Scottish Whisky

Aultmore 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aultmore Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
46% ABV
$50
Website

aged12

What the Distillery Says:
John Dewar & Sons Ltd., one of the most respected names in the world of Scotch whisky, today announced plans to release a range of new expressions and never-before-released single malts – the hidden gems of its single malt portfolio. This bold move, unprecedented in recent years, will introduce a treasure trove of top-shelf whiskies to consumers around the world.

The distinguished drams of ABERFELDY®, AULTMORE®, CRAIGELLACHIE®, THE DEVERON® and ROYAL BRACKLA® are launched under the title of the “Last Great Malts,” each with a compelling story and character.

For generations, these distinctive whiskies have been distilled and left to mature undisturbed in oak casks. Now, at last, whisky aficionados the world over will be able to taste the single malts from these distilleries in their authentic form. “The single malt category is one of our industry’s great growth opportunities. We are blessed with five of Scotland’s finest, high-quality whiskies,” says John Burke, dark spirits category director. “We have great respect for the category and are confident that each of the Last Great Malts will be a fitting addition to the repertoire of the most discerning single malt enthusiast.”

AULTMORE is a rare Speyside malt known locally as “a nip of the Buckie Road.” The distillery’s water filters down through the misty, mysterious area called the Foggie Moss. AULTMORE is rated top-class and is a dram sought after for its gentle grassy notes. AULTMORE will be available from November with a 12- year-old, a 21-year-old in Travel Retail, and a 25-year-old in limited quantities.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy and very inviting. A dry kind of vanilla with a floral, fruity backing.
Palate: Rich and ripe sweetness. Poached orchard fruits drizzled with honey syrup. Del Monte canned pears in the best possible way.
Finish: Crisp apples, and a slight bitter dryness.
Comments: Wow what a difference those few proof points make in terms of richness, depth, and mouthfeel. This is my first experience with an Aultmore bottling and it is delicious. It is rich, creamy, sweet, inviting, and painfully drinkable. I will easily be seeking out more expressions from this distillery.
Rating: Must Try

We would like to thank Bacardi for sending over a sample for us to review.

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Royal Brackla 12 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Royal Brackla Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
40% ABV
$75
Website
royal-brackla-12-year-old-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
John Dewar & Sons Ltd. has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from Royal Brackla distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest and most venerable distilleries.

The new expressions of this regal single malt, ROYAL BRACKLA® 12 year-old, ROYAL BRACKLA® 16 year-old and ROYAL BRACKLA® 21 year-old will be available initially in 10 markets from September 2015; a regal opportunity to savour whisky fit for a King.

Standing on the fertile farmland of the Cawdor Estate, Royal Brackla Distillery was established in 1812 by the fiery Captain William Fraser who returned to the family farm after military service and took advantage of the fine barley it grew. Within 25 years his distillery’s reputation for spirit of sterling taste received its crowning moment when King William IV bestowed ‘Royal’ status to Brackla, in 1835. It thus became the first ever Scotch to garner a royal warrant, a revelation that led to its nickname: ‘The King’s Own Whisky’.

Traditional production techniques help to protect a distilling heritage that spans more than two centuries and preserves the unparalleled quality of a rather special spirit. To allow for the development of intriguing complexity and fruitiness, extra time is taken at the fermentation stage, which acts for up to 80 hours; far longer than most Scottish distilleries.

The notably tall stills run at an unusually slow pace. Their height allows plenty of reflux, with the leisurely nature of the operation increasing the contact that the spirit shares with copper, thus filtering out unwanted sulphury notes. Instead, delicate and lightly perfumed notes of grass and green foliage develop, alongside inviting fruity aromas. Crucially, the whisky is finished in premium first-fill sherry casks, enriching it with notes of muscovado sweetness and dates, alongside opulent walnuts.

Stephen Marshall, Bacardi’s Global Marketing Manager – Single Malts says: “This is the one that was described as ‘The Drink Divine’ by the Royal household in the 1830s, that’s no small claim, so we had to take our time and the entire team have done an amazing job that really does justice to Royal Brackla’s incredible heritage. There’s only one whisky in the world that can be the first Royal whisky, I feel privileged to have worked on this”.

The new portfolio consists of three age statements, each bottled at 40% ABV: Royal Brackla 12 Years Old, Royal Brackla 16 Years Old and Royal Brackla 21 Years Old. Each expression has been launched in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail.

Tasting Notes: Salute a superior Scotch: almonds, vine fruits, opulent spices; steeped in sherried richness. Ennobled nectar, fit for a king.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green, nutty, herbal, and vegetal. The sherry is more understated on the nose but it is there too.
Palate: Oven toasted almonds, sherry forward, and Granny Smith apples.
Finish: Nutty and slightly spicy finish of medium length.
Comments: In recent years my tastes have moved more towards the robust kick that I find in higher proof whiskeys. This Royal Brackla is a bit of an enigma. It punches well above it’s weight for an 80 proofer. It is a nice, easy drinking, and versatile malt. It is great to see more single malts coming from the Dewar’s stable. I’m excited to try more.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Bacardi for sending over a sample for our review.

