#101drams - a charitable challenge

Last Updated 7/2/2017 (71 whiskies tasted)
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Donations:

• Donation for drams 1 - 20: 12th July 2013
• Donation for drams 21 - 40: 13th March 2014
• Donation for drams 41 - 60: 30th April 2015

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Reading the Qantas magazine on a recent flight (as far as in-flight mags go, it's actually pretty good), I noticed an article for Sebastien Terry's "100 Things" challenge - in a nutshell, one Aussie's goal to tick 100 things off his "bucket list", and raise $100,000 for Camp Quality in doing so (he's currently at $65,000, with a little recent help from TimeforWhisky).

At the time I was trying to come up with new ideas for this blog, and that's when it hit me - why not a similar challenge, with a whisky focus? Instead of 100 things, how about 100 drams (and hey, why not 101)?

"But Martin", I hear you say. "Sebastien started his list for a good cause, and you've taken his idea and applied it to...drinking?"

Fair call. So how about this - for every 20 drams I tick off the list, I'll donate $100 to Cancer Council Australia (chosen for personal reasons). For the 101st dram, I'll donate another $100. That's $600 all up - all for a great cause.


The drams I've included are a real mixture - with only one commonality being that I want to try them but haven't. Some are readily available (some even in sample format from Single Malt Whisky or Master of Malt), some are whiskies I really should have tried already (#2, #19), some will be easy to tick off this year (#17, #23), some will take me a few years (#13), and some I might never get to taste (#4). But hey, what's the point in a goal if you don't reach for it?


I'll revisit this post every time I try one of the drams, and mark it off (and add a link to the tasting post). Actually since starting the list, I've already ticked off #18 and #21.

..and so with that in mind, onto the list:

