Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Benromach 10 Yrs Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Benromach 10 Yrs Old
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

43% ABV
$50 – $60
Website

What the Distillery Says

Grain by grain, drop by drop, we handcraft our GORGEOUS Speyside single malt to TASTE the way whisky should from our beautiful part of Scotland.
Tasting Notes
Pour yourself a dram of Benromach – not too wee and not too big. Swirl the golden liquid around your glass and notice the AROMA WITHOUT WATER. In other words, take a sniff. Indeed, indulging in several little inhalations is the best way to pick up all the different notes… rich sherry with fruit & nut chocolate, delicate spice, green apples, malty biscuit and a touch of light peat smoke. Now sip your dram, roll the whisky around your mouth and enjoy the TASTE WITHOUT WATER… juicy raspberries and brambles, sherry, creamy malt and a light peat. Next, take in the AROMA WITH WATER… it’s a wee bit nutty with a touch of charred oak and malt, and there’s also some fancy pineapple and kiwi. Add a drop or two of water to release the full TASTE WITH WATER. Savour the succulent mouth coating and taste the toasted malt, delicate peat smoke and lingering sweet sherry… our gorgeous classic Benromach Speyside style of single malt whisky.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel with poached pears, sandalwood, malt, fresh pecans, a touch of plums, hint of peat and leather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, barley sweetness with fruit notes that evolve into a smokey, herbal but soft spiciness.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with an earthy smokiness and hint of peat.
Comments:  This is a very nice 10 year old single malt.  Well balanced, approachable, incredibly drinkable with a lot of complexity for a 10 year old.  Bit of water opens it up nicely with some floral notes on the nose and more fruit on the palate.  If you’re a fan of Speyside single malts, I’d consider this a ‘Must Try’.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Girvan 24 Yr Single Grain Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Single Grain / ,

Girvan 24 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky
Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Cask

50.3% ABV
$100
Website
Girvan 24 Yr Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky

What the Reseller Says

Our grain whiskies from the Sovereign label have been some of the most beloved in our store’s history, which is why we’re back with another fabulous Girvan; the William Grant Lowland distillery located in the South Ayrshire (where Ladyburn distillery was once located). Remember that grain whiskies are not single malts, but rather column-distilled whiskies usually made from corn (like Bourbon). The Girvan 24 year is full of soft vanilla right off the bat, almost like an older version of the Nikka Coffey expression, but with more pop due to the higher proof. The vanilla turns into caramel on the mid-palate and it finishes with more soft sweetness before the alcohol comes roaring in. With grain prices as low as they are, expect more outstanding values like this in the near future.

From the bottle:
Distilled 1990, Bottled September 2014
A robust, sweet nose is slightly peppery with toffee apples.
Buttery on the palate with vanilla and chocolate,
followed by a long, nutty finish
Cask Ref: HL10574

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, subtle honey with musty oak, hints of vanilla and baked apples.
Palate:  Sweet start with a viscous, buttery mouthfeel, vanilla and almonds before pepper spice.
Finish:  Long, nutty and peppery, drying as it goes.
Comments:  Full disclosure – single grain isn’t my favorite category of whisky. There isn’t anything objectionable about this dram, but also nothing really stood out for me compared to other similarly aged single grain Scotch whiskies. For my palate, single grain is a very gentle, subtle, nuanced pour – typically on the sweet side with a buttery mouthfeel. Very drinkable, and while there’s pepper spice it is somehow softer than you might expect (not a ‘sharp bite’). Hard to find a 20+ yr old anything in this price range.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Medusa American Whiskey

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

Medusa American Whiskey

40% ABV
$100-$125
Website
Cadee Distillery Medusa American Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Enjoy the Timeless Pleasure of our Best American Whiskey
Handmade in small batches, Medusa is a beautifully finished American Whiskey for the discerning palate.
Sweet on the nose with an array of spices and the smell of the sea. This five year old “Straight Bourbon Whiskey” is finished for at least 18 months in 10-year-old imported Madeira wine barrels. Very smooth notes of toffee and mild spice give way to a lingering caramel Madeira blush. A truly exceptional whiskey that calls out to new and seasoned tasters.

