225
Website
Dewar's 25 Yr Old Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Dewar’s for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

DEWAR’S®, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky is proud to announce the launch of DEWAR’S 25 Years Old.

The new addition to the DEWAR’S portfolio will succeed DEWAR’S Signature (no-age statement) as a part of DEWAR’S dedication and commitment to age statements across its premium range of blended Scotch whiskies.

A meticulous search of the cask inventory revealed an intriguing array of fine aged malt and grain Scotch whiskies aged 25 years and older. Each cask was individually sampled and assessed by Master Blender, Stephanie MacLeod before being chosen. Once MacLeod was satisfied that she had a perfectly balanced flavour profile in the DEWAR’S House Style, the specially selected casks were blended together and then filled into oak casks for an additional period of maturation, a process pioneered by DEWAR’s, known as double-ageing, to add more depth and enriched smoothness.

During this extra period of maturation, the disparate characters of the malts and grains are allowed to interact with one another and mellow further. In an extra step unique to the new 25-year-old expression, the whisky was then filled into a set of freshly disgorged ROYAL BRACKLA® casks for an extra period of finishing.

According to MacLeod, “DEWAR’S 25 is endlessly smooth, rich and elegant. Awakened on the palate: the sophisticated whisky is glorious in its harmony and balance, gently revealing layers of rich fruit, floral notes and delicate honey, with a hint of smoke to finish.”

Fraser Campbell, Global Ambassador for DEWAR’S comments “Disclosing the ages of our blends allows discerning whisky drinkers to choose an expression with a maturity and flavour profile that matches their own character preferences. DEWAR’S remains committed to age statements as a sign of craftsmanship and quality. In a world where aged stock is increasingly rare, we are proud to display an age on the front of our bottles”.

The age statements that DEWAR’S proudly proclaim on its bottles are not merely numbers; they’re a guarantee of the age of the youngest whisky found within the blend. Each bottle’s age statement is an assurance that it holds an authentic and precious piece of time-honoured taste.

According to the latest reports from the IWSR, DEWAR’S is the fastest growing premium blended Scotch in the world, defying current global Scotch trends. DEWAR’S is also the world’s most awarded blended Scotch with medals for quality, taste and innovation to-date. Adding to the vast list of awards to support this, DEWAR’S 18 Years Old has been crowned best blended Scotch (under 21 years) at the International Spirits Challenge 2017.

DEWAR’S 25 Years Old is bottled at 40% ABV and priced at $225. The new expression will be available from October 2017 in Global Travel Retail followed by a gradual roll-out into key domestic markets.

What Gary Says

Nose: Musty sweetness with a little sea brine, smoke, sherry, and honey candy.
Palate: Thin mouthfeel, not very sweet or spicy; subtle sherried fruit with a bit of oak and honey.
Finish: Moderately long, drying slightly, flavor steps up nicely.
Comments: I know there are whisky snobs who look down on blends, and I want to go on the record as clarifying that I am NOT one of them. Some of my favorite whiskies are blends with older stock. For a 25 year old blended whisky, I expect more complexity than this deliver. While certainly the best Dewar’s branded offering I’ve tried, this just isn’t in my wheelhouse. Their standard offering isn’t either, so if you are a fan of Dewar’s, this could be right up your alley – although at this price, I would seek an opportunity to try it first.

Rating: Average

What Richard Says

Nose: Grassy, floral, butterscotch candies, and a dollop of sherry.
Palate: A gentle richness glides over the palate, with bits of raisin, wildflower honey, baked fruits, and just a little bit of dark chocolate.
Finish: This finishes a bit dry with an oak forward ending.
Comments: A nice enough whisky for sure but not a stunner. To me, whiskies need a raison d’etre to push age into the twenties. I find this especially true for a blend. Macallan is a great example of that. For their sherried malts I find little to no need to move beyond the 18 year. Just not much more bang for the buck so to speak. Blends really need this more than single malts because it doesn’t have to be 1 to 3 casks at 25 years, rather it needs to be all the malt and grain components. Otherwise, the blender just seems to be capitalizing on the surge toward premiumization and trying to cash in. No offense meant to the fine whisky craftsmen at Dewars but this example seems to fall in that latter camp. Don’t get me wrong, this is a fine whisky. But I can’t say that you need to seek this out as an amazing example of blended scotch that should be experienced by all.

