Wednesday 30 October 2013

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.
Click photo to enlarge

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.
Click photo to enlarge

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!

Tuesday 22 October 2013

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.

Wednesday 16 October 2013

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!

Sunday 6 October 2013

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!