The America branch of the Society has released their President’s Day Issue of Outturn, issue 97. To view the latest bottling list form the Society please visit them at http://www.smwsa.com/ and click on the ‘members area’ .

Ralfy has been busy working his way through Canadian Whiskies this past week and Whisky Intelligence.com is just catching up…

108 – Seagram’s VO & Wisers (small batch)
109 – Alberta Premium & Forty Creek (barrel select)
110 – Recommended Canadian Whiskies (concluding a series)

Visit Ralfy at  http://www.whiskyreviews.blogspot.com/

EPISODE 240: FEBRUARY 21, 2010

We’ve seen an explosion in the number of whisky bloggers over the past year, and one of the most popular is Ralfy Mitchell of Ralfy.com. His whisky rating videos have become a hit on YouTube, and we sat down to talk at the recent Victoria Whisky Festival. In the news, Compass Box has something special planned for the upcoming Whisky Live London, another new whisky from The Dalmore, Buffalo Trace goes Canadian, and Bonhams puts a Glenfiddich bottling of casks from 1937 and 1939 on the auction block next week.

Visit WhiskyCast at http://whiskycast.com/

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for July 2005; a small sample of scotch whisky archeology. The author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights of whisky, which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday.  Enjoy!

Dear Whisky Customers
 
So summers finally here and so is the latest newsletter. I have been planning to write this awhile ago, but things like exams, holidays and the writing of our port offer have delayed it somewhat. So what have I been tasting recently?
 
There are some new additions to the Duncan Taylor range, a new range called ‘private cellar’ bottled by the Speyside distillery, the Irish list has had a summer make over, my report on an interesting evening tasting Glenmorangie, Glen Moray and Ardbeg, a new bottling from Bruichladdich, a tasting of the Jon, Mark and Robbo’s easy drinking range, a sneak preview of some new bottling’s by John McDougall, Blackadder and the Misson V series from Murray McDavid, along some other bits and pieces, including a signatory tasting session and a surprise from Wales!
 
DUNCAN TAYLOR
 
My good friends at Duncan Taylor sent me a mixed bag of new goodies to try recently including some samples of their recently bottled single grain distilleries. It seems that there are some fantastic old casks from these distilleries knocking about, along with some not so good, and these are becoming a very popular alternative to single malts. Many of them are extremely old and have a tendency to resemble old cognac’s or rums with their complex array of flavours. I wasn’t convinced by their 1978 North British, but the 1965 Invergordon, 1979 Carsebridge (which I was told was the first time this has been bottled as a single), and the 1973 Strathclyde were absolutely stunning (tasting notes to follow). They also sent two new bottling’s from the whisky galore range, a 1986 Bourbon Cask Macallan, which was very spirty, winey and a bit simple and got me thinking that maybe Macallan needs some sherry to make it interesting. This thought was completely dismissed when I tasted a 15 year old cask bottled by Raymond Armstrong for the Bladnock forum, which was absolutely stunning and I was reminded that Jim McEwan bottled a superb couple of casks for the first Celtic Heartlands series, and not forgetting the rather nice 13 year old from John McDougall (more later) so I guess it is all down to cask variability. Then I tasted their new bottling’s of 1965 Tomatin and 1967 Tamnavulin, and was rightly blown away by the quality of them. Always nice to finish on a high note.
 
Tamnavulin 1967 (37 year old) 46.7% £80.95 Cask 1018
Very deep and dark in colour. The nose is huge, a big, overwhelming oloroso sherry nose full, then comes waves of complexity, creamy white chocolate, orange, earth and wood notes. Dry on the palate, full bodied with roasted nuts, oloroso sherry, dried fruit and more nuts for good measure. Very intense and tangy alcohol yet with a delightful softness. Extremely long with hints of coal; tar and peat on the middle descending into a rich orange/ dried fruit pudding mix and a lingering smokiness. Wow!
 
Tomatin 1965 (40 year old) 47.6% £116.95 Cask 1903
Clean, deep and complex on the nose, full of dried fruit, nuts, lanolin, wood oil, wax polish, oodles of ginger and spiced fruit cake. Dry on the palate, medium-full bodied, very soft, succulent rich, moist fruit cake, ginger, raisins, intense tangy alcohol. Very long finish with the bourbon oak coming through on the finish.
 
Carsebridge 1979 (25 year old) 56.4% £68.95 Cask 32901
Clean, slightly spirity on the nose, earthy and creamy with lanolin, wax, delicate chocolate orange and a touch of toasted caramel. Dry on the palate, light-medium bodied, full of orange peel, vanilla, peppery spices, earth and wax. Lovely soft alcohol and a wonderful oily mouth feel. Slightly floral and a long finish with that earthy/ grainy intensity prevalent.
 
Invergordon 1965 (38 year old) 51.6% £69.95 Cask 15537
A lovely, perfumed nose of violets and winter flowers, delicate yet pronounced, followed by an intensity of vanilla dusted sweet citrus fruits, a complex melange of spicy red wine infused fruits and a whiff of toasty oak to finish – simply sensational. The palate is medium-sweet, with a cognac-esque quality to it. Full of dried citrus and grain. This opens into an intense wine infused creamy middle with a slight suggestion of spice and ends with the floralness that the nose evokes. Delicate, interesting and very long.
 
Strathcylde 1973 (31 year old) 62.8% £82.95 Cask 74061
Clean, quite spirity but with an appealing aroma of citrus and vanilla, a touch of gooseberry and sugar cane, a drop of water brings out delicious aromas of tropical fruit, coconut and orange oil. Dry, yet rich and spicy on the palate with layers of oak and subtle tropical fruit unfolding, followed by pine, cereal and ginger. Lovely balance and a crisp clean finish. Very rum like.
 
