Must Try

Knappogue Castle 12 yr – Sherlock’s Private Selection

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Knappogue Castle 12 yr (Sherlock’s Private Selection)
46% ABV
$40
Website

What the Bottler Says
BOURBON CASK MATURED
Knappogue Castle 12 year old, our signature expression, is an exceptional single malt made exclusively from malted barley. Triple distilled one batch at a time in traditional, onion-shaped copper pot stills, the whiskey is then aged in bourbon oak casks for twelve years. The delicate distillation process, along with the moist and temperate climate, yields the distinctive flavor of this remarkable Irish single malt.

AROMA: Rich and biscuity with notes of peppery spice.
TASTE: Mellow and well-balanced with a bright, elegant fruitiness and mild spice flavors.
FINISH: Medium, clean, and smooth.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Light, sweet malty cereal notes, sour dough bread with subtle oak.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, a bit thicker than avg, sea air, sweet dried peach and pear, orange marmalade, sour oak and spicy.
Finish:  Moderately long and wet, with pepper notes.
Comments:  I’ll admit it – Irish isn’t my favorite category of whisky. Most nights, I find it too crisp and clean for my liking. This private barrel pick isn’t, which for me is a big plus (as well as a fine example of where a private selection can stand a cut above the standard label; I’ll share more thoughts on that later this week). I find it has much more character than the retail Knappogue Castle 12 yr. This selection was aged in Four Roses bourbon casks, and is bottled at 46% versus 40% – another positive in my book. It doesn’t state on the label or hang-tag that it is non-chill filtered, but it’s my opinion that this is likely the case based on the mouthfeel. This is a delightful dram, and while one private selection isn’t a guarantee how others will fare, if the others are bottled at this same proof and NCF – I would anticipate them to be similarly delicious.
Rating: Must Try; Great Value

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Jura 18 Year Single Malt

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Jura 18 Year Single Malt

44% ABV
$125
Website

We would like to thank Jura and The 5th Column PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

A timeless 18 Year Old malt whisky finished in red wine casks, guaranteed to complete any collection
They say time and tide wait for no man. On Jura, by contrast, time is stretched by the changing seasons and tempered by its unique microclimate, with each passing year bringing its own riches. Matured for eighteen long years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and enriched by superior Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, a unique spirit is created that has truly come of age.

COLOR: Rosewood gold
NOSE: Aromas of toffee, tropical fruits and cinnamon
TASTE: Flavours of rich black forest fruit, cocoa and coffee

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick musty sherry with raisins and currants; hint of cinnamon and brown sugar (like a freshly baked pastry) with a bit of smoke.
Palate:  Creamy viscous mouthfeel; sweet dark fruits with chocolate over orange and citrus notes before moving into some baking spices and pepper spice on the back.
Finish:  Moderately long and slowly drying.
Comments:  This is definitely a single malt matured in sherry, but not a sherry bomb. Some lovely chocolate notes and with the sherry still being prevalent but not overwhelming – it allows other flavors to shine. At 18 years old, the sherry can easily become too much, and they’ve done a nice job of keeping it in check. Appreciate the 44% ABV bottling too, and am elated to see higher proofs starting to become more common. This has a lovely balance, and it wears its age well – the sweet, chocolate spicy notes are the star with the oak being subtle to where I don’t really notice it (which is in my wheelhouse).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Jura Seven Wood

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Jura Seven Wood
42% ABV
$75
Website

What the Distiller Says
Inspired by the tenacity and ingenuity of the people of Jura, Jura Seven Wood is a testament to the skill of our whisky makers and island community. Influenced by seven select French and American Oak barrels for a rare balance and depth with a hint of smoke, this is a single malt with intriguing complexity. Seven Wood is initially matured in first-fill American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels. It is then further enhanced by six hand selected French Oak casks – Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles & Les Bertranges casks.

These casks have never held any wine prior to being procured by our whisky making team. Through these, we find increased complexity and rare tropical richness from the French oak to develop a unique style of single malt whisky. The result is a more intense flavour experience, amplified by a higher ABV of 42%, showcasing peach aromas, candied orange to taste and a subtle smoke finish.

COLOR: Mahogany gold
NOSE: An aromatic fusion of coffee, ginger spice and a hint of milk chocolate
TASTE: Caramelized peach, chewy licorice and candied orange with a hint of sea-spray and smoke

What Gary Says
Nose:  Musky & smoky sweetness; dark fruit notes over worn leather; mixture of traditional oak notes with some green wood.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with ripe peaches, pears, and drizzled honey with a sprinkle of cinnamon; sharpens a tad with a unique oak-spice note.
Finish:  Moderately long and gentle.
Comments:  This is my first experience with one of Jura’s whiskies, but it won’t be my last – this is a delightful dram! Very well rounded – not too sweet, not too oaky, and a lot of flavor at 42% ABV. I always try to make my nosing/tasting notes prior to reading other reviews or materials to avoid “power of suggestion”. I made a note wondering if one of the containers was sherry (it isn’t), but that is the type of dark fruit flavors I pick up; although less intense than a straight-up sherry matured single malt. The various French oak casks definitely bring an interesting spice dimension (more holiday-type spices than your savory pepper notes). If you’re a whisky geek – I’d look for an opportunity to try it!
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

We would like to thank Jura and The 5th Column PR for sending us a sample to review.

