Alberta Premium 30yo (40%, OB, 2011)

On the nose there is some hard flinty rye, however this is fleeting; the resulting descriptors are ‘soft’ with some really good oily & fruity notes. Earthy, loam, very much all in that vein but backed by the ever present rye; fragrant and soft. While the aromas are very gentle there is still a lot activity and it’s all very good. Sensational actually. Whisky doesn’t always have to slap you in the face with a wet kipper to be sensational. Time in the glass only improves the collection of aromas. The taste is all Alberta Premium and it does not disappoint; good fruit, oak spice (quite lively), some welcome unsweetened Fry’s cocoa, some rye but not over whelming. The taste keeps on evolving, very complex, multi faceted and very drinkable. The finish is very much of ginger, oak spice and latterly the rye and then the oak spice while both being very, very long.

A beautiful vibrant whisky that any distiller would be damned proud to have in their portfolio. Not an off moment to be found affirmed but the lack of shady characters jumping up unrepentantly and shaking their tainted fists at you.

$50 (However esentially sold out…pity)

Score 91 points

GlenDronach 31yo (45.8%, OB, ‘Grandeur’, 1013 Bts., Batch #1)

On the nose it is very richly sherried with a slew of descriptors centering around richness; Christmas cake, dark marmalade, vanilla bean, fruit tarts and some really nice spiciness including some hints of cocoa. This is a really sensational collection of aromas. Heavy on the fruit. The taste is a departure from the aromas at first; more of leather and tobacco (some what dry) and show much more influence from the time spent in the cask. The fruit is secondary to the wood notes however they are not over whelming but actually very good. A bit of a grizzled old gruff gentleman…The finish is aligned to the taste with some good dry notes but once again not over whelming and in many ways quite gentle. It’s medium long to long and not dramatic but it is there. After a few minutes some really good gentle oak notes stand alone…the whisky but a memory.

An interesting whisky to be sure.

$525

Score 88 points

… www.ralfy.com WhiskyReview #210 – Bladnoch 19yo Forum Bottling and other critical stuff about some Producers … and Colin in Liverpool, England gets a nice surprise.

NIKKA 21yo (45%, OB, Taketsuru ‘Pure Malt’, +/-2010)

On the nose there it’s gentle and good, puzzlingly different but shrieks of quality; some good fruit, some oak and some lingering malt, all in harmony. The aromas are seductive and after some time in the glass some more of the sweet oak become a little more assertive but still backed by the fruit. This is really sensational; apologies from that lack of control. The taste is everything as above and it all intermingled together very well; some sweetness from the fruit, some malt and then the oak spice (again still sweet but in balance). A little bit of leather and tobacco, slightly more leather to be fair. Very more-ish. The finish is vibrant and long, warming, still very good. Some elder Highland Park moments in here and then a small blast of sweet malt. And more, it keeps on going, an unusually long finish.

Yet another wonderful and very drinkable Japanese whisky.

$175

Score 89 points

Won “World’s Best Blended Malt Whisky” at the 2010 World Whisky Awards.

Highland Park 25yo (48.1%, OB, +/-2010)

The nose is slightly diesel oily with some good malt, some very good notes that are characteristic of Highland Park along with some very good sweetness. This is not a giant collection of aromas but some what subtle but still very good; they all work very well together. Perhaps a tinge of smoke lurking in the back ground? Time in the glass only improves the overall collection of aromas. The taste is honeyed with some good malt moments and lashings of orange and citrus, dry cake, wet cotton and a hint of smoke (or not) it’s quite vague. But it’s all very good. The finish is warming, long, sweetish and tinged with some good oak moments. Some more of the citrus and now some oak spice along with a little tobacco (unlit like when you crumble a cigarette and smell the tobacco in your hands). Dried fruits (apricots, apples & peaches.

Huzzah! Well done

$283 or £135 from the Whisky Exchange

Score 91 points

Yamazaki

The Pioneer of Japanese Whisky

From Yamazaki was born the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt. Spiritual and deep, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world.

Today, Yamazaki is not only the “number-one” single malt whisky in Japan, but is enjoyed in more than twenty-five countries. From www.suntory.com

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

The nose presents some smoke like aromas along with wet cotton, a good heaviness and nice oak spice. The taste is spicy with some tea leaves, marmalade, lashings of black pepper and it’s surprisingly strong. The oak spice comes through quite quickly but it does not take over the short, it is all complimentary. This is a very nice whisky. Some fruit of disguised origin lurks in the back ground. The finish is very much of chocolate (unsweetened dark), more of the oak spice and black pepper and finally towards the end some really good chewy malt.

Yet another excellent whisky from Japan.

$35 in some US markets

Score 87

Hibiki

The legendary Hibiki represents true harmony. The enigma of perfection, the paragon of the art of whisky and the art of Japan’s artisans.

Hibiki, meaning resonance in Japanese, speaks to the soul and emotions of the most discerning whisky lover. Hibiki resonates from nature, and all the subtleties found from the twenty four seasons of the old Japanese lunar calendar. Numerous types of pure single malt whiskies ageing in various types of casks, including Mizunara, a very rare Japanese oak, all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

Seductive, blossoming and enigmatic, Hibiki celebrates the unrivaled art of blending, fine craftsmanship, and sense of luxury of the House.

