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You are currently viewing the Whisky category or one of its subcategories. If you aren't clear as to what Whisky actually is, perhaps you should read a definition (Though you may want to brush up on your Scots before you do, in which case Whisky will be very helpful anyway). If you would like to see more reviews, I suggest you start here. I tend to grow excited and wax lyrical when I talk about Whisky (as you might have concluded yourself from the reviews below), so I will limit myself to saying that I believe it to be one of the most special and wonderful drinks in the world, and that I'm quite sure that, if there is indeed a God, Whisky must be the last thing he made before resting. Sunday, August 12 2007
If you happen to have read my review on Jameson's Irish Whisky, you [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Friday, August 25 2006
Bushmills 10 year old single malt Irish Whiskey
Bushmills is the Irish single malt Whisky most people know of, and, in fact, it is the only one I have seen in liquor stores so far, apart from Tyrconnell and Connemara. I was first introduced to this Whisky at Hurley's Irish Pub in Montreal and it is there that I have drunk it most, as the bottle I am currently reviewing from is only the second I have bought for home consumption. Not that it is very expensive; as a matter of fact, its price is more or less similar to some of the least expensive single malt Scotch, but its delicacy, along with the distinctiveness of its taste, have set it apart as a treat in my mind, a treat which one should only savour occasionally, so as to be able to appreciate its very nature best. Bushmills is amazingly fruity in the nose, as are most Irish Whiskies, but the predominance of peaches lends it an even fresher and sweeter scent than average, immediately causing the throat to be dry and the mouth to water; buried in the fruits are points of roasted barley and spice which serve to temper and yet highlight the aforementioned sweetness. The taste starts somewhat on the bitter side, in contrast to the expectations which the smell have conjured, tinged as it is with oak that gradually mellows into the organicity of malt; but once the first shock passes, the taste swiftly evolves in the mouth to become sweet and gentle, wreathed in honey and fruits, evocative of the fragrance of a land dampened by a mist in the dark of night. The aftertaste is definitely a salient point, as, from sweetness, we return once again to bitterness; however, this is no longer the starker bitterness of oak, but the bitterness of coffee and licorice quietly mingling together, as the flavours do at the end of a long night of gastronomical revelry. The whole experience could be summarised as eating fruits preserved in coffee liqueur wrapped in pure, dark chocolate, though it does this Whisky little justice. Bushmills is a very good Whisky, especially suited to the dusk of summer days or as a light digestive to help a long dinner last longer still. If you like this Whisky, don't forget to give its little half brother Black Bush a swirl, as it is essentially a half and half blend of this Whisky and grain spirits, hence offering a slightly rougher, though just as aesthetically pleasing, version of this drink for more "casual"--- or heavy-handed--- drinking nights. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Wednesday, March 01 2006
Connemara peated single-malt Irish Whiskey
Connemara is one of the star brands, if not indeed the star brand, produced by Cooley Distillery, first introduced in my review of their Tyrconnel single malt. Two things are particular about this Whisky, however, the first concerning the Whisky itself, and the second being concerned with this review. The first thing of interest is that this Whisky differs from the traditional Irish single malt in that it is made with peated malt, that is, malt which has been dried over peat fires. Now, though I suspect that most readers sufficiently interested in spirits to follow the ramblings of this blog will already be aware of it, it is important to put down here that peated malt is used practically only in the production of Scotch Whiskies: this then makes Connemara a very special Whisky in that it is bound to have the body of an Irish Whisky but still sport some characteristics prominent in certain Scotches. The second thing of interest is that, at about the same time I purchased a bottle of this Whisky--- around Christmas--- a sweet present was made to me of a Connemara tasting set, which includes, besides the standard product, samples of a twelve years and cask strength version of the Whisky, not to mention a wonderful tasting glass which I have been using ever since. This will allow me to review this Whisky in greater depth than the others, and hazard some surmise as to how it might mature: something which, unless I should suddenly get rich, I