Tag Archives: Toasted Coconut

Arran, Let's celebrate!

Arran 15yr – Distillery Only, Open Day Dram

Islands region – 700ml bottle – £95.00 – Sold through the Arran website or at the Distillery only, 600 bottles in all!

Man-o-Maneschewitz, did I have a lot of fun opening this bottle or what!?  I did mentioned it in my post about WhiskyFest NYC — I was not planning on opening this bottle for a while but an opportunity presented itself and whisky is meant for enjoying and sharing in the right company.

Well, the opportunity was there – I had a bottle.  The company was there too – Andy Hogan of Arran, John Hansell of The Malt Advocate magazine and the What Does John Know? blog as well as Lew Bryson (managing editor of Malt Advocate).

The time was right — it was the night just before WhiskyFest; a very festive time… what better reason to open the bottle!?

What’s more is, I got to share this again later that night at Ward III with Michael Neff (one of the owners of the Ward III), a new friend Keith and the infamous World Traveler, Prankster & Ladies’ Man, Greenie D. McGee!

So, what is the Arran Open Day Whisky?  Not to be confused with the Arran 15yr Anniversary dram which is actually an 11yr old whisky finished in Amontillado Sherry casks — It’s a bottling of whisky (600 bottles in all) made of the first spirit fun from their stills back in 1995.  They vatted three casks from this run (all first-fill bourbon) to create this very limited bottling.

Here are my thoughts on the whisky (preview: great stuff!) —

On the nose — Big yummy bourbon nose!!

Hazelnuts – freshly cracked.

Coconut – freshly shredded and toasted.

Creamy and thick quality with over-ripened bananas.

Abundant vanilla and caramel.  Just a joy to nose.

Lychee nuts in syrup.

Some ocean breeze.

With a touch of water a really pleasant soapy quality is revealed.

Surgical soap and fruity taffy.

On the mouth — Apples, dowsed in caramel and nut laden.

Banana returns with a toasty feel to it.

Perfectly fresh mouth feel.

A touch of water brings out some pears.

But really, the water accentuates the apples and brings out a spiciness, also, the brine/salt that I got on the nose is now more pronounced.

Finish — A toasty & spicy finish, decent length.

Actually quite long with those lychee nuts just lingering about.

In sum — The balance is fantastic.  A wonderfully mature whisky but with enough spice to give you a “what for”.  A celebratory dram and one to enjoy on special occasions and with friends.  As you can see, I’ve done just that!

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.

Autumn, Glenrothes, Kosher Spirits (not for Passover), Springtime, Summertime, Takin' It Easy

Glenrothes – Alba Reserve

Speyside region – 43% ABV – $50 | £40 | €48

Kosher whiskies day two.

Another year, another whisky.  I’ve been hearing about the Glenrothes Alba Reserve for some time now.  Actually, I had it last year at WhiskyFest NYC.  However, it was one of the last whiskies of the evening and I have to say that after 25+ different whiskies it’s tough to tell what’s good and what’s not.  Heck, it can be tough to remember what whiskies you had!

Somehow, I’m guessing because I’m a Jew, I’ve had at least 20 people ask me if I’ve had the the Glenrothes Alba Reserve.  It is a kosher certified whisky (by the London Bet Din), matured in refill bourbon casks.  It is also a Double Gold winner at the recent 2010 San Francisco World Spirit Competition.

Kosher & award winning?  I guess I just had to try it.

I sort of like the Glenrothes packaging.  The bottle is often refereed to as being shaped like a hand-grenade.  There’s an odd sexiness to their bottles.

The Alba Reserve carries no age statement.

Let’s see how the fluid is:

On the nose – Initial whiff is that of plum brandy – slivovitz.

Damp wood, old wood.

Vanilla and saw dust (smoldering, smokey).

We’re not going to blow your mind here, just make you want to sip a wee bit.

On the mouth – Cadbury Fruit and nut bar minus the chocolate.

Slight citrus notes.

Watered down honey.

At 40%ABV, this is an easy drinker (upside).

However, it’s not the most challenging whisky (upside and downside).

Some toasted coconut.

Finish – Medium in length with clear vanilla and honey notes.

In sum – An easy everyday drinker.  Nothing super special about it but, that’s not a bad thing.  This may be a great whisky to give to the casual whisky drinker or as a good gateway whisky.

