Ardbeg Day 2014 (Sydney) - review

Well we talked about it enough. Hyped it up. Told you all you should sign up to the committee, because Ardbeg Day 2014 was going to be awesome.

We told you how last year's was brilliant and the year before that too.

We even posted tasting notes before the big day so you knew what to expect from the whisky.

..and then the day came and went. So was it awesome?

Yes. Yes it was.

  

Following the tried and true technique of "take a great venue, scatter fun games around the place, give everyone a cocktail (or three), have plenty of Ardbeg on hand, make sure everyone walks away with a prize, and run a tasting of the latest limited release", Ardbeg Day (Sydney) 2014 saw Moët Hennessy Australia and EVH PR team up to take over Sydney's Royal Mint on Saturday 31st May, 2014.

Arriving at midday, Steph and I were greeted by a pack of Shorties, before being offered a choice of two cocktails - "Shortie's half time" (Ardbeg 10, pear nectar, vanilla syrup, lemon juice, orange bitters and an orange wedge) or "FIF'Islay Cup" (Ardbeg 10, Acaî/Berry mix, simple syrup and mint). The cocktails were very different - I prefered the former, Steph prefered the latter. Both were great, though I still think it's hard to top the caramel/pineapple number that graced Ardbeg Day 2012 as far as refreshing, long Ardbeg cocktails go.

Centre stage was a giant human foosball arena (more on that later), and scattered around the venue were various games, in true Ardbeg Day fashion. I'm not quite sure of their proper titles, but there was "kick the soccer ball through the hole", regular Foosball and "manoeuvre the soccer ball around the giant Ardbeg bottles without touching them or letting the soccer ball leave the mat". Challenging (especially with a dram in hand), but not overly so as plenty of attendees walked away with Ardbeg umbrellas, card holders, t-shirts, books, glasses, coasters and Shorties. One thing you can say about Ardbeg Day - the prizes are always plentiful and quality!

 

After a few games (best to get in early before too many drams!) and catching up with fellow committee members, it was time for the main sporting event - a game of human Foosball, called by former Socceroo Mark Bosnich, MC for the day. Mark gave a brief introduction to the day, the whisky and Ardbeg, and whilst there was nothing inherently wrong with his speeches, it's fair to say he could have done a little preparation or pre-reading, as his eyes were glued to the script nearly the whole time, and it seemed he was reading it for the first time. Very wooden (I heard a few people mentioning this too).

A minor point though, in what was shaping up to be a fantastic day.

After the official game was over and awards were presented, glasses of Auriverdes were handed out for a tasting led by Moët Hennessy Australia's Spirits Ambassador Garth Foster. Steph and I already gave our thoughts back in April, but suffice to say the new release was very well received by the crowd - particularly by those who professed they typically didn't like peated Islay whiskies. If the intention behind Auriverdes was to create a more "accessible", or easier drinking Ardbeg, without losing its character, I'd say it's on the money.

After a few more drams of Auriverdes (who could say no to trying a dram from that stunning 4.5L golden Jeroboam?), lunch was served in the form of a slow-roasted pig with incredible crackling. Very, very tasty.


The rest of the day was spent talking whisky, drinking whisky, and generally enjoying the atmosphere...oh, and playing a lengthy game of Human Foosball with 8 other mates, whisky bloggers and Ardbeg fans! This was an absolute blast, though perhaps not the best idea to play after several drams and a healthy serving of pig. It certainly provided plenty of laughs though.

Every year I wonder if Moët Hennessy Australia can do a repeat performance, and every year they seem to pull it off with ease. We can only imagine what's in store for next year's Ardbeg Day....just 11 and a half months to go.

Auriverdes is available now for $190AUD RRP (previous advice provided to TimeforWhisky of a $135.70AUD price point was incorrect), and can be purchased directly from the new "Moët Hennessy Collection" website.

Cheers,
Martin.

Tasted #95: Dalwhinnie 1995 Distillers Edition Oloroso Finish (#101drams)

Dalwhinnie 15 (regular edition) was one of the first single malts I ever purchased, so I thought it fitting to include the Oloroso-finished Distillers Edition as part of my #101drams challenge...


