SMWSA Cask No. 85.23 Highlands, Speyside (Lossie) 59.4% ABV Distilled September 1999 $105 US Allocation: Unknown October 2012 Outturn Release
What the SMWSA Says: The first notes are typical of ex-sherry wood maturation: lightly sulfury, with struck matches, or as one put it ‘home-made egg mayo with granary bread’. The sulfur notes soon blow off, leaving yeasty, sour pumpernickel bread and baked pecan pie. At natural strength the taste is very sweet, burnt and aggressive. Water re-introduces the sulfur notes, which linger behind burnt toast spread with butter and bramble jelly or plum jam, and later treacle toffee. In the mouth, the texture is thick and smooth, the taste very sweet and slightly bitter, with raw brambles and redcurrants.
Drinking tip: Strolling in an autumnal orchard
What Richard Says: Nose: Butterscotch and sherry jump way out and overshadow everything else. Palate: Sweet like dark corn syrup with nutty bread pudding notes. Finish: Wood sticks to the back of the tongue like glue. Savor roasted meats and a nutty essence on the way out. Comments: Candy covered whisky? This is a dram for those with a sweet tooth. I myself have a huge sweet tooth so I’m loving this one. Water works well it. It mellows out the alcohol and keeps all the rest. Rating: Must Try Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.
Martin Miller’s Gin/Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin 40% ABV/45.2% ABV $30/$45 Website What the Distillery Says: [Quite a lot actually. Mr. Miller and his company are quite loquacious about this eponymous gin. Definitely check out the website. Below are the summations from the press materials provided]
Martin Miller’s Gin Distilled using an innovative process and nine classic botanicals, Martin Miller’s Gin is blended and bottled at 80 proof. It is soft on the palate, and has a gentle delivery of it’s juniper notes, making it the perfect gin for martinis and gin and tonics.
Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin Pure and clear in appearance, and with a long peppery finish, Westbourne Strength at 90.4 proof was developed specifically for cocktails that include stronger and more complex flavours and ingredients. Perfect for Bloody Mary’s and classics, like the Negroni.
What Richard Says: Nose: Herbaceous in a bubbly sort of way. Juniper, jasmine, a citrus zest. Palate: Sweet, slightly bitter, and peppery with classic juniper flavor. Very soft and easy to drink. Finish: Medium length with a clean juniper finish. Comments: This is simply a lovely classic gin. It’s not riffing on the gin base like a Hendricks. It distills (no pun intended) down the essence of London Gin into a standard bearing example. While this is great by itself, naturally the tipple shines in cocktails. I always try a new gin in a martini and a gin & tonic to start. Both are great. However, one of the recipes provided with the samples is a smashing version of the gin & tonic called Gin to Nicks. I can’t recommend that one enough. Rating: Must Try
I would like to thank Anderson Group PR for providing generous samples for review.
Gin to Nicks
Glass: Hi-ball Method: Build over cubed ice in glass Garnish: Lime peel
50ml Martin Miller’s Gin Dash of Angoustura bitters Squeeze of lime juice Good quality tonic water
Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years 46% ABV/92 Proof $50 to $60 Website What the Distillery Say: The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.
Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 10 year old is matured mostly in bourbon casks, emphasising the distillery’s character.
Matured 60% bourbon 40% sherry cask
The perfect introduction to the Springbank range. Complexity is the key word here. Yet the combination of Springbank matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks remains perfectly balanced from first sip to the full, rich finish.
Nose: Orchard fruit (pear) with a hint of peat, vanilla and malt. Palate: Malt, oak, spice, nutmeg and cinnamon, vanilla essence. Finish: Sweet with a lingering salty tingle.
What Richard Says: Nose: Heather, honey, burnt sugar, and a little anise. Palate: Very viscous, almost chewy. Great mouth feel. Fruity and briney. I’d love to be more specific on the fruity but it’s like southern ambrosia. It’s hard to pull the parts out. Finish: A nice briney oak and an almost but not quite peat smokiness that all rolls together very nicely. Comments: Oh Springbank I am so at odds with you. I love your whisky but I don’t want to tell people about it for fear it will be harder to get. It’s really hard to go bad with a Springbank. This one, along with Talisker, is in my opinion one of the two finest 10 year old single malt scotch drams available. The price may be a little off putting but you really need to try it. Rating: Must Try
Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels 43.3% ABV $45 Website What the Distillery Says: One man’s masterpiece, Angel’s Envy is an artisan bourbon inspired by Lincoln Henderson’s lifetime spent perfecting his craft and creating fine spirits. There may just be a spark of divine vision mixed in as well. Recognized by Malt Advocate, The Bourbon Review and Maxim as one of the top spirits released in 2010, Angel’s Envy is positioned as the world’s premier super-premium bourbon brand.
Beyond all the press, Angel’s Envy is Lincoln Henderson’s passion — a career culminating in two fingers of the finest bourbon you’ve ever tasted. To call Angel’s Envy “small batch” is an understatement.