Bearing the seal of the House of Suntory, this majestic blend is its rightful paragon. From http://www.suntory.com/

Hibiki 12yo Japanese Blended Whisky (43%, OB, +/-2010)

On the nose there is some good sweetness backed by lots of oak note however the oak does not dominate. There is also some tinned fruit cocktail and lychee fruit, it’s all rather lovely and verges on sensational. This is a blended whisky? No matter, it’s very good. The sweetness is simply rather lovely. The taste is a tussle between the sweetness, the oak spice notes and some really good leather & tobacco moments tinged with some really excellent cocoa. Brown sugar and furniture polish, cold unsweetened black tea (but in a good way); good influence from the casks and very tasty. The finish shows some malt and all the other characteristics as previously described. It’s quite long and does not veer off on a tangent. 

……… all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas….quite right!

$40

Score 88 points

Dewar’s 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, +/-2009)

The Official Line. Dewar’s 12 is a perfectly balanced marriage of carefully selected 12 year old malt and grain Scotch whiskies, created by Dewar’s seventh Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod . This perfectly balanced taste is achieved through the marrying process, originally pioneered by the first Master Blender, A J Cameron. Only malt and grain whiskies of the highest quality are used to create this rich, fruity and delightfully mellow whisky.  The Marrying Process; The Dewar’s marrying process takes fine Scotch whiskies at their peak of perfection and improves upon them. Having created a blend of the finest Scotch whiskies from the different regions of Scotland, Dewar’s Master Blender then allows them to rest for a further period in exclusively reserved vintage oak casks, ensuring that their individual flavours and aromas harmonise to achieve the perfectly balanced and exceptionally smooth Scotch that is Dewar’s 12. Marrying these superb whiskies adds a smoothness that science cannot explain, but which your taste will at once discern. Limited Edition. Each and every bottle is numbered and stands as a mark of exclusivity, with Dewar’s guarantee of quality.

The nose very much presents as a blended Scotch whisky at first however a short time later some good toffee notes arrive nicely backed by the grain notes. All very pleasant. Some good oak spice is also in the mix  along with some heather. Again, the oak spice really adds some back bone to the whole collection of aromas. The taste is very much like the nose with some very good grains followed by the oak spice and then a wonderful dry maltiness that really makes it. Intertwined with these characteristics are some good toffee. The finish is much like the taste with the dry maltiness, now some really good Fry’s unsweetened cocoa and more of the malt tussling with the oak spice. A surprisingly long finish that does not fall apart over time and the dry malt arrives at the very tail end.

Well, well, another surprise. One is forced to conclude that it would be a real belter unchillfiltered and at 46%. But they are correct, it’s very well balanced.

Score 86 points

$22 in some USA markets and $45 in Canada

Ballantines Special Reserve 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2010)

Another blended Scotch whisky from the justifiably famous House of  Ballantine’s (did you know that as well as having a NAS, 12yo, 17yo, 21yo, Special Reserve and 30yo blends they also have a 12yo blended (vatted) malt?). But no mention of their 12yo Special Reserve, just the 12yo blend. What’s the difference? Quite frankly we don’t know; however it says 12yo Special Reserve so we’ll confine our selves to what’s on hand. And it comes in a blue box which says it contains over 40 different malts.

On the nose it’s slightly smokey with some ‘green’ notes that quickly vanish along with some good influence from the casks (slight hints of leather and tobacco) and also some little hints of orange. But all very gentle; this is not a giant whisky but still very pleasant. A little hand warming brings out some honey, a little more of the smoke and some hints of grain whisky (as opposed to malt). All in all it’s a very pleasing collection of aromas. The taste very much shows the peat smoke but in a very subtle manner and then the cask(s) influence shows with some really good cocoa (Fry’s) and then followed by the honey notes. Some dryness binds it altogether quite nicely. Hints of cold unsweetened black tea (without milk) and all very nice together. The finish is pretty much a mirror image of the nose and the taste and it’s consistent and towards the very end some good malt and further dry sweet notes arrive and more malt. Quite a long finish (a little tobacco too).

What a surprise…

$65

Score 86 points

Chivas Regal 12yo (40%, OB, +/- 2010)

A very famous blended Scotch whisky with Strathisla distillery at the ‘spiritual home’. On the nose there is some nice toffee along with some good rich fruit notes (think dried apricot, cherries and raisins). Very luscious and luxuriant and some hints of marmalade pop up looking for attention. All these notes are given some back bone by the oak spice that weaves in and out of the aromas. The taste is surprisingly gentle at first but it quickly grows in stature with a little ‘green’ notes and some good malt notes. The sweetness only adds to the collective and enhances the taste significantly. Well, well, what a nice little dram. A little oak spice also adds to the whole experience. The finish is also very good and is quite simply a mirror of the taste; it’s very long and warming.

Quite frankly this is a really excellent blended Scotch whisky which is very consistent from aromas through to finish.

A mere $23 in some markets

Score 87 points

http://www.chivas.com/en/INT/Chivas-Heritage/

Antiquary 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2010)

A premium blend from the nice people at Tomatin Distillery and they described it as “A smooth well-balanced, deluxe blend which displays the mellowness expected from a top quality brand. Each whisky has a minimum age of 12 years and has been selected to combine all the strengths and subtleness of Scottish whisky at its best.”

The nose starts off quite citrusy, lots of lemon and herbs followed by some good malt and perhaps a little brine, a little short bread or cake. All very nice and clean, nothing to upset the apple cart. The taste is malty and very good while being slightly more rounded than the nose. This is actually very good. A little more character in the form of some goo influence from the cask(s) which binds it all together rather well. Some good sweet malt arrives after a moment or two.  Some cocoa too. The finish is malty and clean with some of the above descriptors showing well. A long finish that leaves you chewing away at the malt for quite a while and thinking of the next sip.

What a surprise and a very pleasant one at that.  All those positive comments on the Whisky Exchange website were  bang on target.

£28

Score 85 points.

http://www.tomatin.com/the-range/the-blends