The Albannach, London - Bruichladdich Laddie Classic Scottish Barley & Ardbeg Supernova Review

The Albannach, London

As discussed in my previous article, my recent travels in London had me keeping a keen eye on places to go to enjoy whisky. Well, I found a great place called "Albannach" located at/near Trafalgar Square and, ironically enough, directly facing Canada House. I brought Wifey and our daughter there to have lunch (delicious food, by the way) and to have a whisky or two. 

We had a good time and service was very friendly as well. Fortunately but very normally, my daughter was very well behaved so we were able to have a relaxed go of lunch and I was able to spend some time enjoying the delicious whiskies I chose.  Speaking of whisky, the Albannach has a very large selection (about 200 whiskies) and I decided to open up with the Laddie Classic - Scottish Barley from Bruichladdich since it was there and I have been waiting and waiting for it to be available in Canada.

Bruichladdich Laddie Classic Scottish Barley - 50% abv.
I reviewed the Laddie Classic Edition 01 previously and I was curious to see what the new treatment of the Classic was like especially with the decision to move up the alcohol to 50%. Here are some quick notes:

Nose: coastal with salt and vanilla and lemon.

Palate: Different than Edition 01 but still quite similar. Coastal and salty and nice with slick mouthfeel. Vanilla notes. Fresh and vibrant. A little water brings out more vanilla but it stays slick. The higher alcohol hasn't affected the "easy-to-drink" aspect of this whisky but does seem to have added some flavour and possibly some weight to the mouthfeel. The change is positive.

Finish: as before, lengthwise, and has some salted toffee in the finish too.

Nice!  Top shelf any-time dram. I think Jim McEwan is doing all the right things at Bruichladdich. 

After enjoying the Laddie Classic, I had some lunch and decided to spring (not cheap!) for the Ardbeg Supernova for desert. My wife was very nice to oblige. I really wanted to try the Supernova due to its reputation and rarity and the fact it has been seen as the only true competitor to the mighty Octomore.

Ardbeg Supernova - 2010 (I think) - 60.1% abv.

Colour: gold. Darker than octomore.

Nose: creamy smoke. Pickles and chocolate - sounds weird but it works.  Some would say brine and chocolate. Some lemon as it opens? The nose isn't as in-your-face as most Ardbegs (corroborated by our friendly waiter) and this is interesting since this is peaked "in excess of 100 ppm phenols"

Palate: wow! Like octomore but different. Super creamy and chocolatey with big spicy chipotle hit and big smoke.  Dries and smokes and heats on finish. Really big. Sweet and delicious.  Tastes very high quality!  I don't want to dilute it!  Lots of islay notes like maybe pickled onions (or capers?), salt, but creamy and chocolatey and sweet too.  Really, really good.  Nice mouthfeel.  Oddly, this fills in very well in place of desert.

Finish: smoke that goes and goes and goes. I'm ended up tasting this for a while after I left the Albannach!

People will inevitably ask which is better between this and Octomore. Honestly, the two are very similar. Octomore is more delicate than Supernova, in my opinion, which might make some lean towards it but the Supernova is fatter so, depending on the day... Both are tremendous. Something that tilts this battle in Bruichladdich's favour for me is that there are editions of Octomore done with wine finishes, etc. which allows more exploration of this type of whisky.

Anyway, off my soap box. Great venue, great food, and great whisky.

Whisky while you travel: London, England

The Whisky Exchange - London

In my recent travels I ended up in London, England. While I am travelling anywhere, there is always a question that comes to my mind: Where are there good whisky visits? 

Well, for London, I'd done some research ahead of time and landed on a couple pubs to visit. However, while here and googling various things about whisky, a store name popped up a few times: The Whisky Exchange.  I did some more quick clicking and it turns out that it is in London and not far from where we were staying.

The Whisky Exchange is located right near the London Bridge and boasts a claimed 1,000 single malt selection.  Check out the photo below which shows maybe 1/4 of the total number of different selections available. If you zoom in real close, you can see some vintage Ardbegs and even the mighty Ardbeg Supernova.  There is a whole host of smaller bottles too (which I find handy in case you don't have a lot time in London but want some whisky to drink while you are there without having to finish - or worse, waste - a bigger bottle).

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Speaking of smaller bottles, there is also a very cool thing that you can do here: they have 5 to 6 small casks of whisky (and sometimes rum) in the room from which you can bottle your own. 

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The casks are actually live so they are affecting the whisky as it sits in the store. You can bottle your own 20cl or 50cl bottle for quite a reasonable price. In my case, I decided on bottling a 50cl of the 1990 Longmorn (23 years old). I've never actually tasted a Longmorn before so I wasn't totally sure what to expect, however, I was pleased with its american oak influences and what I perceived to be a bright honey-lemon flavour. I heard that this one was actually "a little flat" when it came in but gained some life one placed in the oak at the store - interesting. I hope to review my new 1990 Longmorn single cask shortly.

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So, if you're in London and looking to visit a whisky destination, The Whisky Exchange is certainly worth the visit and the prices are decent too. I'm going to also try to visit the pub called "The Albanach" before I go too.

The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel Review

The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel - Cask 12803 - Bottle 127 - 47.8% abv.

The 12 Year Old Single Barrel is my first trip into the world of Balvenie. I asked @Davescotchguy about The Balvenie and he immediately pointed me to this is a very nice place to start. I have to say, as usual, his recommendations are spot on.

