Monthly Archives: June 2012

Breaking News!

Single Cask Nation is One Nation, Under Whisky!

 

Hot off the presses: a press release regarding my company: Jewish Whisky Company, LLC and what is now known as “Single Cask Nation™”

Nearly two years ago, when Joshua Hatton, Jason Johnstone-Yellin and Seth Klaskin set out to launch the Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society as a US-based independent bottling company, they envisioned that their society would embody an “open arms” approach. Their goal was – and remains – to launch a whisky company with a Jewish cultural flare that exhibits sensitivity to the dietary needs of Jews but is every bit a classic “whisky society,” for the enjoyment of all.

Although dedicated to a classic society structure, the trio was aiming for something…more. They wanted to create a whisky kinship that meets not only the needs, but also the passions of its members. An interactive community that inspires participation, affiliation and a common identity: a Nation.

Jewish Whisky Company, formally Jewish Single Malt Whisky SocietyJoshua, Jason and Seth are pleased to announce that, henceforth, their company name will be Jewish Whisky Company, LLC, operating under the trade name Single Cask Nation™ (using the new domain www.singlecasknation.com). Moving forward, its current and growing membership will comprise one people – a Nation – unified in the commitment to Monocaskism™.

 

Jewish Whisky Company's Single Cask Nation, Independent Bottlers of the finest and rarest single casks of whisky.

Single Cask Nation™ is One Nation, Under Whisky™.

Single Cask Nation will fulfill the vision of its founders: to bottle the best and most unique single cask whiskies (including many that are kosher-by-nature) for its diverse membership. While Joshua, Jason and Seth are big fans of Scotch malt whisky, they share their membership’s zeal for adventure and discovery. The new society name reflects the fact that they will expand their members’ horizons beyond Scotch whisky. Single Cask Nation will be bottling world whiskies from many countries, some of which will not be malt whiskies at all (think grain whiskies, corn mash, ryes and other treats). Moreover, while the change in trade name poses an opportunity to focus more closely on their emphasis of single cask whiskies (cask strength, pure, straight from the barrel to the bottle, never blended), it also gives them an opportunity to welcome non-Jewish whisky enthusiasts more comfortably to the society than the previous name might have done.

Since its launch in February 2012, the Jewish Whisky Company’s Single Cask Nation™ has made tremendous strides and has turned many heads in the industry. In receiving an honorable mention in the Best Independent Bottler category of this year’s Drammies, the Jewish Whisky Company’s Single Cask Nation garnered thousands of votes before it even released a single whisky expression on US shores!

The Jewish Whisky Company is expecting its initial release of 3 – 4 expressions of single cask whisky to arrive on US shores in late summer, 2012. The Founders Membership Drive is nearing its conclusion. Your window of opportunity to be part of history by becoming a Founding Member of Single Cask Nation™ is quickly closing. Follow the link below today and become a member of the nation sensation: the Single Cask Nation™ — One Nation, Under Whisky™.

http://www.singlecasknation.com

There are three levels of membership available. Those that choose to join in on the base, or “White,” level can expect to enjoy the following for an initial $180 membership fee:

• 1 complimentary 750ml bottle of one of the Single Cask Nation™ single cask single malts (to ship during late summer, 2012)
• 2 Urban Bar tasting glasses bearing the Single Cask Nation™ logo
• 1 Society T-shirt bearing the Single Cask Nation™ logo
• A one year subscription to Whisky Advocate Magazine, a premier industry periodical
• A laminated membership card – individually numbered
• The very low $36/yr. renewal fee (due on the one year anniversary of receipt of the welcome bottle)
• The ability to invite a friend to join Single Cask Nation™

For more information, contact the Jewish Whisky Company here:

Phone: 203.689.5163
Toll-­Free: 866.883.7528
Email at: info@jewishwhiskycompany.com

Jewish Whisky Company's Single Cask Nation - Glen Moray Single Cask, Cask Strength, Single Malt Whisky

Autumn, Cold Winter, Dalmore, Let's celebrate!, Sirius Whisky Purveyors

Sirius Whisky Purveyors – 1964 single cask of Dalmore

Highlands region – 60%ABV – $$??

