All posts by Jewmalt

SuperJew, Husband, Father, Scotch aficionado, Musician, Whisky Society President

The Glenlivet Alpha [Dawg] invades my mouth and sense and I share my opinions with you. Fun!

June 7, 2013 Jewmalt

Highlands region – 50% ABV – About $150. Good luck finding some! Only 3350 bottles were made available.

So, what in the blue $#%@ is Glenlivet Alpha?! Well, there were a lot of people wanting to know just that. Glenlivet, those sneaky little buggers, decided to make this whisky a big ‘ol secret: bottle the whisky in a black bottle with zero info, packaging came with zero info and there what, guess what? Zero info around the web as to what this whisky was all about.

So, what do we know? It’s bottles at 50% ABV which means there is no chill filtration needed. And, at only 3350 bottles and this being sort of a special one-off and coming in a black bottles, I am guessing no caramel coloring.

So, that’s really all we know about this whisky.

What about the name? Alpha? Hmmm… Alpha *is* the first letter in the Greek alpha (hey, there’s that word again) bet. (not to be confuse with Aleph or Aleph Bet). First? First fill? But first fill what? Bourbon, I’d guess from the lighter color.

So, here in the whisky blogging world there were a lot of cranky bloggers upset with Glenlivet that A) they charged so much for a NAS (no age statement) whisky and B) this expensive bottle of whisky came with ZERO information! I’ll come right out and tell you that I was one of those crotchety bloggers. Big price for a NAS whisky with zero information. I was upset but I was also intrigued.

What intrigued me more is I came to find out this week that Glenlivet were going to do a big reveal on the whisky. That I liked! I like, too, the fact that Glenlivet seemed to be getting out of their comfort zone of 12yo, 15yo, 18yo, 21yo, etc… and decided to do something a bit whacky! Good on ye, G’livet!

So, I tasted this whisky right before the big reveal. I will post the reveal below my notes but, let’s see what I get:

On the nose – Highly malty with a sweet and tangy quality to it. Perhaps just a whiff of smoke? Either there’s are good deal of refill barrels in the mix allowing a stronger spirit quality to come through or there is a higher proportion of young whiskies in here.

This bright and vibrant. Light lemons (or orange) and pear, more lemons than pear. There’s some black pepper in here, too. It’s fun and refreshing so far!

I do detect some older, more wood influenced whisky in here. Smaller casks? Nah, methinks older whisky is a component. Maybe some Cognac cask maturation in here? Hmmm, not sure. Must sip.

On the mouth – A very viscous mouth feel but a touch hot. The malt carries through as does that hint of smoke I got on the nose.

I think I change my mind about the Cognac cask influence. I change my mind about the smoke too. This is a dodgy duck!

Notes of star fruit, unripened mango and fresh rain. Yummy stuff! The heat is gone after the 2nd sip, btw. Highly sweet and malty! Is there some Bere barley in this make up?

I know the Nadurra was with Triumph barley. Maybe this is a them delving into different barley with less active casks? Whatever it is, it’s delicious.

Finish – Lasting, peppery, toffee-like, sweet and malty.

In sum – If the price was lower and if there were more than 3350 bottles, I’d say this is an everyday, easy drinker! This was a fun experiment to get people’s minds working and getting them to think about the whisky. I am glad that there will be a reveal as to the make up of the whisky because if there weren’t, if this were all no-info marketing, it’d be a big joke without a punchline. Kudos to Glenlivet, I say. Kudos!

Glen Garioch

Who here likes to win stuff? I DO, I DO!! Well, read below for your chance to win some great Glen Garioch stuff including a paid trip to the distillery itself!!

May 31, 2013 Jewmalt

Please refer to the press release below and best of luck to you!!

Discover A Rare Find!

Shielded from the world’s prying eyes deep in the Highlands of Scotland, quietly producing small, precious batches of Single Malt Whisky, Glen Garioch is a Rare Find indeed.

