Wild Turkey 101 – 8 Years Old (Dusty, 1984 Decanter) 50.5% ABV $80 NOTE: This was a decanter I purchased in 2014 in Georgia with an exceptional fill level and decanted. What Gary Says Nose: Rich salted caramel, oak, allspice, brown sugar, dark chocolate, vanilla, a hint of cinnamon and smokey fall leaves. Palate: Sweet but sharp, deep caramel bomb with honey, vanilla, some bitter chocolate notes, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove and pepper. Finish: Moderately long and drying with cracked pepper spice. Comments: I love older Wild Turkey, and this decanter was not an exception. Buying a sealed decanter is a gamble – it is difficult to tell how full it is, or if the contents will be drinkable. I’ve seen a few that were fairly full but clearly contaminated (looking dark like coffee and smelling “off”). I was very fortunate; this had less than 5% loss in the 30 years it spent in the decanter, and its color was a lovely dark copper. The risk of a low fill or contaminated contents is the only reason I wouldn’t rate this a ‘Must Buy’, since there is absolutely some risk you have to accept. But when you get lucky – it is well worth it! Rating: Must Try
Teeling Single Cask Distillery Exclusive: Cask 11703, 9yr Port Matured 60.1% ABV €100 Website What the Distillery (not distiller) Says This: I personally filled my bottle at the gift shop on August 17 2018. While the cask head shows a fill date of August 6 2007, I verified with the gift shop folks that this is a 9 yr aged Irish whiskey. It was tanked in November 2016. Also – I don’t mean the emphasis on “not distiller” above as a slight in any way; just fully transparent that this was NOT distilled at the Teeling Distillery where I bought it (they hadn’t been distilling for three full years yet). I assume this is from Cooley, but don’t know for certain.
What Gary Says Nose: Strong port, rich dark fruit sweetness with hints of cigar paper and solvent; some water tamps the solvent notes and opens up the sweetness to figs, plums, and caramel; transitions the cigar paper/smoke to oak. Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, port sweet, warming with a cinnamon spice kick before softening; some water brings out honey, pears, dates, toffee, and subtle cinnamon and clove. Finish: Moderately long, drying with hints of smoke as it trails off. Comments: This was my favorite pour in Ireland, and why it was the first (and only one of two) bottles I purchased there. Studying it at home, it isn’t quite as complex and lovely as I remembered, but still a very good whiskey. Port can be heavy handed, and I can see why it is used more for finishing than maturing. I’ve found that this hits me just right around 95-100 proof (basically 4.5:1 ratio of whiskey to water). If you really like port, this could be right up your alley, but it might feel unbalanced with too much of that for others. While less complex than I thought it was in the moment at the distillery, still delicious (and if you’re there for a tour, or can just stop by their gift shop/bar – I’d definitely recommend buying a taste!) Rating: Stands Out
Slane Irish Whiskey 40% ABV $25 – $30 Website What the Blender Says Three Unique Casks for a Uniquely Complex Spirit Slane Irish Whiskey takes many of its complex and smooth qualities from our signature Triple Casked process. Whiskey is aged in three varieties of casks: Virgin and Seasoned casks raised by hand at the venerated Brown-Forman Cooperages – and Oloroso sherry casks by way of Jerez in Spain. Once the liquid has been aged to perfection, it is masterfully blended to create an exceptional Irish whiskey.
Tasting Notes Smooth, complex and robust. Slane Irish Whiskey marries toasted grain and malt whiskeys with the distinctive flavours of each cask. NOSE: Complex fruit with drizzles of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; brown spice and toasted oak TASTE: Spicy at first but quickly sweetened with rich caramel, vanilla and butterscotch atop a deep layer of dried fruit FINISH: Lingering hints of dry fruit and caramelised wood sugar
What Gary Says Nose: Fruity (reminds me a bit of young rye); notes of caramel, butterscotch, toasted oak with hints of allspice and worn leather (like an old baseball glove). Palate: Sweet and soft; pears, peaches, plums with honey, subtle oak, nutmeg, and notes of malt. Finish: Medium length, slightly drying with a slight spice note. Comments: For 40% ABV (and $35 for a 1 liter!), this has a lot more character than I would have anticipated. I tried this in a pub in Ireland as it was a bottle I’d never heard of (not available in Georgia) and was fairly inexpensive. I thought it was delicious (although sometimes an idyllic setting can make something taste better). I decided I’d try to pick up a bottle to spend more quality time with, and was not disappointed in the least. The triple-cask maturation definitely makes it stand out as unique, and it punches well above it’s weight. Sometimes we enthusiasts can be purists, and turn our noses up when a bottle isn’t age stated, or doesn’t explicitly state no coloring was added. No, this isn’t a terribly complex dram, but if you’re a fan of just drinking Irish whiskey – I think you’ve got to at least try this. Rating: Must Try; Great Value
40% ABV $220 – $250 Website What the Blender Says Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an unrivalled masterpiece. It is an exquisite blend made from some of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies. Only one in every ten thousand casks has the elusive quality, character and flavour to deliver the’ remarkable signature taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. An extraordinary whisky for extraordinary occasions.
