2018

Glendalough Black Pitts Porter Finish 7 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Glendalough Black Pitts Porter Finish 7 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$50 – 60
Website

What the Distillery Says
Our 7 year old single malt commemorates the 7 hard years that St Kevin (the guy on the bottle) spent in the wild, and the city of 7 churches he came to build at Glendalough. This single malt has too been shaped by 7 years, and to make it even more special, we finish it in porter barrels.

Dublin is famous across the world for fine stout and porter. We’ve swapped barrels over the years with friends of ours in a local craft brewery, and found their Black Pitts Porter brings our whiskey to incredible depths. Made from roasted, chocolate malt, it really amplifies the malt in the whiskey while bringing dark, rich flavours like cocoa, chocolate and coffee. Their porter spends a year in oak barrels, then we take them and put our 7 year old single malt in for just under a year.

Also, have a look on the label, 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:
Nose – “Sweet with toffee apples, chocolate and vanilla ice cream.”
Palate – “Smooth and warm with dark chocolate orange, cocoa, toffee and cooked fruit, followed by clove and peppery spices.”
Finish – “Long and spicy with toasted oak, treacle and sweet coffee notes.”

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sweet cereal mash, vanilla with a hint of mint & herbs (maybe thyme?)
Palate:  Crisp but sweet beer malt and caramel cremes, develops a slight spice edge (cinnamon and hint of fruit) as it goes.
Finish:  Short to moderately long, drying with a beer aftertaste.
Comments:  I’m not a beer drinker (I mean – I try different beers every few years to check in with my palate, but just don’t enjoy them). With that, I offer my apologies that I can’t be more specific here – but this definitely brings out a “beer” vibe for me. The nose reminds me of distiller’s beer – if you’ve ever toured a distillery, that smell in the fermentation vats. Whiskey Advocate states that Glendalough’s goal with these new wood finish expressions is “to create different flavor profiles than expected for Irish whiskey.” Mission accomplished! This is certainly a unique Irish whiskey; if given blindly – I wouldn’t have immediately thought “Oh, Irish single malt”. The influence from the porter cask finish gives it a different flavor and finish.
Rating: Stands Out

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

Glendalough Black Pitts Porter Finish 7 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Read More »

Pitching In

/ / Gary's Blog

Some whiskey blogs have helped me sort out whether or not I might like a whiskey, or educated me about some new (or old) distillery. This blog has helped me in ways I can’t begin to count. In 2012 (only six years ago, but feels way longer) I reached out to Richard to ask for more information about a post that mentioned the ‘Georgia Bourbon Society’. I had done much of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail the year before, and was still pretty new to whiskey in general. He recommended I get on StraightBourbon.com for more information, which I did. Long story short – I can trace more friendships than I can shake a stick at to this whiskey blog, not to mention countless evenings spent with amazing people and some pretty good whiskey.
When Richard asked me if I’d be interested in helping out with some reviews a couple years later, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only did I get to try some new, cool, interesting (ok – sometimes ‘meh’) whiskies, it helped me identify and appreciate different flavors, aromas, textures – and learn more about what I like. Any time he mentions that he has a sample for me, I get excited and can’t wait for the chance to try it and do my best to capture the experience in a review.

So when Richard asked me if I’d be interested in taking on a more active role with the stewardship of the site, I jumped to my phone to google “stewardship”, and then said absolutely. What he and Matt built here is extraordinary, and I’m looking forward to keeping it going. I’m a big believer in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, so you won’t see a lot of changes around here. What you will continue to see are guys who love whiskey and love proselytizing the way of the malt. I hope you enjoy reading it – whether it is to answer a question, research a potential purchase, or help figure out what you might or might not like.

Cheers!
Gary

Pitching In Read More »

Aberlour Double Cask 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aberlour Double Cask Matured 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$50
Website
8812467945502
What the Distillery Says:
The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour’s raw spirit is deftly softened by double cask maturation. Traditional oak and seasoned Sherry butts are both used to great effect, as the mellowed spirits within are combined to deliver a subtly balanced flavour.

Colour: Golden amber with hints of ruby.
Nose: Soft and rounded, with fruity notes of red apple.
Palate: A fine sherried character, balanced with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and ginger spiciness.
Finish: Warming and lingering – sweet and slightly spicy.

