Review

Martin Miller’s Gin

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Martin Miller’s Gin/Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin
40% ABV/45.2% ABV
$30/$45
Website
Martin Miller's Gin
What the Distillery Says:
[Quite a lot actually. Mr. Miller and his company are quite loquacious about this eponymous gin. Definitely check out the website. Below are the summations from the press materials provided]

Martin Miller’s Gin
Distilled using an innovative process and nine classic botanicals, Martin Miller’s Gin is blended and bottled at 80 proof. It is soft on the palate, and has a gentle delivery of it’s juniper notes, making it the perfect gin for martinis and gin and tonics.

Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin
Pure and clear in appearance, and with a long peppery finish, Westbourne Strength at 90.4 proof was developed specifically for cocktails that include stronger and more complex flavours and ingredients. Perfect for Bloody Mary’s and classics, like the Negroni.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Herbaceous in a bubbly sort of way. Juniper, jasmine, a citrus zest.
Palate: Sweet, slightly bitter, and peppery with classic juniper flavor. Very soft and easy to drink.
Finish: Medium length with a clean juniper finish.
Comments: This is simply a lovely classic gin. It’s not riffing on the gin base like a Hendricks. It distills (no pun intended) down the essence of London Gin into a standard bearing example. While this is great by itself, naturally the tipple shines in cocktails. I always try a new gin in a martini and a gin & tonic to start. Both are great. However, one of the recipes provided with the samples is a smashing version of the gin & tonic called Gin to Nicks. I can’t recommend that one enough.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank Anderson Group PR for providing generous samples for review.

Gin to Nicks

Glass: Hi-ball
Method: Build over cubed ice in glass
Garnish: Lime peel

50ml Martin Miller’s Gin
Dash of Angoustura bitters
Squeeze of lime juice
Good quality tonic water

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Springbank 10 Year Old 100 Proof

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
50% ABV/100 Proof
$65+
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.

Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 100 proof 10 year old is considered by many to be Springbank in it’s purest form with its salty, briny flavour.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Savory on the nose and the alcohol needs a little taming. From there the brine shines through.
Palate: Heavy on the brine and smoke.
Finish: A powerful smack you in the face finish that comes across like a more intense version of the palate.
Comments: Is this the regular 10 year old with more alcohol? Not really. This version is a little less nuanced to me. I much prefer the standard 10 year old.
Rating: Stands Out.

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Springbank 10 Year Old

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
46% ABV/92 Proof
$50 to $60
Website


What the Distillery Say:
The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.

Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 10 year old is matured mostly in bourbon casks, emphasising the distillery’s character.

Matured 60% bourbon 40% sherry cask

The perfect introduction to the Springbank range. Complexity is the key word here. Yet the combination of Springbank matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks remains perfectly balanced from first sip to the full, rich finish.

Nose: Orchard fruit (pear) with a hint of peat, vanilla and malt.
Palate: Malt, oak, spice, nutmeg and cinnamon, vanilla essence.
Finish: Sweet with a lingering salty tingle.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heather, honey, burnt sugar, and a little anise.
Palate: Very viscous, almost chewy. Great mouth feel. Fruity and briney. I’d love to be more specific on the fruity but it’s like southern ambrosia. It’s hard to pull the parts out.
Finish: A nice briney oak and an almost but not quite peat smokiness that all rolls together very nicely.
Comments: Oh Springbank I am so at odds with you. I love your whisky but I don’t want to tell people about it for fear it will be harder to get. It’s really hard to go bad with a Springbank. This one, along with Talisker, is in my opinion one of the two finest 10 year old single malt scotch drams available. The price may be a little off putting but you really need to try it.
Rating: Must Try

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Parker’s Heritage Collection Second Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Parker’s Heritage Collection Aged 27 Years
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
48% ABV
$200
Parkers Heritage Collection 27 Yr Old Bourbon

What the Distillery Says:
Parker’s Heritage Collection is a tribute to sixth generation master Distiller, Parker Beam, for his 45+ years of service to the distilling industry. Hand selected by Parker himself, the barrels for this second edition have been aging since 1981 on the lower floors of one of Parker’s favorite rickhouses. There, the more constant temperature tamed the aging process, yielding a rich, 27-year-old Bourbon that defies its age.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Ripe plums, toasted oak, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and Alton Brown’s oatmeal raisin cookies (the ones with no flour and golden raisins).
Palate: More vanilla, oak, with old leather and cinnamon. There is also this weird initial note that reminds me of SweetTarts (yeah, I know). An exceptionally balanced drink.
Finish: Rich, leathery, fiery, meaty, tobacco tinged, oak laden, and supremely masculine.
Comments: I pulled this one out of the back of the whiskey cabinet to help close out this year’s National Bourbon Heritage Month. It’s extremely rare to see a 27 year old bourbon. The angels are wicked greedy with their share after 27 years. It’s even rarer still for said bourbon to be any good. Usually you would get a wet oak stave in a bottle. This is something different and truly spectacular. My hat is off to Mr. Beam for his exceptional talents.
Rating: Must Buy

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Colonel E.H. Taylor Tornado

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled in Bond
50% ABV
$70-$80
Website
Colonel E. H. Taylor Tornado Surviving Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
What the Distillery Says:
On Sunday evening, April 2, 2006, a severe storm tore through Central Kentucky, damaging two Buffalo Trace Distillery aging warehouses. Fortunately, no one was injured and Warehouse “B” was empty at the time. However, Warehouse “C” sustained significant damage to its roof and north brick wall. Warehouse “C” is one of the most treasured warehouses on property, built by Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. in 1881. While the strong storm raged across the Distillery, the bourbon barrels stood strong, never budging from their resting spots. That summer, the barrels patiently waited while the roof and wall repairs took place. The barrels sat exposed to the Central Kentucky climate for months as the sun and wind took their toll. During the summer of 2006 weather inevitably contributed to increased evaporation, wood interaction and rich flavors in this bourbon whiskey. The angel’s share amounted to an astonishingly high 63.9% loss.

On nose, the aroma of dried fig and cloves jump from the glass initially along with plenty of baking spice and an oaky dryness provides balance that quickly builds anticipation for a taste. A small sip fills the mouth with jam-like cooked fruit, vanilla and a touch of smoke. The finish quickly builds in dark spices until the end as hints of tobacco leave you with the final impressions of this bourbon.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Dark berries drizzled with vanilla and tree sap.
Palate: Initially it’s something that reminds me of IHOP. There is a lot of vanilla and mint but also something that makes me think of the mixing all the various IHOP syrups (maple, boysenberry, strawberry, etc.) A pancake suicide?
Finish: This finished very clean and dry with just a little spicy oak. Very easy going down…dangerously so.
Comments: This was actually the first of the new Taylor series that I tried even though it is the third release. This one is still my favorite. It reminds me the old Eagle Rare 101 from back in the day.
Rating: Stands Out

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