Stands Out

Blue Hanger 10th Release

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Blue Hanger Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
10th Limited Release
45.6% ABV
$99.99
Website
blue_hanger1
What the Blender Says:
Arguably one of the world’s most fashionable whiskies, Blue Hanger 10th Limited Release makes its debut this month thanks to San Francisco’s Anchor Distilling Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits of London. Limited to only 4,398 bottles, this new variant of Blue Hanger, which is exclusive to the U.S., is comprised of one butt of Bunnahabhain 1987, one hogshead of Bunna Moine 2007, Mortlach 1997 and Bunnahabhain 1988, two hogsheads of Westport 1996, and three butts of a 2007 blended malt comprised of Bunnahabhain, Glenallachie, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne and Tamdhu.

This blended malt whisky is named after William “Blue” Hanger, the Third Lord Coleraine, a loyal customer of Berry Bros. at the end of the 18th century. Considered one of the best-dressed men of his day, his nickname came from his preferred clothing color. Blue Hanger was originally a blended Scotch whisky intended for the diplomatic export market in 1934, but disappeared for a period of time until 2003 when Doug McIvor, spirits manager, began his experiments in vatting malts. His objective from the beginning has been to create the best blended malt possible from existing stock.

The initial release in the U.K. of Blue Hanger in November 2003 ran to a mere 700 bottles and was a vatting of only two single malts: Glen Grant and Glenlivet. The first commercially available blended malt assembled by McIvor, Blue Hanger immediately secured a devoted following, which has led to each subsequent release being eagerly anticipated by whisky enthusiasts around the world.

“The ethos of Blue Hanger is to create the most balanced, complex and textured small batch blended malt whiskies possible from our diverse cask reserves,” says McIvor. “This 10th limited release exudes deep fruity aromas with hints of vanilla, leather and oriental spices. Behind the bursting apple and melon skin fruitiness is a delicate peat-smoke imbued by the Islay malt content that becomes more evident on the creamy palate as it swells. The finish is long lingering, fruity and spicy.”

TASTING NOTES
Color: Pale golden
Nose: Bright; banana skin, fresh apple, hints of violets, creamy with new leather and firm smokiness
Palate: Complex, fruity with evolving texture and emerging smokiness
Finish: Long lasting with spice and lingering peatiness

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sweet round fruitiness with bananas foster, Granny Smith apple peel and wild flowers.
Palate: There is a lovely interplay of mild smoke and sweetness that evolves into a briny worn leather note.
Finish: Mild dry tartness of medium length with just a bit of smokiness sticking around.
Comments: Blue Hanger is one of those things I’ve read about and wanted to try for years. When I heard the U.S. was getting an exclusive release I had to grab one. Note that each release is very unique and really are only similar in branding name only. This 10th release is very enjoyable and more than worth the $100 but admittedly I can’t compare it to any of the prior 9 releases because I haven’t had access to them to date.
Rating: Stands Out

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High West Campfire

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

High West Campfire Whiskey
Batch No. 6, Bottle No. 2576
46% ABV
$65
Website
Campfire_6
What the Blender Says:
How to Enjoy:
Neat, on ice or even great in cocktails.

The Name:
One morning at the Bruichladdich distillery B&B, my wife and I smelled peat in the air – the great ladies that made our meals were simmering a bottle of peated whiskey and sugar! Later that night, they brought out dessert of ripe honeydew drizzled with the peated syrup. That was the most unusual, delicious and memorable ending to a dinner I’ve ever had. The combination of melon and sweet smoke really worked – so (naturally…) I thought why not mix sweet bourbon and peat? The main flavor (or melody) is sweet honey from a ripe bourbon. The enhancing flavor (or harmony) is floral fruity spice from a mature rye whiskey. The accent (Satchmo’s gravelly voice!) is smoke from a peated scotch whisky. The proportions? Top secret.

Back Label Story:
I was going to write something cheesy about cowboys, campfires, and whiskey but I figured you might be more interested in how CAMPFIRE WHISKEY® came to be. One morning at the Bruichladdich distillery B&B, my wife and I smelled peat in the air – the great ladies that made our meals were simmering a bottle of peated whiskey and sugar! Later that night, they brought out dessert of ripe honeydew drizzled with the peated syrup. That was the most unusual, delicious and memorable ending to a dinner I’ve ever had. The combination of melon and sweet smoke really worked – so (naturally…) I thought why not mix sweet bourbon and peat? Worked for me! The main flavor (or melody) is sweet honey from a ripe bourbon. The enhancing flavor (or harmony) is floral fruity spice from a mature rye whiskey. The accent (Satchmo’s gravelly voice!) is the smoke from a peated scotch whisky. The proportions? Top secret. So…as the sun sinks low and the cold settles in, grab a bottle of CAMPFIRE WHISKEY and gather round a blazing fire to warm up, wind down your day, share stories, and deepen friendships. One taste of this sweet, spicy and, yes…smoky whiskey, you’ll know how it got its name. We like to enjoy CAMPFIRE WHISKEY® with s’mores…or good-looking strangers. If you find yourself in Old Town Park City, you ought to come visit the High West Distillery and Saloon and get a taste of our Western hospitality and our crowd-pleasing victuals.

David Perkins

Technical Details

Sweet: A straight bourbon whiskey from:
•75 percent corn
•21 percent rye
•4 percent barley malt (Source: from the old Seagrams plant, then called LDI now MGP)

Spicy and floral: A straight rye whiskey from:
•95 percent rye
•5 percent barley malt (Source: from the old Seagrams plant, then called LDI now MGP)

Smoky: A blended malt Scotch whiskey: made of 100-percent barley malt that has been peated (Source: We can’t say, but we can say it is not from Islay!)
•Age of the whiskies: all are 5 years or older
•Proportions of the component whiskies? Top secret!

Sensory Notes:

Nose: Floral, fruity, bright and spicy. Caramel and butterscotch. Light smoke and smoldering wood from a campfire the morning after. Jasmine, chai tea, sandalwood, leather, tobacco, pine resin and toasted bread.

Taste: vanilla, honey, toffee with some nice fruit, blueberries and black cherries. Chai spices – nutmeg, cinnamon and orange zest. Salty caramels. Tobacco. Gentle smoke!

Finish – Long, sweet, spicy, and smoky!

What Richard Says:
Nose: The rye jumps out on the nose with a light handed smoky back note that wisps in.
Palate: Rich vanilla cream, toffee crisp, black tea, wintermints, cracked black pepper and cinnamon dolce lattes.
Finish: Black pepper and slightly medicinal. Fading notes of oiled leather and old tobacco.
Comments: When I first read about this frankenwhiskey I thought it would be some experimental thing that would really suck. Tasting it I find it very interesting, pleasant and highly drinkable. It’s definitely a mood kind of whiskey but tasty and well put together.
Rating: Stands Out

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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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