Our bourbon starts with the native Kentucky climate and soil in which our corn and rye are grown, and a pristine limestone watershed rich in calcium and magnesium. These local ingredients are distilled and aged for four to six years in American white oak barrels. Because we want to create a genuinely unique spirit, we age it for three to six additional months in hand-selected port casks to create an exceptionally smooth and nuanced bourbon.
Some people might say Lincoln Henderson has a problem when they hear that he personally samples every batch of Angel’s Envy. We agree — he’s a raging perfectionist. Through every step of the process, he personally judges each batch’s readiness. We hope you’ll be able to overlook his condition.
Mr. Henderson describes his masterwork as “a warm spirit, lacking any hint of edginess, with ephemeral hints of port wine and a rich amber hue.” He explains, “My goal with Angel’s Envy is to produce a bourbon of exceptional character. Even with economic fluctuations, consumers want the opportunity to treat themselves to special indulgences, and I have created an affordable luxury that can be savored.” Lincoln Henderson sought to create the best-tasting bourbon on the planet. In our humble opinion, he succeeded.
Shake the bottle. If you’re lucky enough, you might see something special. We like to call it “essence.” We don’t filter our bourbon. If you’re looking for a filtered bourbon, the shelves are full of them. Filtration can remove up to 20% of a bourbon’s flavor and color. We prefer to let our bourbon live in its natural state. If that means an occasional particle, we think you’ll understand.
But why do we call it Angel’s Envy? As bourbon ages in the barrels, it’s drawn into the charred white oak during summer months and it recedes back into the virgin barrels during winter months. For each year of maturation, 5% of the barrel’s bourbon is lost to evaporation. For generations, this precious lost bourbon has been called the Angel’s Share. After tasting his creation, Lincoln Henderson reckoned that the angels might have wanted a bigger cut. Thus, Angel’s Envy was born.
What Richard Says: Nose: Buttery toffee, caramel, and wildflower honey. Palate: Delicately sweet. Vanilla and cinnamon stand out with a little more toffee and fruity notes. Finish: Well balanced. A little wood spice interplays with remnants of the palate to medium length before abruptly turning dry and fading out. Comments: I’m really liking some of the new finished bourbon’s released recently. The Parker’s Cognac Finish and Angel’s Envy stand out from the crowd. This is a dangerously easy to drink bourbon. Tasty and well balanced. Rating: Must Try
John E. Fitzgerald Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Very Special Small Batch 46% ABV $19.99 Website
What the Distillery Says: Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the initial launch of Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey into 12 markets in September 2012. A super-premium 92 proof Bourbon, Larceny is the heir to the wheated Bourbons that make up the historic Old Fitzgerald franchise that Heaven Hill acquired in 1999. In fact, it is the somewhat controversial history of John E. Fitzgerald and his eponymous Bourbon brand that provides the story, and name, to Larceny Bourbon, the latest new label from the venerated distillery that produces Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Bourbons and Rittenhouse Rye. Larceny Bourbon continues the Old Fitzgerald tradition of using wheat in place of rye as the third or “small” grain in the whiskey’s grain recipe, or mashbill as it is commonly known. The use of winter wheat replaces the spicier, fruitier flavor notes that rye provides with a softer, rounder character that is the hallmark of Old Fitzgerald and other “wheated” Bourbons such as Maker’s Mark and the Van Winkle line.
It is actually the story of the Old Fitzgerald brand, made famous by the late Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., that forms the historical basis for Larceny Bourbon. According to industry lore, John E. Fitzgerald had founded his distillery in Frankfort , KY shortly after the Civil War ended, making his Bourbon available only to steamship lines, rail lines and private clubs. This story was furthered by S.C Herbst, who owned the “Old Fitz” brand from the 1880’s through Prohibition, and “Pappy” Van Winkle, who purchased the brand during Prohibition and made it his signature label. However, it was revealed by Pappy’s granddaughter, Sally Van Winkle Campbell, in her 1999 book But Always Fine Bourbon—Pappy Van Winkle and the Story of Old Fitzgerald, that in fact John E. Fitzgerald was not a famous distiller at all. He was in reality a treasury agent who used his keys to the warehouses to pilfer Bourbon from the finest barrels. His discerning palate led those barrels to which he chose to help himself being referred to as “Fitzgerald barrels”.
Now Heaven Hill has launched Larceny, whose tagline—“A taste made famous by an infamous act”—sets history straight.
Tasting Notes: Aroma: Fresh bread and toffee, with a note of butterscotch Taste: Buttery caramel and honeyed notes, with a rich mouthfeel Finish: Long, gently sweet and savory
What Richard Says: Nose: Cherries…lots of cherries and vanilla. Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper? Maybe. The is also a little lavender dancing in the back with scalded milk. Palate: Not nearly as sweet as the nose would lead you to believe. Vanilla, a nice oak char, rich, and slightly savory. Well balanced as a good wheater should be. Finish: Butterscotch and dry oak with hints of tobacco and oiled leather. Comments: Definitely the Heaven Hill wheater DNA from the 2010 Parker’s Heritage release. If I had to put Larceny up against Buffalo Trace’s Weller Special Reserve and Maker’s I’d pick this one every time. I may have just found my new sub $25 wheater. Rating: Must Try, Great Value
