Must Try

Cadenhead’s Small Batch Mortlach 21 Yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Cadenhead’s Small Batch Mortlach 21 Yr
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

53.5% ABV
$150
Website
Cadenhead's Mortlach 21 yr Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Distilled in 1994 at the Mortlach Distillery.
Matured in Bourbon Hogshead for 21 years.
Bottled in 2015.
One of only 492 bottles.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla sponge cake, raw almonds, subtle peat and vegetal notes, nectarines, tropical fruit, heather, tobacco, rice pudding, allspice and a hint of ginger.
Palate:  Spicy bite, fruity with apricots, nectarines, pears, pepper spice, honey, walnuts, allspice, chocolate, and cherries.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with apricots and a nutty pepper spice.
Comments:  Really nice dram – sharp neat but a bit of water brings out more chocolate and cherries, and thickens nicely. Here in the United States, we see ‘small batch’ used commonly in the world of bourbon despite having zero legal meaning (could be as few as a single barrel, or as many barrels as you want – 50, 500, 5,000, limit is only your imagination). It is much less common in Scotch whisky. In this case, there being 492 bottles of this small batch, it is likely only 2 or 3 casks (a hogshead cask is 250 liters, which would be 357 750 mL bottles full; scotch whisky loses about 2% to evaporation each year, do some math and you land at 2 casks with slightly less than 2%, or 3 casks).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell American Vatted Malt

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

Barrell American Vatted Malt Whiskey
Blend of American Single Malts

November 20, 2019 Batch

58.75% ABV
$80-$100
Website
Barrell American Vatted Malt

What the Blender Says

We partnered with small and large producers across the country to select whiskeys that express the full diversity of American terroir and style. The resulting blend is remarkable, and we are proud to be the first to showcase the growing category of American single malt in this way.

We chose the name “American Vatted Malt” as an homage to the old Scottish category of vatted malt, which was once the preferred nomenclature to describe a blended whisky made entirely from single malts. Today, the Scots refer to that style as blended malt, but affection for the term “vatted” lives on.

As a new category, American single malt producers are notoriously creative, looking to their local environment and regional traditions to create distinctive whiskeys. That meant the blend was a challenging one technically, as it asked us to bring together a plethora of unique components. Never before have we strived to balance the distinctive tang of Southwestern mesquite smoke with the sweet and creamy maltiness of malted barley, or contrast briny coastal peat with the warm vanilla character of toasted oak. The resulting blend is complex and multi-faceted, rewarding the drinker with unfolding layers of flavor.

This first release of American Vatted Malt was years in the making, as many of the components in the blend come from emerging distilleries that have never traded or sold bulk whiskey before. The physical and logistical work of sourcing and blending with a group of small, independent producers is neither easy nor short, but we believe it lays the groundwork for a new, exciting, and collaborative future. Some of our collaborators have asked to remain anonymous, but the core group of participants includes:

• Balcones Distillery, Waco, Texas
• Hamilton Distillers Del Bac, Tucson, Arizona
• MGP, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
• Harvest Distillery, Valatie, New York
• Santa Fe Distillery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Kings County Distillery, Brooklyn, New York

We look forward to continuing to work with this group of innovative whiskey producers while searching out new partners for future releases of Barrell Craft Spirits Vatted Malt. In addition to expanding our ever-growing portfolio of spirits, this new project is an important step in advancing our vision of the next chapter of whiskey in America.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Toffee, cocoa, barley malt, caramel, toasted oak, cedar, subtle coconut husk.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, caramel, black currants, dark chocolate, allspice, nutmeg, pepper with blackberry preserves.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with pepper and toffee.
Comments:  A really lovely pour. As a fan of quality vatting/blending (thanks to Compass Box for helping me see the light!), I can appreciate when it is done well – and this is done really well. Not a surprise, as I’ve yet to try something from the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits that I thought was done poorly (hopefully not jinxing them!). American single malt is still a pretty small category here, and you shouldn’t confuse it with single malt scotch or you’re likely to be disappointed (not that it is of less quality, but it doesn’t taste similar). And as a small category, there are even fewer vatted malts like this. A unique take on a unique spirit, and knowing much of this is fairly new – I can’t wait to see what they release with more age!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Game of Thrones House Lannister Lagavulin 9 Yr Old

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Game of Thrones House Lannister Lagavulin 9 Yr Old
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$50
Website
Lagavulin_Game_of_Thrones_9_Years