Blind Tastings

Rick’s Mystery Dram series – Week 6 of 10 – Sample #7

So here we are at mystery dram #7!

“Wait a sec, number seven?!”, you ask.  “Yes, number seven”, I say.  Dram number six ended up being a sample of Ardbeg’s Airigh Nam Beist with the code “L6” on the bottle.  My personal bottle has the code “L8” and supposedly there’s a slight difference in taste between the two.  Though someone I spoke with at Ardbeg says that no one should be able taste any difference.  The “L6” code supposedly meant that the bottle was an 16 year expression, “L7” was 17yrs and L8 was 18yrs.  I wanted to find out if there was any difference so Rick was nice enough to send me a sample of his “L6” Ardbeg.  A post on the possible differences between the “L6” and “L8” Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beisties will follow soon.  Until then, feel free to enjoy my current review of the L8 Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist.

So, all this being said, we will move forward as if mystery dram number 6 never existed (“these aren’t the droids you’re looking for” – Obi Wan Kenobi) and move onto mystery dram number seven.

As I mentioned in the 3rd post for this “Rick’s Mystery Dram” Series, I’ve decided to make this a wee bit more interesting by sending out a mystery dram to the correct guesser of the week’s mystery dram or, if there has been no correct guess, the sample goes to a commenter (randomly chosen).  Last week, “Tony” won the mystery dram and I look forward to hearing from him as to find out what type of whisk(e)y sample he wants – Scotch or American.

Details on how to win a mystery dram sample (which will be Scotch or American whisk(e)y, your choice) are listed below, after the review.

For previous “Rick’s Mystery Dram” entries :

Here’s Mystery Dram #1 (which ended up being Parker’s Heritage First Edition)

Here’s Mystery Dram #2 (which ended up being Parker’s Heritage Golden Anniversary)

Here’s Mystery Dram #3 (which ended up being Evan Williams Single Barrel, 2000 vintage, barrel # 234)

Here’s Mystery Dram #4 (which ended up being Tonala 4 year Anejo tequila)

Here’s Mystery Dram #5 (which ended up being Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve, 10 year)

Review time!  And, by the way, this is an American whiskey again.

On the nose — Big easy noser filled with Loads of vanilla and a hint of toasted coconut.  There’s a barbecue sauce quality to the nose and a damn good amount of oak.  Very fragrant, very summery.  Just smelling this stuff makes me want a mint julep.

On the mouth — Nice entry here filled with caramel covered apples.  Decent attack but nothing overwhelming.

Pool water (think chlorine in your nose and Phoebe Cates a la Fast Times at Ridgemont High).  More vanilla and grape soda (a similar grape soda note as I got on the 2nd mystery dram in this series).

A hint of pumpkin spices (cardamom, nutmeg, etc…)

Finish — A good length and the grape soda notes carry through to the end

In sum — An easy drinker.  Perhaps too easy.  You could get into trouble with this one — hot summer day, dip in the pool, a few drams of this, potato salad, veggie burgers, macaroni salad, not enough water, a few more drams, hitting on your cousin’s girlfriend, punch in the eye, somehow you find yourself back in your bed at home, hangover the next morning…  You get the idea (and no, this never happened to me).

Clues —

  • Big wood influence with lots of vanilla and some toasted coconut.  Not extremely spicy, easy to nose (perhaps a lower ABV% 43-46%?).
  • Good attack in the tasting but perhaps some wheat influence as it was quite an easy drinker.  Interesting chlorine-type note.
  • Grape soda notes in the taste and finish (though, admittedly, not everyone may come away with that…).

JMSWS antes up!

For those who attempt to guess – each week I will be sending out one mystery dram (a small 5cl bottle) and the first person guesses correctly wins the dram.  Actually, if there are no correct guesses for the week then a winner will be chosen at random.  You win whether your right or not (like a weatherperson – right or not, s/he still has a job)!

So again, I will be awarding a free whisk(e)y sample every week to one lucky winner (whether you guess correctly or not).

How do I enter to win you ask?

Easy, comment on this post with what you think the mystery dram of the week may be.  It’s that simple.

I will let you choose the type of mystery dram — Scotch or American Whiskey (though that’s all you’ll know about it).  And if you’d like, you can send me your tasting notes and I’ll post them for my readers to guess at.  If you’d prefer the blind tasting to be between just you and me… that’s cool too.