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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

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Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 28, 2020

Johnnie Walker is one of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. With its unique square bottle, and the labels tilted off-center, the company has created a strong brand image and its spirit is considered by many to be the quintessential Scottish whisky. The company has been operating since 1820, and has grown steadily to become one of the most important Scottish whisky brands in the world today.

According to my research, Johnnie Walker Red Label has undergone a small change recently. When I published my last review in 2017 it was advertised as containing up to 35 grain and malt whiskies. Today (December 2020) the Johnnie Walker Website has this to say about its iconic blend:

Johnnie Walker Red Label is a powerful mix of up to 30 malts and grains. It’s a combination of light whiskies from Scotland’s East Coast and more peaty whiskies from the West, expertly balanced to create an extraordinary depth of flavour.

With up to 5 grain and malt whiskies no longer in the blend, it could be that we may notice some small changes in the flavour profile, so I thought an updated review might be appropriate.

Here is a link to the new review:

Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky

“… The initial aroma which rises into the breezes above the glass moderately complex with grain and fine oak spices accompanied by a light sweetness of butterscotch and hints of almond. There is a touch of boggy peat in the air and herbal notes which remind me of heather and menthol …”

Interestingly, my scoring indicates that I like the Red label blend just a little bit more than before.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Review: Perth Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 16, 2020

Top Shelf Distillers are located in Perth, a town in Eastern Ontario, located on the Tay River, about 80 kilometres southwest of Ottawa. At one time, Perth was home to four distilleries the two most famous of which (McLaren and Spalding & Stewart) were located in limestone buildings alongside the Tay River catering to the tastes of the early Scottish settlement by producing malt whisky similar to the Scottish style of the day. Prohibition (the Ontario Temperance Act of 1916) is largely blamed for the demise of the distilling industry in Perth; but now, just over one hundred years later, Top Shelf Distillers have began to once again bottle whisky in Perth.

Their Perth Whisky is a recent release and they have only limited quantity available, (35 cases currently in the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control (AGLC) warehouse in a 500ml format bottle). They have also began to bottle the spirit in a 750ml format, and one of those bottles was sent to me for review. According to the information given to me, Perth Whisky is produced from from locally sourced ingredients, and is aged in both new American Oak charred barrels, as well as various used barrels from some of the larger distillers.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Perth Whisky

“… I like the leathery smells which remind me of both fresh leather and graham wafers. Light baking spice and almond round out the aroma, which while not being overly complex, nevertheless promises a robust grain flavour …”

Please enjoy my review of Top Shelf Distillers brand new Perth Canadian Whisky!

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Perth Whisky

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 13, 2020

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is currently produced in Gimli, Manitoba, at the Crown Royal Distillery. The distillery and the brand are owned by the spirits conglomerate, Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian Whisky brand.

The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of whiskies that have been released on an annual basis since 2016. The Collection showcases Crown Royal whiskies with new flavour profiles by blending different components of the various whiskies that go into the Crown Royal blend and/or using different finishing techniques in maturing the company’s flagship whisky.

The Crown Royal Rye Aged 16 Years is part of the Noble Collection and showcases Crown Royal’s rye whisky. This is a blend of Crown Royal Rye Whiskies all of which have been aged for no less than16 years.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

“… a firm oak and rye aroma with both the spicy accents oak sap and rye grain on full display. I sense impressions of maple topped  graham wafers and hints of chocolate riding alongside. Lovely notes of butterscotch and vanilla have merged with almond notes bringing about an impression of marzipan and underneath all of this are impressions of raisins and apricot.I should mention the baking spices which appear alongside the oak. …”

Please enjoy this review of this lovely sipping whisky.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection – Rye Aged 16 Years

Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 10, 2020

I recently received a bottle of Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel aged whisky. Bottle number 1205 to be exact. So I reached out to Highwood Distillers (who produce the Century Reserve brand) to find out a little bit about this new whisky.

Apparently, the folks at Highwood Distillery began a collaboration with Wild Rose Brewery some time ago bringing them freshly dumped charred American White Oak barrels that had previously aged 100% corn Whisky. The Brewery produced a stout ale, and then aged it in those barrels for 3 months making a product called Tenor Stout (which sold out very quickly).

Highwood then brought the barrels back to their distillery and filled them with 100% wheat Whisky and followed it along for 12 months (the point where they felt it had reached its flavoured potential). This Whisky was then brought to bottling proof, filtered and bottled at 42 % alcohol by volume. Including the time spent in Beer Barrels, the finished whisky is about 5 Year Old.

Here is a link to my full review and suggested serving:

Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

“… Dusty grain, fine oak spices, ginger and sandalwood. Vanilla, almond and light butterscotch. A whisper of malt/stout. A light smattering of additional baking spices with cinnamon and nutmeg. More dusty grain spices …”

Please enjoy my review and the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe included.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Century Reserve Rare Cask Series Beer Barrel

Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old Canadian Whisky (Batch 1)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 6, 2020

Great Plains Craft Spirits are located in Calgary, Alberta. They are a small company which sources special whiskies for blending and finishing. The intent is to offer to the marketplace limited edition bottlings which feature custom blending and cask finishes. These whiskies can be quite rare with batches as small as two barrels as well as larger projects (up to this point) of up to twenty-four barrels.

This is Great Plains first release and was drawn from 22 casks of pure corn whisky which according to the back of the bottle was produced at the now defunct Potters Distillery in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. The whisky was aged for a little longer than 17 years in ex bourbon barrels and then finished in Jerez (Osborne) Brandy barrels from Andalusia, Spain.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old

“… The cask strength nature of the bottling is immediately apparent as the nose is full of heated fire, fine oak spices, and wonderful aromas of corn and grain. A mouth-watering combination of vanilla, butterscotch, orange peel and almond climbs into the air alongside. The impulse to steal a sip before more completely examining the nose is strong; but that would be a mistake, as this is a dram which grows in the glass as you let the 18 year old whisky breathe …”

Please enjoy my review of one of the best whiskies I have tasted in 2020!

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Great Plains Brandy Cask 18 Year Old Canadian Whisky (Batch 1)

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