Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 18 Years Old 43% ABV/86 Proof $70 to $75 Available worldwide Website
What the Distillery Says: At eighteen years, our single malt is exceptionally smooth and mellow wit notes of oak, apple and cinnamon. Matured in the finest Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks and then married in small batches for remarkable depth and complexity. Judged to be the best 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky in the world.
What Richard Says: Nose: Rich cream, tobacco, cinnamon crumb cake. Palate: Very spicy and malty. Finish: Clean with a slow fade leaving woody, nutty notes. Comments: This is definitely the Solera’s big brother. Part of it is the 43% bottling strength which I’d like to also see in the 12 and 15 year olds. But mostly the extra years have bee kind to Glenfiddich. It’s smooth, easy to drink, and has some pleasant notable characteristics. Would I call it the “best 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky in the world” you may ask? No, but it’s a good value and you really can’t go wrong with it. Rating: Stands out
Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 15 Years Old 40% ABV/80 Proof $40 to $50 Available worldwide Website
What the Distillery Says: At fifteen years, rich fruit and notes of spice pervade this characterful single malt. Made using a process unique amongst Scotch whisky distillers it is matured in three types of oak cask: sherry, bourbon, and new oak before being married in our unique Solera vat. This vat is always kept at least half full creating a whisky with deliciously harmonious flavors.
What Richard Says: Nose: Pears jump out at me followed by pine resin and hard apple cider. Palate: Very smooth and woody. It’s almost too smooth. I don’t get a lot of defining characteristics. Finish: Crisp, dry, and very short. Comments: I would recommend this to fans of Johnnie Walker Gold looking to switch to single malts and save some coin. I find this rather bland. If you’re a new scotch drinker and can’t handle this then scotch may not be for you. There’s a little more to it than the 12 year old but nothing that really makes me want to keep it around. Rating: Average
For those like myself who’ve been less than patiently waiting for Suntory to distribute some Hibiki 12 Year Old to Atlanta, the wait is over. I personally saw that Mac’s at 10th and West Peachtree has it in stock for $67 a bottle. I would anticipate most of the other local retailers with notable selections either also have it or will soon.
Brown-Forman, makers of Canadian Mist are coming out with a new Canadian whisky. Collingwood is “mellowed” using maple wood. Here is the press release Brown-Forman sent over:
Brown-Forman Releases Collingwood Canadian Whisky Introducing the only toasted Maplewood mellowed Canadian whisky February 14, 2011, Louisville, Ky. – Brown-Forman announces the release of Collingwood, a new premium Canadian whisky which is set to hit shelves in February. Collingwood will be the only Maplewood mellowed Canadian whisky available on the market.
Every batch of Collingwood starts with the finest Canadian grains, pure spring water from Ontario’s Georgian Bay and its very own, hand-crafted, Maplewood mellowing process. The whisky is triple distilled for smoothness and then matured in white oak barrels. In Collingwood’s unique finishing step, the whisky rests with toasted Maplewood to complete its smooth character.
“By now, people have figured out fancy bags and bottles don’t make great whisky, it’s what’s inside that counts,” said Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris. “With passion and perseverance, we set out to create nothing short of the smoothest Canadian whisky ever made. Collingwood has arrived to set the new standard for smoothness and to revolutionize the Canadian whisky category.”
The gentle Maplewood mellowing process Collingwood undergoes is something unique in the Canadian Whisky category. It has a refined character that can be enjoyed on the rocks or mixed in a whisky cocktail.
Collingwood’s unique over-cap, flask shaped package was created by the media & design group at Brown-Forman based in Louisville, Kentucky.
“The brand objective was to communicate and personify smoothness to the discerning whisky drinker,” said Webb Blevins, Global Creative Director at Brown-Forman. “We believe Collingwood is the smoothest whisky ever made, and because of this, we wanted the package to really show off the liquid inside. We tried to immediately communicate premium without shouting or trying to impress, because Collingwood is for those who have nothing to prove to anyone but themselves.”
Collingwood will launch an ad campaign to coincide with the product’s release in several trade magazines and out of home billboards in launch markets. Available in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas initially, more markets will be added later in 2011. Each bottle is presented at 80 proof with a suggested retail price of $26.99 for a 750ml bottle.
The good folks at Brown-Forman are sending over review samples of Collingwood and the new Early Times bourbon. I will post reviews as soon as I can.
The Balvenie Golden Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years 47.5% ABV/95 Proof $60 to $65 Travel Retail Exclusive Website
What the Distillery Says: “characterised by fruity sweetness and subtle spice”
In the crafting of GoldenCask, Balvenie is carefully aged for many years in traditional oak whisky casks and then transferred into barrels that had previously held golden Caribbean rum for a final period of maturation.
Characterised by fruity sweetness and subtle spice, The Balvenie GoldenCask is only available in Duty Free and is non chill-filtered and bottled at a strength of 47.5% abv.
NOSE: Light and fruity with notes of vanilla and honey. Delicate layers of orange and subtle flora add complexity. TASTE: Sweet and spicy with a beautiful syrupiness. Chocolate orange and vanilla oak combine with hints of aniseed and liquorice. FINISH: Long, dry and oaky.
What Richard Says: Nose: Very light with lots of creamy honey fruit notes that remind me of cognac. Maybe scotch + rum = cognac? (I’m kidding!) Palate: There is just a hint of sweetness. I’m mostly picking up a spicy smokiness. That’s not really what I expected from a rum cask finished scotch. Finish: The finish is long with lots of smoky oak. Comments: I don’t get out of the country too much. I’m not the international man of mystery the internet would lead you to believe. When I do I try to look for travel retail bottlings. A lot of them really are nothing special but I’m sucked in by the exclusivity of only being able to buy them in travel retail. This particular bottling is nice. I enjoy it from time to time but I was really hoping for a little more sweetness. Something closer to the Havana Reserve Glenfiddich 21 Year Old. I would’ve recommended that you pick up a bottle last year but with the new 14 Year old Caribbean Rum Cask as part of their standard line I’m not so sure anymore. I’ll have to grab a bottle and do a side by side to see if this is really just the same thing with 4.5% extra alcohol. Rating: Stands Out