1: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery "Dawin Edition" Red Wine cask 19yo - because I loved the first AoD release and I have an obsession with all things 'fiddich.
2: Ballantine's 17yo (World Whisky of the Year 2011) - because the one time I attempted to order it, the bar (on my honeymoon in the Maldives, of all places) ran out, and gave me a 30yo for the same price. A great dram, but it means I still haven't tried the 17yo.
3: Kininvie Hazelwood (either 105 or 110...in fact I'll settle for any Kininvie single malt, future releases included) - Not just because it's super rare and expensive, but because when I toured the Glenfiddich distillery with my dad in 2009, and heard all about how Kininvie was a single malt produced by WGS that very, very rarely saw the light of day as a single malt, and when I tried Monkey Shoulder, I knew I had to try Kininvie as a single malt.
4: Glenfiddich 50yo - I'd include the Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve, but I think this one I might actually stand a chance of trying. One day. Possibly. If I'm extremely lucky.
5: A distillery-bottled Port Ellen - I can't be too specific with the release, because trying any Port Ellen would be brilliant. Apart from the rave reviews, I love the idea of trying a whisky from a since-defunct distillery.
6: Ardbeg Supernova - Because I've loved every Ardbeg I've tried to date, especially other special releases (Ardbeg Day, Corryvreckan).
7: Octomore Orpheus
8: Hellyers Road Pinot Noir Finish - I love trying new Tassie whiskies and I love Pinot Noir.
9: Something I've barrel-aged myself - Most probably with this kit from Master of Malt.
10: The Nant 3yo Cask Strength - I don't always agree with Jim Murray (see here for example), but I've enjoyed the other Nants I've tried, and I'm keen to experience the Tassie whisky that Jim deems worthy of a 95.5.
11: Shine On Georgia Moon Corn Whisky - I saw this at a Whisky store in London about 5 years ago and have wanted to try it ever since. I'm sure it's horrible. (It was).
12: Balcones Single Malt Whisky - Because these guys seem to be destined for big things.
13: Makers Mark from my own barrel - Should be ready in about 2015. Now I just need to find an excuse to be near Kentucky then.
14: Ardbeg Galileo - See #6.
15: Talisker 25yo - I love the 10yo, 18yo and 57˚ North, so it stands to reason I'll love this.
16: Seagram's Blender's Pride - I work with a few colleagues who are in India and for my birthday last year they told me they were pouring a "Blender's Pride" for me. I hadn't heard of it, but in the interests of trying as many world whiskies as I can, I'd like to.
17: Four Roses Bourbon
18: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Finish 19yo - See #1.
19: Balvenie 21yo Portwood - Because I haven't met a Balvenie yet I haven't enjoyed
20: Something distilled the year I was born - '83, by the way.
21: Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary
22: Johnnie Walker "The Royal Silk Route" - Hopefully I'll be able to tick this off the list when I travel after May 2013, as the first in the series (Spice Road) has been available for tasting in various duty-free stores.
23: AnCnoc 12yo 
24: Ardbeg Alligator - See #6.
25: Caol Ila Distillers Edition
26: Yoichi 10yo - Because every Japanese whisky I've tried to date has impressed me.
27: Ardbeg Rollercoaster - See #6
28: Limeburners Single Malt Standard - An Aussie whisky I sadly haven't yet tried.
29: Mackinlay's Shackleton Rare Old Highland Malt - "Journey Edition" - I tried the Discovery Edition. It was decent, but it's the back story that makes this whisky interesting.
30: Glenfarclas 40yo
31: Laphroaig PX Cask - I really enjoyed the Lagavulin PX finish, so would like to see how Laphroaig have approached it.
32: Grant's Ale Cask reserve - Beer aged? Why not.
33: Amrut Single Malt - Loved the Fusion.
34: Pappy Van Winkle's 23 Year Old Family Reserve - Tried the 15yo, found it fantastic. An old colleague says this is the best Bourbon he's ever tried.
35: Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX - See #31, replace "Laphroaig" with "Glenmorangie"
36: Dalwhinnie 1995 Oloroso Finish (Distillers Edition)
37: Old Pulteney 40yo
38: Thomas H Handy Straight Rye - I've been getting more and more into Rye whiskies of late, and this is supposed to be one of (if not the) best.
39: Penderyn Madeira Finished Single Malt - Because I've never tried a Welsh whisky before.
40: Hakushu 12yo
41: Balvenie TUN 1401 (any batch) - Because everyone seems to love these releases.
42: Springbank 10yo
43: Caol Ila 25yo
44: Brenne French Single Malt - French? Cognac barrel aged? That ticks two boxes for me - 1) interesting and 2) a world whisky from a region I haven't tried.
45: Millstone French Oak 8yo - Dutch whisky, another region I haven't tried.
46: Jack Daniels White Rabbit Saloon
47: Strathclyde Grain Whisky - Any age
48: Mackmyra Small Casks - Swedish, aged in 30L casks? Sure to be interesting.
49: Compass Box "The Peat Monster"
50: Moonshine - Not even sure where to start looking with this one.
51: Auchentoshan Valinch - I gave packs of miniature Auchentoshans to my groomsmen as part of a thankyou just before our wedding. Kept a few for myself and enjoyed every one, but haven't tried the Valinch.
52: Aberlour 18yo - Because the A'bunadh is brilliant.
53: Laphroaig 18yo - I like the 15yo and the Quarter Cask, and even the standard 10yo, so it stands to reason I'll like this.
54: Mortlach 16yo
55: "Elements of Islay" Ar# (any release) - I've tried a few, including the CL4 and BR4, but I'm keen to see how their Ardbeg fares.
56: Oban Montilla Fino Finish (Distillers Edition) - I was lucky enough to visit Oban a few years ago. Lovely town, and lovely whisky.
57: Speyburn 10yo
58: The Glenlivet 25yo
59: The Macallan 21yo [Fine Oak] - Truth be told, I don't really like any of the Macallans (clarification: Fine Oak range) I've tried to date (including the 18yo). Maybe the 21yo will change my mind?
60: Jura Prophecy
61: A distillery-bottled Brora - For the same reason as #5.
62: Glenmorangie Ealanta
63: Kilchoman 100% Islay
64: Tobermory 15yo - Because I always see this case at Dan Murphys and it catches my eye, every time.
65: Glenmorangie Finealta
66: George T Stagg Bourbon - 71.4% ABV? 97.5 pts from Mr Murray? Phwoar.
67: Nikka All Malt
68: Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky - Continuing with the world whisky theme - a South African grain whisky.
69: Powers 12yo - I'm still on a mission to find an Irish whisky that I really like (the Jameson 18yo came close)
70: Old Pulteney 17yo
71: Black Bottle - The price may be an indication of the quality that lies within..but a blend of (almost) every Islay malt? Sign me up.
72: Master of Malt 40yo
73: Bowmore 18yo - In the interests of expanding my Islay whisky exposure (also, I've enjoyed the few Bowmores I've tried to date)
74: Finlaggan Old Reserve - It's Caol Ila, right?
75: Laphroaig Cairdeas
76: Old Pulteney 21yo
77: Dalmore King Alexander III - Not one, not two, but SIX different types of casks!
78: Glenfarclas Movember edition - I do Movember every year, but had no idea there was a whisky dedicated to it!
80: Johnnie Walker "The Gold Route" - See #22.
81: Big Peat - Coal Ila, Bowmore, Ardbeg and Port Ellen? Yes please.
82: Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon
83: Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel - Love the 12 and 18yo.
84: Ben Nevis 10yo
85: Aberfeldy 12yo
86: Bailie Nicol Jarvie Blended Whisky - A bunch of guys on a whisky forum are always talking about this being a decent drop for the (relatively little) money. 
87: Sazerac Rye - Neat (I've had it in plenty of cocktails before. Plenty of tasty, sharp, strong cocktails).
88: Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky
89: Balvenie 17yo Doublewood
90: Laphroaig cask strength - I meant to buy this one a recent trip overseas, but got sidetracked by a few new Glenfiddich releases.
91: The Chivas Brothers' Blend - As far as blends go, I don't mind Chivas, and I should hopefully be able to tick this one off the list when I next travel.
92: Teerenpeli Finnish Single Malt Whisky - I was curious if there were any Estonian whiskies out there (seeing as I'm a small part Estonian), but it seems there's only one, now-defunct distillery bottling Scottish whisky in Estonia. This Finnish whisky seemed a bit easier.
93: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked - I love Woodford Reserve and since their NSW Brand Ambassador told me about this, I've been wanting to try it.
94: Redbreast 12yo
95: Hammer Head Czech Whisky
96: An Islay new make - I've tried a few Scottish new makes (and Glenfiddich twice), but never an Islay new make. Not sure if this one will be easy or not, but they can't all be easy.
97: A special bottling made specifically for a bar - But not the Highlander Bar's special bottling from Highlander Singapore, because I've already tried that...
98: A Scotch bottled in the 70s
99: A Scotch bottled in the 80s
100: A Scotch bottled in the 90s
101: Master of Malt 50yo - A 50yo whisky that I'll most probably have the opportunity to try sooner rather than later.