SPEYSIDE DISTILLERY – PRIVATE CELLAR
 
Speyside distillery have added a new range to their portfolio. With the success of their Scott’s Selection range, they have decided to create a range of whiskies bottled at 43%. Personally I think this is a good idea, because the quality of their whiskies is superb, but natural strength, single cask bottling’s are not cheap, so this should encourage more customers to try their malts without having to spend over ?50 (with the exception of the 1970 North of Scotland). I have therefore decided to stock the following from that range.
 
Glenrothes 1986 43% £38.95
Light, fresh and delightfully floral on the nose with strong cereal notes. Dry on the palate, quite delicate with an intensity of creamy, nutty, malted barley flavours and a light peated note. Very long and creamy with almond flavours persisting.
 
Macallan 1985 43% £45.95
Clean on the nose, displaying some maturity. Initial aromas of sherry fruit give way to earthy orange with a touch of smoke, cinnamon and ground spices. Dry, medium bodied with an intensity of mouth filling, slightly smoky sherry fruits, earth and dried fruit notes. Lovely depth with spicy orange fruit coming through on the finish. Very more-ish.
 
North of Scotland Single Grain 1970 43% £50.95
A clean, aged nose, slightly spirity with that grain intensity. Great depth and complexity of seeped dried fruit, marzipan, earth, orange peel, bourbon oak, vanilla and cr?me caramel. Dry on the palate, medium bodied with slightly oily, rum like, dried fruit, wax polish, earthy apricot, vanilla, raisins and sultanas. Very long and complex finish.
 
NEW IRISH
 
I thought it was about time that our Irish whiskey list had a make over, so after doing some extensive reading and talking to the experts and doing a bit of tasting. Here is the new list.
 
COOLEY DISTILLERY
 
Connemara Cask Strength 60.0% £37.95
Clean and oily aromas of buttered kippers, gentle smoke and sweet peat. Creamy and luscious on the palate with a hint of bitter peat and a suggestion of spice.
 
Clonmel Peated 8 year old 40%£29.95
Bottled by the Celtic Whisky Company.
A clean, peated nose with some soft, sweet malt. The palate is greeted with bone hard peated malt with a slight sweetness followed by soft malt and a build up of peat flavours which fill the mouth with smoke and hickory, then finishing with a caramel and toffee sweetness. As Jim McEwan would say ‘a real roller coaster ride’.
 
Clontarf Single Malt 40% £20.95
Clean and citrus on the nose with coal smoke and toasted toffee malt. Elegant on the palate, which deceptively fades for awhile then returns with vanilla and spice flavours. The original bend of this malt was created by Jim Murray when he was a consultant blender, and a apparently stays very true to his original recipe. Needless to say he rates it very highly.
 
Clontarf Black Label (Single Grain) 40% £17.95
Hard, crisp and enticing on the nose, but it is softened by gentle oak and toffee. On the palate it has a wonderful mouth filling array of spicy fruit, topped off with a caramel richness. Very long. Another first class grain whiskey.
 
BUSHMILLS
 
Bushmills 16 year old ‘Three Woods’ 40% £46.95
Aged in bourbon and sherry cask, finished in port wood
The nose displays a whole fruit basket of aromas including ripe apples, pomegranates and grapes. On the palate there is wave after wave of juicy mouth watering spicy fruit, vanilla and a touch of cocoa. Incredibly sophisticated.
 
Knappogue Castle 1994 40% £34.95 Bottled by Castle Brands Inc
A clean, crisp nose, slightly grassy with cereal, vanilla oak and zesty lemon fruit. Dry on the palate, again very clean with a harmonious delicacy of grassy, citrus fruit, cereal, malt, light spice and bourbon oak. Very long, very clean, balanced finish with a slight suggestion of cocoa and butterscotch on the roof of the mouth. Stunning!
 
MIDLETON DISTILLERY
 
Midleton Very Rare 2002 £104.95
Each year this ‘experiment’ in quality changes a little and thus each release is vintage dated. One thing you can count on is that it will always be elegant, impeccably balanced and perilously drinkable. Distillery manager Barry Crocket wouldn’t put his signature on every bottle if he didn’t think so.
On the nose it is a magical melange of rich, smooth fruit, vanilla and sherry oak. Very smooth and succulent with vanilla, apricot and citrus flavours with hints of tangerine, sherry and spice. This is superb whisky which ambles on and on.
 
Old Midleton 1967 (35 year old) 41.1% £149.95
A nose of butterscotch and delicate fresh oak. The palate is full of fresh pears, toffee, vanilla ice cream, walnut oil, white peach and a ‘crunchy’ nutty centre. Very long with an oily, gentle toasty, biscuity, oakiness.
 
JAMESONS
 
Jameson’s Gold 40% £44.95
A stunningly huge honey, barley flavoured Irish whiskey. A portion of the blend is aged in new oak and has given it a remarkable boost in oak flavour, which is has been balanced with just the proper proportion of sherry aged whiskey. If it could talk it would give a lecture about how to achieve a bittersweet balance with the final drier bitter note reminding you of some decent age. Jim Murray calls it the most complex malt of them all.
 
 
Jameson’s Red Breast 12 year old 40% £29.95
An unhurried nose of ripe fruits, lazy spice and pot still sharpness. Superbly complex on the palate with mouth watering barley notes on a field of clean sherry. Long and lingering with spicy toffee and sherry notes.
 
 
SIGNATORY TASTING
 
I have not looked to stock the Signatory range purely because they are quite readily available elsewhere and I physically do not have the shelf space for another bottling companies range, but it is always nice to keep up to date with what they are offering. So when my wife returned from a shopping trip to Edinburgh, she brought me back a signatory miniature selection pack to taste. The pack included single cask bottling’s of 13 year old Sherry Linkwood, 14 year old Sherry Mortlach, 12 year old Rosebank, 8 year old Caol Ila, 8 year old Ledaig, and 6 year old Springbank and the results were somewhat mixed.
 
