Tag Archives: Leather

Autumn, Need To Bundle Up, Suntory - Yamazaki

Yamazaki 18yr – wonderfully sherried

Japan – 43%ABV – 750ml –  $80-100 | £60 | €73

I’ll get right to the point here, I loves me some Japanese whisky.  Yamazaki 12yr?  Loved it.  Nikka Yoichi 12yr?  Can I have more?  The Yamazaki Sherry cask?  I will sin for you.  Nikka Yoichi 20yr 1988 vintage?  Sweet fancy Moshe!!

This is the tip of the iceberg.  Here’s my next new love – The Yamazaki 18yr – a fine sherried whisky.

On the nose – Delicious sherried nose. Spicy as all hell with bursts of cinnamon.

Hot pepper peanut butter.

Red grapes and grappa.

Underneath some great notes of prunes.

That high sweet note that I just love from the Yamazaki whiskies.

A salty note is here – celery salt?

Finally, new leather and pipe tobacco.

On the mouth – Chili pepper chocolates.

Crystalized ginger.

Caramels, poached pear (slight).

Fresh lawn mulch.

The mouth feel is so chewylicious….  Not a super winey sherried malt (thank you Suntory!) just, nice.

Finish – Cheyenne peppers and breakfast cereals – Kellogs mini-wheats (sans frosting).

Oak and tobacco.

Lasting & lovely.

In sum – I haven’t met a Yamazaki I haven’t loved.  A finely balanced whisky perfect for the fall time.  Watch the leaves fall, throw on a sweater, get ready for the new year (I’m talking Rosh Hashanah here, folks).

All You Need Is Love, Macallan, Takin' It Easy

The Macallan 18yr

Speyside region – 43%ABV – 750ml bottle in the US, 70cl in the UK and elsewhere – £70 | $90-$120 | €84

Wow to you oh whisky peeps, for a dram was bought by me to have (because the notes, they sounded so good).  Let him who hath understanding wreckon the number of the dram [that turned me on to The Macallan].  For it is a Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America number.  It’s number is twenty-four point one-one-one.  (sorry, my inner Iron Maiden fan could not help himself).

I am so very thankful to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America for helping to open my eyes once more to The Macallan – for that review, click here.

I received a sample of The Macallan 18yr early last week (special thanks to Igal!) and was not sure what to expect.

I’ve mentioned in the past that their standard 12yr didn’t do much for me (again, I’ve not had their 12yr expression in a bit more than 2 years) so I was not expecting much from their 18yr bottling.

After pouring the whisky into my Glencairn, here’s what I got:

On the nose – Plump dollops of sherry notes travel up my nose.  These notes are covered in chocolate and there is more than a hint of oak and vanilla.

Dried fruits are here — think prunes, dates and fig.  The more I smell it, the more I like it.  Leather & suede.  Big grapes appear in the final sniff.

On the mouth – The first thing I get here is sulphur but that is quickly pushed aside (thankfully) to reveal an incredibly smooth chocolate note.

Pipe tobacco and leather jackets.

Root veggies galore!  I’m even getting a hint of beets here – like whisky borscht (it’s slight but, I am getting it).

The smoothness of this whisky is really remarkable and, it’s nice and chewy too.

Finish – Medium length but there are some long lasting bitter notes to it that really offset everything I just smelled and tasted.  This, I think, is a good thing.

Yes, it’s a good thing.

In sum – This oozes of luxury and all things “comfort”.  This is something to break out for Shabbat (non-Jews, Shabbat is the Hebrew word for the Sabbath which many Jews, myself included, treat both as a holy day and a holiday – read here for more info) for sure!

A World of Discovery, Autumn, Bruichladdich, Cold Winter, Need To Bundle Up, Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte “PC6” – Bruichladdich’s heavily peated young whisky

Islay region – 61.6%ABV – 750ml bottle – $120 | £95 | €115

Let the love affair begin.  I’ve heard lots of good news about Bruichladdich’s newer Port Charlotte range.  LOTS of good news.  And lately, I’ve been hearing some great stuff about the “PC6”.  In case you haven’t figured it out yet, “PC” stands for “Port Charlotte” and the “6” tells us that, you guessed it, it’s a 6 year old whisky.