Now, we want to share this little hidden gem in Scotland’s northeast with one lucky winner!

We’re offering Glen Garioch enthusiasts the chance to experience Rare Finds across Aberdeenshire: a two day, all expenses paid trip to the Garioch, The Granary of Aberdeenshire.

On a VIP tour of our Glen Garioch distillery, our lucky winner will discover the time-honoured skills at work and hear from the master craftsmen involved.

After a private tasting held by our Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, the lucky winner will rest their head at Meldrum House: a luxury four star hotel situated in the beautiful countryside surrounding the market town of Oldmeldrum, the home of Glen Garioch.

The next morning, you’ll venture out into the wild to discover Rare Finds of the northeast. Guided by local experts, our winner will experience salmon fishing and gold panning at secret locations precious few will ever see.

Competition runners up will also receive their very own Rare Find: a special, Limited Edition Small Batch release of Glen Garioch Single Malt Whisky.

For your chance to win, simply enter via the Glen Garioch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glengarioch.

Entry closes at midnight on 3rd June 2013: good luck!

An everyday dram, English Whisky Company, Need To Bundle Up, Takin' It Easy

English Whisky Company comes to the US!

May 31, 2013 Jewmalt

I could start off this post by exclaiming: “The British are coming! The British are coming!”

Or worse (and this would be really bad), I could wax on about the British Invasion and make references to Herman’s Hermits dramlaxing with ‘Enry the Eighth or The Kinks rocking out with The Village Dram Preservation ~~Society~~ or The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Dram…

Heck, if I wanted to I could post this Monty Python bit about Kamikaze Scotsman… if I wanted to:

However, I’m not going to do any of that. Wouldn’t even consider it!

There is a lot to cover in this post so I am going straight to the two whisky reviews.

Both whiskies are bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered and can be found for around $69/bottle here in the USA.

Note that these bottlings are USA specific and have a slightly different make-up as compared to the UK or EU versions. These whiskies have both been matured in both new oak and ex-bourbon casks. The new wood cask usage is specific to the US market.

English Whisky Company “Classic” non-peated – 46% ABV

On the nose – A slightly pungent start on the nose however it’s balanced quite nicely with hints of pear drops and a slight spicy/spiced edge.

Damp dish towels are in here but it’s also bit like a banana split with, well, bananas, vanilla bean ice cream, the smell of nitrous from the whipped cream dispensing bottle and slight, distant notes of salted almond. A vegetal quality as well that reminds me of milk thistle.

On the mouth – Ab-fab mouthfeel. Attention whisky producers – this is the oily mouthfeel you want to target for your bottlings. For realz.

The spicy element really comes through. It’s a most welcome element that creates a nice frame for the fine and malty backbone. Some light fruits in here as well as hints of wild flowers. This is a really delicate and soft whisky.

Finish – A nice long and drying finish.

In sum – This whisky is nice, delicate and understated. However, there’s a spicy edge to it that is so very interesting…. Oddly enough, I see myself bundling up by a fire and drinking this one. So, I’d say this is a fine winter-time dram.

English Whisky Company Peated – 46% ABV

On the nose – Soft peat and again, floral, like I got with on the “Classic” version. An absolute joy that is somewhat reminiscent of the Octomore Comus when I nose it. Salty and oh, so biscuity on the nose. Anise seed or black licorice and touches of plums.

After a few minutes, the spice really shines through.

On the mouth – A nice mouthfeel but not as oily as the sample of the “Classic” I have. Very malty and salty with a good deal of smoke at the back of the tongue. Salty, spicy, subtle fruits and more flowers for you.

Amazing that behind all of the spice, salt and malt that the delicate character of the spirit shines through.

Finish – Soft, drying and hints of chocolate and chicory (unexpected).

In sum – If I had my choice, as nice as the peated is, the “Classic” is so well done that I’d reach for that. Actually, I’d reach for it anytime now that I think about it (and have a sip of it again). Dare I say, the “Classic” is an everyday dram? Yes, yes it is. Yum!