....easy, right? Let's get tasting!

Cheers,
Martin.

Bar review #2: The Nant Whisky Bar (Brisbane)

There are some great whisky bars in Australia, and some great distilleries, but (aside from the various cellar doors at each distillery) no-one had ever combined the two.

Until now.

I was pretty keen to visit the Nant Whisky Bar bar since hearing of its opening in October 2012, so when Steph joined me after a Brisbane work trip last weekend, it was a perfect opportunity. Located in "the Valley" (but well away from the seedy part), The Nant Whisky Bar occupies a quiet corner of the Emporium, a "luxury retail and dining precinct".

The bar is the brainchild of The Nant Distillery, and I'm told more are to follow (they already have a second bar in Hobart). Designed to show off The Nant's range of whiskies (including their highly-praised, 95.5 Jim Murray-rated cask strength 3yo), the bar also has a strong focus on local Tasmanian produce in both wine and food.

Talking to the staff (including the very friendly "Simo" and manager Ryan), it was pretty clear these guys and girls have the right idea about whisky - i.e. keep it fun, leave the BS behind, and maybe try something new and interesting. With 100+ world whiskies available (including several independent bottlings), they certainly meet that last point.

Having just come from dinner at the excellent esquire, we didn't try any of the food offerings, but dived head first into the whisky. First up was a flight of Nant's three expressions:

• The Nant Single Malt Whisky (Port Wood) 43% 
• The Nant Single Malt Whisky (Sherry Wood) 43% 
• The Nant Single Malt Whisky (American Oak Bourbon Wood) - Jim Murray 95.5/100 Cask Strength 63%

After those (and plenty of whisky banter with Simo - always sit at the bar!), we moved onto Wales (Penderyn 10yo), then finally Islay - first a Dun Bheagan 14yo Ardbeg (sherry cask), then The Ileach, which I'd never heard of, but was a nice surprise (especially for the price tag). More on these in future "Tasted" posts (suffice to say the cask strength Boubon Wood Nant was excellent).

If you ever find yourself in Brisbane, I highly recommend dropping by the Nant Whisky Bar. We struggled to find nice, quiet cocktail/spirits bars (The Laneway was enjoyable, Canvas looked great, but apart from that everything else seemed to turn into an nightclub on a Saturday night), but the Nant Whisky Bar was a great find. Bring on Sydney!

Cheers,
- Martin.

PR #2: World of Whisky's "The Whisky Show" returns to Sydney for 2013

Last year was a big year for Whisky Shows in Sydney, with Whisky Live, World of Whisky's "The Whisky Show", and Oak Barrel's "Whisky Fair", not to mention a variety of smaller events.

2013 is set to be just as big if not bigger - with Whisky Live (2-3rd August) and The Whisky Fair (7-8th September) already having been announced, and now a bigger, better "The Whisky Show 2013" booked for 28-29th June 2013.

With a limit of 500 visitors per session (across three sessions) and two halls, the show should give everyone plenty of opportunity to discuss and enjoy a dram (or several).

To quote World of Whisky:

Based on feedback received from both exhibitors and visitors last year, we have made several changes to the Show format, to strive for continued improvement. 

• The Show will be split into three 4-hour sessions. One session on Friday and two sessions on Saturday, with an hour break between the sessions. 
• Each session will be limited to 500 visitors. 
• There will be free snack and finger foods available for visitors.
• The Show will be split across two halls, allowing for more exhibitors and to spread visitors out a bit more. 
• Access to the show will be at street level, in a side entrance to the hotel, allowing easy direct access to the Show. 
• The retail store will be located near the exit. We will again be having special show prices on the day.
• The Whisky Cocktail competition and Australasian Whisky Awards proved to be very popular, and will be repeated again in 2013.

Keep an eye on the World of Whisky website for tickets - we might even see you there!

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Tasted #7 & #8: Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary and Glenfiddich 19yo Age of Discovery Bourbon cask (#101drams)

It's a rare event when duty free works out to be cheaper in Australia than, well, anywhere else in the world, but that's what happened on a recent trip to NZ, so on return into SYD I picked up two 'fiddichs I'd been keen to get my hands on - the 125th Anniversary Edition and the 19yo Age of Discovery Bourbon cask finish. Both to join my shelf of "special 'fiddichs":

Having been a huge fan of the original AoD Madeira cask finish, and realising that the 2nd release (Bourbon cask) wasn't going to be available for regular retail sale, I was keen to get my hands on a bottle. As for the 125th Anniversary - a peaty, limited edition 'fiddich? Too interesting to pass up!


