Official PCF Whisk(e)y Thread (75 Viewers)

I have yet to sample any Balvenie . . . but it's part of an ever increasing list. Not sure what's going to crap out first . . . my wallet, or my liver.
 
I’m gonna take a little swing here and guess Larry is referring to Macallan, Glenffidich, Balvenie and Glenmorangie (or Glenlivet).
 
I think it's going to be a Knob Creek Rye night.

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November 2nd is All Souls Day, and so it is particularly appropriate that I am reviewing the another member of the 2018 Northern Border Collection, Gooderham and Worts 11 Souls. This whisky is named for the 11 children that William Gooderham adopted after their parents perished during the voyage to Canada in 1832. Within each bottle you will find a blend of 11 unique whiskies, comprised of 4 different grains (including at least 3 different types of Rye), two different methods of distillation, and multiple barrel types (new, used, ex-bourbon). In short, there is a LOT going on here. According to Master Distiller Dr. Don Livermore of J.P.Wiser's, this is the most complex whisky he has created to date. The whisky is bottled at 49%abv, and is oily in the glass, with streaky tears.

Orchard fruits on the nose first, roasted almonds and honey follow. Some floral notes, as well as vanilla fudge and toffee drift by, and there is cereal and brown sugar, too. The longer it sits, the more there is to find. The last thing I note is some citrus peel.

Creamy toffee coats the palate, and a perfumy air inhabits the mouth. There is dried fruit that is supplanted by a warming glow of spices and vanilla. Nutmeg and cloves come next, with a slight bitterness. Not enough to be unpleasant, but it leads one towards a nice firm oak-laden finish that dries the palate in preparation for more.

Usually, I make a point to add water to the whiskies I review, but I am not going to do so now. In my eyes, there is nothing to be gained from diluting this spirit, and everything to lose by muddying it's flavours. As I said at the beginning, there is a lot going on in this glass, and I am going to sign off now and enjoy the rest of the evening in sorting it all out. Dr. Livermore likes to say that Canadian Whisky does not have to take a backseat to any other type and, with this bottling, he backs up that statement in full measure.

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This Thirsty Thursday we are wandering into the Highlands of Scotland, to review Glenfarclas 12 YO highland Single Malt. Glenfarclas is one of the few remaining family owned distilleries in Scotland. They also used direct-fired stills instead of steam heat. It is a little old-fashioned, but there is something to be said for a traditionalist point of view. The Whisky is 43% abv and the tears take a bit of time to develop inside the glass.

The nose is light, and the sherry influence is obvious from the start. There is also a nice subtle smokiness, with oak tannins underneath. Honey, almonds, and a kind of paint thinner aroma round out the scents I could detect.

Tasting brings honey to the palate, along with a thick "chewy" character. Again, traditional sherry casks making there presence felt. There is an undertone of tobacco leaf. Caramel and vanilla toffee pass by to remind one that bourbon casks were used to round out the flavour profile, and there is a strong character of date squares leading into a medium length finish.

Water brings more of the bourbon character to the fore. A slight tinge of coconut can be found alongside some grassy flavours. Caramel apples replace the date squares noted earlier, though the cereal quality remains in effect.

All in all, this is a wonderful Scotch. There is nothing that makes this dram a true "stand out". But, at the same time, there is a lot to be said for an honest Whisky that delivers on the promise of solid flavour at a reasonable cost, a whisky that takes the word "workmanlike" to heart. In short, while this is not something to serve to guests if you are looking for a reaction, it is absolutely the kind of dram to serve to friends and family for a quiet night by the fire.

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To my taste buds, the Glenfarclas lineup is second only to Springbank. The older bottlings of both-- 15, 21, and 25 year -- are absolutely superb.

But I do agree that I wouldn't serve them to anyone in order to impress them -- I save them for myself. :cool:
 
That’s easy (in no particular order):

Oban
Highland Park
Longrow
Lagavulin
Talisker

That's a nice list, but I'd have to disagree on Longrow. Longrow was not made at all for over 70 years, until Springbank put it into production as an experiment in the 1970s for one month a year. Even now, it's only produced sporadically, in relatively small quantities, at Springbank. IMO, it just hasn't been around long enough or distributed widely enough to be a "standard". And while Campbeltown, on the mainland, is only about 30 miles from Islay, it is not on Islay, so I don't know of what it could be considered a "standard".
 
That’s easy (in no particular order):

Oban
Highland Park
Longrow
Lagavulin
Talisker

I think you meant "your" standards, right Elliot?

The 5 standards I listed are definitely not "my" standards, just overall standards (i.e. most popular) when one is talking about Sign Malts.

But since you went there, here are "my" 6 standards, meaning bottles that I'll always have around in my bar, in no particular order:

Highland Park 18
Springbank 12 Cask Strength
Glendronach 18 Allardice
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Clynelish 14
Lagavulin 16
 
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From the Whisky Advocate. (As an aside, a few years ago we went to a Compass Box whisky dinner at the National Press Club. It was an amazing experience. If you have the opportunity to attend a Compass Box event, go!)