My first reaction to the fact that this is only six years old is similar to the reaction many people have had — “only six years old and it’s how much money???”  Oy vey ishmir!

I had a conversation with a guy from Binny’s a while back on the same subject – why so much for such a young whisky (at the time we were discussing last year’s Ardbeg Supernova)?  He brought up a good point: “Who cares?  Is it good whisky?” he asked.  “Yes”, I told him.  He went on. “Then why does age matter?  You’re paying for a well crafted single malt.  You’re paying for a work of art.  Who cares how old it is”.  Like I said, he makes a good point.  Deep in the back of my head there’s that little voice that says “still though…” —   But truly, I think he’s right.

So what’s all of this good news I speak about?  Check out my links below.  Firstly, let’s taste this and see if it’s worth it’s weight in whisky (a special thanks to DH for the sample!!):

On the nose — Big-ass smoke!  Powerfully pungent with smoke like burning driftwood (think salty peat or perhaps a beach bonfire).  Sparklers on the 4th of July (for my US readers out there).  Soured & sweet milk notes (baby vomit).

Serge of Whisky Fun nailed it with his detection of buttered mashed potatoes – on the nose Serge (pun intended)! Leather jackets and damp horse stable.  That leather smell alone makes me want to break out Iggy Pop’s “Raw Power”.  Either that or Yes’ Close to the Edge and put in on full blast – two very different albums but somehow both fitting to this whisky.  Powerful yet complex and beautiful.

On the mouth — Mmmm, mmmm – chewy smoked cheese, electrical charges and spent matches, tannic, drying but first a nice juicy entry.  Fruity notes and buttermilk biscuits (albeit burnt ones).

The peat is wonderful here and somehow refreshing even in this hot weather (it hit 89 deg fahrenheit today!).  At 61.6% ABV I know I should add a little water but this is so nice at full strength.

Finish — It’s all on the leather and now some great grassy floral notes (almost rose petal) come out, then some burn arrives and it gets a tad effervescent.  Even an hour later and my mouth is still filled with smoke and ash.  Love it!

In sum — Wonderfully heavily-peated expression.  If you’re not a peat fan, you probably have not read this far down in the review…  If you’re interested in getting into peated and smokey whiskies this will surely pique your interest (but may scare the living shit out of you; in a good way though, like the first time you saw The Exorcist.  Scary as hell but, you watched it again and could not wait for the pea soup to flow).  If you’re a peathead, welcome to heaven.

See what others have to say:

Serge of Whisky Fun!

Dr. Whisky

The Casks

A World of Discovery, Ardbeg, Cold Winter

Extra Extra, Read all about it – Ardbeg Supernova 2010 is coming your way!

Some very exciting news from the good folks at Ardbeg – Supernova 2010 is being released on May 31st, 2010!  Plus, the ABV is even higher this time around — 60.1% – Yowza!  Below the image you will see the tasting notes as provided by Ardbeg.  Enjoy the rest of your day!

Colour

Deep gold

Aroma

Big and powerful with peaty, earthy and deep herbal notes.

With the first sniff, encounter deep earthy peat oils and crushed black pepper embedded in the darkest chocolate. Swirl the glass and dip your nose into herbal infusions of juniper, elderflower and agave. Tarry ropes and creosote-soaked elm follow with flowering currants, olives and hot chilli peppers.

Swirl water into the glass, and voyage into the unknown with smoky coal tar, an open box of rolling tobacco, peat moss and roasted malt. A barbeque of smoky charcoal rises above the peat moss, softened by camomile, cedar and heather bloom. A blast of brine, white pepper and smoky asparagus escapes into the atmosphere with a spritely display of gooseberries and greengages.

