Other Whisk(e)ys | Whisk(e)y Apostle: Proselytizing the way of the malt

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

February 23, 2016 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey / Stands Out

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
90% Rye Whisky
Fine Blended Canadian Whisky
45% ABV
$25 to $35
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye was first released in the U.S. in early 2015. The variant showcases the distinctly Canadian rye whiskey featured in the traditional Crown Royal Deluxe Blend that consumers have grown to love throughout the last 75-plus years. The latest variant to be introduced by Crown Royal, Northern Harvest Rye (90 proof, 45% ABV) is the brand’s first ever blended, 90% rye whisky and embodies a smooth and spicy flavor profile that can be mixed into traditional rye cocktails or enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

NOSE: Baking spices, cereal, light wood spices
PALATE: Gentle oak note, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, develops into soft peppery notes
FINISH: Smooth and creamy

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet & mellow spearmint with kiwi; rye bread with pickles; subtle baking spices.
Palate: Soft mouthfeel, sweet malt w/ vanilla & fruit salad that builds to some spice notes.
Finish: Short, with pepper spice notes perking up a bit.
Comments: This tastes more mellow than I expected for 90 proof. Nice character, although different from its southern rye cousins (more like a very gentle rye). I’m not a huge Crown Royal fan these days (just too sweet for my preference), but I enjoy this quite a bit more. Do I understand why it was selected by Jim Murray as World Whisky of the Year? Nope (and believe me – I really, really wanted to fall head over heels in love with this whiskey; but I thought Crown’s single barrel offering last year was far more interesting).
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Minty, with heavy doses of tropical fruit and cloves.
Palate: Delightfully mellow and vanilla fruity sweet. This isn’t the least bit cloying but rather a nicely balanced fruity sweetness that fans of slightly overripe fruits and light fruit tarts would enjoy.
Finish: As mellow and soothing as this is you get a bit of a kick on the way out. The finish is dry, woody, and a little spicy.
Comments: This U.S. only release has apparently taken the world by storm because one guy who rewrites one book annually said in his sole opinion that this is buckets of awesome sauce. Is it? No. Hell no. I really don’t get the hullabaloo. I realize we are “proselytizing” here at Whisk(e)y Apostle but that’s more whiskey in general. Rare is the dram that I feel like running out and telling everyone that they need to get a piece of it. All that aside, this is a very nice whiskey. I really REALLY don’t like regular Crown Royal. But the last two (non flavored crap) things to come out of the brand have really impressed me. I agree with Gary that the Single Barrel Coffey still rye is much better but this is no slouch. It is a really easy to drink and easy to enjoy whiskey that will play well in multiple situations. I have no problem recommended this as a stand out Canadian whiskey. And for me and Crown that really is saying something.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Crown Royal’s representatives for sending over a sample for us to review.

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Parker’s Heritage Malt

November 23, 2015 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / Must Try, Stands Out

Parker’s Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Aged 8 Years
54% ABV
$99.99
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Not much really. We know that it has a mashbill of 65% malted barley and 35% corn and was distilled at the company’s Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. Then it matured for eight years on the 5th and 7th floors of Heaven Hill’s Rickhouse Y in Bardstown.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Malty (no surprise), oak, bit of smoke with a subtle cornbread sweetness.
Palate: Starts sweet caramel candies, then starts to dry into a more cereal, crisp light spice.
Finish: Moderate and dry (a bit astringent).
Comments: Quite pleasant, and to me not similar to some other US Single Malts (as this isn’t a single malt). The corn in the mashbill comes through, and makes for a unique experience with more sweetness. If you’re a whiskey-geek, I’d definitely look to give this a try. If you like bourbon but not scotch, or vice-versa; it might be a bit expensive to find out. While I would not want anyone to think it is “like bourbon”, I would consider it “more like bourbon” than I would “more like single malt”.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Corn syrup poured over a malted grain covered floor.
Palate: More syrupy sweetness over a bowl of Malt-o-Meal.
Finish: Dry and a little hot more grain forward notes at the end.
Comments: If you are thinking “Parker’s Malt” is anything like scotch it would be difficult to be more wrong. This drinks more like a corn whiskey than any “malt” I’ve ever had. It’s incredibly sweet and all the grain, malt, and cereal notes come more toward the back. It’s not unpleasant at all. It’s just a bit of a one trick pony. There is nowhere near the depth of flavors here as what you would come to expect from the Parker’s line. For $100 I would probably pass on the bottle but it’s worth a try if you see it at your local watering hole.
Rating: Stands Out

