Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Tyrconnell 16 Yr Old Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$100
Website
Tyrconnel 16 Yr Oloroso Moscatel Cask Finish
We would like to thank Savona Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

The Tyrconnell® emerges victorious once again with the debut of its oldest and most unique cask-finished expression to date, The Tyrconnell® 16 Year Old Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Available globally in six countries, it will be released to select U.S. markets in June with a suggested retail price of $100.00 (750ml). Only a limited quantity has been produced due to its age and unique finish.

“We are thrilled to release The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish, as the elegant expression demonstrates our commitment to innovation and quality,” said John Cashman, Global Irish Whiskey Ambassador for the Kilbeggan Distilling Company. “Building on the success of our award-winning 2017 and 2018 Tyrconnell limited releases, we continued to experiment with different aging techniques and we’re intrigued by these distinctively seasoned Spanish casks. The result is a completely unique – and delicious – Irish whiskey unlike any other.”

The only Irish whiskey of its kind on the market, this expression was aged for 16 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels before an additional maturation in wine casks from the Andalucia region of Southern Spain, which were initially seasoned with Oloroso sherry before a second seasoning with Moscatel wine. The result has a distinctive sweetness and roundness – honeysuckle, champagne and jasmine notes, with a nutty and caramelized taste that precedes a warm and dry finish with hints of grapefruit.

The Tyrconnell is made of just three ingredients – the finest Irish barley, yeast and pure Irish spring water. Produced in traditional pot stills, it is one of a rare few Irish whiskeys that utilizes double distillation, allowing more of the rich and natural flavors to remain. This creates a whiskey that carries a delicate flavor atop a creamier, more viscous presence.

The Tyrconnell distilling team began experimenting with different finishing techniques after discovering how amenable their light, soft and fruity whiskey was to a cask finish. In 2007, they released its first trio of cask-finished expressions: The Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish, The Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Port Cask Finish and The Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish, all permanent expressions in the brand’s portfolio (as well as The Tyrconnell Original which is aged in ex-bourbon casks only). In March 2018, The Tyrconnell 15 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish debuted as a special limited-edition.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: An effervescent combination of honeysuckle, jasmine and brazil nut envelop the malty peach and ripe red apple skin aromas, with minerality reminiscent of Champagne
TASTE: Minerality continues with a medley of nuts and gooey dark chocolate – caramelized sugars and honeycomb combine with the malt spice for added complexity
FINISH: Dry and tannic as the oak becomes more prevalent but not before citrus and grapefruit leave a distinctive zest at the back of the mouth

The best way to enjoy this whiskey is on the rocks or neat to showcase the fruity aromas on the nose, its sweet, nutty flavor and spicy finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral perfume notes, fresh apples, ripe peaches with raw honey, German Riesling with lingering tobacco smoke.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, fruity with grapes, peaches, pears, kiwi; sharpens a bit with nutmeg, hint of ginger, caramel cremes and a note of sake.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with oak and . . . yep, hint of grapefruit.
Comments:  I usually find the ‘tasting notes’ provided to be – ahem – ambitious. To be fair, there isn’t a right or wrong answer – different folks get different flavors! And I get that those responsible for coming up with tasting notes are trying to put the best spin on that product. All that said, while my notes differed a bit, what was provided was very well done. I’m not to proud to admit that I had just ‘dry citrus zest’ in my notes, but when I read theirs (which I try to avoid until after I make mines, to avoid the power of suggestion), I thought “Damn – that WAS grapefruit!” Enough about their notes – this is a delicious Irish single malt whiskey. I love that Tyrconnel only double-distills, as it lends to a richer mouthfeel, and in my opinion more dense flavor. This takes water well without thinning out, and it opens up some of the caramel notes (I could see someone getting chocolate). The Moscatel finishing leaves me with thinking of a Riesling or Sake (although Champagne would be right there), which is unique as those aren’t flavors or aromas I get often in whiskey. Fans of Irish whiskey, especially geeks who love to expand their horizons when it comes to special cask finishes, won’t be disappointed.

Rating: Stands Out

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Few Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Few Rye Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$55 – $65
Website

What the Distillery Says

BORN OF HEARTY GRAIN AND PATIENCE.
The generous rye content is married with the sweetness of corn for a genteel interpretation of the venerable spirit. Patiently aged in air-dried oak barrels, its spicy character transcends mere resurgence. Behold – the renaissance of rye.

Mashed, fermented, distilled, aged at least one year in charred new oak barrels, and bottled by FEW Spirits, LLc. Evanston, IL

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright rye spice, mint, dill, lemon furniture polish with notes of pine.
Palate:  Crisp, bright sharp with lemon spice, mint and a touch of cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with dried mint and light pepper.
Comments:  I’m not sure where the ‘patience’ comes from in their claim, since they don’t list an age. It tastes fairly young to me, although I happen to like young rye (maybe the only whisk(e)y category I don’t mind in the 2-3 yr range). While I don’t mind young rye, I’d never cough up over $50 for a bottle of this. If you’re considering it for some other reason (maybe you live in Illinois and want to support local craft?), I’d urge you to try a pour first.

Rating: Average

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Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Yrs

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Quinta Ruban Aged 14 Years Port Cask Finished

46% ABV
$45-$55
Website
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 yrs Old

What the Distillery Says

A voluptuously silky spirit, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is aged first in bourbon casks for smooth, fruity notes. We then finish this single malt whisky in ruby port casks to create velvety depth.