The Linkwood was rather pleasant, nice and crisp with amontillado sherry, the Mortlach was rich and sherried and slightly marred by a touch of sulphur, the Rosebank had a lot of bourbon oak and nothing much else. Then oh dear, we really went down hill fast – the Caol Ila was too young and one dimensional, all soap, coal tar and smoke, but no fruit, the Ledaig was far too young and curiously a bit buttery, with no fruit, flavour or peat, and horror of horror was the Springbank, absolutely no character whatsoever, a touch of Bowmore-esque soot, and nothing else.
 
I know that there is currently a fad for bottling young, but the Caol Ila, Ledaig and Springbank should never have been bottled, and I can’t believe a company with their reputation would have bought, let alone bottled these casks.
 
GLENMORANGIE, GLEN MORAY AND ARDBEG TASTING
 
I recently attended a tasting of these three illustrious distilleries, hosted by the Ardbeg d istillery manager Stuart Thomson and rather enjoyable it was too. Proceedings began with the 30 year old Glenmorangie. Now I know that this is a highly regarded whisky with a price tag of over ?175, but it really did nothing for me, it was disappointingly simple, smooth, quaffable with a good length with some coffee/ chocolate notes on the finish, but dare I say it unexciting. Next up was the 1975 Tain L’Hermitage finish, which had a lovely nose, rich, a touch spirity with spicy red wine, toffee, oak and nuts, and then it all fell apart on the palate, lean, hard and granity after a big, very sweet start. With a price tag of over ?120, it was beginning to reinforce my belief that the distilleries output really isn’t that exciting, but my faith was restored by the Burgundy Wood finish, which retails for a mere ?32.95. It was glorious, the best of their wood finished by a country mile (tasting notes later).
 
Next came the 16 year old Glen Morey finished for 4 years in Chenin Blanc casks. The nose was quite nice but bit too sweet with candied banana aromas, but again it let itself down on the palate, which was rather vapid, strangely buttery, like a late harvested wine without the botrytis flavours. The next offering was a complete curio, the Serendipity. The story behind this bottling is that someone had opened the wrong tap in the bottling plant and had mixed some 12 year old Glen Morey (about 20%) with some 17 year old Ardbeg, whether that is true or whether it is just a marketing spin, it is an interesting curio, quite sweet with tangy citrus fruit a delicate peat/ charcoal and a touch of coffee and malt. As far as I’m aware it is only available from the distillery.
 
Then it was time to bring on the Ardbeg. First up the Stunning Uigeadail, which I’ve raved about in the past, see the tasting notes below. It was a touch sweeter than I remember it with more Seville orange marmalade. Next up was the 6 year old ‘Very Young’ which again I have raved about and finally came the highlight of the evening. It came in the shape of a 1975 (30 year old) Single Cask Fino Sherry matured Ardbeg. Now before you ask where and when you can get this, it hasn’t been bottled yet, if it was to be bottled, which I’m pretty sure it will be, it will retail for around, are you sitting down, ?714.00 per bottle!
 
Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish 40% £32.95
A clean, crisp complex nose of dried fruits, figs cinnamon. It shows a huge amount amount of sweet, juicy fruits with the bourbon oak gentle wafting through. Dry on the palate, silky, soft and smooth with waves of sweet red berry fruits, nice tangy, spicy middle, lovely length with lots of pinot fruits on the finish.
 
Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2% £42.95
Quite a rich and fruity nose, a superb marriage of bourbon and sherry oak. Clean, quite youthful aromas of sherried fruit, gentle almost restrained medicinal peat, Seville orange marmalade, bonfires on the beach, seaweed, soil, cocoa and parma violets. Initially the sweet, smooth, coastal sherry fruits dominate the palate, then comes the peat/charcoal/soot and soil, slowly building in the mouth. The rich fruit returns with a touch of vanilla oil and fades into a lovely long cocoa, smoky finish.
 
Ardbeg 6 year old ‘Very Young’ 58.3% £31.95
Very pale in colour. Very pungent and almost overwhelming aromas of earthy-peat, charcoal, drift wood bonfires, more smoke and all things Islay. This is not mucking about, it’s an ‘in yer face’ Islay malt. Yet it is not all smoke and peat there is a beguiling citrus fruitiness beneath (a quality which set the Murray McDavid bottling above the previous distillery ones). There is no let up on the palate. Intense, raw (yet smooth), lots of smoke, peat and charcoal fires, combined with a lovely depth of slightly sweet, tangy citrus fruit. If this whisky was a celebrity it would all itself ‘ Jordan’ and crash your party.
 

Ardbeg 1975 Fino Sherry Cask
A clean, oily nose which is quite peculiar, high toned and not what I would expect from an old Ardbeg, fishy with sawdust, fino sherry (obviously), soft acetone, light peat and orange fruit. Dry-ish on the palate again high toned, oily, fishy and salty. It has a wonderful balance between the dry, sweet and sharp flavours, a huge coastal influence and a very long length, crisp and clean until the very end.
 
JON, MARK AND ROBBO
 
This range has been out for awhile now and I have avoided them purely because of their marketing. The whole demystifying/dumbing down/ Richard Branson-esque/ We’re hoopy guys kind of thing kind of left me cold, and I much preferred the more cerebral approach of John Glazers Compass Box range. However when they sent me some samples I agreed to ignore all of that and just concentrate on what was in the bottles – and what was in the bottles was rather good, also with them being packaged in 50cl bottles made them seem like excellent value for money.
 
