Richard

Founding Apostle

Talisker 10 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
45.8% ABV
$60
Website
talob.10yo
What the Distillery Says:
APPEARANCE Brilliant gold
NOSE Powerful peat-smoke with just a hint of sea-water saltiness, fresh oysters, and a citrus sweetness.
BODY Full.
PALATE A rich dried-fruit sweetness with clouds of smoke and strong barley-malt flavours, warming and intense. Peppery at the back of the mouth.
FINISH Huge, long, warming and peppery in the finish with an appetising sweetness.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Bright sweetness, stewed peaches and pears, subtle peat smoke with musty oak, sea air, cereal maltiness.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honeyed sweetness with a hint of pears before a savory/ subtle pepper spice, pleasant earthiness, peat smoke.
Finish: Moderately long.
Comments: Very pleasant dram. Nicely balanced between sweet, smoke, earthy. Reminds me of the sea and the mountains, which I guess ultimately reminds me of Scotland. This dram has a bit of all that terroir (I’d say a bit of everything I love about Scotch, but the lack of sherry would make that an outright lie!) As I know smoke and peat might not appeal to everyone, I’m hesitant to say “Must Try”, but if you don’t really have a stance on that, or are just starting out with single malts – I would definitely encourage you give it a go!
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, earthy, and smokey with a lovely sweetness in the background.
Palate: Smokey and slightly salty with a toffee like sweetness and malty backbone.
Finish: Pepper and brine linger as the other notes fade.
Comments: It sounds a bit pretentious but as the years progress I find it harder to find enjoyment in younger single malts. At 10 years old there are very few single malt scotches that I still enjoy. Talisker is one of those few. This is a delicious and robust malt that demands attention and offers layers of depth in return. As the price continues to climb in recent years it makes it harder to buy at 10 years but it is still very enjoyable.
Rating: Must Try

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Glenlivet Founders Reserve

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Glenlivet Founders Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$45
Website
Glenlivet Founders
What the Distillery Says:
Inspired by our legendary founder George Smith, this whisky is an expression of both tradition and innovation.

Its creamy sweetness originates from the selective use of first-fill American oak casks, still so full of the Bourbon character their previous occupants left behind, and complemented by traditional oak casks. This sweetness contrasts wonderfully with the liveliness of zesty fruits, creating an expression that is worthy of its reserve status.

Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Citrus fruit, sweet orange
Palate: Zesty orange, pear, toffee apples
Finish: Long, creamy, smooth

There is a delicacy in the aroma that is infused with hints of citrus fruits, notably sweet orange. This sweet and fruity theme continues with notes of pears, zesty oranges and a hint of toffee apple, before a creamy, long and extremely smooth finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy, citrus fresh, vanilla, and herbal throat lozenges.
Palate: Modestly sweet, grainy, and grassy but thin and uninspiring.
Finish: Malty fennel seed fading slow.
Comments: This latest No Age Statement line expansion by Glenlivet struggles to get traction in the line up. It’s very thin and doesn’t bring much to make you want to come back. It seems like a new Glenlivet to crush with soda if it wasn’t 50% more than the standard 12 year old. Skip the Founders Reserve and just get the 12 or 15 year olds.
Rating: Probably Pass

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Edradour 10 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Edradour Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 10 Years
40% ABV
$60
Website
edrob.10yov1
What the Distillery Says:
Despite being so small Edradour produces more whiskies than most other distilleries. Owner since 2002, Master of the Quaich Andrew Symington has expertly used the spirit from our small stills, matured in the highest quality oak wood, to create a stunning and diverse range of single malts.

The ten year old Edradour is handmade and one of the last Single Malt Whiskies from a traditional farm distillery still in production today. The methods of production remain virtually unchanged in the last 150 years and are only just capable of commercial quantities. Indeed Edradour Distillery makes as much whisky in a year as most distilleries produce in a week. A rare pleasure for a fortunate few.

Aged in a combination of Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon casks. Chillfiltered at 40% ABV.

Nose: Hints of dried fruits, Oloroso and almonds
Palate: Spicy Christmas cake, sweet golden syrup with a touch of honeyed almonds. A distinctive, old fashioned, rich mouth feel coming from the small copper farm stills
Finish: Oaky, soft spices, mellow and warming

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dried herbal potpourri, sherry, and a meaty nutty backing.
Palate: The rich sweetness of (good) fruit cake drizzled with a sherry reduction at first that then moves into a bitter almond and malt dryness.
Finish: Dry, nutty, spicy, and woody finish of medium length.
Comments: This is a rich sherry dominated expression that punches well above its weight. As I get older and drink more whiskies I find that what I’m looking for in a good single malt is hard to find in the 10 year age range. There are a few exceptions (Laphroaig Cask Strength 10 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old, and Springbank 10 Year Old) and I think is another to add to that list. It drinks well above its age and is a deeply satisfying dram.
Rating: Must Try

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Compass Box The Circus

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Circus Blended Scotch Whisky
49% ABV
$250
Website
The Circus
What the Blender Says:
I have a longstanding belief that there is a magic to certain combinations of Scotch whisky. Such blends – like the very best of circuses – have the capacity to take us outside of ourselves for just a moment, to elevate the senses beyond the everyday and – following the sentiment of Charlie Chaplin’s immortal clown – to raise our eyes upwards to consider horizons new.