probably will not have the opportunity to do very often. The smell already promises a very interesting Whisky: imagine a smell somewhat typical of an Irish whisky, all fresh (the freshness being emphasised with lemon), sweet and fruity, but overlaid with peatiness and smoke. The general effect could remind one of some old-fashioned preserves, or of eating tinned fruits around the campfire; in any case, the scent certainly brings me nostalgia. The taste works in a somewhat similar manner, starting fruity and sweet before turning all peaty and smoky (in that order). Some other tastes are noteworthy, however: The fruitiness is supported by a maltiness I don't remember ever experiencing this strongly in any other Irish; as the taste evolves in the mouth and the peatiness kicks in, one can taste something remarkably sea-like. I had heard of certain Scotch Whiskies tasting of the sea, but had not so far been fortunate enough to taste one; well, one, but it was closer to the shallows. This Whisky tastes like the sea, right down to a certain saltiness and some hints of seaweed: the effect is strange, but refreshing. The complex structure is nicely finished with a touch of hazelnut just strong enough to be intriguing. Between the pear-tree, the bog, the fire and the sea, the effect is quite staggering to the palate and it takes some time to appreciate it fully: in fact, it amazes me that it should all work to such a beautiful end. I don't know whether the people at Cooley engineered this Whisky or stumbled upon it by chance, but, if the former, they deserve great praise for playing against such great odds and pulling through. The effect of this ballet of contradictory tastes is further promoted by a light, slightly fizzy texture which tickles the tongue with expectation. The overall impression this Whisky produces is of a well-crafted, characterful, refreshing, and easy-drinking, if a little bewildering at times, spirit. I would recommend it very highly indeed. Cask StrengthWhen the Whisky is done maturing, the product from different casks is usually blended together in order to obtain more constant characteristics for taste, colouring, and, of course, alcohol content, the latter often being achieved through the addition of water. A Twelve YearsThe 12 years version is something else again. The smell is much lighter than the standard version, the peatiness being reduced to a vaguely organic smell and the smoke being residual; as one might expect, this means that the fruity side takes over, although perhaps not as lushly as hinted in the original version: the smell which ends up foremost is once again that of bananas. The taste is lighter as well, the reduced peatiness once again letting the fruits shine through more clearly, but, perhaps most interesting of all, malt and a certain spiciness are very clearly present in the mouth. The aftertaste is probably where the more mature version differs significantly from the standard version: the sea is here very, very light, and is replaced by that mix of sweetness and coffee so typical of Irish Whiskies. Because of this, as well as other characteristics described above, this version is much more on the Irish side of the fence, while the standard version straddles it almost perfectly, though perhaps leaning on the Scotch side now and then. This is very pleasant to drink, but I cannot yet discern the level of complexity present in the standard version; but, as I have had the opportunity to taste a whole bottle of the latter and only a sampler of the former, I suspect this might be liable to change with time and experience, as Whiskies, and especially so with very good ones, require some time and thought in the understanding, not unlike human beings. I would be very curious to taste further matured versions of Connemara: I have a feeling it would get lighter and lighter as time passes, and it would be very interesting to find out what might happen with its most peculiar characteristics (especially the peatiness) once 18 years have gone by. ConclusionsConnemara is a product which I am sure practically any lover of Whisky will enjoy: it is well-made and very original in its taste. Of the three kinds I have tasted, the standard one is still the one I find most fascinating, but some further acquaintance with the 12 years might change my mind regarding this. Try it whenever you have an opportunity… If you're unsure about it, I would definitely recommend the tasting set. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Friday, January 20 2006