Both are presented in typical limited edition Glenfiddich fashion - i.e. very well, in sturdy and attractive boxes with (in the case of the 125th Anniversary) a few extra add-ons (call them gimmicks if you like, I think they're pretty nice) -  a signed certificate by Malt Master Brian Kinsman, a (very heavy) solid copper bottle stopper, and a small booklet on the malt.

..but enough of the small talk. How do they taste?




Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Edition (43% ABV, No Age Statement)

Nose: Peat! Not in a "blow your head off" Ardbeg style (as much as we all love it), but not in the subtle "hello, I promise I'm here!" style of say the Caoran Reserve either. Certainly not what you expect from any Glenfiddich. Pleasant though. While the smoke is hard to ignore, it reminded me more of an Aussie peated whisky (like say, Hellyers Road Peated) than a subtle Islay. There's a slight fruity sweetness too.

Palate: Vanilla, smoke, again - reminiscent of the Hellyers Road Peated. Pleasant, but you can only just tell it's a Glenfiddich. Certainly the most different Glenfiddich I've tried.

Finish: All the vanilla, sweetness, fruitiness clears, and leaves smoke. Not overpowering, but definitely the dominant characteristic. It lingers, but doesn't overstay its welcome.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100

Fantastic presentation, as we've come to expect
from special edition Glenfiddichs 

The AoD Bourbon finish (left) is lighter than the
125th Anniversary, but not by much.

Glenfiddich 19yo Age of Discovery Bourbon cask finish (40% ABV, 19yo)

Nose: Vanilla - a big hit of sweet vanilla at first. Slight notes of banana, maybe a hint of pear?

Palate: Bananas, pear. The vanilla sweetness so evident on the nose is nowhere to be found.

Finish: Apple and pear. Not dissimilar to Glenfiddich 12yo, but much smoother. Not a long finish, but not too short either.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100



All up, two very enjoyable whiskies. While I slightly preferred the AoD Bourbon cask finish to the 125th Anniversary, I'm very glad I grabbed a bottle two bottles of the latter. If it's anything like the Snow Phoenix (just search eBay), it's sure to be a popular and highly sought-after dram!

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Tasted #6: Laphroaig 15yo

Most whisky fans would be all too familiar with Laphroaig's standard 10yo offering, and likely their Triple Wood and Quarter Cask releases too. Perhaps even their 18 and 25 year old releases, if lucky enough.

Not everyone would have heard of the 15 year old however, largely because it was discontinued some years back, replaced by the 18 year old.

Since then, bottles have been going for silly money through some outlets, so when I came across the chance to buy a bottle for a decent price last year, I jumped at it. I always enjoy having whisky with a backstory on my shelves, and if that whisky is no longer sold, even better.

Laphroaig 15 year old (Distillery bottling, 43% ABV, 15 years old)


Nose: Peat smoke, but not in your face as you'd expect with an Islay (especially a Laphroiag). Fresh fruit, sweet, but with a smokey undertone. Pleasant.


Palate: The peat is initially subdued, with the sweet characteristics found on the nose coming through. The peat quickly shines through, though not overpowering. 

Finish: Hmmm, odd. It's a long finish, but the smokiness only remains for a little while at the back of the throat, What really lingers is the spice. Warming, but not smoky in the way (say) an Ardbeg finishes. Pleasant, but different.

Jim Murray called this a "hugely disappointing, lacklustre dram" and "woefully short on complexity" but I can't agree. It's not my favourite malt, not even my favourite Islay malt, but it's unusual and complex in a way plenty of Islay malts aren't, and overall a very pleasant dram.



Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 90/100

Cheers,
 - Martin.

PR #1: Hudson moves to William Grant and Sons in Australia

While this blog will never become solely an outlet for press releases, as I mentioned from the outset, from time to time I do plan to include the odd press release, particularly if I think it's of note to you fine readers (and particularly if it relates to the Australian whisky scene). So on that note...

           

William Grant & Sons Australia have recently announced that the Hudson range of American whiskies (which you may been lucky enough to try if you visited Whisky Live last year) have transferred from Vanguard Luxury Brands to WG&S.

For those of you not familiar with Hudson, it's a range of craft whiskey distilled by New York based distiller Tuthilltown Spirits Company, consisting of two Bourbons, a Single Malt, Rye Whiskey and Corn Whiskey. Bottles are sold in 350mL format and, speaking from experience tasting the Bourbons, Rye and Single Malt, are all excellent whiskies produced with extensive experience and care.

To quote the WG&S press release:

Vanguard Luxury Brands based in Coogee and managed by James France, has been handling the brand in the Australian market for the past three years - taking it on prior to William Grant & Sons ownership - and has been successful in seeding the range into many of Australia’s top bars.

Said Brian Sharp, general manager of William Grant & Sons Australia, “James and the team at Vanguard have built a solid platform for Hudson in Australia. We are very pleased with the great job they’ve done to place Hudson carefully into high end on and off trade outlets, nationally. We sat down with James and agreed that it made sense for all if we were to take Hudson back into our own portfolio and release Vanguard to go ahead with the other projects and brands they’ve been keen to get started on.”

