Scottish Whisky

Isle of Jura 16 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Isle of Jura Single Malt Whisky Aged 16 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$69.99
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
The heart of the matter.

Allow this noble spirit to drift over the palate – having lain for 16 long years in American White Oak, the warmth of the tongue will assist in raising the true depth of the spirit’s quality.

Color: Glassy golden highlights.
Nose: Full and rich. The hand of time has moulded this unique Single Malt into an array of intense notes – each aroma has been
beautifully crafted to reveal harmony at its best. Silky marzipan honey with a hint of ginger spice and sweet chutney encompass this floral bouquet.
Taste: Soft peaches and honey with tones of chunky orange peel and marzipan will slowly arise. Hints of aged Napolean cognac drift
lovingly in the background yet the backbone of its heritage continues to ebb away on the aftertaste, leaving the palate rewarded and satisfied.
Finish: A memorable finish only an island can bring.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Fruity sweet with a little bit of brine.
Palate: Orange zest, a lot of oak, and a little vanilla sweetness.
Finish: All oak with a little salty sweetness playing at the edges.
Comments: I can’t really say the age appeals to me on this one. It has some of the harsher elements of the 10 Year Old without the delicate youthful charm. I would pick the 10 Year over this without hesitation.
Rating: Average

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

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Isle of Jura 10 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch Aged 10 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$40 to $45
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
The only distillery on the island, Jura is an isolated island dominated by the mighty Paps-Beinn-a-chaolais, Beinn an oir (mound of Gold) and Beinn shiantaidh (sacred). Reputed to have had an illicit distillery in 1502, Jura has four primary expressions including the beguilding 10 Year Old.

The name Jura has several meanings: two brothers Dih and Rah, an island of yew trees, and an island of red deer which is generally considered the correct name especially when nearly 6,000 of them roam the island.

Color: Deep, amber gold.
Nose: Soft warm nuances of American white oak, cinnamon, crushed pear and apple express their attractive qualities. Silky almond, pinewood and lemon grass with subtle hints of gorse and sea spray complete this outstanding bouquet.
Taste: Clean warming gentle oak flavors seduce the palate in a pleasurable manner highlights of caramel, soft licorice, flashes of roasted coffee beans and crusty wholemeal bread excite and tease your taste buds.
Finish: Intricate, attractive flavors linger long in the mouth and reflect the true nature of the island.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pine, salt, and compost. There is also a little fruit too but I can’t identify it behind the woody vegetal notes.
Palate: Very delicate. It takes a while to open up. Very oily and woody.
Finish: Mostly malt and oak with a trace of sweetness.
Comments: I was turned off to Jura early in my single malt explorations. I honestly can’t remember why. This is really a fine easy drinking dram. I would recommend it to those who like more mellow blends like Johnnie Walker Gold. Unfortunately, it’s actually so mellow and delicate that nothing really stands out about it. On the other hand there’s nothing offensive either. Well, the nose is a little funky but that’s about it. I once heard it called an aperitif scotch. That pretty much nails it.
Rating: Average

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

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Dalmore King Alexander III

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$200 to $250
Available in select markets

What the Distillery Says:
Wood finishing is very au courant in single malts today, but Richard Paterson, Master Distiller of The Dalmore was one of the pioneers of the trend as much as 40 years ago.

Back in the 1970’s through the 90’s, Paterson began aging his finest malts in a wide range of wine and spirit casks to add subtle shadings and nuance—not to sell individually, but to vatt together to create a sublime malt whisky far greater than the sum of its parts.

Paterson’s palette of woods include French Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques; Madeira drums; sherry butts from Jerez de la Frontera; marsala barrels from Sicily; port pipes from the Douro; and sweet bourbon barrels from Kentucky. Once matured to perfection, the aged malts were expertly married by Paterson to create the most noble of all The Dalmore malt whiskies… one truly worthy to commemorate a King of Scotland.

Color: Deep, rich amber flecked with reddish highlights when poured into a crystal snifter.
Nose: A spectrum of complex aromas announces the artistry of Paterson’s visionary concept, all driven by the provenance of the casks—vibrant and exciting aromas; full of barely-restrained passion. Exotic, citric and floral notes upfront give way to dissolving layers of black fruit and burnished oak. Given time, the nose continues to evolve.
Taste: The Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III makes the ultimate case for wood finishing of malts with its six different styles of casks specially selected and meticulously combined by Paterson. Aged Oloroso and Madeira provide a backbone of crushed almonds and rich,
citrus fruit flavors. Port and marsala casks add hints of wild berries and fleshy ripe plums, while the Bourbon barrels come across as vanilla and creamy caramel accents. The Cabernet Sauvignon barriques add just a touch of elegance to complete the blend.
Finish: Although not quite as long as the seven centuries since King Alexander III’s reign, a dram of this noble malt lingers on the
tongue, the nose and the soul for hours.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is kind of all over the map. That savory sherry Dalmore quality takes a backseat to an intense bouquet of light oak, berries, and wild flowers with just a hint of lemon and lime zest.
Palate: Fruity and muscular with an almost bourbon like vanilla coming through. The palate isn’t nearly as impressive as the nose.
Finish: Dry with a caramel sweetness
Comments: Never (or hardly ever) has a nose promised so much and the palate so under delivered. The first problem is paying $200+ for a 40% ABV scotch. I don’t know who’s idea that was but they may want to rethink that. I think it really negatively effects the palate and waters it down. The King Alexander was a serious let down for me. Like the 15 Year Old Dalmore, the palate doesn’t live up to the nose and finish. However, because the nose is so good, even if I won’t tell you to definitely try this, you should smell it!
Rating: Stands Out