Why You Should Be Drinking Non-Age Statement Whisky
SUSANNAH SKIVER BARTON

When searching out a new bottle of whisky to try, what clues tip you off to its flavor? Style, of course—a single malt will taste very different from a bourbon. Whether Ireland, Canada, or another country or region, origin also has an impact on flavor. Maybe you also consider its age. If the whisky’s label says 12 years old, is that a guarantee of good flavor?
There’s a lot more to flavor and quality than just years in a barrel, and an age statement provides only a sliver of information. Legally, a label can only state the age of the youngest whisky used in the final blend, but often that bottle contains much older liquid too. Master blenders have to achieve the same flavor profile with every batch, and not all whiskies mature at the same rate. So even when the label says 12 years old, chances are good that you’re getting some older whisky in there.
And that’s why non-age statement (NAS) whiskies—bottles that say nothing about how old the whisky inside is—are worth tasting too. Without the constraint of an age statement, the master blender has the freedom to work with whiskies of all ages and create new flavor profiles that fall outside the expected ladder of numbers. Case in point: Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades, a non-age statement bourbon that blends whiskeys ranging in age from 10 to 20 years old, and, at 94 points, the Number 3 choice in Whisky Advocate’s 2017 Top 20.
In fact, NAS whiskies made up more than half of the Top 20, including Rampur single malt from India, where whisky reaches maturity very quickly due to the tropical climate; Little Book, a blend of straight American whiskeys ranging in age from 4 to 13 years old; Sheep Dip Islay blended malt, a bargain at $60 at 91 points; Ardbeg An Oa, Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza, Tamdhu Batch Strength, High West Campfire, Crown Royal Noble Collection Wine Barrel Finished, Chivas Regal Ultis, and Fukano rice whisky.
If that’s not enough to convince you that NAS whiskies can hold their own against their numbered brethren, here are four more bottles to try. Each scored 90 points or higher and costs $65 or less.
Compass Box The Peat Monster—90 points, $60
It’s impossible to talk about the great quality possible with NAS whiskies without mentioning Compass Box. Founder John Glaser and his team have been redefining blended scotch since 2000, and their core line of everyday whiskies never disappoints. Peat Monster tastes exactly how you’d expect, delivering a whopping blaze of fiery, earthy peat, tempered by vanilla, citrus, herbal notes, and a creamy mouthfeel. It makes for a heck of a daily dram—totally satisfying for the most ardent peatheads. Glaser has been pushing for more transparency in scotch labels, hoping to be able to reveal the ages of the whiskies used in his blends, but his quest hasn’t been successful as yet.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Edition—91 points, $60

Bourbon can get away with having no age statement more easily than scotch, which for decades marketed the message that age equals quality. The use of new charred barrels and the temperature swings in a Kentucky warehouse both mean that bourbon matures more quickly. When a bourbon is labeled as “straight,” it must be at least 2 years old, and if it’s older than 4 years, no age statement is required. This Old Forester, which is meant to mimic the style of medicinal bourbon made at the distillery during Prohibition, exceeds the 4-year age-statement limit but gives no other information about how long it spent in barrel. Its massive proof—57.5% ABV—presents at first with baking spices, caramel, and cherries, but belies the subtle flavors of honey, crème brûlée, citrus, and other fruits that emerge later on.
Hibiki Japanese Harmony—90 points, $65
In recent years, some distilleries have discontinued age-statement whiskies (or raised the prices astronomically) due to diminishing stocks and high demand, replacing them with NAS expressions. The supply and demand problem has been particularly acute for Japanese distillers, as the rest of the world developed a powerful thirst for their single malts and blends that they didn’t see coming. Hibiki’s age-statement expressions have been hard to come by lately, but parent company Suntory launched Japanese Harmony in 2015 to provide fans with an affordable and accessible option. Displaying the best of Japanese blending—balance and elegance, with nuanced complexity—it offers bright fruit, sweet toffee and cookie flavors, and a delicate whiff of smoke.
Smooth Ambler Contradiction—90 points, $55
Like many start-up distillers, West Virginia’s Smooth Ambler generated revenue in the early years of its existence by buying whiskey from MGP and other distilleries to sell under its Old Scout label. At the same time, it was distilling and aging its own bourbon. Contradiction puts together both types of liquid, combining 4-5 year old and 9 year old stock from MGP with house-made wheated bourbon at 4-5 years old. The result is a sweet, oak-driven whiskey with flavors of molasses, peanuts, and spices.
 
Compass Box The Peat Monster—90 points, $60
It’s impossible to talk about the great quality possible with NAS whiskies without mentioning Compass Box. Founder John Glaser and his team have been redefining blended scotch since 2000, and their core line of everyday whiskies never disappoints. Peat Monster tastes exactly how you’d expect, delivering a whopping blaze of fiery, earthy peat, tempered by vanilla, citrus, herbal notes, and a creamy mouthfeel. It makes for a heck of a daily dram—totally satisfying for the most ardent peatheads. Glaser has been pushing for more transparency in scotch labels, hoping to be able to reveal the ages of the whiskies used in his blends, but his quest hasn’t been successful as yet.

