Stands Out

Crown Royal Maple

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Crown Royal Maple Flavored Whisky
40% ABV
$22
Website

What the Distiller Says
Crown Royal Maple Finished Whisky is an exceptional blend that combines maple flavor with the distinctive smoothness and character of Crown Royal blended whiskies. The blend is then finished in maple-toasted oak to deliver a uniquely smooth experience.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Light, fresh maple combined with the signature caramel and vanilla nose of Crown Royal.
PALATE An exceptionally smooth blend with an authentic light maple taste.
FINISH Warm, woody caramelized note.

What Richard Says
Nose: Immediately as soon as the liquid is poured into the glass heavy notes of real maple syrup come wafting out. When nose reaches glass the maple smooths out a bit making room for caramel cake drizzled with vanilla cream.
Palate: Very maple forward with again, a caramel backing.
Finish: The finish isn’t anything exceptional. It is simply lingering notes of the taste.
Comments: This is not bad at all. It’s like a whiskey spiked bottle of maple syrup. It’s more for bar shots and creative cocktails rather than a sipping whiskey.
Rating: Stands Out

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Black Bottle

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$25
Website

What the Blender Says
Nose: Fresh and floral with freshly sawn oak aromas. Spicy with hints of smoke.
Palate: Silky, mellow and fruity with balanced smoky / peaty flavours then sweet oak and heather honey.
Finish: Soft, elegantly spicy, nutmeg, pepper and a gentle lingering smokiness.

What Richard Says
Nose: The nose is a bit of a ruffian with a rough and meaty structure to it.
Palate: Creamy and smooth with the sweetness of a wildflower honey watered down for bar use. The honey sweetness is augmented by notes of apricots and peaches with a light handed layering of smokiness.
Finish: This finishes with just a dusting of pepper and smoke wrapped around a licorice core.
Comments: Black Bottle is a lovely fellow. It is easy drinking on the smokier side. It works well as an inexpensive table dram or a nice subtle introduction to smokier whiskies.
Rating: Stands Out

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Auchentoshan Hepburn’s Choice 1997

/ / Lowland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

1997 Auchentoshan 19 yr “Hepburn’s Choice” (K&L Wines Exclusive)
53.3% ABV
$80
Website

What the Retailer Says: Auchentoshan often gets overlooked in the new age of big sherry and big peat. The Lowland stalwart’s triple-distilled, light, and fruity flavors often have more in common with Irish whiskey than they do Scotch single malt, but that’s exactly why we love it! The longer Auchentoshan sits in wood, the more exotic those fruit flavors become, which is exactly what happened inside this hogshead from Hepburn’s Choice. There’s a kiss of sweetness right off the bat that’s lifted and bolstered up by the 53.3% ABV. The vanilla kicks in shortly after and there are cheerful notes of shortbread and oak spice on the finish. At 19 years old, this whisky is still full of malty character and by no means shows its age. Think of this whisky as a cask strength version of the Midleton Rare, but at almost half the price. With water, the fruit really opens up and flavors of caramel and king sugar begin to unfold. It’s a whisky that does justice and honor to the classic Lowland style.

What Gary Says
Nose: Clean, cereal malt, with a subtle citrus (kiwi & lemongrass) with fresh tobacco & tea leaves; just a hint of smoke.
Palate: Sharpens quickly with a pepper spice, and then sweetens to barley sugar, figs, tangerine, and a hint of nutmeg.
Finish: Moderate to long, and drying.
Comments: Classic Auchentoshan profile – at least from what I’ve read. I honestly haven’t had much from them before, but I found my tasting notes lined up pretty close with how they describe the retail Auchentoshan 18yr (which I often find the distillery notes tend to be overzealous – but hey, they’re trying to move product). While this is similar to their notes, and I imagine a fair representation of their offering – it isn’t right in my wheelhouse. When I first opened it, I was disappointed – but I’ve liked it more each time I’ve gone back to it. I’d love to try this after only the 2nd distillation, as thrice distilled it is just too clean for my liking.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says
Nose: Green tea, lemon zest, and malt-o-meal. Water makes it a bit more grassy and vegetal.
Palate: This is lovely and much easier to drink than any other cask strength lowlander that I’ve had. Creamy and honey sweet with a kick of cracked black pepper at the end. A bit a water taps down the pepper and bring forward more a of an orange blossom note.
Finish: More pepper (even with water) and wood. Medium and dry.
Comments: Very nice. I really enjoy this whisky. I actually like it with very little water. The fullness dies quickly with too much additional dilution. A nice one for Auchentoshan and single malt fans alike. As referenced in the K&L’s notes, I agree that this might be something that would appeal to drinkers of Irish whiskey too.
Rating: Stands Out

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Forty Creek Three Grain Harmony

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

Forty Creek Three Grain Harmony Canadian Whisky
43% ABV
$70
Website
3_Grain_Harmony_Bottle_21May2015
What the Distillery Says:
Introducing Forty Creek Three Grain Harmony!

