Ralfy gets an upgrade with Whisky Review 616 – Aberlour 18yo @ 43%vol

Merry Christmas 

I cannot believe we are already buying Christmas trees. This year has gone by in a blur so unprecedented, I am a little bit shell shocked. Apparently this is normal as one gets older but as I like to think of myself as only recently out of shorts, so I hate to think what a year is going to feel like in 40 years’ time.
What news for 2016 at St Georges? It has quietly turned out to be a truly momentous year. On a personal level Katy (that’s Mrs Nelstrop) did terribly well and had a little boy which we named Alfred, which has signed off my brief population increase exercise with a perfect duo of 1 girl and 1 boy – couldn’t be happier. That will do though as I can’t do any more sleepless nights.

In May we thought the world would end as Sarah finally decide to leave the distillery after 8 years but contrary to fears the world didn’t end and Julian arrived to fill the gap and with the help of his team has moved us on to bigger and better things. Phew

Back to time racing along – can you believe it is 10 years since we opened? Which means 10 year old whisky. Not much of it yet as we didn’t make much in 2006 but enough for our Fellow & Librarian members to get a bottle of England’s 1st ever 10 year old single malt whisky!!!! I also get to take a bottle home and am very proud we have got this far. I am sure my father is sat on a cloud lapping up the Angels share and I hope he feels chuffed to have founded a whisky distillery that has kick started a national industry.

A few of you will have noticed the start of a re-brand. I felt it was time for a smarten up as we celebrated our 10th birthday. The Dragon has been retired, as too many people thought it was rather Welsh and poor old St George was a little lost without his dragon, so an all new design has been put together. The roll out of the new branding has started with Original & Smokey and will continue over 2017, I am very excited about some of the new packaging that is due out soon. It is very smart.

2016 also saw some more awards added to the trophy cabinet. Most pleasing was our distiller David was awarded Distillery Manager of the Year in the Icons of Whisky awards for the rest of the world; he automatically proceeds to the finals for global distillery manager. Good luck to him. Also our whisky was voted best whisky in Europe again for the 3rd time which is unprecedented.

The design for the new Shop & Bistro is nearly finished and if the weather allows we will start digging in January, I am a little nervous as I haven’t run a restaurant before but the team are confident – so hopefully by late summer, we will be able to feed you as well as pour you whisky. We will soon be advertising for chefs etc – so if you know of anyone…

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting us and to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Andrew Nelstrop, Managing Director.

Season’s Greetings 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From

Ewen, David, Richard, Juliette, Nicole, Alastair, Steven, Joan, Lauren & Sarah

Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to the last day of this years whisky discovery journey.

I awoke at 6:00am this Christmas morning to the cacophony of bird calls outside my window. Warbling Magpies, Galah’s, Sulfur Crested Cockatoos, Rosella’s and more all letting the world know that they were up and ready for the new day. I quickly rolled out of bed and headed outside for a stroll. One of the aspects of life in Australia that I miss the most are the amazing birds. I found myself wandering around the small Victorian town of Wedderburn for over an hour and after circling the local reservoir and chatting to a friendly magpie I was heckled by some feisty Galah’s and sent on my way. Morning time is the best for a long walk in December as we hit a high of 39 degrees Celsius yesterday with more of the same for today. Definitely not your typical Calgary Christmas Day.

I am sitting outside in my parents back garden which is a mini bird sanctuary. So many birds it’s almost impossible to hear mum call from the house to let me know that my Nana is on the phone. So nice to be able to catch up with all my Australian relatives and another bottle of delicious wine made it’s way in front of the fireplace (dormant of course) courtesy of my uncle Billy who popped in just to wish us all a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Dram 3rd Edition

Well I am so glad that I managed to bring the Christmas Day whisky down under with me. Virgin Australia did lose my bags for a short while but worked extra hard to find them and had my precious cargo safely by my side within 24 hours. That would have been awkward needing to write this with no whisky.

As those that have been through one of our Scotch Whisky Advent Calendars can attest to, we always strive to showcase the entirety of what Scotch Whisky world has to offer. This includes of course Blended Scotch which is the vast majority of Scotch Whisky sales worldwide. Not all blends are created equal and much like Single Malt blended Scotch can be absolutely stunning or mediocre at best. In the third edition we have saved our lone expression of this category for the final dram.

Samaroli are adept at creating amazing blended malts however this was the first time that I had been exposed to a Blended Scotch from them. This is to date the oldest whisky we have showcased in any edition coming in at the ripe old age of 35 Years. Interestingly this particular blend from Samaroli spent it’s entire life already blended and in a single cask. I do not know the exact percentages of malt to grain but I do know that it is mid 90% ish malt with just a small amount of grain.