Looking for the finest Straight bourbon whiskey for an unmatched tasting experience? Cadée Distillery brings you Medusa— a beautifully finished American Whiskey for discerning palates. Our five year old bourbon is finished for an additional 18 months aging in imported Madeira barrels. Possibly the best whiskey made in America!

Our unique finishing process creates a rich combination of unforgettable flavors ranging from toffee and mild spice to a lingering caramel Madeira blush. Bold enough for seasoned whiskey lovers, yet friendly to the novice. Very few American whiskeys will provide you the truly great and unique experience of Medusa. Try it for yourself and see. Order Medusa Select Reserve American Whiskey online above through our Medusa product page. You owe it to yourself and your friends.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit notes of apricots, plums, dates, honey, thyme, wisps of sea air and heather, toasted oak with hints of salted caramel.
Palate:  Soft sweetness with caramel, plums, raisins, tangerines and a subtle spice notes of nutmeg and pepper, soft oak, and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with a nutty fruit salad quality.
Comments:  This has been my favorite of the three whiskies I tried from Cadée Distillery. A very pleasant pour, where the Madeira finishing is evident but again not overdone.  I’ll be honest – when I read ‘American Whiskey’, I was skeptical and asked the fine folks at Cadée Distillery why they chose this label.  I explained that folks well-read on labeling requirements and restrictions may be skeptical of avoiding ‘bourbon’ or ‘straight’ on the label.  Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell explained that their intention with choosing ‘American Whiskey’ over ‘bourbon’ was to cut through the clutter of bourbons on the shelf, and hopefully stand out.  He acknowledged that in retrospect, labeling it as a straight bourbon whiskey finished in Madeira maybe would have been better.  Thankfully I’ve found the label doesn’t alter the taste (if you’re doing it right).  This is a delicious whiskey, and the only bourbon I’ve had finished in Madeira casks – making it a unique experience.  I was also excited to pick up notes of sea air on the nose.  As the oldest of the three products I tried, I hope this means future products with more age will bring more of that quality, as I do rather enjoy that where I find it in Scotch whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out

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Cascadia Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Cascadia Rye Whiskey

43.5% ABV
$49 – $57
Website
Cadee Distillery Cascadia Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Handmade in small batches. Well balanced, mellow rye with a rich malt edge. Deep color with a good nose offering malt sweetness and dried fruit. An aroma rich in port, cocoa, dark cherries, toffee, chocolate and mature oak on the palate. Aged for an average of four years in new American Oak, then finished for an average of 12 months in imported 20-year-old French Oak Ruby Port barrels. Rye spice sparkles throughout yielding to a long finish with hints of vanilla, tobacco and light wood notes. Cascadia gently rolls over the tongue like waves to the shore.

Cascadia Rye Whiskey is one of America’s finest whiskeys. We aren’t saying that, these are the gold medals and double gold medals speaking.

Try it out to experience its spicy flavor with malt sweetness and dried fruits. One marked and delicious characteristic of this whiskey is its lingering aroma rich in port, tobacco and light wood notes. This amber-hued whiskey provides an aroma of spicy rye with rich notes of dark chocolate along with overripe fruit, the concentration of flavors is completely inimitable.

Made from 51% rye, first matured in new American Oak barrels and then double barrel finished in French oak casks previously used for maturing rich, 20 year old port in Portugal. The casks were transferred to the distillery’s No.I vault, the Isle of Whidbey’s oldest maturation warehouse. Located at sea level on the shores of Port Clinton, the spirit was left to mature under nature’s care. The straight Rye developed into one of the most incredible whiskies we have produced.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright with mint, eucalyptus, orange zest, a touch of ginger, some herbal notes and birch wood.
Palate:  Quite smooth for rye, with gentle spices of mint, black pepper and allspice amongst chocolate covered cherries and hints of orange.
Finish:  Short in length with notes of mint and citrus spice.
Comments:  I find that rye whiskey fares better at a young age than bourbon does (not that I prefer young rye over older rye!), so I was looking forward to this.  Like Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey, its age is clear on the nose, although I didn’t get as much of the port finish by comparison.  What I did get reminded me of some type of beer cask finish (not being a beer drinker, I apologize for the lack of specificity).  In fact, the nose reminds me a bit of Jameson Caskmates Revolution Brewing Limited Edition, which ironically reminded me of rye whiskey. This is very soft, gentle, and smooth for a rye whiskey.  If you’re looking for that sharp rye bite – you won’t find it here (maybe a ‘gateway rye’ for folks who have thought rye was too harsh in the past?) but you still get those spice notes and herbaceous qualities.  Very easy drinking, and again nothing off-putting.  Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell explained that they use malted barley as well in this mashbill, and with all of their whiskies they use water drawn from Whidbey Island when bringing the whiskey down to bottling proof – which provides a unique character.  While this may not be released any older, I do hope they’ll consider perhaps a higher proof offering.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey

