Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey 2014

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey 2014
Blended Irish Whiskey

40% ABV
$260 to $2,000 (range from new to vintage at auction)
Website
Midleton Very Rare 2014 Irish Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Since 1984, each Master Distiller of Midleton Very Rare uses their eye for detail, their passion for quality whiskey and their exemplary skill to create the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, our special vintage release.

NOTE: The 2014 vintage was the first year that Brian Nation signed off on (following the legendary Barry Crockett), and is a blend of pot still and grain whiskies, believed to be aged from 12 to 22 years old.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral and fruity, poached pears, peaches, melon, roses, honeysuckle, soft oak and vanilla crème brûlée.
Palate:  Fruit salad with pears, apples, cherries, peaches, vanilla, honey, bit of toffee before a citrus note and a subtle mineral note.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with dried fruit, a hint of cereal and vanilla.
Comments:  This is a nice layered dram with nuanced complexity, but a lot of work to unpack. If you didn’t let it sit and open up and just poured and sniffed at – may not have appreciated all it has going on. That said, while complex, it is a LOT of work to get after. Given the suspected age (and price, although many thanks to Richard for biting the bullet and sharing a sample!) I had higher hopes for the mouthfeel, and I can’t help but wonder if this would have been just lovely at 46% or more. Don’t get me wrong – if someone has one open and is offering me a pour, I’m not turning it down – but also wouldn’t pay the retail (let alone insane auction prices) for this one.

Rating: Stands Out

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New Riff 6 Year Malted Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

New Riff 6 Year Malted Rye Bottled in Bond
Kentucky Straight Malted Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$65
Website
New Riff 6 Year Malted Rye Bottled In Bond Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

This style of whiskey is made of 100% malted rye grain, which is quite rare, even in today’s craft distilling scene. Plump, medium-full palate; finely dovetailed elegant spices; saltwater taffy, fruits, clove, and an interesting toasty – malty note. The finish is focused spice with clove and pink peppercorn. At six years old, our New Riff Malted Rye Bottled in Bond Without Chill Filtration is the oldest New Riff whiskey yet released, and will remain at six years as something of an exclamation point atop our standard portfolio.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick, cloves, figs, raisins, anise, tangerine, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar with a hint of toasted orange zest.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with blood orange, ginger, apples, vanilla, hint of grapefruit, cinnamon, anise, clove and mint.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with honey, citrus and a bit of caramel.
Comments:  As a rye fan, I’m absolutely loving this. My first taste of any kind of malted rye was a dusty Lot 40 (which to be clear, this doesn’t remind me of in the least – entirely different beast but in a great way). New Riff is right that 100% malted rye is pretty rare. The act of malting any grain is going to add some complexity and costs versus simply milling dried grain and mashing. Given that, this price point is quite reasonable, and I’m excited that New Riff is planning to continue this (and maybe even offer some limited barrels with more age, not that this is immature by any stretch?) This is more heavy on the spice notes of clove and anise than a non-malted rye. I would speculate that this would be an excellent cocktail rye, but I enjoyed it way too damn much neat to find out. Another delightful offering from the fine folks at New Riff.

Rating: Must Try

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Penelope Tokaji Cask Finish 8 Year Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Penelope Tokaji Cask Finish
8 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

53% ABV
$90
Website
Penelope Tokaji Cask Finish 8 Year Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Penelope Bourbon and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Rich and decadent, Tokaji Cask Finish straight rye whiskey captures the late harvest notes of Tokaji wine from Hungary, once dubbed, “the wine of kings” by King Louis XIV. Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, aged eight years and bottled at 106 proof, its two-grain mash bill consists of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. The rye whiskey features a nose of dark chocolate-covered raisins and almond pastry; a viscous body with notes of sweet honey and caramel with hints of orange zest; and a savory finish highlighted by notes of black cherry, tobacco and red wine.

“From consumers to tasting panels, our Tokaji Cask Finish was really well received last year,” said Michael Paladini, founder of Penelope Bourbon. “For the initial release we used a 6-year-old straight rye whiskey as our base, and we are excited to bring this back but with an 8-year base at the same price point.”

In 2023, Penelope Bourbon Tokaji Cask Finish received 91 points from Whisky Advocate and was awarded a Gold Medal ASCOT Award.

