Archive for the ‘Scotch Whisky’ Category
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 15, 2020
Wilson and Morgan is an independent bottler of Scotch Whisky based in Italy. The company was founded in 1992 by Fabio Rossi who also founded Rum Nation. Wilson and Morgan specialize in single grain and single malt whiskies which have been purchased by the barrel from selected Scottish distillers.
Wilson and Morgan Glen Elgin 30 Year Old Single Malt (1988) was distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2018. The whisky is part of Wilson and Morgan’s Special Release Barrel Selection of whiskies which don’t exactly neatly fit into their other range categories. Usually “one of a kind” encounters, these whiskies are unique but with no strict rules in terms of age, strength, type of casks and finishing.
The Glen Elgin Distillery (currently owned by Diageo) was the last distillery to be built during the boom years of the 1890s. The whisky produced at Glen Elgin is a key component of the White Horse brand, a blended whisky which is exported to over 200 countries worldwide.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… Oak sap and a firm sherry character have wrapped around each other with neither one dominating, but neither one submitting to the other either. Dry fruit (raisin, apricots, prunes, and dates) and bright citrus flavours combine with fudgy chocolate and dark black coffee …”
Please enjoy my review of this wonderful single malt from Wilson and Morgan.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 1988, 30 Year Old, Glen Elgin, Review, Single Malt, Whisky, Wilson and Morgan | Comments Off on Review: Wilson and Morgan Glen Elgin 1988 – 30 Year Old Single Malt
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2020
In 2018, to celebrate the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones; Johnnie Walker began to introduce a series of Game of Thrones themed whiskies. Included in this series was a range of eight single malts whiskies each representing a different house faction from the television series. These 2018 releases been followed by more releases in 2019 including Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire and Johnny Walker A Song of Ice which were inspired by the two of the remaining powerful houses of Westeros, House Stark (A song of Ice) and House Targaryen (A Song of Fire).
Johnnie Walker, A Song of Fire features the subtle smoke of peated malts from the Caol Ila distillery. The smoky flavours within the malt are an homage to the Dragons of House Targaryen. The whisky is labeled as a blend which means that although the Caol Ila Distillery is the featured single malt within the whisky, other whiskies both grain and single malt will also be included in the blend.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… The breezes bring me some moderate ashy smoke with bits of tar and meaty notes of bacon and roast beef (I’m not kidding, even my wife noticed the bacon). Leathery notes follow as some of the whisky smells start to break free of the peat, and these are followed by peppery baking spices and caramelized brown sugar …”
Please enjoy my review which includes my serving suggestion, the Black Goat.
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: A Song of Fire, Blend, Diageo, Johnny Walker, Review, Scotch Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 1, 2020
In 2018, to celebrate the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones; Johnnie Walker began to introduce a series of Game of Thrones themed whiskies. Included in this series was a range of eight single malts whiskies each representing a different house faction from the television series. These 2018 releases been followed by more releases in 2019 including Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire and Johnny Walker A Song of Ice which were inspired by the two of the remaining powerful houses of Westeros, House Stark (A song of Ice) and House Targaryen (A Song of Fire).
Johnnie Walker, A Song of Ice features single malts from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most northern distilleries. The crisp blend and the bottle design which evokes an icy setting with frosted blue and gray colors inspired by the North, known for its cold winters and frozen landscapes, and also known as the home of House Stark.. The whisky is labeled as a blend which means that although the Clynelish is the featured single malt within the whisky, other whiskies both grain and single malt will also be included in the blend.
“… I noticed familiar scents of butterscotch, vanilla and hints of oak and grain spice. There is a light fruitiness in the air as well with orange peel, soft banana and hints of dry fruit and perhaps a smattering of tea leaves. I am not sure about this bu my sense is that some but not all of of the blend is sherry cask, and perhaps I am getting a faint wiff of herbal peat as well …”
Enjoy the review which conclude with my cocktail recommendation, Brienne’s Cocktail.
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: A Song of Ice, Blended Scotch, Johnnie Walker, Review | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 3, 2018
The Tomatin Distillery is located in the Monadhliath Mountains near Inverness, the capital of the Highlands of Scotland. The Distillery was established in 1897. (For those who do not know, the term “established in 1897″ is a code term which represents an acknowledgement by the distillery that the company began to legally pay taxes on the spirits it produced in that year. When the Distillery actually began to produces spirits is not acknowledged.) Because of its location in the Monadhliath Mountains, Tomatin is one of the highest distilleries (elevation wise) in Scotland at 315 metres above sea level. In 1985 as the Distillery was expanded and was at that time renamed, The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd.. The company now operates 12 stills, in a process which perhaps more closely resembles a large-scale industrial factory rather than a typical Single Malt Distillery. This is because the distillery has always been a large-scale producer of whisky for Scotland’s major blends. However, Tomatin has recently began to focus their efforts on also producing their own Single Malt Whisky as well as establishing their own brand identity.
The Tomatin 18 Year Old (Single Malt) is matured for eighteen years in refill oak casks and then finished in Oloroso sherry casks.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… Not quite a sherry bomb, but the influence of the Oloroso casks is on display. Oak spice plays within the fruity sherry notes with the barley malt playing coy in the background …”
Please enjoy my review, Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 18 Year Old, Review, Scotch, Single Malt, Tomatin | Comments Off on Review: Tomatin 18 Year Old (Single Malt)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 26, 2018
The Tomatin Distillery is located in the Monadhliath Mountains near Inverness, the capital of the Highlands of Scotland. The Distillery was established in 1897. (For those who do not know, the term “established in 1897″ is a code term which represents an acknowledgement by the distillery that the company began to legally pay taxes on the spirits it produced in that year. When the Distillery actually began to produces spirits is not acknowledged.) Because of its location in the Monadhliath Mountains, Tomatin is one of the highest distilleries (elevation wise) in Scotland at 315 metres above sea level. In 1985 as the Distillery was expanded and was at that time renamed, The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd..
Gordon and MacPhail Tomatin Distillery 2002 (Connoisseurs Choice) is a Single Malt Whisky which was distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2016. It was matured in First fill bourbon barrels with no special finishing.
Here is a link to my latest Review:
” …Moderately complex with oak and heather melding with almond, vanilla and butterscotch. A fruitiness is apparent with flavours of apricot and pears perhaps augmented by a light touch of cherry and raisin. As I found the dram on the nose, the flavours appear to coexist very nicely …”
Please enjoy my review of this wonderful offering from Gordon and MacPhail, Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: 2002, Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon and Macphail, Review, Single Malt, Tomatin, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Gordon and MacPhail Tomatin Distillery 2002 (Connoisseurs Choice)
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