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Hibiki Japanese Harmony

October 14, 2015 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / Stands Out

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Suntory Whisky
43% ABV
$65
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Hibiki was created to be the paragon of the Suntory blend. The name Hibiki literally means “resonance” in Japaneses, and reflects the Suntory Corporate philosophy to “live in harmony iwht people and nature.” Hibiki celebrates Japanese nature and the subtleties found in the 24 seasons of teh traditional calendar, reflected in the 24 facets of its bottle design. Hibiki is a harmonious blend of innumerous malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s distilleries, which are meticulously blended to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas. The Hibiki Japanese Harmony is the epitome of the Hibiki blend. Subtle, noble and harmonious, Hibiki Japanese harmony is a perfect introduction to Japanese Whisky and the award winning House of Suntory Whisky.

Luminous. Delicate. A transparency that unveils complexity.

Color: amber
Nose: rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood
Palate: honeylike sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate
Finish: subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak)

What Richard Says:
Nose: This one needs a lot of time for the nose to open up. Initially it smells great from across the table but not much when you nose it directly. Give it time and it shows rose oil and honey while walking in the woods right after it rains. Plum pudding and cloves.
Palate: Delicate, almost effervescent sweetness. Poached pears dusted in cocoa powder.
Finish: Drawn out with a light spiciness playing off the oak.
Comments: This is fine whiskey but it doesn’t really stand up to the 12 year old. The pricing on the two is very close and I think you would do yourself a favor to just go ahead and get the aged stated Hibiki.
Rating: Stands Out

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Taketsuru 12 Year

October 9, 2015 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / Average

Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 Year Old Nikka Whisky
40% ABV
$60 to $70
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Malt whisky is distilled exclusively from barley malt, and is considered to be the forefather of all other types of whisky. In general, it is divided into single malt whisky (several malt whiskies from a single distillery vatted together) and pure malt whisky (malt whisky from several distilleries vatted together).

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green, as in vegetal with green apple peel, not young.
Palate: Light, and drinkable but somewhat bland.
Finish: Sharp black pepper spiciness with just a hint of the time spent in wood.
Comments: The first Nikka release to hit the U.S. a couple of years ago did not blow my socks off like the whiskies Suntory entered the market with. I find this Taketsuru to be bland and uninspiring. It’s not off putting but seem to be made more for mizuwari than straight enjoyment. For upwards of $70 for this blended malt I would recommend beating down your curiosity and spending less money on a better blended malt from Compass Box.
Rating: Average

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Nikka Coffey Grain

October 7, 2015 / Richard / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / Must Try

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky
45% ABV
$60 to $65
Website

What the Distillery Says:
This Grain Whisky is distilled in a “Coffey still”, which is a very traditional and rare patent still Nikka imported from Scotland in 1963. The Coffey still produces a complex whisky with a mellow and sweet taste originating from the grain itself. Please enjoy the uniqueness of this whisky which Nikka offers to the connoisseurs.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy and floral with a sharpness that reminds me most of young bourbon all with an herbal back note.
Palate: Deliciously creamy like a lovely vanilla custard enhanced by a light caramel sweetness.
Finish: This finishes a little hotter and spicier than you would expect going through the nose and palate.
Comments: I’ve called other whiskeys “ridiculously drinkable” in the past but this sets a whole new standard. This delicious little beauty from the land of the rising sun goes down like water. A whiskey for fans of scotch, Japanese whisky, and bourbon.
Rating: Must Try

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