WG&S Australia plan to focus efforts on the Baby Bourbon and Manhattan Rye, and we can only hope this means seeing these in more bars and bottles hops in the near future.

Cheers, 

 - Martin.

Bar review #1: Bulletin Place (Sydney)

In the interests of keeping this blog a little varied (while still focusing on whisky), on occasion I'll include the odd bar review. I mean we all need to drink that whisky somewhere, right?

With that in mind, I couldn't think of a place to start than the recently-opened Bulletin Place in Sydney's CBD. Opened in late December, Bulletin Place sits in a little-known laneway near Circular Quay (funnily enough called Bulletin Place). With the bar's increasing popularity (not to mention Tapavino next door, who'll supply the food for Bulletin Place), it won't remain "little-known" for long.

Bulletin Place is a labour of love from three of the industry's best bartenders - Tim Philips (some may know him as the 2012 Diageo Reserve World Class Global Bartender of the Year), Robb Sloann and Adi Ruiz, all three of whom passed through Melbourne's famed Black Pearl at one stage or another, and all of whom have held court behind the bar at some of the country's best cocktail dens.

With space for 50, Bulletin Place isn't a big bar, but it's a bar with a lot of heart. The focus is on fresh produce, and the cocktail menu changes daily based on what the guys can get their hands on. The back bar is all about quality over quantity, and there's a mid-sized but well-curated selection of whiskies (stored in a crate on the bar, rather than hiding behind it). Whiskies include Talisker 57deg North, Glenlivet 21, a few Ardbegs, Yamazaki 18yo and a very tasty cask-strength Bakery Hill. A great mix of regions and world whiskies for such a small bar.

Steph (my wife) and I have visited twice now (both times Tim wasn't around - the life of the World's best bartender is a busy one it seems!) and both times Robb and Adi really made everyone feel welcome. One thing that really struck me about these guys is that they always seem to know what we want in a cocktail, even with such vague instructions as "short and strong, please". It's the same thing I experienced when I was luckily enough to visit ivy's Level 6 on my buck's night just over a year ago - every cocktail Tim made back then was spot on.

At one stage, Steph asked Adi for something with Zacapa, and far from the usual Zacapa Old Fashioneds, Negronis etc...received what I can only describe as a Zacapa Bellini with honey. It was delicious, and combined 3 of Steph's favourite ingredients (Zacapa, honey and champagne). Spot on every time these guys...


Of course, they also have a small but well thought-out selection of wine and beer for those who like their drinks simpler.

The crowd seems to be a mix of city workers, bartenders and generally anyone looking for a friendly venue with great drinks (when we last visited, a few of the Chaser gang were enjoying drinks in the corner too). 9pm on a Friday was busy, but certainly not uncomfortably so (and most importantly, we were able to grab two seats at the bar - always sit at the bar!).

Bulletin Place is open Monday to Saturday, 4pm to midnight and is sure to only get more popular as word gets out. Add it to your list of Sydney bars to check-out this Summer!

Cheers,
Martin.

PS:....oh, and on our last visit, they had the Stones cranking on the stereo. Does it get any better?

The New Zealand Whisky Company visit

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a relaxing break and managed to spend some quality time with friends and family (and maybe even some friends of the single malt variety). 2013 looks to be a exciting year in the world of whisky, not just in terms of Scotch (which is always exciting), but world whiskies too.

..and on that note, onto our first post of 2013...

While planning a recent trip to NZ with my wife, I came across The NZ Whisky Company, a company who bottle and sell a variety of NZ single malts and blends under a few different labels. I'd actually tried their DoubleWood 10yo blend at the 2012 "World of Whisky" show in Sydney and found it interesting enough that we decided a visit was in order. Unfortunately there's no longer a distillery, so the visit was limited to the tasting centre (the barrel room was previously open to the public, but has since been closed). Regardless, with a diverse range of blends and single malts, how could we say no?

Located on the East Coast of the South Island in Oamaru (a 1.5hr drive from our Dunedin base of a few nights), we made the trip up and my wife kindly agreed to drive back. The town itself is actually very historic and has plenty of sights to see, but this blog post focuses on just the one..

The visitor centre offers individual tastings, barrel tastings, flights (focusing on blends, single malts, older varieties) and sells everything by the bottle too (including smaller bottles, which was perfect given I'd almost filled my duty-free allowance with pre-ordered whisky...). I started with a mixed blend/single malt flight, consisting of:

Diggers & Ditch Doublewood Blend (14yo, red wine barrel-aged, 41.5% ABV)

A big sherry nose and a big sherry hit on first tasting. If I'd tasted it blind, I'd have sworn it was a Tassie whisky (which shouldn't have come as a surprise, given I later learned it's a blend of Tassie and NZ whiskies). Not a bad drop, but I'd tasted better.

Rating: 84/100

South Island Single Malt 18yo (40% ABV)

Now this was more like it! Biscuity and light on the palate, with a light but very pleasant finish. A whisky I could happily sip all day.

