Probably Pass

Highland Park Dark Origins

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46.8% ABV
$80 to $90
Website
HP-Dark-Origins-bottle-pack-70cl-1000
What the Distillery Says:
Dark Origins is inspired by the cunning spirit and courageous personality of Highland Park’s infamous founder, Magnus Eunson. This latest addition to the core expressions uses twice as many first fill sherry casks than in the classic Highland Park 12 year old resulting in a naturally darker, richer flavour.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Rich mahogany
Nose: Sherried spice and ripe bananas combine with toasted hazelnuts and baked apple
Palate: Well-balanced, dry peat at first mellowing out to maraschino cherries, warm dark chocolate entices the palate
Finish: Enduring sweet smoke

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sherry for sure. This has a much thicker and meatier nose than standard Highland Park bottlings.
Palate: So if a sherry butt and a peat brick had a fight, beat the hell out of each other, put antiseptic ointment on it and wrapped the whole thing in old Band-aids it would be this whisky.
Finish: Surprisingly sweet on the finish but it quickly fades to a dry soot-like quality.
Comments: I understand where Edrington is coming from. You have a great but under valued malt. You use some of those same great sherry casks that you use for Macallan but not too many. Your malt is a great balance of flavor and finesse with a bit of peat. You kind of missed out on the uber-peak band wagon last decade and now things are swinging heavily sherried. So you don’t have enough aged sherry stock to make a second line like with Macallan but you can bring what you do have together and make a no age statement version for the sherry bomb lovers out there and hopefully capitalize on the sherry wave to bring in some extra profits.

Yeah I get all that but the problem is this sucks. It might be passable if it wasn’t 1) a NAS mystery mix, 2) $80+ a bottle when your 12 year old is around $45 to $50, and 3) a Highland Park that is a bare shadow of the rest of the line. I’ve passed this bottle around and gotten some not negative feedback but if you for some reason value my opinion then I wouldn’t waste your money.
Rating: Probably Pass

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Cutty Sark Prohibition

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky
50% ABV
$29.99
Website
Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says:
Cutty Sark is announcing a new edition to its line of blended Scotch whiskies. A nod to the brand’s origins during the Prohibition era, Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Blended Scotch Whisky pays tribute to the style of liquid consumed during the 1920s.

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition (coined “Cutty Pro” by its early adopters) salutes the notorious Captain William McCoy, who courageously smuggled Cutty Sark into American speakeasies. McCoy possessed an infamous reputation as a distributor of the highest quality products, always genuine and never adulterated, giving rise to Cutty Sark’s affectionate nickname, “The Real McCoy.” The black opaque bottle design and cork seal are a respectful hat tip to the type of whisky bottles prevalent during the Prohibition era.

“This blend is created with exact precision as Captain McCoy himself would approve to celebrate the 80th anniversary of such a significant era,” said Kirsteen Campbell, Cutty Sark Master Blender. “We look forward to sharing this whisky with those who possess the same free spirit as McCoy’s original fans did in the 1920s.”

Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition is handcrafted in Scotland in small batches from top quality grain and single malt whiskies, matured in American Oak casks and bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof).

Tasting Notes:
The full flavor of Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition is composed of black pepper and toffee notes with a subtle hint of vanilla and citrus fruits and a smooth finish due to its cold filtration process.

Appearance: Warm golden color
Nose: Soft, ripe citrus fruits, honey and vanilla
Palate: Creamy richness, hints of toffee with peppery notes
Finish: Smooth with subtle hints of spice

What Elizabeth Says:
Nose: Licorice wrapped buttery wood.
Palate: Buttery, vanilla.
Finish: Overwhelmingly tart.
Comments: I’ll skip the chance of being caught drinking Prohibition.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Roasted nuts drizzled with a sherry reduction, woody, and creamy.
Palate: A fruit tart that I just can’t place. Creamy rich mouth feel. Vanilla creme brulee with a nutty back.
Finish: The proof is great on the palate but a little rougher on the finish. Dry and medium length. Nothing offensive, just a little hot.
Comments: Very nice. I haven’t always been the biggest fan of other Cutty Sarks I’ve tried but I’ really digging this bottle. It’s a taste dram though. The nose and finish don’t add much to the party but it is surely tasty.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Vicki Loo with Three Sixty Communications for sending us a bottle to review.

