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Posts Tagged ‘Whisky’

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Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 1, 2021

The Caledonian Distillery has been on my radar for a while now. I first heard of it when founder Graeme Macaloney invited me to an information seminar and whisky tasting several years ago. At that time the distillery was just in the planning stages and Graeme was touring the country raising money to build his distillery.

In the fall of 2016, word reached me that the Victoria Caledonian Brewery & Distillery had began to produce and age new make spirit and moved forward to 2020, the Macaloney Caledonian Distillery (there appears to have been a name change) began producing spirit which had reached the required maturity to be sold as Canadian Whisky.

Their recent Invermallie releases may be regarded as the distillery’s connoisseurs/collector’s edition expressions. Apparently the name is a nod to the flowing river Mallie. Like the changing river, this is an ever-changing series of classic single malt expressions based on unique one-off single casks, or other special selections.

This Invermallie Ex- Bourbon Cask release was selected from a single ‘first-use’ Bourbon cask. According to the distillery, this is the cleanest expression of the Macaloney Caledonian house style. This is because the previously contained Bourbon in the aging barrel has only a minor influence which allows the American white oak combining with the distillate to shine. Although the release appears to have already sold out, it nevertheless gives us a glimpse into the house style of the Macaloney Caledaonian Distillery.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

“… The first sip brings a nice mixture of oak spice, butterscotch, vanilla and almond forward which gives me a positive impression of toffee and marzipan. The second sip brings herbal grassy flavours, gooseberries, orange peel and a touch of honey to the combination. Impressions of canned apricots, hints of raisins, and a touch of leathery barley add to the depth of the whisky …”

Please enjoy my review of this new addition to the Canadian Whisky Family.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Macaloney Caledonian Invermallie (Ex- Bourbon Cask)

Review: Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 25, 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 my research, Johnnie Walker Black Label has undergone some changes since I published my last review in 2011. At that time it was advertised as containing up to 40 premium grain and malt whiskies. Today (December 2020) the Johnnie Walker Website has this to say about its iconic blend:

Johnnie Walker Black Label is a smooth and beautifully balanced whisky with a distinctive smoky flavour, expertly crafted using an unrivalled selection of Single Malts and Grains each aged for at least 12 years.

All of the whiskies in the Black Label blend are still aged at least 12 years, however references to the number of whiskies which are used to created the blend are no longer found. As well a more recent tasting of the blend seems to indicate to me that some of the richness and depth which I formerly associated with the blend has been lost. This means a fresh review is probably appropriate.

And here is a link to that review:

Review: Johnnie Walker Black Label

“… Fine oak spices combine with treacle and dry fruit, raisins and green apples with perhaps a hint of Turkish Delight. More dry fruit (raisins and dates), and hints of chocolate appear with a light herbal smoke and a touch of boggy peat. Oak builds as we let the glass sit with vanilla and baking spices gathering …”

Please enjoy this review which continues my walk through the Johnnie Walker ladder of whiskies.

Chimo!

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

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!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Compass Distillers 100% Nova Scotian Rye

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!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Canadian Club Chronicles Issue 3 – 43 Year Old

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