Dalwhinnie 1995 Distiller's Edition Oloroso Finish (43% ABV, 15yo, Highlands, Scotland, $95AUD)
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Colour: Orange gold.
Nose: Malty, flinty, orange peel.
Palate: Light, not a whole lot of sherry influence (the Oloroso finishing could have been in fairly old casks possibly). Drying, earthy.
Finish: Short to medium, with some toffee, and a hint of bananas (which I usually only get on much younger whiskies, or new makes!)
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 88/100. Not bad but not one I'd rush out to buy.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

This Week in Whisk(e)y #8

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, we get a fair few interesting press releases and news articles here at TimeforWhisky, and usually try to feature them with our own spin, experiences or comments. Sometimes though, they come thick and fast, and we just don't have time to do them all justice.

So we've decided to take a leaf out of some other excellent whisky blogs, and feature a "PR roundup" every now and then - basically a wrap-up of relevant press releases we've received in the previous week (or other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph & I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...

The Whisky Weekend - Grain to Grass 
Chatting to Julian and Brooke from Melbourne's Whisky+Alement at the Suntory Launch recently, Jules mentioned having a pretty busy June. When I received the following press release from the National Trust of Victoria, I saw what he meant! The bar is teaming up with the National Trust of Victoria for a number of exciting events. If you're in Melbourne in late June, some of these would be well worth checking out.

"Rare and Limited Edition Whisky Tasting (Exclusive for 30) -Thursday 19th of June 2014
5.30pm for a start 6.00pm until 8.30pm.
A tasting of 6 very rare whiskies will be served at Tasma Terrace boardroom taken from 4 private collections.Presented by Whisky expert, Whisky and Alement bar owner/operator Julian White. The night will begin in our prestigious Heritage room with a welcome speech by the CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), the whiskies with a collective market value of over $5,850 will be sampled. Canapés will be prepared by CNK food design.
Tasma Terrace - 6 Parliament Place, East Melbourne
Price: $130/person

Whisky Pop up Bar - Friday 20th of June 2014 
Doors open at 6.00pm – 9.00pm
The Melbourne Gaol will be transformed into an American style whisky bar like no other. With more than 12 small bars, each representing a whisky , wine or beer brand. Ticket entry includes 2 drinks from a selection of whiskies,  cocktail, wine or beer, a food dish created by CNK food design and a live band. Additional food and drinks will be available to be purchased on the night.
Old Melbourne Gaol - 377 Russell St, Melbourne
Price: $40/person

Exclusive Australian Whisky Dinner -Saturday 21st of June 2014
Drinks and canapés on arrival at 6.00pm with the dinner  commencing  at 7.00pm -10.00pm
Meet our local whisky legends including Mark Nicholson (Lark), David Vitale (Starward) and David Baker (Bakery Hill) over dinner. An extremely rare chance to taste and compare 8 Australian whiskies from our fast-growing local industry. In March this year Sullivan’s Cove single malt was awarded the best single malt in the world over its well-practiced Scottish siblings. In April, Lark Distillery was awarded a gold medal for its single cask single malt whisky. The industry which was founded in 1992 by Bill Lark and is growing exponentially in both size, quality and reputation. This is an opportunity to hear and taste the story from the beginning to where it is today. Ticket includes a whisky and canapés on arrival, 8 Australian whiskies each from different distilleries, a 3 course dinner created by Peter Rowland catering and a full presentation by leading distillers. A silent auction will take place over the course of the night.
The Ballroom at Rippon Lea - 192 Hotham St, Elsternwick
Price: $160/person

If you have any questions please call the National Trust Bookings Office on 03 9656 9804 or email bookings@nattrust.com.au. Please note these events are restricted to those aged 18 years and over (excluding "Whisky on the Lawn"). Please drink responsibly. "

Overeem Bourbon Matured Cask Strength - first release
Tasted (and loved) back in January, the Overeem Bourbon Cask whisky has now been released as a Cask Strength (60% ABV) whisky, from a 100L first-fill American oak barrel. Only 111 bottles are available in this first release, at $259 in a special gift box with two Overeem Glencairn glasses. Enquiries / orders can be made by contacting Jane Overeem at info@oldhobartdistillery.com or 0418 399 077.

Tasted #94: Wild Turkey Spiced Bourbon

A few months ago Steph attended the launch of Wild Turkey Spiced in Australia, an island themed event held at Campari's HQ in Sydney. I couldn't attend, but Steph brought home a sample which I tried a few days later.