Special thanks to RS and Purple Valley Imports for the official samples!

Keys to the Clan, Let's celebrate!

Keys to the Clan – 50ml mini bottles of Single Malt Scotch Whisky – and now, to taste the whisky!

May 23, 2013 Jewmalt

A couple of weeks back you might remember me waxing on about the Keys to the Clan minis program (programme, for my friends on the other side of the pond).

Here’s the link to the post, just in case you missed it.

In short, there have been 48 different Clan minis released into the US market and our friends over at ImpEx were kind enough to send me three minis. All from a different clan.

Thanks to ImpEx, SF and EK for the samples!

Being a New Englander and basically growing up knowing this and that person who knew or was related in some way to the Kennedy family (as in JFK, RFK and Teddy of the famous Chappaquiddick incident) and having a life-long crush on Jackie Kennedy Onnassis… I decided to open the Kennedy mini.

Note: all of the minis contain the same juice, I just wanted to drink a Kennedy under the table.

Here are my notes:

On the nose – Young yet pleasant. I know it says single malt but it almost has the vibrancy of a nicer high-malt-content blended Scotch whisky; orange creamsicle, pears, sherbet and the slightest hint of smoke. (The smoke could be my imagination playing tricks on me.)

A bit of pineapple cake in here as well and then some sugary angel food cake. This is quite the dessert-like dram so far.

All this fruit makes me think of Balblair a bit, to be honest.

On the mouth – As to be expected with 40% ABV, there’s very little attack upon entry which is just fine for the newbie whisky drinker as it’s quite fruity and very approachable (no burn).

That touch of smoke returns, yet the fruit doesn’t go away. But now there’s something sour in here that I can’t quite place my finger on. Not offensive, just sour-like.

Oat cakes lead us in to the finish…

Finish – Shortish finish with slight pepper and that sour element I caught on the palate.

In sum – While this is not really a “sit and ponder” sort of whisky, it holds it’s own well enough.

All I can picture is 200 Kennedys at a wedding or something like that and toasting to the husband and bride.

Mazel Tov, I mean, Kampai, I mean Slainte!!

Arran, BenRiach, Dalmore, Field Trip!, Glen Moray, Kilchoman, Laphroaig

Single Cask Nation hits Los Angeles and one of its destinations: Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, CA

May 10, 2013 Jewmalt

Do you live in California and in or near the Los Angeles area?

Well, then you need to come out to Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach to see us!

Not Jewish? Don’t worry — it’s all about the whisky. Come ye Gentile, Come ye Jew, Come ye all lovers of great whisky!!

(See below for details on date, time, cost, how to get tickets, contact info, etc…)

Jason Johnstone-Yellin and I will be there pouring all six of the Single Cask Nation whiskies (see the image below).

Whisky details:

Arran 12yo Pinot Noir Cask – 8yrs first fill bourbon, 4 years pinot noir, Single Cask, Cask Strength – Double Bronze medal winner (World of Whiskies tasting panel, International Whisky Competition)
BenRiach 17yo (peated) – 2nd fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength – Gold medal winner (International Whisky Competition)
Dalmore 12yo – 12yrs refill hogshead, 10mos PX sherry hogshead, Single Cask, Cask Strength
Glen Moray 12yo – first fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength
Kilchoman 4yo – first fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength
Laphroaig 6yo – refill bourbon hogshead, Single Cask, Cask Strength

Details on the events (click the image to view/download a PDF of the event flyer):

Date: Sunday, June 30th
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Address: 1101 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, CA
Modest cost for the event: $40
Contact for tickets: Lee Zaro or Aaron Krouse, whiskytribe@gmail.com
What else comes with the tasting event other than fantastic Scotch whisky from Single Cask Nation: Hors d’oeuvres, fun, education, raffles for Single Cask Nation membership (and more). Not party hats, sorry.

Jewmalt Whisky Reviews