All posts by Jewmalt

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

Bruichladdich’s, now famous, Diamond Jubilee, Punk Islay, Sex Pistols, Valich, distillery only bottling. (That’s the end of the commas. Promise.)

 

Islay region – 50%ABV – 50ml bottle – Distillery only and sold out within a day or two.

Back in April of this year (or last year if you’re on the Hebrew calendar), you might remember that I started a little series called “Islay Distilleries Explained Through Rock and Roll Comparisons.”  The first in that series was my comparison of Bruichladdich to the Sex Pistols.  Basically dubbing them “The Punk Islay.”

Well, it would seem that Bruichladdich really took to that comparison as they used the idea for their bottling for the Queen’s Jubilee.  A 20yo Bruichladdich, Cask 516/R02.

I am quite honored that they the took idea as far as they did.  Cheers ‘laddies!

G-d Save the Queen!

The funny thing about this bottling is that I had no idea it was happening.  My friend Stephen (of Malt Impostor fame) just happen to be on Islay at the time Bruichladdich released this bottling and he decided to pick me up a bottle as a gift.  Kissmet.  Thank you Stephen.

Stephen also picked himself up a bottle and was nice enough to share a sample with me.  Thank you again, good sir!

On the nose –  Bright and very rich red fruits mixed with bow rosin, old wood and what I’d swear is soy sauce.

Hints of pencil erasers and rum soaked golden raisins (verging on store-bought tiramisu).

Quite unique from the new “Laddie Ten” story.  It’s a 20yo whisky so its obviously from older stock but there’s also some cask trickery in here adding to both the complexity of the nose and the balance in the initial scent profile.

Can you guess that I’m digging the nose?

On the mouth – Presto-chango, wine cask influence here for sure.  You silly cask, you didn’t tell me anything about all of this on the nose!

Red licorice, tannic, dry red table wine.

I need to say that the mouthfeel is ooey and mouth-watering.  There, I said it.

Somewhat reminiscent of the Black Art II with the red fruits, wine influence, etc… no detection of new wood like I got in that one though…

Finish – Spicy red wine, tannic and burnt sugar (lasting burnt sugar).

In sum – The nose told me, for the most part, Ex-Bourbon and the initial flavor told me wine.  It’s like there’s two different whiskies here.  Two stories.

The cask number is “516/R02” and an educated guess would tell me the “R02” means that this 20yo, back in 2002, was re-racked into a wine cask (“R” for re-racking and “02” for 2002).  Sadly, the bottle doesn’t tell me much more than the cask number.

While I loved the nose and enjoyed the overall flavor profile, the two together seem off balance.  This said, I would never, NEVER say no to another dram of this juice.

Cold Winter, Glen Moray

Glen Moray 2yo peated spirit, Batch #1 Cask #141

 

Speyside region – 60.6%ABV – 20ml bottle – £18 from Royal Mile Whiskies but expect to get a different cask, cask #141 is sold out.

“…if only you applied yourself…”

“…you could do so much more if only you tried harder…”

“…you’re not living up to your full potential…”

“…seriously, why do you spend so much time in the bathroom?”

Many of us can likely identify with some of the above statements.  Just think of your time in middle school, high school, etc… and it might all come back.  Heck, I know my teachers have used at three of the above statements on me (I’ll let you choose which three).

Why do I bring this up?  Well today we’re reviewing potential whisky, AKA spirit.  This juice is only two years old.  Like a student with great potential this spirit is young and raw and gives you a good glimpse (if you spend time with it to try and understand it) as to what it *could be* given a few more years of maturity.

Let’s dive in.

On the nose –  The smoke is insanely obvious on this one so let’s not talk about it right not.  I want to discover what’s ‘neath the peat smoke and there *is* a lot to discover here.

Off the bat I smell candy-style bananas (think Now and Laters).

Salty, green veggies and dirty socks (in a nostalgic way).

Apple skins, burnt as they were.

Now, I think, we can’t ignore the peat influence.  Burning tires and smouldering stuff.  Ivory soap, minus the soapiness (even though it’s full of smoke, there’s something clean in here).

Hay and barnyard (but it’s slight) and unripe red berries.

On the mouth – Yes, this is 60.6% ABV.  Yes, this is spirit and not whisky but it is engaging, satisfying and so full of potential.

It all comes back to that classic Glen Moray mouthfeel.  Luscious and indulgent in its creaminess.

Malt, cream ale, peat smoke galore.

Bananas, butter cream candies and lots of salted apple-y goodness!

