Stands Out

Talisker Storm

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky
45.8% ABV
$35 to $85 (prices on this seem to swing wildly – $35 at Binny’s and $85 at Total Wine)
Website
Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky
What the Distillery Says:
Talisker Storm offers the drinker Talisker’s full maritime majesty, all unfettered elemental power and confidence.

Appearance: Full gold.
Nose: Powerful, fresh-clean and growing in complexity like a gathering storm to reveal a sweet maltiness with ripe red berry fruit. Eventually well integrated mellow smoke drifts across the scene as a wild sea turns up briny, fresh clean notes, and an oily explosion of pepper.
Body: Medium.
Palate: At first mellow and rich in the mouth then quickly very spicy and increasingly stormy as the Talisker heat comes through. It’s as if the pure, tongue-coating sweetness joins hands with a deep nutty smokiness to embrace those spicier notes. The flavour is elegantly drawn out with a good balance between sweetness, smoke and salt, which is all the more evident when a little water is added.
Finish: Drier and of medium-length, with a lasting, smooth aftertaste, in which light peaty burnt embers can be found.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Brine forward with a salty earthy feel. It’s a lot more peaty than it is smokey. If you’ve ever smelled dried peat as opposed to peat smoke you will know what I mean.
Palate: Over ripe fruit sweetness pushes forward with a smokey back. The salty sea air and rich dark earthiness fill in the edges.
Finish: Saltines and campfire ashes.
Comments: A very nice dram. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Depending on where you find this in terms of price (note the wide range) it could either really be worth it ($35), of moderate interest ($60), or of only passing interest to the Talisker enthusiast ($85). I don’t think that this brings new dimensions or depth to the Talisker stable. I would probably try it at a bar before buying it at higher prices unless you just love everything Talisker puts out.
Rating: Stands Out

Talisker Storm Read More »

Talisker 10 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
45.8% ABV
$60
Website
talob.10yo
What the Distillery Says:
APPEARANCE Brilliant gold
NOSE Powerful peat-smoke with just a hint of sea-water saltiness, fresh oysters, and a citrus sweetness.
BODY Full.
PALATE A rich dried-fruit sweetness with clouds of smoke and strong barley-malt flavours, warming and intense. Peppery at the back of the mouth.
FINISH Huge, long, warming and peppery in the finish with an appetising sweetness.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Bright sweetness, stewed peaches and pears, subtle peat smoke with musty oak, sea air, cereal maltiness.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honeyed sweetness with a hint of pears before a savory/ subtle pepper spice, pleasant earthiness, peat smoke.
Finish: Moderately long.
Comments: Very pleasant dram. Nicely balanced between sweet, smoke, earthy. Reminds me of the sea and the mountains, which I guess ultimately reminds me of Scotland. This dram has a bit of all that terroir (I’d say a bit of everything I love about Scotch, but the lack of sherry would make that an outright lie!) As I know smoke and peat might not appeal to everyone, I’m hesitant to say “Must Try”, but if you don’t really have a stance on that, or are just starting out with single malts – I would definitely encourage you give it a go!
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, earthy, and smokey with a lovely sweetness in the background.
Palate: Smokey and slightly salty with a toffee like sweetness and malty backbone.
Finish: Pepper and brine linger as the other notes fade.
Comments: It sounds a bit pretentious but as the years progress I find it harder to find enjoyment in younger single malts. At 10 years old there are very few single malt scotches that I still enjoy. Talisker is one of those few. This is a delicious and robust malt that demands attention and offers layers of depth in return. As the price continues to climb in recent years it makes it harder to buy at 10 years but it is still very enjoyable.
Rating: Must Try

Talisker 10 Year Read More »

Jefferson’s Reserve

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Very Small Batch
45.1% ABV
$55
Website
jefferson_s_reserve_very_old_straight_bourbon_whiskey_1_2
What the Bottler Says:
In 1997, when Jefferson’s was first starting out, we found a 15-year-old bourbon that we immediately knew was rich, complex and needed to be brought to market. It was in 2003 that we decided to bring in other bourbons to marry with the original Jefferson’s Reserve. Similar to Jefferson’s, we still use over 50% of that mash bill and add up to 3 more bourbons to create more flavor and complexities. Jefferson’s Reserve is a big, sophisticated bourbon that has a lot of flavor up front, a lot of weight mid palate and a deep, wonderful finish.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet, cinnamon, vanilla with oak throughout and hints of anise spice and cloves.
Palate: Soft, very nicely balanced between sweet caramel creams, honey, cinnamon spice, and subtle pepper-spice; hints of cereal grains.
Finish: Moderate and pleasant.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve not been a big fan of Jefferson’s because of the lack of transparency, and rumors that some whisky bottled may not have been 100% as it was labeled. That said, this is a damn nice bourbon! Incredibly drinkable, and hits all of my bourbon checkboxes:
Sweet, but not “too sweet”
Oaky, but not “too oaky”
Spicy, but not . . . (you get the idea)
This is one of the most well balanced bourbons I’ve tried recently. Sure – I have no idea the age or what it all contains, but at the end of the day – what I’ve found most important is how much do I enjoy what’s in the glass. And I like this one a lot.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy, vanilla, burnt cinnamon sticks, and a little bit of licorice.
Palate: Caramel syrup drizzled over cinnamon Red Hots.
Finish: Peppery pop that fades quickly into a woody soft vanilla close.
Comments: I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t had any of this for many years before this most recent bottle. It’s one of those bourbons that I had so long ago that my memory can’t be trusted for comparison. That aside, this is a very tasty and drinkable bourbon. It is a very solid middle of the road bourbon. My only complaint would be the price. North of $50 I would expect either more to reach out and grab me or a substantial age statement.
Rating: Stands Out