This whisky is from a single first-fill american oak cask (so no more than 300 bottles available) and is bottled with its natural colour and let down to 47.8%. The Balvenie, as I understand it, is a distillery that still does a lot of things the old ways so getting a single cask like this with minimal intervention promises to be a good whisky experience.

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Colour:  light gold

Nose: honey with a little squirt of lemon juice along with gingerbread notes. Clean. Really nice.  Beautiful soft sweetness on the nose. This is smelling like how Speysides should be! As it spends some time, I think I actually get a red liquorice note and a hint of vanilla.  Nice full nose.

With some water (a few drops), the vanilla starts to become more prominent and then I start thinking about a gingerbread desert with vanilla icing on it.  I might be stretching a bit here, but I might even get a note smelling like a very light, sweet coffee in there and maybe even the lightest hint of baby powder.

Palate: sweet entry going into  a nice gingerbread string of flavours… nice full body while staying easy to drink. Whisky like this is why I like scotch from first-fill american oak casks so much.

Add a bit of water and you get the gingerbread again but accompanied by a layer of vanilla that is so pleasant. There are spices in there too but they are of the tasty, softly warm variety that just add nice complexity.

Finish: finishes with warmth just at the back of the throat and on either side of the top of the neck. Finish edges down to the Adam's apple. Clean. This would work great for anytime in the summer and would do well as an aperitif otherwise.

This is honestly great Speyside whisky. Doesn't have the clumsiness that can come with sherried aging and it tastes like top quality, old style whisky.  I am so glad that the folks at the Balvenie didn't dilute this down to far or spoil it with colorant or chill-filtration. For me, this is a great showcase of good whisky - natural with no smoke or mutters and nothing to hide behind.  I will be returning to the Balvenie line of products for sure.

Talisker 10 Year Old Quick Review

Talisker 10 Year Old

I had occasion to be in the Toronto air port hotel recently following a flight. I saw the bar had a few nice whiskies so I decided to go for a night cap with my two favourite people. For some reason I saw the Talisker 10 on the menu and couldn't resist getting some - it felt like the only thing that would do.

Normally I wouldn't do a review based on one drink in a hotel but I've had Talisker so many times (had a bottle previously too) that I was comfortable that I was in a right place to get the profile right.

Colour: colourwise this looks not as red as the last bottle of talisker I had. I think I am seeing this right and remembering the bottle from last year correctly.  If so, this may mean less artifical colouring? If so, this would be a very good thing in my opinion.

Nose: sweet smoke on nose. Peat. Some nice sherried notes on the nose.

Palate: sweet with smoke and big hit of pepper and spice. Leads to a nice creaminess.  Heats through to a bit of ash. I really get pepper with this. I recall a manufacuted note (a sort of tinny note?) in my last bottle of Talisker 10 but this seems not to have it. Maybe less colour? If so, its a welcome change because that was the only fault I could find with it previously. If drinking this, I'd suggest going with smaller drams because the pepper is prominent and can add up over time as that sort of flavour can do.

Finish: length is good time wise and works its way down the chest to the belly.

This is a good relaxing dram as a night cap following a plane trip! Honestly, I think every liquor cabinet should have a bottle of this in it. Its not the only thing I want to drink, but there are times where it is the thing to hit the spot.  Makes me curious what some of the more mature (18, 25, etc.) Taliskers are like!  Too bad they are so costly!

PS. Another thing to like about this is that its bottled at higher strength than most Diageo owned products - Alcohol is 46.7 %.

Glenfarclas 2002 Family Cask Willow Park Exclusive Review

Glenfarclas 2002 Willow Park Wines Exclusive Family Cask Release - 60.6% abv. - Bottle 023 of 607 from cask 2196

This dram is a special one. It is an exclusive cask that was done by Willow Park Wines and Spirits with Glenfarclas and released under the Glenfarclas Family Cask label. It is a single cask that was filled with spirit in 2002 and bottled in 2012. This cask was hand-picked by David Michiels (@Davescotchguy) over at Willow Park. I bought this following the Glenfarclas Master Class in early November 2012 and it was signed by George Grant himself. That was a very fun master class filled with great stories and phenomenal sherry-aged whisky. I'm looking forward to the master class this year. In waiting for that, I thought I'd finally post a review for this whisky that I've been slowly enjoying over the past year.

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Colour: deep copper.

Nose: on the nose you immediately get that this is a big sherry bomb, however, it is softer on the nose the the Glenfarclas 105 10 year old reviewed earlier and with less alcohol burn. Super clean sherry notes with lots of christmas cake and dark fruits and spices. There's a creaminess on the nose too which seems unusual for sherried whiskies but it is here and is pleasant. I also get brown sugar with some cinnamon on the nose as well.

Palate: wow! Big sherry-aged flavours! Butterscotch... christmas cake... dried fruits... this is desert! Moves through some nice spices and dries at the back of the palate. Second sip dark caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce, dried fruits and delicious spices. This is softer than the 105 10 year old and more complex in my opinion (don't get me wrong, the 105 is very good). 

Adding some water - with just a little water, it seems to get hotter. Weird. Add some more - now the heat is gone but its still bursting with flavour. Yes, this replaces desert for me after a meal! Seeing how good this is with this much water, I'd advise folks to pour smaller drams and and plan on using a little more water and you can stretch this bottle out without sacrificing flavour. 

