Tagged With: tasting note

Okay, this is the last whisky from the St John’s tasting that I did last week … Compass Box makes great whisky, but they are not a distillery, they are a ‘whiskymaker’ – essentially they are a blending house (think J. Walker or Famous Grouse).  Their whiskymaker is named John Glaser and despite creating great … Continue reading »

All Blanton’s Bourbon is single barrel, meaning that the whisky in your bottle has always been together from distillation. It went into one new oak barrel, was aged, and is now in your bottle … but in this type, it has been cut back to 40% abv. They claim to be the first single barrel … Continue reading »

This is another whisky that I tasted last weekend at St Johns … This is a classic heavy Islay malt.  It is deep and rounded in the glass, with a range of aromas … chocolate, dried fruit, honey, and touches of oil & leather.  More than anything, it reminds me of those chocolate covered dried … Continue reading »

Bruichladdich has become one of the best distilleries in Scotland.  This particular whisky is a special release celebrating reopening of the distillery in 2001 (after being closed since 1994).  It was also a special run because the barley used for this release was peated at 10ppm versus their usual 3-5ppm.  Finally, there are only 24,000 … Continue reading »

This is another of the whiskies from the St John’s tasting on 20 Feb 09 … The Isle of Jura Distillery is the only one on the small island, along with one pub, one shop, and a once-a-week visting bank.  The distillery employs about 20 people or about a tenth of the island population (compared … Continue reading »

Okay, I am going to have to admit my bias at the beginning.  One of my favorite single malts is the discontinued Balvenie 10y Founder’s Reserve and I dislike the other 12y, the DoubleWood.  So, the fact that the 12y Signature is a replacement for one of my trusty old drams, is not a good … Continue reading »

This whisky is a very unique blend – Black Bottle is a blend of Islay malts, displaying many of the characteristics of the seven Islay distilleries.  Yet, unlike many of the malts that go into it, this is a very reasonably priced whisky (generally found at around £15). The nose on this whisky is fairly … Continue reading »

If anything in a bottle can remind me of being back on the Matheny farm, Bernheim Original is it.  Immediately, the smell of a dry country barn hits you – dry straw, fresh corn, a touch of wood, and old leather.   The primary taste is one of crisp wholewheat biscuits with a touch of spice.  … Continue reading »

In 2000, the first whisky was distilled in Wales for over a 100 years. This whisky was first released in 2004 and Penderyn Welsh Whisky has all ready won several awards. It has a wonderful nose of toffee and fresh leather but is well balanced with long finishing notes of raisin and vanilla. (Originally written … Continue reading »

A wonderful small batch bourbon with a powerful sweet nose (think honey and burnt sugar), followed by a hit of oak & toffee, and trailing out into a long, slightly oily finish (to cut the oil, drink it on the rocks). If you want to find out if you like top-shelf bourbon, give this one … Continue reading »