Jefferson’s Reserve Read More »

Compass Box Enlightenment

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Enlightenment Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$80
Website
Enlightenment
What the Blender Says:
‘There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge.’ – Michel de Montaigne

Since launching the Compass Box Whisky Co., I have always been a firm believer in the spirit of enlightenment – that the more information we can share with our customers about the Scotch whisky we produce, the better. Alas, it transpires such beliefs fall foul of current EU and UK regulations, which prevent us from sharing information about the age of every component whisky used in the creation of our blends.

This whisky, Enlightenment, is our response to these regulations.

Inspired by the writers, philosophers and scientists of the Age of Enlightenment it sets out to encourage the industry to consider the absurdity of a system that prevents producers from telling consumers exactly what has gone into the whiskies they are drinking.

And of course the whisky itself is something rather special. A blend of fruity, fragrant Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, it is bursting with aromas of fresh orchard fruit, flavours of vanilla, soft spice and pear and an alluring apple peel waxiness on the finish. An uplifting, enlightening whisky with which to ponder the world of Scotch not only as it is but also as it could be.

Availability: Limited Edition release of 5,922 bottles worldwide. Bottled April 2016.
Flavour Descriptors: Fresh, vibrant and uplifting with a mouthfeel that is moreish and mouth-watering. On the nose you will find bright apple and pear, vanilla cream and light violet; on the palate soft spice, gentle citric notes and more of that uplifting orchard fruit character.
Recommendations: True to its name, this is an enlightening whisky enjoyed equally well in moments of quiet
contemplation or at the heart of a lively discussion with friends. Perfect served as an aperitif with ice and a splash of water or soda water.
Bottling Details: Bottled at 46%, Not chill-filtered, Natural colour

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heavily fruity nose reminding me of blood orange peel, apricots, poached pears and creame brulee. With time it turns more floral with notes of crisp green apple.
Palate: Light and creamy sweetness with notes of orange zest, spearmint, and black pepper.
Finish: Chalky, dry, and reminiscent of wet wood.
Comments: Compass Box blends exceptional whisky. This can be a bit of a blessing and curse when it comes to reviews. When comparing Enlightenment to scotch blends in general it is amazing. When comparing it to other Compass Box offerings it is more subtle and understated. A great, stand out whisky for sure but not the best that Compass Box has to offer. The nose and palate are very well constructed but I think the finish falls flat. I would agree with the Compass Box recommendation as an aperitif with a little ice. It helps tame the finish but hold off on the water. It kind of kills it.
Rating: Stands Out

Compass Box Enlightenment Read More »

Longmorn 20 Year Berry Bros & Rudd

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Berry Bros & Rudd Longmorn 20 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
55.6% ABV
$99.99
Website

What the Bottler Says:
Built on the site of an old chapel (actually the name Longmorn derives from “Lhanmorgund” meaning “place of the holy man”) the Longmorn Distillery was founded by John Duff (owner of Glenlossie Distillery) and two associates, Charles Shirres and George Thomson in 1894, together with its neighbour Benriach.

Despite winning early acclaim for the quality of its malts within the whisky world in those days, John Duff was caught up in the middle of the great recession and he was forced to sell the distillery to John Grant (from Glen Grant). In the early 1970’s, Longmorn merged with “The Glenlivet” to create “The Glenlivet Distillers” and was subsequently acquired by Seagram in 1977.

The distillery now belongs to “The Chivas and Glenlivet Group” that have been bought by the French group Pernod-Ricard in 2001. Longmorn is one of the few distilleries that never ceased production, it even survived the grain shortages of the Second World War.

Longmorn’s malt whisky is highly prized by blenders at least as highly as those of its sister distilleries Glen Grant and The Glenlivet. Much of the production is snatched for blends, very little is marketed as single malt. It is appreciated for its complexity and smoothness of texture. It is noted for its cereal-grain malty character and its perfumed bouquet of honeyed and floral notes.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich, sweet dark fruits, and a slightly dry maltiness.
Palate: Sweet like a mixture of stewed and poached fruits. Grassy with notes of creme de menthe.
Finish: Dry, malty…almost hoppy and a little hot.
Comments: This expression is a little less balanced and less complex than other expressions of Longmorn I’ve tried. It is still very enjoyable and I would recommend picking one up. Longmorn seems to only be fully appreciated by blenders. Take a chance on one and I would be surprised if you are disappointed.
Rating: Stands Out

Longmorn 20 Year Berry Bros & Rudd Read More »