William Larue Weller (2017 release), 64.1% ABV, 12 years 6 months old, acquired in trade. Nose: Rich brown sugar, and heavy caramel. Corn, powder sugar, cherry candy, new leather, and creamy oak. Taste: Dark cherry, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. Finish: Very long, slightly hot, black cherry, and soft oak notes linger. Thoughts: Bold and full-flavored. Really nice cherry and oak notes with a good amount … Continue reading William Larue Weller (2017)
Ardbeg An Oa, 46.6% ABV, $65 USD An Oa is aged in new charred oak, PX sherry and first fill bourbon casks. Nose: General sweetness, sherry, vanilla, lemon, lemon cleaner, ginger, licorice, bubble gum, soft oak, and a lighter peat than other Ardbegs, more of a campfire style. Taste: Fresh lemon, creamy oak, hickory, under-ripe pear, chocolate and toffee. Finish: Long, nice creamy oak. Very … Continue reading Ardbeg An Oa
Macallan Classic Cut 2017, 58.4% ABV, $75 USD Nose: Sherry and oak off the top, grape soda, grape Kool Aid powder, oranges, and chocolate orange. Taste: Oak, spice, oranges, fudge, milk chocolate, hazel nuts, grape popsicle. Finish: Medium/long, slightly hot, milk chocolate, oak and grape notes linger. Thoughts: You get a little of what Macallan Cask Strength gives you. The Macallan character is in there, … Continue reading Macallan Classic Cut
Macallan Edition No.3, 48.3% ABV, $110 USD Collaboration with master perfumer Roja Dove, this edition uses the following casks to make up the vatting: First Fill American Hudosa Butts, Second fill Euro and American Refill Butts, First Fill Euro Tevasa Butts and Puncheons, First Fill American Bourbon Hogsheads, First Fill Euro Tevasa Hogsheads, and First Fill American Bourbon Barrels. Nose: Floral dominates, chocolate orange, malt, … Continue reading Macallan Edition 3
Bowmore – The Devil’s Casks Limited Release 3, 56.7% ABV, Acquired in Trade Marriage of first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Nose: Signature Bowmore peat, dank/musty/woody, rich sherry, raisins, black cherries, candied strawberries. Taste: Subtle peat, oak spice, chocolate orange, Licorice Allsorts, red plums, cinnamon and molasses. Finish: Long and drying. Peat, chocolate, and oak spice linger. Thoughts: Its bold for sure, but … Continue reading Bowmore – Devil’s Casks 3
Back in November, the Toronto Whisky Society was invited to an event with International Beverage Holdings and Woodman Spirits, held at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, and TOModera and I were the privileged pair who got to attend. In case you don’t know (and didn’t follow those links), International Beverage Holdings is a company that owns many alcoholic beverage brands and manufacturers, including 5 distilleries … Continue reading Lunch & Tasting with Malcolm Waring of Pulteney Distillery & Woodman Spirits
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)
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
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
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)
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