Other Whisk(e)ys

Alfred Giraud Harmonie
French Malt Whisky

46.1% ABV
$190
Website

We would like to thank Alfred Giraud and Savona Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This powerful and inviting whisky epitomizes the harmony achieved through our blending and aging techniques. We begin with a blend of two non-peated French malt distillates that matured in different casks, the majority in extra old cognac casks and a proportion in new French Limousin and American oak casks. Once the optimal blend is achieved, the double malt ages exclusively in extra old cognac casks where it develops complex and balanced flavors. Finally, it is blended with a lightly peated French malt distillate and is finished in the same extra old cognac casks until it reaches its optimal flavor.

WHISKY MAKER’S NOTES
Color: Deep copper.
Nose: Bold and inviting. Warm raisin bread and baking spices surround notes of smoky barley.
Palate: Powerful yet delicate. The silky texture gives way to baking spices and juicy grapes. Rich and balanced, with a hint of peat.
Finish: Long, very long. The subtle peat amplifies the soft tannins of the extra old cognac casks.

CHARACTER: Silky with a hint of peat
BLEND: Triple Malt, Triple Wood
CASKS: Cognac, new French & new American Oak
ANNUAL RELEASE: 7 Casks
COLOR: Natural
FILTRATION: Non Chill-Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, barley, fruity with grapes, pears, apricots and black currants, subtle spice with a slight earthy note of peat and cedar.
Palate:  Rich and creamy mouthfeel, vanilla, milk chocolate, grapes, peaches, nutmeg with subtle peat.
Finish:  Long, thick and syrupy with chocolate and pepper spice.
Comments:  While similar to the Heritage by Alfred Giraud, this is darker and richer on both the nose and palate. Quite lovely, with the peated whisky balanced nicely so that it is additive without dominating or detracting.

Rating: Stands Out

Alfred Giraud Heritage
French Malt Whisky

45.9% ABV
$155
Website

We would like to thank Alfred Giraud and Savona Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

An intense and complex, yet elegant whisky, HERITAGE showcases complex and balanced flavors, the result of masterful blending and aging. Three non-peated French malt distillates that matured in different casks, mostly in extra old cognac casks with a proportion in new French Limousin and American oak casks are blended together, then matured in extra old cognac casks.

WHISKY MAKER’S NOTES
Color: Natural, light and golden.
Nose: Complex yet balanced. Buttery pastries and brioche develop into aromas of toasted malts and sweet baking spices.
Palate: Structured with a full body. Brioche quickly transitions into grassy notes. A slight woodiness balanced perfectly with vanilla and nutmeg. Refined and well-rounded.
Finish: Sophisticated and subtle. The soft spices and nutty malts balance beautifully leading to slightly sweet notes from the extra old cognac casks.

CHARACTER: Soft and elegant
BLEND: Triple Malt, Triple Wood
CASKS: Cognac, new French & new American Oak
ANNUAL RELEASE: 23 Casks
COLOR: Natural
FILTRATION: Non Chill-Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Delicate, floral, barley, fruity with grapes, pears and apricots with a subtle spice.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with vanilla, poached pears, peaches, grapes, buttered brioche, nutmeg, hint of cinnamon, bright citrus note with a bit of chocolate.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with vanilla, nutmeg and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  A delicate and delightful dram! Subtle and sweet, the cognac influence is apparent. I appreciate the higher ABV, as well as skipping the chill filtration, which all lends to a really nice mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out

Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey

46% ABV
$55-$75
Website

What the Distillery Says

In order for a spirit to be called Scotch Whiskey it must be a product of Scotland. Although Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey is proud to pay homage to its heritage, this whiskey is much more than just another peat-smoked whiskey from across the pond and wouldn’t want to be called Scotch even if it could be.

Like its Scottish single malt cousins, Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey is made entirely from malted barley, carefully distilled, and aged and finished in various oak casks to enhance the complex flavors inherent to true single malt whiskey. But there are key differences that set this remarkable spirit apart from its Scottish relatives.

While peat-smoked malt has always been a key ingredient in many well known Scotch whiskies, Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey’s wonderfully complex flavor profile benefits from a very different type of smoked malt utilized by no other distillery in the world. The result is a smooth, mellow, mysteriously balanced hint of smoky complexity unique to Santa Fe Spirits.

Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey’s unique barrel aging process also separates it from its low-altitude relatives. Santa Fe Spirits is located 7,000 feet above sea level in the high desert and utilizes a climate-controlled barrel warehouse with temperatures ranging from freezing cold to swelteringly hot, and humidities ranging from bone dry to unbelievably damp. A strict regimen of climate changes yields a spirit with amazing complexity unrivaled by more temperate warehouses.

Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey is the deliciously unique result of an Englishman moving to the desert of the Southwest, building a distillery, and hybridizing time-honored Scottish distilling techniques with the unique flavors and climate of his new home.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smokey, barley malt with smoked bacon, earthy, mesquite BBQ potato chips.
Palate:  Sweet with chocolate, vanilla, black currants, cherries, honey, a bit of barbecue sauce and ash.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with pepper, barbecue and an ashy note.
Comments:  Quite different from the others in this flight – the mesquite smoke is definitely unique, which is what I do like about these American single malts. My beef with a lot of ‘craft whiskey’ is when they try to put out products that are made very well at scale by others, and charge multiples for the experience (which often isn’t as good in my opinion). Unchartered waters like these is where I don’t mind paying for a unique experience. Hopefully we’ll see some with some age, and higher proof down the road.

Rating: Stands Out

FEW Single Malt Whisky

46.5% ABV
$70
Website

What the Distillery Says

ONE MALT TO RULE THEM ALL IN AND IN WHISKY BIND THEM.

HINTS OF SMOKED ALMOND AND HONEY ON THE NOSE. THE TEXTURE AND FLAVORS ARE REMINISCENT OF A PERFECTLY CRAFTED CAPPUCCINO, SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE WITH A SUBTLE SMOKE FROM CHERRY WOOD AND OAK. RESIDUAL FLAVORS OF BOURBON AND RYE ROUND OUT THIS SOFT SMOOTH DRAM.
100% MALTED BARLEY. SMOKED WITH CHERRY WOOD RATHER THAN PEAT. ONLY 500-600 BOTTLES RELEASED ANNUALLY WORLDWIDE.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malt, exotic wood notes of sandalwood and cedar, cocoa, cherries, roasted corn and almonds.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, sweet with cherries and chocolate, bit of spice with apple and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey and cherries.
Comments:  I really like the funky wood notes on the nose – reminds me a bit of the aroma when you’re cutting different types of woods at a table saw. Not as complex as the Westward American Single Malt, but maybe more intense for what it does offer. I look to be in the minority with liking this one (saw several reviews where folks were left unimpressed or disappointed), but I like what I like. Similar struggles with the pricing on this, but if you’re a whiskey geek looking for different experiences, this does offer that (although contrary to what Arby’s might have you believe, different isn’t always good).

Rating: Stands Out