42.5% ABV
$45 – $57
Website
Cadée Distillery Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Handmade in small batches. Deceptivus Straight Bourbon is finished in imported Portuguese Port wine casks for an award-winning spirit. We guide each batch’s conditioning, blending our handcrafted bourbon in a single barrel at a time. It’s typically aged for at least four years in American Oak Barrels, then finished for an average of 12-18 months in imported, French Oak ruby port wine casks from Portugal. While we lose about 20% of the spirit to absorption and evaporation, or “the Angel’s Share,” this adds subtly distinct flavor nuances that enhance the whiskey without challenging it. This creates a whiskey of unprecedented smoothness, sweetness and balance.

Bourbon’s origin is varied and often disputed, a wealth of legend and myth. But beyond these tall tales lies a process which makes this among the most loved alcoholic beverages by spirit connoisseurs.

A bourbon made for US consumption must be produced in the United States. Made from a grain mixture at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak containers, distilled to no more than 160 U.S proof, and bottled at 80 proof or more.

Bourbon whiskey is made in the USA having a ‘fatter’ and sweeter flavor profile, relying on the new charred oak barrels for much of its character, mixability and versatility, making it America’s native spirit.

Cadée’s Deceptivus bourbon is an exceptional maritime whiskey. Created by experienced whiskey producers, with centuries of distilling and blending experience, our bourbon is aged for at least four years in American Oak Barrels, and then double-barrel finished for an average of 12-18 months in imported Portuguese Port wine casks. This award-winning spirit provides an unforgettable tasting experience.

Taste and savor this great whiskey. You will love the whiskey for its unprecedented smoothness, sweetness, and balance. Cadée’s Deceptivus Bourbon is rich, smooth and its easily approachable taste is to be enjoyed by experienced and casual drinkers alike.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweetened corn flakes with cherries, port wine, pears and roasted peaches, hints of vanilla and subtle oak.
Palate:  Fruity with cherries and pears in a port wine reduction, soft pepper with a touch of cinnamon in the back.
Finish:  Short with a slightly drying fruit note and a hint of cinnamon.
Comments:  On the nose this whiskey shows its age with more notes of corn coming through than one might expect.  The port cask finishing is well executed – with the influence clearly present but not heavy handed which I appreciate it. It is pleasant, soft, and quite smooth – very easy to drink with no off-putting characteristics. I thought that the characteristics I associate with younger whiskey might be driven by the more temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest, where the temperature variation is closer to Scotland than it is to Kentucky.  In speaking with Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell, he explained that the location of Whidbey Island, which is in Puget Sound just north of Seattle, sits between the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.  This leads to the barometric pressure changing frequently – which has an impact on the maturation of the spirits.  He shared that the 20% evaporation loss is after the first three years (where for example – Heaven Hill’s website shares that they lose 6% in year 1 and 3% each year after – for 12% loss after 3 years).  He also mentioned that barrel heads become convex and concave after just a few years – again something that you see less frequently in similarly aged barrels in Kentucky.  All of this and more leads to a bourbon that isn’t going to taste like your typical bourbon.  They’re looking to continue aging some stock for older products, although another impact of the climate is that the proof in the barrel is dropping – again similar to Scotland (although some bourbon barrels will also decrease in proof based on where they are aged).  I hope that with more age, the sea air will work its magic.  I also hope that they consider bottling at a higher proof, but that’s just my preference.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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