Category Archives: Distilleries

Bowmore, Let's celebrate!, Summertime

Bowmore 11yr Single Cask – Bottled for the SMWSA – Cask number 3.156

Islay region – 700ML – 750ml bottle – Go here to join the society & gain access to their bottles

I am really enjoying these single cask Bowmores!  First I had the Master of Malt 26yr Bowmore, then the 3.154 SMWS Bowmore and now this.  The Bowmore really seems to shine as a single cask.  Then again, it could just be that there are groups of really smart people choosing exceptional casks.  My guess is that it’s a combination of the former and the latter.

Either way, Joshua is a happy boy.  This expression follows in the shoes of the other Single Cask Bowmores I’ve tried in the sense that it is delicious.  Notes:

On the nose – Flowery & sweet.

Reminds me slightly of the candy sweetness of the Master of Malt Bowmore 26yr Single Cask.

Hopscotch on hot asphalt, August 1977.

The smoke is there for sure.

A sweet smoldering fire (like a Swisher Sweet cigar has just been put out).

Lemon lollypops.

Surgical soap (I feel like I’m about to get another tattoo).

On the mouth – Perfect mouth feel.

Not super chewy, not thin at all, just lip-smacking.

Much smokier than the nose had suggested.

Like burning flowers.

Think mums and daisy (sweet and earthy).

Finish – Increasingly floral.

And now an herbal blast of chamomile and jasmine (Hard to think that there could be a “blast” of something as soft as chamomile or jasmine but, the notes did come on strong for me).

Mouth is slightly numb.

I’m ready for some dental work.

In sum – Truly lovely.  The balance between the sweetness, florality (did I make up a word here?  I think I did.  Where are you Oxford English Dictionary people??) and smoke is scrumditiliumptuous and perfect.  A great summery smoker of a dram.

A World of Discovery, Highland Park, Summertime

Highland Park 10yr Single Cask – Bottled for the SMWSA – Cask number 4.142

Islands region – 700ML – 750ml bottle – Go here to join the society & gain access to their bottles

So, beyond bottling some fine whiskies, the SMWS (in America) puts on a series of tasting events called “The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza“.  The “Extravaganza” is now in it’s 17th year.  If you’ve never been to one of their events, you may want to change that, and soon!

Perhaps I can help.  I’ve been working with the good folks at the society and they were kind enough to extend to me a discount code for my readers; specifically for people who are not members of the SMWSA.  Tickets to one of their Extravaganzas, for members, are $120.00ea, non-members are $135.00ea.  If you use the discount code JMS10, all of you non-members can purchase your first two tickets at the member price of $120.00.  Not bad!

For more information on the SMWS events and on how to purchase your tickets, click here.

See below for a full listing of their fall events schedule.  I always jump at a chance to meet my readers so, for those coming to the Boston event, drop me a line: jewmalt [at] yahoo [dot] com – I’d enjoy the chance to talk with you.

Now, onto the review of what I think is a fine Highland Park:

On the nose – Chewy sweets gums like Jujyfruits; the lemon ones specifically (these are also known as wine gums to my friends on the other side of the pond).

Increasingly fruity and altogether tropical (papaya, horned melon, mango).

Very tangy and a deliciously smoked backbone.

Not smoky but smoked; like smoked cheese (interesting, I’ve been finding this note in a few of the whiskies I’ve had as of late.  Maybe I shouldn’t do these reviews on an empty stomach…).

Rosewater chews/Turkish delights.

On the mouth – Hello you little shapeshifter.

I think this is more a transformer than it is a whisky – tons of sweet coconut; both toasted and the milk thereof, salt, nail polish and vanilla.

What started off as a thin mouth feel gets viscous, the taste of the smell of hot plastic milk jugs (tee-hee, I said jugs…).

The smoked quality I got on the nose is gone giving way to some nice sharp cheddar notes but the body now has a smoky tone to it (just around the edges).

Like I said, this is a transformer, not a whisky 🙂

Finish – Makes the mouth water with hints of powdered sugar and the rosewater pops again.

Long and strong like bull.