I'll be honest - I went in slightly biased, and didn't think I'd be a big fan of it neat (turns out, I was). Spiced rums are having their moment, as are flavoured whiskies, and this seemed like an attempt to cash in on that, with something that might only be good in cocktails. I can admit when I'm wrong though, and this is one example. Here are my notes:

Wild Turkey Spiced (43% ABV, 4yo (blend of 4 and 6yo Bourbon), Kentucky, USA, $42.99AUD)
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Nose: Nutty! Hazelnuts, toasted chestnuts. Interesting, intriguing.
Palate: Rich and mouthfilling, similar nuttiness to the nose. Spice hits at the back of the throat, but pleasantly, softly. This is turning out to be better than expected.
Finish: Short and nutty, but rich and creamy too. Wow, this has been an enjoyable whisky!
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Fair to say, better than I expected.

As recommended, I also tried it with cola, which produced a creamier, nuttier drink with less vanilla and more chestnut notes than your average bourbon and cola. Probably one of the best Bourbon and colas I've had.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Launch of Suntory Whisky in Australia - Tasted #91-93 (#101drams)

Suntory Australia held a stunning launch party last night at the Art Gallery of NSW to celebrate the official launch of Suntory whiskies in Australia, starting with an initial range of 6 whiskies:

• Yamazaki 12 year old
• Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve
• Hakushu 12 year old
• Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve
• Hibiki 12 year old
• Hibiki 17 year old

While the Yamazaki 12 has been readily available for some time now, and a few others often found at specialist bottle shops, the event was to celebrate their official launch in Australia, and no doubt heralds a significant rise in their prominence both on and off premise over the coming months.

Being a huge fan of the Suntory whisky portfolio, this I can assure you is fantastic news Australia.

The night started with a Hibiki 12 and Perrier (the sparkling water, not the Champagne) in a Champagne flute, while guests mingled around art works and Suntory whisky displays (which some may argue are works of art themselves (especially the Hibiki bottles).

After a short while, we were ushered into another room where a formal tasting was to be held by Mike Miyamoto, Suntory's global whisky ambassador. After managing to snare a lucky spot towards the front, I found myself standing next to noted fashion designer Akira Isogawa, who I learnt will soon have an upcoming collaboration with Suntory involving scarves and Suntory whisky bottles. Sounds intriguing (keep an eye out late July).

Mike talked us through his time with Suntory (including being part of the Yamazaki Distillery for close to 40 years, and doing a stint in Scotland in the early 2000s), and gave us a brief overview of the history of Suntory, before explaining the Japanese whisky style (designed to appeal to delicate palates) and ethos - that success is people drinking and enjoying their whisky, not just winning a slew of awards (although they certainly have those too). Above all, Mike explained that Suntory whiskies should be "subtle, refined yet complex", and as the tasting showed, they definitely meet those criteria.

After explaining that the combination of spirit, stills, casks and wood type means that Yamazaki alone can produce 60 different whiskies, it was time to taste one, along with a Hakushu and Hibiki.

Yamazaki 12 (43% ABV, 12 years old, Japan, $110AUD RRP)

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Colour: Honey
Nose: Ah, an old favourite that never gets old. Honey, some pineapple, and lots of vanilla.
Palate: Sweet, vanilla bean, some cinnamon, butterscotch and a hint of citrus.
Finish: Long, smooth, delicate, honied. Hints of spice and possibly some ginger.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. A classic that hopefully will be with us for a long time to come. Also happens to be one of Steph's favourites - between Steph and I, there isn't a lot left of the bottle we have at home that a good friend recently picked up for us from Japan.

Hakushu 12 (43% ABV, 12 years old, Japan, $110AUD RRP) - #101drams
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Colour: Light Champagne, straw.
Nose: Much more earthy than the Yamazaki. Green apples (in a big way), some pot purri. Very herbal.
Palate: Peat smoke (light but noticeable). Bigger bite with more depth than the Yamazaki. Meaty, musty. A whisky you can sit on.
Finish: Shorter than the Yamazaki. Some smoke, pears, apples and some grassy notes.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. Consistently high standards, these whiskies.


