Other Whisk(e)ys

Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky

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

Starward Two-Fold
Double Grain Australian Whisky

40% ABV
$33
Website
Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky

What the Distillery Says

When it comes to whisky-making, we’re unapologetically Melburnian. Our aim? To make whisky that’s unpretentious and easy to enjoy, however you like. Enter, Two-Fold.

It started with a question. How would our ideal whisky taste? It’d be easy-drinking, versatile and, most importantly, delicious. We chose two quintessential Aussie grains. First, for depth, malted barley. This new make spirit is the exact same as our Nova. Inspired by the craft beer scene, we ferment our barley with brewers’ yeast for extra fruity characters.

We balance this with a spirit made from aromatic and dry wheat. Then it’s time for each whisky to mature separately in the barrel.

We carefully select barrels from vineyards making great Aussie reds like shiraz, cabernet and pinot noir. These give our new make spirit tasty fruit, caramel and spice notes.

To keep as much of a fresh red wine flavour profile as possible, we source barrels from just a day’s drive away. We either lightly char or quickly blast barrels with steam. Many are still wet with wine when we fill them.

Flavour obsessed as ever, we fill each barrel at a lower alcohol proof than is traditional. This means our whisky draws more lip-smacking red wine fruit characters and tannins.

Then, it’s time for Melbourne’s climate to shine. Or, rather, rain and shine in a wildly unpredictable way. Famed for its ‘four seasons in a day’, Melbourne’s fluctuating climate means Two-Fold extracts more flavour from the barrel in a much shorter time than is traditional. After just three years, both barley and wheat whiskies are ready to be expertly combined.

The next part (the drinking part) is all up to you.

Nose: Bright red berries coated in buttery vanilla spice.
Palate: Imagine a smooth, rich caramel dessert balanced by tropical fruit.
Finish: Delicate and long. A delicious, dry finish from a faded sweetness.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Young, grainy vanilla, tapioca pudding, fruity with barley sugar, hint of milk chocolate, subtle red-wine notes.
Palate:  Fruity with apples, berries, plums, honey, bit of pepper and mixed nuts, a tad thin.
Finish:  Short and slightly drying with honey and berries.
Comments:  For a two year old spirit, this packs a decent amount of flavor – but for experienced whisk(e)y drinkers the age comes across with the grainy sweetness, thin mouthfeel, and shorter finish. This was the first Australian whisky I purchased, and I don’t think it will be the last. This is very easy to drink, and I think they’re successful in what they set out to make in that regard. I think it has potential with age to appeal to more seasoned whisk(e)y drinkers. But also priced as an entry-level spirit which I appreciate (hell, there are folks selling 2 yr old spirits domestically for double, so my hats off to them in that regard!)

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Medusa American Whiskey

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

Medusa American Whiskey

40% ABV
$100-$125
Website
Cadee Distillery Medusa American Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Enjoy the Timeless Pleasure of our Best American Whiskey
Handmade in small batches, Medusa is a beautifully finished American Whiskey for the discerning palate.
Sweet on the nose with an array of spices and the smell of the sea. This five year old “Straight Bourbon Whiskey” is finished for at least 18 months in 10-year-old imported Madeira wine barrels. Very smooth notes of toffee and mild spice give way to a lingering caramel Madeira blush. A truly exceptional whiskey that calls out to new and seasoned tasters.

Looking for the finest Straight bourbon whiskey for an unmatched tasting experience? Cadée Distillery brings you Medusa— a beautifully finished American Whiskey for discerning palates. Our five year old bourbon is finished for an additional 18 months aging in imported Madeira barrels. Possibly the best whiskey made in America!

Our unique finishing process creates a rich combination of unforgettable flavors ranging from toffee and mild spice to a lingering caramel Madeira blush. Bold enough for seasoned whiskey lovers, yet friendly to the novice. Very few American whiskeys will provide you the truly great and unique experience of Medusa. Try it for yourself and see. Order Medusa Select Reserve American Whiskey online above through our Medusa product page. You owe it to yourself and your friends.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit notes of apricots, plums, dates, honey, thyme, wisps of sea air and heather, toasted oak with hints of salted caramel.
Palate:  Soft sweetness with caramel, plums, raisins, tangerines and a subtle spice notes of nutmeg and pepper, soft oak, and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with a nutty fruit salad quality.
Comments:  This has been my favorite of the three whiskies I tried from Cadée Distillery. A very pleasant pour, where the Madeira finishing is evident but again not overdone.  I’ll be honest – when I read ‘American Whiskey’, I was skeptical and asked the fine folks at Cadée Distillery why they chose this label.  I explained that folks well-read on labeling requirements and restrictions may be skeptical of avoiding ‘bourbon’ or ‘straight’ on the label.  Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell explained that their intention with choosing ‘American Whiskey’ over ‘bourbon’ was to cut through the clutter of bourbons on the shelf, and hopefully stand out.  He acknowledged that in retrospect, labeling it as a straight bourbon whiskey finished in Madeira maybe would have been better.  Thankfully I’ve found the label doesn’t alter the taste (if you’re doing it right).  This is a delicious whiskey, and the only bourbon I’ve had finished in Madeira casks – making it a unique experience.  I was also excited to pick up notes of sea air on the nose.  As the oldest of the three products I tried, I hope this means future products with more age will bring more of that quality, as I do rather enjoy that where I find it in Scotch whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out

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Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

The Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky Distiller’s Reserve

43% ABV
$70
Website
Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky Distiller's Reserve
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says*

* Note that there is no mention of this product on their web-site, the below content is from various sources including packaging images.

