Stands Out

Glencadam 13 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glencadam The Re-Awakening 13 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$65
Website

What the Distillery Says
Glencadam Distillery opened in 1825 and since then little has changed.

Glencadam Distillery proudly announces the release of a rare 13 year old expression.

Rare because in the Autumn of the year 2000, Glencadam distillery fell silent. This silence became a deep sleep for three years until its joyous “Re-Awakening” in the Autumn of 2003. This rare, 13 years old limited edition from the re-start of distillation truly represents and commemorates “The Re-Awakening” of Glencadam Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

What Gary Says
Nose: Bright herbal sweetness with a hint of citrus (lime zest), bit of smoke and anise.
Palate: Nice creamy mouthfeel, fruity sweetness (figs, dates, pears, bit of nectarines) and vanilla spice; hint of oak with pepper.
Finish: Moderately long and wet, soft to start with a spicy build up.
Comments: I’ve never had any Glencadam before, but this certainly won’t be my last. This is a very nice single malt. The nose is nice, although not special – but the palate was a pleasant surprise. It isn’t overly complex, but nicely balanced and quite drinkable. I appreciate this being offered as non-chill filtered without coloring being added (as well as the 92 proof versus 80).
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says
Nose: Brooding on the nose. Malt forward with notes of under ripe apples, hay, and wildflowers.
Palate: The palate is very assertive. Baklava and baked apple dumplings interplay with a bit of Vegemite and fall leaves.
Finish: Woody, minty, and grassy.
Comments: This is now slouch of a malt. The higher proof and lack of chill filtration are worn very well on this whisky. This a great example of a well formed highland single malt. It’s a bit like a Glenmorangie that has been aggressively hitting the gym and coming out a monster.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Glencadam for sending us a sample to review.

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Dewar’s 25 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 25 Years Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$225
Website
Dewar's 25 Yr Old Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Dewar’s for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

DEWAR’S®, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky is proud to announce the launch of DEWAR’S 25 Years Old.

The new addition to the DEWAR’S portfolio will succeed DEWAR’S Signature (no-age statement) as a part of DEWAR’S dedication and commitment to age statements across its premium range of blended Scotch whiskies.

A meticulous search of the cask inventory revealed an intriguing array of fine aged malt and grain Scotch whiskies aged 25 years and older. Each cask was individually sampled and assessed by Master Blender, Stephanie MacLeod before being chosen. Once MacLeod was satisfied that she had a perfectly balanced flavour profile in the DEWAR’S House Style, the specially selected casks were blended together and then filled into oak casks for an additional period of maturation, a process pioneered by DEWAR’s, known as double-ageing, to add more depth and enriched smoothness.

During this extra period of maturation, the disparate characters of the malts and grains are allowed to interact with one another and mellow further. In an extra step unique to the new 25-year-old expression, the whisky was then filled into a set of freshly disgorged ROYAL BRACKLA® casks for an extra period of finishing.

According to MacLeod, “DEWAR’S 25 is endlessly smooth, rich and elegant. Awakened on the palate: the sophisticated whisky is glorious in its harmony and balance, gently revealing layers of rich fruit, floral notes and delicate honey, with a hint of smoke to finish.”

Fraser Campbell, Global Ambassador for DEWAR’S comments “Disclosing the ages of our blends allows discerning whisky drinkers to choose an expression with a maturity and flavour profile that matches their own character preferences. DEWAR’S remains committed to age statements as a sign of craftsmanship and quality. In a world where aged stock is increasingly rare, we are proud to display an age on the front of our bottles”.

The age statements that DEWAR’S proudly proclaim on its bottles are not merely numbers; they’re a guarantee of the age of the youngest whisky found within the blend. Each bottle’s age statement is an assurance that it holds an authentic and precious piece of time-honoured taste.

According to the latest reports from the IWSR, DEWAR’S is the fastest growing premium blended Scotch in the world, defying current global Scotch trends. DEWAR’S is also the world’s most awarded blended Scotch with medals for quality, taste and innovation to-date. Adding to the vast list of awards to support this, DEWAR’S 18 Years Old has been crowned best blended Scotch (under 21 years) at the International Spirits Challenge 2017.

DEWAR’S 25 Years Old is bottled at 40% ABV and priced at $225. The new expression will be available from October 2017 in Global Travel Retail followed by a gradual roll-out into key domestic markets.