Such is the case with this whisky, for which we were lucky enough to uncover that rarest of finds – old parcels of Blended Scotch and Blended Grain whisky that had been aged pre-blended in cask for many years. In such parcels, what you get are whisky blends so seamless, so complex that they function for us as single components.

We know little of the component distillery whiskies used in these blends for The Circus, only that they contain both single malt and single grain whiskies and that the ‘marrying casks’ are sherry butts. However, the provenance of the components isn’t important to us now, as what we have are old casks containing whiskies that are extraordinary.

Availability: Limited Edition release of 2,490 bottles worldwide. Bottled March 2016.
Flavour Descriptors: A lithe frame and opulent mouthfeel showcasing the supple softness of mature grain and the complexity of aged Blended Scotch Whisky. Brimming with dried fruit character, a luscious maltiness and
nuances of almond and hazelnut.
Recommendations: Like all the best circuses, this whisky is transient, ephemeral – in town for one night only. We recommend it for celebrations, moments of optimism, one-of-akind events – those fleeting moments all the more precious in the knowledge that they can never be repeated.
Bottling Details: Bottled at 49%, Not chill-filtered, Natural colour

What Richard Says:
Nose: Slightly musty with a nutty, malty, dark fruit nose.
Palate: Sweet stone fruit flavors backed by a nutty backbone. The sherry is definitely there but it doesn’t over power. Instead it wraps up all the components in a delicious embrace.
Finish: It finishes a little dry and woody and you would expect that for scotch of this age.
Comments: Damn delicious for sure. The Circus stands above just about any other blended scotch out there that you can get for $250. If you are fortunate enough to come across one of the less than 2,500 bottles available throughout the world then you should jump on it. It’s not on the level of The General from a couple years ago but it is still exceptionally impressive. Where John Glaser gets his hands on whiskies like this I have no idea. But thankfully he can and he shares those whiskies, and his art, with the world.
Rating: Must Buy

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Jefferson’s Reserve

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Very Small Batch
45.1% ABV
$55
Website
jefferson_s_reserve_very_old_straight_bourbon_whiskey_1_2
What the Bottler Says:
In 1997, when Jefferson’s was first starting out, we found a 15-year-old bourbon that we immediately knew was rich, complex and needed to be brought to market. It was in 2003 that we decided to bring in other bourbons to marry with the original Jefferson’s Reserve. Similar to Jefferson’s, we still use over 50% of that mash bill and add up to 3 more bourbons to create more flavor and complexities. Jefferson’s Reserve is a big, sophisticated bourbon that has a lot of flavor up front, a lot of weight mid palate and a deep, wonderful finish.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet, cinnamon, vanilla with oak throughout and hints of anise spice and cloves.
Palate: Soft, very nicely balanced between sweet caramel creams, honey, cinnamon spice, and subtle pepper-spice; hints of cereal grains.
Finish: Moderate and pleasant.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve not been a big fan of Jefferson’s because of the lack of transparency, and rumors that some whisky bottled may not have been 100% as it was labeled. That said, this is a damn nice bourbon! Incredibly drinkable, and hits all of my bourbon checkboxes:
Sweet, but not “too sweet”
Oaky, but not “too oaky”
Spicy, but not . . . (you get the idea)
This is one of the most well balanced bourbons I’ve tried recently. Sure – I have no idea the age or what it all contains, but at the end of the day – what I’ve found most important is how much do I enjoy what’s in the glass. And I like this one a lot.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy, vanilla, burnt cinnamon sticks, and a little bit of licorice.
Palate: Caramel syrup drizzled over cinnamon Red Hots.
Finish: Peppery pop that fades quickly into a woody soft vanilla close.
Comments: I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t had any of this for many years before this most recent bottle. It’s one of those bourbons that I had so long ago that my memory can’t be trusted for comparison. That aside, this is a very tasty and drinkable bourbon. It is a very solid middle of the road bourbon. My only complaint would be the price. North of $50 I would expect either more to reach out and grab me or a substantial age statement.
Rating: Stands Out

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