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

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Dalmore MacKenzie

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore MacKenzie Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV/92 Proof
$150 to $175
Only 200 Bottles in the U.S. at specialty retailers

What the Distillery Says:
Limited to just 200 bottles in the USA, this malt commemorates a moment in time from 1263 when the leader of Clan MacKenzie, later owners of The Dalmore Distillery, saved King Alexander III from a charging wild stag. In gratitude, the King gave the MacKenzies the right to use the stag’s head on their coat of arms and it appears on every bottle to this day. The malt was distilled on December 17, 1992 and rested 12 years in new American Oak before being finished in port wine butts for six years – an unusual maturation for The Dalmore, which is most often finessed in sherry casks. The resulting spirit, encased in historical packaging depicting the moment, is a single malt for all MacKenzies (and a few, other fortunate souls) to remember and savor.

Color: Deep mahagony, highlighted with amber and ruby flashes
Nose: Warming and rich. Top notes of stone fruits and citrus melt into a focused core of plumy, Port compote, with subtle accents of ginger and almond. Enticing as it unfolds.
Taste: Unctuous and rich; envelops the tongue. Smokey, peaty flavors play out against the sweet fruitiness of dry oak and the port finish, leaving a wake of chocolate truffle and marmalade notes in decadent balance.
Finish: Long and warming, with Port flavors prevailing to lend a pleasantly sweet parting kiss to the fire of the malt.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The additional port pipe aging gives it a much richer nose in a family of already rich whiskies. Orchard fruits, ginger, and citrus shine through.
Palate: Oh damn that’s good! Very rich with a smoky palate that isn’t the norm for Dalmore. There are fruity sweet notes and some very nice chocolate in there.
Finish: Smokey, dry, oak, and the lingering note of a fine cigar.
Comments: I really like this one…A LOT. Given it’s price point right around the same as the standard 18 Year Old I’ll tell you to buy this over that every day of the week and twice on Sundays (if you can buy alcohol on Sundays where you live). The bad news is that only 200 bottle of this limited release came to the U.S. Given how much better this is for the same price and that it is a limited release it only underscores my assertion that the standard 18 Year is overpriced. I still have a hard time telling you buy this because it is a bit expensive. If it was $100 a bottle I’d tell you to buy the hell out of it. Regardless of price, this is a great whisky and if you have the opportunity definitely try it.
Rating: Must Try

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

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Dalmore 18 Year Old

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Dalmore 18 Years Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
43% ABV/86 Proof
$150 to $165
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:
Blended in the inimitable Dalmore style, combining primary aging in American White oak with finishing in sherry casks, this expression strikes the perfect balance between a forceful youth and the elegance of age.

Color: Reddish-to-dark brown with copper highlights
Nose: Soft hints of pine and lemongrass coupled with spicy cinnamon. Nut aromas from the sherry butts, yielding to chocolate, oranges,
dried flowers and spice
Taste: Delicate oak notes from 14 years in American White oak casks.
Orange and citrus move to the fore, with sweet molasses, chocolate spiced cinnamon, truffles, rosemary and clove flavors from four years in Matusalem sherry butts playing against the sweet smokiness of the malt
Finish: Medium-long, with a progression of lingering dried fruits, spice
and toffee flavors

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry heavy and not as sweet (lacking the sweet orange notes) of younger Dalmores. Heavier with a nutty quality and very spicy.
Palate: It reminds me of southern brown gravy. The savory notes come through in that kind of way. It doesn’t taste like gravy there’s just something there that I can’t pinpoint. There is a lot of oak and I get some rosemary and espresso bean too.
Finish: The finish is moderately long and I get a nutty sweetness with some dark chocolate hanging around.
Comments: This is another Dalmore I can’t trade up for. It’ll take the Gran Reserva over this. It’s still a stand out malt but given the price point and some odd palate subtleties I can’t recommend it beyond that.
Rating: Stands Out

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

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