Stands Out

Jameson Caskmates Bale Breaker Topcutter IPA Limited Edition

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Jameson Caskmates Bale Breaker Topcutter IPA Limited Edition

40% ABV
$30
Website
Jameson Caskmates Top Cutter IPA Edition
We would like to thank Jameson and Ketchum for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Jameson Irish Whiskey heightens their collaboration with local Washington tastemaker, Bale Breaker Brewing Co, with the release of Jameson Caskmates Topcutter IPA Limited Edition. This latest Caskmates Edition was conceived when Bale Breaker travelled to Ireland to brew their signature beer, Topcutter IPA, to season Jameson casks. The Jameson Blenders then used these beer-seasoned casks to create Jameson Caskmates Topcutter IPA Limited Edition, pairing together each liquid’s unique flavor – the smooth taste of Jameson with the hoppy characteristics and distinct flavors of Bale Breaker’s signature Topcutter IPA.

Nose: Rich in hops with delicate floral notes
Taste: Citrus notes with some spices and vanilla throughout
Finish: Rich, lasting finish with hints of hops fading to notes of oak and spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey with hops, both floral and herbal notes, a touch of clove; richer and more savory than Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, starting off sweet with orchard fruits – pears and apples, then evolving with apricots, tangerines, and a hoppy beer note; notes of vanilla and honey underlying.
Finish:  On the short side, with citrus, hoppy note.
Comments:  I apologize up front if I’m creating any confusion on the name (Jameson’s web-site refers to this as ‘Topcutter IPA Limited Edition’, but the press-release refers to it as ‘Bale Breaker Limited Edition’; and on the bottle ‘Bale Breaker’ is in larger type and more prominent; so I combined them to be safe). Full disclosure – I am not a beer drinker (so apologies in advance to those who are and find my descriptors in this area lacking!) I tasted this and several other Caskmates vintages side by side with Jameson Irish Whiskey for a baseline frame of reference. I definitely get the IPA cask influence here. The finish leaves me feeling like I had just sipped a beer rather than an Irish whiskey, and this has a lot more savory and herbal flavors going on. That said, it doesn’t lose the honey sweetness I get from Jameson. I think fans of Jameson and IPAs would find this interesting, and priced where trying it out won’t break the bank.

Rating: Stands Out

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Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 8 Year Old Caribbean Smooth
Rum Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$21.99
Website
Dewars Caribbean Smooth 8 Yr
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dewar’s 8 Year Old Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky is an exciting new blend and the first in an innovative cask series from the iconic whisky maker. Crafted from 8-year-old blended Scotch whisky – double-aged and finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum for a pleasantly unexpected Caribbean smooth and tropical flavor – Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth is an invigorating new blend bringing together two seemingly different worlds: Scotland and the Caribbean.

The result is a slightly quirky, yet supremely smooth taste, unlike anything before. More than just great tasting Scotch, Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth brings two cultures together to create something uniquely richer.

Tasting Notes: Apples, caramel, and biscuity cereal that slips into dark brown sugar and tropical fruit.

Method: Single and malt grain whiskies are aged separately for at least 8 years, expertly chosen, then double aged in oak casks for up to 6 months and then finally finished in rum casks for a Caribbean Smooth taste.

Double Ageing: Dewar’s pioneered ‘Double-Ageing’ in 1881 to create ‘extra smooth whisky’. This unique process is designed to allow the whiskies to fuse, ‘marry’ and interact, creating an extra smooth whisky.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Mustiness with malted grain, notes of fruit hovering above a bit of earthy smoke, with a hint of Caribbean rum.
Palate:  Sweet with a round mouthfeel, a bit of caramel, brown sugar, canned fruit salad with slight pepper spice near the end.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, on the wet side with notes of mixed fruit.
Comments:  This is very smooth, and definitely on the sweet side – but not excessively so. The rum cask finish isn’t heavy handed, and I appreciate the 8 yr age statement. Comparing this side by side to Dewar’s White Label, I found this to be brighter with less smoke and herbaceous, earthy notes. If Dewar’s White Label is your go-to for that balance, be prepared for this to tilt towards the sweeter side of things – but you’d expect it to with a Caribbean rum cask finish. The recommended retail price puts it about the same price as the White Label (here in Atlanta at least), and if given a choice, I would tend to pick this as I often prefer things on the sweeter side more often than not.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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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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