I’m heading into NYC for a one-on-one with Glenmorangie’s whisky wizard, Dr. Bill Lumsden this Friday. He told me he’s bringing lots of goodies to taste. I’ll get you updated over the weekend regarding all the new Glenmorangie whiskies (Signet, Astar, etc.) and Ardbeg whiskies too!
The Balvenie Rum Cask, 17 year old, 43%, $130
Rich and sweet, with toffee, coconut cream, Turkish delight, nougat and honey. Ripe black raspberry, citrus and dried spice (vanilla, fennel, and evergreen mint) provide complexity and attempt to balance all the sweetness. A pleasant dram, but I wish there was a little more there to prop up […]
The Balvenie Signature, Batch #1, 12 year old, 43%, $55
Good, straight-forward, moderately sherried Balvenie. Classic Balvenie honeyed notes combine with vanilla, ripe barley, glazed citrus, apricot marmalade, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A nice entry level Balvenie. It’s a solid whisky.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 83
This is one of three new Balvenie whiskies being released this fall, and it’s my favorite of the three. I’ll post my review of the other two over the next two days.
The Balvenie Vintage Cask, 1976 vintage, 53%, $800
Very spicy and complex, with incredible depth. Once again, this 30-plus year old whisky proves the aging ability […]
Here’s the new “multi-vintage” line up from Bruichladdich, with three different levels of peat. All three are interesting, with a varying range of flavor profiles. It’s good to see all three expressions organized as family of whiskies. (FYI: “Peat” replaces the “3-D” in the line-up.)
Bruichladdich “Rocks”, 46%, $50
Fruit is the common thread to this lightly […]
This posting is mainly for my U.S. audience. As it often goes with whisky and distribution, I was informed from my Moet contact that the new Glenmorangie Astar will be coming to the U.S. sometime in 2009 (no firm date set yet), but that the new Ardbeg Renaissance will not be imported to the U.S.
You […]
I continue getting samples of whiskies in advance of their release dates, and you know I have been posting up my reviews here quickly. I’ll be taking Labor Day weekend off from blogging, but here are the reviews I have slated for the next week or two, starting on Tuesday:
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, 2008 Release
Tullibardine […]
Gordon & MacPhail (“Smith’s Glenlivet”), 21 year old, 43%, $125
Well-rounded and pleasingly sweet, with ripe red strawberries, raspberry, tropical fruit, graham cracker, white chocolate, and anise, all on a bed of toffee. Some charred oak on the finish. This whisky has a gentle, soothing persona which I think most people will enjoy (including me).
Advanced Malt […]
All the media attention is on the new “White Bowmore”, but the distillery is also releasing a new wine cask (Bordeaux) matured whisky this fall. An enjoyable whisky. Here’s my review.
Bowmore “Wine Cask Matured”, 1992 vintage, 16 year old, 53.5%, $120
Aged for six years in bourbon casks, then aged an additional ten years in Bordeaux […]
Origins, Batch #1, 1999 vintage, 50%, $85
Origins is Benromach’s new program to highlight different aspects of whisky-making, which I think is a great idea. This expression focuses on the use of Golden Promise barley, which is then and aged in a sherry cask. Unfortunately, there’s so much sherry here that I struggle to appreciate the […]