This is big, clean, and good. Sweet and satisfying especially as the water brings out some more creaminess. Nice mouthfeel too!

Finish: The finish is quite long and clean and drying. It warms you deep inside.

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Comments: Kudos to Glenfarclas for making these fine whiskies! A very special thanks to David Michiels for his painstaking effort (I'm sure it was hard work!) in picking this outstanding 10 year old and bringing it to us. I am a big fan of whisky like this! I must also thank Willow Park Wines and Spirits for having the interest to continue doing special casks like these!

Ancnoc 12 Year Old Review

Ancnoc 12 Year Old - 40% abv.

Ancnoc (pronounced An-nok) is the name of the whisky produced by the Knockdhu distillery which is located in the Highlands immediately east of Speyside. My introduction to this distillery was via tasting of the Ancnoc 22 year old a couple of times on different occasions. I was very impressed by that malt and gained a desire to investigate the distillery bottlings further. Although I wasn't quite ready to plunk down the cash for the 22, I thought it good to start at the beginning with the well-priced 12 year old.

Ancnoc 12 Year Old - click picture to enlarge

Colour: Gold.

Nose: apples... almost like pie filling. Brown sugar, spices, and pastry dough.  Quite pleasant!

Palate: gentle, malty, a little sweet. Easy to drink and soft yet flavourful with no off-notes. Light vanilla and maybe dried coconut. As it sits in the glass a while, I think a touch of chocolate appears along with a creaminess. Tasty stuff!

Finish: on the short side with spices. Clean.

This is a nice "every day" dram and can be taken pretty well any time or situation. Having tasted the Ancnoc 22 Year Old, I really wish this 12 Year Old were bottled at higher than 40% and with no colour or chill filtration. I feel like this is a good malt that could have been a truly stellar one had that been the case. I have to say that it bothers me when distilleries decide to bottle only much older, more expensive whiskies without colouring and chill-filtration; it makes me feel as though they don't care about the drams that most of the public can and will buy. This doesn't align with my philosophies at all! 

Off my soap box - I don't want to take away from this 12 Year Old. It is good and actually something I'd pick ahead of a number of other older, more expensive bottles.

The Glenrothes 1988 Review

The Glenrothes 1988 - distilled 10/12/1988 and aged until 4/11/2008 - 43% abv.

The Glenrothes is a speyside distillery that has always interested me. I first tasted their whiskies a few years ago in my local store on a customer appreciation day. That day, I tried their Select Reserve and their Alba Reserve and was introduced to their vintage concept. Although known for their sherry-aged whisky, I actually bought the Alba Reserve first.  

I've never owned a sherry aged example of The Glenrothes until recently but had tried a few including but not limited to the 1994 and the 1972.  Now, after hearing recommendations, I decided to score a bottle of the 1988.  With fall coming up, I was recently looking for some more sherry aged whiskies and took advantage of the excuse to try the 1988.

The Glenrothes 1988 - click picture to enlarge

Colour: dark amber.

Nose: candied orange peels. I am almost reminded of Grand Marnier on the nose.  Citrus. Sweet.  WIth a little time in the glass, I am certain I am getting coca-cola... or pepsi? Maybe even a slight hint of coffee but I might be imagining that.  Really is a beautiful, aged Speyside nose. I get some dates on the nose and good body but it is soft. From the nose, I can't imagine this will need more water than the tears from my eyes. This is promising. 

Palate: this is nice! Has the most body of any 'Rothes I've tried so far.  Nice and clean sherry flavours. This is sweet for sure and has the orange peel flavours but accompanied with real, dark honey flavours. I was looking for a nice, sophisticated sherry aged dram and I think I found it.  This is basically 20 years old and I think the age comes through. I think of whiskies in layers when they lend themselves to it and this one moves in layers. The last layer on the palate brings on lovely spices that work their way towards the back of the tounge along with a drying sensation and a continuation of cola flavours. Mouthfeel is good for a Glenrothes as well.

Finish: finishes pretty long but clean as well. 

When would I drink this? I think this will make for a good night after-dinner dram or night cap. Again, something that can be served to someone important to you with confidence and I always enjoy the vintage thing. Afterall, it makes apparent the fact that this whisky will never be back again. Good stuff!

Double Review: Bruichladdich Laddie Classic Edition 01 Review and Bruichladdich The Laddie Sixteen Review

Bruichladdich Laddie Classic and The Laddie 16 Review

Even though I've reviewed a number of Bruichladdich products lately, I felt compelled to do a more detailed review of a couple of the bottles we tasted with Jim McEwan on September 26, 2013. Since nobody pays me or compensates me in any way, I can say and do whatever the heck I want so I am doing this review even though I've done a number of Bruichladdich products. I've never made it a secret - I do like Bruichladdich very much. I'll hit the Highlands or the Lowlands in my next review.

These are two products that fit within the "Classic Bruichladdich" branding and are still available in stores... the Laddie Classic is being replaced with the Scottish Barley Classic Laddie (I guess its Edition 02?). The Laddie Sixteen appears to be headed the way of the Do-do at least until there is sixteen year-old stock that was distilled under the Renaissance - so 4 years away? I am speculating on the fate of the 16 but available evidence points to what I've concluded here.

Here we go...

Bruichladdich The Laddie Classic Edition 01 - 46% abv. 

