Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Port Charlotte 10 Yr Old Heavily Peated

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Port Charlotte 10 Yr Old Heavily Peated

50% ABV
$68 – $80
Website
Port Charlotte 10 Yr Heavily Peated

What the Distillery Says

This Port Charlotte 10 year old has been conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay alone. We are a young team with deep-rooted values, and an ambition to make the ultimate “Islay” Islay whisky. A whisky made by people not software; a whisky watched over every day of its maturing life by those who made it; a whisky born of a community with a vision and a mission to kick start a single malt whisky revolution, this Port Charlotte 10 year old is who we are. This is where we’re from.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: The smoke is calmed by the marine, ozone character, time has brought a balance, a harmony in the combination of oak, smoke and spirit. While the smoke is always discernible on the nose it is dry, earthy, peatash in its style and so allows the oak to come forward with waves of golden caramel, fudge, vanilla custard, hints of ginger, nutmeg and clove. There is citrus fruit, coaxed from the glass with a drop of water, gentle lemon meringue and clementine. Breathe deeply and the floral aromas of wild thyme, heather and sea pink bring you to this Atlantic coast.
Palate: On the palate there is a noticeable delicacy and softness in texture and style. Again, the balance of flavour is superb as the smoke wraps loosely around the sweetness drawn from deep within the oak. Coconut, vanilla custard, lemon honey combines with smoked oysters and sun baked salty sand.
Finish: The finish is sublime, smoky sure, but also the soft sweetness of fudge and malted barley, orange, mango and Banoffee pie hinting of the depth and quality of the oak. The many layers interchange on each sip. As the smoke comes and goes so too the notes of the spirit, ripe apple and apricot, beautifully intertwined with malt and oak sweetness and that typical Port Charlotte style dry smoke.
Character: Ageing for 10 years on the shores of Loch Indaal has had a profound effect on this spirit. Like sunshine on a winters day, this Port Charlotte 10 brings clarity and lightens the mood, welcoming and brightening the future.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
WHISKY TYPE: HEAVILY PEATED ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
PHENOL LEVEL: 40 PARTS PER MILLION
BARLEY PROVENANCE: 100% SCOTTISH BARLEY FROM INVERNESSHIRE REGION
MATURATION PROFILE:
65% 1ST FILL AMERICAN WHISKEY CASKS
10% 2ND FILL AMERICAN WHISKEY CASKS
25% 2ND FILL FRENCH WINE CASKS
BOTTLING: BOTTLED ONSITE WITH ISLAY SPRING WATER, NON CHILL FILTERED & COLOURING FREE
LIQUID COLOUR: PRIMROSE TO CITRINE
TASTE DESCRIPTOR: BARBECUE SMOKINESS, RICH AND SPICY WITH SWEET MALTY NOTES

What Gary Says

Nose:  Boatloads of peat, medicinal notes of iodine, a briny sea mist with smoke and notes of ginger, honey, milk chocolate, and tropical fruits.
Palate:  Sweet start with vanilla, honey, coconut macaroons, chocolate and bits of caramel before sharpening in the mid palate with some pepper bite (and maybe oregano?); peat threaded throughout.
Finish:  Long and lovely, with honey and smokey peat with ocean breeze.
Comments:  This is squarely in the Islay peaty whisky family; which I happen to really enjoy. It takes a bit of water well, smoothing it out a bit without losing any richness. For fans of peat (Laphroaig, Lagavulin), I think you’ll want to seek this out; I’d recommend going out of your way to try it.

Rating: Must Try

Port Charlotte 10 Yr Old Heavily Peated Read More »

Cotswolds Single Malt

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Cotswolds Single Malt

46% ABV
$60
Website
Cotswolds Single Malt English Whisky

What the Distillery Says

The first single malt whisky ever distilled in the Cotswolds.

Carefully sourced ingredients
Malt: Odyssey. We are committed to using only barley grown in the Cotswolds, and the variety and farm on which it was grown are listed on the label of each bottle. We are one of a very small number of British whisky-makers to use 100% floor-malted barley. This comes to us from Britain’s oldest working maltings, in nearby Warminster. It is unpeated.
Yeast: Two complementary varieties – Anchor and Fermentis – to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.
Water: Village water supply – filtered, softened and demineralised before use.
Wood: Premium first-fill Kentucky ex-Bourbon 200-litre barrels and reconditioned American Oak 225-litre red wine casks that have been shaved, toasted and recharred.

