Average

Aberlour 17 yr Cask Strength

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aberlour 17 yr Cask Strength
The Distillery Reserve Collection
50.2% ABV
Website

What the Bottle Says
The Distillery Reserve Collection
[Non Chill-Filtered]
Aberlour Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Aged 17 Years
The Distillery Reserve collection is a limited release of rare and exceptional whiskies from Chivas Brothers single malt whisky distilleries. Each release is bottled at cask strength.
Distilled: 12th December 1997 Bottled: 8th July 2015
Cask Nos: 17749,17756-58, 17771
1 of 1380 50cl bottles

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sharp/astringent, tart cherries, spongecake, hazelnuts with spent matches; bit of water brings out more citrus notes with the cherries and hints of caramel with dark chocolate.
Palate:  Subtle sweetness w/ oranges, apricots and honey, then sharpens to a sulphury, oaky, spicy tobacco note; hints of toffee and cherry; bit of water brings out the oranges and honey a bit more.
Finish:  Moderately long, and drying with smoke.
Comments:  This was a distillery exclusive that Richard picked up while visiting a few years ago, and as such no mention of it on their web-site (and not sure what the price paid was). This drank pretty hot for the proof, and has a lot of sulfur, spent matches. It does take water well, although the smoke was still fairly acrid for me. Next going to review an Aberlour 17yr Double-Cask cask strength, which was an interesting comparison.
Rating: Average

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Mad March Hare Irish Poitín

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Mad March Hare Irish Poitín
40% ABV
$30
Website
Mad March Hare Poitin
What the Bottler Says
Poitín (pronounced ‘put-cheen’) is as Irish as it gets. Distilled as early as the sixth century, it predates every spirit you’re likely to have ever tasted including whiskey. Irish Poitín is a truly unique spirit with an intriguing story, having been forced underground in 1661, and secretly distilled for over 300 years.

Mooney epitomized the rebellious irish man of old. Under the guise of a local fruit & vegetable trader, he distributed his famous Poitín across the land. Always one step ahead of The Law,
Mooney was affectionately known by locals to be as ‘mad as a march hare’.

Quietly distilled in traditional copper pot stills, from locally sourced malted barley. Mad March Hare is a classic Irish Poitín of unrivaled smoothness and flavour, making it just as good
over ice, with a simple mix or in a craft cocktail.

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Heavy malt notes, with coconut & baked apple combine in a highly impressive aroma.
Taste: Silk and creamy texture, over-layered with dried fruits, vanilla and French toast, could leave one to believe it was aged.
Finish: Long and brimming with honey sweetness, with malt spice, toasted almonds and lingering hints of lemon desserts.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick and grainy sweet, sugar cookies with a touch of molasses, honey, hint of boiled cabbage.
Palate:  Sweet, malty, a tad vegetal with notes of honey, vanilla and a hint of pepper spice at the end.
Finish:  Short and slightly drying.
Comments:  Poitín is pretty similar in concept to what American distilleries bottle as “new make” or “white dog”; but completely different to drink. With corn being the primary grain in a bourbon mashbill white dog, it is a very different kind of sweet than a malted barley poitín. The use of copper pot stills, and triple distillation all play a role as well. The nose on this is quite thick and dense for only 40% ABV; much more so than the palate.  I personally am not a big fan of white dog, “moonshine” (which technically anything you’re buying legally – isn’t), new make, or apparently poitín. If you are a fan of one or more of those, than I hope my tasting notes are helpful. I do find the history of the spirit, and how it was impacted by the colonization of Ireland, and the various class and religious struggles that the country has experienced. I’m always thankful for the opportunity to try new things, because the only way we know what we like or don’t is to experience them.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank The Gallavant Group for sending us a sample to review.

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Glenfarclas 17 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfarclas 17 Year
43% ABV
$100
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso sherry cask maturation.
Hints of oak, complexity but finely balanced. Combines the smoothness of our younger whiskies with the greater depth of our older expressions.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Rich amber.
Nose: Complex, with distinctive butterscotch and sherried fruit.
Flavour: Big, full-flavoured, with excellent balance, develops slowly, full of sherry sweet malty tones.
Finish: Long lasting and smooth, with a hint of spice and sherry sweetness.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Bright, fruity w/ kiwi, peaches, honey, and cherry pie; subtle smoke with worn leather and a hint of rubber.
Palate:  Sweet sherry fruit salad with a creamy mouthfeel at the start, sharpening to tart cherries with milk chocolate, pepper spice, and oak.
Finish:  Long with a fruity sweetness trailing some smokey notes.
Comments:  This is lighter in color than the 15 (just a shade darker than the 12 yr), and a different beast all together. Where it seems a steady progression from 10 to 12 to 15, my first thought was to wonder if this might be aged or finished in a different wood as it seems to be brighter and less spicy. This also didn’t open up nearly as well to water.  Nothing objectionable of off-putting, but left me wanting the 15 yr.
Rating: Average

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Glenfarclas 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfarclas 10 Year
40% ABV
$40
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso Sherry Cask Maturation.
Gloriously smooth, yet with the depth and finish you would normally expect of a much older dram.
A wonderfully sherried whisky and an excellent aperitif.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Vibrant, straw-gold.
Nose: Tempting sherry-sweet malty tones combine with delicate aromas, releasing subtle spices. Warming the glass reveals honey, vanilla and pear drops.
Flavour:Delicately light, with a mouth-watering combination of maltiness, sherry sweetness. Hints of drived fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves tempt the taste buds further.
Finish: Long, smooth and spicy.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sherried raisins, green apples with an underlying heather/earthiness; a hint of solvent.
Palate:  Sweet start, malty with honey, bits of dark chocolate and kiwi; sharpens to a peppery vegetal (maybe mashed potatoes?) note with just a hint of smoke.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, and drying.
Comments:  This was my introduction to Glenfarclas – starting with the youngest expression in their “aged range” (not sure how old the 105 Cask Strength is, reports are it is younger than 10 yrs). While nothing off-putting, I thought it was a bit thin – and not as fruity on the palate as I’d expect from the nose. Maybe at a higher proof this would be more up my alley. The 12 yr is a significant step up from this.
Rating: Average

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Elijah Craig Barrel Select

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Elijah Craig Barrel Select

62.5% ABV
$25 (200 mL)

NOTE: This is a bottle sold in Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Heritage Center gift shop. I couldn’t find any information about it on any Heaven Hill web-site. The bottle, intended to be a small barrel but I’ve heard it referred to as a “grenade”, indicates the name, the proof, and that it is Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet caramel with notes of leather under a rough edge with a hint of eucalyptus.
Palate:  Warm, creamy sweet, banana nut bread (but light on bananas), cocoa with a dusting of cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderate in length with a lingering sweetness.
Comments:  On the nose this screams Heaven Hill’s house style, which for me is caramel with a bit of eucalyptus (many get mint, but for me it is a bit different). As a non-age stated member of the Elijah Craig family, comparing it to its siblings might not be fair – but what else could we compare it? There is a familial resemblance for sure, and while NAS I would guess this is maybe 6-9 yrs old (I don’t get “young whiskey” notes, but it isn’t nearly as oaky or complex as the former 12 yr age stated version). I picked this up in their gift shop, and thought it was a “gift shop exclusive” – but Google seems to think different stores offer this for sale – so perhaps not. The bottle is cute, and it was an inexpensive pick-up – although considering it only has 200 mL of bourbon – it isn’t a bargain. I think if you’re there and want to pick up a nifty souvenir – this might be well received. If you’re a fan of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and hoping to get that bourbon in a smaller vessel – I expect you would be disappointed.

Rating: Average

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