Colour: mid-gold

Nose: so coastal on the nose!  Coastal salt and freshness on the nose followed by a burst of vanilla pods (yes, vanilla comes from pods).  Rich vanilla with a little sweetness and lemon. Really oozes that pure bruichladdich bouquet complete with a hint of mint/menthol.

Palate: coastal salinity with a rich sweetness and bursting with vanilla.  There is a richness to this I didn't expect due to the coastal nose.  This is also quite fresh. I want to say that I get some pear and kiwi from this too. This is good for any time of day in my book and works as an "everyday" dram. This is definitely something that works for summer if you are looking for a summer dram. I like water in this one and you'll find it can take more than you might think.

Finish: middle length and making it into the upper chest

Comments: A great restorative dram at a good price. If your looking for an all-rounder, this is a good choice. Share this with friends, drink it in the middle of the afternoon, or jump on a dram as a night cap. It has very pleasant flavours and nice complexity and should please many. I'm told this resembles some of the older 10 year old Bruichladdich expressions that the people of Islay used to pick as their dram of choice... never tasted those older expressions of the Ten so I can't tell you but take it for what its worth.

Put shortly: Good, honest whisky.


Bruichladdich The Laddie Sixteen

Colour: nice full gold.

Nose:  This could almost be perfume! This has a true floral quality... I think Jim McEwan talked about being in a garden immediately following a shot of rain. At that time, flowers and plants are at their most fragrant and this does remind me of that. There is a bit of salt in there and with some time in the glass I want to say that I get some pineapple in there (cool!) and there is definitely some lemon. More time (and literally two drops of water) brings out some nice vanilla. This smells like sophistication.

Palate: a raft of herbacious and floral notes flow across the palate accompanied with some sweetness. There is a little menthol here for sure. Its soft and enjoyable - you could definitely serve this to your boss or father-in-law with confidence. There is some pretty solid vanilla, lemon, and honey coming thru and a surprising punchiness for a 16 Year-old. As you spend some more time with it, banana and marzipan come through as well.  Interesting waxy texture too.

Finish: medium length and leaves a tingle on the palate with spices. The spice at the finish makes me wonder if there is truth to the rumour that this was finished in virgin oak between the time the tins and labels were printed and when this was bottled. 

Comparing this to The Laddie Twenty Two isn't fair, but I will say that each reminds me of the other. The Twenty Two does bring a level of maturity that The Sixteen hasn't quite reached. I personally prefer the 22, but I have heard others say they prefer the 16. Its only a matter of taste!

Bruichladdich Master Class Review - Barley to Bottle with Jim McEwan

Bruichladdich Master Class with Jim McEwan

Well, I just had the most incredible scotch experience of my life.  I have been waiting for this for a long time... Jim McEwan was in town at my local shop, Willow Park Wines and Spirits, and he did not disappoint!  The man's complete and utter passion for his craft is incredible to behold and absolutely intoxicating!  I was drunk - with passion.  In fact, I still am and am sitting down with a dram (Octomore 4.2 Comus) reliving the experience with you.

Every now and then, you have an experience that changes things for you.  When it comes to whisky, Bruichladdich brought me to Scotch whisky when I tasted it a few years ago and had to buy it immediately (had tasted others and they didn't capture me). That dram was the 12 Year Old 2nd Edition.  Tonight, I've had that type of experience again as I witnessed the pure heart that goes into Bruichladdich whisky.

By the way, before I go on, I chose the colour of font because I know Jim would love it even though its a bit hard to read.

If you ever get the chance to see Jim speak, do it!  Don't hesitate.  He is a gentleman, he is so funny, he is passionate, and he is pure.  You will have a great time!  Here's a lousy Blackberry photo from the night:

The line up for the night was as shown in the picture below:

Honestly, these drams are all top shelf.  The Laddie Classic oozes coastal character along with nice sweetness and vanilla.  The Islay Barley 2006 is so pure and beautiful (I already drank two bottles at home since it came out and can't get enough).  It really is special whisky with a lovely sweetness, with its floral notes, and with its creamy richness.  The Laddie 16 is so sophisticated and perfumed and really shows what Bruichladdich can be when aged.  I really can't wait to see and hope we get to see some of the beautiful drams distilled by Jim make it to bigger ages like 12, 16, 22, etc.  The Laddie 22, as reviewed previously, is such a classy dram.  Its really the one I think of for those occasions where you must have something special... incredible!  Really.  The Cuvee 640 was a unique and delicious and luxurious dram... you'll see in the shot below that I picked up the PX Cuvee 407 which is not shot at the 640 - trust me, the balance and rich luxury is really enjoyable. The Port Charlotte 10 Year old was really a top-shelf peated dram.  As previously reviewed, I have PC7 and love it and the Port Charlotte 10 may not have the "shock and awe" of that dram, but it is richly smoky and complex and I had to have it.  I wanted something for Jim to sign that he made from the beginning and this was a great choice.

With the bounty of the evening in hand, it was incredible all of the people who hung around after the event was long done to share in the excitement that Jim created.  I am still beaming at home right now.

Thank you to Jim and to Dave Michiels (@Davescotchguy) and to Willow Park for a truly memorable evening and here is to Bruichladdich! Slainte!

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Distillery Edition Review

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Distillery Edition - 51% abv. - Non-chill filtered

Every now and then you get to have something that impresses you.  This is one of those times... just as you might start to lose faith in the big, industrialized distilleries you walk into your local shop and taste something like this Glenfiddich Distillery Edition.  I did and had to have it immediately.

