Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Compass Box The Double Single 2017

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Double Single – 2017 Release

46% ABV
$160 – $180
Website

What the Blender Says

‘Less is More’– Anon
How many components are required to create true
complexity in a Blended Scotch Whisky?

For Double Single, instead of using many tens of component whiskies we have used just two – one single grain whisky and one single malt whisky (hence the name). Both are beautiful liquids in their own right, but we believe they are elevated above the sum of their parts when combined in the correct proportions.

Such thinking runs strongly counter to the blending strategies evident in the larger, commercial Blended Scotch releases that dominate the whisky market worldwide, where many dozens of components can often be found within a single blend. So why do things differently?

We believe that when using components of the highest quality, less is often more. That the interaction between a single grain and a single malt can be every bit as good – better even – than either a more complex blend or the component tasted on its own. Above all, share & enjoy.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS
In The Double Single we have combined single malt whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery and single grain whisky from the Girvan distillery. The elegantly complex, ethereal malt whisky character is balanced on a decadent cushion of rich, sweet, vanilla-tinged grain whisky character.

AVAILABILITY
Limited Edition release of 5,838 bottles worldwide. Bottled March 2017.

BOTTLING DETAILS
Bottled at 46%. Not chill-filtered. Natural colour.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The combination is a deeply satisfying yet versatile whisky, perfect served as a rich aperitif before a winter’s dinner, or as a rewarding post-prandial any time of year.

LEAD BLENDER
John Glaser

72% malt whisky from Glen Elgin, aged in re-charred ex-bourbon hogshead
28% grain whisky from Girvan, aged in re-charred ex-bourbon barrels

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick honeysuckle, vanilla spongecake with baked apples, apricot marmalade, slightly nutty with notes of worn leather.
Palate:  Thick and viscous mouthfeel as the nose suggests, honey custard with exotic orange, fresh apples and cooked pears with a dusting of cinnamon.
Finish:  Fairly long with a bit of spice and vanilla as it trails off.
Comments:  This is a lovely, although nuanced dram. For me, this is one I like to spend some time with, coaxing the different elements out with a couple drops of water periodically.
While the majority of this is malt rather than grain, it has that gentle subtlety that you find with older single grain whiskies (and some older single malts as well). I’ve been a fan of almost everything John Glaser has done, although I generally prefer the more robust offerings. But if you’re in the mood for an elegant, pondering pour – this is pretty delicious.

Rating: Stands Out

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Crown Royal Noble Collection 13 year old Blenders’ Mash

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

Crown Royal Noble Collection 13 year old Blenders’ Mash

45% ABV
$50 – $60
Website

What the Distillery Says

Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash, the third expression in the Noble Collection, is a rare stock of our Canadian Whisky made with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% barley malt. It is one of the five unique whiskies that comprise our signature blends. Carefully aged in new, charred American white oak barrels for no less than 13 years. The complexity of the liquid intensifies with the aging process, bringing out richer and deeper notes of caramel and fruit. This remarkably smooth and layered whisky is hand selected from our reserve stock, revealing its noble roots with every sip.

The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of limited annual releases that celebrates the skilled craftsmanship of our distillers and blenders – and their dedication to the art of creating extraordinary whiskies.

APPEARANCE: Amber
NOSE: Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash begins with a nose of orchid fruits, butterscotch with a hint of toasted oak.
TASTE: Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash encompasses the taste of rich caramel, vanilla and toffee notes.

Note: The above content was provided after requesting information directly from Crown Royal; not sure why they aren’t bragging about this on their own web-site but do appreciate them providing these details!

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft oak with rich vanilla, cocoa powder, bits of nutmeg amongst other baking spices, hints of dark fruit in maple syrup.
Palate:  Sweet caramel cremes with vanilla ice cream; a dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg with maple candies.
Finish:  Moderately long, with notes of maple as it fades.
Comments:  If nosing/tasting blind, I absolutely would peg this as a bourbon. It has all of the hallmarks (vanilla, caramel sweetness with some oak) but is unique to be sure. The northern climate this was aged in makes a big difference – as there isn’t nearly as much oak as you’d get in a bourbon aged for 13 years. There also isn’t much of a spice edge. If you like a sweeter bourbon, this is probably right up your alley. If you’re more into an edgy, spicier dram – this wouldn’t be that. For what it is, I think it is delicious, and probably my favorite pour from north of the border in a while.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Powers Three Swallow Release

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Powers Three Swallow Release

