Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Madeira Cask Finish

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Madeira Cask Finish
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website

What the Distiller Says

In homage to the intrepid Portuguese voyagers who went on to change our understanding of the new world, we created Glenfiddich’s first ever 19 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky.

Finished in fine, aged Madeira wine casks from an independent island winery dating back to 1850 we named this expression, Glenfiddich Age of Discovery.

An earthy, bright whisky with a warmth that fades to long sweetness. The first time we’ve used Madeira casks for incredible, rich depth.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Antique gold.
NOSE: Deep earthy aromas of sweet ripe fig and orange marmalade create a backdrop to bright notes –fresh gooseberry and grapes ripening on the vine.
TASTE: Rich, spicy cinnamon and crushed black pepper rest on a deep earthy base. Caramelised fruits, crystallised ginger, raisins and hints of dry oak unravel. A satisfying, silky smooth, almost oily texture.
FINISH: Dry with warmth that fades into sweet marmalade notes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, dark fruit (apricots, raisins, dates, figs), caramel and a sharper spice note; hints of clove and cinnamon over oak.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity, cherries with apricots, dusted with cinnamon and clove, spice notes kicking in stronger at the back.
Finish:  Moderately long, peaches and honey with white pepper.
Comments: Compared with the Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve, this is also quite nice, but a fairly subtle difference. The finish here isn’t heavy handed, which in one respect I appreciate, but on the other hand – you hope for something a bit more “different”. If you’re a big Glenfiddich fan, and a whiskey geek to boot, this box set with the 200 mL might be worthwhile to appreciate the subtle differences. But if you’re hoping for a big change, you may be disappointed.

Rating: Stands Out

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Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website

What the Distiller Says

The Great American Rivers once transported fine oak casks filled with American bourbon towards New Orleans. Bourbon casks could only be used once, their aromas and flavours released quickly, without being exhausted by long maturation. Excellent for ageing single malt Scotch.

Our second release in the Age of Discovery collection and a first for us, Bourbon Cask Reserve is inspired by that history. It is our only expression exclusively matured in American bourbon casks, for 19 years. Creating a refined balance of spicy sweetness and rich dried fruit flavours.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Autumn barley fields.
NOSE: Warm, crunchy toffee and deep citrus notes. Marmalade on toast with fine orange liqueur balanced by dry, almost smoky oak tannin.
TASTE: Intriguing layers of light tannin, underpinned by rich notes of vanilla pod, fine leather and Havana tobacco. Develops into a sweet, velvety mouth-feel with spicy hints of cardamom and nutmeg.
FINISH: Warm, delightful long finish.

NOTE: Richard reviewed this about 5 yrs ago (including his notes below as well) from a sample provided. Normally I wouldn’t post a duplicate review – but his was done as a new release at the time, and this is done more as part 1 of a 3 part series.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, dried fruit with vanilla, musty oak, subtle baking spices and milk chocolate.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity; canned pears, apricots with nutmeg and allspice.
Finish:  Moderately long with pears and hints of cracked pepper.
Comments: Richard picked up this “Age of Discovery” box set while visiting the motherland, which included a 200 ml bottle of the Bourbon Cask Reserve, the Maderira Cask Finish, and the Red Wine Cask Finish. I thought it would be interesting to taste these three together to compare/contrast, as they are each 19yr Glenfiddich. This is the first of the three, and a very nice dram. On the sweet side of things but not cloyingly so, and nothing off putting. Would have liked a bit more spice to balance things out, but using this as my baseline for exploring the other two. While nice, this doesn’t hit me squarely enough to shell out the dough for a bottle.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pears, the malty whiff of an IPA, and orange-mint chewing gum.
Palate: A hint of sweet vanilla at first, then Christmas spices, old rough leather like a pair of old buckskin work gloves.
Finish: Very mellow, wet toothpicks, mint notes, fading to old cigar.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram. Personally, if I was going to spend $150 on a bottle of Glenfiddich it would be the 21 year old finished in rum casks. That’s not a knock on this bottle, it’s just not the best Glenfiddich has to offer at the price point. It’s still an interesting iteration and a nice glass of scotch. However, I think this would be more for the Glenfiddich devotee rather than the uninitiated.

Rating: Stands Out

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Johnnie Walker White Walker

Johnnie Walker White Walker

41.7% ABV
$50
Website

What the Blender Says

WHITE WALKER BY JOHNNIE WALKER
In celebration of the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones, Johnnie Walker is proud to introduce White Walker by Johnnie Walker.

This new blend perfectly reminds Johnnie Walker and Game of Thrones fans alike that “Winter is Here.” The limited edition bottle utilizes thermochromic ink to give fans a frosty surprise message when frozen. With flavor notes like caramelized sugar, vanilla, and fresh red berries, White Walker by Johnnie Walker makes for a delicious serve. The new blend is best served ice cold, inspired by the White Walkers beyond The Wall.

The Limited Edition White Walker by Johnnie Walker will make a nationwide icy launch starting October 2018 until supplies last.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, bright, green hay, malty cereal notes with some fruit (pears and cherries), subtle smoke and sea air.
Palate:  Sweet malt, pears with a touch of caramel; a subtle spice note and a hint of tangerines.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, slightly drying with a touch of pepper spice (and a bit boring).
Comments:  So my wife and I are fans of Game of Thrones, so I figured I could write this purchase off as something we both can enjoy, and not ‘another whiskey’ I’ve brought into the house.  That didn’t work. This is definitely different than your Johnnie Walker red or black labels; has a bit more of an edge. Nothing off-putting, but for $50 – unless you’re just really keen to have the bottle (which I’ll admit is kinda cool), not something I’d pick up again. I did sample it both at room temp and right from the freezer. Predictably, it is a bit more thick and viscous coming out of the freezer in terms of mouthfeel, which is nice – but the flavors are even more muted.

