Scottish Whisky

New Releases – March thru May 2012

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

It seems like this move to Columbia is taking up a lot more of my time than I thought it would. I’m so far behind on Whisk(e)y Apostle content that it’s kind of sad. Well, I’m three months delinquent on new release updates so this will be covering everything I’ve heard about in March, April, and May.

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength
Timeframe: Q4 2012
ABV: 122% to 123%
Price: TBD
This new release from Louisville Distilling will be finished in port pipes just like regular Angel’s Envy but it will be finished for a good bit longer. Typically Angel’s Envy is 3 to 6 months of finishing but the Cask Strength will be soaking up that port goodness for around 22 months. It will be 6 to 8 years old after finishing.

Black Ridge Small Batch
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 45%
Price: TBD
No details on this one. It was found to be a pending Buffalo Trace release from the COLA online database.

Dalmore Castle Leod
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 46%
Price: $135
This limited edition bottling celebrates the ancient and historic seat of Clan Mackenzie and is the second in a series crafted by Master Distiller Richard Paterson in homage to Clan Mackenzie. The Vintage 1995 expression was matured initially in American white oak and Spanish sherry wood, before being transferred for a final 18 months to barriques from a 1st cru classe Bordeaux chateau.

E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Timeframe: June
ABV: 67.25%
Price: $69.99
This barrel proof, uncut, unfiltered rye recipe bourbon was aged for seven years on the sixth floor of Buffalo Trace’s Warehouse C, built by Colonel Taylor in 1881. This release is fourth in the line of E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection of whiskeys.

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Cask Strength
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 66%
Price: $75
This will be a distillery only bottling.

Elijah Craig 20 Year Old Single Barrel
Timeframe: Late May/Early June
ABV: 45%
Price: $130
This release will be replacing the standard 18 Year Old for a limited time. Apparently Heaven Hill has just too darn much 20 year old bourbon. More likely they had a good portion of the existing 18 that was actually close to 20 years old and they decided they could make a lot more money if they showed the real age on the bottle. Trolling the COLA online database also uncovered labels for 21, 22, and 23 year old one off bottlings that may be in the pipeline.

Glenmorangie Artein
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 46%
Price: $75
This is the newest in the series of Private Editions from Glenmorangie. This one is finished in Sassicaia wine barrels.

High West Campfire
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
This is the new release from Dave Perkins at High West mixing bourbon, rye, and single malt scotch!

Jeffers Creek Bourbon
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 40%
Price:TBD
6 year old release coming out from Buffalo Trace. This one also came out of the COLA online database.

Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve and Platinum
Timeframe: Summer 2012
ABV: TBD
Two in. Two out. Diageo is pulling Green label and Gold label and replacing them with these two priced around the same.

Jura 1976
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 46%
Price: TBD
New release coming stateside but light on the details.

Mitcher’s 20 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 55.4%
Price: TBD
Another COLA find.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 55%
Price: TBD
No official word. This is another product of COLA trolling.

Southern Comfort Bold Black Cherry
Timeframe: June 2012
ABV: 35%
Price: $16.99
The name kind of says it all. SoCo keeps expanding their stable of flavors to compete in the Red Stag environment.

Two Stars Bourbon
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 45%
Price: TBD
Another pending Buffalo Trace release. This one is coming out under the Clear Springs Distilling Co. label which is a label that they use for wholesale releases like Costco, etc.

Wild Turkey 81 Rye
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 40.5%
Price: $20
Wild Turkey rolled this out earlier this year. It’s in the same vein as the previous 81 bourbon.

That sums it up. As always, if I missed anything please let me know. I’ll also try to get caught up with all the stuff I want to share the whiskey apostles out there.

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Macallan 18 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 18 Year Old
43% ABV/86 Proof
$150
Website

What the Distillery Say:
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 18 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

Colour: Light Mahogany
Nose: Dried fruits and ginger, with a hint of citrus, vanilla and cinnamon
Palate: Rich dried fruits, with spice, clove, orange and wood smoke
Finish: Full and lingering, with dried fruits and sweet toffee, ginger and a hint of wood smoke

What Richard Says:
Nose: A big whopping sherry smack in the face. Very rich. Gingersnap cookies, vanilla, and orange zest.
Palate: Raisins, sherry, Fig Newtons, and little bits of wood and smoke play behind the scenes.
Finish: Meaty and chewy with sweet woody notes.
Comments: Is there a more universally praised dram of scotch? Macallan 18 is no secret. Ask anyone with even a passing interest in scotch to name a “great” scotch and more often than not this will come up. Despite how pissed I continually am as the price of this keeps going up I always have a bottle at home. I remember less than 10 years ago you could buy a bottle for almost half of what it costs now. I don’t think it’s any solace but I will say that I don’t believe you get much incremental return for moving up the range of Macallan beyond this dram. The 25 and 30 year olds are nice but to me this is the quintessential Macallan. What else can I say about Macallan 18 that hasn’t been said by everyone and there brother? Not much. It’s a great dram and a benchmark of sherry oak single malt scotch.
Rating: Must Buy

