BenRiach, BenRiach, Samaroli, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 2015

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar dram # 16 – Samaroli BenRiach 19yo, Cask 45763

December 16, 2015 Jewmalt

Region – Speyside – ABV – 43%

When I started writing this post it was 1 day, 14 hours, 57 minutes, 33 seconds until Star Wars.

On the nose — Red wax cherry lips, grape soda (even getting a sting in the nose like you would if you were to sniff a fizzy soda pop), fruity soaps (focus on the fruity and less on the soap), lipstick. Hints of stone fruits but they’re all a bit too overripe/overly sweet.

Normally I like perfumey, floral whisky but I’m not sure about this one. Time to taste.

In the mouth –Heavy malt character, decent mouthfeel, all followed with notes of cherry chews, lipstick (again), grandma’s perfume, a little cedar wood, more grape soda.

A little jalapeño jam on white bread.

Finish — Long and floral.

In sum — I’ve not met a BenRiach I haven’t loved until now. This one was not up my alley, I have to say. I hope that this whisky does not reflect what my experience of Star Wars Episode VII will be.

A.D. Rattray, Invergordon, Invergordon, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 2015

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar dram # 15 – A.D. Rattray’s 1991 Invergordon, Cask # 39033

December 15, 2015 Jewmalt

Region – Highlands – ABV – 59.9%

You do not have to twist my arm to sample a single cask of Invergordon. No sir, you do not have to do it. I will sample the $#!+ out of a single cask of Invergordon the first chance I get.

Of all the Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, it is Invergordon that excites me the most. I just find their spirit to be lovely, and yet the most robust of all the grain whiskies I’ve had (especially distillate from 1964).

“What is Single Grain Scotch Whisky?” some may ask. It’s simple yet not so simple. Just as the term “Single Malt Scotch Whisky” is not incredibly direct, nor is the term “Single Grain Scotch Whisky.”

Let’s do this backwards and even color code it for your benefit, shall we?

Single. Grain. Scotch. Whisky is — Whisky made in Scotland from Grain (or Malted Barley for Malt Whisky) at a Single Distillery. Get it? Got it? Good.

Wow, 1991. The year I graduated from High School. The year I quit smoking. The year I got rained out of my only chance to see The Ramones. All of it 24 years ago? Oy.

On the nose — This one stings the nostrils a bit. *puffs some air into the glass to reveal notes of gingerbread houses held together by hard frosting and hope*

The interesting scent of engine oil acts as a bottom note. Floating above that are very present tinned peaches, sugar cane, candied ginger, coconut shreds, and rubber dish gloves.

In the mouth — Tastes like the smell of a good ice cream shop. A chill in the air, fresh dairy, vanilla beans, wafer cones, sugar cones, chocolate nibs, and rainbow sprinkles.

There’s a heaviness to this one, too. Think overheated cooking oil, heavy damp leaves, charred wood, and buckwheat honey.

Finish — Wonderfully long with a slight ginger pepperiness that seems to never leave.

In sum — Another reminder of what Invergordon is my favorite Scotch Grain Distillery. I think I need to spend some birthday/Chanukah money to get my hands on a bottle…

Samaroli, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 2015

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar dram # 14 – “2008 Samaroli” by Samaroli, 7yo blended malt whisky

December 14, 2015 Jewmalt

Blend of Glenallachie, Glentauchers, and Macduff – 43% ABV

Thanks again to Dr. Matt Lurin for his review of the Single Cask Nation Undisclosed Islay 7yo. His review reminded me just why we selected that cask. Pow! It was a cracker!

From:

We go to:

Please don’t take this as an insult to the whisky. Quite the contrary. If anything, these two images simply illustrate the style of each whisky. This Samaroli is soft, gentle and at total comfort to spend with.

You’ll see:

On the nose — Peppermint and chamomile tea, cured olive brine, and clean pool water. Ribbon candies, lemon water and cereal boxes (the paperboard itself). A little bit of pear and quince (the fruit, not the jam).

In the mouth — Like drinking the song “Easy Like Sunday Morning.” Soft, sweet, floral, a bit peppery but all in all, oh so easy! Still more peppermint and now white tea. Medium oily mouth feel. Yellow cake, less the sugary sweetness. Wild flowers, green peppercorns.

Finish — Long, heathery, wonderful.

In sum — As with the other Samarolis I’ve tasted since the start of this calendar, this is soft and beautiful. You drink this for a completely different reason than yesterday’s Single Cask Nation selection. This is to relax with. Open it up and relax!

Islay, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 2015, Single Cask Nation

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar dram # 13 – Single Cask Nation’s “Undisclosed” Islay 7yo, Cask 613-2/2112

December 13, 2015 Jewmalt

Region – Um, Islay – ABV – 56.3%

You know, it just did not seem right that I would review a whisky that my company, Jewish Whisky Company, bottled. We bottle whisky under the Single Cask Nation label and today’s whisky is a 7yo single malt from an “Undisclosed” distillery.

