Aberfeldy 16yr SC (1994 A.D. Rattray) Review 16 year 55.5% ABV Bourbon hogshead So, I saw a single cask release of Aberfeldy at cask strength, matured in bourbon hogshead from A.D. Rattray. Oddly enough, very few reviews posted for cask strength Aberfeldy releases. Being a lunatic, it seemed like a good idea to get a bottle. No idea at all what to expect going into this. … Continue reading Review: Aberfeldy 16yr SC (1994 A.D. Rattray)
In my experience I’ve found a few drops of water really open up and benefit these whiskies, and therefore all my notes are with water added. (Approximately 3-4 drops for a half ounce pour) Blanton’s Gold, Bottled 9-19-14, Barrel 829, Warehouse H, Rick#29, 51.5% ABV, $100 CAD Nose: Brown sugar, sweet corn, vanilla, toffee, really nice cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate thing going on. Fruit hard … Continue reading Blanton’s Gold, Booker’s Bourbon, & Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof.
Ardbeg 22yr 1993 SC (Cadenhead) 22 years 55.3% ABV Bourbon cask So, little disclaimer going in. I love 1970s Ardbeg, hell I love Ardbeg. I am really looking forward to this. Nose: Mellowed out compared to younger Ardbeg bottles. Smoke, peat, oak, dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel, leather, smores, lemon zest. Palate: Oak, vanilla, tannins, smoke, peat, brine, cherry, oily, raisins and citrus. Finish: Long. Nice … Continue reading Review: Ardbeg 22yr 1993 SC (Cadenhead)
Macallan Edition No.2, 48.2% ABV, $117 USD Nose: Classic Macallan-like sherry, heavy on the dates and raisins. Chocolate, orange, and lemon peel. Ever have Mackintosh’s Toffee? (Came in that red tartan-style plaid box) I get flashbacks of that. Also typical Macallan oak tannins, and spice. Taste: Thick sherry and oak notes. Again, dates and raisins with more chocolate and orange peel. I get a faint … Continue reading Macallan Edition No.2
Compass Box – The Peat Monster, 46% ABV, $65 CAD Nose: Soft and mild peat, sea air, sweet cigar tobacco, lemon peel, oyster shells, mild pepper, and lemon zest. Taste: Peat, bryne, floral, salt, peaches and cream desert, creme brulee, lemon zest, cigar tobacco, wood ash. Finish: Med-long, very well balanced, creamy, great viscosity and mouth-feel. Peat Monster is made from the following: (Compass Box … Continue reading Compass Box – The Peat Monster
Here’s the next in our series of TWS group reviews. Six of our members have posted reviews of this popular island dram and it was great to see what the consolidated group’s thoughts on it were. Talisker 10 Group Review Summary Top 5 Tasting Notes: Peat, Smoke, Brine, Sugar, Pepper (see word cloud for full breakdown of flavour notes we recorded) Max Score: 90 Min Score: 82 Average Score: 85.3 … Continue reading Group Review: Talisker 10
I was very disappointed with the results in my first Glenfarclas review. The two 50ml samples I purchased from auction (21 and 25 year) didn’t appear to have any evidence of contamination, but after trying this sample from Master of Malt, it’s obvious there were spoiled in some form or another. The Glenfarclas 25 I’m trying here is a completely different whisky. Glenfarclas 25, 43% ABV, … Continue reading Glenfarclas 25 Re-Review
For #WorldWhiskyDay, I’m doing a trio of Forty Creek limited edition releases. Hard to believe I last reviewed a forty creek whisky back in my 20th review here, and now I’m at over 100. my opinions on Forty Creek have definitely changed over the years, going from hardcore fanboy to disappointment in the similarity of many releases, to now being a skeptic of their future … Continue reading Forty Creek Limited Editions: Port Wood, Three Grain Harmony & Founder’s Reserve
Review 143: Glenfarclas 40yr 40 years 46% Sherry cask Massive thank you to /u/Xile_ for this sample, you are single handedly responsible for every 40+yr whisky I have tried. I’ve been saving this sample for a time when I would be able to really sit down and enjoy it, hopefully it was worth the wait. Nose: Rich. Sherry, dark chocolate, raisins, orange zest, oak, leather, … Continue reading Glenfarclas 40 Year Review
As you’ll have seen from past group reviews and our trip to Hiram Walker last month (Pt1, Pt2, Pt3), we’re pretty big fans of what Dr. Don Livermore and the team at Corby/Pernod-Ricard are doing in the Canadian whisky category. From their Union 52 blend that includes some 52yr old Highland Scotch, to Last Barrels – a sour mash bourbon-style whisky, – to the use of virgin … Continue reading Exclusive Pre-Release Group Review: J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation
Like most of us, I read about and watched reviews on combining W.L. Weller 12 and Old Weller Antique (OWA) to get something that resembled a Pappy Van Winkle. I was interested. I had a few OWA ($35 CAD), and won two Weller 12’s ($46 CAD) in this year’s Sazerac lottery, so I figured I’d try it. There are a few different recipes circulating, some … Continue reading My Poor Man’s Pappy experiment
I’d like to start by thanking Brown-Foreman for inviting me to a recent Collingwood Whisky tasting and lunch. This was hosted by them, and I was invited as part of my inclusion of the Toronto Whisky Society. As part of the lunch, Alexis Green, the brand ambassador, walked through this distillery with us, had an introductory tasting, shared some great cocktail recipes, and overall gave … Continue reading Collingwood Distillery Luncheon / Whisky Tasting
Toronto Whisky Society 