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Archive for the ‘Whisky Review’ Category

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Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

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:

Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

“… 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.

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Review: Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice

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.

Review: Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice

“… 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.

 

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Review: Crown Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finished Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 26, 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 Wine Barrel Finished Whisky is part of the Noble Collection and the spirit is a result of a special finish given to selected Crown Royal Whiskies which have been extra matured for six months in freshly emptied Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from the Paso Robles region of California.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Crown Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finished Whisky

“… The initial aroma is rich with butterscotch, vanilla, dry spicy grain, light baking spice and almond. As the glass rests dusty grain and fine wood spice build in the breezes with light tobacco smells and spicy citrus peel …”

Please enjoy the review:

Chimo!

 

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Review: Crown Royal Texas Mesquite 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 25, 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 global spirits conglomerate Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian whisky.

Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is a blend of Crown Royal Deluxe which according to the Crown Royal Website has been infused with the smoky soul of locally sourced Texas mesquite wood. The spirit is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume, and sold in the Crown Royal decanter shown below.

Here is a link to my review of this unique flavoured Whisky:

Review: Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

“… When I brought the glass to my nose a sour note was evident which was followed by what seemed like a hint of herbal peat which of course is actually the imprint of mesquite wood upon the whisky. A sharp note of orange peel was evident as well. As I let the spirit breathe firm butterscotch, candied orange peel and fine oak spices joined in …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Flavoured Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Texas Mesquite 

Review: Canadian Club Chronicles 41 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 12, 2020

A couple of years ago Canadian Club released what was possibly possibly the oldest bottling of Canadian whisky to date. After 40 years of resting in American oak barrels in Windsor, Ontario, Canadian Club released Canadian Club 40 Year Old

According to my sources, the whisky was produced from a selection of American Oak barrels which contained 100% corn whisky. These barrels had been consolidated many times over the course of 40 years to minimize the oxidation of the spirit during its lengthy maturation period. The whisky has been released in part to commemorate Canada’s 150 Anniversary, and was available with full distribution across Canada as of Mid November in limited quantities.

Fortunately for all of us not all of that wonderful whisky was bottled in 2017. Some of the whisky was allowed to continue to rest. In the fall of 2018, Canadian Club released more of this spirit as Canadian Club Chronicles 41 Year Old and this time it was blended with a small amount of cognac, rye and sherry.

This is the review for the 41 year old whisky which was bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume.

Review: Canadian Club Chronicles 41 Year Old

“… The aroma in the breezes above the glass offers seem to entice me. The whisky brings a waft oak sappy oak into the air followed by a combination of butterscotch toffee, almond syrup, oak and vanilla which were all melded wonderfully together. There are hints of mustiness and scents of fresh corn, light baking spices, and orange peel moving towards marmalade …”

Please enjoy my review and stay tuned for the upcoming review of the 42 Year Old Spirit which I will be sampling over the next few weeks.

Chimo!

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