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Archive for the ‘Whisky Review’ Category

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Review: Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 18, 2021

Compass Distillers is located in Halifax Nova Scotia, where Graham, Josh, and David began their distilling journey with a belief that they could create world-class spirits locally. Their artisan Craft Spirits are not imported, they are not blended with generic ingredients, nor are they pumped out of a factory; rather, they are made from scratch, with locally sourced ingredients.

Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye gives recognition to bountiful harvest of Nova Scotia’s grain. The spirit was produced from grain which was milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled in Halifax, and then was aged in new charred North American oak barrels for three years.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye

“… Leathery grain and oak, burlap, butterscotch, vanilla and almond. Rye spice and fine oak spice with hints of ginger and cinnamon follow as do hints of milk chocolate …”

Please enjoy my review of this wonderful new Canadian Rye Whisky.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 11, 2021

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 the Johnnie Walker website:

Johnnie Walker Double Black was created by Master Blender Jim Beveridge as a darker, smokier interpretation of the world famous Johnnie Walker Black Label. Johnnie Walker Double Black is matured in heavily charred casks and uses a greater proportion of characterful West Coast and Island whiskies to elevate iconic flavours to a new level of intensity.

Unlike Johnnie Walker Black Label which carries a 12 year age statement, Johnnie Walker Double Black is not an age stated brand.

Here is a Link to my full review of the recently introduced Double Black:

Review: Johnnie Walker Double Black

“… Herbal peat combined with light oak spice. Butterscotch and light notes of menthol as well as tar and perhaps hints of iodine and salt. Perhaps there is a bit of swampiness welling up which reminds me of a grassy wetland. Fine black pepper, and citrus zest give an indication of some alcohol heat and fine oak spiciness …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my suggested serving, the Rusty Nail.

Chimo!

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

Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 4, 2021

For each of the past three years Canadian Club has been releasing Canada’s oldest age stated Whisky. And each year that release has been getting one year older. It started in 2017 with the Canadian Club 40 Year Old .

Canadian Club 40 Year Old was produced from a selection of American Oak barrels which contained 100% corn whisky. The whisky was released in part to commemorate Canada’s 150 Anniversary, and was available with full distribution across Canada in the fall of 2017. In 2018 we learned that Canadian Club hadn’t emptied all of those 100 % Corn Whisky Barrels, those that hadn’t been used were now one year older. In the fall of 2018, Canadian Club released what they called Canadian Club Chronicles – 41 Year Old Whisky (The Water of Windsor), again using some of those same barrels; but this time adding a small amount of cognac, rye and sherry to the final blend. Then in 2019 the cycle was repeated as Canadian Club released Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 2 – 42 Year Old Whisky (The Dock Man). This time to offer some distinction in the blend, the whisky was blended with a 16 Year Old Rye Whisky, a 12 Year Old Pot Distilled Rye and a small amount of Brandy.

Which brings us to 2020 and the release of Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old Whisky (The Speakeasy) which has apparently been freshened with a dash of 11 Year Old Rye whisky. I recently tasted the new 43 Year Old and thought I would share my thoughts.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3

“… The nose grows and grows as you let the glass breathe becoming almost breathtaking as the richness unfolds. Rum-like scents of molasses, Cognac-like aromas of raisins and dry fruit, Bourbon-like notes of corn and honeycomb seem to be all combined together with sticky marmalade and yummy nougat thrown in for good measure. And yes, that dash of rye seems to be playing a roll brightening the breezes without taking the shine from the sumptuous aroma …”

Please enjoy my first review of 2021. Later this week I’ll be taking a look at Rhum J.M.  V.O from Martinique.

Until then, Chimo!

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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!

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