Being that I don’t know much about this whisky (the exception being that it’s single cask, cask strength, 47 years old, natural color and no artificial coloring added) or the full scope of what Sirius Whisky Purveyors is up to with their whiskies, I’m going to keep the preamble to a minimum.

What I do know is that Sirius is an independent bottler to the Nth degree.  Pun is actually intended here as Sirius is owned and run by Mahesh Patel – the man responsible for a very unique whisky show – the “Nth” or, Universal Whisky Experience — THE ultimate whisky show with respects to it featuring only the oldest, rarest, high cost whiskies.

It’s no wonder that Mahesh has chosen this cask of Dalmore (in addition to many other casks soon to be released) – it screams premium!  A 47 year old single cask of Dalmore?  You know it.

Whisky shows as well as old and premium single malts aside, Mahesh is a heck of a guy.  A total charmer.  Personable, smart, sweet and, man, he knows his whisky!

I will release more information about Sirius Whisky Purveyors as soon as it’s available to me.

On the nose –  Sharp and bright yet its age is made known.  Notes of sugar cane and demerara rum.

Tiramisu and a big, boozy orange with traces of cloves and allspice.

Interesting note here – raw ramen noodles!  For a 47yo whisky – this is very alive.  Not at all tired.

Roasted nuts, pickled ones too.

A full humidor cigar shop (I’m thinking Corona Cigar Company in Florida).

The addition of water softens the whisky a bit and adds a “dusty” element and puts a focus on the tobacco notes.

On the mouth – Incredibly hot.  I think it’s safe to say that some water will help to open this one up a bit – it’s quite, tight.  The addition of water is like sending this to a whisky masseuse.

An interesting mix of what you’ve come to know and love from a sherried whisky (tobacco, prunes, cinnamon, cloves, citrus, etc…) but there’s a young, juicy quality here that I can only equate to Hi-C fruit juice – hey, I have kids.  What do you expect?

A touch of brine and a good deal of spice.

Finish – Decent length with allspice and oranges.

In sum – This whisky not only holds up to water but shines with it.  Without the water, I found it to be just too hot (for my tastes).  With water though, it’s really lovely.  No signs of its age from an over-oaked perspective.  However, it’s age shows in terms of complexity.  A touch off balance without water but spot on with.

I’m not sure what the cost of this whisky will be but my guess is a 47yo Dalmore will cost a pretty shekel so you’re most likely going to break this out for the “special times” in life or, this will make a great addition to your whisky collection (if that’s your bag).

Cold Winter, Glen Moray, Need To Bundle Up

Glen Moray – 8yo Chenin Blanc, Distillery Only, Single Cask bottled at 60.7% ABV

Image shown is not of the actual bottle itself but shows you what the Glen Moray distillery bottlings look like.

Speyside region – 60.7%ABV – £60 (distillery only)

Many people in the states have not heard of Glen Moray or if they have, they only know of their 12yo whisky (a solid, solid whisky if you ask me).

Most people in the UK think of Glen Moray as the supermarket single malt.  A bargain malt, if you will.

My initial experience with Glen Moray was quite different…

It started with a chance purchase of a single cask expression.  While at the time I had not known much about the distillery, I was attracted to this single cask of Glen Moray as the whisky had spent its full 13 years of life in a new charred oak cask.  Sort of like a Scottish bourbon, I thought.

Yes, obviously, nothing like a bourbon being that the distillate is 100% malted barley but perhaps a bit like an American whiskey in that the maturation took place inside a new charred oak cask (a very un-Scotch whisky thing to do, mind you).  The cask choice intrigued me so I had to buy a bottle.

In four words: I fell in love.

After this my friend David B treated me to their standard 12yo and even at lower 40% ABV — I am usually an anti-40% ABV elitist-whisky-geek prick but often find myself enjoying the strength.  A difficult position to be in… perhaps I’m a mystery broken into a jigsaw puzzle, wrapped in a conundrum, hidden in a Chinese box, a riddle — I found it to be robust, well balanced and had an amazing mouthfeel.  Thanks again David, I am a convert.

