Scottish Whisky

Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky
47.3% ABV/ 94.6 Proof
$150 to $175

What the Distillery Says:
A meticulous re-creation of the original malt whisky shipped to Antarctica in 1097 by Shackleton to fortify his ‘Nimrod’ expedition, this dram has been a long, long time in the making.

Abandoned to the Antarctic winter in early 1909, three wooden crates of this fine Mackinlay’s malt, originally distilled at Glen Mhor Distillery in Inverness, were buried in the ice beneath Ernest Shackleton’s hut.

Unearthed a century later by the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, in 2010 a single crate was flown to Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand for conservation. Heralded as ‘a gift from heaven for whisky lovers’, this original and long-lost malt provided the inspiration and critical insight for our timeless re-creation.

Every whisky is an adventure, but this one more than most. From Glen Mhor to many years lying under Antarctic ice and then journeying back to the land of its birth. And in many ways it is now that the adventure is really just beginning as the discovery and analysis of the original malt an dour faithful re-creation now add an exhilarating new chapter to an already epic story.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lightly smokey, fresh and citrusy. It reminds me of the smell of my kitchen the next morning after making a bunch of whiskey sours. It’s kind of like lemon but after it’s been left out for a while.
Palate: Lightly sweet and very delicate. This is more of an aperitif than an after dinner malt. It’s rather fruity and very little of the peat and smoke that is in the nose and finish shows up in the palate.
Finish: For such a delicate drink the finish is a surprising peaty smokey little punch. Oak makes a standing ovation too.
Comments: This is a funny little dram. The nose, palate, and finish seem like three different whiskies. It’s very enjoyable and speaks to Mr. Paterson’s skill as a blender.
Rating: Stands Out

My thanks to Patricia Jimenez with The Baddish Group for providing me with a review sample.

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New U.S. Releases – September 2011

/ / Bourbon, Irish Whiskey, Other Spirits, Scottish Whisky

I’m a little late again this month but I have good reason. I reinjured my right ankle and as a result I’ve been medicated and hobbling around. It’s an old injury that actually goes all the way back to fourth grade. My MRI results are pending and it hurts. It is what it is. This is just an excuse on my part. There’s really no good reason why I couldn’t have posted this on time so here goes.

Bruichladdich 10 Year Old
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 46%
Price: TBD
Bruichladdich is back. Well, they’ve been back. Now they are back with their own 10 Year Old from entirely new production stock.

2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Timeframe: October 2011
ABV: Varied
Price: $70
The whole gang is back again. All five releases are coming back this year. George T. Stagg, Sazerac 18, Eagle Rare 17, William Larue Weller, and Thomas Handy will be available in October.

Bunnahabhain Vintage
Timeframe: 2012
ABV: 43%
Price: TBD
Starting next year Bunnahabhain will be replacing their 18 Year old with a vintage release. For fans of the 18 Year Old you better pick it up while you can!

Elijah Craig 20 Year Old
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 45%
Price: $275
The rub on this one, aside from the price (EC 18 is about $60), is that it’s only available at the Bourbon Heritage Center in Kentucky.

Glen Garioch 1994
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: $109.99
This vintage release is supposed to showcase a slightly smokier side of Glen Garioch.

Glenrothes 1995
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: $TBD
This is the newest edition to Glenrothes ongoing vintage releases.

Glenrothes Editors Cask
Timeframe: Winter 2011
ABV: 55.8%
Price: $250
This new limited edition will see only 130 bottlings coming to the U.S. later this year. This one comes from a Spanish hogshead and is cask number 9973.

High West OMG Rye
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 49.3%
Price: TBD
This is a new un-aged rye from High West. It’s 100% rye, 20% malted. High West has caused some controversy in the past but I like their stuff and look forward to giving this a try.

Johnnie Walker Double Black
Timeframe: October 2011
ABV: 40%
Price: No price yet but it’s expected to retail for 15% to 20% above standard JW Black.
Think of this a more heavily peated version of JW Black. Interested? I am. This one was available in travel retail only for a while. I’m glad it’s making to release.

