Must Try

Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Hogsheads

46% ABV
$105-$130
Website

Redbreast PX Edition Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

What the Bottle* Says

UNIQUE among the family, Redbreast Pedro Ximénez edition is a SINGLE POT STILL WHISKEY, tripled distilled, initially matured in BOURBON AND OLOROSO SHERRY CASKS before being re-casked in delectable PEDRO XIMÉNEZ HOGSHEADS for a sweet finish.

Mixed FRUIT compote with a squeeze of ORANGE ZEST combined with LIQUORICE and WOOD SPICES.

* No mention of this offering on Redbreast’s website, so above details are from the bottle/packaging itself.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit with blood orange, cranberry, honey, raisins, nutmeg, cloves, caramel, dates, cinnamon and a hint of balsamic.
Palate:  Thick and syrupy, sweet fruitcake with plums, candied orange, caramel and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long with dark fruit jam and spices.
Comments:  I’m a fan of Redbreast and PX finished (or matured) whiskey, but this is borderline ‘too sweet’ for me. It doesn’t cross the line, but it inches right up to it (and I’ve been told I like sweet whiskey; so if you find things ‘too sweet’ that your friends think is fine – this may be much for you). A bit of water opens it up nicely. I think back to the days when Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength were on the shelves for $60 and think this is probably overpriced – then remember those days are long gone. I really enjoyed this, but it isn’t as complex as others (no age statement, so not sure how old).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition Read More »

Barrell Bourbon Batch 034

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Bourbon Batch 034

57.31% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 034
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Barrell Bourbon Batch 034 is a blend of 6, 8, 10, and 15-year-old barrels. 8-year-old barrels driven by strong hazelnut and dark cherry notes lay a foundation enhanced by high-corn barrels showing browned butter and apricot. We mingled this first step for months before adding high-rye barrels carrying cinnamon and allspice. Finally, a vatting of 10 and 15-year-old barrels was added for earthiness and light tannin. The result is a robust and sophisticated bourbon.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana
  • Selection of 6, 8, 10, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 114.62 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
The nose is deftly balanced between the exuberant fresh fruit of youth and the oxidized, dried fruit of maturity. This dynamic tension carries over to the palate where rich port notes are supported by bright Seville orange and cola

​Neat
Appearance: Copper with rose gold highlights.
Nose: Eggnog and madeleines set the stage. Dry, hard cider integrates a range of florals such as elderflower and violet. Over time, the fruit transitions to a more cooked character, displaying dried apricot, candied orange peel, and mulled cider.
Palate: Blackcurrant jam and grape soda start the palate off with focus and depth. More classic notes of cinnamon donut, warm cola, and pecan pie emerge. Fresh notes of green grape and Seville orange are followed by umami, and salt.
Finish: A modest amount of sandy tannin sustains notes of shiso, licorice root, and fudgy peanut butter cup through a lengthy finish. There is an additional pop of iron and slate.
With a splash of spring water
Grows initially quite perfumed as volatiles blow off, smelling of petrichor, jasmine tea, and apple cider vinegar. When it settles, a deep rancio character comes out – leafy and nutty.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, baked apples with cinnamon, oak (both freshly hewn and aged), nutmeg, orange zest, leather, floral with hints of mulling spices, toffee and roasted nuts.
Palate: Bread pudding, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, cola, honey, dark chocolate, toffee and a bit of pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with fudge, anise and cinnamon.
Comments: Another really lovely dram!  Thick and chewy like a freshly baked adult cookie. While I’ve yet to try a Barrell Bourbon batch that I didn’t like, some definitely stand-out more than others, and this is one of those. Really well balanced, with sweet, fudgy notes and just enough oak and spice.

Rating: Must Try

Barrell Bourbon Batch 034 Read More »

Kirkinriola Single Cask Series Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Kirkinriola Single Cask Series
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

Carefully crafted in premium recharged Portuguese red wine Barrique

46% ABV
$130
Website
Macaloneys Kirkinriola Single Cask Series Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

This island whisky is from our triple distilled single potstill range – triple distilled using only the best unmalted and malted barley available. The patient, yet purposeful, triple distillation produces a complex, layered and balanced new-make spirit. Dr. Swan described our original new-make which trickles off our copper pot stills as “the best that I have tasted in any distillery at this stage, super fruity.” This triple-distillate is even smoother and fruitier!

This single cask series, Kirkinriola (pronounced ‘kirk-in-riola’), is our connoisseurs / collector’s single-cask edition. Like the passionate, spirited Ulster-Scots, it is an ever-changing series of triple-distilled potstill expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections. With individually numbered bottles, it is sought after by those who appreciate fine whisky.

A wonderfully complex nose with apricot, papaya, pears, honey, oats, brandied fruitcake, natural caramel, red wine and oak wood. The palate is creamy and full bodied with cereal and a symphony of floral and fruit notes including roses, honey, nectarine, papaya, apricot, apples and candied orange. Layered into this are red wine, blackcurrant, wood spices with a lingering oak finish and a hit of sea breeze.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick, pipe tobacco, fruity with plums, apricots, pears, earthy red wine, nutmeg and a hint of maple syrup.
Palate:  Creamy, viscous and thick with intense stewed fruits including apricot, soft citrus notes, honey, tobacco, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with honey, soft oak and currants.
Comments:  Absolutely delicious! Intense flavor and a unique profile. This is by far my favorite of the first three Macaloney’s Island Distillery samples I’m reviewing (there will be two more reviews coming later!). I love the earthy/tobacco notes which remind me of a nice single malt scotch whisky with thoughtful cask management. Simply throwing whiskies from different casks together does not always work, and the layers and balance here is really nice. For only a few dollars more than the Kildara or Killeigh – I’d go for this over those every time. As the single cask series may have different casks, make sure you read the label/box as it may not be the same as I’ve reviewed here.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

Kirkinriola Single Cask Series Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky Read More »

Kildara Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Kildara
Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky

Carefully crafted in premium Kentucky bourbon, Spanish Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez, and virgin American casks

46% ABV
$125
Website
Macaloneys Kildara Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

This island whisky is from our triple distilled single potstill range – triple distilled using only the best unmalted and malted barley available. The patient, yet purposeful, triple distillation produces a complex, layered and balanced new-make spirit. Dr. Swan described our original new-make which trickles off our copper pot stills as “the best that I have tasted in any distillery at this stage, super fruity.” This triple-distillate is even smoother and fruitier!

