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...

Click Photo to Enlarge

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?

Click Photo to Enlarge

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!

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old Frozen Review

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old

Yes, I am writing in Gold colour because I am reviewing Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Year Old.  Some may be aware that there is a new replacement for the 18 Year Old Gold Label in the form of a Gold Label Reserve.  The Reserve is a no-age-statement whisky that is intended to be the same as 18 Year old.  I haven't tried the new "Reserve" but have heard it is very similar to the 18 year old.  Anyway, if you prefer an age-statement there are still bottles left if you scrounge around for them.

Speaking of remaining bottles, lets talk about how this 18 Year Old tastes.  I am doing something a little different this time - I am doing this tasting with the whisky having been frozen.  If you read the Johnnie Walker materials, they actually recommend freezing Gold Label so I thought, being an engineer, I should follow the instructions.

Click picture to enlarge - mmmm, frozen.

Colour: pale amber

Nose: vanilla and marzipan like the guts of an almond croissant.

Palate: honey.  Sweet and has a few confections (pastries) mixed together.  Easy-to-drink with a very nice and smooth mouth feel.  No rough edges here at all.  I get manuka honey and creamy confections and more marzipan.  

Finish: short (finishes at Adam's apple) and pretty crisp.

Comments: What a great selection to enjoy on a hot summer day, especially after dinner.  This is easy-drinking and dessert-like.  Definitely would make a good conclusion to a summer meal on a hot-day and, from my experience sharing this, it is a real crowd-pleaser on such occasions.