Lovingly crafted
We use traditional production processes and equipment to produce our Cotswolds Single Malt. Locally-grown malted barley is milled and then mashed in our 0.5-tonne mash tun, mixing the milled grain with hot water to produce worts. Yeasts are then added. We run the fermentation for more than 90 hours in order to generate plenty of fruity flavour compounds alongside the alcohol produced.
Then the distillations begin. First, in the wash still (Mary), and the second in Janis, our spirit still. In the spirit run, we only select a small section – the heart cut – which is taken unusually early in the distillation to capture the fruity notes and avoid the heavier, rougher elements that appear at the end of the run. The end result is a light, colourless, fruity new-make spirit. This is diluted to 63.5% ABV and put into casks to mature. This release has been aged for just over three years, and is bottled non-chill filtered, with no added colouring, at 46% ABV.

Tasting notes
Nose: Notes of honey and butterscotch layered with light fruits (peaches & apricots), a hint of marzipan.
Palate: Strong notes of tannin-rich malt, oils and dark sugar with lots of spice, caramelised Seville orange marmalade.
Finish: Long and resinous, with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, subtle fruit notes of peaches and pears with a dusting of nutmeg, a bit of a winey note with malted barley.
Palate:  Honeyed malt, a touch of molasses, stewed peaches with vanilla, slight pepper bite with overly ripe bananas.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with spice and oak.
Comments:  I loved visiting the Cotswolds a few years back, and hadn’t ever had an English whisky. While this is young, it is a nice enough pour; lightly fruity, not objectionable. I’d say it punches above its weight for its age, although maybe not for the price. If they were in the U.S., I’d refer to them as a ‘craft distillery’, although unlike most in that category they’re using full sized barrels which makes a huge difference. I’d love to try this with some age on it.

Rating: Stands Out

Cotswolds Single Malt Read More »

Yellowstone 2019 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2019 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2019 Limited Edition
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2019 variety of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, set to hit the market in August. This year’s edition includes a hand-picked selection of the most unique barrels – those hidden gems in the rick house – including barrels of extra-aged nine-year and 12-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

“I tasted many quality, mature Kentucky Straight Bourbons in order to find the right two ages for this year’s release – I had a certain taste profile in mind and I sought those barrels that matched it,” says Steve Beam, head distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “The barrels I chose were in different parts of the rick house and each barrel’s unique location contributed to the taste profile and complexity of this bourbon. When combined, these extra-aged bourbons create a mature and complex bourbon with robust spice and oaky undertones.”

Yellowstone has been one of Kentucky’s favorites since 1872. This year’s edition brings cinnamon notes with toffee, dried fruit and a hint of citrus to the palate, followed by a dry finish of brown sugar and oak. Using Beam’s expertise and honed palate, only the finest barrels were chosen for this year’s release.

Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles nestled in commemorative tubes, the 2019 Yellowstone Limited Edition continues to honor the long-standing tradition. Approximately 12,500 bottles of this bourbon are being produced at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Lovely caramel, oak, vanilla wafers, cinnamon, allspice, and toasted orange zest.
Palate:  Rich caramel and vanilla buttercream frosting, oak with a spicy bite of clove and citrus spice mid-way through the palate before bringing out some milk chocolate.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with some pepper spice and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a solid bourbon with a spicy edge to it.  Some might call it ‘brash’ (which to me isn’t a bad thing; Stagg is ‘brash’ and I’d never turn down a pour of it!). I don’t think it is too sharp or spicy, and it has those sweet notes you’d expect in a bourbon. If you’re a fan of ‘sweet & mellow’ bourbon, this might be outside your comfort zone. For those that like a spicier pour (like Wild Turkey or Old Forester), this is likely right up your alley. A bit of water doesn’t hurt it, but I didn’t find it needed it either.