The first time I was introduced to Jameson was the first time I was ever introduced to Whisky. About three years ago now--- oh dear, how time flies--- I was suddenly possessed with the desire to try Whisky and discover for myself whether it was as good as the poets (and most especially my good friend Rabby Burns) claimed. With this purpose in mind, I set forth to the SAQ, being what the liquor stores are called in Montreal, and looked at the myriads of bottles with labels either more evocative or cheesier than the next. Being in an Irish mood, I asked, "Do you have any Irish Whisky?' Sure they did, they had, well, Jameson, which is what I bought. The choice of Whiskies in Montreal, as I was destined to find out subsequently, isn't the most impressive, particularly where Irish Whisky is concerned. In any case, it is difficult for me to crack open a bottle of Jameson without feeling a certain nostalgia seize me, and for me to remember how horrible a time I had, trying to mix the stuff with water or ice, figuring that was the way to drink it… Revisiting this Whisky today, I find it quite disappointing: its smell is very harsh, rendered only slightly more interesting by a certain meatiness. The taste is somewhat better, with a very slight hint of the Irish fruitiness in the nose and some flowers at the back of the tongue along with a little bit of malt and plenty of oak. The taste isn't so bad, but two points are sticky: the first is the harshness on the tongue, which keeps reminding you that this was most likely blended with plenty of grain spirits, and the sweetness at the end, somewhat reminiscent of caramel (could they be using a bit of sugar for colouring?), which lingers a little too long for comfort. This said, it isn't as horrible as all that: I myself have enjoyed several bottles of this and liked it quite a bit; it also has its place for mixes, I think, especially boiler makers. The problem with Jameson is that there are several good alternatives in the same price bracket--- Tullamore Dew, Powers, and most especially Paddy's, come to mind. If I could take a time jump and advise myself in matters of Whiskies, I certainly would direct myself to something a little lighter for a Well, Jameson can't be that bad, since it did not turn me away from Whiskies, but only made me more curious: I went from this to scotch and have never stopped since. So, if you offer me a dram of Jameson some time, don't expect me to turn it down, but expect me to go misty-eyed, perhaps, as I think back to that fateful day in my life when I became a Whisky-lover, and a shameless one at that. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Monday, January 16 2006
I don't know much about this Whisky, except that it seems to be quite widely available (except in Montreal, that is) and stand in the lower range of Irish Whiskies. The smell and taste are both quite strongly alcoholic, and I would be willing to wager much that it contains a rather higher percentage of grain spirits than its blended siblings. This manifests itself to such an extent, that the taste, most especially in the forward part of the mouth, is highly reminiscent of Rye, though relatively lighter and far less oaken. The resemblance is compounded by strong overtones of flowers more common in Ryes than other Whiskies; there is a trace of the Irish fruitiness, but it is little more than a hint. The finish is pleasant, rich with honey and a little bit of malt. Tullamore Dew is quite drinkable, but by no means subtle: not so good for sipping, but quite proper for when the punch is what matters. It comes in a somewhat flat, rectangular bottle that I quite like. By the by, this is the twelfth Whisky I have had the privilege of reviewing on this here little blog of ours. HURRAH! May your drink e'er be strong, and deep your draughts! [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Monday, January 02 2006
Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey
This Whisky is Cooley Distillery's plain, straightforward single malt Irish Whisky. Cooley Distillery is currently, as far as I know, the only independent distillery in Ireland, most of the other distilleries being part of the Irish Distillery Group, which, ultimately, is controlled by Pernod, and the others being owned by various conglomerates who probably couldn't whistle an Irish tune to save their lives. Since I have mentioned this fact, I would like to use up a few lines of this review to point out that this phenomenon is in no way limited to Whisky or Ireland, but is happening all over the world for anything ranging from beverages to music: our folklore and identity are being parted out to the highest bidders of this world, people who often know or care little about it. It may be that they will choose to maintain the traditions and standards that came to be embodied by their new But back to Cooley and Tyrconnell… This Whisky is very typical of Irish malts, with much fruitiness, both in the smell and in the taste: pears, peaches and bananas, in short, most of the fruits which are at once sweet and refreshing are present. The body is light, even lighter than most Irish, and might even be overly so, but it is rescued by the bitterness of the oak, which comes in towards the back of the mouth in order to balance out the sweetness and lend some weight to the