What Gary Says

Nose: Musty sweetness with a little sea brine, smoke, sherry, and honey candy.
Palate: Thin mouthfeel, not very sweet or spicy; subtle sherried fruit with a bit of oak and honey.
Finish: Moderately long, drying slightly, flavor steps up nicely.
Comments: I know there are whisky snobs who look down on blends, and I want to go on the record as clarifying that I am NOT one of them. Some of my favorite whiskies are blends with older stock. For a 25 year old blended whisky, I expect more complexity than this deliver. While certainly the best Dewar’s branded offering I’ve tried, this just isn’t in my wheelhouse. Their standard offering isn’t either, so if you are a fan of Dewar’s, this could be right up your alley – although at this price, I would seek an opportunity to try it first.

Rating: Average

What Richard Says

Nose: Grassy, floral, butterscotch candies, and a dollop of sherry.
Palate: A gentle richness glides over the palate, with bits of raisin, wildflower honey, baked fruits, and just a little bit of dark chocolate.
Finish: This finishes a bit dry with an oak forward ending.
Comments: A nice enough whisky for sure but not a stunner. To me, whiskies need a raison d’etre to push age into the twenties. I find this especially true for a blend. Macallan is a great example of that. For their sherried malts I find little to no need to move beyond the 18 year. Just not much more bang for the buck so to speak. Blends really need this more than single malts because it doesn’t have to be 1 to 3 casks at 25 years, rather it needs to be all the malt and grain components. Otherwise, the blender just seems to be capitalizing on the surge toward premiumization and trying to cash in. No offense meant to the fine whisky craftsmen at Dewars but this example seems to fall in that latter camp. Don’t get me wrong, this is a fine whisky. But I can’t say that you need to seek this out as an amazing example of blended scotch that should be experienced by all.

Rating: Stands Out

Dewar’s 25 Year Read More »

Craigellachie 17 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Craigellachie Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 17 Years
46% ABV
$150
Website

What the Distillery Says
Smooth and mellow, the aroma opens with vanilla and rich, silky notes of exotic fruits with a hint of smoky liquorice.

To the taste this 17 year old Craigellachie delivers a smooth, sweet palate, with a smoky, lingering finish.

What Gary Says
Nose: Thick, rich and soft, malty dark fruit with raisins and figs over sea brine; hint of smoke and anise.
Palate: Mouthfeel is a tad thin, subtle dried fruit sweetness with a bit of pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long and drying, bit peppery near the end.
Comments: When I nosed this pour, it brought back fond memories of my trip to Scotland and specifically the afternoon I spent aimlessly wandering around the River Spey. This nose is a really nice example of what I imagine when someone says Speyside. The palate on the other hand I found left me wanting. Nothing off-putting about it, but if the nose was listening to the Scottish bag-pipes with the knob turned to 8, the palate felt like someone turned the volume way down. For me, it was beyond subtle to the point where I just missed it.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says
Nose: Thick and meaty with lots of raked wet leaves, vanilla incense, and black licorice.
Palate: Rich and deliciously sweet. Honey Nut Cheerios, vanilla cream filling, and a deep balancing “green” flavor.
Finish: The finish is very grain forward and of medium length.
Comments: Yes please! On my recent trip to Scotland we stayed in the town of Craigellachie. And even though we did quite a bit of whisky tourism, I never actually made it to the so named distillery. However, I did sample many lovely expressions of their malt at the bars and pubs in the area. Each was delicious. This bottling is no different. Dave Broom describes the paradox of Craigellachie as muscly and sweet. Very true words. I highly recommend trying this great malt, which until recently was relegated by it’s owner to being just a blend component. I can live with a few less bottles of Dewars in we can see this malt sing on its own.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Dewars for sending us a sample to review.

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Angel’s Envy 2017 Cask Strength

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon whiskey Finished in Port Barrels
2017 Release
62.25% ABV
$180
Website

What the Bottler Says
Ranked the “Best Spirit in the World” by Spirit Journal, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels is unlike any whiskey you’ve ever tried. Angel’s Envy is releasing fewer than 8,000 bottles of our award-winning Cask Strength this year, so don’t miss your chance to pick up a bottle or two of this rare and delicious spirit.

Perfection is a patient man’s game. So we waited until Angel’s Envy reached the perfect level of maturity. We judge only a handful of barrels exceptional enough for our lengthy finishing process. The result? Even at 124.6 proof, every sip is worth savoring.

A remarkably complex and unfiltered spirit, we suggest you enjoy it neat or with just a splash of water to release the flavor nuances, and perhaps with a few friends who appreciate outstanding whiskey. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength was worth waiting for, now it’s worth sharing.

