Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2012

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2012
Porter Brewed with Molasses
7.4% ABV
$10.99/4 Pack
Website

What the Brewer Says:
This is the first time we have brewed and oak matured a Porter, which has been imparted with great depth of flavour thanks to the addition of some roasted wheat, crystal malt and treacle (molasses). * Please note it is called Winter Beer as it was created for our US market (it is exactly the same beer as Winter Treacle Porter)

Nose: Chocolate / Treacle
Palate: Starts light with oak and molasses in the force. Develops a firm, rich malt backbone, with notes of orange oil and oak. Hints of roast malt, tobacco smoke and chocolate.
Finish: The roast malts, molasses and hop bitterness fall into balance and linger with occasional hints of vanilla.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Mmmm, beery. Seriously though, I’m getting yeast, malt, and hops. Classic beer nose.
Palate: Prickly to start but quickly settling into light wood, a creamy sweetness, and roasted malt on the way down
Finish: This is where I’m getting the molasses. Christmas cookies, more malt, and trailing vanilla.
Comments: A very nice beer that I’d be happy to drink anytime or save for special occasions. It’s really the finish on this that reminds me of winter and Christmas. The nose and palate just say good beer.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank Shannon Fischer with Handcrafted PR for sending a few of these beauties over for review.

Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2012 Read More »

SMWSA Cask 129.1

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 129.1
Islay
60.2% ABV
Distilled June 2006
$85
US Allocation: 114 bottles
Holiday 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Your speed boat rockets out of Leith; you’re heading for 60 knots; the city disappears behind; the clouds part. The noise of traffic dies down; the hubbub and stress are left behind; your mind floats to aromas of barley fields and eucalyptus in rainforests; the only sound is the ticking of the engine; the dominant flavours are the Arbroath smoky, butter beans and tzatziki on the sandwiches you packed. Think of incense, forget the rate race, cut the engine…and enjoy the finish of smoky, peachy yoghurt of loveliness as you float into open water.

Drinking tip: Day or night; come rain or shine; wit friends or alone.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Camp fires, roasted meats, and a peat heavy on heather and decayed floral matter. Adding water reminds me of applying burn ointment next to the smoking coals of a campfire.
Palate: Salty and medicinal. Water doesn’t do much to help.
Finish: Hot, chewy, and over brined out of the bottle. The finish leaves you with Chloraseptic throat spray. Ugh.
Comments: The nose on this is amazing. If they made an aftershave like this I’d pair it with Italian Proraso shaving cream for every shave. Unfortunately the palate and finish are medicinal in an unpleasant way.
Rating: Probably Pass

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

SMWSA Cask 129.1 Read More »

SMWSA Cask 128.3

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No.128.3
Welsh
61.3% ABV
Distilled October 2006
$85
US Allocation: 78 bottles
Holiday 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
The nose was sweet and fruity – macerated raspberries, Kirsch, cherry jam, Dr. Peppers, chocolate-coated cranberries and Haribo mix, but with fudge, toffee, hints of swimming pools and ‘brake pedals in an ambulance’. The palate held something deeply rewarding but hard to describe – sweet woodiness; hot, but also smooth – sumptuous flavours of vanilla slice, banana ice lollies (right to the stick) and milk chews. The reduced nose had evident vanilla, Berwick Cockles, prunes, plums, peaches, chestnut puree and new hiking boots. The palate now delivered exotic fruits (passion fruit, star-fruit) like some long-matured single malts. From the only distillery in Wales.

Drinking tip: A bit of surprise dram – use it to create a stir.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Delicate and coy. Brandy, fruit blossoms, and something that strangely reminds me of Hawaii. Very buttery. Water brings out ripe sweet berries.
Palate: Vanilla milk and a sweet woody flavor. Water leaves you with something like sweet milk drank from a wooden cup.
Finish: Dry and tart. Water juices up the finish leaving it fruity and floral.
Comments: Really nice. I’m not sure why the Welsh can make a fine 5 year old but the Scots can’t.
Rating: Stands Out

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

SMWSA Cask 128.3 Read More »

SMWSA Cask 106.18

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 106.18
Highlands, Speyside
52.6% ABV
Distilled November 1984
$175
US Allocation: 78 bottles
Holiday 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Our noses found poignant floral perfumes, shrubberies and pine tree freshness. We also detected ripe fruits (apple, mango), candles, cinnamon, clove and honey on buttered toast. The palate was chewy and delicious; fragrant wood, flowers and tropical fruits (lychee, apricot, passion fruit) mingled with sweet toffee flavours to draw sighs of contentment from the panel. The reduced nose, with tutti-fruitti ice-cream, lime sawn wood and aromatherapy oils made us think of warm summer nights. The palate now carried rose and lemon flavoured Turkish Delight with stem ginger spicy warmth in the tail-flick. The distillery houses the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker.

Drinking tip: Perfect dram for the first day of your holiday.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Butterscotch quickly fading to sherry, pine pitch, and cloves. Water brings out more fruity notes.
Palate: Woody and floral with buttery sweetness on the way the out. Watering the palate does the same thing as with the nose. Much lighter and fruitier.
Finish: Heavy handed with the wood. Very warming on the finish. Water just wisps away a light clean finish.
Comments: A really nice comfort dram.
Rating: Stands Out

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

SMWSA Cask 106.18 Read More »

SMWSA Cask No 25.63

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 25.63
Lowlands, Central Lowlands
59.8% ABV
Distilled November 1990
$145
US Allocation: 108 bottles
Holiday 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
The nose suggested fermenting beer – still life on the lid of a washback – green apples, a pear, a peach, some lemon puffs, a stone bowl containing sweet pipe tobacco and a bunch of fresh spring flowers. Pears again on the palate (riper now), also some fizzy fruit (sherbet lemons), more flowers (this time from high summer) and definite peppery spice (‘poire et poivre’). The second nosing had mild liquorice (sherbet dib-dabs) tobacco leaf and pear and nettle sorbet. The reduced palate gave light, pleasant flavours of bergamot and floral perfumes; a mild tingly finish. From Falkirk’s sadly now defunct distillery.

Drinking tip: Summer-time dram – perhaps to accompany tea in the garden.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green grass, orchards in bloom, and poached pears. Water at first makes it more vegetal and then reveals notes of apples and oranges.
Palate: Really sweet like pear preserves my grandmother used to make. Not sure if it’s the whisky or the proof but that jelly is in a spicy peppery shell. Water mutes the pepper and spice but leave the palate herbal. Where did that wonderful pear jelly go?
Finish: Nothing too remarkable but nothing offensive either.
Comments: This is a pear lover’s dram. Lucky for me I’m a pear lover. The palate and nose are fantastice but water whisks them away all too quickly. Add water slowly and sparingly.
Rating: Must Try

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

SMWSA Cask No 25.63 Read More »