Kildara, our Whiskymaker’s Signature Expression, was married from a select combination of Kentucky Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso, virgin American, and Spanish Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks. The result is a full bodied, triple distilled single potstill, island whisky with pronounced Oloroso and PX notes including dried fruit cake, vanilla crème laced with cinnamon, demerara sugar, and old seasoned leather notes. Abundant tropical fruits include candied orange, dried apricot, figs, ripe blackberries, blackcurrant jam, dried raisins and roasted nuts. The complexity continues with barley, malt and dried hay, butterscotch, milk chocolate, light tobacco and ocean breeze.

The palate is velvety-soft, resplendent with full bodied Sherry and tropical fruit. Oatmeal develops to oak spices, coffee, dark chocolate orange, nectarines, stewed plums, blackcurrant, red currant and sultana’s, coming together as sweet dark fruitcake and honey. The finish presents dried fruit with a hint of salt and dulse, lingering oak and more Sherry, ending with hazelnut and almond raspberry pie with a drizzle of dark chocolate.

ABV: 46% | 750ml bottle | Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, vanilla, mincemeat pie with raisins, apricots, cinnamon, malt, molasses and a floral note.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, fruity with plums, apricots, blackcurrant and subtle citrus notes, a bit of oak, vanilla, honey, nutmeg and dark chocolate.
Finish:  Moderate in length, thick and damp with fruit, honey and nutmeg.
Comments:  Really nice, intense flavor and well balanced. Clearly tracks to Irish roots.  While I enjoyed the Killeigh, I like this one more – especially at the same price point (and like the Killeigh, I appreciate the ABV/non-chill filtration but wouldn’t mind seeing a cask-strength offering). The non-chill filtration Also really appreciate the solid tasting notes (often tasting notes are ‘basic’ or entirely imagined, so when they are more detailed and line up with my experience – it stands out because of the rarity!)

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Kildara Canadian Island Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky Read More »

Compass Box Vellichor

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Vellichor
Blended Scotch Whisky

44.6% ABV
$400-450
Website
Compass Box Vellichor Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

Vellichor, n – the scent of second-hand bookshops

On discovering this marvellous new word, we began a quest to recreate the fragrance using Scotch whisky. Parcels were considered, identified and pursued. The process can be compared to scouring second-hand bookshops for specific volumes.

Our search met with success when a distiller and bottler in the north of Scotland offered us casks of whiskies which had been blended together in the past, before being returned to ex-Sherry butts for further maturation. Whiskies, like old books, contain their own stories.

We combined these Sherry-matured stocks with bold and mature malt whiskies from the Macallan, Highland Park and Caol Ila distilleries. The aroma is highly evocative for anyone with a fondness for books; the taste evolves and intensifies as any good political thriller or historical romance should.

A tribute to the storytelling potential of blended Scotch whisky, and the atmospheres of our favourite book stores.

FLAVOUR PROFILE
Hints of leather, polished furniture and the crackling dustiness of decades-old pages on the nose. The palate is stacked with sumptuous malty notes, tropical fruit and Sherry character, with a delicate but
persistent peatiness.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
The late whisky writer Michael Jackson recommended some whiskies be enjoyed “with a book at bedtime”. This is one of those whiskies.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Bottled at 44.6% ABV | Natural colour | Not chill-filtered
Blended Scotch Whisky
A limited edition of 3,246 bottles; January 2022.
LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Leather, candied dark fruit notes of plums and raisins, passionfruit, kiwi, grapes, apple, wood polish, pipe tobacco smoke, soft mulling spices and a hint of underlying peat.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sponge cake with buttercream frosting, cherries, peaches, apples, dates, coconut, nutmeg, bit of ginger, subtle peat and smoke.
Finish:  Long and damp, fruity with tobacco, honey, fruit and a hint of peat.
Comments: A really delicious, complex, balanced and lovely dram with some fruit, sherry, bit of spice, peat and smoke. This definitely has that ‘old library’ aroma that brings thoughts of sitting in an overstuffed, worn out leather chair in a smoke filled, wood paneled lined room – which I’ve only encountered with well aged Scotch whisky.  With over 95% of the components being 23-26 years old (with a splash of some 37 year old Caol Ila), this has the age – but it would be a mistake to think it is simply a function of age. The combining of well aged stocks in just the right proportions takes a deft hand (and better nose and palate!) and few do it nearly as well as Compass Box. I wish this ABV was a bit higher, but it has a lot of intensity where it is at – and losing ABV is a risk with older parcels as well (had Compass Box waited a bit longer, they might not have been able to bottle some of it as whisky – which sounds like just the sorta tricky thing they’d pull – maybe a “This is not ultra aged whisky” with some 40 yr old “former whisky” casks that dipped below the 40% mark?).

Rating: Must Try

Compass Box Vellichor Read More »