Rating: Stands Out

Yellowstone 2019 Limited Edition Read More »

Lux Row Distillers 12 Year Double Barrel Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Lux Row Distillers 12 Year Double Barrel Bourbon

59.2% ABV
$150
Website
Lux Row Distillers Double Barrel Bourbon
We would like to thank Luxco and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Lux Row Distillers has launched a new bourbon, Lux Row Distillers Double Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, to commemorate the distillery’s grand opening last year. The new limited edition bourbon brings together two carefully selected 12-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels bottled together for the ultimate barrel strength taste and finish.

“We wanted to do something unique to commemorate the opening of Lux Row Distillers so I tasted through many barrels to find the ones that would complement each other perfectly creating a well-balanced, flavorful bourbon,” says Head Distiller John Rempe. “Each two barrel combinations will be slightly different but will have strong caramel and vanilla notes, with a warm and spicy finish.”

These masterfully selected bourbons have a rye mash bill and are bottled at cask strength at 118.4 proof – a nod to the distillery’s grand opening in April of 2018. The packaging includes a custom Lux Row Distillers embossed bottle, real metal labels and is topped with a solid copper cork. In addition, each bottle’s label includes the barrel numbers and age statements of the barrels selected. The back label tells the story of the grand opening, a celebration of the distillery’s first year. This limited edition bourbon, with approximately 6,000 bottles released, is available only in Kentucky and retails for a SRP of $150.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, lovely caramel, vanilla, rice pudding, oak, a hint of peach cobbler and a note of cigar paper.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, warm, rich chocolate fudge with caramel swirls, some baking spices with honey and brown sugar, bits of pepper spice at the end.
Finish:  Long, slightly drying with cocoa.
Comments:  This is just a lovely, sweet, luscious bourbon. I don’t often pay a lot of attention to the legs on whisk(e)y, but this one struck me after the first swirl in my Glencairn (a string of slowly growing pearls that took ages before gravity won out). Takes water well. This is on the sweeter side of the spectrum, which I enjoy in bourbon. The bottle itself is solid, with a topper that is pretty hefty (reminds me a bit of the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep tops for those familiar). Was fortunate enough to get a taste of this at the distillery in mid-September. If you’re in Bardstown, definitely recommend swinging by Lux Row Distillery (might be able to try a sample for yourself; if there’s any left).

Rating: Must Try

Lux Row Distillers 12 Year Double Barrel Bourbon Read More »

Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$44
Website
Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak
We would like to thank Paul (who shares reviews on Distiller.com, as well as reviews and general musings on his YouTube channel Dapper Drams) for the sample to review!

What the Distillery Says

SHERRY OAK
Finished in Sherry Casks

Our tight-knit community is embodied in the traditional methods used to produce this unique single malt whisky.

Crafted by hand, this Deanston malt has been finished in sherry casks to ensure a rich amber colour and deep flavour. This creates a warm, fruity dram which tastes best when shared.

COLOUR: Amber gold
NOSE: The characteristic honey of Deanston, subtle dried fruit with hints of toffee, oak and delicate spice.
PALATE: Sweet honey and fruit, hints dried fruit and toffee with delicate rich oak and sweet maltiness.
FINISH: Sweet and lingering with hints of fruit and delicate spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Heavy fruit, raisins, plums, figs, tart berries, fresh prairie grass, brown sugar, honey, oak and a hint of balsamic.
Palate:  Sweet honey malt, fruitcake, raisins, nutmeg, oak with a dash of pepper.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly drying with dried dark fruit.
Comments:  This is a Taiwanese market exclusive that a fellow whisk(e)y enthusiast won at auction, so it isn’t mentioned on their web-site. The details above were from images of the box I could find on-line (so if they had multiple varieties of this, may not line up exactly – sorry). I’m unfamiliar with Deanston, so when arranging to trade samples, I picked this to try.
It’s quite a pleasant dram, not particularly complex but fairly ‘flavor intense’ for 40% ABV. I wouldn’t go out of my way to track one down necessarily, but nothing objectionable with this (although at 40% ABV, I did find it didn’t take water well; thinned out rather quickly – which isn’t a surprise for the low proof).

Rating: Stands Out

Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak Read More »