APPEARANCE Rich gold with an amber depth
NOSE Rose petals, dense fruitcake, fresh strawberries, cracked black peppercorns, clove
PALATE Caramel coffee, dried fig, aged tobacco, toasted sourdough bread
FINISH Rich and buttery, add water to soothe the burn and let the finish linger

What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, smokey sweet barbecue sauce, oaky with some sherry and stewed dark fruit, and subtle baking spices.
Palate: Luscious sweet fruit with sharp oak and pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long and wet.
Comments: This has a really nice nose, as the previous year’s releases have – but the palate for me was only “pretty good”. Not as balanced and integrated as past releases – which isn’t to say that this isn’t good (just not “as good”). This is usually a “Must Try” for me, but this year isn’t quite there.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says
Nose: Burnt caramel, fig pudding, and a wisp of campfire smoke. Water opens up more spices like clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a pinch of anise.
Palate: Light roasted coffee beans, Dominican cigars, and dulce de leche. Water opens up a slightly bitter note and some pleasant canned cherry pie filling flavors.
Finish: The finish is heavy on oak and very drying.
Comments: Over the last several years I haven’t seen much movement in the spirit released each year as Angel’s Envy’s cask strength bottles. It was consistently a very good but very expensive bottle of whiskey. This year’s release seems off to me. The wood dominates much more heavily than previous releases and you have to work to pull out the subtle aspects of the whiskey. It is not nearly as well balanced. Also, given the every growing price point I’m finding it difficult to recommend this year’s release. Without any insight into the cask strength composition, this feels like stocks getting released at progressively older ages and then this year it has gone a year too far.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Angel’s Envy for sending us a sample to review.

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Jack Daniel’s Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
45% ABV
$25-$30
Website

What the Distillery Says
Introducing rye whiskey made Jack’s way. Crafted with our 70-percent rye grain bill, natural spring water from our own Cave Spring Hollow, and Jack’s time-honored charcoal mellowing process, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye is a whiskey that could only come from Lynchburg, Tennessee. Master Distiller Jeff Arnett and the whiskey makers of the Jack Daniel Distillery have created a unique rye that’s undeniably spicy and complex yet sippin’ smooth. It might be one of our first new recipes in over 150-years, but if you know Jack, you’ll know Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye.

70% RYE GRAIN BILL
CHARCOAL MELLOWED
A BOLD BALANCE OF SPICE & SMOOTHNESS

What Gary Says
Nose: Mellow rye spice, orange creamsicles with banana, subtle clove and nutmeg with some oak and a hint of dill.
Palate: Sweet and spicy, with a citrus zip that isn’t sharp or peppery, mellow bananas.
Finish: Moderately short, and on the dry side.
Comments: This is definitely a different and unique rye whiskey. I didn’t get any pepper spice, although I expect that is dulled by the signature mellowing process used by them boys (and gals) in Tennessee. Don’t get me wrong – this is absolutely a rye whiskey (while “mellow” – it still has that citrus zip you’d expect), and for my money – a solid contribution to the category. Appreciate that they didn’t bring this in below 90 proof too! Unmistakenably “Jack”, and for rye whiskey fans, this is affordable enough I’d consider a “Must Try”.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

What Richard Says
Nose: Upon first pour a spicy, slightly musty acetone note is predominant. A little more air time and more minty and peppery smells peek through with hint of banana liqueur and vanilla. Water opens the nose up to a delicious banana cream pie.
Palate: Nice kick. You can definitely tell it’s made by Mr. Arnett in Lynchburg but with a solid rye twang. Black and white pepper, warm rye bread, and grassy with a light banana bread sweetness.
Finish: It lingers with a black pepper dusting around the sides of the tongue and back of the mouth.
Comments: Certain distilleries have a relatively consistent note that rings true throughout nearly all of their products. At George Dickel it’s a chewable kids vitamin kind of thing. At Jim Beam there is a peanut like funk to their products. At Jack Daniels it is bananas. I’m not a chemist or olfactory scientist to know what causes that but I think that since I also find it distinctively in their Rye that it must me the yeast they use in the mash. I think the charcoal mellowing actually brings it forward more as it filters out other things. This rye makes me happy. It’s not a “HOLY SHIT” rye or anything. But it is a solid new product from a long established distiller at a reasonable price. I would happily keep Jack Daniel’s rye in my house for cocktails and the occasional sip. It’s not a deep contemplative rye. It’s just solid. And in a sea of MGP rye rebottlings from “craft” producers it’s nice to have another sub $30 rye option that tastes different. Add it to the stable with Rittenhouse, Wild Turkey Rye, and Jim Beam Rye. Kudos Brown Forman. You did this one right!
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Jack Daniel’s for sending us a sample to review.

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