Tag Archives: Paraffin

Breakfast Whisky, Clynelish, Springtime

Exclusive Malts – Clynelish 15yo – 53.5%ABV

 

ClynelishHighlands region – 53.5%ABV – US only — Price: unknown at this point.

Many of us here in the states have not heard of the Exclusive Malts or The Creative Whisky Company who are responsible for bottling this selection of single casks.  The Exclusive Malts range is a new range to the US brought to this side of the pond by the fine folks at ImpEx Beverages.

So, what makes this line of whiskies so special?  I’d say it comes down to David Stirk, owner of The Creative Whisky Company, and his ability to consistently choose and bottle fine and fun casks of whisky, both young and old.  In the UK and EU, Mr. Stirk is known for bottling good hooch; I’m just glad that he and ImpEx are working together to bring some of these bottlings our way.

I was sent 5 samples in all from ImpEx (thanks again!) and we will launch the review of the Exclusive Malts range with this 15yo Clynelish.  Bottled at cask strength and matured in what I assume is an ex-bourbon cask – the bottle simply says “aged in oak.”

On to the review; begin the begin:

Clynelish-1On the nose –  Quite a classic representation of Clynelish – waxy smelling, a touch of smoke, lemon bars and paraffin.  Bright wood spice nose – a house in the framing stage of being built – fresh sawn wood.

A touch of mild mustard seed.  Actually, if one could figure out a way to candy mustard seeds, I imagine it’d smell a bit like this.

Clynelish-2Fresh tropical fruits and some crushed pecans (sans any bitter nut skin).  Boy, nut skin just sounds wrong – forget I even mentioned nut skin.  Seriously, stop with the nut skin!!  *Why* are you obsessing…

MOVING ON! 

Some warmed caramel or perhaps the caramel from a Milky Way bar.

Clynelish-3On the mouth – Oh, hell yes.  Warming and oily mouth feel.  Much of what we got on the nose with a touch of hayseed to boot.

Waxy, spicy (not overly so)… Actually, the spice is increasing here — if you’ve ever had Dailuaine, the level of spice is similar to Dailuaine.  Very nice.

Clynelish-4Plastic candy wrappers, wax wrappers for vanilla caramels.

Finish – From mouth coating and oily to a medium length, slightly drying finish (like biting into a red grape seed).

In sum – Here is where knowing how to bottle a good cask at the right time pays off.  This is a great whisky that’s both easy going but also has wonderful levels of complexity to it.  At 53.5% ABV, it’s not hot at all… very approachable and perfect for a weekend morning pick-me-up.  Start your day with this one (so long as you’re not driving or operating heavy machinery… or have to vote).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

nut skin.

A World of Discovery, An everyday dram, Angel's Envy, Let's celebrate!

Angel’s Envy – Release 10/10 – Port Finished – Straight Kentucky Bourbon

Kentucky Straight Bourbon – finished in ex-port barrels – 43.3%ABV – 750ml – $49.99 (yet to be released)

So, yesterday I posted up my interview with Wesley Henderson, COO of Louisville Distilling Co., producers of what I am about to review – Angel’s Envy Bourbon.

I’ve been in contact with Wes for the past few months, tracking the progress of Angel’s Envy.  Initially, Angel’s Envy was to be released on October 10, 2010 (10.10.10).  I’m sure many dollars were spent on marketing which included this cool and unusual release date.  However, the whiskey was not released on time.  Was this because balls were dropped or because deadlines were missed sourcing bottles, corks, etc…?  No.  And actually, they didn’t miss the deadline – they passed on it.  As Wes explained to me, Lincoln Henderson (Wesley’s dad and creator of this whiskey) felt the whiskey was just not ready to be bottled.

This is not just a whiskey expression, this is an expression of Lincoln Henderson.  If he’s says the whiskey isn’t ready, it’s not ready.

Well, earlier this week I received a finalized sample from Wes (thanks again!).  Let’s see if this whiskey is ready for mass bottling and mass consumption…

On the nose – Noses quite different than your standard bourbon.  What I’m initially grabbed by is the softness to this whisky.

If I could compare smelling this to a feel, I’d say it’s like squeezing a marshmallow (with your nostrils).

Is it the lower ABV or the port finish?

Let’s go back to it – raisin scented wax candles, paraffin smooth.

Orange brandy or, brandy soaked oranges.

Cinnamon Drakes brand coffee cakes!!

A joy to nose, very elegant.

Perhaps a little dark chocolate, too?

On the mouth – Wow, interesting mouth feel – juicy yet a bit thin.

Spicy raisin notes.

More dark chocolate – more pronounced here as compared to the nose.

Very decedent.

Getting some golden delicious apple notes (albeit with a good amount of cinnamon and perhaps slightly baked).

Finish – Medium in length filled with spiced berried (you name it, red & blue, they’re in there).

In sum – A really well designed expression.  All of the parts fit quite nicely.  Well balanced and with every sip I sort of felt like I was treating myself to something special.  Like I said – decedent.

Quite the celebratory whiskey but, at the price point, you can treat yourself perhaps more often than you should.

Thankfully, I have another dram’s worth of this nectar which I will enjoy tonight for Shabbat, and will then wait patiently until I can buy a bottle from my local bottle shop.