The idea was conceived by David ‘Robbo’ Robinson, the master distiller from Macallan and two enthusiastic whisky loving brothers Jon and Mark, who agreed that their world needed a smooth whisky that tasted exactly the way they liked and cut out all the waffle that always seemed to go with whisky (their words not mine). After a boozy night in Bristol they agreed upon three flavours. Rich spicy, smoky peaty and smooth sweet, and put together blends which showed these characteristics. In actual fact there was going to be four in the range a smoky one and a peaty one, but they couldn’t seem to get them right, until one enterprising soul poured them both together and lo and behold the smoky peaty one was born. My personal favourite is the smooth sweet one, which as far as I’m aware is the only blend of Cooley Irish whisky and Scotch (Bunnahabhain). Anyway here are my notes, and at ?14.95 each I think they are a real bargain.
 
Smooth Sweet One 50cl  40% £14.95
A blend of 70% Cooley in first fill Bourbon oak and 20% Bunnahabhain in American Oak Fino Sherry Cask.
Clean, youthful, initially the creamy, grassy, citrus Irish greets the nose, followed by toasty, malty, slight spice and coastal notes. Dry and light on the palate with fruity citrus, oak, flowers, a touch of lemon, toffee and menthol. Lovely balance, quite long with the coastal notes on the finish.
 
The Rich Spicy One 50cl 40% £14.95
A blend of 50% Tamdhu in Sherry cask, 10% Tamdhu in Bourbon oak, 10% Highland Park Sherry cask, 20% Glenrothes Sherry Cask, and 10% Bunnahabhain Sherry cask.
Clean, youthful with pronounced Oloroso sherry aromas, followed by orange fruit, nuts and gentle spice – A pleasant, rich perfume. Dry, medium bodied with Oloroso sherry, fruit, spice and a slight smokiness. Nice finish and a tangy length. This was apparently modelled on the Macallan Gran Reserva – Probably should have been called the rich sherried one!
 
The Smoky Peaty One 50cl 40% £14.95
A blend of 5% Caol Ila Refill Bourbon Cask, 12% Laphroaig Refill Bourbon Cask, 17% Bunnahabhain American oak Sherry Cask, 9% Bunnahabhain Refill Bourbon Cask, 26% Highland Park Sherry Cask, 14% Highland Park in American Oak, 9% Ledaig Refill Bourbon Cask, and 8% Bowmore Refill Bourbon Cask.
Clean and youthful with lots of smoke, gentle peat and an underlying soft fruitiness, with the Bowmore character prevalent. Dry on the palate, medium bodied with lots of delicate Highland park flavours, a touch of smoke and peat, with the Bowmore announcing its arrival on the middle. very long finish with the coal and charcoal flavours lingering.
 
NEW LADDIE
 
After upsetting the independent sector with their Oddbins only bottling of 3D, Bruichladdich have brought out a peated malt, purely for the independent market. The Infinity is a superb vatting of three different vintages of Bruichladdich, including a fair dollop of the Port Charlotte, all matured in Refill Sherry Casks. It is a beautifully balanced whisky of finesse and maturity underscored with beguiling power.
 
All I can say is welcome back and all is forgiven!
 
Bruichladdich Infinity 55% £40.95
A youthful nose of rich, oily, lusciously spiced, honey, dates and dried fruit, with a deep marmalade complexity of mature sherry notes, all set against a gently earthy/peat/sea air background. Medium bodied with the youthful peat of the Port Charlotte greeting the palate initially, followed by waves of Oloroso fruit, earth, salt, smoke and honeyed oranges. Smooth and long with malty wood flavours on the finish. Water brings out the floral honeysuckle aromas and softens the palate emphasising its creamy spiciness and its coastal character especially on the finish.
 
A WELSH SURPRISE
 
I suppose the biggest Welsh surprise was that their rugby team finally won the Grand Slam. I remember the great days of the 1970’s when this was a regular occurrence, but of late they have been more in contention for the wooden spoon. Anyway the Penderyn Distillery have created a special bottling of their 46% Madeira Finished Whisky in special packaging complete with all the signatures of the victorious Welsh Rugby team – So if all you rugby fans would like a memento of this special occasion it will only cost you £35.95
 
The other surprise was that my good friends at the distillery sent me a sample of the Oloroso Cask whisky that was bottled for St David’s day this year, and wow, it blew me away, this is a seriously good cask from Brecon by the sea!
 
Penderyn Oloroso Cask 60% £99.50
A clean, elegant, big nose of complex, earthy sherry fruit, nicely balanced with salt(!?) and vanilla notes. On the palate it is superb, full of mouth coating, oily, unctuous, complex sherry fruit, demerara sugar fading into a very salty middle, tangy alcohol with the Oloroso/ nutty Manzanilla notes coming back on the finish. Lovely length with coffee notes on the aftertaste. The addition of a little water makes the nose sing, emphasising its almost coastal freshness! On the palate it smooths and brings out hidden layers of dried fruit and almonds, but lessening the sherry impact. Seriously good.
 
 
A SNEAK PREVIEW
 
I am aware that this issue of the Newsletter is getting rather long, and I could go on forever, but sometimes somethings are better left until later. So I’ll just give you a sneak preview of what should be in the next issue. I should hopefully have full tasting notes on the new arrivals from Blackadder, John McDougall and the Misson V series from Murray McDavid, and the new distillery bottlings mentioned. Here is what to expect.
 