It is the third installment of the company’s Cooper Series, which takes Penelope straight whiskeys on a world tour. The other members of the series include Rosé Cask Finish, Valencia and Rio. The Cooper Series was named after the son of Daniel Polise, one of the founders and the master distiller of Penelope Bourbon. A product locator for the Penelope family of bourbons can be found here.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Big rye spice with dill, mint and citrus zest, floral notes with almond cookies and toasted oak.
Palate:  Dry with honey, mint, cinnamon, chocolate orange, caramel, clove and pepper.
Finish:  Drying with orange zest, fading spice and tobacco.
Comments:  This is an interesting dram. Only my second experience with Tokaji as a finish, but like the first it seems to be a very subtle influence. I really enjoy the rye whiskey itself, and have long been a fan of that 95% rye mashbill the folks in Indiana make. With a bit of water the mouthfeel thickens and brings the citrus notes forward. This is an unapologetic rye that’s dry, spicy and savory. I enjoy it neat, but it also makes a mean Preakness cocktail.

Rating: Stands Out

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Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

51.4% ABV
$75-85 (750 mL)
Website
Nikka From The Barrel Whisky

What the Producer Says

Nikka From The Barrel is a blended whisky which was released in 1985. The development of this expression started with an aim to deliver full flavors and richness of whisky like “from the barrel”, which only blenders can sniff and taste. The secret behind its gorgeous flavor is the unique combination of complex blending, higher ABV 51.4% and “marriage” process.

The iconic square bottle reflects its concept “a small block of whisky” and embodies the intense and rich flavors of the whisky inside. Long after its launch, this bottle is still timeless and recognized for its ultimate simplicity.

The complex formula is created by blending more than 100 different batches of malt and grain whiskies. After blending, the whisky is filled into used barrels and matured for another few months. This “marriage” process harmonizes all components in the formula, resulting in a mellow taste. Bottling is controlled at 51.4% ABV, almost equivalent to 90 British proof, that Nikka blenders determined through repeated experiments to achieve the ideal taste profile.

This product does not meet all the criteria of “Japanese whisky “ defined by the Japan Spirits & Liqueur Makers Association. Read More

What Gary Says

Nose:  Toffee, butterscotch, stewed apples, pears, vanilla, honey suckle, floral, malt with a hint of plums and oak.
Palate:  Creamy, syrupy mouthfeel with caramel, fruit notes including apples, pears, and peaches, bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, raw honey and tangerines.
Finish:  Moderate in length, syrupy with honey, apples, gentle baking spices and grapefruit.
Comments:  While a non-age stated whisky, this is really nice. A good amount of flavor intensity and balance on the palate thanks to the higher ABV. Nose is complex as well, but more subtle – takes some time and work. A bit of water thickens it up even more and brings the fruit forward, turning up the volume on the apples and pears more so than the citrus notes.

Rating: Must Try

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Arran 24 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Arran 24 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Whisky Exchange Exclusive

49.5% ABV
$250
Website
Arran 1996 24 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery/Bottle Says

Non-chill Filtered | Natural Colour
Premium Cask
Exclusive To The Whisky Exchange
24 Years Old
Cask No. 1996/752
Distilled: 19/07/1996
Bottled: 11/03/2021
Bottle No. X/274
700mL
49.5% Vol
Distilled and Matured in Lochranza, Isle of Arran

On the nose there are dusty leather-bound books, dried apples, toffee, oranges and sultanas. The palate is full of toffee popcorn, fruit cake and clotted-cream ice cream drizzled with fudge. The finish is long, with a hint of chilli spice and chimney smoke.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smoked brisket, dark fruit, brown sugar, balsamic, earthy, campfire, sea salt, biscuits, honey, savory herbs, fennel and worn leather.
Palate:  Oily mouthfeel with sweet peat, honey, bit of chili oil, blackberries, apples, cherries, raisins, and smoke.
Finish:  Moderately long with peat smoke, dried fruit, agave syrup and sea salt.
Comments:  The nose on this is delightfully complex! Very layered and nuanced – one of those drams I could just sit and nose the entire evening – as it does continue to open up with time in the glass.  The palate is really nice as well, although a tad sharp with a bit of a bite. Some water adds citrus and brings spices forward on the nose, and the mouthfeel transitions from oily to a more creamy feel, as well as tamping the bite but only a bit.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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