Scottish Whisky

Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Chivas Brothers Royal Salute 21 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$170 to $220
Website
chivas_bottle
What the Distillery Says:
In 1953, Chivas Brothers paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by creating a limited edition of a very special blended whisky. Only 2,500 cases were produced for worldwide distribution. The first flagons, adorned with the royal crest, were sealed on the day of her coronation. The name chosen was considered a fitting tribute to the new monarch. It was called Royal Salute, after the 21-gun salute – the ultimate mark of respect, reserved for tributes to dignitaries and nations alike. Appropriately, each of the whiskies in the blend was at least 21 years old and thus, Royal Salute 21 Year Old was born.

Appearance: Deep, golden amber colour

Nose: Rich, fruity aromas and the sweet fragrance of autumn flowers

Taste: Full, deep fruity flavours wit a subtle smokiness

Finish: Rich, long and lingering

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry sweetness, malted barley, heather, vanilla, and dark chocolate.
Palate: There’s the slightest smokiness that is really very pleasant. It’s a silky smooth dram with a little nuttiness and a surprisingly woody note. It’s not oak per se but woody just the same.
Finish: Oak at first but it smooths out into a nutty smokiness. A nice long finish.
Comments: Yummy. I’m not in the habit of dropping $200 on a bottle of scotch. Even less so for a blend. Fortunately, I picked this up for about half the price duty free in Puerto Rico and I’m glad I did. This is an immensely drinkable dram. Are there things I’d rather spend $200 on? Yes but it’s very tasty just the same.
Rating: Stands Out

Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year Read More »

Glen Grant 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
40% ABV
$30 to $45+
Website
glen_grant_10_year_old
What the Distillery Says:
Our 10 Year Old single malt brings an added intensity to Glen Grant’s familiar orchard fruits. Rich in colour, it lingers in the mouth with a soft, almond finish. 10 Year Old, 40%

Appearance: Rich golden barley
Bouquet: Medium/Dry, with a good balance of ripe orchard fruits
Palate: Creamy, fruity
Finish: Intense, fruity
Whisky style: Gentle, elegant Speyside Single Malt with hints of hazelnut
Cask type: Matures in Bourbon casks

What Richard Says:
Nose: Floral and fruity with hints of treacle.
Palate: Light, clean, and ridiculously drinkable. Creamy notes of vanilla and straw.
Finish: Light and dry.
Comments: Okay, so this isn’t the most flavorful or popular single malt out there but oh my it’s drinkable. This one of those whiskies that if you’re not careful you’ll be halfway done with the bottle before you know it. When this rolled out to the U.S. a while back you could get it for $30 or less. Now it’s in the $40 to $50 range. At $30 it’s an easy Must Buy but at current prices it’s only a stand out for it’s drinkability.
Rating: Stands Out

Glen Grant 10 Year Read More »

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old Blended Malt

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Famouse Grouse Malt Whisky Aged 12 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Try something a little different, with this rare balance of soft oak and citrus. The Famous Grouse 12 year old malt whisky is created from the finest single malt scotch whiskies including the world renowned The Macallan and Highland Park. These whiskies are left undisturbed to mature for a minimum of 12 years. The result is an invigorating spirit with a long, rewarding finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Floral integrates with treacle and brined meat. Malt-o-meal, there is a little orange citrus not too. Interesting characteristics, I just don’t care for how they mesh together.
Palate: Rich, nutty, and surprisingly sweet. Not bad. Much improved over the nose.
Finish: More of that citrus and oak. It’s clean and clears out quickly. Very short finish.
Comments: I wanted to like this. I really did. I love Highland Park and Macallan and they are both in here. However, this one just doesn’t do it for me. Some folks love it. It’s a “Wine Enthusiast 95/100 Best Buy” if that means anything to you. I find it very unappealing. There are many better dreams for the same price. Admittedly, I bought this because it was on sale for $20 but even at that price I wouldn’t buy it again.
Rating: Average

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old Blended Malt Read More »

Cragganmore 12 Year Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Cragganmore Highland Single Malt Aged 12 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$50
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Speyside today is widely revered for its sublime malt whiskies and for its fine salmon fishing. It is here, in this fertile triangle of land between mountain and sea, long been known as the Garden of Scotland, that Cragganmore single malt whisky is distilled.

Barley is naturally a major crop, and the presence of Scotland’s fastest flowing river – together with peat from the uplands to the south – was the reason original Cragganmore owner ‘Big’ John Smith felt that it would be the perfect place for the perfect distillery.

And who could argue with his genius? Successive managers of Cragganmore have strived to continue his vision to deliver the sweetest, most complex of malt whiskies. Fruity, honeyed notes are often found and many a taster has talked of fruitcake and toffee flavours.

NOSE – A combination of sweet floral fragrances, riverside herbs and flowers with some honey and vanilla.
BODY – Firm, rounded, light to medium.
PALATE – A strong malty taste with hints of sweet wood smoke and sandalwood
FINISH – A long, malt-driven finish with light smoke and hints of sweetness.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Treacle tarts jump out initially but quickly mellow to a more subtle earthy sweetness. Meaty and herbal with a honey sweetness.
Palate: It starts off very soft and mellow. There is a light floral sweetness to it as it picks up steam toward the finish.
Finish: Dry and spicy. It is a little brawny compared to what you might expect from the palate.
Comments: Why doesn’t Cragganmore get more love? It’s an enormously pleasing dram and stands above the likes of it’s more popular 12 year old brethren like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan. I actually know the answer to my own questions. Diageo prices it out of popularity. At $50 a bottle it’s well above the three Glens and near $10 more than the perennially overpriced Dalmore and Macallan. The value proposition makes it hard to tell you to seek it out over other drams but from taste alone I find it to be a benchmark 12 year old.
Rating: Stands Out

Cragganmore 12 Year Old Read More »

SMWS Cask 3.184

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWS Cask No. 3.184
Islay
61.0% ABV
Distilled October 1996
$115
US Allocation: 60 bottles
December 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWS Says:
This nose was complex – perfumed smoke, candles, black tea, vinegar on coal and buckets of brine – but sweet (barley sugars, sherbet lemons, cinnamon sweets, pineapple cake) and floral (lavender, geranium, jasmine). The taste swung from sweet (Edinburgh Rock) to savoury (smoked pork loin, honey glazed ham); also charcoal and witch hazel. The reduced nose had fragrant vanilla, lemon, roses, soap and White Linen perfume sprayed on driftwood. Flavours now danced around the tongue with leaps of liquorice, lavender and lemon, whirls of white pepper, arabesques of ash and high kicks of coal. 1779 distillery at the centre of whisky island.

Drinking tip: Perfect ceilidh dram – or as a reward for some other strenuous achievement

What Richard Says:
Nose: A very nice brined smokiness and Big Red chewing gum. Water makes it more fruity and floral.
Palate: Smoky, honey sweetness, a little vanilla, and astringent.
Finish: Old polished wood furniture. Water tames to wood and makes it a little more peppery.
Comments: This is all around very nice Islay. It has nice smoke and brine notes with a depth and complexity that will keep you coming back.
Rating: Stands Out

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

SMWS Cask 3.184 Read More »