BLACKADDER
 
Linkwood Raw Cask 1989 (16 year old) 58.7% £46.95
Strathisla Raw Cask 1989 (14 year old) £50.95
Aberlour Raw Cask 1990 (12 year old) 60% £45.95
Craggenmore Raw Cask 1989 (15 year old) 57.9% £48.95
Caol Ila Raw Cask 1990 (15 year old) 57.3% Finished in ex-Glen Grant Sherry Cask £50.95
Blackadder Smoking Islay 55% £37.95
Blackadder Peat Reak 46% £26.95
Ledaig Raw Cask 1992 (13 year old) 46.1% £42.95
Lochranza Arran Raw Cask 1996 (8 year old) 55.8% £39.95
Jura Raw Cask 1990 (15 year old) Finished in ex-Longmorn Sherry Cask £50.95
 
MURRAY McDAVID MISSON V
 
Rosebank 1989 (16 year old) 46% £60.95
Macallan 1986 (18 year old) Port Wood Finish £64.95
Linkwood 1983 (22 year old) 46% £65.95
Auchentoshan 1981 (24 year old) Mourvedre Cask Finish 46% £65.95
Glenturret 1978 (27 year old) 46%£72.95
Glenlivet 1974 (31 year old) 46% £73.95
 
JOHN McDOUGALL
 
Glen Moray 1990 (14 year old) 62.1% £39.95
Balblair 1990 (15 year old) 61.5% £39.95
Macallan 1992 (13 year old) 56% £38.95
Glengarioch 1984 (21 year old) 53% £54.95
Bowmore 1999 (6 year old) – Price to be confirmed
Tobermory 1996 (9 year old) 60%£34.95
 
NEW DISTILLERY BOTTLINGS
 
Glengoyne 15 year old Scottish Oak 43% £42.95
Inchmoan Distillery Select 4 year old 45% £26.95 – This is the very first bottling of this whisky peated to 40ppm at the Loch Lomand distillery, with only 400 bottles available.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask 48% £27.95
Talisker 18 year old 45.8% £42.95
 
I hope this has given you plenty of stuff to read. If you have any comments or would like a bottle or two of anything in the newsletter please let me know.
 
Sincerely
 
Chris Goodrum

Visit Gauntleys at http://www.gauntley-wine.co.uk/

Caol Ila 10yo 1993/2004 (60.7%, SMWS of America, 53.82, Distilled 08 1993 Bottled 07 2004)

A good solid Islay nose; lashings of peat smoke, seashore, coal smoke and wood notes. What a Cracker Jack box full of surprises with a wee bit of white wine and peanut butter just to tie everything together. It seems a shame to add water, however it must be done. With a good dollop of water the nose opens up considerably with more of everything (especially the peat smoke, seashore, coal smoke) but down with a really nice background of sweetness. The taste is much like the nose and actually quite sweet; a good combination of the peat & coal smoke and the sweetness, the peat & coal smoke build after a short while, very pleasant. There is also a good heavy delivery of malt in the taste after the peat & coal smoke fade a little bit, a nice bonus in there. Without water the taste is a bit of a rocket ship taking off; the effect is huge; the high alcohol and the peat & coal smoke are incredible and it takes quite a will for the effect to subside. Much like cramming a whole package of peat smoke laden pop rocks into your mouth at once (using some imagination). The finish is much like the nose and the taste and is full of peat & coal smoke, with a bit of sweetness and then a really nice malt moment. The finish is very long and very good.

A nicely balanced dram with lots of vibrancy, try it neat just for fun.

US$95

88 Points

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

The third review of three Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings this week…..something new next week.

The 16th annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards were recently announced on Malt Advocate magazine Publisher John Hansell’s blog, What Does John Know?
 
The categories and award winners are:
 

Best Buy Whisk(e)y of the Year:
The MacPhail’s Collection (Tamdhu 8 year old,
Glenrothes 8 year old, Highland Park 8 year old)

Artisan Whiskey of the Year (operating 10 years or less):
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (Batch #49)

American Whiskey of the Year:
Parker’s Heritage Collection “Golden Anniversary”

Canadian Whisky of the Year:
Crown Royal Cask No. 16

Irish Whiskey of the Year:
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release)

Scotch Whisky: Blend of the Year:
Compass Box, “The Peat Monster”

Scotch Whisky: Single Malt of the Year:
Ardbeg Corryvreckan

Industry Leader of the Year:
Mark Brown, President and CEO of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Distillery of the Year:
Cooley

Pioneer of the Year:
Whisky bloggers

Lifetime Achievement Award:
John Ramsay & Robert Hicks

Also announced were the Top Ten New Whiskies for 2009
(listed alphabetically):
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Brora 30 year old (2009 Release)
Dalmore 50 year old
Gold Bowmore, 1964 Vintage
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 Release)
Laphroaig 25 year old
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve (Bottle B1986)
Parker’s Heritage Selection Golden Anniversary
Rittenhouse Rye 25 year old (Barrel #1)
William Larue Weller (2009 Release)

The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. To be eligible for this year’s awards, products must have been sold in the U.S. during the 2009 calendar year.

A complete write up of each award winner will be published in the Spring issue of Malt Advocate magazine, out March 1st. You can see this in advance, with a lively discussion about each winner, on John’s blog (www.whatdoesjohnknow.com).

The 16th St Liquor Store in West Vancouver has just ordered a double vertical (52-94) of the Glenfarclas Family Cask series.  Chris Funnell, the Manager, will have amassed the entire collection from Glenfarclas when it arrives . The store actually has a substantial collection of whisky overall.

The Purchase Order is only just being processed now with delivery expected in May, fingers crossed. The store currently has a decent range of Glenfarclas as well as an extensive collection of other whiskies. Enough to get the collecting bug going every time! 