Harmony is the pleasing sound of two or more notes heard simultaneously. With whisky, the skillful blending of two or more whiskies, is genuine harmony.

Forty Creek Three Grain Harmony is the 9th Limited Release from Forty Creek Whisky. This year, we decided to create a bit of music by carefully blending and harmonizing three single grains: rye, barley and corn. We began by fermenting and distilling each individual grain separately. Both the rye and the barley stocks date back to when we first began our Forty Creek Distillery. This Limited Release marks the first time these stocks have been introduced into one of our whiskies. As with many of our Signature Editions, the separate, single grain whiskies were patiently aged in toasted white oak barrels. At their peak flavour potential, they were then artfully blended to create the subtle yet complex whisky we named Three Grain Harmony.

To the nose, Three Grain Harmony displays aromas of vanilla, toffee and orange blossom with underlying spice notes. On the palate there are delicate soft flavours of exotic spices with a long dry finish.

Three Grain Harmony is a limited edition of 9,000 bottles.

Tasting Notes
Three Grain Harmony starts off with aromas of vanilla, toffee and orange blossom with underlying spice notes. On the palate there are delicate soft flavours of exotic spices with a long dry finish.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Prominent corn (but not “young”), rye beer-bread baking next door, corn muffins, with a hint of some type of cleaning chemical?
Palate: Corn sweetness up front with honey and vanilla, then some spiciness (rye spice, but not ‘American rye’; more gentle).
Finish: Moderately long and drying.
Comments: Of the three Forty Creek whiskies I reviewed this winter, this was my favorite and certainly the most interesting. If this were at a lower price point, it would be a “Must Try”. The nose reminded me a bit of the George Washington Unaged Rye made at Mount Vernon (which sounds like a dig, but it isn’t). When I think “rye”, I think sharp spice – and this is like that without the sharp edge, and with the spice dial turned down. It has a lot going on, and it is fairly well integrated. For me, this is a “sit and ponder” type of pour.
Rating: Stands Out / Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Orange blossoms and corn mash.
Palate: Warm buttermilk cornbread (real cornbread, not the sweet Yankee kind) with orange blossom honey drizzled on top.
Finish: Spicy on the finish. Not in a “hot” way but it fires off with black and white pepper, cinnamon, crushed fennel seeds, and coriander.
Comments: Very nice and well put together. “Harmony” is the appropriate name. It plays well together. The finish on this release is really fun and gives you cause to linger on on the after aspects of the dram. However, for me it’s not something I would buy again over the standard Barrel Select. It’s interesting and fun for sure but it’s not $70 interesting or $70 fun.
Rating: Stands Out

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Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve Canadian Whisky
40% ABV
$60
Website
forty_creek_double_barrel_reserve_whisky_1
What the Distillery Says:
Notes from John Hall, Whisky Maker
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase some outstanding bourbon barrels from Kentucky. These barrels are excellent for ageing whiskies because they are “seasoned”. This means most of the fresh harsh oak tannins have been removed and what remains is all the good stuff, such as the softer oak tannins, wood vanillas, sugars and the toasty, smokey, spicy aromas, as well as the caramelized flavours from the heavy charring of the inside of the barrel.

After ageing my rye, barley and corn whiskies in their own special barrels, I decided to bring them together as a meritage, and placed the three whiskies into the bourbon barrels. This double barreling allowed the whiskies to hang out together and take on the subtle qualities offered by the bourbon barrels to enhance the finishing of the whisky.

Tasting Notes
Forty Creek Double Barrel has a wonderful golden roasted aroma filled with deep vanilla notes and highlighted with toasted spice, pecan and walnuts. There is a caramelized creaminess to the flavour with a rich spice that lifts it off the tongue. The finish is very smooth, mellow and extra long.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Soft, maple syrup, bit of burning leaves over freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies, rich with a hint of malt.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, syrupy sweet (but not viscous), maple candies, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream.
Finish: Moderately long and wet.
Comments: I prefer the nose on this over the Forty Creek Confederation Oak (I thought they were similar, but this one was much more rich with a bit more character). On the palate, this one crosses the “too sweet” line for me. Again, nothing off-putting unless you don’t care for sweet whiskey (but if that is the case, you’re likely not a big fan of most Canadian whiskey, eh!) If you like that sorta thing (maybe a big fan of Crown Royal?), this might be right up your alley! It certainly has more complexity, and is quite drinkable.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Slightly burnt caramel creams washed down with a vanilla malted milkshake.
Palate: Rich sweetness reminding me of vanilla fudge and toffee crisps. Cherry syrup, Frangelico, and Kahlua round out the palate.
Finish: A bit spicy with mild wood notes.
Comments: This whiskey is put together like their standard Barrel Select and then finished in ex-bourbon barrels instead of sherry barrels. It’s more of a vanilla forward version of that whiskey. It’s very pleasant and easy to drink. If you like lighter, sweeter whiskies then I would recommend giving this a try.
Rating: Stands Out

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