Hibiki 17 (43% ABV, Blended, 17 years old, Japan, $150AUD RRP)
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Colour: Orange honey.
Nose: Heaven. Somewhat in between the previous two - sweet, but with a whole lot of complexity going on - sea water, tropical fruits, peaches and cream.
Palate: As per the nose. Not terribly sweet at first, but it soon hits, with big notes of honey.
Finish: Light, medium length, delicate honey notes and tropical fruits.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 93/100. Talk whisky around me long enough and I'll eventually get onto the topic of blends, at which point I'll usually make it known that Hibiki 17 is, in my opinion, one of the best blends in the world. This tasting hasn't altered that opinion at all - an absolutely stunning whisky, and one I very happily keep in my whisky cabinet.

Later in the night we were served this with a big ice ball. I usually prefer my whisky neat, but when you're at the launch of a Japanese whisky range, being offered an ice ball the size and clarity of which few apart from the Japanese seem to be able to manage, you don't say no. Astoundingly, by far the most dominant note from both the nose and palate was confectionary - I got Red Skins (along with Brooke and Julian from Whisky + Alement) while others (including Jonathon from The Whisky Ledger) got Gummi Bears. Fascinating, and further evidence of the amazing complexity of this whisky.


After the formal tasting, it was into yet another room for a pairing of the final three whiskies with various canapés from the Art Gallery of NSW's head chef. It was hard to pick a favourite, but the grilled short rib (with straw potato and truffle béarnaise) and the whisky chocolates were probably the standouts in what was a stunning overall selection.

Without keeping the night too formal, matching whiskies were served in a variety of ways - from highballs to neat to on the rocks. While I don't have detailed tasting notes*, I was blown away by the quality and depth of the Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve. Here's an NAS, relatively cheap, soon to be relatively widely available whisky that absolutely bats above its $80AUD price point. One to look out for.

In fact, one thing I've always said about the Suntory whisky portfolio is they produce quality whiskies at reasonable price points. One famous guest (who'll remain anonymous) explained his opinion of the difference between the Nikka and Suntory porfolios, which was loosely along the lines of "Nikka are like the Virgin Australia of the whisky world. Decent, but nothing amazing. Suntory whiskies are like the Qantas - a quality experience".

I couldn't agree more.

After a few more canapés, whiskies and much discussion (the event was packed with Australian whisky faces), it was time to call it a night (and a fantastic one at that).

I predict we'll hear a lot more about these whiskies, and hopefully other parts of the portfolio (*cough* *cough*), in the coming months, and that should be music to the ears of any Australian whisky fan.

Cheers, 

 - Martin.

* Here are the official Suntory tasting notes:

Colour: Gold

Nose: Strawberry, cherry, Mizunara (Japanese oak)

Palate: Raspberry, white peach, touch of coconut

Finish: Sweet vanilla, clean finish with hint of cinnamon

Tasted #90: Glenmorangie Companta

As mentioned a few days ago, Glenmorangie Companta (the latest in Glenmorangie's Private Edition range) has now been released in Australia, and it's a beauty.

Here are my thoughts...

Companta amongst a few of its red wine friends

Glenmorangie Companta (46% ABV, NAS, Highlands, Scotland, $175AUD)
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Colour: Deep, reddish copper.
Nose: Flint, spicy, earthy. A Glenmorangie, sure, but...unlike any other before it.
Palate: Bursts onto the palate, full of flavour - very much a Glenmorangie at first, but wait, now it's tannic, full of berries, and cherries. With a slight hint of smoke. Very warming. Very unique.
Finish: Medium to long, retaining the hint of smoke (just a hint) and cherries from the palate. Also introduces milk chocolate into the equation.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. As the cold sets in around Sydney, this is a fantastic winter whisky. Warming, full of flavour, and delicious.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

PR #20: Glenmorangie Companta released in Australia

The fifth release of Glenmorangie's "Private Edition" range has now been released in Australia. "Companta", the result of Dr Bill Lumsden's spirit of experimentation, follows last year's Ealanta which Jim Murray crowned "2014 World Whisky of the Year" (high praise indeed, even if I generally don't put a lot of weight on Mr Murray's opinions...) 