Click picture to enlarge

Colour: mid-amber with gold highlights

Nose: first thought is, "wow! this is sweet and fruity."  Come back to it and I can't really describe what I am smelling. Then, I think to look for ideas and come across "banana skins" in a tasting note. I walk over to the kitchen where there are some nice yellow bananas with some brown spots on the skin and pick one up and literally smell one and then smell the whisky.  That's it!  Banana skins!  No B.S.! Well, I guess B.S. after all because its banana skins.  After I get past that, I get sweet raisins - maybe raisin ice cream with some spices.  A little water (like 4 drops) opens up the nose and makes things even more discernible.  Don't rush this... you can spend a while enjoying the nose.

Palate: again, first thought is fruity with a nice complexity. Sweet. This is a nice, sherried dram.  Moves to a spiciness at the back end of the palate. Some vanilla shows up in there along with the fruit.  With water, the vanilla is more prevalent. Taking my time, and going back to childhood memories, I think I actually get bananas in cream with raisins.  Maybe some field berries in there.

Finish: the intensity of the flavour fades quickly but then lingers and extends at the lower intensity making it all the way down to the belly.  This is a long finish.

Comments: This dram is fantastic and a fantastic value. Glenfiddich needs to make more stuff like this - non-chill filtered, more alcohol as required, lots of focus on interesting and big flavours and no industrial tastes. This tastes artisanal but masterfully made at the same time. This is special and makes me think that there might be hope for the corporations yet.  I'd like to see Glenfiddich move their whole line to a no-colouring and no-chill filtering style with higher alcohol as needed.  

Scotch Malt Whisky Society - September 2013 Outturn

Well, I finally did it... I made it out an Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) Canada tasting. My friend, Shaky Byrne, joined me and I must say that it was a good time and an eye-opening experience.

I won't go into a tonne of detail, but SMWS basically has a committee of a few folks who really love whisky and select single casks from a very wide variety of distilleries to bottle unfiltered, with no colouring added, and at cask strength. There's a catch - only members can buy their independent bottlings. Their bottlings are identified with basically anonymous labels (i.e. you won't know where the whisky came from unless you dig deeper) but they do tell you a lot about each whisky's character with both the title and their committee tasting notes. I must say, after having been subjected to a fair bit of marketing nonsense the past few years, their titles and tasting notes are shockingly helpful/accurate (probably because they do the smart thing and rely on a committee rather than on a single palate).  They also have locations throughout the world and hold tastings and such.

I attended their September Outturn tasting here in Calgary and it was my first time trying SMWS whisky or attending one of their events.  It was refreshing because the folks who put it on, Kelly and Rob Carpenter, went to the effort of eliminating the ages, regions, prices, etc. from each tasting note so it truly was a basically blind tasting... just what do you taste, what excites you, etc. about each dram.  Great for conversation in the group and this really plays to what I've said many times in the past - never buy based on age or price.  This is for people with a Passion for Scotch! As you might guess, it also made for a relaxed tasting with no snob factor which is always nice. Check out the selection of drams we tasted in the screen shot below.  

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You can access the tasting notes through the SMWS and I will tell you that they do give a really solid idea of the profile of each whisky.  You need to pay attention to the little nuances stated too because I noticed for one of the drams that it had a note to it (that was described in the tasting notes) that was off-putting to me... honestly, its the first dram in a while that I can say I didn't like.  Others in the room actually liked the same one quite a bit so don't get the idea that I am saying anything negative about SMWS, it just was a flavour profile that was good and got to a note that I didn't appreciate.  

The other drams I found were all excellent and very tasty and very unique - in a few cases totally different from anything I'd ever tasted and the kind of thing that made me want to be a member a immediately. Honestly, for a while I felt as if I was in an old fashioned soda and ice cream shop as I noted various flavours like cream soda, coke, cherry coke, ice cream, etc.  If they pump out that kind of individuality every month, it could be a very tasty, exciting, and a bit expensive proposition.  But as Bud Fox's old man in Wall Street said, "Money's only something you need in case you don't die tomorrow."  The variety of unique flavours is staggering and the fact that these are single casks really brings some notes to the fore-front that might only be a whisper in typically distillery bottlings. I should say, at the end of the night, we did get the regional information as well as the ages, etc.  I am happy with my self because my three favourites were the youngest (8 years old), the oldest (30 years), and one in the middle (21 years).  

Anyway, I love flavour and this event brought it to me in spades. 

Tobermory Aged 15 Years Review

Tobermory 15 Year Old - 46.3% abv. - Un-chillfiltered

Remember how I said that the best payment you can give someone is a bottle of scotch? Well, its true.  Last month, I played the part of emcee at my brother-in-law's wedding to his lovely wife. Well, I guess I did a good job because the two of them decided to gift me this lovely bottle of scotch to thank me for my loyal service. My brother-in-law told me that they knew I had a lot of bottles of scotch at home and they wanted to get me something unique, something that I didn't already have. I'll be honest, they ended up getting me something that I never even heard of before I saw this bottle.  In fact, it seems that most people have never heard of Tobermory.  Well, if Tobermory keep making whiskies like this, I don't think that will last for too much longer.

Colour: Deep amber with copper highlights

Nose: I really get sultana raisins along with some really clean sherry notes and Christmas spices.  Some chocolate syrup on the nose too.

