Review

SMWSA Cask 76.84

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 76.84
Highlands, Speyside (Dufftown)
57.8% ABV
Distilled August 1989
$145
US Allocation: 239 Bottles
Late August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Someone reported a hint of paint at the start, but we mainly identified dried fruit (dates, figs, pineapple, papaya, Christmas cake). We also found orange zest, spearmint, black currant and liquorice. The palate had a nice chewy texture and feisty assertiveness, with flavours of leather, pepper, tobacco, Madeira wine and spicy marmalade on burnt toast. The reduced nose offered prunes, Jaffa cakes and lemon and lime jelly, with slightly burnt fruit-cake. Candied orange, dark chocolate and glazed ham graced the reduced palate, making it mouth-watering, but with a dry finish. King Malcolm defeated the Danes at a spot near this distillery.

Drinking tip: With coffee.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lovely, lovely nose. Ripe berries, treacle tarts, and spearmint. Water opens up a nose reminding me of orange glazed roasted meat. Mouth watering.
Palate: Delicious sherry sweetness. Black pepper, aged leather, and a fine cigar. It’s like a whole evening out at an exclusive men’s club all rolled into one dram.
Finish: Fresh cracked pepper, polished oak, and sherry on the finish. Surprisingly smooth at barrel proof. WHile water makes for additional depth on the nose and the palate it makes the finish a little too dry.
Comments: An all around lovely dram. For those with the means and access I couldn’t recommend this enough. Mortlach makes some seriously good whisky. It’s a shame Diageo doesn’t bottle more of it.
Rating: Must Buy

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

SMWSA Cask 76.84 Read More »

Weller 12 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

W.L. Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 12 Years
45% ABV/90 Proof
$23 to $25
WebsiteWeller 12 Yr
What the Distillery Says:
[Quoted from Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal on their website]
The deep bronze color beautifully reflects the light — perfect purity; the initial nosing pass finds fully nature aromas of lanolin, almond oil, and creamed corn — in the middle stage sniffings, following several minutes of air contact, a toasty oaky/vanilla perfume takes the aromatic helm — the fourth and last whiff highlights the oily grainy quality that’s firm and pungent — a high-spirited, lusciously toasty, and animated bouquet that has top-notch Bourbon written all over it; the dry, complex, and toasty palate entry is reminiscent of the Centennial 10 Year Old’s grand entry — the mid-palate flavor profile is heavily wheated (like Wheat Thins crackers), oily, layer, moderately sweet, and sap-like; the finish is long, sweet, oaky, and intensely grainy; follows in the footprints of the legendary Centennial and delivers the goods, all for an unbelievable price.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Spiced apples, caramel, buttery vanilla, and oak. Behind all that are slight floral notes of lavender and rose.
Palate: A light sweetness that turns tart, dry, and woody then something that reminds me of canned cherry pie filling.
Finish: Hot with black peppercorns, polished oak, and barrel char.
Comments: Being of the same stock as Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old and Van Winkle Lot B it surprises me how different they are. Barrel selection really is something. Still, this is one of the last great value age statement bourbons in what seems to be a growing population of no age statement converts.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value

Weller 12 Year Read More »

Cruzan Aged Light Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Cruzan Aged Light Rum
40% ABV/80 Proof
$10
Website

What the Distillery Says:
As with all rums, the Cruzan Aged Light Rum is aged in American oak casks. After the ageing, though, the light rum goes thru a closely monitored filtration process that reduces color as well as oak and vanilla character.

This process also brings out the full-bodied, smooth taste that makes Cruzan Aged Light the delicate rum it really, really is.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fresh grass, rubbing alcohol, vanilla, and coconut.
Palate: Lightly sweet with a very clean flavor.
Finish: Smooth and delicate with finishing notes of white pepper.
Comments: This is a white rum not a sipping rum so I’m not grading it as such. This is a great choice if you are looking for a clean supporting role in pina coladas or rum and Cokes.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank the folks at DBC PR & New Media for sending a sample bottle to review.

Cruzan Aged Light Rum Read More »

SMWSA Cask No. 30.68

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 30.68
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)
60.6% ABV
Distilled March 2001
$95
US Allocation: 120 Bottles
Early August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Salty, dry and earthy – this really didn’t hide it’s cask influence; we were getting treacle toffee, chestnuts, polished leather, mushrooms, smoked almonds, raisins, sandalwood bark, ink, dark Indonesian soy sauce, and matchboxes. The taste revealed savory meaty notes of Szechuan peppered steak, wild mushrooms and tuna steaks but also the sweet delight of peaches in Sauternes. Water released Pedro Ximenez soaked prunes, more matchboxes, hot sandpaper, root veg (beetroot), electric storms (!), sticky dates and raspberry syrup. Long, hot, tannic to taste with dark chocolate, pine trees and raisins. From the distillery that is vintage bottled by it’s London owners.

Drinking tip: Too big to take lightly

What Richard Says:
Nose: At first it’s all seaweed, brine and salt water swimming pools. Water opens up nutty treacle notes. As the nose continues to develop vanilla, orange blossom honey and salt caramels move forward.
Palate:Creamy and rich but very hot out of the bottle. Water pulls out a savory, salty, and sweet profile with a nice leathery undertone.
Finish: The finish is long and hot. Water mellows it out nicely and leaves you with nutty dark chocolate notes.
Comments: This is a really tasty dram. Glenrothes (I’m guessing) all the way. The only thing better than the whisky are the tasting notes from the SMWSA. It reads like the J. Peterman catalogue of whisky notes. I don’t know that I can taste an “electric storm” but I kind of wish I could.
Rating: Stands Out

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

SMWSA Cask No. 30.68 Read More »

SMWSA Cask No. 7.69

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 7.69
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)
61.6% ABV
Distilled May 2003
$85
US Allocation: 150 Bottles
Early August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
The enticing nose – ‘attractive as apple pie’ – offered maple syrup, toffee, vanilla, Danish pastries (with cinnamon and almonds) and hints of tobacco and hay. Even with water, it remained beautifully warm and inviting – ice-cream, toffee apples, fudge and jasmine perfume. The palate was hot but smooth – flavors of honey, apple, and butterscotch, spiked up by a zing of Fentimans Victorian lemonade with ginger; some tobacco and leather tannic dryness lengthened the finish. Water seemed to allow the toffee and syrup sweetness to come through, while retaining the chilli, peppercorn heat. The distillery has links to one Saint and many sinners.

Drinking tip: Would suit early evening – but is very versatile.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cherry ice cream, apple turnovers, cinnamon, and black peppercorn. Oak, vanilla, and oranges play a minor supporting role.
Palate: The dry chardonnay of single malts? The palate is very clean. Almost too clean. The flavors try to bob and weave away from you. It reminds me of a well aged cigar in a leather furnished men’s club lounge.
Finish: The finish is where the dryness really gets you. It’s been a while since a whisky made me thirsty just drinking it. Hints of Pernod linger before everything fades.
Comments: Another pleasing yet somewhat shy malt. This is a nice aperitif or palate cleanser at the end of a meal. The nose was my favorite part but the rest left me a little wanting. Maybe this one is still needs to grow up a little.
Rating: Average

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

SMWSA Cask No. 7.69 Read More »