A departure from the usual Bourbon, Sherry, or "a bit of both approach", Companta has been finished in French wine casks - Clos de Tart casks (imparting deep, berried, drying notes), then fortified Rasteau casks from Côtes du Rhône, giving it a rich and berried, but sweet profile.

This isn't the first time a private edition has been finished in wine casks (2012's Artein was finished in Italian Sassicaia casks), but is the first time those wine casks have been French.

Companta is bottled at 46%, is non-chill filtered and retails in Australia for $169.99AUD.

Tasting notes will be up in the next few days.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

PR #19: Ardbeg Day Australia 2014 registration is NOW OPEN!

Just to wrap up from our previous posts on Ardbeg Day 2014 and tasting notes on Ardbeg Auriverdes, a quick post to let you know that REGISTRATION FOR ARDBEG DAY AUSTRALIA 2014 (SYDNEY) IS NOW LIVE.

Go go go....
http://www.ardbeg.com/ardbeg/ardbeg-day-australia

...and if you need any convincing, here's our review of 2013's event again.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

CCWC at The Wild Rover - Jameson - Tasted #90-#96 (#101drams)

The Wild Rover are seemingly a roll with their "Campbell Corner Whiskey Co-Operative" (CCWC), keeping things true to their roots for their third session with some of the finest whiskies to come out of Ireland's Middleton Distillery.

Yes, it was only fitting that an Irish bar host an Irish whisky tasting, and what a tasting it was, with a whole slew of whiskies (some quite rare) presented by Pernod Ricard's Jameson Brand Ambassador Ailbhe Garrihy. It's not often you try seven whiskies on a Monday night, but hey, such is the life of the whisky blogger, and so it was a few weeks ago that Steph and I made our way to The Wild Rover to try:

• Jameson Original
• Jameson Select Reserve ("Black Barrel")
• Jameson Gold Reserve
• Green Spot Single Pot Still
• Redbreast 12yo (a #101drams whisky)
• Middleton Very Rare
• Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve

It's no secret that, as a style, I'm not a huge fan of the lighter, smoother triple distilled Irish whiskies (I'm also not a fan of Auchentoshan, for the same reason), but I figured if I was going to find one I liked, it was probably going to be here.

Ailbhe opened the night with some information about the Middleton distillery, who now have over 1million barrels aging away, and make all the whiskies tasted here at the one site. After a few more interesting facts and figures, and a tasty cocktail, it was onto the whiskey...

Jameson Original (40% ABV, NAS (typically 5-7yrs), Cork, Ireland, $42.95AUD)
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Blend of pot still and grain whisky. Some unmalted barley giving it a creamy mouthfeel.
Nose: Light, sandy, with vanilla, chalk and some sour notes.
Palate: Light and sweet, smooth, sure, but almost too smooth. No real bite. Some banana notes. Would definitely go well in a lighter cocktail.
Finish: Very short.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 86/100. Not entirely to my taste as a sipping whiskey.

Jameson Select Reserve ("Black Barrel") (40% ABV, NAS (typically 7-15yrs), Cork, Ireland, $64.99AUD)
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An interesting whiskey this one, one that's only been in Australia for ~9 months. One day each year, Middleton make a rare grain whiskey, which (unlike the other 364 days of the year) undergoes its first distillation in a pot still. That whiskey makes its way into this blend, along with other pot still malt whiskey.
Nose: Smooth, vanilla and honey notes. Bourbon cask influence seems strong.
Palate: Smooth, spicy, honey, cloves and raisins.
Finish: Medium, sweet, with notes of vanilla and cinnamon.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 90/100. Consider this if you like a good, sweet Bourbon-influenced whiskey.

Jameson Gold Reserve (40% ABV, NAS (typically 10-21yrs), Cork, Ireland, $84.99AUD)
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One of the first Irish whiskies I actually liked when I tried it years and years ago (before I was "into" whisky) at the Old Middleton Distillery in Dublin. Aged in a mixture of virgin French oak, and ex Bourbon and Sherry casks.
Nose: Big, sweet vanilla hit, honey, cut grass, some blueberries.
Palate: Light, caramel, some oak notes. Orange and toffee too.
Finish: Shorter than the Select, longer than the original. Sweet with citrus hints.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 89/100.