What the Distillery Says

Lagavulin is one of the most legendary single malt brands and has been crafted on the shores of Islay for more than 200 years – mirroring the meticulous calculation and tenacity employed by the Lannisters in their rise to conquer the Iron Throne. This single malt whisky is a roaring single malt that recalls the Lannister’s riches.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Light, golden colour.
NOSE: The nose is characteristically Lagavulin with the sweet smoke that explodes on the nose with a little more brine than the other expressions.
PALATE: The palate opens with smoked caramelized banana and heavy vanilla and burnt marshmallow. which subside into a light, dry, slightly salted caramel.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peaty with freshly shoveled earth, creosote, smokey sea air, grilled peaches and smoked pork roast.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel with sweet vanilla, subtle fruit, smoked brisket, hints of lemon and anise with a salty note.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with sea smoke and peat.
Comments:  Really solid Lagavulin offering. Nothing off-putting, and I’ve seen some folks trying to move this for under $30 – and I would consider it a ‘Must Buy’ at that price (at least one to try if you haven’t). At the suggested retail around $50, it is still pretty solid.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Game of Thrones Six Kingdoms Mortlach 15 Yr Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Game of Thrones Six Kingdoms Mortlach 15 Yr Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$95-$150
Website
Mortlach_Game_of_Thrones_15_Years

What the Distillery Says

This Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky that has been aged for 15 years, is presented in a metallic gold canister that features an intricate pen and ink drawing of the Three-Eyed Raven as seen throughout the eight seasons of the series. The Six Kingdoms packaging pays homage to the last Greenseer, whose ability to see beyond the constraints of time and unravel the intricate stories that held the tapestry of Westeros together proved to be his ultimate power.

The Mortlach Distillery is built on the site of a historic battle and is the first to legitimately rule over Dufftown’s whisky trade. Influenced by its own collection of historical figures, the Mortlach’s signature method to distil the liquid exactly 2.81 times is a complex process as unique as the Three-Eyed Raven character.

TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Opens with red apple and warming spice notes, before hints of toffee apple, wood spice, and ripe cranberry appear.
PALATE: Fresh fruit & creamy vanilla, woody, aromatic spice combining with hints of cinnamon and a warming woodiness.
FINISH: Lingering vanilla, spice, and dark chocolate.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sherry bomb with dark fruits, blood orange, vanilla, hint of smoke, worn leather, sulfur with a subtle note of grapefruit.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, fruit dripping with caramel and honey, bananas, orange cream, subtle oak and spice with pepper, allspice and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long with dark fruit and oak.
Comments:  Really lovely dram. I’ve enjoyed a few Mortlach offerings before Diageo decided to position them as a high-end (read high-priced) label. Don’t get me wrong – they’re delicious, and this one is too. I’ve seen this on-line for under $100, at which price I’d be a buyer for sure; at $150 I’m less sure..

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Stellum Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Stellum Rye
Cask Strength Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

58.12% ABV
$55
Website
Stellum Rye
We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Stellum Spirits is a new national brand created and produced by Barrel Craft Spirits® (BCS). Please see this release for additional details!

The identity of Stellum Rye is rooted in a tried and true 95% Rye Indiana mash bill. To enhance this classic style, we incorporate small amounts more barley-forward rye and choice barrels from both Kentucky and Tennessee. This brings a full, round mouthfeel and flashes of buttery sweetness to an otherwise spicy and tightly focused Rye Whiskey.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Deep copper.
Nose: Stewed apples, peaches, and pears dominate the initial nose, along with an undertone of baking spices. Nutmeg and clove provide a counterbalance to the sweet fruits, while a light mint and licorice note bring further depth to the aroma.
Palate: Aniseed, cardamom, and coriander wake up your palate with an intense spice punch. Notes of lemon peel and tangerine coming from the rye grain provide a nice citrus component to the overall spiciness. As the whiskey breathes in the glass, fresh green apples and spearmint arise, which offers just enough of a sweet component to engage all your taste buds.
Finish: Star anise, white pepper, and mint linger on the palate before fading into a honey-sweetened jasmine green tea.

With the Addition of Water: The citrus notes on the palate become more pronounced with candied lemon and orange peels, all supported by a mint simple syrup like you would find in a derby julep.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with baked apples, pears, citrus notes with baking spices and herbs, fresh dill, mint, hint of anise and lemongrass.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, sweet spicy notes with citrus fruit, cracked pepper, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple, chilis with honey and orange.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with rye spice, mint, honey and pepper.
Comments:  Another really solid blend. I’m a fan of cask strength rye, and this is a really lovely example of the spirit. Nothing against ‘barely legal’ rye whiskey, with only 51% rye in the mashbill – as I definitely enjoy that too. But that ultra-high rye mashbill gives some nice herbal spice notes, while trading off some of the caramel/vanilla sweetness. I decided to try this in a blind tasting against Pikesville Rye, which is a 6 yr old straight rye bottled at 55% ABV (and similarly priced). The two are distinctly different, and both great examples of a well made rye. I couldn’t pick a favorite because I really like what they both have to offer! If you’re a fan of high-rye rye, this is definitely one I’d urge you to try.

Rating: Must Try

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