More notes to follow in coming years of maturity…

Finish – Apples and peat smoke with a briny edge to it.  A surprisingly long finish!

In sum – I really love the direction of this spirit… let me carry that further, I really love the direction that Glen Moray is going in.

Adding this to their lines of single casks and wine cask fully-matured whiskies, Glen Moray is starting to tell a new story.  They are not just a supermarket malt, there is true character in addition to the known quality.  Hear me now, within a few years, if done right, Glen Moray can and will prove themselves to be a true luxury malt.

Special thanks to IA for the sample!!

Cold Winter, Kilchoman, Refreshed, Springtime

Kilchoman 100% Islay whisky. First Edition vs 2nd edition

 

Islay Region – 50%ABV

1st Edition can be found for $?? sold out in most US stores | £77 (£66 ex VAT)

2nd Edition can be found for: $87 | £54 (£45 ex VAT)

I have a lot to cover in my side by side to these two Kilchomans so I’ll keep this quick.  As an opener, know that the 100% Islay series from Kilchoman is quite different from their standard releases:

  • They’re peated to a much lower ppm (25ppm as compared to 50ppm as per the usual Kilchoman release).
  • I’m not sure if the distillate cuts are different compared to their standard spirit runs but over all, these are a different experience from other Kilchomans.
  • Also, both editions of Kilchoman’s 100% Islay are all ex-bourbon matured whereas most Kilchomans are a mix of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks.

I love that Kilchoman runs this series and look forward to trying 3rd, 4th and, 5th edition 100% Islays!

On the nose — The first edition, in contrast to the latest 100% Islay, comes off as heavy and medicinal.

Truthfully, both are light in character but the second edition is quite sweet and filled with pear drops, a touch of sea air, malt, yeast and the actual sweetness of wash that permeates every inch of their distillery.

The second edition of the 100% Islay is transporting me back to my visit to the Kilchoman distillery.

Turning back to the first edition of this more lightly peated Kilchoman (both are peated to about 25ppm as compared to their standard level of 50ppm), the character is more like a rainy morning at a beach during low tide: salty, sea shells, some lemon, day old linens – comforting & relaxing as I nose it whereas the second edition is more lively and invigorating.

Two very different animals so far.  Both enjoyable.

On the mouth — First edition: great mouthfeel and more of an initial sweetness (something I didn’t really get while nosing it).  Phenolic, canvas army bags, lemons (again), salty to taste and very light vanilla influence.  This is a fine example of a young Islay whisky.  Drying as I get to the finish, too.

Second edition: More exotic in flavor! candied caraway seeds and candied young lime rind.  I am reminded of a Thai dish I was told was called “Ming Com” I had once while in Seattle.  There was some sort of green leaf I used to grab lime chunks and small red chilies – this is the combo I am getting here.  A lighter mouthfeel than the first edition but the flavor combination helps to make up for that.

Finish — First edition: Medium length with just a touch of wood spice on the center of the tongue.

Second edition: a long, exotically sweet finish.

In sum —  Two very different, yet satisfying drams.  For my tastes (at least as far as today goes), the second edition’s style and the invigorating element to it made me really connect with it.  I often enjoy whisky as a pick me up rather than something meant to relax me.

Want to relax?  Get the first edition.

Need a pick-me-up?  the second edition is the way to go!

Special thanks to ImpEx for the sample of 2nd edition Kilchoman.  The 1st edition was my bottle but now I want a bottle of the 2nd edition 🙂

My guess is you’ll enjoy Jason from Guid Scotch Drink’s review of the Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd edition

Field Trip!

Whisky. It’s…..ALIVE!! (and kicking “A” double scribble in Boston)

Shouted from the roof tops, for all to hear (hint: play the below clip):

And this is how I felt when I heard WhiskyLive was coming to Boston…  Me bursting with joy and excitement as Fredrick Frankenstein; my wife giving the same sort of confused look Peter Boyle’s monster character gave to Dr. Frankenstein in the above clip.

Comic and movie geeks are into Comic Con; Guitar players are hot for Guitar Shows; Quilters are into Paducah Quilt Show; we whisky geeks are into Whisky shows and I was particularly excited about first Annual WhiskyLive Boston because:

  • WhiskyLive tends to be a more open, relaxed and extremely manageable.
  • It was going to be in Boston – an easy 2 hour drive from my house.

So, did WhiskyLive deliver on its first year in Boston?  The simple answer is: yes.  But, why yes?

Firstly, as far as whisky shows go, this is one of the longest at 4.5 hours (if you get the VIP ticket, 3.5 hours for the standard ticket).  The extra time was particularly good for me as I was locked in traffic and didn’t get to the event until it was an hour and a half in.

