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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y Review’ Category

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Review: Connoisseurs Choice – Rosebank 1991 Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 22, 2010

The Connoisseurs Choice is a series of malt whiskies from various Scottish distilleries many of which are no longer producing whisky.  Boasting over 40 different single malts available from the Scottish regions The sheer variety of styles and flavours of whisky available from Gordon and Macphail’s Connoisseurs range is staggering.

The Rosebank Distillery once produced a lazy laid back style of lowland whisky which was triple distilled for extra smoothness.  The Distillery was closed in 1993 despite being widely recognized as one of the premier distilleries in the lowland region.   Only through independent bottlers such as Gordon and Macphail can we still taste the whisky which was once produced at Rosebank.

Here is a snippet from my review:

“…This is a clean tasting and gentle experience. My palate is tickled with a nice mixture of  warm vanilla, oak spice disguised as citrus, light smoke, and a mildly sweet and punky butterscotch.  The smoke brings forth a light combination of dried raisins and currants…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Connoisseurs Choice – Rosebank 1991

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Connoisseurs Choice – Rosebank 1991 Single Malt Whisky

Review: Century Reserve 21 Year Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 15, 2010

In November of 2005, Highwood Distilleries Ltd. finalized the purchase of Potter’s Distilleries (founded by Ernie Potter in 1958). Part of this acquisition, was the purchase of all of the remaining aged barrel stocks of whisky in the Potter’s facility. These barrels of whisky were then transferred from the Potter’s warehouse facilities in Kelowna B.C. to the newly constructed warehouse facility in High River, Alberta, where they were allowed to continue to age at the foot of the Rocky Mountains on the western edge of the Canadian Prairies.

The brands which Potter’s had established, Potter’s Special Old Canadian Whisky, and the Century Reserve Brands were continued and expanded upon. Subtle changes in the taste of these whiskies may be occurring due to the change in location of the aging warehouse; however, these Potter’s brands are still produced  entirely from the aging whisky reserves which were originally distilled and barreled at the Potter’s Distillery.

I was recently provided with a sample of one of these brands, the Century Reserve 21 Year Old Whisky, a corn whisky produced from a single bond, and not blended.  In fact, we are able to call this a 21-year-old single grain whisky, which is a rarity upon the landscape of Canadian Whisky.

Here is a snippet from my review:

“…The initial entry in the mouth is mellow with a flavour of soft corn leading the way. Butterscotch, and a honeyed oaky spice quickly follow making the whisky lively in the mouth but not sharp and uncomfortable…”

You may read the entire review here:

Review: Century Reserve 21 Year Old Canadian Whisky

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Whisky Review: Bruichladdich 16 Year Aged Bourbon Cask

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 8, 2010

The Bruichladdich (Pronunciation = Brook Laddie) distillery was built in 1881 on Hebridean Isle, in what is now known as the Islay region of Scotland. It was one of many distilleries, which despite its long history and tradition of whisky making, was closed in 1994 due to industry consolidation. The distillery no longer produced whisky, but the existing stocks left inside continued to age. The good news is that on 19th December, 2000, the distillery was purchased by a small band of investors. It was renovated and reopened, and on May 21, 2001 the distillery once again began to distill whisky.

I have written before of the propensity of Bruichladdich to create small artisan offerings using unique cask finishes. I am going in a completely different direction today and reviewing one of their more traditional offerings. A 16-year-old Scottish Single Malt aged for its entire life in a bourbon cask.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Bruichladdich does everything right when they present their whisky. Sleek metal canisters house their whisky with an impressive selection of information available for the purchaser. In the case of the canister for the 16 year Cask Aged Bruichladdich, the canister clearly identifies the type of cask used to age the spirit, the length of time the spirit was aged, and the length of time the release is expected to be available…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Bruichladdich 16 Year Aged Bourbon Cask

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Bruichladdich 16 Year Aged Bourbon Cask

Whiskey Review: Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey (15YR)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 25, 2010

In 1988 JohnTeeling bought the Cooley Distillery from the Irish Government essentially as a purchase of a facility meant for the scrap heap. The distillery however, was never scrapped. Instead John Teeling and his Master Distiller, Noel Sweeny, turned their perceptions of the facility around, rolled up their sleeves, and ten years later were making some of the most unique Irish whiskey in the Country. Not that it was easy, Dr. Teeling tried unsuccessfully to sell the distillery five years into the process to rid himself of the bad investment. But… innovation and desire played their part, and the remarkable turn around of the Cooley Distillery is the stuff of legend.

One of the innovative products made at the Cooley Distillery is the Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey. It is the only single grain Irish Whiskey that I know of which uses a double distillation of a single grain (corn) in a continuous column still. The final product is aged in used bourbon barrels for either 8 years or 15, and bottled at 43% alcohol by volume.

I am reviewing the 15-year-old version which quite frankly is one of the most surprising whiskeys I have come across recently. Here is a small snippet from my review:

“…The delivery of the whiskey leads out with rich oak spice and honey.  A sweet vanilla bourbon flavour swamps the taste-buds, and I am fully aware that this whisky is unlike any Irish whisky I have tasted.  As the flavour settles toasty corn-on-the-cob with mouth-watering butter  comes to mind. ..”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Whiskey Review: Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey (15YR)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Irish Whskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey (15YR)

Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 18, 2010

Photo Courtesy of J.Wheelock

The Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie in the Speyside region of Scotland.

I was given a bottle of The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak and the 10 Year Old Fine Oak by J. Wheelock, the Brand Ambassador West for The Macallan, Highland Park, and The Famous Grouse. Mr. Wheelock ask me to do a comparative tasting of the two styles of oak as part of my series of reviews of The Macallan Single Malt Scotches. For those who do not know, The Macallan Sherry Oak whiskies are aged exclusively in oak barrels seasoned with sherry from Jerez, Spain.  The Fine Oak Series is a relatively new series of whiskies which uses American Sherry and American Whiskey barrels in addition to the Spanish Sherry casks.

Photo Courtesy J. Wheelock)

Both bottles presented to me were 750ml bottles, each bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. I shared my review of  The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Single Malt Whiskey earlier and you may click on the link to read it for comparison.

And here is an excerpt  from my review of of The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky:

“….When I poured the Macallan Sherry Oak into my glencairn glass the immediate nose was complex and tainted with sherry aroma.  I sensed a firm woodiness in the air which had an exotic ‘fruit-like’ flair. Treacle and sherry smoke slowly drifted out of the glass with the firm imprint of wild berries and tart cherries….”

You may read the full review here:

Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)

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