Rating: 92/100

South Island Single Malt 21yo (40% ABV)

..even better. Building on the 18yo (they came from the same barrels), the 21yo had a much bigger mouth feel, with cinnamon and just a hint of peat (amplified with a few drops of water). This was my favourite of all the 10 I tried, and the one I took home.

Rating: 92/100

South Island Single Malt 24yo (40% ABV)

Given the impressive 18 and 21yo, I expected a similar profile, but with more character. What I got though was a nose of...fresh laundry? Weird, but that was my first thought. The palate was apples, sweet and fresh. Not what I'd expected. Not bad, but I preferred the 21yo.

Rating: 90/100

Steam train line running through Oamaru

We decided it was time to grab some lunch, check out a few other Oamaru sights, and return for a few more drams later in the afternoon...and so with palate cleansed and sights seen, it was onto round two. First up, a flight consisting of four single malts (3 at cask strength, listed as "anywhere from 49-60% ABV"): 

Milford Single Malt 15yo
To me, this had Glenfiddich (both 12 and 15yo) written all over it. Pear, a hint of cinnamon spice, with a bit of peat on the finish. One of my favourites of the day.
Rating: 92/100

Vindication Cask Strength 16yo
Similar pear/apple nose, with a taste that seemed younger than its 16 years, in comparison to the other aged whiskies on offer (considering all are aged in the same size barrels). Short finish too.
Rating: 89/100

1989 Cask Strength 22yo
As with the 16yo, but with peat on the palate and a lingering finish.
Rating: 91/100

1988 Cask Strength 23yo
This one had a lot going on, perhaps somewhat contradictory. Sweet, candy apple on the nose. Peaty palate and a long, warming finish. A few drops of water opened it right up and amplified the smoke.
Rating: 91/100

Doublewood 8yo "Preston's" (from the barrel)

This was an interesting one - very much an "in progress" whisky, they'd taken an 8yo Doublewood from a leaking cask, poured it into another cask, tapped it, and were offering drams straight from the barrel (quite generous drams for $4NZD too, I might add!)
Quite different to the 10yo DoubleWood, the nose on this was oranges...very pleasant. The palate was pretty much the DoubleWood 10yo, but with a hint of orange and raisins, and a softening from the 10yo (despite the whisky actually being younger). Not a terribly smooth finish, but all up a solid whisky, certainly worth a try, if for no other reason than the novelty value.
Rating: 88/100

Milford 20yr Single malt
Last of all was a complimentary taste of the Milford 20yo. Unfortunately, after so many whiskies my notes for this one just read "tried too many to be objective. Very nice."

Rating: Very nice/100 (hey, this was #10 after all...)

So after 10 drams and a few interesting stories about the history of NZ whisky, we were on our way. I can highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area - there aren't too many NZ whiskies, nor too many places you can try such a diverse range of malts and blends from the one company, and it's always interesting to see what the rest of the whisky world has to offer. The staff were fantastic and (despite Sunday being their busiest day) always happy to chat about the Aussie and NZ whisky industries. 

A very worthwhile visit for some tasty and interesting drams!

 

Cheers, 

Martin.

Top Hong Kong Whisky bars

Updated 21st Jan 2020.

Back in 2013, we launched a list of "Top Sydney bars: The (sort of but not entirely) definitive list (of good ones)". We try to keep it up to date, and years later it's still one of the most popular posts on this blog (right next to, interestingly, this Glenfiddich post).

I'd been toying with the idea of a similar list for Hong Kong (especially seeing as we've already reviewed a few), but the bar scene here, whilst fantastic, is so ever-changing that it would be a nightmare to maintain such a list.

...a list of Hong Kong's best whisky bars though, I figured, should be much more manageable...and so, in 2015 I finally decided to turn the haphazard list I'd been keeping into my phone into a list for the blog, using the same format as our Sydney list (name, link, address, brief 1-2 line description, link to our review, and sorted by region).

Please enjoy, and if you think I've left any out (quite likely) please let me know!

Although note: we've seen quite a few HK whisky lists over the years and found a lot of them seem to include a few bars we wouldn't really consider "whisky bars". Having 30 commonplace scotch whiskies on the menu does not make for a "whisky bar", in our opinion, and so the list below tries to include only bars that focus, mostly exclusively, on whisky.

Central

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The ThirtySix (2/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Rd). Named after The Macallan's 36 stills, this Jan 2019 launched bar has taken over the old Angel's Share space, with a complete refurbishment and a dimly-lit seductive decor. Highballs and whisky are the focus here, with an impressive selection of whiskies in the "vault" (where customers can also buy and keep their own bottle), and creative takes on the Highball (and other cocktails) co-designed by Proof & Company.*

Club Qing (10/F, Cosmos Building, 8-11 Lan Kwai Fong). Aaron Chan. Kennis Ko and Wu Kin San (Jack) run what is commonly referred to as Hong Kong's best whisky bar...and we're not one to argue. The specialism here is twofold - old and rare bottles (keep an eye on their Instagram for new arrivals), and Japanese whisky, (as if there was any doubt to their credentials with regards to the latter, a full set of Ichiro's Malt Cards greets you on entry). Prices are reasonable, half-drams are happily poured, their own bottlings are fantastic, staff are incredibly friendly/engaging/helpful, and the bar caters equally well to whisky fans and newbies alike. They only run a few tastings per year, but when they do, they're the sort of tasting you won't find anywhere else in Hong Kong. Think 1970s-1990s verticals of Macallan or Laphroaig 10, an exploration of Karuizawa across the decades, etc... The gold standard.