Our Quinta Ruban port cask finish brings chocolate boldness to Glenmorangie’s renowned smooth style. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel, it is savoured all over the world.
Aroma: Dark mint chocolate, tangerines and Seville oranges mingle with sandalwood and walnut before giving way to a spicy finish of pepper and nutmeg.
Taste: Mint chocolate and walnuts envelop the palate like velvet, laying the foundations for rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.
Finish: Long lasting silky aftertaste leaving dark chocolate mints and traces of orange.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Mellow malt with rich notes of port, hints of milk chocolate, berries, smoke and leather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel to start with green apples, pears, chocolate covered cherries; a sharp bite in the mid palate with some pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dark fruit notes, oak and some pepper spice.
Comments:  I tasted this side-by-side with the original Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which is 12 yrs old. I found the nose on this to be similar but with more depth and richness. On the palate, the mouthfeel was creamier at the start, but then got sharper with more depth in fruit. The finish was the most similar, maybe a tad longer. 2 yrs may not sound like a lot, but it was a bigger change than I expected. While a bit more sharp, I don’t mind that as Glenmorangie’s house style tends to be on the smooth side. The fact they’re offering this at the same price I think is outstanding. If you’re a Glenmorangie fan, and in particular a fan of the 12 yr Quinta Ruban, I’c consider this a must try.

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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Catcher’s Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Catcher’s Rye Whiskey

49.4% ABV
$50
Website
Two James Catchers Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Distilled from 100% Michigan rye and pure water from the Great Lakes, Catcher’s Rye is a testament to the grain’s distinctive terroir. Each drop is artfully produced and aged for a minimum of two years in traditional, charred new American oak 53 gallon barrels. With delicious spice notes and a subtle fig finish, Catcher’s Rye proves there is no substitute for time or proportion. This is a labor of love, accept no phonies.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright, intense rye spice with fresh mint, caraway seeds, blood oranges with a squeeze of lemon, dill, hints of tarragon and thyme with a wisp of smoke.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, orange marmalade on rye toast, cinnamon sprinkles with allspice, hints of ginger, a bit of pepper and faint anise near the end.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with citrus spice.
Comments:  This is a pretty intense rye. My first impression of the nose was that this was a young rye, as I find many young ryes have that intensity and pop on the nose – but when I sipped it; completely exceeded my expectations.  I reached out to Two James distillery with some questions, and was delighted when David Landrum -the founder – took the time to provide a detailed response!  Here’s a summary of what David shared:

Mashbill: 100% Michigan Rye (specifically a northern variety: Hazlet)
ABV at Still: Between 65-70% (note that this is lower than many larger distillers, who are coming off closer to the maximum allowed limit for bourbon at 80%)
Barrels: We only use large format (minimum 53 gallon) oak barrels with varying char levels, mostly #3 and #4
Age: We have no age statement on our rye at the moment but everything released is between 4-6 years.
Maturation: Barrels are aged in a rickhouse on the farm where we grow the grain, non temperature controlled

Many rye whiskies are what I’d call ‘barely legal ryes’, meaning that their mashbill is 51% rye with a fairly high corn content.  Four Roses has a rye bourbon mashbill that has 35% rye, so these are closer to that than to a 100% rye mashbill.  Corn brings a lot of sweetness to the party, and David was looking for to “create an assertive whiskey”.  I’d say he certainly succeeded.

Frequent readers (all 6 of you) are aware that I’m not a fan of what is often referred to as ‘craft whisk(e)y’, because candidly too many of them cut corners with smaller barrels. I really appreciate Two James not taking this course, and more than that – for producing a delicious rye whisk(e)y.  If someone had poured this for me blind and asked what I thought, the word ‘craft’ wouldn’t have entered my thought process.  Sure, you’re paying a premium because of the smaller scale, but if I still lived in Michigan where this is easier to find, I’d have no problem keeping a bottle on hand.  And if you’re a rye whiskey devotee, I’d strongly encourage you to seek this out!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival

50.5% ABV
$150 – $160
Website

What the Distillery Says

Master’s Keep Revival is made from a blend of Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged 12-15 years before finishing in at least 20-year-old Oloroso Sherry casks, hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell. The result is a one-of-a-kind, 101 proof sipping whiskey with aromas of cherry pie, raisins, citrus, nuts and a touch of oak. It delivers soft and creamy hints of spice and sweet tropical fruits on the palate and a long and lingering finish of dried apricots, honey and subtle spice. An homage to a bourbon pioneered by Jimmy Russell, it’s a must own for the serious whiskey collector.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Like stepping into a rickhouse on a warm summer morning; musty oak, vanilla custard with salted caramel, raisins and dark cherries with nutmeg and allspice.
Palate:  Rich caramel flan topped with raisins that were soaked in vanilla extract, then sharpens to a cinnamon pepper spice.
Finish:  Long, drying with tannic oak, honey and a nutty spice.
Comments:  This is delicious, and is fine example of where I think a finish with bourbon really shines – and by that I mean it isn’t dominating. It is adding a little extra to what would be an otherwise lovely bourbon without the finish; not trying to upstage it or ‘improve’ average whiskey. While at 101 proof it doesn’t scream for water, I’d throw a few drops in as it really opens up nicely and rounds out the edges (although us Turkey fans dream of those spicy edges).

Rating: Must Try

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