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Posts Tagged ‘Whisky Review’

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Review: Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 12, 2011

I began to hear the whispers of a rumour about six months ago. Persons close to Alberta Distillers would casually mention, ” Alberta Premium 30 Year Old”, and then they would clam up and tell me they were speaking off the record.

Well, it’s not a rumour anymore, the Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition Rye Whisky has been released in Alberta, and it is literally flying off the shelves. (I know because I had to scramble to find a couple of bottles.) The rye whisky was produced in Calgary, Alberta by Alberta Distillers Limited (ADL) who is one of the few remaining producers of 1oo % Rye Grain Whisky in North America (if not the world). Distilled from carefully selected Canadian rye grain over thirty years ago, and then aged in charred white oak barrels this whisky is possibly the oldest production 100 % rye grain whisky ever produced in Canada.

If you have read my past reviews of Canadian Whisky, you know that Alberta Premium 25 Year Old Limited Edition Rye Whisky, is one of the best whiskies I have ever tasted. In fact I believe that the Alberta Premium 25-year-old is one of the purest expressions of Canadian Rye Whisky ever produced. Sadly that 25-year-old expression is long gone from the store shelves….

But happily, it’s older brother has arrived!

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…When I took my first sip my initial reaction was … wow! I was greeted with a wonderful mellow rye accented by caramel oak syrup! I have tasted so many aged spirits where the oak turns to bitter sap and smothers the other flavours, but not here. Instead the oak has melted into the rye creating a subdued, sweet and spicy elixir that has my mouth begging for another sip….”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition Rye Whisky

Please enjoy my review, cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 15, 2011

Nikka is the second largest distiller of whisky in Japan owning two distilleries at Yoichi and Miyagikyo. The Yoichi Distillery is located on Hokkaido which is Japan’s northernmost Island where the climate is apparently very similar to Scotland. The Miyagikyo Distillery is located on Honshu island in central Japan.  Information on this blend is a little hard for me to decipher from the bottle, but gleaning what I can from Internet sources I have found that the whisky apparently includes Malt whiskies from each of the Nikka Distilleries as well as grain whisky from Miyagikyo. The label says the whisky is double matured, and I believe that the final maturation was in a first run bourbon barrel. I taste a sherry influence as well making me believe that at least some of the whiskies which comprise the blend have seen time in Sherry casks.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…There is quite a wallop of flavour associated with the Nikka Whisky as one would expect from a cask strength offering. Rich burnt caramel, woody tannins and rich baking spices all mingle together. I taste a whisper of Apricot Brandy winding through the flavour profile. Raisins, dates and prunes add to the complexity…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

Please enjoy my first review of a Japanese Whisky!

Posted in Japanese Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 1, 2011

Permission to use this picture was granted by J.L. Wheelock

The oak casks which age The Macallan Sherry Oak Whiskies have been selected from refill Sherry casks originating in Jerez Spain where they previously held aged sherry for two years. Using two-year old Sherry casks is an expensive proposition; however, the makers of The Macallan Whiskies believe that the resulting combination of rich Sherry seasoning, and relatively young oak casks will result in a superior whisky. Indeed in my review I note the strong oak influence which sits astride the Sherry enhancement.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Upon nosing the glass, smoke-filled sherry notes of raisins, prunes, and dates present themselves forcefully. Damp tobacco, and notes of caramelized brown sugars abound. I also detect a strong oak presence giving the glass somewhat of a cognac flair…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old Whisky

Review: The Macallan Fine Oak 17 Year Old Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 24, 2011

Permission granted for the use of this picture by J.L. Wheelock

The Macallan Fine Oak Series is a range of single malt Scotch whiskies, produced at The Macallan Distillery at Craigellachie, in the Speyside region of Scotland. These whiskies are matured in seasoned American oak casks, (sherry as well as bourbon), as well as seasoned sherry casks from Spain. I have previously reviewed the The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year and The Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year Old expressions here on my blog, and I am happy to continue this series with a review of The Macallan Fine Oak 17 year Old. Here is an Excerpt from the review:

“…When I pour the 17 Year old Macallan Fine Oak into my glass, my nose is greeted by sweet honey and marshmallow scents as well as a lovely creamy butterscotch. This is noticeably sweeter on the nose than my previously reviewed 15 Year Old Macallan Fine Oak, and that sweetness seems to make the aroma more penetrating and assertive….”

You may read my full review here:

Review: The Macallan Fine Oak 17 Year Old Whisky

Please enjoy the review!

Note: This review is based upon a small sample provided to me from the personal collection of J. L. Wheelock, who is part of the Beam Global team here in Alberta. The sample was smaller than my normal 200 ml minimum sample size, and the reader should be cautioned that I was not able to give the sample my normal rigorous tasting regimen of five independent tasting sessions. Instead I completed two tasting sessions of the sample and completed my review on that basis.

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: The Macallan Fine Oak 17 Year Old Whisky

Review: Signatory Dufftown 1984

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 17, 2011

This Whisky disappeared too fast!

Dufftown is the largest distillery belonging to Diageo.  The whisky from this distillery is primarily intended for blends. Bell’s, Islander, Dewar’s White Label, and of course Johnnie Walker all require Dufftown Whisky as part of their construction. I recently purchased a 26-year-old Signatory bottling  of Dufftown which was distilled in 1984. For those who are unfamiliar with this company, The Signatory Company was founded in 1988.  It is family owned and managed, being one of only three truly independent bottlers in Scotland.  (Signatory likes to draw a distinction between the independent companies who bottle their own products, and the independent companies whose products are bottled under contract.)

I am fortunate, as in my locale there are several stores which allow me to sample well aged Single Cask Whiskies prior to purchase. It takes a lot of the risk out of the purchase decision, and I have been able to build quite a collection of rare and old whiskies for my enjoyment.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…I smell a delightful alpine forest rising from the glass as the whisky is poured. Punky woody notes take shape with spongy moss, willow thicket, and floral notes abounding. Rich vanilla scents follow accented by a wonderful backdrop of honeycomb and oak. Caramel builds in the glass coexisting very nicely with a developing marzipan…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Signatory Dufftown 1984

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Signatory Dufftown 1984

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