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Macallan 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Year Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 (this bottling is not available in the U.S.)
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 10 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice, and chocolate orange

Nose: A hint of sweet toffee balanced with dried fruits and sherry
Palate: Smooth, with dried fruits, sherry sweetness, and wood smoke
Finish: Dried fruits, with sweet toffee and a hint of wood spice

What Richard Says:
Nose: A bit of sherry but more subdued (as expected) compared to it’s stablemates. Also, there is a lot of black tea and heavy cream.
Palate: Just as cream as the Fine Oak but not as sweet. There is a lot of sherry and some butter cookies too.
Finish: Very long. Compared to the Fine Oak this finish goes on forever. It’s very malty and bread like with a good bit of oak and spice.
Comments: This entry level Macallan expression isn’t available in the United States. Our ranges starts with the 12 year old. Why? I don’t know. It’s pleasant enough but at pricing similar to the 12 Year Old I’d suggest picking that one up instead.
Rating: Average

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Macallan 10 Year Fine Oak

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Fine Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Years Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
This legendary Single Malt is Triple Cask Matured for a minimum of 10 years in a unique, complex combination of Exceptional Oak Cask; Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry, American oak casks seasoned with sherry, and American oak casks seasoned with bourbon. This Triple Cask Matured combination delivers and extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex Single Malt.

Nose: Complex, with a hint of fruit and heather honey
Palate: Soft and malty, balanced with oak and fruit
Finish: Lingering with hints of oak and fruit

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy, yeasty, and lightly sweet like fresh baked yeast rolls. There is also a treacle-like sweet/savory play going on.
Palate: Fruity sweet with a delicate creaminess.
Finish: The finish on this dram feels very disconnected from the nose and palate. It’s very dry with a good bit of woody spice.
Comments: There was a lot of flack given to Macallan when they released their Fine Oak range several years ago but I find it equally enjoyable. I personally prefer the classic sherry Macallan but I enjoy these drams too. This entry level offering is a nice aperitif whisky to have before dinner. I wish the finish was a little more cohesive but it’s a fine dram in it’s own right.
Rating: Average

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Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky from The Cask of Dreams
48.8% ABV/97.6 Proof
$99 to $105
Website

What the Distillery Says:
To celebrate the achievements and pioneering spirit of our founder, William Grant, Glenfiddich launched its Cask of Dreams program in the United States in 2011. Whisky lovers across the States were given a rare opportunity to participate in the “finishing” of this exclusive expression of Glenfiddich. Special oak casks took a tour of significant US landmarks and those in attendance shared their personal aspirations by writing them directly on the precious wood. These celebrated casks have returned to Scotland to finish this unique Cask of Dreams Limited Edition Release.

To create this rare expression, our esteemed Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, marries Glenfiddich whiskies taken from a hand-picked selection of American oak casks, which have matured for at least 14 years. They are then decanted into the dream-inscribed casks and left to finish peacefully in these virgin American oak casks for 3 months to bring an intense and powerful vanilla sweetness with a perfect balance of oak and spice. The casks are then introduced into marrying tuns and mellowed to perfection prior to bottling.

Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams Limited Edition Release will be available in a very limited quantity of 3,500 bottles at select retailers in the United States starting in February, 2012.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle the nose on this one can be a little coy. It is mostly showing vanilla and a malty, grainy note. Water opens up a much fruitier nose with bits of tangerines, tart apples, and a little pineapple.
Palate: Very, very rich. There is a nice cinnamon tinged oak sweetness with more vanilla showing through. This palate is very delicate regarding water. Add sparingly.
Finish: At bottle strength the finish gives you a quick pop but quickly mellows into honey and oak spice. A little water tames that pop and most of the spice leaving it smooth and mellow.
Comments: Glenfiddich isn’t the most complex dram with layers upon layers of variables but that’s probably a big reason why it’s so approachable and popular around the world. This particular dram is no different. It’s infinitely drinkable and enjoyable but the sherry monster and peat freak crowds might find it lacking. Go into it accepting it for what it is – an excellent mariage of Glenfiddich stock. Enjoy!
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank Katie Han with Maloney & Fox for providing me with a sample for review.

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