taste. The aftertaste is also very interesting, as it leaves a lingering taste of black licorice, almost reminiscent of scorched wood. Cooley's tasting notes talk of persistent maltiness, but i thought the malt, although perceptible, especially in the nose, rather discrete. I really enjoy this Whisky, its taste has much depth and is rich in nuances; however, it is slightly lighter than what I enjoy in a Whisky, even an Irish, and hence I can tend to drink it faster than it deserves. In fact, I opened this bottle when my mother came to visit me and was quite horrified about an hour later to realise that, between three of us, we had gone through the whole bottle, but for the drop on which this review is based. For that reason, I would be curious to taste a more mature version of this Whisky--- say fifteen years--- I think the experience might be on another level altogether then. In any case, if you're looking for a good single malt Irish and would like to support a small, independent distillery at the same time, then Tyrconnell is possibly your only choice, but it is a god one. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Tuesday, December 20 2005
Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey
I don't know much about this Whisky, except it was out there with the more affordable Irish, such as Jameson and Paddy. It smells very much like Irish Whisky, but the smell is heavily layered with very ripe bananas. The tastes begins very lemony, making one pucker one's lips slightly, and then becomes richer, being reminiscent of taffy, which, with the oak, yields a very interesting effect, to say the least. The end is, perhaps, where it tastes most like your typical Irish Whisky, though the aftertaste, and especially the nose, retain some musky overtones. This is really the earthier, darker side of Irish whiskies, which often tend to be on the light and fruity side. Probably good if you want to taste a different Irish Whisky at a reasonable price: not crazy about it, but I like it okay… [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Wednesday, October 26 2005
I had been curious about this whisky for some time, but, for many reasons, had never managed to try it until now: and now that I've tasted it, I wish I'd managed sooner. I must begin by telling you of the smell: it is rich and slightly sweet, blending alcohol, malt, and a very strong smell of pears, and it alone can be quite intoxicating. But let no-one stop there, for the taste is still better! The texture is smooth and creamy, and the taste starts out very mild, with a good taste of malt, especially for an Irish, and then expands in increasing hints of peaches and wild flowers, ending with a mild, indeed, teasing aftertaste of coffee. As for the nose, one mostly gets the flowers, but it is also possible to get a trace of licorice from time to time. It's lush, it's big, it's pure: it screams IRELAND. It also happens to be a blend between one single malt and one grain whisky, which is quite rare. And, finally, it is relatively inexpensive and comes in a stoppered bottle, which one doesn't see quite often enough nowadays. If you like Irish whiskies, try it now, I mean right now. You'll thank me for it… UPDATE: Just killed another bottle of this yesterday, and my praises for it, if anything, are just louder: this is the kind of elegant balance between fluidity and strength that makes you want to sing an hymn to whoever put us down here, something which one does not have the urge to do often in these modern times of ours. Seriously, though, this is a beautiful Whisky at a very affordable price. A blend of Bushmills (which I hope to review soon) and a single grain spirit: rock me on, baby! (2005-12-19) [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link Saturday, October 22 2005
It always makes me nervous when the spirit or beer I'm about to buy has a ridiculous, stereotypical name, but, as a lot of them do, one has to try one's luck once in a while. In this specific case, Paddy was definitely in the good luck territory. This whisky, er… whiskey, sorry, is in many ways similar to other lower end, mainstream Irish blends (Jameson comes to mind here), but remains slighly superior to them. The smell is sweet and the alcohol omnipresent, but it also has quite a floral hint to it. The body is mild and sweet, with maltiness remaining in the background whilst the characteristics of grain spirits take much of the space. However, the nice surprise comes towards the end, when fruity flavours suddenly bloom out; the peach is especially remarkable here, and a freshness comes in that was wanting at the beginning. This pleasant aftertaste lingers for quite a while, and it can be difficult to stop refilling one's glass. Personally, if it were but a little less sweet, it would most definitely make it among my favourites. [/Whisky/Irish] permanent link |
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