Tag: whisky review

Whisky Review – Bunnahabhain 16 Old Particular

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Bunnahabhain 16 Old Particular [Link to Douglas Laing]

Region: Islay
ABV: 48.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead

 

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Honey, apple, grass, oily, pineapple, malt, orange water, icing sugar

Palate: Pineapple, malt, citrus peel, slight acidity, sugar, nuts

Finish: Medium finish, malty, faint smoke, mineral water

Score: 80/100

Overall rather pleasant, smooth, and rather basic dram. Not overly complex, nice citrus, tropical fruit and nutty profile. A nice touch of smoke towards the finish as well. Glad to have try it.

Whisky Review – Glenmorangie Lasanta

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Glenmorangie Lasanta [Link to Glenmorangie]

Region: Highland
ABV: 43%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Red fruit jam, mineral, berries, burnt orange peel, cinnamon, dried fruits, wax

Palate: Raspberry, malt, wood, mineral, wax

Finish: Long finish, mineral

Score: 69/100

Not sure what grade of sherry casks Glenmorangie decided to use, but surly they aren’t ones of high grade. Overall the whisky just felt poorly “put-together”. Lasanta is said to mean ‘warmth and passion’ in Gaelic, which is exactly what I can’t feel from this expression. Felt like it was made with a “that will do” attitude, really basic, off-balance with loads of mineral throughout, you do notice the sherry influence, but it’s just not a nice composition. Wouldn’t recommend.

Whisky Review – Springbank Local Barley 11, 16

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Springbank Local Barley 11 [Link to Springbank]

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 53.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Dried Apricot, peach, fibrel cereal, ethanol, smoked plum, white flower, salted butter, green tea, citrus rind, tic tac vanilla

Palate: Ashy peat, butter, salt, lemon curd, faint dried cherry, cured meat

Finish: Long finish, sweet cereal, mineral

Score: 87/100

Springbank Local Barley 16

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Syrupy, white grape, faint buttery smoke, dried apricot, vanilla, anise, popcorn

Palate: Smoked meat, tar, peat, lemon, mineral, honey, vanilla

Finish: Long finish, ash, orange peel, more mineral

Score: 85/100

The local barley expressions are supposed to show the terrior of the barley. The 11 year old is made with made with Bere barley from Aros Farm, while the 16 is made with barley grown at Low Machrimore Farm in Southend.

Overall I liked the 11 more than the 16, its more complex, better integrated aromas and flavour. They both took a while to open up, showing a very similar profile.

I wish Springbank would have aged both barley types in similar ex-bourbon casks and age, and label the barley on the label (kind of like how wine labels are, showing the vineyard and varietal). That way would be the closest we can do to try out different profile of the barley.

Whisky Review – Springbank 12 Cask Strength 2017 Release

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Springbank 12 Cask Strength 2017 Release [Link to Springbank]

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 70% ex-Sherry, 30% ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Cherry Syrup, menthol, malt, raspberry, leather, metallic, floral, honey, ginger, dried fruits, light peat

Palate: Pepper, raspberry jam, citrus, malt, leather, crushed stone, ginger, orange peel

Finish: Long finish, ginger, mineral water, faint peat

Score: 86/100

Rather solid release from Springbank as usual, really enjoy the sherry centric influence, the nose really shows both casks working well in harmony, each contributing their signature notes, with touch of peat in the backbone. The palate is also very sherry forward, loads of red fruits and leathery notes, leading up to a spicy finish. Would recommend this bottle if you liked the Springbank 10.

Victoria Caledonian Macaloney TWA Cask Blended Malt (Speyside Blend, Highland Blend, Islay Blend)

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Victoria Caledonian Macaloney TWA Casks Blended Malt Reviews

Thanks to Victoria Caledonian for hosting the event for the Toronto Whisky Society.

Macaloney TWA Cask – Speyside (Benrinnes & Glenlossie)

Region: Speyside
ABV: 56.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Unknown blend of casks from both distilleries, then vetted into ex-Kentucky cask for final maturation.

 

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Candy, melon, honey, floral, malt

Palate: Lush, sweet malt, honey, butter, melon, wax

Finish: Long finish, pepper, mineral water, vanilla, oak.

Score: 78/100

Macaloney TWA Cask – Highland (Blair Athol & Macduff)

Region: Highland
ABV: 57.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Unknown blend of casks from both distilleries, then vetted into ex-Kentucky cask for final maturation.