Green Spot Single Pot Still (40% ABV, NAS (typically 7-10yrs), Cork, Ireland, $99.99AUD)
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Aged mostly in second fill Bourbon barrels, with some aged in ex-Sherry barrels.
Nose: Rich, sweet, but "fuller" than the previous Jamesons. Some cinnamon.
Palate: Very different to the Jamesons! Big oak influence. Salmon fillet? Really? I kept going back and that's what I got (and no, I hadn't recently eaten salmon fillet!). Some honey too.
Finish: Short, oaky, and with those same inexplicable salmon notes!
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 88/100. Not sure what was going with those Salmon notes..

Redbreast 12yo (40% ABV, 12yo, Cork, Ireland, $99.99AUD) #101drams
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A single pot still whiskey, aged for 12 years.
Nose: Creamy, rich Christmas cake.
Palate: Light (noticing a trend here?) but slightly meaty, with Christmas pudding notes.
Finish: Short and meaty, but also rich and sweet.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 90/100.

Middleton Very Rare (40% ABV, NAS (typically 25yrs), Cork, Ireland, $249.99AUD)
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Limited to 5,000 bottles per year. $250/bottle, or free if anyone was willing to get a 'Sine Metu' tattoo on the night!
Nose: Very, very different this. Artichokes and mandarin. Some sulphur
Palate: Mouth filling, grainy, with some spice and cloves. None of the nose evident.
Finish: Short to medium, with strong notes of cloves.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 88/100.

Jameson Rarest Vintage (46% ABV, NAS (typically 25yrs), Cork, Ireland, $649.99AUD)
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A blend of grain whiskey aged in Bourbon barrels, and pot still whiskey aged in port pipes.

Nose: Beautiful, rich, berries, sultanas, dates.
Palate: Bigger mouthfeel - this is more like it. Slightly spicy, but still with those berry notes.
Finish: Meaty, long, sherried.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 93/100. The highlight for sure and a great end to the night.

Cheers, 

 - Martin.

PR #18: The Glenlivet "The Guardians' Chapter" released in Australia

It was launched with much fanfare at an amazing degustation at Tetsuya's late last year, and just over 7 months later, after the 3 whiskies ("Classic", "Exotic" and "Revival") have made their way around the world and The Glenlivet's "Guardians" have cast their votes, the winning "Guardians' Chapter" whisky (Exotic) has been released.

For those who didn't see the posts last year, The Glenlivet's "The Guardians' Chapter" is the world's first crowd-sourced single malt whisky, whereby fans around the world were given the opportunity to try three expressions, and vote on their favourite. The winning expression was bottled (limited to 2,000 cases globally) and sold through select bottle shops (in Australia, only Vintage Cellars).

I, like many on the night, picked "Exotic" as my favourite (giving it 93/100), so I was just a little bit excited to hear that the world agreed, and it was selected as the winning expression. It was released officially last Thursday, for $114.99AUD. Considering that's the price of the 18yo, and this is quite a limited and unique release, that's good value in my books.

Here are the tasting notes I wrote back in September (some of which I was pleasantly surprised to see The Glenlivet had included on their official webpage for the whisky (screenshot from The Glenlivet's website below)!

Exotic (ex American and Sherry oak barrels, 48.5% ABV) - The darkest of the three (so fair to say it also has the most sherry cask influence). Incredible nose, with sweet dessert-like notes, but complex nutty and dried fruit notes too. Sherry notes on the palate, with shortbread, spongecake and vanilla macarons. A light, but complex and lengthy finishes rounds out what is an excellent whisky. The clear winner in my books. 93/100.

No word on how long it will stick around at Vintage Cellars, but given the limited release and good value, I'd guess not too long.

 

Cheers, 

 - Martin.

Tasted #89: Overeem Port Cask (Oak Barrel)

At the Oak Barrel Sydney Whisky Fair last year (see post here) we tried a great (and very unique) Overeem Port matured whisky which underwent further months maturation in a 5L barrel at The Oak Barrel's shop in Sydney.

Turns out, Steph had bought me a bottle for my birthday a month later. Lucky man!