My traffic woes aside, for those interested in attending some of the master classes, the extra time allows you to attend a couple of these classes without feeling like you’ve not had enough time on the tasting floor.  That is a good thing.

Being in Boston presented an added bonus: Sam Adams, being a Boston based brewery, had a “Bier Garten” at the show pouring some really interesting brews including their Utopias which is normally a $150/750ml bottle, bottled at 27%ABV!

As this was WhiskyLive’s first year in Boston, the show was, as expected, a bit smaller than their normal shows.  For me, that was just fine!  I like to have a chance to talk with the people behind the tables.  I’m there not just to taste whisky.  I’m there to learn.  Though the show (from a “number of tables” standpoint) was *slightly* smaller, this was a well attended show!  Lots of feet on the floor.  It’s quite obvious that Boston is a solid market for a good whisky festival and WhiskyLive seems to fit the bill quite nicely.

Let’s get to some of the whiskies that were new to me:

  • The Maltman Range – independently bottled whiskies, bottled at 46% ABV
  • Gordon & Macphail’s 21yo Mortlach (perhaps my favorite whisky of the evening)
  • Blackadder 15yo Blairfindy (this one gets the award for the oddest whisky.  Like drinking sausages but in a really, really good way)
  • Auchroisk 20yo
  • The Notch Single Malt from Nantucket (Hey, I heard a story about a guy from Nantucket once…)
  • Hudson 6yo Baby Bourbon (quite possibly the best American whiskey I had that night.  Scratch that, it *was* the best American Whiskey of the night.  Brilliant)
  • Balcones Texas Single Malt (odd, interesting and quite enjoyable)
  • Koval Dark Millet single grain whiskey (I love what these folks are doing with their various grain whiskies)

I did have more new whiskies that night but, in addition to all of my pictures getting wiped from my phone, I lost all of my notes from that evening (KHAAAAN!!!!)!

I need to point out something here.  Whisky aside, it was such a treat to have my friend and business partner, Jason Johnstone-Yellin, in town.  That crazy bugger flew up from Virginia to be at WhiskyLive (See??  We whisky geeks are CRAZY!).  I need to make some shout-outs, too:

  • The loveable genius clowns of Malt Impostor were in town for the show.  If you don’t know Malt Impostor, what’s wrong with you?!, I mean, you should!  Here’s a link.
  • There’s a gent I can not say enough about:  Bozkurt Bozzy Boz Karasu from www.bozzy.org *just* moved to Boston two days before WhiskyLive and was kind enough to lend his floor to Jason and I for the night.  Thank you Bozzy!  Hanging out was a ton of fun!  Thanks, too, for the great review of the Single Cask Nation 4yo Kilchoman bottling!
  • Fellow Connecticutian, Chris Reisbeck of Gordon & MacPhail.  It’s the first time we’ve met yet I feel we’ve known one another for at least… a week.  You’re a cool cat and I really enjoyed talking with you (and your Mortlach).
  • Ryan Maloney of Julio’s Liquors had a table and found, from somewhere, a bottle of the Loch and K(e)y bottling of a single barrel of Balvenie at the pour.  This is a bottling of legend, my friends.  A well chosen whisky that I only wish I had a bottle of!
  • Doug Stone of Forwhiskeylovers.com – yet another cool cat, I wish we had more time to talk!
  • Raj of Purple Valley Import – Congrats on winning the Icons of Whisky “Importer of the Year” award!!
  • Ewan Morgan.  I can not say enough about Ewan.  Here is a true whisky anorak, living the life as a Master of Whisky for Diageo.  He’s also cool as all hell and makes me laugh my “A” double scribble off.  I salute you good sir (and hope your finger is better.  If not, you can do some fine saluting yourself!).
  • Jeffery Connell – special thanks for the press pass and extending the discount to the readers of Jewmalt Whisky Reviews!
  • Gable Erenzo – I’ve said it in the past, you’re a charmer and fun as hell.  Plus, you and your dad know how to make whiskey!  Long live Hudson whiskey!  (Also, how can I get the other 52 gallons of 6yo Baby Boubon??)

All-in-all, I am quite happy I attended and super excited to have a show so close to me.

If you’ve not been to a whisky event before, I highly suggest a WhiskyLive event.  If you live in the Boston area (or within a few hours), I hope to see you there next year!  This time next year, I’ll be behind a table pouring Single Cask Nation whiskies!

Thanks again, Jeffery C!