Stands Out

Lagavulin 8 Yrs Old Single Malt

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Lagavulin 8 Yrs Old

48% ABV
$60-$70
Website
Lagavulin 8 yr old

What the Distillery Says

This bicentenary limited edition is magnificently full-on in flavour – a celebration of the people and craft that make Lagavulin great.

Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate and lemon and then developing fragrant tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas, with subtle cereal. A prickliness seen earlier now develops, while the trademark Lagavulin dryness emerges as fresh newsprint. Softly sooty. Softer, fuller and more rounded with water: it’s not hugely fruity but there’s just a trace of red berry preserve, perhaps, beneath the smokiness, which comes sharply into focus.

Palate: A soothing light texture, with a magnificently full on Lagavulin taste that’s somehow even bigger than you expect; sweet, smoky and warming, with a growing, smoky pungency, then dry, with more smoke. Charred, with minty, dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced midpalate then salty, oven-charred baked potato skins and smoke. Water rounds things, the taste still mighty yet more succulent, sweeter, spicier and now tongue-tingling, mint-fresh and warming.

Finish: Lovely; clean, very long and smoky. Smoothly, subtle minted smoke surrounds chocolate tannins, leaving a late drying note to emerge in time. It’s warming, soft and still smoky with water, not as long or intense now, yet still leaving the palate dry as sweet smoke lingers on the breath.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat smoke, earthy, musty, light iodine, notes of husky grains.
Palate:  Sweet peat, honey with a sharper oak and pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a hint of stout (seriously – Guinness?).
Comments:  Compared with Lagavulin 16 yr, the color is much lighter, the nose is less rich, and the palate is sweeter but has less depth. But for being only 8 yrs old, it is surprisingly delicious. Unmistakably Lagavulin. I’m sure the higher proof helps with the comparison (and leaves me dreaming of what 16 or 20 yr old cask strength Lagavulin must be like). Fans of Lagavulin should seek this out if only to experience the whiskey at half the age. I was definitely impressed on that score.

Rating: Stands Out

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Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye

40% ABV
$45
Website
Basil_Haydens_Caribbean_Reserve_Rye
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Experience the intriguing blend of rye whiskies with a touch of rum, balancing our signature rye spice with a subtle Caribbean sweetness.

AROMA: Rich caramel and brown sugar complemented by back notes of soft rye and vanilla
TASTE: A balanced blend of sumptuous rye and brown sweets with an ample woody accent
FINISH: A pleasant, long lingering warmth

GET TO KNOW CARIBBEAN RESERVE RYE
Sweet and Spicy
With its trademark spicy finish from a high-rye recipe, Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon has always been known for standing out in the crowd. Inspired by that legacy, Basil Hayden’s is excited to deliver another distinctive whiskey experience with the introduction of its latest limited-edition release – Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye™.

Crafted as an approachable whiskey expression to enjoy during the warm summer months, Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye takes inspiration from the sweet and spicy contrast between rye whiskey and rum. The limited-time offering features a blend of 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and 4-year-old Canadian Rye Whisky, which bring to life layers of flavor, including distinct spice, toasted oak and vanilla notes. The blend is then finished with the addition of Black Strap Rum which ties the rye whiskey pairing together with sweet notes of brown sugar and molasses. The result is a balanced whiskey that remains approachable to discover at 80 proof.

Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Reserve Rye is the latest in a series of successful rye whiskey innovations from the brand, each of which push the limits of category convention to bring something unexpected to whiskey fans.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Molasses, brown sugar, burnt caramel, a twang of bbq sauce, little Worcestershire sauce, hints of pine, thyme and citrus spice.
Palate:  Sweet entry, bright rye spice notes, bit of orange, molasses sugar cookies with extra vanilla extract, subtle oak.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, with savory spice notes (not quite pepper) popping up.
Comments:  This is a fairly dark dram; dark brown – lacking the red hues often seen in older bourbons/ryes, no doubt due to the addition of the Black Strap Rum. Important to note that technically this is not a whisk(e)y; it is a spirit which includes a blend of whiskies along with rum – so don’t approach it expecting it to be a rye or bourbon whisk(e)y. The nose at first came across as heavy with the rum influence, but as it sat in the glass it came into a better balance. The palate started off more integrated from the first sip. Nothing off putting to me with this. It is on the sweet side as you’d expect, but not cloyingly so. If you’re a fan of dark rum, this could be right in your wheelhouse.

Rating: Stands Out

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Armorik Double Maturation Breton Single Malt

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

Armorik Double Maturation
Whisky Breton Single Malt

46% ABV
$60
Website
Armorik Double Maturation French Single Malt

What the Distillery Says

Whisky Breton Single Malt

Genuine symbol of the Distillery’s values, this Armorik highlights both the quality of its know-how and its attachment to the Breton land. In partnership with a local cooper, the Distillery designed unique Brittany oak casks. Armorik Double Maturation remains in them for many long years before being transferred into Oloroso sherry casks for a second maturation. Reduced to 46% and non-chill filtered, it pleases through its richness and elegance.