Yamazaki Whisky is Suntory’s flagship single malt whisky, from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery, multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas. Released in Spring 2014, this is one of two Distiller’s Reserve single malt whiskies from Suntory in Japan. This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is jam-packed with superb red berry notes, gained from the whisky being matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks, adding subtle fragrant oak notes.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Gold
Nose: Strawberry, cherry, Mizunara (Japanese oak)
Palate: Raspberry, white peach, touch of coconut
Finish: Sweet vanilla, clear finish with, hint of cinnamon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with citrus, peaches, green apples, banana, grapes, a bit of red wine casks and Mizunara oak, hints of strawberries, cherries, and almonds.
Palate:  Sweet and full of fruit notes, peaches, pears, fresh berries, caramel sauce, honey, and almond cookies.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering mixed fruit and notes of wine.
Comments:  This is like a liquid fruit salad in whisky form. Quite light and fruity, it has a lot going on – albeit it mostly in the fruity/nutty spectrum. Not a critique, but an observation. If you like fruity whisky, this is a lovely dram that you could spend some time with picking out all of the varieties.  You also get the nuance from the various casks which is interesting. While I rather enjoy it, I can see where others might find it lopsided and lacking balance (maybe a bit more spice and savory notes).

Rating: Stands Out

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Canadian Club Chronicles 42 Year Old

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Canadian Club Chronicles 42 Year Old
Issue No. 2: The Dock Man

45% ABV
$300
Website
Canadian Club Chronicles 42 Yrs Old
We would like to thank Canadian Club and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Canadian Club®, an iconic whisky that has propelled the Canadian whisky category to fame for more than 150 years, is proud to announce the second release within the CC Chronicles™/MC premium release series: Canadian Club® 42 Year Old. The limited-edition expression, also known as Issue No. 2: The Dock Man, celebrates the dock worker of years past who consistently delivered quality whisky to bar owners and drinkers when counterfeit whisky ran rampant during the Prohibition era.

Batched and barreled more than four decades ago, Canadian Club 42 Year Old is masterfully blended to showcase robust rye spice, delicate notes of brown sugar and baking spices to create an exceptionally rich, smooth taste. As a result, this exquisite marque leaves fans with the complex, yet rich flavor profile Canadian Club is best known for.

“At Canadian Club, we pride ourselves on our commitment to consistently crafting superior Canadian whisky,” Global Whisky Ambassador Tish Harcus said. “For more than 150 years, we’ve consistently delivered quality expressions to whisky drinkers, and the release of Canadian Club 42 Year Old continues this tradition. Following the success of our first CC Chronicles release last year, we’re excited to unveil another premium, distinctive whisky that endures the test of time.”

Launched in 2018, CC Chronicles is a series of premium, limited-edition expressions created to celebrate the brand’s rich history and commitment to producing authentic whisky. Each issue within the Chronicles will represent an iconic moment in Canadian Club’s rich history. The series launched with the release of Canadian Club® 41 Year Old, celebrating the Water of Windsor, which was named Canadian Whisky of the Year in the 2019 Jim Murray Whisky Bible. Canadian Club 42 Year Old marks the second release within the series.

Canadian Club 42 Year Old delivers a perfect balance of smooth and intense flavor characteristics to deliver optimal taste:

Aroma: Robust rye spice, caramel, and oak with a hint of char
Palette: Pleasantly warm and slightly sweet with delicate notes of brown sugar and baking spices balanced with oak and rye spiciness
Finish: Lingering taste of toffee and a subtle tartness of the palate

Canadian Club 42 Year Old will be available across the U.S. in very limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $299.95 for a 750ml bottle.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel cream candies, soft baking spices, nutmeg with a gentle citrus note (maybe lemon cream pie>), a wisp of oak over a slightly floral note.
Palate:  Sweet with caramel, brown sugar, a touch of maple candies with a hint of lemon, gentle cinnamon and pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long with notes of caramel and pepper spice.
Comments:  This is a soft and gentle dram, squarely in the Canadian Club family style. While soft, it packs a lot of flavor for 45% ABV, and is very well balanced with complexity but not as much oak as you might expect with 42 years. I can’t imagine fans of Canadian Club looking for a super-premium dram being disappointed in this. Is it worth $300? That’s for you to decide. There aren’t many (any?) 40+ year old Canadian whiskies on the market to compare against, and there are folks who would pay $300 for a 6 yr barrel proof rye in the US. I’m not one of them, but my point is value is in the eye of the buyer. I do think this stands out as markedly more complex than any other Canadian Club offering I’ve tried.

Rating: Stands Out

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Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

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

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

45% ABV
$70-$75
Website
Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

What the Distillery Says

The Coffey Still is the world’s first patented continuous still invented by Mr. Aeneas Coffey in 1830. Masataka Taketsuru valued the feature of this type of still, which retains the flavors of ingredients and also creates a distinctive texture.

Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt are Nikka’s signature grain whiskies which show the beauty of our Coffey Stills.

Coffey Malt is made from 100% malted barley. However it is not categorized as “malt whisky” but as “grain whisky” since it is not distilled in a pot still. This unique production method results in extraordinary flavors and texture.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet malt with butterscotch, vanilla flan, over-ripe pears, subtle oak and spice
Palate:  Lovely fruit notes of peaches, pears, plums, cherries, a bit of coconut, with a viscous mouthfeel.
Finish:  Moderately long with notes of fruit salad.
Comments:  This is a very nice malt. On the sweet side to be sure, but not sickeningly sweet. I get a nice range of fruit flavors, but clearly a malt whisk(e)y. Really shows that a column or Coffey still can make some lovely whisk(e)y, which fans of bourbon have known for years.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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