Overeem Port Matured (Oak Barrel special edition)  (43% ABV, NAS, Tasmania (and I guess Sydney), Australia, bottle 79/100, no longer available)
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Colour: Golden Brown (incidentally a GREAT song)
Nose: Deep sherry notes, hint of smoke, hint of berries.
Palate: More smoke. Sultanas, oat cakes, balsamic vinegar! Smoke reaches right to the back of the throat (but not in an unpleasant way).
Finish: Long, smoky, with a hint of peppery spice towards the end.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Add this to the list of "Overeem whiskies I really like" (which is every one I've ever tried).

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Tasted #88: Macallan 21yo Fine Oak (#101drams)

#59 on the #101dram Charitable Challenge is The Macallan 21yo "Fine Oak", a 43% ABV vatting of The Macallan aged in three different cask types (Spanish sherry-seasoned oak, American sherry-seasoned oak and American bourbon-seasoned oak). A departure from The Macallan's typical 100% sherry-aged house style, this range no doubt came about (in 2004) due to the relative high costs of using 100% sherry casks (oh, and the need for a "lighter style Macallan" I guess..).

It's interesting to see the impact supply/demand has on various distilleries and their ranges - something that is particularly noticeable with a distillery the size of The Macallan. You only need to look at the rise of NAS whiskies (and The Macallan's own pioneering in this territory, which we covered extensively last year) to see the way the industry is being shaped.

With that said, I included this whisky on the list as I'd never been a big fan of The Macallan in the past (both sherried and Fine Oak ranges, right up to 18yo). I thought the 21yo may change my opinion (as the 1824 Series did later). So, did it?

Yes.

The Macallan "Fine Oak" 21yo (43% ABV, 21yo, Speyside, Scotland, $330AUD)
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Colour: Coppery gold.
Nose: Flint, very slight hints of smoke, passionfruit.
Palate: Smoke - surprisingly a lot of it. Citrus and lemon zest too.
Finish: Chalky, long, smokey, with hints of grapefruit.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 93/100. I really enjoyed this (and would have liked to have more than the 30mL sample I had, but not at $330AUD/bottle...) It didn't have the typical Macallan notes I don't normally like, and had plenty of complexity, with "smoky fruitiness" - something I don't often come across.

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Shirt Bar "Scotch" Club: Woodford Reserve (March 2014) - Tasted #86 & #87

It was all the way back in November 2012 when we first blogged about Shirt Bar's Scotch Club (which, like this post, was all about Woodford Reserve and nothing to do with Scotch at all!) and when we first met Stuart Reeves, Brown-Forman Australia's NSW ambassador (whose immense knowledge of whiskey we've come to appreciate and whose friendship we've come to enjoy). Fast forward to March 2014, and Stuart was back at Shirt Bar, again spreading the good word of Woodford Reserve.

A few things seem to be guaranteed when Stuart takes the stand for a Woodford tasting: a lot of (great) whiskey, an astounding level of whiskey knowledge, at least one rare/unique/hard to find expression, a cocktail, and take-home goodies. This session didn't disappoint. On tasting was:

• Woodford Reserve New Make
• Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Bourbon
• Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Maple Wood Finish
• Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Aged Cask Rye 
• Woodford Reserve Master's Collection New Cask Rye
• Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Four Wood
• Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Classic Malt 

...not including the single-nip Woodford Old Fashioned to kick off the night, and the take-home DIY Old Fashioned bags (complete with 50mL Woodford Reserve minis, 3.5mL Angostura bitters minis and swizzle sticks - very handy on a recent weekend trip up the coast)!

Given we've tasted the first 5 whiskies above previously, notes below are only for those we hadn't tried - the Four Wood and Classic Malt.  Suffice to say the others were all as good as memory served, and Steph still didn't like the New Make...

Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Four Wood (47.2% ABV, NAS, Kentucky USA, $250)

Produced by taking regular Distiller's Select at 7-8 years old, cutting it down to 55%, dividing into thirds and ageing in Maple (1yr), Sherry (6 months) and Port (6 months) casks.

Colour: Dark, vibrant copper.

Nose: Rich, berries, with a slight nuttiness.

Palate: Big creamy mouthfeel, definite sherry influence, but also very sweet. Definitely a Bourbon, with vanilla notes still showing through.

Finish: Long, with cherries and Christmas cake. Smooth to the end.
Overall: 92/100

Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Classic Malt (45.2% ABV, NAS, Kentucky USA)

Made with 100% malted barley. Yes, a "Single Malt" from Kentucky, USA!