Palate: Starts a little sweet and works through some warming spices to a nice tang... this is coastal, after all!  Nice, clean sherry notes followed by some salt.  The sweetness really is a raisin flavour that leads into a chocolate note accompanied by some salt.  This takes middle road between rich and dry.  Altogether pleasant and nice body here!  This has a nice mouthfeel that develops into a gentle drying warmth.  

Finish: Finish is long and carries on the spices and warmth right into my belly.

This is a nice, sherried dram!  Easy to drink and has nice flavours.  Not desert on its own like some Glenfarclas drams are, but is a nice, relaxing night cap.  I think anyone would like this... one to have around if you need to impress a Father-in-law or your boss?  One thing that is cool about this is most people haven't heard from it and it is quite good so folks might get the idea you know what you are doing if you serve this.  Never a bad thing!

Bruichladdich The Organic Review (the right whisky at the right time)

Bruichladdich The Organic - 46% abv

Okay, I'll come right out and say it... you may have noticed that I have reviewed a number of Bruichladdich products lately.  The truth is that I am a big fan of Bruichladdich.  Its a Bruichladdich whisky that brought me into the world of scotch whisky (I'll always remember my amazement with the 12 Year Old 2nd Edition the first time it hit my lips and how voluptuous the texture was!) and they have a philosophy I truly appreciate.  They also have a lot of different expressions which is great for a curious explorer like myself.  Anyway, on to the whisky we're talking about today - The Organic.

One of the things I truly believe in is having the correct whisky for one's mood or for the weather or whatever.  This is why I have so many open bottles in my cabinet - I never know what whisky I am going to need so I like to have a pile of options of different things to pick from.  I don't have a "go-to" whisky but I have a number of different ones and I usually buy based on the profile of whisky that I am low on.  The Organic paints this picture nicely.

The Organic is a great dram to have on a Sunday afternoon, before dinner.  I find it actually tastes totally different to me if I have it late in the evening rather than before dinner.  No joke. Taken in the afternoon, it is the kind of dram that absolutely rejuvenates me - it brightens my day, my mood, and even wakes me up.  

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Colour: Straw.

Nose: Creamy and floral... I almost get a touch of lilac.  Herbaceous with a mint note. Lovely and interesting. There is an icing sugar-covered pastry. 

Palate: Perfect for a Sunday afternoon!  Sweet and floral and creamy.  Beautiful. Does the creaminess come from the barley? It must. This restores us! Bright and light and a little salty. There is a nice, syrupy vanilla note in there that leads into a lemon-citrus layer. This is lighter tasting but has that viscosity that is so satisfying. 

Finish: shorter and herbaceous. 

This is a great dram for the summer and definitely great for before dinner or even for a picnic. After having had the Islay Barley drams, I kind of wish they bottled this at 50%. That being said, looking at Bruichladdich's new line of whiskies just released, it appears as though all of the core range will be bottled at 50% including the new Scottish Barley Organic.  Let the good times roll!    

Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release Review

Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release - 46% abv

Kilchoman is a new distillery on Islay (established 2005) and is the first new one in a very long time. My introduction to Kilchoman was in October 2012 at a three-night whisky tasting class - that night was "Islay Night."  I tasted Kilchoman first or second out of a flight of eight whiskies and was very impressed with it, especially after I was told that the one we were tasting was only 3 or 3.5 years old.  After that, I was constantly interested in them and the name kept popping up but I didn't buy a bottle until last month.  

I was heading out to the mountains and wanted to buy something that would be peated as I new it would go with the crisp mountain air at night.  This got me thinking Islay and I quickly got to the point... this is a good time to try a Kilchoman product.  I must say, I am most interested by their 100% Islay expression but was convinced to go with the Sherry Cask Release on this occasion.  Will have to get the 100% Islay next.

Like all Kilchoman products, this release is bottled at a higher alcohol (46% in this case) and is non-chill filtered and has no colouring added.

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Colour: Deep gold almost amber.

Nose: Immediately apparent are cooked soft fruits and dark smoke on the nose. A nice, sweet nose. Some spices and pepper along with salt.

Palate: sweet, thick, and smokey. Salt and pepper along with soft fruit. I can't help but think of a fruit crumble mixed and woven with smoke and peat.  I say "smoke and peat" because both are there for sure.  Its tasty, especially for the cooler weather and definitely works very well as a night cap along with crisp, mountain air!  You get the smoke and the spicy, earthier peat following sweet cooked soft fruits.  When I say "cooked soft fruits" I am thinking of a pot with peaches, plums, and apples (I know apples aren't soft but they soften with heat!) on the stove, bubbling away in their own sweet juices.  This is a chewy dram... very thick.

Finish: pretty long finish.  This whisky is young but seems to have spent all or most of its aging life in sherry casks and that helps to extend things well into the gullet.  There is a definite ashiness too.

Comments:  This is good stuff and a good intro to Kilchoman.  This smells, feels, and tastes like a drink made by people who really care about whisky.  This is artisanal whisky and I am really excited by the whole "farm-to-bottle" movement that Kilchoman is adopting as well.  I'll be trying to test some more Kilchoman products soon. 

Bruichladdich The Laddie Twenty Two

Bruichladdich 22 Year Old - The Laddie Twenty Two - 46% abv

This is the longest matured expression I have tried from Bruichladdich other than a 33 year-old Legacy bottling I tried at an exclusive scotch tasting I attended in November 2012 (thank you local scotch guy and his store for setting that up!). This particular expression is part of the classic, unpeated range of Bruichladdich products.

