From www.aberko.com

DEERSTALKER HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT

Brand History
The Deerstalker brand was first owned by a wine & spirit merchant from Edinburgh named J.G.Thomson. He noted the importance of trade marks and realising that these proud, forthright men epitomized the Highland spirit, registered the name and a label with the character of a Deerstalker in 1880, just five years after trade marks came into being.

Since that time it has been trade marked in every major country and there are five marks in the UK alone. J.G.Thomson’s offices were in the port for Edinburgh (Leith) and became known as The Vaults. The building remains to this day and is now home to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Exports took place from the Vaults to all corners of the globe. The brand then changed ownership as a result of acquisitions, but in 1994 took on a new chapter in its history when purchased by Aberko Limited.

Stalking and Whisky
The stalking of deer in the Scottish Highlands is as much a tradition as the distilling of whisky itself, and may be traced back to the 1700′s. Most estates employed stalkers, fiercely independent men, who were respected for their knowledge of the ‘mountains’ and their abilities to track the native red deer.

Deerstalkers achieved notoriety in the Mid 1800’s when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert rebuilt Balmoral Castle & settled for much of the year in the Highlands fishing and stalking; characters such as John Brown became known far outside the Highlands. Whisky, already established in Scotland now became ever more popular south of the border partly as a result of the bond between the royal family and the Highlands.

Stalking deer in the Highlands and for that matter the Lowlands and the Western Isles has a long and noble tradition and is today a necessary activity for controlling numbers of red deer and for providing much needed income into Scottish estates. There remain today many professional stalkers who have inherited the skills of their forefathers, and provide a valuable contribution to the economy of the region.

It is appropriate that a whisky should be named after a profession so closely associated with the source of the national drink.

DEERSTALKER HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT – 18 YEAR OLD

The Distillery
The 18 Year Old Deerstalker Highland Single Malt takes its malt from the Balmenach Distillery. The distillery is located in a beautiful part of Speyside named the Haughs of Cromdale, site of a Jacobite battle in 1690 and of numerous illicit whisky stills prior to the era of licensing. Its ownership passed through the Macgregor family to DCL, United Distillers, and in 1997 to Inver House who have given their kind permission for Aberko to bottle limited quantities and to sell under the Deerstalker name.

It is extremely rare to find any Balmenach at 18 years of age and now unchill filtered at 46% abv and taking its colour entirely from the casks where it has ‘slept’ some 18 years we are delighted to present it alongside the 10, 12 and new 15 Year Old.

Balmenach 18yo (46%, Deerstalker, +/-2011) Whisky Intelligence Tasting Note

The nose is much like opening a tin of hard candies covered in icing sugar while at the same time revealing some excellent fruit in the form of banana and jam (but not berries, perhaps some marmalade?). After some small time in the glass there is some good malt, zest, dried fruit juniper and pine resin. The dusty icing sugar and malt continue throughout. The taste is strong and very solid, the dried fruit and malt are much more intensified than on the nose; very rich with some ground pepper, a little leather and tobacco and a wonderful sweetness that intermingles with the other descriptors so very well. Some dry notes arrive towards the end just prior to the mouthful going down the gullet. The finish is of bananas, the dried fruit and the pepper; all very vibrant and then after a moment a sensational arrival of the icing sugar dusted candies. The finish is very long and active with lots of malt.

What a sensational dram with something to like all along the journey.

$89

Score 87 points

anCnoc 14yo 1993/2007 (43%, OB)

Pronounced ‘a-nock’. Unchill-filtered which is very decent of them not to do so; what strip out flavour? The nose is big syrupy fruit; like tinned peaches in syrup with some good malt hanging around in the back ground. There’s also a good bit of varnish or tobacco (a good bit not a bad bit). All very clean and pleasing. The taste is much like the nose; lots of syrupy fruit and tobacco (cured but not lit, like smelling a cigarette before it’s lit or a pouch full of tobacco). However the two are reversed, now the tobacco, oak and malt are first and the syrupy fruit is lagging behind. A big taste for sure and still very pleasant. The finish is warming, very active and long and once again the afore mentioned descriptors are very much in evidence. After a minute or two some very nice malt arrives to tie everything together quite nicely.

