Tag Archives: Slight smoke

Glenmorangie, Let's celebrate!, Need To Bundle Up

Glenmorangie Finealta – A touch of peat, a dash of oloroso sherry & I’m a happy man with this elegant whisky

Highlands region — 46% ABV — $80 | £55 | €66

Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Port Ellen, Lagavulin, Ardmore, Port Charlotte, Bowmore, Bruichladdich… The list can go on.  What list?  The list of Scottish distilleries that produce, or bottlings that are known for, peaty, smokey, medicinal qualities.

There’s a new list though, Scottish distilleries that are now releasing peated whiskies: Arran, Benromach, Bunnahabhain, BenRiach… I am sure there are others (feel free to add to this list in the comments section of the post).

Apropos of peoples’ current thirst (or lust) for peated whisky, the Sixteen Men of Tain over at Glenmorangie are now throwing their hat in the peat ring.

Though, for the amount of peat or smoke in this whisky, it’s more like a yarmulke being thrown in the ring.

Actually, what we have here is not another peated whisky crafted for the sake of being a smokey.  Rather, according to Glenmorangie, they set out to recreate a recipe for a Glenmo whisky as it would have been made back in the early 1900’s.  So we have some minor peat here and the whisky is a mixture of both American Oak barrels and European Oak (ex-Oloroso Sherry casks).

The combination delivers pretty damn well:

On the nose – Big cherry presence on the nose along with something minty.

An earthy quality to it – fresh potting soil, new ferns.

The peat in here is very light.

Toffee & caramel.

Cadbury fruit & nut bar.

Some soy sauce.

On the mouth – Spiced orange gum drops.  Red ones too.

Lots of nuttiness and now some coffee tones in there.

Solid mouth feel here, folks!  Creamy, ooey – I love it.

Peppery and more soy sauce notes.

Again, lightly smoked & very elusive.

Finish – Now quite tannic.  Quite long too.

The mild smoke returns for the finale.

In sum – This here is a well designed whisky.  The light peating is a welcome thing as is the added element of whisky matured in Oloroso Sherry casks.  Pseudo-techno-stuff behind, this is a whisky that will put you in your happy spot.  Not because it’s 46% ABV alcohol whisky (and will tipsy-fy you) but because it’s just damned delicious and warming in all the right ways.

Special thanks goes out to David Blackmore for the generous sample!

An everyday dram, Nikka, Takin' It Easy

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

Japan – 51.4% ABV –  50cl – $40 | £25 | €29

Welcome, my friends, to Desert Island dram-land.

This past Friday I ended the week on with a review on quite possibly one of the worst whiskies I’ve ever had.  I’m not one who normally ends the week on a bad note but hey, whatevs – “I do what I want”

I figured, however, that being that I ended on such a negative note last week that I should start off this week with one of the best whiskies out there – especially for the money.

A solid Japanese blended whisky from Nikka that has a permanent spot on my whisky shelf.

Nikka “Whisky from the Barrel”:

On the nose — Jolly Rancher grapefruit sweetness, big oak (like a baseball bat being stuck up my nose), turmeric, floral and spiced, old books…

Some slight pipe tobacco (while pipe is burning).

The list is going on and on and on…

Taking a break…

A return to the nose reveals holiday cake (OK, Christmas Cake) and artificial chocolate.

On the mouth — Spicy, chewy caramels.

Vanilla, more oak (damp, damp oak).

Last year’s gone-soft Werther’s candies.

Finish — A nice length with lasting vanilla and oak spice candles.

In sum — At 25gbp for 50cl, this is an insane steal. This is an everyday dram for me.  Cracking, powerful, easy drinking and a well crafted cask strength Japanese blended whisky.

I’m not the only one who has a woody over this one —  you can read Jason of Guid Scotch Drink notes here, Gal of Whisky Israel’s notes here (toward the very bottom of the post) and you can read the notes from Whisky for Everyone here.

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.

Amrut, Autumn, Cold Winter, Need To Bundle Up

Amrut Peated Single Malt Whisky 46%ABV & Cask Strength – head to head

India – 46%ABV – $62 | £34 | €39

Moving forward with my reviews of the Amrut standard line — let’s jump now to their peated expression(s).

Now, being peated versions of the standard Amrut expressions, these whiskies should prove to have an even more complex and deep profile over the Amrut whiskies reviewed yesterday.  How peated are these?  Well, more so than say a Bunnahabhain or Benromach but nowhere near as peaty/smoky as, perhaps, a Laphroaig, Ardbeg or Longrow.

Let just go onto tasting these whiskies and see what we get…

On the nose – Fried pancetta (ah, more memories from my carnivorous, uber-tref youth).

Caramel chews and tinder sticks (the fire starters, not the band).

Buttered hot bread (just like with the standard NAS 46% from yesterday).

Something immensely sweet about this nose that reminds me of grapefruit jelly beans.

On the mouth – Big oak notes – very much like a humidor with half smoked cigars in it (there’s that peat).

Coconut and lime leaf, a touch of curry.

Gingery mango chutney (again, similar to yesterday’s Amrut).

Grilled cauliflower.

Finish – Oak and vanilla, long and pleasing.

In sum – The peat here is lighter than expected.  While normally a bit of peat will add an extra dimension, I think the addition of peated barley in the expression takes away from their standard NAS, non-peated whisky (which was a cracker, straight up!).

Truth be told, if I’d not have had the standard NAS yesterday, the previous statement might not ring true.  This being said, I did enjoy this whisky and the peat warmed my insides in the ways in which is needed for this time of year.  Oh yes, the heat is on in my house.  I am donning a sweater and all I want to do is snuggle up with the wife.  Tis the season!

And now onto the cask strength version which has nearly 17% more alcohol by volume…

India – 62.8%ABV – $78 | £40 | €46

On the nose – Stuffy nose?

A cold got you down?

Nose some of this whisky and you won’t be complaining of what ails ye any longer.

A big sock to the nose with spirit and lots of it!

If you could turn crispy bacon into a powdered sugar candy for kids, this is what you’d be smelling, just that.

Burnt toast and melted butter.

A Lime Ricky, extra lime.

On the mouth – Great mouth feel.

Yes, this stuff is strong as all hell but it is approachable (more so than yesterday’s Cask Strength though still not for the casual whisk(e)y drinker!).

Orange butter sauce.

A bit briny.

Some seaweed.

Juicy and chewy.

Damp wood.

I’m a fan.

Finish – Smooth and oaky with hints of vanilla extract.

In sum for the Cask Strength and the overall experience between the two – While I thought the added peat to the 46% expression was not up to par with the unpeated version of the Amrut, I found the brashness of this cask strength whisky, combined with the added element of peat, to be a terrific combination.

Many people out there my have a tough time sipping on a whisky that is over 60% and I can appreciate that.  As a note to those people…  Please send your cask strength whisky bottles to my house.  I will ensure the fluid contained within will go to good use 😉

For either of these whiskies, I really do suggest you enjoy there in the cooler months (or, go inside your house during the summer time, crank the A/C unit — pour, sniff, sip, swallow, repeat).