Month: March 2018

Wine Review – Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016

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Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016

Country: France
Region: Alsace
Grape: Gewurztraminer
ABV: 13%

Colour: Medium- straw

Nose: Rose pedal, lychee, orange flower water, light honey, faint green tea

Palate: Touch of residual sugar, off-dry. Medium- body, medium- acidity. White flower, chalk, grapefruit

Finish: Medium finish, crushed stone, citrus zest, lemon

Score: 77/100

A rather textbook example of Alsace Gewurztraminer. The usual aromatic nose of rose pedal, lychee is definitely present, with orange flower water, light honey, and faint suggestion of green tea on the back end. The palate is off-dry, and simple, could do with more acidity, fresh notes of citrus and minerals all the way to the finish. I would drink this within a year or two.

Whisky Review – Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015

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Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015

Region: Islay
ABV: 51.5%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Straw

Nose: Cured meat, smoke, vanilla, sweet corn candy, brine, lemon

Palate: Menthol, seaweed, bandage, peat, mineral, caramel, pepper, nuts

Finish: Long finish, salt, ash, lemon, mineral

Score: 87/100

The quintessential Laphroaig? This hits every single notes I expect from an ex-Bourbon cask Laphroaig. All the costal influence, sweet vanilla, peat smoke, rubber, you name it. This is what I would pour someone, if I were to show them Laphroaig.

Whisky Review – Springbank 12 1996 (Single Cask Sherry Butt 591)

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Springbank 12 1996 (Single Cask Sherry Butt 591)

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 51.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Cinnamon, clove, ginger, raisin, sulphur funk, smoke, strawberry

Palate: Light peat, cranberry, mineral, red apple, brine, caramel

Finish: Medium finish, red fruit jam, raisin, funk

Score: 85/100

A rather nice and complex Springbank, full of oloroso goodness, great deal of funk, perhaps the finish was a bit of a let-down, since there were a weird note to it that I didn’t quite enjoy.

Whisky Review – Kilkerran 12

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Kilkerran 12

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 70% ex-Bourbon, 30% ex-Sherry

 

Colour: Straw

Nose: Vanilla, floral, melon, grass, cereal, honey

Palate: Honey, orange, vanilla, pepper, malt, melon

Finish: Medium finish, ginger, smoke

Score: 80/100

A solid whisky, not a great deal of complexity, very malt centric, with cereal, light fruit. At roughly the same price, I would rather be buying a Springbank 10 or 12 Cask Strength, which offers more complexity and enjoyment.

 

Whisky Review – Tobermory 21 1995 (The Whisky Agency – Toronto Whisky Society)

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Tobermory 21 1995 (The Whisky Agency – Toronto Whisky Society)

Region: Isle of Mull
ABV: 51.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Honey, pepper, vegetal, brine, lemon, peat, floral

Palate: Ginseng, charcoal, honey, mineral, lemon, salt, pepper

Finish: Medium finish, cinnamon, mineral, cocoa, light oak

Score: 86/100

Bottled for the Toronto Whisky Society, by The Whisky Agency. This is an unusual Tobermory, since it is lightly peated.

A rather nice and complex nose to greet, followed by a promising palate and finish.

The peat really adds to its identity, the flavour profile is on the simpler side, but the flavour works well in harmony, integrated. Overall rather nice, really glad on this pickup.