Chris Funnell, Manager
16th St Liquor Store
220 16th St
West Vancouver, BC
V7V 3R5
Ph 604 926-1339
Fax 778 279-4630

Blair Athol 1995 / Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 54.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A shingle sherry cask of Blair Athol 1995 bottled for Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series in 2009. A medium-full biscuity dram, with background notes of syrup and fudge.
£180.00 inc. VAT (£153.19 ex. VAT )  
 
Cragganmore 1997 / Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 59.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A full-strength Cragganmore 1997 bottled in 2009 from a single sherry cask by Diageo for their Manager’s Choice series.
£245.00 inc. VAT (£208.51 ex. VAT )  
 
Dalwhinnie 1992 Managers’ Choice
70cl / 51% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled for Diageo’s Manager’s Choice series, this single cask Dalwhinnie 1992 is a deliciously biscuity dram, with crisp malty notes and hints of cinnamon and lemon curd. A class act.
£245.00 inc. VAT (£208.51 ex. VAT )  
 
Dufftown 1997 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 59.5% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled as part of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series, this 1997 Dufftown is a rare official bottling from another of the company’s distilleries that rarely sees the light of day.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Glen Spey 1996 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 52% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled by Diageo as part of their Managers’ Choice series of single cask bottlings from each of their distilleries, this Glen Spey 1996 is creamy and nutty, with hints of coconut betraying its new American oak maturation. Best consumed neat.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Strathmill 1996 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 60.1% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled in 2009 as part of the not-altogether-uncontroversial Manager’s Choice series, this Strathmill is one of the more interesting bottlings in the series, as one of only a tiny handful of official bottlings from this very obscure distillery, most of whose output goes into the J&B blend.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Talisker 1994 Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 54.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
A single sherry cask of Talisker 1994 bottled at full strength as part of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series. Bandages and bonfire aromas on the nose give way to a turfy, palate with some citrus also evident before a sweet finish.
£290.00 inc. VAT (£246.81 ex. VAT )  
 
     
Caol Ila 1979 / 30 Year old
70cl / 55.6% / Berry Brothers & Rudd
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
From the ever-reliable Berry Bros comes this 30yo batch of two 1979 sister casks of Caol Ila, the unsung hero of Islay’s distilleries.
£86.99 inc. VAT (£74.03 ex. VAT )  
 
THE DALMORE 50 Year old – Candela
70cl / 45% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A very limited edition Dalmore, Candela has been created by master blender Richard Paterson from very old vintage stocks, with the youngest from 1951 and the oldest going all the way back to 1868. Just 77 bottles of this have been released.
£7,350.00 inc. VAT (£6,255.32 ex. VAT )  
 
Nikka Miyagikyo 1988
70cl / 50%
Japanese Single Malt Whisky
This single malt from Nikka’s Sendai distillery has been assembled from four styles of Miyagikyo malt (some peated, siome not) distilled in 1988 and matured in a mix of recharred and remade casks and a sherry butt. Sounds pretty good to us.
£230.00 inc. VAT (£195.74 ex. VAT )   
 
Macduff 1984 / 25 Year old / Sherry Butt
70cl / 52.2% / Berry Brothers & Rudd
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 25 year-old Macduff 1984 from a fresh sherry cask bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd. Their tasting notes are enticing, promising rich dried fruit aromas, liquorice and background smoke, a sweet fruity palate and dark toffee and peppery spice on the finish.
£73.49 inc. VAT (£62.54 ex. VAT )   
 
Springbank 18 Year old
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Campbeltown Malt Scotch Whisky
This is the second edition of Springbank’s 18yo, with a change of presentation to bring it into line with the rest of the range. The first edition of this was extremely popular, with more than a hint of sherry amongst the Springbank brine and smoke – let’s hope this follows suit.
£62.49 inc. VAT (£53.18 ex. VAT )   
 
Springbank CV New Edition
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Campbeltown Malt Scotch Whisky
It’s taken over a decade, but here we have the second edition of Springbank CV. After the widespread acclaim for the Longrow CV released in 2009, and the distillery’s recent renaissance after a couple of so-so years, we expect this to be one of the hits of 2010.
£28.49 inc. VAT (£24.25 ex. VAT )  
 
Sheep Dip Old Hebridean Vatted Malt / 1990
70cl / 40%
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
A deluxe edition of the popular Sheep Dip blended malt. This is apparently a vatting of Islay and Highland malts (Dalmore, Fettercairn and Ardbeg) distilled in or before 1990 and allowed to marry for over a decade in first fill oak casks. This should be excellent.
£44.75 inc. VAT (£38.09 ex. VAT )  
 
A slew of exciting new stuff this week, with the second tranche of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series hitting the shelves alongside a pair of releases from Berry Bros and a couple of hotly-anticipated releases from Springbank – not to mention the small matter of the latest uber-premium Dalmore: the rather fabulous-looking 50yo Candela.
 
Blair Athol 1974 / 35 Year old / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A single refill hogshead of Blair Athol 1974, bottled by Douglas Laing for their Old Malt Cask range.
£97.49 inc. VAT (£82.97 ex. VAT )  
 
Benriach 18 Year old Gaja Barolo Finish
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A special Benriach 18 year-old, finished in casks previously containing Barolo wine from the famous Gaja estate.
£48.49 inc. VAT (£41.27 ex. VAT )  
 
Benriach 18 Year old Moscatel Finish
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A special Benriach 18 year old, finished in Portuguese Moscatel wine casks after an initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks.
£48.49 inc. VAT (£41.27 ex. VAT )  
 
Brora 1981 / 28 Year old / Old & Rare Platinum / Sherry Cask
70cl / 57.4% / Douglas Laing
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A single cask, cask-strength Brora 1981 bottled by Douglas Laing for their Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Just 93 bottles were yielded from the cask – maximum 1 per customer.
£377.00 inc. VAT (£320.85 ex. VAT )  
 
Parker’s Heritage Collection / Cask Strength
75cl / 64.8%
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A cask strength edition of the much sought-after Parker’s Heritage Collection bourbon, bottled at a staggering 64.8% abv.
£100.00 inc. VAT (£85.11 ex. VAT )  
 