Macallan 60 Year Old Lalique
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: $20,000
This is the fourth release in the Macallan Lalique series. Realistically for most of the us a $20,000 bottle of scotch is a pipe dream. However, it comes in a really pretty bottle. 😉

The Mackinlay
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 47.3%
Price: $162
This is the recreation Whyte and Mackay did of the whiskey found in the Antarctic that was all over the news a while back. It should be interesting. I’m supposed to have a review sample on its way. I’ll keep you posted.

Oban 18 Year Old
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 43%
Price: TBD
I like Oban but I feel that it tends to be overshadowed by its stable mates. Well, Diageo seems to be giving it a little more attention with the line expansion of adding the 18 Year Old as a permanent addition.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength
Timeframe: 2012
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
Okay Redbreast fans, the hits just keep on coming. First we got a 15 year release and now we’ll see the original 12 year old coming out in a cask strength version. I’ll definitely be picking some up.

Red Stag Honey & Red Stag Spiced
Timeframe: Early 2012
ABV: 40%
Price: $15
Apparently Red Stag was so popular that Jim Beam decided we need more. Two new flavors are coming to the market next year.

R&R Reserve Canadian Whiskey
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 40%
Price: $14.99
R&R stands for rich and rare. This new value release comes to us from Sazerac. Building on the previously release Royal Canadian and Caribou Crossing Sazerac continues to expand their Canadian offerings.

Temptation Bourbon
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 41%
Price: $22
This new bottling comes from Dynamic Beverages. They are the same folks bringing you Redemption Bourbon and Rye. This is another rebottling of bourbon produced by LDI. This one is from their mashed bill that uses a higher percentage of corn. It’s bottled at about two years old.

Woodford Master Cask Rye
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: $45 per 375ml bottle
There are actually two releases in this year’s Woodford release. Both are 100% rye triple pot distiller whiskeys. This is a first from Woodford. One is aged in new oak barrels and the other is aged in used oak barrels. This should be pretty interesting.

Glenfarclas Family Casks
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
Not much news here. The Glenfarclas Family Casks have been available abroad for some time. They are finally going to make it stateside late this year or early next year. No word yet on which bottlings or prices.

That is all for September.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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New U.S. Releases – August 2011

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Scottish Whisky

August was a big month for new stuff. Here’s the rundown on what broke through the Whisk(e)y Apostle Fortress of Solitude.

Parker’s Heritage Collection 2011 – Cognac Finish
Timeframe: October 2011
ABV: 50%
Price: $85
This annual release is one of a handful I look forward to every year. This year’s release is 10 Year Old bourbon from the Evan Williams recipe that spent six more months finishing in 2 to 3 year old Limousin oak casks used for cognac. You don’t really see that much finishing in the bourbon category compared to scotch and other whiskeys. This should be very interesting.

Cooper’s Mark Bourbon
Timeframe: Now
ABV: TBD
Price: $25
This was an under the radar find. It’s a independent bottling (source unknown) by Fast Forward Brands, LLC out of Englewood Colorado.

Glenfiddich 1974 Vintage Reserve
Timeframe: September 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
This year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve will be a vatting of 1974 Glenfiddich. This will be the first vatted Vintage Reserve from Glenfiddich. Only 1,000 bottles will be available.

Local 47th Ward Blend Whiskey
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 47%
Price: TBD
Koval in Chicago is adding a blend to their stable of single grain whiskeys. This will be a blend of four grains: malted barley, wheat, oat, and rye.

Buffalo Trace White Dog #’s 2 & 3
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 62.5%
Price: $15.99/375ml
The existing White Dog Mash #1 is seeing a couple of stable mates this fall. Buffalo Trace is releasing a wheated bourbon mash and a rye mash for sampling pleasure.

Drambuie 15 Year Old
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 43%
Price: $56/liter
Have you ever wanted an older, more premium Drambuie? No, me either. However, soon there will be one for you anyway.

WhistlePig “Jr” & White Pig
Timeframe: Spring 2012
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
Sometime in the next 6 months the folks behind WhistlePig 10 Year Rye hope to release a younger version in the 5 to 7 year old range and a white dog product called White Pig. I still have yet to get my hands on the original WhistlePig So I don’t know how exited I am yet but I’m always for more variety in the whiskey.

Collier and McKeel Tennessee Whiskey
Timeframe: Now
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
This is a craft distiller operating out of Nashville. They have a new Tennessee Whiskey (and white dog) on the market. They use smaller barrels for aging similar to what we’ve seen at a number of other craft distillers.