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The Black Grouse

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Black Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$25 to $30
Website
the-black-grouse-plain
What the Blender Says:
To create the distinct smokiness of The Black Grouse, we take our Famous blend and enhance it with specially selected peated malts. The resulting Black Grouse whisky has a distinctive peaty character, which comes through in spice and dried fruit flavours with a long aromatic finish, reminiscent of our Famous blend.

Appearance: Dark, Russet golden, Clear and bright
Aroma: Smoky, Soft and Musky, Rich and full
Taste: Full flavour, Spice and dried fruits, Smoke through the oak
Finish: Long, Smoky, Aromatic

What Richard Says:
Nose: A very vegetal and meaty peat.
Palate: Light fruity sweetness layered between a little pepper spice and soft handed smokey notes.
Finish: Subtle, with a long, slow build through herbal bitters to a heavy grass note.
Comments: This is not really a bowl you over dram. It stands out against it’s peers (Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker Red, etc.) but falls short against heavier hitters. A pleasant enough dram but not something that sings ‘come back to me’.
Rating: Average

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SMWS Cask 39.99

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWS Cask 39.99 Springtime in Andalucia
58.9% ABV
23 Year Old
Speyside Lossie Region
Distilled April 1990
Refill Hogshead

What the Bottler Says:
‘What a nose’ and ‘I could smell this all day’ were just two remarks before we noted aromas of toasted malt loaf with melted butter, freshly made peanut brittle, brandy snaps, raisins, sultanas and chocolate liqueur over apple and custard crumble – pure decadence. The taste is classic monkey bread oozing with warm caramel and cinnamon, chopped walnuts, raisins and brown sugar. With the addition of water the nose is still rich and complex with a distinct whiff of salty sea breeze just like a Manzanilla Pasada Sherry. The taste is fresh, sweet and salty; Brazil nuts, toffee, red liquorice and a never ending finish of a well-made Arugula salad with honey-drizzled peaches.

Drinking Tip: When you have time to let your mind wander

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, sweet, and malty. Old brandy, powdered sugar covered chewy fruit confections, and wheat germ.
Palate: It’s even richer and more decadent in the mouth than on nose. It kind of reminds me of a Payday candy bar. Heavy on the nuts and caramel. There is also a heavy undercurrent of raisins and other dried dark fruits.
Finish: A slightly dry, nutty, cereal finish. It’s not terribly long but it lingers a bit. Water leaves the finish more salty than nutty.
Comments: This is a very compelling and complex dram. I don’t really love it. It’s not something I would reach for often. However, exploration is rewarded. There are many layers of flavor, nuance, and depth to be found here. This dram is a deep dark cave that screams “Spelunk me!”
Rating: Stand Out

We would like to thank the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America for sending a sample for the holidays. Our apologies for the review delays. Holiday head colds were unavoidable.

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SMWS Cask 95.19

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWS Cask 95.19 Enigmatic Duality
53.2% ABV
17 Year Old
Speyside Spey Region
Distilled August 1997
Refill Hogshead

What the Bottler Says:
The nose appealed to us all – but in surprisingly different ways – some go tropical fruits – dried mango, kiwi, lingen berry sorbet and ‘waxed lemons in the Tuscan sun’ – others detected deeper elements of tar, seaweed and even a wisp of smoke. That enigmatic duality persisted with water – pink peppercorns, horseradish, honey, ‘lightening over herb gardens’ and toasted pistachios. The palate was immediate and powerful – mouth-coating waxed fruits, heather honey and creme brulee wrested with peppery heat, hints of bonfire ash and carbolic. In reduction, we found aloe vera, menthol, Fisherman’s Friends, clove, hickory and fried sage leaves – good sweet-savoury balance.

Drinking Tip: A curiosity dram – have fun perplexing your friends.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Herbaceous and outdoorsy in a very inviting way. It reminds me of wildflower fields in North Georgia, pine forests, and Ricola lozenges. There is a bit of muted sweetness and essence of the sea floating in the background but nothing that makes you stand up and take notice.
Palate: In your face with a meaty salty sweetness. It’s rich and chewy with a nice rich mouthfeel. There is a spicy nuttiness that plays well with the other notes.
Finish: The finish is short and to the point. There is very little to linger on here.
Comments: I can’t say this is really recognizable as a standout for a specific distillery but it is intriguing. There are some nice counterbalances going on in this dram. Sweet, savory, rich, and spicy. Very nice indeed.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America for sending a sample for the holidays. Our apologies for the review delays. Holiday head colds were unavoidable.

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