This is the second “Undisclosed” Islay we’ve bottled and while both this and our first Undisclosed are completely sold out, our third “Undisclosed” Islay is still available to members of Single Cask Nation.

I will now pass the baton over to my friend, Dr, Matt Lurin. Being a long time aficionado and collector aside, Matt puts on a wonderful charitable whisky event in NYC called “Water of Life.” You can find out more about Matt’s event here.

It’s all you, buddy!

I was honored when Joshua asked me to be a guest reviewer for The Whisky Advent Calendar day 13. Although some may find the number unlucky, I consider myself the fortunate one here. You may ask what qualifies me as a guest reviewer, which is a fair question. In a nutshell, I am a long time collector, organize a large charity whisky event, and am one of the ‘founding father members’ at SCN.

I enjoy all sorts of whisky, but am well known for my fondness for Islay whiskies, and am found there in late May each year for the Feis Ile, a celebration of the wonderful islands (Islay and Jura) and a time to appreciate their great whisky.

You may be curious about my fondness for Islay whiskies, and that too would be fair. I tell everyone there are 3 main reasons I love them, First off, the iodine and medicinal tastes. I work as an ER doctor, and this smell takes me back home in a positive way. Secondly, the smoke. This reminds me of the smell at my old job in the ambulance bay, when the nurses take break and gather by the no smoking sign, puffing away. And third, most folks would not believe the stuff I have to smell daily at work. No human being should have to endure that, and it takes a strong whisky to help clean my sinus and palate, as well as help me to forget. There you have it.

On that note let’s approach today’s whisky.

Hello to ‘2008 Undisclosed Islay’, 7 yo, 56.3%, the third undisclosed Islay whisky bottled by SCN in the past year. and what a dram it is.

Visually I appreciate a straw colored liquid. Makes me appreciate the youthfulness of this dram, as well as the likelihood of this being from a Bourbon Barrel. I’m excited, let’s continue.

The nose screams to me – Northern Islay. I appreciate the smells of the ocean, a sea spray if you will, that takes me back to a boat ride on the sound, checking out the seals and feeling the crisp breeze in my face. I also find myself enjoying a little waxy lipstick scent, some peppers, peppermint, smoke and some dusty cellar. At 56.3% I do get a little alcohol burn on my nose, but the freshness survives.

The palate is rich and oily. Loving the smoke, and the iodine. It’s now that I want to fall back to a favorite tasting note. “I get tropical fruit”, and to be fair since all fruits are considered tropical on Islay I’d be correct. But let’s work a little harder. Is that banana? A Creme Brullee note? Wait a second, there’s the pepper, ginger, and black licorice. Patience truly is a virtue.

The finish is long and warm. I was truly hoping to enjoy this dram outside on a New York December night, having this warm me up. However, Holiday lights not withstanding, I am able to sit outside in a short sleeved Islay shirt, enjoying the 60 + degrees heat. I do find this very soothing, on the finish. Cracked pepper, menthol and oh that peaty goodness.

In Sum: A wonderful winter dram, even if a warm 60 degrees. It may be an Undisclosed Islay, but it’s a classic Islay and a cracking whisky.

Thanks for the opportunity Joshua. See you May 12, 2016 at Water of Life, and I hope a few times before then. Now back to you.

A.D. Rattray, Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 2015

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar dram # 12 – A.D. Rattray’s “Bank Note” 5yo

December 12, 2015 Jewmalt

Regions – a blend of regions – ABV – 43%

Something totally unexpected in this Advent Calendar – a blend. But then again, you never supposed to know what to expect. Every day a surprise, right?

This blend is as inexpensive as $20/bottle (1L) at K&L and up to $40 in stores located elsewhere (I’m looking at you New Jersey).

As you would expect in a blend, this is a mix of malt whiskies and grain whiskies. However, this has 40% malt whisky and 60% grain whisky. Normally the ratio is closer to 80/20 (grain to malt). So we should hope for a little more quality here.

I’m just going to jump right into this one.

On the nose — Very grain forward yet there’s a nice Apfelkuchen (apple cake) note that comes at you quickly. A bit of uncooked biscuit dough, spiced cookie dough.

It’s a sweet bread blend, to be sure (not the disgusting sweet bread which is made from meats but actual sugary sweet breads).

In the mouth — Much of the same in the mouth as it is on the nose but now with the addition of a hint of peat.

Mouthfeel is the same as you’d expect from Johnnie Walker Black. Some hints of spice and Szechuan chiles.

Finish — Shortish with lasting spice on the sides of the tongue.

In sum — Perfectly inoffensive and easy drinking but nothing you’d need to spend some you time with. The is to be poured when you’ve got a big group of people over and they want “a Scotch.”

Jewmalt Whisky Reviews