Since then I have had my good share of Glen Moray whiskies.

During my last trip to Scotland I had the good chance to visit their amazing distillery which had, perhaps, one of the most beautiful distillery welcome centers (Iain, you’ve done a bang up job!) I had ever seen.

While at their distillery shop I had the chance to taste the following whisky: Glen Moray Chenin Blanc Distillery Only Single Cask bottled at 60.7% ABV.

At only 260 bottles and being a distillery only bottle… this stuff is like hens teeth!

On the nose — Earthy, pungent & sweet.  This is big and bold – a powerful smelling 8yo whisky.

Fresh cut (green) tubers come to mind as I sniff this whisky as do white cherries but, and perhaps more so, white raisins make quite an impression.

(I’m fairly positive that the preceding sentence was grammatically incorrect in some way.  Please forgive me.)

Golden birch, cinnamon sweetened fruit biscuits and the distinct smell of a burning cotton t-shirt.

On the mouth — Well, if I thought the nose was big and bold, it’s a veritable pussy cat compared to the attack of this whisky upon first sip.  Massive stuff!

It let’s you know that it’s 60.7% ABV.  It’s not hot, just *incredibly* forceful.

More (dark) birch beer, quite spicy and drying with touches of over cinnamoned french toast, maple sugar candies and honey reduction.

It’s almost like drinking hi-octane Chenin Blanc except that the malt content is quite obvious (yet so is the cask effect).

Finish — Very sweet and filled with boozy peaches.  Long too.  Let’s not forget that bit!

In sum —  Sweet and puckering stuff.  You might want to put on your big boy/girl boots before delving in!  A little bit goes a long way.  You’re going to want to spend time with this one.

Whether you choose to add water or not is up to you.  I decided not to but a little bit might help (as you’ll learn from the review over at guidscotchdrink.com and another great review from Matt and Karen at Whisky For Everyone.)

Special thanks goes out to IA for the sample – cheers!

Autumn, Cold Winter, Glenglassaugh

Glenglassaugh 45yo bottled at 49.2% ABV

Highland region – 49.2%ABV – Best of luck finding a bottle.  And if you do, expect to pay about $2000/bottle.

With release after release of old Glenglassaugh, there would seem to be no shortage of the stuff.

The previous sentence could not be further from the truth.

What makes a whisky such as this so very precious is that it’s from Glenglassaugh’s stocks of 400 (more or less) older casks.

True rarity – hence the hefty price tag.

People go nuts over older whiskies – the older the better right?  Not true, good people.  Sometimes a whisky an hit its prime at the young age of 3, 4 or 5 years old.  Or, if not at its prime, still damn tasty, complex and balanced.  However as whiskies get older they run the chance of getting over oaked, too drying and just… blech.

I’ve yet to run into that problem with the older Glenglassaughs I’ve had so far (in fact, they’ve all been *quite* stellar – especially the first Chosen Few release).  Let’s see how this one held up to the test of time:

On the nose –  A wonderfully sweet nose, if not a touch hot, with other scents mixed in such as Connecticut shade tobacco leaves, sugar cane and near ripe white flesh peach.

Chocolate covered marzipan.

(Good) oak and spice, spice and (good) oak.

A slight wine-like note that was floating a top it all but now seems a bit more forward.

On the mouth – Oily texture yet drying fairly quickly.

Not hot like the nose initially suggested.  I love the strength of this whisky.

Oak and grape skins are evident but lying just beneath those flavors is a stone fruit compote.

Perhaps a touch of cola syrup and the slightest amount of fennel (slight).

Finish – Shiraz like spice – not sure why I keep getting these wine like notes in here but, I like it.

In sum – A bit drying but not overly so, especially for a 45 year old whisky.  Very enjoyable, warming and balanced quite well.  Something to enjoy with a good book.

Special thanks to RS for the sample!