Cragganmore 1989 / 20 Year old / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A rare outing for Cragganmore as an independent bottling – this is the first Douglas Laing release we’ve had from the distillery. It’s from the 1989 vintage and has been bottled from a single refill hogshead.
£62.49 inc. VAT (£53.18 ex. VAT )  
 
 Clynelish 1995 / 13 Year old / Sherry Butt
70cl / 58.2% / Signatory
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Another cask of Signatory’s superb full-strength sherried Clynelish, this is from the 1995 vintage and has been bottled at 13 years old.
£49.99 inc. VAT (£42.54 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Millstone 2000 / 8 Year old / French Oak
70cl / 40% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Single Malt Whisky
A bottling of 8yo Millstone, the Dutch single malt whisky from the Zuidam distillery. This is from the 2000 vintage and has had eight years of ageing in French oak casks.
£57.99 inc. VAT (£49.35 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Millstone 2000 / 8 Year old / American Oak
70cl / 43% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Single Malt Whisky
A bottling of Dutch single malt whisky Millstone, made at the Zuidam distillery in Holland. This 8yo is from the 2000 vintage and was matured in American oak.
£57.99 inc. VAT (£49.35 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Dutch Rye 5 Year old
70cl / 40% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Rye Whisky
A pure potstill rye whisky from innovative Dutch distillers Zuidam, this is made in small batches and aged five years before bottling. Time for a Dutch Manhattan, methinks.
£60.99 inc. VAT (£51.91 ex. VAT )  
 
Speyside 1991 / 18 Year old / Pomerol Wine Finish
70cl / 54.9% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
From ‘Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery’, Douglas Laing have selected this 1991 vintage 18yo, finished in a Pomerol wine cask (that’s posh claret to you & me). This release is the final 60th Anniversary edition, and has been subtitled ‘One for the Road’.
SOLD OUT
 
Glen Grant 1976 / 32 Year old / Sherry Butt / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A beautiful deep, dark colour on this Glen Grant 1976, bottled from a single sherry butt by Douglas Laing for their Old Malt Cask range.
SOLD OUT
 
Glenlivet Nadurra / 16 Year old / Batch 1109I
70cl / 54.2% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled in November 2009, this batch of Glenlivet Nadurra seeks to emulate the roaring success of the previous version. Nadurra is acknowledged as one of the best value cask-strength Speysides available, and is bottled at natural strength without colouring or chill-filtration.
£41.88 inc. VAT (£35.64 ex. VAT )  
 
Glenlivet 1995 / 14 Year old / 1st Fill Sherry Butt
70cl / 46% / Signatory
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 14 year-old Glenlivet 1995 bottled at 46% from a first-fill Sherry butt by top independent bottler Signatory. This looks like a treat.
£34.75 inc. VAT (£29.57 ex. VAT )  
 
 Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
This Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX is the second of the distillery’s Private Collection bottlings after 2008’s release of Astar. Sonnalta PX has been finished in casks formerly containing Pedro Ximenez, a deliciously rich, sweet sherry. A great success at a recent TWE tasting in Vinopolis.
Whisky Bible 2010: Best Scotch New Brand; 96.5 Points
£58.99 inc. VAT (£50.20 ex. VAT )  
 
Invergordon 1965 / 44 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 45.4% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
An ancient single grain whisky from the Invergordon distillery, bottled by Douglas Laing for their Clan Denny range. This 1965 vintage has been bottled at a phenomenal 44 years old.
£108.00 inc. VAT (£91.91 ex. VAT )  
 
North British 1979 / 30 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 54.2% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
Another of Douglas Laing’s very old single grain whiskies bottled for their Clan Denny imprint. This is a 30yo North British 1979, bottled at natural cask strength.
£67.99 inc. VAT (£57.86 ex. VAT )  
 
North of Scotland 1974 / 35 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 44.1% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
Another rare old single grain from Douglas Laing’s Clan Denny label. This North of Scotland 1974 has been aged in a refill hogshead for 35 years.
£81.99 inc. VAT (£69.78 ex. VAT )  
 
 Highland Park 1983 / 26 Year old/ Sherry Cask/ Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
A real find for Douglas Laing: a sherry hogshead of Highland Park 1983 – and probably first-fill judging by the colour of it. This one is likely to go pretty quick.
SOLD OUT
 
Highland Park Earl Magnus Edition One / 15 Year old
70cl / 52.6% / Distillery Bottling
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
Named after the saintly ruler of Orkney who perished at the hand of his treacherous cousin in the 12th century (and whose bones were discovered in the 1920s in the Kirkwall cathedral built in his honour), Earl Magnus is a 15yo cask strength Highland Park resplendent in the company’s best packaging job for years. As such, expect it to sell out in a heartbeat. Strictly 1 Per Person.
SOLD OUT
 
Chichibu 2008 Newborn Double Matured
70cl / 61.3% / Distillery Bottling
Japanese Malt Spirit
A young malt spirit from the new Chichibu distillery, owned and operated by Ichiro Akuto, whose family owned the old Hanyu distillery. This is some of the first spirit from Chichibu, distilled in the spring of 2008 and matured for a year in bourbon barrels before a four month finishing in new American oak hogsheads.
£62.75 inc. VAT (£53.40 ex. VAT )  
 
Chichibu Newborn 2009 Heavily Peated
70cl / 61.4% / Distillery Bottling
Japanese Malt Spirit
This is young, heavily-peated malt spirit from the Chichibu distillery, owned and run by Ichiro Akuto (of Hanyu and Card Series fame). Bottled at cask strength after three months maturation in a single new American oak hogshead.
£62.75 inc. VAT (£53.40 ex. VAT )  
 
Hanyu 1991 / Cask #370
70cl / 57.3%
Single Japanese Malt Whisky
Another single cask from the extinct Hanyu distillery, this 1991 vintage has been finished in Japanese Mizunara oak after an initial maturation in a hogshead.
£106.00 inc. VAT (£90.21 ex. VAT )  
 
