Stands Out

Sagamore Spirit Cognac Finish Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Sagamore Spirit Cognac Finish Rye Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$70
Website
Sagamore Spirit Cognac Finish Rye
We would like to thank Sagamore Spirit and 360PR.plus for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Baltimore, MD – Sept. 3, 2019 – Cognac heritage meets rye whiskey’s most storied region, with the release of Cognac Finish from Maryland-based Sagamore Spirit. This is the first release from Sagamore Spirit since the brand earned widespread recognition for its Port Finish limited time offering, which won “World’s Best Rye Whiskey” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

After aging for four years in charred, American White Oak barrels, Sagamore Spirit’s Straight Rye Whiskey gets finished in French Cognac barrels for an additional 8 months, revealing warm notes of apple, vanilla, and brown sugar. At 101-proof, Cognac Finish is a bold yet smooth reminder of how Maryland-style rye can transform deliciously when finished in the right barrels.

“We know our two-mash-bill blend makes our Straight Rye Whiskey unique to start – and our team of distillers enjoys experimenting with barrels imported from famed spirits regions. We get the finest finishing flavors to explore with while maintaining what makes Maryland-style rye special and approachable,” said Brian Treacy, president of Sagamore Spirit.

Today’s release marks the brand’s second batch of Cognac Finish, after an earlier release earned Double Gold at the 2019 Denver International Spirits Competition. This second offering is available now for a limited time at an approximate retail price of $70 per bottle.

For those interested in exploring other Maryland-style ryes, Sagamore Spirit’s award-winning selection of whiskies also includes Signature 83-proof and Cask Strength rye whiskey. Visit www.SagamoreSpirit.com to learn more and find a bottle near you.

Nose: Pear and apricot, bold spice with aromas of cinnamon and vanilla.
Palate: Fruit forward with apple, smooth vanilla, and brown sugar. Warm oak finish with lingering velvety spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruitcake with notes of evergreen, floral, charred oak, a bit of balsamic with a hint of dill and roasted almonds.
Palate:  Rye spice jumping out of the glass with dill, mint, allspice, cinnamon, and pepper; unmistakably ‘rye’; a tad sharp with oak, subtle vanilla and an astringent fruity note of citrus and green apples.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with smokey oak and lingering citrus spice.
Comments:  First, this has a lovely color (and the bottle is fairly heavy as well with a fair amount of thought going into the design – even the bottom of the cork has three diamonds on it!) While young, this is a solid rye, and the cognac finish is more prominent on the nose for me. The palate is a tad sharp, but this takes water like a champ which softens those edges without losing the lovely spice notes. Another nice example of a finish that isn’t heavy-handed, and is complimenting the base whiskey without upstaging it.

Rating: Stands Out

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The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 Edition

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 Edition

51.2% ABV
$90-$110
Website
Macallan Classic Cut 2018
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

EXQUISITELY BALANCED FLAVOUR
The second edition in the limited annual series, The Macallan Classic Cut – 2018 Edition has an ABV of 51.2% chosen by the Whisky Maker Ian Morrison as the optimum strength to reveal a dominant sweetness and the well balanced flavours delivered by the exceptional Sherry Oak Casks. After allowing to breathe for 10-15 minutes, heightened flavours of citrus, sweet vanilla and spice come to the forefront, combined with a satisfyingly long dry oak finish. Classic Cut 2018 is a truly indulgent single malt whisky.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Earthy gold.
NOSE: Orange and lemon citrus dominates the sweet notes of nutmeg and ginger and hints of vanilla and polished oak.
PALATE: Ginger and nutmeg with a full bodied sweet vanilla and orange note.
FINISH: Medium sweet with a long dry oak finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich sherried raisins, figs, dates, slightly burnt honey, allspice, subtle smoke, hints of clove and nutmeg.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel at the start, sweet dark fruit – raisins, plums, sherry – with a pepper bit in the mid palate followed by citrus spice and hints of anise.
Finish:  Moderately long with pepper spice and fading fruit.
Comments:  I absolutely LOVED Macallan Cask Strength (in fact, it was the first Macallan I ever bought, and my only regret is not buying more). Unfortunately my discovery came after it was discontinued. I was hoping that this might be a replacement, but it is a faint, distant shadow by comparison. Honestly, that’s not fair on my part to compare the two – they’re very different whiskies, and longing for what I can’t pick up on the store does no good. On its own, this is a pretty tasty pour – a lot of flavor and takes water well.

Rating: Stands Out

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The Macallan Rare Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

The Macallan Rare Cask
Highland Single Malt Whisky

43% ABV
$270 – $300
Website
Macallan Rare Cask
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

ULTIMATE SELECTION
Rare Cask combines knowledge, skill, passion, commitment and creativity to create a remarkable whisky worthy of its name.

Crafted to showcase complexity and depth, Rare Cask is drawn from the broadest spectrum of casks used in maturation on The Macallan Estate. Hand-picked by our whisky making team, the combination of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks – a high proportion of them first fill – deliver an exquisite and unmistakably woody whisky with a rich hue.