A dram that show just what anCnoc is capable of.

£35 +/- however now sold out sadly.

Score 88 points

Visit excellent anCnoc website at www.ancnoc.com

Glenfarclas 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2010)

The nose has some really nice sherry (reminds one some what of Aberlour a’bunadh), a little oiliness, coffee grounds (not espresso grounds but North American coarse grind – just a hint) and still more of the sherry with a slight hint of Marmite in the back ground adding some body. The taste is once again quite sherried with some oak notes (hazelnut or walnut shells) bees wax, vanilla bean and some Christmas cake; actually quite a bit. The Christmas cake comes more apparent a little way in. Actually very, very good and one mouthful is not enough so beware. The finish is fruity, dry and quite long (think of fruit leather but not from apples but from dark berries and Bing cherries. A late arrival of some excellent malt.

A whisky for the long cool nights that are ahead….

$68

Score 88 points.

Glenallachie 12yo (46%, Duncan Taylor NC2 D’1995 B’2007)

On the nose there is some very nice peppery malt and some nice wine notes. These are complimented by some vanilla bean, citrus (think grapefruit not lemon) and then some good notes associated with the oak casks (lumber yard and red cedar) and perhaps a little resin & heather for some zest. All in all very pleasant in an unchallenging fashion. A tantalizing hint of smoked fruit. The taste is big and very good; now the oak notes are more aggressive (tobacco and leather) however there is nary a showing by the smoke however the citrus in the form of the grapefruit is very dominant. Quite dry towards the end and some really good malt moments along with some hints of Ovomaltine (if it’s unfamiliar to you seek it out on google). The finish shows the oak notes (leather and tobacco) along with some malt, the ever present grapefruit and some really very pleasant sugary sweetness. All rather long and very active; not a shy finish by any means.

A solid dram and very enjoyable.

$100

Score 85 points

Glenfiddich NAS Snow Phoenix (47.6%, OB, 2010)

A dram with a story, non-chill filtered and a limited edition n to boot…the nose is quite strong at first blush with loads of cask notes and banana, rich over ripe fruit (pear & lychee) along with some heather, candle wax and cold unsweetened tea (and no milk of course!). Quite a strong nose for only a short hop over 46% ABV but all in all very pleasant and time in the glass does it not harm; quite multi faceted. The taste is a surprise in that it’s much like the nose with a big strong arrival and lots of wood notes; oak spice, hints of nutmeg and clove, some more of the heather (some fragrant notes lurking behind the oak spice) and a little malt. However much like the aroma it’s all very nice; quite a big whisky and very enjoyable, solid without any off notes. A little malt hiding in the back ground. The finish is still warming (my oh my, the alcohol is quite evident even in the finish) and is very active with the aforementioned descriptors and finally some malt arrives towards the end, a nice gift (actually it grows quite a bit and becomes quite assertive).

A very nice Glenfiddich indeed. A little water improves it immensely; reduces the alcohol and brings out a really good interplay between the sweetness and the oak spice. Excellent with water. Still peppery though…

Price $90

Score 89

Read all about the Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix HERE

Ardbeg NAS Alligator (51.2%, OB, 2011)

The latest furor from Ardbeg using “Ferocious ‘Alligator’ charring of new American oak casks has created a spicy, dark dram of hidden depths, within which lurk deep tarry coffee, barbeque, sizzle and sooty aromas”.  Non chill-filtered and all (but no mention of added colour?). On the nose there is some fragrant notes (think heather and juniper) along with the promised peat reek. As it spends more time in the glass the peat reek begins to grow over powering the previous descriptors. However there is some very nice sweetness and chocolate in the mix also which adds to the complexity of the aromas. There’s some nice depth here. Hints of roasted nut (peanuts, perhaps) and some citrus in the form of lemon. With water it’s the bottom of the volcano and very tarry. The taste without water is quite good; some good citrus, some sweetness and then a headlong rush in some truly excellent peat reek and malt with the chocolate hanging n for dear life. Water brings out some very good sweetness but the peat reek hangs on really well. The finish is long, warming, very BIG, lashings of good peat reek and some sensational chewy malt.