Samaroli 1980 Blend in front of Oak Tree Cottage, Note the stunning blue sky The Unique Samaroli Blended Scotch 1980 aged for 35 years in a sherry Butt cask number 18. Bottled with no chill filtration or coloring at 40% ABV.

Color:   The darkest whisky of the calendar looking like well worn mahogany.

Nose:   Just a hint of doused matchstick with a library of old leather bound books, plum and dark berry compote. The weathered brow of an ancient leather Akubra.

Palate: Double espresso with a black strap licorice stir stick. A memory of a tamarind ball dessert that I had in Barbados. It was my first taste of that exotic fruit and took me right back there.

Finish: Sticky date pudding with a blood orange glaze. Lovely citrus bitterness that lingers for a long time.

I could spend quite a while on this whisky and in fact I think I will seeing as it’s Christmas an all. I plan on lighting up a Rocky Patel Cigar later to accompany the rest of this dram and am really looking forward to kicking back and basking in the glow of being in Australia.

Lets see how Whiskylassie has fared coming to the end of her 3rd edition journey.

Samaroli always so far have managed to get the last word in and with stunning older whiskies like the examples they keep putting in front of me who knows when they might be topped. In the 2nd edition we had the 30 Year Old Samaroli Linkwood.

It has indeed been an honor and a privilege to bring you this third edition. Cindy and I again wish everyone fun, friendship and family. We hope to see you all again through the coming year as we seek out new delicious drams together.

Cheers

Jonathan – taster of secrets

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Four new expressions of the cask strength 12 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillers.

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Day 24 of the Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 

Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 3rd Edition Day 24 Blog #156 – Single Cask Nation Bunnahabhain 28 Year Old

Happy Christmas Eve everyone. Just seems like yesterday that we started on this journey and now we only have one more night to go before it all comes to an end. Being a special day we always plant something fantastic behind the #24 door. This is the oldest whisky ever bottled by the dynamic duo of Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin at Single Cask Nation. A privilege to be able to share it with you all.

Founded in 1881 Bunnahabhain’s whisky style is known to be the softer side of Islay. Being the most Northern distillery on the island and with Dunnage warehouses right near the coast there is no doubting the influence of the sea on this spirit. It is owned by Burn Stewart Distillers who also own Tobermory and Deanston. Seen regularly now as a proprietary brand this distillery is not shy in parting with delicious casks of it’s whisky to independent bottlers like Single Cask Nation.

Single Cask Nation was initially based on a club model in the USA but have branched out with a fantastic retail line that will be available to anyone in Canada from a select few stores in Alberta. The Nation has only been available in Alberta for a few years and already they are building a bit of a cult following among discerning whisky drinkers. Their passion and love for whisky is very apparent in their cask selections.

Single Cask Nation 28 Year Old Bunnahabhain aged in a refill Sherry Hogshead # 7403 and bottled at the cask strength of 51.3% without any mucking about. Islay rocks.

Color:   Getting a little deeper here in color after all those years in refill but still pretty light for a 28 year old whisky.

Nose:   Tony wisps of smoke from smoldering coals, Heather infused waxy honeycomb, candied ginger and soft caramel fudge along with a background grassy edge that add’s some depth. Very fresh and inviting for an older whisky.

Palate:   Pretty soft on the palate initially for 51.3% but the tingle does build at the edges of the tongue. The smokiness is gone now but it was only a wisp anyway. Sugared lemon drops, cinnamon topped custard tart (Aussie specialty). Flavors come through in a delicate cascade and it takes some time to develop. This is not a whisky that you want to rush.

Finish:   Fresh cut grass, lemon tart, star anise and sunflower and flax sourdough (this is a thing and its delicious).

Complicated whisky this and I was loath to throw water in it but perhaps those braver than I can comment on their watering experiences.

Let’s head on over to Whiskylassie to share in her thrilling adventures today with this lovely old Bunnahabhain.

For those of you keen on this whisky the good news is that 24 bottles will be available in Canada and you can email to get the lowdown on those special retailers that are ambassadors for Single Cask Nation. jonathan@secretspirits.com

Tomorrow is Christmas day and I will be blogging from Down under after safely stashing my day 25 whisky in my suitcase snuggled in a huge amount of bubble wrap. So while many of you are enjoying the white Canadian Christmas I will be outside in shorts cranking up the BBQ and listening to magpies warbling and kookaburra’s getting their cheek on.

Until then have a fabulous Christmas eve with close friends and family. Cindy and I wish everyone a very special time together and thank you all so much for being part of our Calendar community this year.

One more sleep till Christmas Day

Ho Ho Ho

Jonathan – taster of secrets

http://www.singlemalting.com/category/whisky-advent-calendar-2016/