FLAVOR NOSE: Take in the wonderfully mellow, rounded nose – replete with dry smokiness artfully mixed with the sweetness of raisins. PALATE: Serving a velvety combination of vanilla, honey and rose petals – before broadening out to include a zesty orange flavor with notes of hazelnut, sherry and dark chocolate. FINISH: Signing off with a rich and luxuriously long finish, which showcases Johnnie Walker’s trademark smokiness in the most sophisticated way.
What Gary Says Nose: Nice with a bit of sherry, peat, and nutty spice with dark fruit; hint of pipe smoke while laid back in an old overstuffed leather chair. Palate: Creamy rich mouthfeel, fruity (melons and raisins), hints of chocolate with allspice, nutmeg, anise and dark candy. Finish: Long, slow and mellowing. Comments: This is one of the main reasons I wanted this sample pack. I’ve been wanting to try Johnnie Walker Blue for years, but not enough to buy a whole bottle (and not wanting to try it in a bar/restaurant where the environment isn’t often conducive to giving a dram my full attention. In comparison to the Platinum 18 yr, I found this to be only a marginal step up in the line-up. On its own, it is a very nice pour. It is absolutely one of the more intensely flavored drams I’ve had at only 40% ABV. Nothing objectionable either – very well balanced, and I appreciate the craftsmanship that went into blending this. It too leaves me wanting to try it at a higher proof, and for my tastes, there are plenty of bottles I’d pick over this for the money. Rating: Stands Out
(Richard and Matt had reviewed this as part of a ‘taste off’ in 2009; below are their notes from that post)
What Richard Says: Nose: Peatier and smokier than most blends. You can really smell the Islay in here. Fresh cut wood and non-orange citrus. Limes maybe? Palate: An initial sweetness quickly shoved aside for a rich smokiness that settles to brine notes of the sea. Rich, complicated, and ever changing on the palate. Finish: A very slow and long finish. It leaves you with a mellow smokiness more subtle than the robust smoke on the palate. Rating: Must Try
What Matt Says: Nose: Peat, chocolate, honey suckle and other sweet florals. Quite lovely. Palate: Very smooth, but a little one-dimensional. There are some very light hints of peat, but mostly sweet and fruity. Finish: Peaty and dry. Rating: Stands Out
Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Years Old 40% ABV $120 Website What the Blender Says Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Year Old was inspired by the tradition of giving private blends to a close circle of family friends by John Walker & Sons. Blended from whiskies that have matured for at least 18 years, it combines sophisticated and contemporary tastes with classic Johnnie Walker flavours. When you want to make a special occasion truly exceptional, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Year Old is the discerning choice. FLAVOURS Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Year Old blends big, classic Johnnie Walker flavours with intriguing contemporary notes of citrus and fragrant almonds. Initially sweet with a warm vanilla undercurrent and a suggestion of tangerines, it moves smoothly over the palate into a nutty, malty dryness before a long finish brings elegant suggestions of soft charcoal smokiness and a beautifully fading citrus zest.
What Gary Says Nose: Sherried smoke with subtle dark fruit behind sea air; bit of allspice, cigar paper and sour oak. Palate: Soft entry with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, sweet fruit with savory vegetal notes, hints of peat and smoke. Finish: Moderately long and drying. Comments: Tasting this as part of the Johnnie Walker Sampler Pack (which includes their Black, Gold Label Reserve, this, and Blue). If you’re not familiar with Johnnie Walker’s lineup, this is a cost effective way to get a large enough sample of each to spend some quality time with them. This was a definite step up from the Gold Label Reserve. A nice pour that is well balanced, with a bit of several things (sherry, smoke, peat, fruit). While I enjoy it, it isn’t squarely in my wheelhouse – especially for the money. And again – while quite easy to drink at this proof, I’d love to try this at a higher proof. Rating: Stands Out