40% ABV
$45 – $50
Website

What the Distillery Says

Three Swallow Release is a modern expression of what the original POWERS Whiskey tasted like back in the days of our John’s Lane distillery. This quintessential style of whiskey, Single Pot Still is exclusive to Ireland, and is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Pot Still spice combines with crisp barley character. Delicate herbs give way to green banana and grapefruit while a nutty note of marzipan reflects the wood contribution of specially selected casks.
Taste: In true Pot Still style, an initial taste delivers smooth mouth-coating barley followed by an eruption of green apple and citrus notes. Herbs and spicy avour are complemented by a touch of cedar wood for extra complexity.
Finish: Spicy sweetness gives way to Pot Still barley character balanced with a hint of sherry and leading to a crisp cereal finish with toasted oak notes.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich, sweet malt, mixed fruit (peaches, pears), spongecake, honey, a hint of fresh/green hay.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity, biscuits with honey and pear jam, hint of peaches and cherries, a slight spice note at the back.
Finish: Short, on the damp side with just a hint of spice.
Comments: A sweet, pleasant pour that is a solid representation of Irish whiskey. Beyond the mouthfeel, which I did enjoy, nothing much stood out for me. As is almost a guarantee with an 80 proof dram – I wish it were higher proof.

Rating: Stands Out

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Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve

50% ABV
$30 – $33
Website

We would like to thank Punch Media and Brown Forman for sending us samples to review.

What the Distiller Says

THE PROCESS: Barrel Reserve 100 Proof is aged in an American White Oak barrel that is specially chiseled and charred on the inside to deepen the whiskey’s wood exposure,creating a bold and complex Kentucky bourbon.

THE NOSE: Fresh hewn oak with hints of smoke and char are spiced with hints of cinnamon and leather atop a layer of orchard and citrus fruit. Sweetened with a sprinkling of vanilla wafer crumbs.
THE TASTE: Caramel and cotton candy coat fresh apple, pear and citrus fruit atop vanilla wafers dusted with sharp cinnamon.
THE FINISH: Assertive cinnamon spice softens to a lingering apple and clean oak note.

MASHBILL: 75% Corn, 15% Rye, 10% Malt

What Gary Says

Nose: Fresh oak with vanilla, leather, some orange zest zip and a hint of cinnamon.
Palate: Vanilla with green apples and orange notes as pepper spice unfolds and slowly explodes over cinnamon.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with cinnamon and oaky pepper spice.
Comments:  To start with, I want to remind readers that I wasn’t a fan of Coopers’ Craft when it first came out – which is ok.  The various press releases and marketing materials in 2016 expressed that it was ‘an exceptionally smooth bourbon that is aimed at the entry-level drinker’ – so clearly I wasn’t their target market.  When offered a sample of this new release, I accepted.  The unique barrel treatment and higher proof gave me hope that I’d find something I liked, as I am a fan of other Brown Forman products (like Old Forester, a classic spicy bourbon that I think is often underrated).  It definitely helped, and this has considerably more going on in contrast, as well as a sharp edge.  While a significant step up (at least for me), I just didn’t find anything that stood out to me.  Now if you’re a fan of Coopers’ Craft, this might squarely hit the mark (although if you really like that ‘exceptionally smooth’ profile, keep in mind that this definitely has a sharper edge).

Rating: Average

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Glen Moray Classic Port Cask Finish

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glen Moray Classic Port Cask Finish

40% ABV
$30
Website

What the Distiller Says

This light and fruity expression is finished for eight months in Port pipes from Porto Cruz, the N°1 Porto company in the world. The spirit picks up intense embellishments of summer fruit, dark chocolate and cinnamon and a distinct pink hue.

NOSE: Toasted vanilla and light oak, rich dried fruits.
TASTE: Refreshing spice with a citrus lemon tang. Caramelised sweetness with cinnamon.
FINISH: Lingering, with sweet spice and delicate oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet young malt, hints of plum with a sour cereal and port wine note, hints of berries in cream and leather.
Palate:  Sweet, round waxy mouthfeel, smooth with only a scant hint of dark fruit in the back.
Finish:  Short, damp, and fleeting.
Comments:  Following up after a port-finished bourbon, this was far less satisfying. This is the first Glen Moray bottle I’ve bought, and for $30 – I went in with fairly low expectations. The nose was promising, and had me hopeful I had discovered a diamond in the rough, but the palate was a let down. Nothing off putting in this dram – I won’t be dumping the bottle (may experiment with mingling this with something else), but won’t be picking up another either.

Rating: Average

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