Must Try

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$220 – $250
Website

What the Blender Says
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an unrivalled masterpiece. It is an exquisite blend made from some of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies. Only one in every ten thousand casks has the elusive quality, character and flavour to deliver the’ remarkable signature taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. An extraordinary whisky for extraordinary occasions.

FLAVOR
NOSE: Take in the wonderfully mellow, rounded nose – replete with dry smokiness artfully mixed with the sweetness of raisins.
PALATE: Serving a velvety combination of vanilla, honey and rose petals – before broadening out to include a zesty orange flavor with notes of hazelnut, sherry and dark chocolate.
FINISH: Signing off with a rich and luxuriously long finish, which showcases Johnnie Walker’s trademark smokiness in the most sophisticated way.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Nice with a bit of sherry, peat, and nutty spice with dark fruit; hint of pipe smoke while laid back in an old overstuffed leather chair.
Palate:  Creamy rich mouthfeel, fruity (melons and raisins), hints of chocolate with allspice, nutmeg, anise and dark candy.
Finish:  Long, slow and mellowing.
Comments:  This is one of the main reasons I wanted this sample pack.  I’ve been wanting to try Johnnie Walker Blue for years, but not enough to buy a whole bottle (and not wanting to try it in a bar/restaurant where the environment isn’t often conducive to giving a dram my full attention.  In comparison to the Platinum 18 yr, I found this to be only a marginal step up in the line-up. On its own, it is a very nice pour. It is absolutely one of the more intensely flavored drams I’ve had at only 40% ABV. Nothing objectionable either – very well balanced, and I appreciate the craftsmanship that went into blending this.  It too leaves me wanting to try it at a higher proof, and for my tastes, there are plenty of bottles I’d pick over this for the money.
Rating: Stands Out

(Richard and Matt had reviewed this as part of a ‘taste off’ in 2009; below are their notes from that post)

What Richard Says:
Nose:  Peatier and smokier than most blends. You can really smell the Islay in here. Fresh cut wood and non-orange citrus. Limes maybe?
Palate:  An initial sweetness quickly shoved aside for a rich smokiness that settles to brine notes of the sea. Rich, complicated, and ever changing on the palate.
Finish:  A very slow and long finish. It leaves you with a mellow smokiness more subtle than the robust smoke on the palate.
Rating: Must Try

What Matt Says:
Nose:  Peat, chocolate, honey suckle and other sweet florals. Quite lovely.
Palate:  Very smooth, but a little one-dimensional. There are some very light hints of peat, but mostly sweet and fruity.
Finish: Peaty and dry.
Rating: Stands Out

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Glenfarclas 21 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 21 Year
43% ABV
$115-$140
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso sherry cask maturation.
An incredibly rounded whisky that leaves you refreshed and contented. A whisky that always deserves a second glass.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Dark amber-gold.
Nose: Intense, full of aromas – sherried fruit, tropical fruit, nutmeg and almonds with slight citrus notes at the end.
Flavour: Full bodied rich and rounded, develops slowly into fruity and spicy flavours.
Finish: Long-lasting and smooth with a chocolate feel at the back of your throat.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick and rich, sherried raisins, apricots, figs; a hint of barbecue sauce (vinegar, brown sugar) with a subtle nutty spice; notes of tobacco, leather and coffee cake
Palate:  Rich sherry sweetness, cherries, peaches, toasted orange marmalade with walnuts; creamy mouthfeel to start but then sharpens with toffee and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, sweet, drying with a smokey/nutty spice.
Comments:  A delicious whisky by all accounts – and a flavor intensity I rarely experience with a 43% ABV dram. A fair amount of complexity, nicely balanced between sweet, spicy, and oaky elements, a creamy mouthfeel – until it isn’t. Thus far, this is my favorite offering from Glenfarclas (with the 15 yr being a close second). Not quite as sharp as some of the others, but enough of that unmistakenable Glenfarclas edge you don’t doubt its heritage. Even at 43%, it handles a little water nicely – with the fruit notes stepping up, but not losing the spiciness.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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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

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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

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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

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