House Welley Bar eUnit A, 2/F Welley Building, 97 Wellington St). A new bar for 2020 (technically late 2019), from a few well-known people in the HK whisky scene. House Welley fuses modern design, with a large, airy space, modern lighting and a stellar collection of drams split by region, not just from Scotland but Japan, Ireland, Australia and other world whiskies. The owners' personal tastes are clearly reflected in the selection of drams, and you'll find everything from paper label SMWS bottles (try the 117.1 if there's any left!), rare Macallan, vintage Bowmores, single cask Yamazakis and everything in between. Sure to become a regular haunt for HK's whisky lovers.

Nocturne (35 Peel Street, Soho) - See our review here. If Angel's Share is mostly about Scotch, Nocturne is all about Japanese whisky (and wine). Intimate and dimly lit, with an interesting industrial-yet-warm interior, you'll find a great range of Japanese drams, all ordered from a Samsung tablet. The prices aren't cheap, especially for those who aren't used to HK whisky prices, but their selection is excellent.

Chinnery (Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Rd) - An intimate and old-school whisky den in the equally intimate and old school (yet unmistakably luxurious) Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong.

001 (97 Wellington St officially, although the most common entrance is via a hidden door in Graham St's wetmarket) - Located under popular whisky shop Liquor and Liqueur, 001 is probably most well-known as a cocktail bar, but don't overlook its whisky credentials. Single cask bottlings and rare, hard to find drams are commonplace here. Pricing is on the higher end for HK whisky bars, but it's worth a visit if you're looking for a unique dram. Get in early as it gets busy / selective on popular nights.

Butler Shelter (29/F, Asia Pacific Centre, 8 Wyndham St) - An outpost of the original Butler Bar in TST (see "Kowloon side" below). Small, quiet and very Japanese, the selection is limited but well-curated, the cocktails are expertly made (we once watched one of the bartenders spend 20 minutes just getting air bubbles out of the ice mould he was about to freeze) and the drams include something for everyone. Price-wise I'd say about "middle of the road" for HK whisky bars. Sadly closed as of Dec 2015.

Angel's Share (2/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Rd) - See our review here. One of the classics. Cosy but large and open, with a fine selection of drams (with a focus on Scotch), and even their own cask. A popular spot for tastings (it's not hard to see why). Reasonably priced (considering good whisky is expensive everywhere in HK). Sadly closed as of Sept 2018

Sheung Wan

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Ginger (G/F, 12 On Wo Lane, Sheung Wan) - Ginger is only a few doors up from Ronin, but focuses more heavily on Scotch than Japanese whisky, in particular, lots of interesting IBs and distillery-only releases. If a sought-after bottle has been released in HK, you can probably bet Tony will have it within weeks, available by the dram at Ginger. A warm-yet-industrial funky interior, a decent selection of drams, a nice upstairs area (good for groups) and a great selection of Ardbeg (they're an official Ardbeg Embassy) make this a must visit. Prices are quite reasonable for HK, and they often have their own private bottlings on offer, which are well worth a try.

Whisky & Words (No 7, Shin Hing Street, Sheung Wan) - One of two openings in/around August 2018, Whisky & Words is a small, intimate whisky and cocktail bar with a great selection of recent OBs and IBs. Having a few whiskies here, followed by a cleansing Paloma at Coa (literally 10 metres away) makes for a pretty great night. 

Ronin (8 On Wo Lane, Sheung Wan) - A great place to go for Japanese whisky in HK, although it has to be said, bring your wallet. The selection is amazing (as is the food - seriously), but you'll pay for it. Looking for a rare Karuizawa, limited edition Yamazaki, single cask Akashi or the like? Good chance you'll find it here. If you're planning to visit on a Fri/Sat though, book early. It's small and incredibly popular.

SAFE Bubbles and Malt (Shop 2, 1/F Manhattan Avenue, 255 Queens Rd Central, Sheung Wan) - I wasn't sure what to make of SAFE at first. On the one hand, they have the credentials (former official SWMS bar, regular tastings, and one of the most insane collections of rare/expensive whisky you've ever seen in one place outside of perhaps The Macallan Bar Macau, or the Diageo Claive Vidiz collection), but on the other hand, with concrete flooring, coloured lights and lots of polished metal, it doesn't really feel like a traditional whisky bar. Then again, there's nothing wrong with breaking tradition. Prices are on the higher side (especially if you're used to SWMS prices in places like the UK and Australia), but as we've said, whisky isn't cheap in HK (thank the 100% tax we face here). You'll find drams here that you're unlikely to find anywhere else in HK (but make sure you also take time to gaze at / drool over the collection in the cabinets, which includes a 60 year old OB Glenfarclas and a Monochrome Joker).