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SMWSA Cask 129.1

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 129.1
Islay
60.2% ABV
Distilled June 2006
$85
US Allocation: 114 bottles
Holiday 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Your speed boat rockets out of Leith; you’re heading for 60 knots; the city disappears behind; the clouds part. The noise of traffic dies down; the hubbub and stress are left behind; your mind floats to aromas of barley fields and eucalyptus in rainforests; the only sound is the ticking of the engine; the dominant flavours are the Arbroath smoky, butter beans and tzatziki on the sandwiches you packed. Think of incense, forget the rate race, cut the engine…and enjoy the finish of smoky, peachy yoghurt of loveliness as you float into open water.

Drinking tip: Day or night; come rain or shine; wit friends or alone.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Camp fires, roasted meats, and a peat heavy on heather and decayed floral matter. Adding water reminds me of applying burn ointment next to the smoking coals of a campfire.
Palate: Salty and medicinal. Water doesn’t do much to help.
Finish: Hot, chewy, and over brined out of the bottle. The finish leaves you with Chloraseptic throat spray. Ugh.
Comments: The nose on this is amazing. If they made an aftershave like this I’d pair it with Italian Proraso shaving cream for every shave. Unfortunately the palate and finish are medicinal in an unpleasant way.
Rating: Probably Pass

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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SMWSA Cask 33.113

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 33.113
Islay, South Shore
60.4%% ABV
Distilled July 2003
$85
US Allocation: Unknown
October 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
You’re in a fabulous pavilion – soaking in a bubble-bath – sweetly peaceful. Nearby, a platter of exotic fruits (pineapple, papaya, lychees) and a dram of this. Across the room there’s a fire of fragrant pine cones. Outside, the eighteenth green of the world-class golf course that you have just completed way under par. The door opens and another serving girl appears with poppy seed biscuits, Italian fennel-flavoured salami and a beaming smile. You are tired but still feeling strong and proud of your achievements. Everything is in balance and harmony – the dream, the feeling, and the evocative scents and flavours from this ‘small headland’ dram.

Drinking tip: The perfect dram for unwinding after a hard day.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Brine, iodine, hints of canned cherry pie filling, and matchbook strike strips. Water opens up rubber bands and fresh asphalt.
Palate: Light, green, and smokey. The high alcohol content leaves a cayenne like burn in the mouth and numbness on the lips. Waters kills the burn but leave cracked fennel seed and more rubber bands.
Finish: Bitter and dry.
Comments: I like Islay as much as the next scotch fiend but this too young dram isn’t doing it for me at all.
Rating: Probably Pass

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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Macallan Whisky Maker’s Selection

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Fine Oak Whisky Maker’s Selection Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
42.8% ABV/85.6 Proof
$75 to $90 for 1 liter
Duty Free/Travel Retail Exclusive
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The 1824 Collection
The 1824 Collection is a definitive range of Single Malts exclusive to Travel Retail. Crafted by those at its heart, these personal whiskies tell a particular story about The Macallan and draw on its long history, rich traditions and legendary dedication to quality.

Whisky Maker’s Edition
Containing rare whisky distilled from barley grown on The Macallan’s Estate, Whisky Maker’s Edition is personally crafted by The Macallan’s Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno and bottled at his preferred strength of 42.8% ABV. This Macallan is exceptionally elegant with a lingering finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is very green and cereal in nature. Bread, grains, breakfast cereal, and also a not altogether pleasant malty note.
Palate: It’s very viscous and there’s a sweet and bitter interplay that seem at odds with each other. It’s nutty with notes of honey. The palate is also very cereal-like in flavor.
Finish: Dry, hot, and a little bitter.
Comments: Let me start by saying I like Macallan scotch. I have for a long time. At the risk of being one of “those guys” I’ll say that I liked it before it was cool. I also like the Fine Oak Range. When it was released Macallan got a lot of flack for it but I enjoy it almost as much as the Sherry Range. All that said, I don’t like this. If you see the 1824 Collection on your next trip through duty free you might want to pick up one of the other expressions.
Rating: Probably Pass

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