Incomparable access to the most extensive range of cooperages in Spain gives us some of the finest and scarcest casks to choose from to create Rare Cask, which results in a diversity in the finished whisky unlike other Macallan expression. It is the role of the whisky making team to get to know each and every cask in detail, from how it interacts with the spirit to the spectrum of colours it imparts. This relationship between cask and craftsman, spirit and skill, ultimately give us Rare Cask.

With rarity at its core, this is a whisky that will slightly differ in makeup from bottling to bottling; with some casks so rare they will never be used again in any other Macallan. Far less than 1% of casks maturing at the distillery have been identified as fitting to bestow the Rare Cask name – and enable the creation of this multifaceted single malt.

Taking inspiration from The Macallan’s iconic triangle and designed to celebrate its natural color, Rare Cask is presented in a sculpted, heavy glass decanter.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Ruby Red.
NOSE: Soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin give way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. All balanced by a spicy quartet of root ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
PALATE: This spicy quartet are unwavering. Oak resonates, timeless, polished and rich. Vanilla and chocolate lead the finale along with a light citrus zest.
FINISH: Warming and woody.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and thick, full of raisins and plums, balsamic with brown sugar, subtle smoke amongst old leather furniture, and a hint of a musky, vegetal note.
Palate:  Creamy velvety mouthfeel, intense fruit – raisins, apricots, a hint of orange, oak, milk chocolate with bits of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with oak tannins and a citrus zest; leaning towards lemon from orange; with trailing pepper spice.
Comments:  This has a lovely dark color, and at first blush reminds me of Macallan Cask Strength (which is a huge compliment!) It isn’t quite that level of intensity, but it is a lovely dram, rich with fruit and quite intense for 43% ABV. This would be a solid ‘Must Try’ other than the price point, which is a bit steep for me. There isn’t anything wrong with this dram, and I wouldn’t necessarily have buyers remorse had I bought a bottle – but there are other Macallan whiskies around $100 that I like nearly as much. That said – if you’ve got the budget and are a fan of Macallan, I’d lean towards the ‘Must Try’ spectrum.

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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The Macallan Gold

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

The Macallan Gold
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$50
Website
Macallan Gold

What the Distillery Says

-The 1824 Series-
The Macallan Gold forms part of The 1824 Series which exemplifies our commitment to 100% natural colour, present in each and every Macallan single malt. The colour of each expression becomes richer as the range progresses and its flavours more intense.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Burnished gold.
NOSE: Lemon citrus, then orange peel and an interlacing sweetness that softens but doesn’t eliminate the zest. A quiet note of vanilla is followed by dark chocolate with lingering floral and light oak notes.
PALATE: Citrus and boiled sweets rule the palate, along with hints of ginger and cinnamon, while soft oak tones reveal toasted apples.
FINISH: Medium sweet, malty and slightly dry.

NOTE: Reborn as The Macallan Double Cask Gold as of April 2018, The Macallan Gold (part of The 1824 Series) is embodied in a new look range; offering the same unique whisky with a new name, new bottle and bold new packaging.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, musky stewed peaches atop lemon meringue pie, notes of honey with caramel, subtle baking spices and floral notes.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with a rich sweetness of vanilla, honey, cooked peaches, chocolate orange, subtle caramel and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, with hints of salted caramel.
Comments:  Tasting this at the same time as the Macallan Fine Oak 12 Yr, I liked this quite a bit more. The color is a bit deeper, and this had a richness and depth of flavor that I really enjoyed. Not being familiar with it, I assumed this was the more expensive of the two – so imagine my surprise when I compiled my notes for this review. At this price point, I’d consider this a ‘Must Try’ for fans of Macallan (and if you’re not, it definitely stands out as a solid single malt).

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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Glenrothes 18 Yr (1999)

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glen Rothes 1999
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
The Unchillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage

46% ABV
$74
Website

What the Bottle Says

Distilled at GLEN ROTHES Distillery
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1999
Aged: 18 years
Distilled on: 19.11.1999 (Nov 19, 1999)
Bottled on: 04.06.2018 (Jun 4th, 2018)
Matured in: Hogshead
Cask No: 12582
Bottle No: 49

Due to no chillfiltration, this whisky may turn cloudy when stored in a cool place. It is both more full bodied and full flavoured.
Natural Colour

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honeyed malt, vanilla, not-quite-ripe peaches, almonds, hint of grapefruit rind with some floral notes.
Palate:  Sweet peaches in honey with a nutty spice kicking in, subtle with hints of dried apricots, milk chocolate and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, a hint of oak and pepper spice.
Comments:  Glenrothes or Glen Rothes? Per their web-site, it is ‘Glenrothes’, but listing it as it is labeled on the bottle (not sure if I’m helping avoid confusion, or creating it unnecessarily). Anywho, this is a very smooth and subtle pour – nothing really ‘jumps out’ to me. A great price for an 18 yr single malt, although age isn’t everything. This is the first Glenrothes I’ve had the pleasure of trying, and apparently ‘honey’ is squarely in their house style, which I definitely picked up.

Rating: Stands Out

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