 

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Coal, acetone, butter, vanilla, honey, dusty, pear

Palate: Melon, heather, mineral, oak, cereal, red fruits, wood

Finish: Medium finish, sweet malt, faint smoke, mineral

Score: 79/100

Macaloney TWA Cask – Islay (Caol Ila & Bunnahabhain)

Region: Islay
ABV: 56.7%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Unknown blend of casks from both distilleries, then vetted into ex-Kentucky cask for final maturation.

 

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Creamy corn, ash, peat, cherry syrup, floral, butter

Palate: Ash, butter, citrus, tar, apple, caramel

Finish: Long finish, oily, ashy peat, orange peel

Score: 80/100

Very glad to see another Canadian distillery, especially when they are selling blended cask strength scotch before their own whisky finishes maturing. Big respect on not selling barely-legal whisky to the market and charging “craft whisky” pricing. No further notes taken during the event.

Macallan 12 Double Cask 40%

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Macallan 12 Double Cask 40%

Region: Speyside
ABV: 40%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry.

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Rich stewed red fruits, raisin, plum, bosc pear, icing sugar, soft oak, touch of mineral and wax.

Palate: Syrup, red grape, honey, malt, sugar, oak, cereal, pepper, baking spice.

Finish: Medium+ finish, ginger, pepper, caramel.

Score: 81/100

I went into this dram with very low expectation, since recent years we’ve been drowned with crappy NAS expression that I didn’t even bother writing up the review, despite trying everything from the Amber to Rare Cask. Here in America-Lite (Canada), we get the 40% expression instead of the 43% of our neighboring country.

Anyway, the 12 Year Double Cask performed surprisingly well. As I’ve been drinking mostly cask strength releases lately, and slowly tightening my scoring after trying more higher-end drams than I have previously. I expect this to be another watery release that I’ve come to expect from a 40%.

The nose is sherry dominant, fairly rich, full of stewed fruits, raisins notes that you expect from a sherry influenced whisky, with a touch of bourbon cask influence. Promising so far. The palate is also a big surprise, syrupy, the bourbon cask is showing more of its strength here, leading up to a spicy finish.

This is by no means very complex, but overall as a package is rather satisfying, crowd pleasing dram.

Tullibardine 20

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Tullibardine 20

Region: Highland
ABV: 43%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: First-fill bourbon

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Honey, melon, orange, peach, marzipan, sweet cereal, vanilla, ginger.

Palate: Honey, pepper, malt, bitter oak, herbal, orange peel, dark chocolate, melon.

Finish: Medium+ finish, pepper, oak, mineral.

Score: 78/100

Overall, the Tullibardine 20 year old is a rather simple whisky. Very classic bourbon cask influence, personally I think the 43% ABV is a bit too watered-down, would hope to see this expression at cask strength. Especially the given price here in Ontario, Canada from the LCBO, which cost a whopping $300CAD (~$235USD), which is insanity for something that cost 1/3 of the price over in Europe. As usual pricing does not affect my scoring.

Villa San-Juliette Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

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Villa San-Juliette Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Colour: Medium+ ruby core

Nose: Cassis, red cherry, vanilla.

Palate: Dry, medium+ body, medium+ tannins, medium+ acidity. Tart red cherry, cassis, cocoa, liquorice.

Finish: Medium finish, cherry, touch of mineral.

Score: 77+/100

Fairly well-made for the price, still youthful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon, on the simple side, tannins still grippy. Would recomming 2 more years in the cellar. Drink now or hold.

Laphroaig Select

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Review 74 – Laphroaig Select

Sample provided by Laphroaig to the Toronto Whisky Society, for their #OpinionsWelcome program.

This following review will remain unbiased as per usual.

Thank you Laphroaig for providing the dram.

Region: Islay
ABV: 40%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hogshead, Quarter casks and First fill bourbon casks.

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Preserved tangerine peel, brine, red fruits undertone, wood smoke, oolong tea, vanilla, faint spice.

Palate: Water, ginseng, tar, rubber, earthy peat, saline, lapsang souchong, spice.

Finish: Medium finish, pepper, lime, anise, earthy, newspaper.

Score: 74/100

The nose started off rather promisingly, after sitting the dram for 15 minutes, black tea, preserved tangerine peel, the usual brine and smoke, with a touch of red fruits and spice; the nose is rather mild, tamed compared to the previous Laphroaig offerings. Still, off to a good start.

