Posts Tagged ‘Whisky Review’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 8, 2013
Barry Bernstein and Barry Stein own and run the Still Water Distillery, Ontario’s first micro-distillery which they founded in 2009. They not only manage the distillation and the blending of the Still Waters’ products, they also act as the distillery’s Chief Bottle Washers and Bottle Fillers. In fact, there is not a single aspect of their business that they do not either personally oversee or do themselves.
Late last year, Still Waters released the cryptically named Still Waters 1+11 Canadian Whisky, a blend of selected whiskies from other Canadian producers to which they have added up to 10 % of their own Hand-Crafted whisky. I tasted this new whisky last fall when I scored it blind as part of my duties as one of the jurors for the Canadian Whisky Awards. When I later examined my scores and noticed the Still Waters Whisky had done well on my score sheet, I decided to contact the distillery to see if they would be interested in a review.
Happily, they agreed and forwarded me the necessary sample.
You may click on the following excerpt (link) to read the full review:
“… The initial nose brings a lovely dry rye grain to the breezes filled with scents of autumn harvest including the fresh straw and chaff. As the glass breathes, impressions of caramel and corn build with accents of tobacco, sandalwood and oak spice. I notice indications of both zesty citrus fruit (lemon in particular) as well as a touch of fruity sourness with the two nuances playfully dancing together in the light breezes above my glass …”
Please enjoy the review which includes a new cocktail I call the Crow’s Nest.
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 1+11 Canadian Whisky, Canadian Whisky, Cocktails, Still Waters Distillery, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Still Waters 1+11 Canadian Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 2, 2013
The Bowmore Distillery sits at the edge of Loch Indaal where the briny breezes of the sea blow directly across the warehouses full of Bowmore whisky barrels. As every barrel of Bowmore whisky produced spends at least some of its maturing life inside these warehouses it is reasonable to assume that at least some of that seaside character makes its way into the whisky. As well, the distillery is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries which produces its own peated malt on its own malting floor. The location of the aging warehouses next to Loch Indaal, and the peated barley produced under Bowmore’s own malt drying kiln have been linked to the unique flavour and character of the whisky known as Bowmore.
Bowmore Legend is the youngest expression in the Bowmore Single Malt core range. It does not arrive with an age statement, and is produced solely from whisky aged in American ex- bourbon barrels. I was given a sample bottle for this review by Lifford Wines who are the local importer (in Alberta) and distributor of Morrison Bowmore products.
You may click on the following excerpt (link) to read the full review:
“… I notice bits of heather and willow thicket; a lowland hay-field of long green saw grass; some saltiness reminiscent of ocean brine and a few touches of iodine. I also sense some clean oak spices, orange peel, light citrus lemon balm, and a nice wafting of vanilla in the air. The whisky seems lively, and I appreciate that the peat has not devoured the rest of the whisky aroma …”
Please enjoy the review which contains a recipe (Bowmore Punch) suggested by Iain McCallum, the current Global Master of Malts for Morrison Bowmore Distillers.
Slainte!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Spiced Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: Bowmore Punch, Bowmore Whisky, Iain McCallum, Morrison Bowmore, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Bowmore Legend Single Malt Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 23, 2013
Danfield’s Canadian Whisky is produced in the small City of Lethbridge in my home Province of Alberta. It is produced for Williams & Churchill by Schenley Distilleries Inc. at the Black Velvet Distillery, (also referred to locally as the Palliser Distillery). Williams and Churchill are not distillers themselves, rather they appear to be a third-party company which owns the Danfield’s Brand. They are also very difficult to contact, and therefore the only information I have about the Danfield’s Limited Edition 21 Year Old Canadian Whisky comes from the little booklet which is strung around the neck of the bottle. According to this booklet, the 21 Year Old is a small batch whisky produced from rye, corn and malted barley. It is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume and prior to this bottling, the whisky is apparently “diamond filtered” to add further polish to the whisky.
Being a bit of a collector of Canadian Whisky, I have had a couple of bottles of the Danfield’s Limited Edition in my possession for about three years now. I finally broke down and opened one such that I could provide a review here on my website.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… The rye continues to pour out with the scent becoming earthier as it changes from a clean dry rye to a thick fruit-filled rye over the course of the nosing. Hints of marzipan and orange peel come forward as does a nice underlying nuttiness which reminds me of the wild hazelnuts which grown around the lakes in west-central Alberta …”
Please enjoy the review and the suggested cocktail recipe which follows, the Iced Ruby Manhattan.
Slainte!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Cocktails, Danfield's Canadian Whisky, Iced Ruby Manhattan, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Danfield’s Limited Edition 21 Year Old Canadian Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 19, 2013
Pike Creek is a 10-year-old Canadian whisky produced from a double distillation in small column copper stills, and aged in ‘first-use’, white oak bourbon barrels. (The term ‘first use’ refers to an oak barrel which has been used only once previously, in this case to age American bourbon whiskey.) Once aged and blended, the whisky is finished in vintage port wine barrels.
Pike Creek was originally released in the late 1990s as part of Corby’s initiative to introduce new high-end Canadian whiskies into the North American market. Unfortunately the whisky was discontinued after only a brief time as consumers seemed uninterested in a the new premium product. The whisky was re-introduced last year as the profile of Canadian Whisky has recently undergone a bit of a renaissance world-wide and demand for whisky at the premium end of the market has seen a sharp increase.
You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:
” …The immediate nose is of caramelized brown sugars, rye grain, field berries (blackberries and raspberries) and bits of red licorice. Some wood spices build in the glass as it breathes (or maybe I just took my time about noticing them). I also seem to sense a bit of dark fruit and chocolate similar to Christmas fruitcake in the air …”
Please enjoy my review of this outstanding new edition to the landscape of Canadian Whisky!
Cheers Everyone!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Corby, Pike Creek, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Pike Creek 10 Year Old Canadian Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 16, 2013
Solan Number 1 Malt Whisky is produced by Mohan Meakin Limited at the Kasauli Distillery which is found in the Himalayan Highlands at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. (The town of Kasauli in located in the Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India.) The distillery was founded in the late 1820s by Edward Dyer who apparently chose this location because the climate in this area of India was quite similar to his native Scotland, (and because the British troops in the nearby Punjab had a taste for Scottish style whisky).
Solan Number One is blended with mature Malt Spirits produced using traditional Scottish methods of malting, kneading, and distillation on vintage copper pot stills and aged in oak casks. I was recently sent a sample bottle by the local Alberta distributor, Madira Spirits Inc. and asked if I could provide a review here on my website. I was more than happy to oblige.
You may click on the following excerpt to read my full review:
“… The initial nose is honeyed with a mixture of sweet malt and butterscotch, some clean oak spices and hints (but only hints) of a rum-like cane syrup. I let the glass sit to see how the nose developed, and I was rewarded with a few new notes of orange peel, heather and tobacco. I find the aroma appealing …”
Included at the conclusion of my review of this surprisingly good whisky is my latest cocktail, Indian Summer.
Please enjoy my latest review!
Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Indian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Cocktails, India, Indian Summer, Indian Whisky, Kasauli Distillery, Malt Whisky, Mohan Meakin Limited, Solan Number One, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Solan Number One Full Bodied Malt Whisky
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