It’s been an amazing year for me in whisky. I’ve tried more spirit in 2017 than any year previous. I started reviewing for Toronto Whisky Society, and made lots of friends and contacts in the Toronto whisky scene. As I reflect on 2017, I wanted to share some highlights. Ill start with my biggest disappointment of 2017. Without a doubt it’s Macallan 12 Year Double Cask. … Continue reading Jeremy’s Whisky of the Year 2017
This single barrel Port Solist was exclusively bottled for members of KavaFan. (204 total bottles). It was barreled on July 6, 2009, and bottled on December 8, 2017. 8 years, 5 months, 2 days old. Kavalan Solist Port Cask (KavaFan Bottling) O090706042A, bottle 33/204, 58.6% ABV Nose: Amazing sweetness on the nose, vanilla, caramel, and cotton candy. Dark raspberries, and strawberries. Dates, figs, and red … Continue reading Kavalan Solist Port Cask (KavaFan Bottling)
In November, we held our TWS Annual General Meeting of the membership, and heels party of all the whiskies we had received from distilleries throughout the year. A number of folks also brought their own heels from home to share with the group. Much fun was had, many drinks were drunk, all the food was eaten, the leftover bottles given away and transit was used … Continue reading 2017 Year-end Social and AGM
Compass Box – Enlightenment, 46% ABV, $85 USD Blended malt composed of 48.2% Clynelish (first fill American standard barrel), 36.7% Glentauchers (first fill American standard barrel), 10.8% Balblair (first fill American standard barrel), and 4.3% Mortlach (rejuvenated American standard barrel) as per compassboxwhiksy.com Nose: Explosion of super fresh apples, pears, and kiwi. Very crisp and clean. Malt, vanilla, and peaches. Smells just like the syrup … Continue reading Compass Box – Enlightenment
On a recent trip to Nova Scotia, my wife and I drove the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton and made a stop at the Glenora Distillery for a tour and tasting. I write in detail about the distillery and its history here, and have included this post to cover the reviews we did of the drams we tasted. Previously reviewed Glen Breton bottlings can be … Continue reading Glenora Distillery Multi-Review
When most people think of Canadian whisky, their minds go to blends or rye (whether the whisky contains any rye spirit or not). Rarely do people associate Canada with single malts, although there are a number of distilleries producing them today with the craft distilling boom hitting the Great White North. But before that boom, while brown spirits were giving way to white spirits in … Continue reading Distillery Spotlight: Glenora Distillery, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Amrut Spectrum 004, 50% ABV, acquired in trade. Nose: Bold sherry and oak dominate. Sherry notes accompanied with stewed plums, raisins, and marzipan. Oak notes accompanied with sawdust, must, and moth balls. Taste: Lots of boiled fruit, plums, dates, raspberries and strawberries. Then you get the oak and wood notes, then some almonds and walnuts. Finish: Long, very viscous. Jam-like fruit and oak linger. Thoughts: Very … Continue reading Amrut Spectrum 004
It is that time of year again (you know, that Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus time of year), and whatever you celebrate, you’re probably buying gifts for the important people in your life. Got a whisky/whiskey lover on your list? Here are some helpful suggestions of what to get for them! General Gifts for the whisky fan: Do not get them whisky stones. Almost every whisky drinker we know has … Continue reading 2017 Toronto Whisky Society Holiday Gift Guide
Macallan Cask Strength, 58.2% ABV, $300 USD Nose: Walnuts, almonds, marzipan, figs, grape jelly, very slight oak, little bit of chocolate-orange, fruit punch flavored Kool Aid powder, Flintstones Vitamins, strawberry and grape bubble gum. Taste: Grape bubble gum, marzipan (big time), cherry syrup, slight oak, strawberry jam, orange marmalade. Finish: Very long, very viscous. Grape bubble gun, slight oak, and chocolate-orange linger. Thoughts: The best … Continue reading Macallan Cask Strength (My 50th Review)
For those of you who know me in person, you’ll know that I am a self-proclaimed Padawan whisky nerd (Star Wars reference). That is why I was absolutely thrilled when Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery invited me to visit their distillery and vineyard at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Wayne Gretzky Estates is an award winning winery and distillery owned by Peller Estate and Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky. Their most … Continue reading A Weekend at Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery
Glenfarclas 17, 43% ABV, $130 CAD Nose: Red plums, oak, fresh floral, citrus, lemon peel, Smuckers strawberry jam. Taste: Plums, bitter chocolate, chocolate orange, raisins, malt, coffee, and a slight spicyness. Finish: Medium, good viscosity, coffee and chocolate notes linger. Thoughts: It’s bold and fresh at the same time, juicy, with good complexity. Other than the 25 year, this is my favorite expression from the … Continue reading Glenfarclas 17
Halifax has become a hotbed for breweries, and now also has two distilleries operating in the city. We had a chance to visit both of them, and the write-up of the brand new Compass Distillers was previously posted here. The Halifax Distilling Company is the other and actually finds its roots on Prince Edward Island as the Prince Edward Distillery started by Julie Shore, a … Continue reading Distillery Spotlight: Halifax Distilling Company, Halifax, NS
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