Onto the palate, watery is perhaps the best description. Greeted by rubbery, tar notes, ginseng and black tea is present too, touch of saltiness, followed by a touch of spice, earthy, and herbal finish. Overall the tasting experience is rather disappointing, poor to be concise, I would’ve guessed someone watered this down to 20-30% ABV if it was a blind tasting.

Having tried the majority of their core expression previously, from their standard 10 year, quarter casks, to their 15 200th Anniversary, Lore, and now discontinued 18, and a quite a few others including some IBs and travel retail, now presented with this – The Select.

I am fairly sure the Select is aimed towards getting new customers in, a 40%, mild expression. But to me, especially the price they are charging in Ontario ($78.20CAD for the Select, $85.20CAD for the Quarter cask, $86.20CAD for the 10 Year 43%) This product makes no sense to me, part from offloading poor casks to a cheaper expression. I would take the Quarter cask or the 10 over this any day any year. This would perhaps damage their brand more than helping.

Bottom line: Laphroaig if you are listening, stop over complicating your lineup, focus on what you do best, stop releasing gimmicky whisky.

Look at Macallan with their Edition No.1/2, even them realize, it’s not hard to make a quality whisky. Dial up the proof back to 48% ABV, quality casks, and charge us more according to the proof jump, verses watering it down and hope to sell more. I believe most enthusiasts would rather pay a few bucks more, than to have a watery dram. Laphroaig is a love or hate experience, why not treat the ones who loves you, better?

Thanks for reading prolong review and rant.

Side note: Please get the LCBO to carry the 10 CS.

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC10, PC11, PC12.

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A Trio Review of PC10/11/12

Image Left To Right: PC10/11/12

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC10 “TRO NA LINNTEAN”

“It’s the PC10 expression from Bruichladdich powerfully peaty Port Charlotte series of releases. This release also marked 10 years of Allan Logan, who became the youngest distillery manager in Scotland, working with Jim McEwan. This was referenced in this expression’s subtitle, ‘Tro Na Linntean’, which means ‘Through the Generations’. Only 6,000 bottles of PC10 were released.”

 

Region: Islay
ABV: 59.8%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: American Oak Casks

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Hay, citrus, walnut, smoke, peat, faint red berries, tar, ethanol.

Palate: Brine, mineral, salt, wood, citrus peel, candied orange, oily, tar, touch of dried figs.

Finish: Medium finish, pepper, ginger, peat, earthy, hay, touch of funk.

Score: 88/100

 

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC11 “EÃ’RNA NA H-ALBA”

“PC11, ‘Eòrna Na h-Alba’ – Scottish Barley – is our homage to the land and people that gave life to this whisky.”

 

Region: Islay
ABV: 59.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Premium Ex-Bourbon + Oloroso Sherry Finish

 

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Smoke, sawdust, brine, peat, orange peel, raspberry, sulfur funk, charcoal, honey, ethanol.

Palate: Metallic, medicinal peat, smoke, pepper, oily, funk, cherry.

Finish: Long finish, pepper, ginger, funk, cinnamon, mineral water.

Score: 86/100

 

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC12 “OILEANACH FURACHAIL”

“Adam Hannett has been working alongside Jim McEwan since 2006, watching and learning from the legendary distiller. Adam has a special talent, a perceptive nose and a rare ability to analyse and objectify sensory experience. One day the ultimate responsibility for this precious spirit will rest on his shoulders. Here we acknowledge Adam and his ongoing journey with Jim. “Oileanach furachail”.”

 

Region: Islay
ABV: 58.7%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: N/A

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Cherry syrup, menthol, smoke, tangerine, raspberry gummy, oily, sweet herbal note, touch of barbeque sauce, cola.

Palate: Charred wood, barbeque sauce, peat, salt, cola, herbal, lemon peel, nuts.

Finish: Long finish, pepper, cinnamon, wood.

Score: 89/100

 

Very interesting to do a vertical of these three PCs, you can see the progression coming through.

The PC10 is a very solid, cask strength peated Islay, great deal of complexity.

The PC11 is surprisingly less good to my taste, despite my love for sherry casks.

The PC12 feels the most well-made to me, very rounded throughout, nice balance of peat, costal notes, and red fruits.