Stands Out

Canadian Club Chairman’s Select

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye Canadian Whisky
40% ABV
$25 to $27
Website
BEAM SUNTORY INC. - Canadian Club® launches new 100% Rye Whisky
What the Distillery Says:
This premium Canadian whisky is crafted 100% from single grain rye. Aged to perfection, it’s the purest expression of rye whisky, with more complexity, character and spiciness than other Canadian whiskies. It has the smooth taste you expect from Canadian Club® – making it the perfect choice for special occasions. Like Tuesdays.
Description: Complex, full and spicy
COLOR: Antique gold
AROMA: Balanced with toasted grains, gentle wood notes and a tantalizing hint of sweet vanilla
TASTE: Complex balance of rye spiciness, caramel and oak notes, warm and creamy
FINISH: Long clean finish with hints of clove, oak and vanilla

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet rye, malted caramel crème candy, tapioca pudding
Palate: Soft sweetness up front, with a subtle peppery note in the mid-palate; dried fruit throughout
Finish: Moderate, honeyed with a soft landing
Comments: This label was available in Canada, and unfortunately not distributed in the United States. Fans of American straight rye may find this softer by comparison; while I recognize the rye character, it isn’t as sharp or peppery as its southern cousins. For the money, an interesting whiskey – and one I’d recommend to fans of rye if only to expand their horizons.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: A softer, more floral rye with mint notes rounded out by honeysuckle and orange blossom honey. Let it open more and I get notes of clove and allspice.
Palate: This drinks much lighter than a “typical” (read American) rye. You get hints of herbal minty sweetness and a peppery back end but nothing like one of the ryes produced by bourbon distilleries. If it didn’t say 100% rye on the label I would swear it is a Canadian blend.
Finish: More pepper lingering on the edges of the tongue and then fading to a softer vanilla note.
Comments: If you haven’t heard me say it before I’ll whisper a secret to you: the Canadians keep the best of their whisky for themselves. This is just another example of a quality affordable rye that they don’t export. It’s not rye in the American sense in terms of profile but it is very easy to drink and thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
Rating: Stands Out

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Smooth Amble Old Scout Single Barrel Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel 8 yr Rye; Barrel No 983 (Sherlocks selection)
61% ABV
$50
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Old Scout Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye is a just what it says; a single barrel that has been bottled at cask strength, usually between 115 and 125 proof. We pick barrels that are different from our stock selection to create unique experiences with each purchase.

Tasting Notes: A touch of sweetness leads to big spice. A bit of menthol on the nose with hints of honey and brine. Heat related to the cask strength, but still easy to drink. Maybe a touch of water helps here for some.
Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malt
Aging: A minimum of 7 years, non-chill filtered.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Hello alcohol, toasted orange zest, cinnamon; some water tamps down the heat and brings forth nutmeg and baking spices
Palate: Nice rich mouthfeel, heavy citrus notes with apricots and burnt sugar
Finish: Medium, peppery as it dries
Comments: Any single barrel offering like this has the potential to be anywhere from ‘meh’ to ‘holy @#$%, make room in the bunker’. When I first tried this, I thought enough of it to buy another bottle right away (you know – before they run out!) The more I drink it, the less impressive I find it; although I don’t regret the purchase one bit. 8 yr old barrel proof rye isn’t likely to be found for less, and it is a nice whiskey. It just reminds me that I really should sample something on at least two or three different occasions for an opinion (where a first impression might be extreme on either end). This was the third Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Proof Rye I’ve purchased, and I haven’t been disappointed in any of them.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Holy rye minty alcohol Batman! It’s not as harsh as you would expect over 60% ABV but a little water goes a long way. Churros sprinkled with citrus zest and fresh mint leaves.
Palate: Surprisingly easy to drink but a few splashes of water make it fantastic. More orange zest, fresh baked monkey bread, and great poached stone fruit flavor.
Finish: The finish is nice and subtle with just a bit of cinnamon and white pepper around the edges.
Comments: This is a really nice well rounded bottle of rye. Smooth Ambler does really nice things with MGP ryes in particular. At $50 for a bottle when comparables from Redemption and other bottlers of similar rye are moving closer to three digits makes this a value in the current market conditions. Rye fans should really like it. However, if rye whiskey isn’t your bag then this isn’t going to change your whiskey religion.
Rating: Stands Out