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Bruichladdich The Laddie 22

Colour:  Full gold.

Nose: Its beautiful!  Sweet and very floral with herbal notes and some mint.  Vanilla comes through and maybe even some marzipan and honey.

Palate: definitely tastes like well-matured Bruichladdich. Reminds a bit of the 33 year-old Legacy Series bottling I tasted last year. This is soft and sweet on entry and moves through a layer of what could be creme brulee and then to a honied lemon note. Some salt in there and a very complex run of herbal and floral notes. There even seems to be some apple and pear notes as this spends some time in the glass. This has been breathing Islay air for 22 years and it shows! At one point, as I was most of the way through my dram, I could have sworn I tasted pineapple or something tropical. Interesting since I remember clearly smelling pineapple on the nose of that Legacy Series I tasted.

Finish: The finish is quite long for something I believe was aged in American oak. The finish is also very consistent with the nose and the palate. One key thing I have noticed in drinking very old bottlings is that they do tend to have very strong links between nose, palate, and finish and have very consistent traits. It is one of the rewards of drinking scotch that was aged a long time.

Comments: This is a very nice dram. My ideal time to drink this would be after a big meal in the spring or summer time or as the last dram of the night on a warm or mild day. It tastes like something special and should wow anyone who tries it. A lovely unpeated dram and, in my opinion, what a lot of Speysiders should strive to be. That's the long way to put it... in short, a classy drink.

Tullibardine Port Finish

Tullibardine Port Finish - 46% abv - non chill-filtered

Tullibardine is a Highland region distillery (not Speyside) that seems to very much favour aging whisky in ex-bourbon casks and leaving them that way or subsequently finishing them in some other wine cask.  I have experience with a couple Tullibardine products and have found that they seem to make easy-drinking, enjoyable products at a decent price.  This Port Finish product falls into that category.  

The Tullibardine Port Finish is aged in ex-bourbon casks for an indeterminate time (no age statement on the bottle) and then spends the last 12 months of its maturation in port pipes.  This product is also non chill-filltered and I must say that I like the fact that Tullibardine does not chill-filter its whiskies.

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Colour:  light to mid gold.

Nose: the nose on this is actually soft and beautiful and really reminds of sweet wine or port.   I haven't had this for a while (usually drink this in the winter time) but I forgot how nice the nose is on this and it really makes me want to drink!  It smells well made.

Palate: sweet and lovely!  Definitely solid port influence in there.  Not really tawny port, but the darker more full/chocolatey port.  I get a bit of a Welches grape juice note in this... its not a bad thing either.  Grape-y and delicious.  Honestly, if you know someone who likes port and doesn't typically drink whisky, this may be the thing to serve them.  There is a touch of vanilla in the tail end of this one.  

Finish: mid-to-long finish... the time in port pipes seems to have brought the length in here.  Warming.

Comments: I honestly can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this one.  Its a nice, simple drink that tastes well-made.  Its very easy to drink and may be a great dram to bring a beginner or non-whisky drinker into our exciting world.  I like this and think I might have to go out and try to pick up a bottle of this to replace the one I'm almost through.  I would go for this any time a port might be sought or on a cooler summer night or warmer winter night... after dinner for sure. 

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Review

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old - 43% abv.

Every now and then I come across a dram that I think is ok even though I am under the impression that most have a very high regard for that dram.  In these cases, I don't think that the drink isn't good or as good as something else, I just think I don't get it the same way others do.  The Glenlivet 18 Year Old is one of those.  Don't get me wrong, it tastes fine and works well (especially as a summer drink) and will generally keep almost anyone happy... its just not something I'd come to work the day after trying it and shout to all my friends about the experience I had.

Click picture to enlarge - Credit: painting in the background to my 3-year-old daughter Olivia.

Colour: Gold.

Nose: Soft on the nose with a sort of apple and brown sugar smell.  I almost detect some sort of cherry syrup or something there.

Palate: a little sweet and dry on entry with a sherry-aged flavour followed by some vanilla. I hate to say it but, although it tastes fine and is easy-drinking, it tastes manufactured.  There is a characteristic to this that makes it clear to me that this is not an artisanal whisky but more of a "manufactured" dram.  However, there is a quite nice honey'd vanilla thread that runs through this mid-palate.  It makes it enjoyable!

Remember in an earlier article I spoke of Jim McEwan's statement about, when you go into a glass of whisky you should be able to see the people who made it?  In this case, I see a big control room and machines.  Again, this doesn't make it bad, but to me, it doesn't have the life that I am after.

Finish: finish is on the shorter side, extending just below the Adam's apple.  Taste-wise, it lingers a while the some pleasing vanilla and some heat.  

Comments: This is easy-drinking and pretty soft.  For the money, this will please folks looking for decent dram with no sharp edges.  Buying this as a gift for someone or receiving it as gift, I am sure anyone (including me) would say "Thank you!  What a nice bottle of scotch!"

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2006

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2006 - Kynagarry Farm - 50% abv - 2013 release - Bottle 6383 of 7650

Bruichladdich Bere Barley (pronounced "Bear") is a single malt made of what is currently understood to be the oldest strain of barley in Scotland.  Some suggest that this strain of barely is, in fact, the strain that was used by the vikings to make their spirit of choice way back when.  The only other Bere Barley whisky I know of is made by Arran.  