In sum – Another summer dram with lots to offer.  Very different from any OB Highland Park I’ve had but hey, that’s OK.  It’s more than OK.  It’s wonderful, surprising and welcome.  Thank you single cask whiskies, thank you SMWSA!

As a reminder, a short while back I did an interview with Alan Shayne (President of the SMWSA and an all around great guy).  To read that, click here.

Ardbeg

Macallan 19yr Single Cask – Bottled for the SMWSA – Cask number 24.110

Speyside region  – 750ml bottle – Go here to join the society & gain access to their bottles

This particular expression of Macallan came as part of a 4 pack “welcome to the club kid!” package from the good folks at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America.  This package also included 100ml bottles of the following: Linkwood, Highland Park (soon to be reviewed) and a Bowmore (soon to be reviewed).

This welcome pack also included a very cool SMWS lapel pin that one of my daughters promptly lost on me.  I’ll have to buy a new one.  Oh well, the joys of fatherhood!

Let move right onto the tasting shall we?

On the nose – Big fat sherry nose with a side of minty mojito.

Sharp vinegar notes.

Spiced pulled pork from back when I…

A) was not a vegetarian and…

B) did not keep kosher.

Then, on to fruit cakes and fig newtons.

Orange and gasoline.

Ah now, with water this sherry bomb comes to life with raisins and dates.

Some marzipan rears it’s head.

On the mouth – Soft chocolate notes from the get-go.

Sweet and salty with some underlying notes of over-steeped orange pekoe tea.

Not a chewy mouth feel but pleasant.

With water this dram turns into a piece of whisky bubblegum – it’s THAT chewy!

The flavors do not change however, they just round out and get very soft.

Finish – Lots of tobacco and chocolate bubble up and my mouth is left with a fizzy numbed feeling.

In sum – The SMWS Macallan 24.111, in my opinion, was better – This was a nice sherried whisky but not one that wowed me in any big way.  Very grapy/winey/fat sherry for me and, it’s just not what I seek out in a whisky.

This being said, I think fans of a sherry bomb would go ape-shite for this expression.

A World of Discovery, Amrut

Amrut Fusion

India – 50%ABV – $60 | £34 | €39

A mixture of non-peated Indian barley and peated Scottish barley.  Bottled at 50% ABV, this is some smokin’ hot stuff.

I would have written something super fun and funny as a lead up to my review of this whisky but, Peter from The Casks beat me to it – a must read!

Perhaps what I can offer are some alternate fusions that are just plain silly: Christmukkah, George Lucas and Star Wars Ep 1, 2 & 3, L. Ron Hubbard & religion…

Can you think of anymore silly fusions?  My favorite one will win you a 5cl sample of Eades Islay Double Malt.  Leave your ideas in the comments section of this post.

OK.  Onto a fusion that I think may have actually worked out pretty darned well:

On the nose — Damp leaves of both the autumnal variety and teas (think Sencha green tea or perhaps Gyokuro).

Smouldering logs in the distance.

Also, very barn-yardy to me.

Beyond this we find a mixed fruit tin filled, mostly, with pineapple.

Butterfingers candy bar.

With water: Slight nuttiness and something creamy or, better yet, soft – like sniffing marshmallows with nutmeg on them.

On the mouth — Hotter than I expected!

Yes, it’s at 50% but I’ve had no issues sipping on cask strength whiskies (SMWS expressions come to mind) without this complaint.

Increasingly peppery.

Fruits are back.

With water: Still a bit hot on the edges of the tongue but down the center I get a creaminess.

Oranges & apricot jam (reminiscent of Sauternes wine).

Still very pepper-ladden.

Finish — Long, burnt, peppery, fruit.

Hints of dark chocolates.

In sum — A very nice dram that is well balanced and fairly exciting.  I’d love to taste this as part of a blind tasting.  Complex, no doubt.  I do have to say though, that of the five Amruts I’ve had their standard, unpeated 46% ABV whisky is my fave.

Special thanks goes out to Raj at Purple Valley Imports for the sample (also, thanks to Gal of Whisky Israel who sent me a sample.  Lucky me, I got to review and dissect this whisky as well as just sit back and enjoy a nice dram of it).