Colour: Light, straw.

Nose: Muted, playdough. Slightly earthy.

Palate: Light and buttery, hints of breakfast cereal (Nutri-Grain?)

Finish: Short to medium, with some rubbery notes. Smooth and easy drinking though.
Overall: 90/100. Certainly interesting, though not a whiskey I'd choose to spend $100USD+ on. The biggest disappointment however was that we're not getting the other Single Malt ("Straight Malt") in Australia!

Cheers,
 - Martin.

Tasted #85: Ardbeg Auriverdes (Gold bottle)

We covered the new Ardbeg 2014 special edition "Auriverdes" a few times this month, but at the time were eagerly awaiting our sample to arrive.


Well last week it arrived...and what a "sample" it was!

Expecting a ~50mL sample bottle, Steph and I were both blown away to discover our "sample" was in fact a full 700mL bottle of Auriverdes, in limited edition media-only (as we understand it) gold. Talk about a fantastic looking bottle.

Unfortunately that afternoon we were off on a long drive up the coast, so had to wait an eager few days before opening it - which we did this evening.

A bottle (and whisky) this special deserves special tasting notes, so Steph and I both sat down with it today to document our own, separate tasting notes.

Like the sounds of it? As we mentioned last week, join the committee and you could be tasting it at Ardbeg Day Australia 2014 on 31st May.

Martin's tasting notes: Ardbeg Auriverdes (49.9% ABV, NAS, Islay, Scotland, $135.70AUD)

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Colour: Yellow gold, rich, like a light bortrytis semillon.
Nose: Light smoke, pears, peaches, some apricots. Sweet, and slightly spirity.
Palate: Big smoke, but also very sweet. Sugarcane, banana bread, toast. Nutty.
Finish: Ashy smoke, but still sweet to the end. Medium to long finish.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. Very much an Ardbeg, but also very unique. A great mix of "sweet and smoky" (or a dram of two halves as the official notes explain it).

Steph's tasting notes: Ardbeg Auriverdes (49.9% ABV, NAS, Islay, Scotland, $135.70AUD)

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Colour: Deep rich gold.
Nose: Toasty vanilla, peat smoke.
Palate: Peat smoke, slightly sweet, vanilla and caramelised bananas.
Finish: Long, sweet honied smoke.
Rating (on Steph's very non-scientific scale): 91/100.

Cheers, 

 - Steph & Martin.

Tasted #84: Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky (#101drams)

We've been to Sweden, Australia, France, Japan, Scotland, India & Wales as part of the #101drams challenge (well not literally)...so where to next? South Africa sounds as good a place as any!

Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky, from the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington (South Africa) is a single grain whisky, aged for approximate 5 years in ex-Bourbon casks. It's also a #101drams whisky and sounds bloody interesting, so let's get on with the tasting shall we?




Bains Cape Mountain Whisky (43% ABV, NAS, Wellington, South Africa, $52AUD)
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Colour: Honey gold
Nose: Light and floral, gaining complexity over time with some cake icing and coco pops coming through
Palate: Sweet, light, fruity, with some pineapple, apples, pears. Lots of tropical fruits. Incredibly smooth, with just the slightest hint of smoke after letting it sit and warm for a while.
Finish: Sadly too short and with a little too much burn.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. Very good - lots to offer for a relatively cheap and young whisky. I'd love to see it with a longer finish, perhaps in a cask strength variety.

Cheers,
Martin.

Tasted #83: Mackmyra Small Casks 03 (#101drams)

Another for the #101drams list - this time from Sweden, aged in 30L casks (yes, 30L!) - a mixture of sherry, bourbon and new Swedish oak. As far as unique/interesting whiskies though, this pretty much ticks all the boxes...

Mackmyra Special Small Casks 03 (48.2% ABV, NAS, Sweden, $130AUD)
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Colour: Light, bright gold.
Nose: Stewed pears, big alcohol burn, toffee apples, boiled sweets.
Palate: Light - wouldn't initially pick it as 48%+. Pears, toffee, coffee grounds. Special K!?
Finish: Long, with some burn. Hint of coffee.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 89/100. The nose is probably the highlight here - let down by the palate slightly. Overall though, an enjoyable whisky.

Cheers, 

 - Martin.