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is just a whisper of sherry on the nose. Not in the least bit a “sherry bomb”. It’s more malty and grain forward with a wildflower backdrop.
Palate: Sweet and nice but a bit thin. Fruity sweet with a bit of nuts thrown it. It’s like fruit cake but without the baking spices.
Finish: Drying and slightly bitter with a pinch of black pepper.
Comments: A fine, serviceable in the $50 range. It’s one of the expressions that Aberlour adds caramel coloring to if you are the type to be curious about such things. This used to be a bit of a deal compared to Macallan 12, even though I like the Macallan a bit better. However, Aberlour prices are creeping up too. If you are an experienced malt drinker this probably won’t blow you socks off. It’s a bit meh compared to A’bunadh or their older expressions. It’s nice all the same.
Rating: Average

Aberlour Double Cask 12 Year Read More »

Ninety 20 Year Old

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Ninety 20 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky
45% ABV
$35
Website

What the Distillery Says
After 20 years in charred oak barrels, we have drawn and blended from our cherished reserves to present the most discerning of whiskies. Expect a smooth, luxurious depth of flavour rich in oak, spices, and a light fruit sweetness.

What Gary Says
Nose: Sweet, corn, banana nut bread with maple syrup drizzled on top, hint of malted barley and brown sugar.
Palate: Molasses, subtle raisins and baking spices (clove, allspice), a soft/round mouthfeel.
Finish: Fairly short and uninspiring.
Comments: I picked this up while in Ontario based on the label. Some of my favorite rye whisky has been from Canada (such as the earlier batches of Jefferson’s 10 yr Rye), so seeing a 20 year rye for under $40 – it felt like I was stealing! My old man used to tell me “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is” – although in my defense – he was with me and didn’t stop me from pulling the trigger. Having said all that – it is interesting. It is NOT a rye whiskey by the American definition (my understanding is that this is a corn-whiskey mashbill done in the “rye style” – whatever that means). But it has gentle nuance, and isn’t off-putting. It also isn’t something I’d go out of my way to acquire either.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says
Nose: Big creamy vanilla nose with notes of caramel and bananas. Vanilla ice cream topped Bananas Foster anyone?
Palate: Very sweet and creamy. It reminds me of vanilla cream (like in Boston Cream Pie) sandwiched between two oatmeal raisin cookies.
Finish: Surprisingly alcohol forward on the finish.
Comments: Rye? No. Not like we think about it here in the states. This has more in common with an aged grain scotch. No bad but not inspiring either.
Rating: Average

Ninety 20 Year Old Read More »

Corsair Old Punk

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Corsair Distillery’s Old Punk Pumpkin and Spice Flavored Whiskey
46% ABV
$40
Website

What the Distillery Says
Yeah….basically nothing.

What Gary Says
Nose: Sweet malted barley, bright spice – anise, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, a “pumpkin spice” vibe without much “pumpkin”.
Palate: Sweet and bright, although thin on the mouthfeel, fall spices (cinnamon, allspice) but less intense than the nose; a malty note.
Finish: Short and a bit dry.
Comments: Interesting. I’m not a big fan of flavored whiskey, but tried this in 2012 and thought it was interesting (although it was one in a lineup of 20+ samples – so, there’s that!) Now – I find it less interesting. I do like to use this in my aged egg nog recipe (ok – not “mine” but Alton Brown’s). Nothing off putting about it – the nose is interesting but the palate isn’t as flavorful. It reminds me more of a scotch than a bourbon – more gentle and not heavy handed.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says
Nose: When you see “whiskey” by an American distiller I wouldn’t assume bourbon/rye anymore. This one is more in tune with a mixture of highland scotch, Swedish Glogg (look it up because it is delicious), and a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.
Palate: Sweet…too sweet…with lots of cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, Malt-o-meal.
Finish: Dry and alcohol forward.
Comments: I appreciate experimentation. Even though I’m a bit of a stodgy whiskey drinker I appreciate experimentation there too. However, I am very much over selling the crappy experiments to unsuspecting whiskey buyers. Try out all the funky crap you want but don’t try to pawn it off on me for $40 or $50 or $100 a bottle. There is a reason that Corsair stopped making this.
Rating: Probably Pass

Corsair Old Punk Read More »