Must Try

Glenfarclas 15 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 15 Year
46% ABV
$60 – $70 (not currently distributed in the US)
Website

What the Distiller Says
We bottle this at 46% simply because my grandfather preferred it at this strength. It’s still a family favourite. This is perfect for single malt enthusiasts.

Tasting Notes
Colour: A rich golden amber.
Nose: Complex, sherried, light butterscotch aromas, with a hint of dried fruit.
Flavour: Full bodied with a superb balance of sherried sweetness and malty tones.
Finish: Long lasting, gloriously sherried, sweet and distinguished.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich and thick, plums, toffee, rice pudding with charred oak, and a sharp smokey note; just a tad hot.
Palate:  Sweet, thick sherry with candied pecans, bitter chocolate, nutmeg; smokey with a hint of tobacco in the end.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with a tobacco note lingering.
Comments:  This is darker in color than the 12 yr. While I prefer the nose on the 12 yr, on the palate this is very nice – well balanced, a bit less sweet with more bite. Some water opens it up nicely – tamping down the spice and bringing the sweet to the front. Overall I prefer drinking this over the 12, which is unfortunate since this doesn’t seem to be offered in the US.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Glenfarclas 15 Year Read More »

Ledaig Signatory 9 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Ledaig 9 yr Cask Strength
(Signatory, 1st fill sherry butt, cask no 900146)
56.8% ABV
$90
Website

What the Seller Says
A nine-year-old Ledaig from Signatory as part of the Cask Strength Collection. Distilled in 2005, this peated whisky was aged in a first-fill sherry butt, a combination that has produced superb indie bottlings.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick sherry with dark fruit, peat, smoke and sea air.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, sweet peat, sherried stewed fruit, molasses with a sharp pepper bite.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with some pepper spice.
Comments:  I bought this on a recommendation that I seek out young Ledaig in sherry. I’m glad I listened, as this is delicious! While this doesn’t need water, it holds up well to it – maintaining the rich mouthfeel – and it subdues the pepper edge a bit. If you like smoke, peat, and sherry – I’d absolutely look for this or something similar.
Rating: Must Try

Ledaig Signatory 9 Year Read More »

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’
46% ABV
$40-45
Website
(Important note for those in the United States:  On the site’s landing page, select United Kingdom as the country or it will auto-direct by location, and you won’t see the content; I couldn’t find a way around that!  If it auto-selects United States, you may have to clear cookies/cache to be prompted)

What the Distiller Says
This single malt has been matured and married in a combination of the finest bourbon and sherry casks for at least 8 years. Non-chill filtered, of natural colour and bottled at 46%, The Hielan’ encompasses a unique combination of sweet, buttery aromas with spicy, sherry overtones. The Hielan’ is a tribute to the dialect spoken in the distillery’s surrounding area in the Scottish Highlands.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Amber with a burnished copper glow.
NOSE: Rounded waves of orange blossom and a citrus twist flow over buttery, golden sultanas, sundried raisins and ripe yellow plums; all dusted with a touch of vanilla.
PALATE: Crisp, vibrant oak spices warm soaked sultanas, apricot jam and gingerbread; all rounded by delicate hints of butterscotch, cocoa and toasted almonds.
CONCLUSION: Classic sherry overtones with a contrasting crisp dimension demonstrate the complexity of the traditional Highland character.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Bright, sweet malt with orange, tangerine and hints of mango.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, orange creamsicle with hints of nutty spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, sweet with lingering spice notes.
Comments:  Damn, this is delicious!  8 years is on the young side for a single malt, and this one is lighter in color than the other 8 year Octarine – so I didn’t have high expectations going in.  Boy did I underestimate it.  Just a lovely pour; more on the sweet side but not overly so.  Dangerously drinkable (drinks to me like 40%), although cursing that I don’t see it available locally.  Not being full-on sherry, I think this allows the spirit to stand on its own a bit more, and it really does shine.
Rating: Must Try

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’ Read More »

Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye 2018

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye (2018)
59.8% ABV
$60 – $70
Website

What the Distiller DOESN’T Say . . .
Anything. Seriously – I couldn’t find any mention of this new, exciting product on their website (Beam-Suntory or Knob Creek), their facebook page, etc. I’m baffled as to why – other than they expect this will sell out without the need to publish so much as a press release on it. So, sorry to report dear reader that I can’t share what they’d say about it.

What Gary Says
Nose: Sweet caramel drizzled tiramisu with toasted orange zest and subtle chocolate notes over fall leaves; a tad hot.
Palate:  Rich, warm sweetness with caramel and chocolate that skips a few gears and explodes into an orange spice zip with drying pepper spice.
Finish:  Long and drying w/ burnt pepper notes trailing off.
Comments:  The nose advertises a nice, semi-tame rye – which the palate starts to deliver before quickly erupting with a strong rye spice explosion. This isn’t age stated (the bottle says it was barreled in 2009, so assuming it was dumped late last year or early this year – it is in the 8-9 year range), and the label also doesn’t mention it is a “straight” rye whiskey – but sources indicate that it is despite not being labeled as such. Regardless of the precise age – this is a damn tasty whiskey. Rye with much age and proof is harder to come by today, and this makes me yearn for the days when I could walk in and pick up a 7 or 8 yr cask strength rye whiskey for $50 or $60. I was fortunate to pick this up for under $60, but even at $70, I would be pretty happy with it. I’m hoping this becomes an annual (or more frequent) release – and at the same price point!
Rating: Must Try

Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye 2018 Read More »

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year

53.5% ABV
$60
Website

What the Distiller Says

This wonderful bourbon is bottled as close to barrel proof as possible. We add just a splash of our Kentucky limestone well-water when we empty the barrels for bottling. Thus, this whiskey is as smooth as any you will find.

Tasting notes
See a rich, copper color. Smell enticingly sweet, spicy, caramel-nut-fudge aromas. Enjoy a fruity, medium-to full-bodied palate with intense dried fruit and toasted nuts notes. Each sip finishes with a very long, bold wave of peppery brown spices, floral honey and charred barrel flavors that balance the weight of the alcohol. It’s a big, bold, aged bourbon that has great balance for its high proof and flavor.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, oak, allspice with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, slight musty smoke note; bit of water tamps down the sweet a bit, bringing more of the oak out.
Palate:  Warm, sweet with vanilla, caramel, cocoa before turning sharp with allspice and oak; some water tamps down the edge and brings out the caramel with a hint of raisins.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with a bit of pepper bite kicking in.
Comments:  For a wheated bourbon, this has more edge to it than I remembered. While I do like a couple of drops of water in almost anything, this drinks better for me closer to 90 proof than the 107 from the bottle. This used to be one of my favorite bottles out of Buffalo Trace – when I could pick it up for less than $40. At the MSRP of $60, I’m less of a fan (and unfortunately it is often sold much higher than that – both at retail and elsewhere). Price aside, there aren’t many wheaters at this age and proof, so if you’re a fan of wheaters, I’d definitely make sure you try this (although I’d seek it out at a bar first). Even if you prefer rye-recipe bourbons, this has more spice/edge than most wheaters and is probably something you’d enjoy.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon Read More »