Nose: Fruity and elegant, it has wonderful citrus and apple notes, highlighted by salted butter caramel fragrance.
Palate: Fine woody notes rapidly changed on to cereal ones, all with an unsuspected fullness.
Finish: Touches of heather honey perfume, the finish in the mouth is sustained by the cereals and pleasant marine notes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft malt, fresh cut hay, apricots, over-ripe pears, subtle vanilla, apple pie (without cinnamon), hints of oak and leather with floral perfume.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, rich fruity sweetness up front with apples, pears, peaches and honey; sharpens in the mid-palate with vanilla, pepper and citrus spice.
Finish:  Moderate to long in length, wet with honey and citrus notes lingering with some freshly ground pepper.
Comments:  I think this is the first French single malt I’ve tried, and it is quite lovely – and priced fairly. Sweet but balanced, rich and well executed. No age statement, but this doesn’t strike me as being young. If you’re a serious whiskey geek and hadn’t ever tried any whisk(e)y from France, I’d put this in the ‘Must Try’ category. If you don’t really care about provenance, and are looking purely at the enjoyment for the buck – this is a solid single malt.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Wolfburn Northland Single Malt

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Wolfburn Northland Single Malt

46% ABV
$60 – $65
Website

What the Distillery Says

The smooth and warming flavours present in Northland come from the unhurried way in which the spirit is made, and from the maturation, which takes place in American oak quarter casks. Matured and bottled on site, Northland represents the first chapter in the history of Wolfburn.
Non chill-filtered @ 46% ABV.

Tasting notes
ON THE NOSE: Initially sweet with notes of fruit and fresh sea air. In the background you’ll find citrus freshness and hints of cereal, and just a trace of peat smoke.
ON THE PALATE: Sweet, nutty tones come to the fore, with hints of grapes and honey in the background. Floral flavours abound, enhanced with just a hint of dried fruit and spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Gentle sweet malt, smoke and subtle peat with ripe pears, cherries, and canned fruit undertones, freshly cut hay.
Palate:  Sweet barley sugar with honey and pears that sharpens with a touch of peat.
Finish:  Short to moderately long with an earthy, smokey note and a bit of pepper spice.
Comments:  A fairly ordinary single malt. Little peat and smoke (which I enjoy), nicely balanced, and I appreciate the non-chill filtering. It stands out when I throw a few drops of water in, tamping down the sharp edges and thickening the mouthfeel a bit.

Rating: Stands Out

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Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon
Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Sherry Oak Staves

45% ABV
$30-$37
Website
Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon

What the Producer Says

A GREAT BOURBON WITH A NOBLE HEART.
NOBLE OAK is a unique award winning bourbon with a worthy purpose. We at Noble Oak are fanatics about wood. That’s because 70% of a bourbon’s flavor comes from the wood. With Noble Oak, we elegantly marry two of the world’s most coveted types of oak used in whiskey making: American White Oak and Spanish Sherry Oak. We use time honored methods and our patented Compression Finishing™ process to create an unrivaled bourbon with body, deep color, and richness of flavor from some of the finest sherry oak staves. The result is a Great Bourbon with a Noble Heart.

FIRST, we traditionally rest our bourbon in Charred New American White Oak barrels for a minimum of one year, developing sweet vanilla notes and a deep caramel tone.

THEN, through our patented Compression Finishing™ process, we add complexity and flavor using Spanish Sherry Oak Staves, the same wood used to craft the world’s finest and rarest whiskies. This process uses cycles of heat and pressure to maximize the interaction of wood and spirit. The resulting whiskey is full of richness and flavor with notes of dried fruit, cherry, vanilla and spice.

THE RESULT is Noble Oak: a Great Bourbon with a Noble Heart.
A Bourbon with a Purpose
In partnership with onetreeplanted.org, we help save our planet and restore our forests by replanting trees in deforested areas.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Heavy oak, vanilla flan with freshly grated nutmeg and toasted orange zest; notes of raisins with corn syrup.
Palate:  Soft oaky vanilla with caramel corn, raisins, and a touch of pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with oak and dried fruit notes.
Comments:  While nothing offputting, it is a bit on the oaky side and clearly a young bourbon. I’m not a big fan of many ‘double-oak’ products, and this is no exception. The sherry stave finishing is well done – not too heavy handed, which I appreciate. I don’t care to pay this much for young bourbon, but considering their noble cause (and unique offering, not a lot of sherry-stave finished bourbons out there), it isn’t outrageous.

Rating: Stands Out

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