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George Washington Rye Whiskey

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

George Washington Rye Whiskey

Batch 2014B (Nov), Bottle 1731
43% ABV
$100 (375 mL)
Website
George Washington Unaged Rye Whiskey

What the Distiller Says

This special bottle of George Washington’s Rye Whiskey® is one of a limited number of bottles distilled at George Washington’s reconstructed distillery at Mount Vernon.

The mash bill, or recipe, was discovered by researchers examining the distillery ledgers for 1798 and 1799. His whiskey consisted of 60% rye, 35% corn and 5% malted barley. The records also indicate that George Washington’s whiskey was distilled at least twice before being sent to market. In Washington’s time whiskey was not aged and was sold in its original form. The whiskey in this bottle accurately represents that process.

Mount Vernon staff used Washington’s original mash bill and traditional 18th-century methods in the production of this rye whiskey. This included grinding of all the grain in Washington’s water-powered gristmill, fermenting in wooden mash tubs and distilling in copper pot stills heated by wood fires, making this rye whiskey as close to the original recipe as possible.

What Gary Says

Nose: Thick, robust cereal, corn bread and freshly baked rye bread; a hint of barley malt and pine.
Palate: Rich, creamy, sweet corn and sweet barley malt with a bite of pepper and a touch of sourdough bread.
Finish: Fairly quick (although more pleasant than the other white dog whiskies evaluated during the same sessions).
Comments: In early 2015, I visited George Washington’s Mount Vernon Distillery and Gristmill, and bought this bottle (despite not being a fan of white dog). They make whiskey a couple times a year, using the same techniques used in George Washington’s day (almost completely by hand!) They sell a limited number of bottles, and I was anxious to taste what whiskey back in Washington’s day may have tasted like. In that period, whiskey wasn’t aged (at least not intentionally), so the unaged rye whiskey was as close as I could get (although I guess something aged for some odd months might have been more accurate – who knows). Besides the methods used, this is a much lower proof than most white dog on the market today. And of the three white dogs I reviewed, this was hands down my favorite. Quite interesting, with a lot more going on in terms of depth of flavor on both the nose and palate, and a thicker mouthfeel. I would absolutely love to try this with some real age on it, based on what I’ve read about lower proof distillates. Don’t get me wrong – this was an expensive taste of history, but it left me with no regrets.

Rating: Must Try (if you’re a whiskey geek; otherwise try before you buy!)

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Advent Day 15: Lost Distilleries Blend

/ / Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky /

On the 15th day of Advent, my calendar gave to me…

The Lost Distilleries Blend Blended Scotch Whisky
Batch 10
51% ABV
$400
Website

What the Blender Says
It is no secret amongst whisky-lovers that some of the greatest and most admired distilleries in Scotland are those that have sadly closed over the years. Be these closures due to economic circumstance, lack of demand, or just bad fortune, many of the whiskies left behind have attained iconic, near-mythical status amongst the whisky cognoscenti.

The Lost Distilleries Blend has reached double digits! Yes, The Blended Whisky Company’s exceptional blended Scotch whisky created exclusively with malt and grain whiskies from distilleries that have shut their doors has arrived at its 10th batch. As ever, stocks both rare and sought-after by whisky collectors and cognoscenti alike have made their way into the Lost Distilleries Blend – this time featuring whisky from Caperdonich, Rosebank, Imperial, Mosstowie, Glen Mhor, Glenisla, Glenlochy, Craigduff, Port Ellen and Brora, alongside grain from Port Dundas. A marvel of blending and a fine tribute to those gone but not forgotten greats.

Batch 10 is a release of 1,041 bottles.

What Richard Says
Nose: Deep notes of warm fruit, polished old oak furniture, fine aged tobacco, rich vanilla cream, and that wonderful “old whisky” nose.
Palate: Stewed stone fruits, more vanilla cream, raisins, and toffee.
Finish: Herbal and smoky with a sprinkling of cocoa powder and ground black pepper. After all that fades it gets really bitter.
Comments: Delicious! This is a very complex and well integrated old blend of scotch. It is pricey and not widely distributed. I don’t think that I would scour the earth for a bottle but if you come across the opportunity to try it then you definitely should.
Rating: Must Try

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