Malt Whisky Bar (19 New St, Sheung Wan) - See our review here. The newest whisky bar on this list (as of November 2015). Tucked away in New St (though it's not hard to spot the orange facade), this bar has, like an increasing number of HK whisky bars, two collections of whisky - one that appears to be for show (or perhaps those with deep enough pockets), including rarities like Balvenie TUN1401s, Hibiki 30s and some OB Port Ellens, and the collection behind the bar, consisting of a more wallet-friendly selection (spanning a good section of the globe). Friendly staff and decent prices make this a definite option if you're in the area. Sadly closed as of Jun 2017

Wan Chai / Causeway Bay

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Casky (Shop 1 G/F, Golden Star Building, 20-24 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai) - The other August 2018 opening, Casky has already (in its first few weeks) held some fantastic events with some big names from the HK and Asian whisky worlds. We'll be visiting soon and will update this post with our thoughts.

Mizunara The Library (4/F, Kiu Yin Commercial Building, 361-363 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai) - About as “Japanese” a bar as you can get in HK. Impeccable drinks and service, but quite expensive. Their range of Japanese whiskies is ever-expanding (and includes some photo-worthy gems), and the whiskies in the "library" of malts around the room are incredible, but you'll pay for them. Endo-san who looks after the bar here made me one of the best cocktails I've ever had in HK, but it was also by far the most expensive I've ever had in HK, at over $220HKD. But hey, quality costs. Update: On a recent visit we learned that the bar is happy to offer half and even one-third drams of some malts (like most whisky bars in Japan). We love bars that do that, as it brings a number of rare/expensive whiskies into the realms of possibility for a number of whisky fans.

b.a.r Executive Bar (27/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa St, Causeway Bay) - Part of the old brigade - touted as being a "private bar", but as long as you call and make a reservation, in our experience, generally open to anyone. A great selection of Japanese, Scottish and even a few Aussie drams, but not cheap. A good spot to find a few rare drams you might be seeking (for us, it was the 2009 Ardbeg Supernova).

The Canny Man (Wharney Guang Dong Hotel Hong Kong, 57-73 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai) - Think Scottish pub and you're pretty much on the money. Over 100 drams available.

Kowloon side

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Tiffany's New York Bar (Lobby Level, InterContinental Grand Stanford, 70 Mody Rd, TST East) - A large (and ever-expanding) list, great staff, comfortable settings, low ceiling, regular jazz, frequent tastings and their own cask-aged whiskies all come together to make this one of HK's greats. If there's any doubt, just look at who visits when they're in town - David Stewart and George Grant, to name just two whisky legends who we've met at Tiffany's in previous years. Prices are fair and they also have good deals on bottles - including 2-for-1 on certain nights. Add a cigar terrace, and their annual whisky festival (Hong Kong Whisky Festival), and you've got a solid option for any whisky lover.

Butler Bar (5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Rd, TST) - One of HK’s original whisky bars. Very Japanese. Quiet, unassuming, with typical Japanese perfection in bartending. Cocktails and drams alike are all excellent here. Prices are about middle of the road for HK.

Bar Buonasera (7/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Rd, TST) - No, that isn't a typo this place really is just two levels above Butler Bar, and like Butler, it's also an old-school Japanese bar with a strong focus on classic cocktails and fantastic (often Japanese) whiskies. An offshoot of the famous Osaka bar by the same name, Bar Buonasera HK will often open rare / hard to find Japanese whiskies by the dram, and they also host the occasional guest bartender, focusing on whisky cocktails.

Chin Chin (3/F, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, 18 Hanoi Road, TST) - Could initially be dismissed as your average hotel bar (live band, large, often full of business travellers) but before you write it off it, have a look at the Chinese decor/bar, and the drams within. Some rarities (with a focus on Scotch) and some good 2-for-1 specials at times. A nice place to drop into for one or two if in the area, or looking for a break from shopping at the (often sensory-overloading) K11 Art Mall!

Whisky Stables (Hullett House, 1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Rd, TST) - HK's first "Whisky Ambassador" accredited bar sees a decent selection (including a few Mackmyras rarely seen elsewhere in HK), comfortable seating and great staff come together to make a comfortable and inviting whisky bar. Great for drinks before/after dinner at one of Hullett House's restaurants, or just for a dram on its own. The heritage building adds to the charm, and the terrace, albeit small, is a nice addition not often seen in HK's whisky bars Sadly closed as of 2019.

Other

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Parkview Whisky Bar (Lobby Level, Hong Kong Parkview, 88 Tai Tam Reservoir Rd, Hong Kong). Technically a members' and residents' only bar, Parkview Whisky Bar might seem small (it is), but the whisky collection is out of this world. In addition to a constantly-stocked back bar of rare and incredible drams (1946 Macallan Fine & Rare? Check. Blue Label Macallan 30s? Of course. Well-aged single cask Karuizawas? Yup. 1966 Sprinbank Local Barley, Moon Import Springbank, ceramics Bowmores? Check check check), the bar sees regular new bottlings come in two, from well-known IBs like Three Rivers, Acorn and Elements of Islay. A bit of a hike for those in Central, but worth it for some of the incredible drams on offer.

Cheers,

Martin.

* In the interests of full disclosure, I own a small stake in The ThirtySix.