Average

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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Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Batch No 11-159
45.7%/91.4 Proof
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
US*1 Small Batch Bourbon
We are proud to offer you our Small Batch Bourbon. In the Michter’s tradition hailing from America’s first whiskey distilling company, this bourbon is made from a proprietary mashbill that features the highest quality American corn and is then matured to the peak of perfection. It is then mellowed by our signature filtration.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle I get vanilla beans, caramel, and uncooked cornmeal. With a little water it opens up to notes of cherries and a Halls cough drop kind of menthol.
Palate: On the palate this bourbon is pleasantly sweet but not as sweet as the nose. It’s a little like Breyer’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Behind that it reminds me a little more of a corn whiskey than a bourbon.
Finish: Like their American Whiskey the finish is a little too hot. It’s only a 4+ year old so that might be expected. It’s a little like wetting a black peppercorn, rolling it in cayenne, and sucking on it. Obviously, a little water mellow it out but in general the finish is a little bland. Oak and spice are a little too boiler plate in a bourbon finish. Also, with water I’m left with a slightly medicinal flavor going back to the menthol that I’m not a fan of.
Comments: I find this bottle a little too average. It’s nice enough for a bourbon in its age range but better can be had for cheaper. I’d probably give it an “average +” rating if we had a more complex rating system.
Rating: Average

I would like to thank Emily with Chatham Imports for sending over a bottle for review. They were also nice enough to send over some recipes with their fine products.

Patsy’s Bourbon Balls

1 cup chopped pecans
6 tbsp. Michter’s US*1 Bourbon
½ stick butter
3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
16 oz. dark chocolate chips

Soak pecans in Michter’s US*1 Bourbon in an airtight container for four days. Flip after the first two days to fully coat the pecans. The pecans should absorb all of the Michter’s US*1 Bourbon. Mix butter, sugar, and pecans. Roll into 1-inch balls and refrigerate overnight. Pour dark chocolate chips into microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2½ minutes. Remove chocolate every minute and stir. Dip refrigerated balls into the melted dark chocolate. Place the chocolate-covered bourbon balls in an airtight container and place in freezer until set (just a few minutes). Store in a cool place.

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Michter’s American Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Michter’s Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey
Batch No. 11-179
41.7% ABV/83.4 Proof
$30 to $35
Website
Michters American Whiskey Original
What the Distillery Says:
We are proud to offer you our unblended Small Batch American Whiskey. In The Michter’s tradition hailing from America’s first whiskey distilling company, this whiskey is made from highest quality American grains and matured to the peak of perfection in bourbon-soaked white oak barrels. It is then further mellowed by our signature filtration.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rice crispy treats, those candied nuts you get from street vendors in New York City, and vanilla.
Palate: Asparagus, unsalted butter, a little vanilla, and a little mint.
Finish: There’s more oak than anything else with a little granola thrown in. It’s also a little hotter than expected.
Comments: Oddly, this is a whiskey I haven’t had in a while but I remember it quite differently. My whiskey memory is admittedly shit but I remember this one being very similar to Collingwood with a big kick of vanilla. It’s been several years but what I get here is entirely different. This is essentially the same 4+ year old whiskey as their small batch bourbon just not aged entirely in new charred oak barrels. Don’t let “American Whiskey” fool you. This is not a blend with mostly grain neutral spirit added in like Seagram 7. It’s all whiskey. It’s not bad, just not what I was expecting. To me the nose is the best part. I think the finish is a little too oaky (odd given the use of used barrels) and the palate has that weird asparagus thing going on. Personally, I don’t care for asparagus so to each their own in that regard. For what it’s worth this used to be one of my wife’s favorite whiskeys but she too was disappointed by this recent bottling. Maybe they used to use older whiskey. I really don’t know.
Rating: Average

I would like to thank Emily with Chatham Imports for sending over a bottle for review. They were also nice enough to send over some recipes with their fine products.

Vincent’s Bread Pudding with American Whiskey Sauce Pair with Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey

1 loaf French bread, at least a day old, cut into 1-inch squares (about 6–7 cups)
1 qt. milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla
1 cup raisins (soaked overnight in ¼ cup Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey)
¼ tsp. allspice
¼–½ tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

Place the bread into a large mixing bowl and pour the milk over the bread. Press bread with hands until well mixed and all the milk is absorbed. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and spices together. Gently stir into the bread mixture. Fold the raisins into the mixture. Pour the butter into the bottom of a 9”x13” baking pan and coat the bottom and the sides of the pan well with the butter. Pour the bread mix into the baking pan and bake at 350°F for 35–45 minutes, until set. The pudding is done when the edges start getting a bit brown and pull away from the edge of the pan. The pudding can also be cooked in individual ramekins. Serve with Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey sauce (recipe below) on the side; pour on to taste.

Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey Sauce
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey

In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in the sugar and egg. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. (Do not allow to simmer, or it may curdle.) Whisk in Michter’s US*1 American Whiskey to taste. Remove from heat. Whisk before serving. The sauce should be soft, creamy, and smooth.

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Old Pulteney 21 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years
46% ABV/92 Proof
$110 to $130
Website

What the Distillery Says:
As with the 17-year-old, with this expression we marry together Old Pulteney matured in ex-bourbon wood with spirit from ex-sherry wood casks. The crucial difference, however, is that the ex-sherry wood in this case is made from American Oak (mostly Fino sherries). This adds yet another layer of complexity, depth and character to this truly superb malt whisky.

Colour: Golden amber with straw highlights.

Nose: Full bodied with traces of fruits (apples and pears); slightly fragrant with spicy overtones.

Palate: Sweet to start with a light fruitiness; hints of honey and vanilla followed by a dry finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Smoked oysters, granny smith apples, bailed hay.
Palate: Very dry with notes of oranges and grains.
Finish: Pleasantly smoky with a hint brine laying over a base of polished wood. Long after the glass is empty there’s a aftertaste that reminds me of sashimi, iceberg lettuce, and smoked salmon.
Comments: I’ve never made Old Pulteney a consistent personal dram. I’ve had various expressions over the years and some I liked, others not. Of all the ones I’ve had this expression is my least favorite. I’m a little sorry I started Old Pulteney reviews with this one but it was the sample I was sent. In the $100 plus range of scotch there are a lot of great drams. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.
Rating: Average

I would like to thank Lucas with Alembic Communications Ltd for providing a sample for review.

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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky, The Collector's Cabinet /

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 to $45
Collectible (Old Version)
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The nose offers a fresh and aromatic experience with a subtle whiff of smoke floating through the air. The taste starts with a light fruit and nut appeal that leads to a spectacular malty sweetness, finishing into a beautifully rich full-bodied, lingering experience.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Slightly smokey and a little sweet.
Palate: Licorice and fennel seed jump out at first. A mild earthy scotch develops with a little peat smoke around the edges. It’s also nutty and a little salty.
Finish: The finish fades to something reminiscent of fresh straw and black pepper with a hint of peat.
Comments: If you go out now and buy a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old now this is not what you’ll get. They now bottle it un-chillfiltered and a little north of 46% ABV. I haven’t tried the newer version just yet but I hear it’s a slight improvement over the original. In general I feel that Bunnahabhain gets overlooked in this day of uber-peat obsession. It’s a lightly peated Islay that isn’t going to change your religion or anything but it’s a nice middle of the road dram that’s not disappointing.
Rating: Average

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