2011 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch
Timeframe: September 2011
ABV: 55.05%
Price: TBD, but most likely in line with the 2011 LE Single Barrel
This year’s release of 3,500 bottles is a comingling of four different bourbons. The component whiskeys will be a 13 Year Old OBSK, 13 Year old OESQ, 12 Year old OESV, and a OESK aged 11 years.

E. H. Taylor Single Barrel
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 50%
Price: $59.99
This is the second release in the E.H. Taylor line. This release is bourbon aged 11 years and 7 months years in Warehouse C, which was actually built by Col. Taylor in 1881. I never got to try the first release so I’ll be looking hard for this one.

Masterson’s Rye
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: TBD
Price: $79
35 Maple is releasing this 10 year old rye. This is another 10 Year old sourced rye. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up to Jefferson’s and WhistlePig.

Hakushu
Timeframe: October 12th
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
No word yet on which Hakushu releases will hit the U.S. but it will be nice to see this lightly peated Suntory product on the shelves. Note to the Land of the Rising Sun…more whiskeys please!

Isle of Skye 12 Year Old
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 43%
Price: TBD
We’ve had the 8 year old for some time but I’m glad to see more EU exclusives making it across the pond!

Forty Creek John’s Private Cask No.1
Timeframe: Fall 2011
ABV: 40%
Price: $69.95
John Hall is a great innovator in Canadian Whisky. What’s even better is that unlike most of his counterparts in our neighbor to the north, he doesn’t keep all the really good stuff in Canada. I can’t wait to try this one!

That is all for August. I can’t wait to see what September holds!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
44% ABV/88 Proof
$125
Available in select specialty retailers

What the Distillery Says:
Matured for the majority of its life in bespoke Oloroso Matusalem sherry butts and bottled at 44% alcohol by volume, the body and character of this extraordinary expression is the perfect complement to a fine cigar. The sherry cask proportion is 70
percent and 30 percent American white oak.

Color: Deep amber gold in colour with glittering highlights.
Nose: Aromas of orange marmalade, honey and citrus fruits abound in sensual profusion.
Taste: The long years spent in the finest Oloroso sherry wood deliver intense notes of crushed almonds, cinnamon and spice to complete the nose of this remarkable expression.
Finish: On the palate creamy vanilla, toffee and sweet pineapples open, followed by rich mango, crushed pear and kiwi fruits. An aftertaste of unsurpassed elegance.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry, orange, and a consistent savory note that I find in a lot of Dalmore.
Palate: Sweet, nutty, and a little spicy on the back end of the palate.
Finish: That nuttiness from the palate really lingers. Vanilla and spicy oak through end of a long slow finish. I don’t really get any of the fruit but still a very nice finish.
Comments: Apparently, ever since the refresh of the Dalmore portfolio Richard Paterson keeps getting questions about what happened to the old Cigar Malt. Well, this isn’t it but it is very nice. It’s not quite Dalmore at the top of it’s game like The MacKenzie but it’s still a stand out dram. I’ll have to take some more time with this and pair it up with a few cigars.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing us a sample for review.

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Highland Park 25 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 25 Years
48.1% ABV/96.2 Proof
$250 to $350
Available at select retailers

What the Distillery Says:
First released in 1998, Highland Park 25 Years Old is a phenomenal whisky; it has a rich amber glow and an unmistakable taste of smokiness and heather honey with, as you would expect from Highland Park, a hint of peat.

The remarkable complexity of this whisky is due in part to the fact that half of it is matured in first fill Sherry casks. These are very expensive and generally used sparingly in the industry. However, they impart maximum flavour; Highland Park 25 Year Old proves it.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Natural colour; dark red golden, clear and bright
What Richard Says:
Nose: Lots of sherry, heather, cherries, and oak. It’s fruitier than I would’ve thought.
Palate: Rich, heavy on sherry and oak but not “too oaky” by any means. Honey and nice peatiness.
Finish: Very smooth and dry with a little lemon zest.
Comments: Highland Park just ages really well. The only thing I’ve had from the distillery better than this is the 30 year old. Price is really the only thing that keeps me from telling you to run right out and buy a bottle. Another knockout dram from Highland Park.
Rating: Must Try

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