Well done Ardbeg, yet another vibrant intriguing dram. With or without water it’s very good.

US$135/£59

Score 88 points

Catto’s 25yo 150th Anniversary (40%, OB, 2011)

On the nose there is a significant amount of very good fruit (tinned fruit salad, over ripe peaches or pears) along with some dusty malt and very light wood notes. In many regards it presents as a malt; a little vague pipe smoke brings it altogether. Vanilla bean and a very little heather; everything is pulling together here. The taste is of cocoa, a lot of the fruit and some very good moments of the pipe smoke and surprisingly a hint or two of some green notes (the heather or roses?) either way it’s not important as it’s very slight and pleasant. Some good malt moments here, chewy and then some dryness. Again this does not taste like a blend and it’s all very good. Sensational actually. The finish shows some characteristics of being a blend but not matter since the ending mirrors the other two parts so very well. Some really excellent dark cake with chilies for the briefest of moments. Long luxurious and malty.

A very good whisky period. Any whisky enthusiast would be please to have this in their cabinet.

Score 91 points

Please read Press Release for further information on this whisky.

Part three of three this week looking at three very distinctive blended Scotch whiskies.

Black Bull 12yo (50%, OB, +/2010)

On the nose there are some high alcohol notes which are quickly overcome by a rich lusciousness that seems to be hovering just under the alcohol. Time in the glass only improves the picture and the richness only becomes more apparent and takes the form of some slight green (or grain notes) and then some really good deep Christmas cake, loads of dried fruits (raisins, prunes and apricots) but more of the darker fruits and maybe even macerated with rum. The taste is also very rich but more balanced (the malt and the grain whiskies together) and quite strong; this is a big dram and very good, more of the fruitiness now with some good oak spice (perhaps a little leather and a little unlit Virginia tobacco. Also a little clove (just a bit) and still the big richness. The finish is very warming and long with all the previous descriptors in abundance and at the middle of the finish some very good chocolate malt and dark chocolate (slightly bitter) pops up and then they fade off together, ever so slowly.

Forget a wee splash in a Glencairn; pour a large measure into an old fashioned whisky glass and have a big guzzle. Or two.

$49

Score 89 points

Read some more on this award winning whisky here

Part two of three this week looking at three very distinctive blended Scotch whiskies.

Ballantines Finest (40%, OB, +/-2010)

The nose is off bees wax, alfalfa, grapefruit, pizza dough all inter mixed with some slight peat smoke, a little saw dust (perhaps saw mill notes?), walnut shells, nutmeg, some really good notes from the oak side of the house. The grain whisky is certainly present and is a welcome addition to the aromas. A little time in the glass and some hand warming opens up the aromas. The taste is rich and sweet with malt, some really good oak spice and some rich creamy notes all backed by some delicate peat smoke (which is very nice). Actually quite a bit of toffee. The finish is vibrant and shows some of the pizza dough but this soon vanishes to reveal more of the toffee and some nice honey tinged with the peat smoke. A very long finish and good all the way.

A dram not to be rushed and it is fine just the way it is, no need to drown it with ice! Very moreish. Give it a try some time of you have the chance.

$27

Score 87 points 

Part one of three this week looking at three very distinctive blended Scotch whiskies.

Balvenie 14yo (47.5%, OB, Golden Cask, +/-2010)

Part of the maturation was in ex Caribbean rum casks. On the nose there’s pear, bring cherries and tinned fruit cocktail; lots of sweet syrupy notes. Lots of rich fruit and sweet notes however there’s still some good wood notes in the back ground; it’s all a luscious collection of aromas. Some small ‘green’ notes in the back ground and light Christmas cake (not the dark version). The taste is also very sweet however there is some really good malt intertwined with the sweetness; not sure where the run is but who cares? This is really very nice. A small amount of unlit cured Virginia tobacco gives the sweetness a really keen edge. The finish is a little less sweet but it’s still there and then suddenly; pow! Lashings of malt and some rally great oak spice and dryness. It’s very long and very pleasing, warming too.

What a grand dram.

£62 at the Whisky Exchange

Score 89 points