Well, I guess that settles what tomorrow's review will be . . . stay tuned.
 
On a cold and breezy Malted Monday, I am seeking warmth in the bosom of the Peat Monster. This offering from Compass Box has quickly earned a reputation as a quality blend of Malts. The ingredients come from the usual, and not so usual sources of Peated Scotch. Within the bottle are Malts from Laphroaig, Ledaig, Caol Ila, and Ardmore. But there are also Malts from the Highlands. Clynelish, Teanininch, and Dailuaine feature, but only in a small amount compared to the others. The whisky is not artificially coloured, nor chill-filtered. the tears are thin and streaky within the glass.

There is peat on the nose (naturally), and a salinity that is akin to bacon. Slightly medicinal and kelpy, it really highlights the name on the box. There is a hint at hot chocolate if you wait for it.

Those peaty aromas come through like an onrushing wave on the palate. Smoke and coals giving way to the iodine of the kelp bogs. But, before this wave drowns out all else, a sweet undercurrent draws you back. There is liquid honey here, and a warming spicy quality like chillies. The chocolate hinted at on the nose comes through rich and dark, with vanilla creaminess as it leads into a long, lingering, and smoky floral finish. To breath after a sip is to inhale coal ash and nursery aromas, like someone through cut flowers onto the embers in a fireplace. Those aromas linger even after the oak tannins have dried the palate.

Water now, and with it, a sweeter, rounder dram. The heat remains more to the background, allowing sweeter caramel and chocolate to hold court longer. The peat remains throughout, however . . . there is no escape. The finish is shorter but no less enticing.

For those of you who want to try a peated Malt, with spending more than $100.00 at the LCBO, I would highly recommend you pick up a bottle. Bottled at 46% abv, you will find fewer bottle that represent the type so well, but at such an affordable price. This is a standout Blend.
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Made a 2 sec. stop into Binnys while I'm in Chicago for some beer since my parents only had Miller Lite and Modelo (wtf...). They had their clearance Scotch rack up and found this one gem on sale for $54.99. I still have two left on my shelves from the last time I cleaned out their shelves on this bottle. Very surprised to find it and cask strength. Delicious.

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Returned last night from London—our 23-month-old daughter is totally jet-lagged so we got up at 4AM. Fun.

Here’s my (small) haul from the trip. I was hoping to buy more, given the strength of the dollar vs the pound, but we had logistics issues with baby gear that prevented me from going nuts.

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The 1 liter Talisker was on offer at duty free—it’s one of my staple drams, so I picked up another bottle. The NAS Islay Glen Marnoch is a 17 quid absolute steal from the supermarket chain Aldi (it won a gold medal at the world whisky awards last year). And the 21 YO Glenfarclas is a gift for a good friend.

My biggest disappointment was that Oban 14 is no longer on sale at duty free—it used to be 30 pounds and I was going to buy 2-4 bottles, but it was back up to 44 pounds. FYI, there is a 21 YO Oban at duty free, priced absolutely stupidly at 450 pounds...one bottle of 21 YO for the price of 10 bottles of 14 YO? No thanks.
 
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Picked up this special limited-quantity bottle last night. I was not disappointed.

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From whiskey store's website ...

OLD FORTUNATE SINGLE BARREL 25 YEAR CASK STRENGTH AMERICAN WHISKEY
Distilled in Indiana in 1992, this Single Barrel release was bottled at full Cask Strength straight from the barrel, minimally filtered in an effort to present the purest experience of 25 Year American Light Whiskey possible, in all of its 62.7% ABV glory. In total, only 72 fortunate imbibers will be able to add a bottle to their collection. Disregarding the name, hefty aromas present themselves immediately, deep toffee notes and caramelized sugars infused with a touch of oak. The body is no slouch either, throwing its weight around with such finesse you're hard-pressed to reconcile that you're sipping on 125.4 Proof or a whiskey described as "light". The oak is a touch more present than its Small Batch sibling, primarily found through the barrel char notes left behind. A rich chocolate note layers into that subtle smokiness, calling up late night desserts enjoyed next to a smoldering campfire.
 
MGP does make some quality juice.

Last weekend, the Missus and I hit up a local Craft Distiller to pick up some small batch White Rye and White Barley. Basically, it is 6 mos aged in quarter casks with #3 and #4 char to give it some rapid maturation. The stuff was not too shabby for what it is . . . but the real score was a 12 oz bottle of his Cherry Rye spirit. Same 6 mos of aging, but infused with two types of cherries. Had to be proofed down to 33% abv to make the flavours work right but, if he can produce this in sufficient quantities, it will be a gold mine for him.
 
I have yet to sample any Balvenie . . . but it's part of an ever increasing list. Not sure what's going to crap out first . . . my wallet, or my liver.
That's a huge surprise, since the Doublewood is one of the four or five standards of Scotch whisky. :eek:

Recently picked up a bottle of Balvenie 12 DW, my first single malt on the shelf. It's good stuff!
 

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