I always find it neat to try drinks like this and like the Bruichladdich Islay Barley releases or Kilchoman 100% Islay releases (still wanting to try that one) as you start to get a real feel for the provenance of these fantastic whiskies we are so passionate about.  What if you used barely all from one place?  What did whisky taste like hundreds of years ago? Does barely have vintages?  What if the barley comes from another farm?  Anyway, I obviously spend a lot of time thinking about whisky!

On to the notes, I suppose...

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Colour: Straw.

Nose: Sweet nose that is surprisingly grapey.  Weird!  Almost like Vidal Ice Wine made here in Canada (note: Ice Wine is a sweet white wine, a desert wine, made from grapes harvested very late in the season - I believe at the first instance of freezing due to the onset of cold weather in the fall).  Soft on the nose.  I wonder why this reminds me of Ice Wine? Is it the barley that does that?

Add 3 drops water and I am still surprised by how grapey this is.  Interesting how much barley has changed since the old days unless this somehow made it into some sort of wine or madeira wine cask that we don't know about?

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Palate: like the nose suggested, almost like a stronger Vidal Ice Wine.  High-alcohol Inniskillin?  Sweet and grapey, but white wine grapes.  Nice and thick spirit.  With some time in glass, a creaminess seems to develop that is quite pleasing!

Add 3 drops water and it opens and sweetens further.  Scotch whisky ice wine?  Maybe.  This isn't insanely complex but is a nice, clean whisky.  Being Bruichladdich, it still has some of the signature menthol/herbaciousness that we are used to from them.

Finish: finish is of pretty good length... like mid-chest.  I feel like this must have spent some time in some sort of wine or sherry cask.  Bourbon-aged whiskies only finish to the Adam's apple (usually).

This is very different from the Islay Barley 2004 and 2006 releases which, to me, were like beautiful, creamy sunshine in a glass.  This too is bright, but the creaminess seems replaced with sweet white-wine type flavours until some time has elapsed and some creaminess appears.  An altogether very enjoyable dram that can be enjoyed slowly.  

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - 40% abv
The Celebration Dram

I want to take some time to do a slightly different review.  Its less focussed on flavour profile and more on the feeling I get when I have a specific drink.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is not the most expensive whisky I've ever tasted but it is the most expensive I have ever purchased.  Put a gun to my head and its not my favourite dram and I don't even know that it would make my "desert island" list either.  That being said, every time I drink this it feels like a celebration, like I am marking an occasion.

I recently brought my bottle of Johnnie Blue to my brother-in-law's stag.  Yes, I am a good share-er.  These guys aren't habitual scotch drinkers but do drink some from time to time. Anyway, it was all they wanted to drink even though they had other favourites near by (they like tequila) and they (and I) felt like we were having a real celebration.

Talking more about the whisky, Johnnie Blue is pretty sure to please a crowd.  I heard many times that evening things like, "man, that's easy to drink" or "jeez, that's a nice scotch!" Johnnie Blue may not blow you away with incredible flavours, but it does stun with its good manners, sliky mouthfeel, and affable character.  And let's face it, most people are very impressed when they see a bottle of Blue Label.  Its hard to put a foot wrong with something like Blue Label and it certainly has no sharp edges to get caught on either. 

Johnnie Walker Blue Label definitely has its place and in my eyes its the celebration dram.

Nose: soft and approachable. Sherried speyside notes.

Palate: silky mouthfeel and gentle.  Tastes like a very well aged speyside.  Definately some sherry-influenced notes.  A little spice at the tail-end but nothing hot or abrasive.

Finish: pretty long.

Benromach 10 Year Old Review - The fun in sharing

Benromach 10 Year Old

So a month ago or so I got back from a vacation. Before I left I asked my neighbour, Shakey Byrne, to watch my house for me while I was away.  If you knew him you'd know why I asked him - beside the definition of the word "neighbour" in the dictionary there is actually his picture.  Anyway, I wanted to thank him so, of course, I went and bought him a bottle of scotch that I know is quite enjoyable and one that I like very much.

We usually help each other out with stuff.  We were both pulling weeds the other day and I finished my lawn so I decided to carry on our conversation while helping him with his.  The next day met in the backyard to share a dram - his new Benromach 10 Year Old.  

Two things here: Scotch is the best thank you or gift ever.  Sharing scotch is the best feeling you can have no matter who brought the bottle.

Anyway, cheers to my neighbour, Shakey Byrne.

A bit about the scotch: Benromach 10 year old is lightly peated (I think 3 ppm phenols), is 80% aged in bourbon and 20% in sherry casks, it is non-chill-filtered and has no colouring added. For the relatively low price at which it sells, its a great deal and an excellent quality dram.

Nose: Great on the nose with a little smoke and some sweet notes.  Maybe some chocolate and apples in there?

Palate: honey and chocolate.  I always get dark chocolate when I drink this.  There is a nice light smoke there too and maybe a little butterscotch.  There is some heat/spice that comes at the end which seems to be typical of Benromach whiskies.  I sometimes think of this as Speyside with a slight touch of Islay.

Finish: Finish is on the shorter side but was aided by the bit of peat and sherry aging.

Comment:  This is a great every-day drinker and has something for everyone - some bourbon aging, some sherry aging, a little peat, and a little heat.  Its not a total blinder that you just bounce off the walls over but it is a really solid dram and something that is great to have around.  I like it!