Karuizawa 1976 Noh / 32 Year old / Sherry Butt #6719
70cl / 63% / Distillery Bottling
Single Japanese Malt Whisky
Another of the famous ‘Noh’ bottlings of Karuizawa featuring traditional Japanese theatre costumes on the label. This is a sherry butt from the 1976 vintage, bottled at a staggering 63% at 32 years old. This will go quickly, we predict – max 2 bottles per customer.
SOLD OUT
 
 Rare Ayrshire 1975 / 34 Year old
70cl / 46.9% / Signatory
Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky
A coup for Signatory, this bourbon-matured Ayrshire 1975 is one of only a handful of bottlings of malt from the extinct Lowlander Ladyburn (not to be confused with the yet-to-exist distillery Ladybank).
£135.00 inc. VAT (£114.89 ex. VAT )  
 
 Laphroaig 1990 / 19 Year old
70cl / 52.9% / Signatory
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
A cask-strength Laphroaig 1990 bottled from a single bourbon barrel by Signatory – this should be very good.
£61.49 inc. VAT (£52.33 ex. VAT )  
 
Macallan 1990 / 19 Year old / Red Wine Finish/ Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A bit of a rarity here – a wine-finished Macallan. This 19yo Macallan 1990 started life in a refill hogshead, before an finishing period in a red wine cask. Bottled by Douglas Laing for the Old Malt Cask range.
£72.49 inc. VAT (£61.69 ex. VAT )  
 
Macallan 1988 / 21 Year old
70cl / 46% / Signatory
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A twenty-one year-old Signatory bottling of Macallan 1988, bottled from a small batch of hogsheads at 46%.
£49.99 inc. VAT (£42.54 ex. VAT )  
 
Nikka In Tube Gift Pack
20cl / 44.08%
A smart set of ‘test-tube’ style miniature 4cl bottles of various Nikka whiskies. Pack includes Nikka Pure Malts (Red, White and Black), Nikka All Malt and Nikka From the Barrel.
Please note that this is a set of five 4cl bottles
£26.99 inc. VAT (£22.97 ex. VAT )  
 
 Miltonduff 1991 / 18 Year old
50cl / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 50cl bottle from Chivas Brothers’ little-seen Miltonduff distillery, most of whose output is used for blends. This is a cask strength 18yo from 1991.
£44.99 inc. VAT (£38.29 ex. VAT )  
 
Mortlach 1992 / 17 Year old / Old & Rare Platinum Selection
70cl / 56.1% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A cask-strength Mortlach 1992 from what we’re guessing was a pretty active cask, judging by the colour. Bottled in 2009 by Douglas Laing for their Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Just 59 bottles of this released – maximimum 1 per customer.
SOLD OUT
 
Old Pulteney 1974
70cl / 43% / Gordon & Macphail
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A recently-bottled Old Pulteney 1974 from Gordon & Macphail – and judging by the colour, we’re guessing a goodly proportion of it is from sherry casks. This should be very good.
£83.99 inc. VAT (£71.48 ex. VAT )  
 
Port Ellen 1982 / Connoisseurs Choice
70cl / 43% / Connoisseurs Choice
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
A recent bottling of Port Ellen 1982 released by Gordon & Macphail for their Connoisseurs Choice series. This is from refill sherry casks.
£132.00 inc. VAT (£112.34 ex. VAT )  
 
St George American Single Malt Whiskey
75cl / 43% / Distillery Bottling
American Malt Whiskey
A very exciting product – American single malt! St. George is made in a tiny copper potstill in Alameda, California, and should not be confused with the England’s St. George distillery in Norfolk.
£44.95 inc. VAT (£38.25 ex. VAT )

Royal Brackla 10yo 1998/2008 (60%, SMWS of America, Refill Hogshead-Ex Bourbon, 55.19, 247 Bts.)

The nose is very strong with some green notes and a slight hint of dried apricots and some dusty malt and after a few minutes some chocolate. The addition of water is called for which straight away opens up the aromas nicely; sweetness, more fruit, wood notes and malt. The taste is both malty and has hints of leather followed by the fruit and some slight malt. It also has some soda or fizzy drink characteristics in the mouth feel. There is also some green malt however this is very slight, the overall taste is of a nice gentle enjoyable dram (once the water is added). The finish is malty and fruity, both are accompanied by the fizziness for quite a while, some what of an unusual finish in that regard other wise it’s middle of the road but still nice. After a few minutes the fizziness subsides and you’re left with some pleasant malt.

A good solid whisky.

$US90

Score 78

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

The second review of three Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings this week…..Caol Ila tomorrow.

Glen Moray 12 Year Old  Single Malt Scotch Whisky $24.99

Tasting Notes

‘Highland toffee, brambles and ginger marmalade’

Color

Mid-golden

Nose

At full strength, the aroma is sweet, fruity and floral, exceptionally well-rounded and balanced in flavour, characteristic of this classic Speyside single malt. The first impression is of Highland toffee and candy floss with honeycomb and sweet malt notes. Herbal top notes are discovered with heather and brambles.

With water, honeycomb changes to beeswax and rich fruity notes emerge with blackcurrants, dried apricots and figs. In the background are enticing spices with cloves and ginger marmalade.

Taste

As befits a classic Speyside malt, the taste is smooth, warming and rounded with a good firm body. Lots of sweet, soft malty flavours evolve in the centre of the palate, surrounded by toffee and mouth watering fruits (blackcurrants and dried apricots). Boiling sweets reach the roof of the mouth before the emergence of liquorice, tea and nut oil.

Finish

Toffee, blackcurrants and a hint of liquorice remains into the finish which is medium in length.

Visit D&M at http://www.dandm.com/