Monthly Archives: December 2010

Arran, Autumn, Cold Winter, Need To Bundle Up

Arran Port Cask – bottled at 50% ABV

Islands region – 50%ABV – £38 | €45

I’ve got to hand it to the folks at Arran Malt Distillery – every single one of their single malt whiskies are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV and are non-chill filtered.

“What does that mean?” you might ask?  Well, I’ll tell you.  Or, should I say, I’ll give you my opinion on the matter:

At 46% ABV, I feel I’m given the freedom to drink the stuff straight or add a wee bit of water, just incase it’s too hot.  At 46%, some of the added dimension to the whisky imparted by the alcohol remains.

With the whisky not being chill filtered, there are a lot of great fatty acids that stay in the whisky which help it retain it’s maximum flavor.

As an example of chill filtering verses non-chill filtering, you can check out my review of The Balvenie 21yr Portwood here where I compare the two different versions.

OK, going to go right into this one here…  Another special cask finish by Arran – a bit of a strange one but hey, I like strange.

On the nose — Spicy nose with initial hits of spiced shittake mushroom.

Unripened bananas.

Cinnamon applesauce, perhaps with some raspberry mixed in.

Traces of green apple-y new make spirit.

White pepper.

Smoked salt on watermelon (my wife introduced me to this delicious treat – try it sometime – delicious!  The woman shown is NOT my wife, by the by).

On the mouth — Fresh grapes and fizzy grape soda, Welch’s style.

A dry cool night filled with fallen leaves.

Salty on the mouth with added notes of starfruit.

Some soured milk/baby sick… an interesting group of flavors.

Finish — A tad garlicy with some hot pepper.  Good length.

In sum — Light yet warming – the autumnal note in the tasting of this hit it on the head.  A warmer-upper of a whisky.  It’s youth is apparent but this is not a fault.  I enjoyed the brightness.  An extra year or two in a bourbon cask may have helped to balance this whisky out a bit but, if it were in your house house and you offered me some of this whisky; I’d not say no.  I may jump at the chance to sip more.  Fun stuff.

Special thanks goes out to Andy Hogan for the sample!

Field Trip!

WhiskyLive NYC 2011 is coming in April and I’m giving you 10% off your ticket!

Well folks, it’s my birthday so I thought — what better thing to do than give a gift to my readers out there!?  Don’t thank me though, thank WhiskyLive.

Those good people are extending a 10% discount on any ticket to WhiskyLive NYC if you use the code “jewmalt2011” (which is case sensitive, by the way) in the “Redeem Voucher” section of the WhiskyLive shopping basket.

I went to WhiskyLive last year and was very impressed by it.  Not too big, not to small – a really good, manageable event that gives you the opportunity to taste hundreds of different whiskies and enjoy some fine masterclasses (for all of my whisky geeks).

Happy dramming people!

All You Need Is Love, Arran, Autumn, Need To Bundle Up

Arran Amarone Cask finished 50% ABV

Islands region – 50%ABV – £38 | €45

Week #2 of my Arran reviews.  To view all of the Arran Malt whiskies I’ve tried so far, click here.

As the holiday season is about us, I’m reminded of just how thankful I am for all of the little things I’ve got.  For me, the holidays are all about getting together with friends and family.  In my family, because we are so spread out, this time of the year is about the only time I get to see some of my family.

So, forget the presents.  Nothing can replace that little conversation you get to have with the uncle you’ve not seen in 355 days.  Or being able to see your cousins, nephews or nieces grow up to be strong men and women…  Or sharing in some nice wine with everyone as your aunt demands you eat more food (even though you’ve already had to unbutton your pants to make room for the 3rd course).

One thing I do not have in my family, believe it or not, is a whisky drinker!  Yeah, my dad will dip into some Dewar’s from time to time and basically any single malt I throw in front of him but he’s not passionate about it like some of my other family members are about their wine.  For that camaraderie, I’ve got my society, fellow whisky bloggers and you – the readers of my blog.  So,while I am thankful for a great many things in my life, I am most thankful for you all.  I really appreciate you coming to the blog and continuing to return for more.  Todah Rabah (Thank you very much – Hebrew).

Oh, I’m also very thankful to Andy Hogan for the samlpe of this whisky!

Color — An interesting pink hue to this whisky!

On the nose — Lite-Brite nose chockfull of dry wine and pomegranate or perhaps cranberry juice.

Dry Rose champagne.

Grapefruit jolly ranchers.

Real apples with a leaning toward apple Fruit Roll-ups.

Sweet grass and morning dew.

Hints of RC cola.

On the mouth — Thin-ish mouthfeel.

More notes of Rose champagne.

Paper lunch bags.

Star fruits and golden raisins.

Some hints of cumin spice.

My mouth is now watering which, joining schwartzes with the whisky, is now giving this a much more chewy mouthfeel.

Finish — White pepper and white chocolate.  A touch more cumin.  Medium in length.

In sum — The influence of the Amarone wine on this whisky is big.  I loved just starting at the pinkish hue of this whisky in between sips.  Sweet & dry – a nice one for early fall time.  Actually, a perfect Sukkot whisky.

Ardbeg

Crazy Bruichladdich deal at Julio’s Liquors!

You know I don’t normally post on deals that stores may be having but, this one is insane and, hey… tomorrow is my birthday!

Why is it insane?  Well, you’ll see below.  For me, I didn’t even know that Bruichladdich’s “Golder Still” and “Redder Still” we’re still available and to get them from one place and at this price.  Pretty cool.  Again, birthday, Chanukah… let me know if you need another excuse to buy me whisky 😉

Cold Winter, Connemara, Need To Bundle Up

Connemara Turf Mor – Peated & Cask Strength Irish whiskey

Ireland – 58%ABV – $80 | £51 | €60 – soon to be released – 20,000 bottles total

A short time back I was asked by the good folks at Cooley Distillery (currently, the only independent AND Irish owned distillery in operation in Ireland) if I was interested in trying a whisky that was yet to be released and if I’d post my thoughts on it.

My initial thought upon seeing this email from them was, to quote Jeffery “The Dude” Lebowski, “Does the pope shit in the woods!?”

For those who’ve not yet seen The Big Lebowski — go and rent it ASAP!!  Or, watch this summation (a word to the wise – there are a few cuss words in this video…):

OK, back to the matter at hand – peated Irish whiskey.  So, what’s it like?  You’ll see below.  I’ve reviewed their standard Peated Cask Strength whiskey here.  Let’s see how this differs…

On the nose — Fishing rubbers, bouncy balls & rubber chickens… I think you get the idea – very rubbery.

Lemon peel & espresso.

Raw, uncooked rhubarb.

A wee bit of soy sauce.

On the mouth — Peaty yet not a smoke-bomb; earthy yet sweet; wet stones & flint yet grassy.

Immensely fruity — think citrus and over-tart purple plums (more tart, less plum).

All the bite you get in pickled ginger without the ginger.

Wicked mouthfeel – all of these flavors make your mouth water something fierce making the experience a nice creamy one.

Finish — Almond paste with the most minor hint of vanilla.  Tannic, hot and pretty lengthy.

In sum — I’m not going to lie — this whisky is not for everyone.  However, if you like the more medicinal/peaty/earthy whiskies – this will please you.  It’s a powerful whisky for sure – one for the colder season (smart of Cooley Distillery to release it in December).