Rating: Average

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Booker’s 30th Anniversary Bourbon

Booker’s 30th Anniversary Bourbon

62.9% ABV
$200
Website
Booker's 30th Anniversary Bourbon
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distiller Says

Released in extremely limited quantities, Booker’s 30th Anniversary Bourbon features a mingling of uncut, unfiltered1 9-year-old and 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskies, which together present robust flavor with the brand’s signature notes of vanilla that Noe preferred in his namesake whiskey. Bottled at 125.8 proof, these barrels were aged specifically with Booker’s legacy in mind under the watchful eye of 7th Generation Master Distiller and Booker’s son, Fred Noe.

“It’s a great honor to release Booker’s 30th Anniversary in commemoration of my Dad and the path he paved when he introduced the world to Booker’s Bourbon,” said Fred Noe. “When we first started talking about an anniversary batch, I knew it would have to be something special, and during my final tasting of this extra aged liquid, I knew Dad would have been pleased. I’m proud to carry on his legacy every day and to share this special release in honor of the damn fine whiskey he created 30 years ago.”

In the late 1980’s, Booker Noe set out to create his version of the perfect whiskey – one that offered a full-bodied taste profile, aged between six and eight years, bottled at its natural proof with robust flavors of vanilla. What started as a personal, holiday gift that Booker would share with close family and friends turned into one of the industry’s most influential super premium bourbons. To this day, Booker’s Bourbon is considered by many, the industry’s first small batch bourbon which contributed to the bourbon movement our industry still enjoys today.

A robust and powerful bourbon, Booker’s 30th Anniversary is itself a reflection of Booker, the man. His legacy is also honored in the details of the packaging. Each bottle of Booker’s 30th Anniversary is topped with a special silver wax then packaged beautifully in a box made of reclaimed wood from the very rackhouses where Booker once walked as he selected his personal batches of Booker’s Bourbon.

Like all Booker’s releases, Fred Noe carefully watched over and selected the barrels for this release, which is presented with the following characteristics:

Proof: 125.8
Age: 70% 9 year-old-whiskey, 30% 16-year-old whiskey
Tasting Notes: The taste profile of this bourbon is lighter than most batches of Booker’s, with a quick, dry finish that does not overpower your palate, and offers robust notes of vanilla and oak from the mingling of whiskies present in this release.
Sipping Suggestions: Booker’s 30th Anniversary is best enjoyed neat, over ice or with a few drops of water.

1Booker’s® Bourbon is quality screened to remove only pieces of charred barrel wood from the liquid.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty oak, chocolate cake w/ dark chocolate bits, vanilla, and a caramel drizzle; notes of chocolate-covered cherries with just a hint of cinnamon.
Palate:  Rich, warm, chocolate and molasses ginger-snap cookies, nutty with some smoke, baking spices, and oak; takes water well – softens it nicely and the caramel shines through more with vanilla.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with smoke and allspice notes.
Comments:  I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of oak-bombs, so I was a bit apprehensive about how this might turn out with 30% spending 16 years in the oak. Booker’s isn’t typically oak-heavy in terms of profile, and they did a nice job of keeping this limited release on target. Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t “just like Booker’s”; it definitely has a bit more oak, and is more mature; maybe a tad less sweetness on balance but with more complexity and spice. And not over-oaked in the least (which if you’re a fan of oak-bombs, sorry). Quite well balanced, and the reclaimed wood from the rackhouses is a nice touch if you’re a collector. I wish it wasn’t $200, but with the market for limited edition bourbon, I don’t think I could legitimately complain about the pricing.

Rating: Stands Out

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Booker’s 2018-04 “Kitchen Table”

Booker’s “Kitchen Table”
Batch 2018-04

6 Years, 8 Months, 7 Days
64% ABV
$70 – $80
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Master Distiller Says:

It’s special for me to name the fourth and final batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2018 after a place that was so important to Dad and the creation of Booker’s as we know it today.

This batch is made from barrels produced on three different production dates and stored in six different locations.  The breakdown is as follows:

  • 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 14% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 4% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 24% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse J
  • 44% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
  • 7% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse D

This batch has a beautiful color that is a deep chestnut and has a robust , flavor rich taste profile.  The nose is a rich balance of vanilla and oak that comes from aging in white oak barrels for more than six years.  The finish is balanced and pleasant and does not overpower your taste buds.  In Dad’s honor, I’ve enjoyed this batch with a healthy splash of water, also called “Kentucky Tea” which was one of his signature ways to enjoy his Booker’s.

– Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rickhouse oak, chocolate cocoa with caramel and vanilla; subtle smoke and baking spices.
Palate:  Warm, a tad sharp with caramel and dark chocolate, a hint of peanut butter before pepper spice kicks in; some water really brings out the chocolate and softens the edges, peanutty.
Finish:  Moderate to long, with lingering cocoa and pepper spice.
Comments:  Booker’s was the first “high proof” bourbon (or whiskey for that matter) that I cut my teeth on. I don’t recall the batch (this would have been 2011?) but once I got through the burn – it was delicious. Is there variation between batches? Sure, but of the several I’ve tried – I don’t recall any I thought were poor or ‘below expectations’. Some have stood out as better than others, but all in all – Booker’s is pretty consistent.  Even their web-page lists the same tasting notes at the top for all batches (even when you change the year).  That’s not a knock in the least; that’s a testament to having dialed into a flavor profile that they and their fans like.  This batch is no different; a solid high-proof bourbon that takes water rather well. One note that stood out for me (which I don’t always get from Booker’s) is peanut butter, which is strange since I get a peanutty note in a lot of Beam bourbon products (I tend to think of it as their ‘House Style’).

Rating: Stands Out

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