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Balblair 1983

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 1983 Vintage
46% ABV
$285
Website
1983_Black_background_whisky_detail
What the Distillery Says:
Matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, Balblair Vintage 1983 is a rich, warm dram, combining all core Balblair characteristics. Only just launched to replace the 2nd release of 1975 this stunning dram is sure to be just as popular as its predecessor.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: The first release of Balblair 1983 has a rich golden appearance.
Aroma: On the nose there are warm aromas of butterscotch, toffee and vanilla that come from the long years of maturation in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. Citrus fruits can also be detected in the aroma adding to the complexity of this exceptional Vintage.
Palate: On the palate it is sweet and spicy; with overtones of fresh fruits and honey.
Finish: A long, warming and full bodied finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is surprisingly (for a scotch this old) lightness to this with interplay of fruity and floral. Later it develops into vanilla, lemon drops, butterscotch and egg custard.
Palate: Again, surprisingly light and delicate. Honey sweetness drizzled over poached fruit. then it goes to all bourbon barrel vanilla tinged wood spice moving into the finish.
Finish: A tart woodiness that I’m not a fan of with cinnamon dusted raw wood.
Comments: As I continue to get older it is rarer that I get to drink whisky nearly as old as I am. While still a few years shy of me this one comes close. Sadly, this one doesn’t really do it for me. Of the four Balblairs we received samples of it was the 1999 and 1990, both sherry finished, that really stood out. The 1983, in all it’s bourbon cask woodiness has it’s highlights but it doesn’t jump out and grab you like the two younger expressions from the 1990’s. If it were me i would grab that 1990 and two 1999’s rather than drop the coin on the 1983.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Lukasz with Alembic Communications for sending over the review sample.

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Balblair 2003

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 2003
46% ABV
$65
Website
2003_Black_background_whisky_detail
What the Distillery Says:
Launched alongside 1990 & 1983 in November 2013, Balblair Vintage 2003 replaces Vintage 2002. The American oak, ex-bourbon barrels used in maturation impart toffee, butterscotch and vanilla notes.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Balblair 2003 is golden amber in appearance.
Aroma: On the nose there are the signature Balblair aromas: floral and fragrant punctuated with citrus fruits, apricots and honey.
Palate: On the palate it is full bodied, with notes of oranges, lemon, honey and spice.
Finish: The long lasting finish is sweet yet spicy; a superbly well-balanced dram.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Floral,fruity, slightly herbal with hints of vanilla. Citrus zest with a little back nuttiness.
Palate: A lovely light honey sweetness. As light as it is the higher proof gives it more of a viscous creamy mouthfeel that is very nice with the honey and just a bit of pepper on the back end. Poached pears and cereal grain compote.
Finish: A little bland and a wood not that reminds me of toothpicks dusted in ground white pepper.
Comments: This is a nice approachable and easy to drink dram. It’s not terribly complex but it is terribly drinkable. I like it much better than the 2002 it replaced. The pricing is steep though.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Lukasz with Alembic Communications for sending over the review sample.

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George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel – 9 Year

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel – 9 yr (Dickel Distillery Bottling)
Barrel No. 03J30D20-4-19
51.5% ABV
$100
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
George A. Dickel & Co. is very proud to offer you this special hand selected, handcrafted Tennessee whisky. We have carefully chosen a limited number of barrels to be sold one at a time to only our most discerning loyal customers. These barrels hold our most precious, mellow George Dickel whisky at peak periods of maturation. We invite you to enjoy & savor this truly one-of-a-kind whiskey.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Corn, oak, caramel crème
Palate: Sweet corn, creamy mouthfeel balanced nicely with oak and a bit of cinnamon spice
Finish: Moderate, drying a bit sharply
Comments: Of the three Dickel Tennessee whiskeys, this was hands-down my favorite. Still reminds me of corn whiskey more than bourbon, but the additional age gives it more depth and balance. While I like this the best, it doesn’t hit me for the price they ask – let alone the price some folks apparently pay at the distillery gift shop – not to name any names. However, if you are a fan of Dickel 8 or 12, you might find it is worth the price.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: After nine years it is starting to smell more bourbony with more vanilla and oak but the corn still dominates.
Palate: The proof helps the palate a lot. It’s a more viscous mouthfeel with a creamy sweetness like corn pudding. The oak and vanilla carry through from the nose nicely.
Finish: Dry wood with hints of black pepper and cinnamon.
Comments: This is a pretty good pour. I can’t recommend you buy it because from the distillery it’s $100 before tax and that’s just ridiculous. The hand selected barrels available at retailers are more in the realm of $45 and for that I would pick one up. The funny thing with these Dickels is that no matter how old they are they are still very corn forward. Much more so that other high corn mash whiskeys. I wonder if the filtration processes their whiskeys go through can’t strip out some of the “impurities” and oils from the corn as well as the rye, and barley.
Rating: Stands Out

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