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Archive for the ‘Single Malt Whisky’ Category

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Whiskey Review: McClelland’s Islay Single Malt

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 25, 2010

The McClelland’s Single Malt Islay Whisky brand is has been distilled and constructed to represent a particular region, or maybe I should say style, of Scottish whisky, the Islay style.  This whisky brand is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, and their Islay whisky  has been distilled in the Islay region of Scotland and selected to represent the character and essence of that particular whisky region.

I was able without much difficulty to determine the Islay Scotch whisky in a blind taste test.  Of course anyone should be able to discern a typical “Islay” malt in a blind taste test.

You may read more of the review here:

Review: McClelland’s Islay Single Malt Whisky

I also constructed an Islay cocktail which I chose to call, The Smokey Carburetor, I hope you like it.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: McClelland’s Islay Single Malt

Whisky Review: McClellands Highland Single Malt

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 18, 2010

The McClelland’s whisky brand is comprised of four main expressions, each associated with a particular region, or maybe I should say style, of Scottish whisky.  The Brand is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, but each whisky in the line up is distilled separately in the region for which it is named.  For example, the McClelland’s Highland Single Malt Whisky, is distilled in the Highland region of Scotland and selected to represent the character and essence of that particular whisky region and style.

In this respect the McClelland’s Single Malt Whiskies have been constructed very well as in a blind taste test I was able without much difficulty to determine the Scotch whisky region each bottle represented.

Over the next several weeks I shall be examining the McClelland range of whiskies doing a separate review for each regional whisky.  Here is an excerpt from the first review for the McClelland Highland Single Malt Scotch:

“The whisky is somewhat of a pale orange/gold colour in the glass.   When I swirl the glass I notice only a light oil and very skinny legs on the sides of the glass.  I receive distinct floral notes combined with laid back malty sugars . Rising up immediately after wards are scents of elderberries…”

The complete review may be read here….


Review: McClellands Highland Single Malt

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: McClellands Highland Single Malt

Whisky Review: Glenfiddich 15 Yr Old Single Malt Scotch

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 7, 2010

Glenfiddich 15 Yr Old Single Malt Scotch

According to legend, the first Glenfiddich distilled spirit ran from the stills on Christmas day in 1887.  The distillery was then, and is now and independent distillery.  It is currently owned by William Grant & Sons Ltd., the same William Grant who founded the company in 1887.    It sits in the Conval Hills with its own single source of water, the Robbie Dhu springs.  This water is pumped from this source directly to the distillery, so that it is untouched by man nor beast and remains in its  purest form.

Glenfiddich whisky is  distilled on copper stills,  in the same manner as it was a hundred years ago.  In fact the entire process from turning and malting the barley,  to the use of copper stills, and  the manner of aging attempts to deliver a thread of heritage unbroken from the past to the present.

Here is a link to the Glenfiddich distillery:  Glenfiddich Website

My review today is for the Glenfiddich 15 year old Single Malt blend.  The blend is unique in the world of Scotch whisky by the manner in which it is Solera aged.  (This aging technique is expanded on in the review.)

A special malt deserves a special cocktail.  Again I turned to my good friend forrest, (click the link to go to his great site) telling him I wanted to capture the essence of the alpine meadow I smell and taste in the Glenfiddich 15 year old  whisky.  He came up with a marvelous cocktail, which I then modified into a snifter drink as well.

You can read the review and the recipes for the drinks here:

Review: Glenfiddich 15 Yr Old Scotch.

Again I would like to thank forrest for this collaboration.  He is a cocktail guru extrordinaire!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Glenfiddich 15 Yr Old Single Malt Scotch

Whisky Review: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Scotch Whisky)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 27, 2009

Glenmorangie – The Quinta Ruban

The Glenmorangie Distillery  Company was officially licensed to produce whisky in 1843, and began with a tradition of uniqueness and innovation right from the start,  beginning with the construction of tall gin styled stills instead of the traditional onion shaped stills in use at the time.  Glenmorangie also was amongst the first distilleries to used American Oak for aging the whisky, as well as at the forefront of the new wave of unique wood finished whiskies.  In fact the core range of Glenmorangie includes three unique wood finishes;  the La Santa which is a Sherry finish, the Nector D’or which is a Sauternes Wine finish, and the whisky which I am reviewing in this article, The Quinta Ruban, which is a Ruby Port Finish.  Here is a link to the Glenmorangie website for more information on their history and their core range of whiskies.

And without further ado here a link to the review:

Review: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Scotch Whisky)

And I had better add, that added at the end of the review, I have not one but five bar drinks constructed for this special Scotch,  four of them by my favourite cocktail connoisseur …. forrest!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Scotch Whisky)

Whisky Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 8, 2009

Glenrothes Select Reserve:

Scottish Legend has it that the Glenrothes distillery produced its first drops of Scottish spirits on December 28 1879, coincidentally the same day the rail bridge over the River Tay collapsed in one of the World’s most spectacular rail disasters.

Glenrothes is a typically good Speyside Whisky, with spice and character at the forefront of its flavour profile.  The Glenrothes whisky is used as a base whisky in the Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse Blends.  Indeed if you are a blended Scotch drinker and feel the inclination to move to the Single Malts, you will find the Glenrothes Blends to be excellent introductory malts in which to begin the Journey.

The Select Reserve was blended by Malt Master  “John Ramsey” to serve as a signature malt to represent the character of the Glenrothes Distillery.  In order to capture the essence of Glenrothes the Malt Master used whiskies from a variety of vintages, and from a variety of aged oak barrels.  Thus a spectrum of flavours from the variety of ages and oak is apparent in the final single malt blend.

Here is my review of this splendid Speyside Malt:

Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve (Scotch Whisky)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve

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