Taste

Ardbeg challenges the palate with a smoke and salt explosion – hot, sizzling and gristy sensations effervesce and explode on the tongue with a powerful peaty punch. Black and white crushed pepper pop with chilli and chocolate. Chewy sweet rolling tobacco, linseed oil and newly tanned leather roll backwards on a wave of brininess and burst of juicy lime marmalade. Cigar smoke builds up to a crescendo before drying out to bring dark roast earthy coffee, toasted almonds and liquorice root.

Finish

Long, deep and powerful, refusing to fade away – remaining warm and drying with tarry peat, cocoa and chilli.

A World of Discovery, Autumn, Glenmorangie, Summertime, Takin' It Easy

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX (finally available outside of a Duty-Free Shop!)

Highlands region – 46%ABV – 750ml bottle – $65 | £58 | €68

I have few gripes when it comes to the wide world of whiskies.  To name the top 3:

Gripe #1 — Cost.  Yes, I understand that Whisk(e)y is a luxury item but still…

Gripe #2 — The issue of, or inability to import 70cl bottles into the US.  Why oh why wont the US allow these slightly smaller bottles into the US – we’re missing out on easy access to some fine-ass malts!

Gripe #3 — Duty-Free Shop exclusive whiskies.  Limited editions I can understand.  Limited editions that you can only get in a Duty-Free Shop I can not.  Sorry, from a consumer’s standpoint (a consumer that rarely travels outside of the US) it does not make sense — at least give me (and the thousands of others non-world traveling consumers) a chance to buy these limited edition whiskies.

Well, Glenmorangie did just that.

The Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX started off as Duty-Free 1 litter exclusive bottle.  Being the Glenmo devotee that I am, I was upset right away.  It’s like Dad brought home a new game for my Commodore 64 but only let my older sister play (wow, there’s some fun familial issues coming out – as made up as they are).

Thankfully, Glenmorangie (for one reason or another) changed this approach and released a 750ml bottle to the general public.

So, what in the heck does “Sonnalta PX” mean?  Well, first off, the Sonnalta PX is a fine sherry cask finished whisky.  The “PX” stands for Pedro Ximinez.  If you do not know, Pedro Ximinez sherry is basically the chewiest, richest, most succulent sherry out there (imagine its influence on whisky!).  “Sonnalta”, in Gaelic, means “Liberal”.  In other words, there is a liberal, very generous amount of Pedro Ximinez sherry influence to the Glenmorangie.  Not sure about you but my mouth is watering just writing this review!

So, should we taste it?  Let’s go!

On the nose — Wow, a sherry finish done oh so right!  Banana peels & cinnamon, Banana chips, candied oranges (strange, even orange Jujubees, sort of a soapy quality but good), The nose really reminds me of the palate on the Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey with all of the yummy banana-i-ness to it.  a very un-Glenmorangie nose.  Wait, I sniffed after typing that and I take it back, notes from The Original Ten Years are popping through honey, apples.  It’s all hiding there waiting to sneak up on you!

Palate — Fantastic mouth feel!  Oh, G-d, that’s just so chewy…  Like salted taffy or caramel.  Nuts and root veggies, a touch of chocolate here (sort of like chocolate shavings if you’ve ever had them, a very different taste than a chunk of chocolate), wine soaked raisins

Finish — Quite long.  Chocolate covered leather (oh, so slight with the leather quality), raisins and fresh fruits.  Huh, slight nutty oak after about 45 seconds or so.

In sum — These tasting notes are from the last 5cl or so of my bottle.  What’s strange is, when I first got the bottle my initial reactions to the whisky was that it was a **great** sherried Glenmorangie.  The good news is, that still rings true.  What’s different is that now, as I take my last sip, the spiciness is reminding of a grain whisky.  I know this is a true malt whisky but it’s as if there’s slight grain influence (rye perhaps?).  I’m sure it’s all in my head.  Perhaps it’s just that the warm spring has arrived, maybe my brain is looking for it.  Who knows.

I did love this malt, much more than the Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask (of course, I’ve liked most malts more than the Lasanta).  Not trying to rub salt in the wound I left from my review of the Lasanta.  Forget what I said about the Lasanta — these aren’t the droids you’re looking for…