Rating: Stands Out

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Aberfeldy 16 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Aberfeldy Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 16 Years
40% ABV
$100
Website

What the Distillery Says
They really don’t say anything much. Aberfeldy was rolled out as a single malt several years ago as part of the “Last Great Malts” series. However, that seems to have not taken off quite as well as Bacardi hoped and the website for the series redirects back to Dewars.

What Gary Says
Nose: Thick sherry, sour oak, cloves and honey with a hint of smoke.
Palate: Musty sherry sweetness, thin and subtle with a slight spice kick.
Finish: Moderately long and drying with a sharp note at the end.
Comments: I really enjoyed the nose but the palate was like a different whisky. I’m not familiar with Aberfeldy, so not sure how this compares to the rest of their line-up. The palate left me wanting what the nose telegraphed. Perhaps an offering at a higher proof would really shine.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says
Nose: Treacle tarts, dried straw, and a pinch of sherry.
Palate: Baked apples with a bit of lemon zest and honey. A toddy anyone?
Finish: Oak forward with lingering cracked pepper around the edges.
Comments: This was referenced in the press release as a sherried expression of Aberfeldy but the sherry influence is mild and understated. Aberfeldy is a great keystone malt for the Dewars blends but it fails to stand on it’s own as a single malt. Not bad at all, just not exceptional. There is nothing here that screams for your attention. It could be one of a dozen different malts in the age and price ranges of this one. But then again, isn’t that was makes this such a great blending malt?
Rating: Average

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

Aberfeldy 16 Year Read More »

Craigellachie 17 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Craigellachie Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 17 Years
46% ABV
$150
Website

What the Distillery Says
Smooth and mellow, the aroma opens with vanilla and rich, silky notes of exotic fruits with a hint of smoky liquorice.

To the taste this 17 year old Craigellachie delivers a smooth, sweet palate, with a smoky, lingering finish.

What Gary Says
Nose: Thick, rich and soft, malty dark fruit with raisins and figs over sea brine; hint of smoke and anise.
Palate: Mouthfeel is a tad thin, subtle dried fruit sweetness with a bit of pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long and drying, bit peppery near the end.
Comments: When I nosed this pour, it brought back fond memories of my trip to Scotland and specifically the afternoon I spent aimlessly wandering around the River Spey. This nose is a really nice example of what I imagine when someone says Speyside. The palate on the other hand I found left me wanting. Nothing off-putting about it, but if the nose was listening to the Scottish bag-pipes with the knob turned to 8, the palate felt like someone turned the volume way down. For me, it was beyond subtle to the point where I just missed it.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says
Nose: Thick and meaty with lots of raked wet leaves, vanilla incense, and black licorice.
Palate: Rich and deliciously sweet. Honey Nut Cheerios, vanilla cream filling, and a deep balancing “green” flavor.
Finish: The finish is very grain forward and of medium length.
Comments: Yes please! On my recent trip to Scotland we stayed in the town of Craigellachie. And even though we did quite a bit of whisky tourism, I never actually made it to the so named distillery. However, I did sample many lovely expressions of their malt at the bars and pubs in the area. Each was delicious. This bottling is no different. Dave Broom describes the paradox of Craigellachie as muscly and sweet. Very true words. I highly recommend trying this great malt, which until recently was relegated by it’s owner to being just a blend component. I can live with a few less bottles of Dewars in we can see this malt sing on its own.
Rating: Stands Out

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

Craigellachie 17 Year Read More »