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Posts Tagged ‘Whisky’

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Review: Wilson and Morgan – Home Blend 35 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 3, 2016

W&M HomeblendWilson and Morgan is an independent bottler of Scotch Whisky based in Italy. The company was founded in 1992 by Fabio Rossi who also founded Rum Nation. Wilson and Morgan specialize in single grain and single malt whiskies which have been purchased by the barrel from selected Scottish distillers. The whisky barrels  purchased range in age from 10 years to 30 years and are left to age (usually at the distillery where they were purchased) until they are ready to be bottled sometimes after they have been re-casked for finishing in port, rum or Marsala casks.

The 1980 Sherry Wood 35 Year Old Home Blend Whisky (barrel  #26) was distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015. The whisky is part of Wilson and Morgan’s Collector’s Edition which comprises of special bottlings all of which are currently aged 30 years or more. The whiskies within this aged blend were married together in a sherry butt, (barrel number 26) which produced 529 bottles at 47.6 % alcohol by volume (my bottle is number 424). This spirit was bottled with the intent to create a venerable old whisky which would hearken back to an earlier time when well aged blends were the undisputed crown jewels of Scottish whisky.

Here is a link to my full review of this well aged blend:

Review: Wilson and Morgan – Home Blend 35 Year Old

“… The nose brings notes of dark brown sugar combined with rich baking spice and sherry-like notes of dates and raisins. Vanilla and orange marmalade come forward as does a welling of pipe tobacco spice. Hints of ‘old leather jacket’ seem to wisp into the air only to disappear and then reappear as wet burlap …”

Please enjoy my review of this venerable blended whisky, Chimo!

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Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 6, 2016

Finest Buckeroo SAM_2611Gibson’s Finest recently released a brand new 8-year-old expression in Alberta, Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky. What makes it ‘Bold’ is the bottling proof which is a full 46 % alcohol by volume which is a full 6 % more than the 40 % alcohol by volume bottlings which are standard for the Canadian Whisky category. The whisky also features what the media notes call a ‘bold deep colour’. The dark colour or the whisky combined with the higher bottling proof apparently are part of the reason why the producer claims the whisky is ‘specially crafted to deliver Canada’s Finest Rye and Cola’.

Here is a link to my latest Canadian Whisky review:

Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky

“… When I bring my nose to the glass, a caramel note is quite obvious and sits out in front of the oak spice and whisky grain. I allowed the glass to breathe and soon noticed a building fruitiness of canned pears and baked apples. As time passes vanilla with a touch of cinnamon emerges and melds into the caramel note which now resembles the smell of baking cinnamon buns …”

Please enjoy my review of this brand new Canadian Whisky!

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky

Review: George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Sour Mash Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 24, 2016

George Dickel No. 12George Dickel Whisky is produced at the Cascade Distillery in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee, near Tullahoma, by George A Dickel & Co. (the brand is currently owned by Diageo). As a Tennessee Whisky, George Dickel is required by state law to be not only produced in Tennessee, it must also undergo charcoal filtering through the use of what is called the Lincoln County Process (which involves maple charcoal filtering). As well, all Tennessee Whisky must meet all the requirements in place for bourbon whisky. It must have a mash bill of at least 51 % corn, it must be aged in new charred oak barrels with limits on the alcohol concentration for distillation, aging, and bottling).

The No. 12 brand is therefore both a bourbon (although it is not labeled so) and a Tennessee Whisky. It is produced from a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. The twice distilled mash is matured in oak with #4 Char, and the final whisky is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Sour Mash Whisky

“… The breezes above the glass brought me maple and corn syrup, some oak and wood sap, and a very nice impression of damp cigar tobacco. There is both honeycomb and cedar and perhaps a touch of grain spice in the air with obvious some vanilla accents and some baking spices (cinnamon, clove and nutmeg) which seem to grow as we let the glass breathe …”

Please enjoy my review!

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Sour Mash Whisky

Forty Creek Founder’s Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 12, 2016

founder's ReserveIt’s that time of year again, each year in May or June, Forty Creek Whisky announces their annual special limited release whisky. This years release has been named Forty Creek Founder’s Reserve, and the distillery is once again inviting the public to participate in the release by offering to let you choose your own numbered bottle.

Reservations for choosing your bottles open at noon on Monday, June 2nd and continue until 5:00 p.m. on June 16th, 2016. Of course numbers are available on a first come basis and no two bottle numbers will be the same. (Only 12000 bottles will be produced.)

According to the folks at Forty Creek:

As the 10th Annual Limited Edition, Forty Creek is excited to introduce Founder’s Reserve – a special, rare whisky and a tribute to our founder, John K. Hall. John was a pioneer in the Canadian Whisky industry and after 10 years of special editions, it is only fitting we pay tribute to his legacy.

This whisky is an artful blend of rye, corn and barley whisky stocks. Barley is the dominant whisky with rye and corn whiskies added for further complexity. The whisky stocks have been aged from four to nine years in a mixture of both lightly toasted and heavily charred American White oak barrels.

The new special release whisky will be bottled at 45% alcohol by volume, and you can find more information here:

Forty Creek Founder’s Reserve

(I find it interesting that barley whiskies will dominate the Founder’s reserve blend. I usually reserve a few specially numbered bottles of these Limited Special Release Whiskies for myself, and this year will be no different.)

 

 

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Review: Girvan 1979 – 35 Year Old Single Grain Whisky (Cask #900009)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 9, 2016

W&M Girvan 35 SAM_2514Wilson and Morgan is an independent bottler of Scotch Whisky based in Italy. The company was founded in 1992 by Fabio Rossi who also founded Rum Nation. Wilson and Morgan specialize in high quality single grain and single malt whiskies which have been purchased by the barrel from selected Scottish distillers. The whisky barrels purchased range in age from 10 years to 30 years and are left to age (usually at the distillery where they were purchased) until they are ready to be bottled sometimes after they have been re-casked for finishing in port, rum or Marsala casks.

The Girvan distillery is located in the Lowland region of Scotland in South Ayrshire. The distillery (currently owned by William Grant & Sons) was founded in 1963 and features six column stills which produce grain whisky from a mix of 90 % wheat and 10 % barley.

The Girvan 1979 – 35 Year Old Single Grain Whisky was distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2015. This offering is bottled at cask strength (51.6% alcohol by volume), and is part of Wilson and Morgan’s Collector’s Edition which comprises of special bottlings all of which are currently aged 30 years or more.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Girvan 1979 – 35 Year Old Single Grain Whisky (Cask #900009)

“… a combination of butterscotch and maple scents have melded themselves into the grain and wood spice bringing about a wonderful richness which almost makes my mouth water. Canned fruit (apricots and peaches) aromas are quite obvious in the breezes and cherry-like scents akin to red licorice are hinted at as well. Baking spices (vanilla and bits of cinnamon) and almond turning to marzipan round out the nose which is extremely inviting …”

Please enjoy my review of the well aged wheat based grain whisky.

Chimo!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Girvan 1979 – 35 Year Old Single Grain Whisky (Cask #900009)

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