A Beverage-based Blog

MacKillop's Choice

Price: Approx. $40/750ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

MacKillop's Choice is the other great buy I snatched about the time of my birthday. This is a 14 year old cask strength, single cask bottle produced at the Longmorn Distillery, from which I have unfortunately not tasted any other malts.

Though one has to compensate for the higher alcohol content, once it is done, the smells perceived are surprisingly mild and tantalising, softly woodsy, with pine and cherrywood, overlaid with sweet herbs and just the slightest whiff of smoke. The impression one is left the slightest inkling of smoke on the air. The impression one is left with is that of standing in the forest with smoke drifting from a distant campfire for which one is perhaps seeking dead wood at this very moment, while a gentle mist is beginning to frost the surrounding leaves. The taste begins off with many of the elements described in the smell, the arboraceousness, for one thing, and a little of the smoke, as well as other flavours. The start is fairly sweet with creamy malt and prickles of licorice and roasted fennel to give it a certain piquancy as well as prevent the sweetness from getting out of hand; it carries a certain dewy, leafy freshness with it, like that found at the bank of a brook on a hot Autumn day. When we reach mid-palate, the taste shifts and the sweetness is further tempered by the emergence of a certain bitterness, being partly that of oak and partly of black chocolate, combined with a taste of roasted nuts which increases the richness of the drink and leads into a quiet, but profound climax. The finish is a dignified merger of these tastes, with a return to the foreground of leafiness along with the stalwart presence of bittersweet chocolate: one can literally taste both the malt and the cask in that finish, and enjoy their union.

This is quite a magnificent Whisky in a restrained, meditative way. It is quite mild, despite its high alcohol content, but demonstrates a richness and balance which is extremely compelling. In fact, this falls within the category of drinks I would like to have on hand the year round. This particular batched was laid in 1988, but if other years are of the same caliber, this is one every one should try.

Iceberg Gin

Price: $11.66/375ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

I am not and never have been a fan of Gin; as a rule, I find its taste reminiscent of lower range aftershave on a hot day. About once a year, however, driven, perhaps by a taste for novelty, perhaps by the call of London's East-end, I feel compelled to buy a half-bottle of the stuff to see if my tastes have changed, which they usually haven't. This time around, the recipient of my adventurousness was Iceberg Gin, new companion to Iceberg Vodka, a fine, if atypical, vodka, reviewed elsewhere in these pages. Such close companions are they, that they share the same bottle design, save for the labels and the different colours of the contents. At first sip, I was pleasantly surprised to find the taste of botanicals much lighter than is usual with some of the big names which we all know and, sometimes, love. This makes Iceberg the most drinkable Gin I have yet encountered. I will unfortunately not go into details as to what it tastes like, because all Gins more or less taste the same to me, as, I am sure, Scotch all taste the same to some, but I will go on to say that this was fairly pleasant and painless. The only thing to mar my temporary honeymoon in Gin Lane was the creeping sweetness Iceberg displayed after a few glasses, which can make a man devilishly thirsty for, incredible but true, water! One question remains, and it is that of whether they use their Vodka as a base for the gin infusion: unfortunately, the botanical taste was still too strong for me to tell with certainty, though the sweetness and some of the nose characteristics would lead me to a non-commital yes. This would probably not be a great mixer, given its milder taste, but it could be a great alternative to those, like me, who find the Tankarays, Bombays and other AYs a little too herbaceous for their palate.

Dalvenie

Price: UNKNOWN/750ML
Bought at: S.A.Q (Montreal)

This bottle came to me as a belated birthday present from my mother upon my recent visit to Montreal. As it is now nearing extinction, I will set down my thoughts regarding the content. The smell is light and airy, reminding one of a sweet ocean breeze, when smelt a few miles inland: light notes of malt, grains, damp sand, seaweed and woodfire combining to lend it a magic perfume. The taste is at first very pungent with malt, sweetened by a drop of honey, and deepened by an extremely slight hint of charcoal, something quite unusual at this point of a tasting. So far, this is a wonderful experience;, sadly, upon reaching mid-palate, where most Whiskies open up, this fellow just gives you more malt, some greens, and maybe a touch of the complexity found in the smell. Even the finish is pretty much the same, with some oakenness thrown in. The over-all effect is nice, but not impressive: rather more like a naive country girl with bloom in her cheeks than a ravishing nymph. However, I should state that Whiskies which are lighter have more difficulty finding favour with me, probably because my coarse palate cannot appreciate all their subtleties: someone with finer tastes, or with a leaning to lighter malts might find this Whisky marvelous, where it leaves me unimpressed. For all my criticisms, this remains a very well crafted drink. Since age tends to lighten Whisky, I wonder whether I might not appreciate a slightly younger version more.

Dalvenie seems to be little known, at least if google is to be trusted, as one will get many other results before it shows up. It also is only one letter away from Balvenie, another Highland Whisky, which I have had the immense pleasure to review in these pages almost a year ago, probably an unfortunate thing for a malt trying to make it on the side tables of the world.

Bowmore (17 years)

Price: $71.75
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

For my birthday before last, almost fifteen months ago now, my dear one encouraged me to treat myself by spending rather more than I would have and buying a bottle of this. I am quite a fan of the twelve-year-old Bowmore, though I have not yet reviewed it here, but do not buy it very often, as it tends to be just that extra ten dollars more than my budget allows, so it definitely was a treat. Somehow, I have managed to keep a drop of this for future review and always deferred the review, even through a change of apartment and a few changes of lifestyle (incidentally, fifteen months is the longest a bottle has ever survived in my vicinity, which must be ascribed to my awe for this particular drink). But, here I am now, about to open the bottle and write down my thoughts on the little it still contains. Though I have not reviewed the twelve-year-old counterpart, I will make reference to some of its characteristics where I deem it necessary or helpful.

At first sniff, this Whisky exudes an ocean, or, maybe more accurately, a beach smell, full with salt and wind, foam and rock, but also with a whiff or earth and conifers to remind us of the forest nearby. Underlying all this, is a mild sweetness, that, perhaps, of an apple orchard not very far inland, and, overlaying it, is the delicate smoke of peat fires striving to drive the damp from clustered houses. Then, on the heels of the visions the smell evoked comes the taste… The start is quite amazing for an Islay, even more so if one has experienced the bigness of this Whisky's younger sibling: it is pleasantly malty, though less pungent than a Speyside might be, with nice touches of fruits (mostly the apples of the smell) and vanilla. After that first impression, the mouthful comes to the blossoming point (mid-palate) and these initial delicate flavours are replaced by something much bigger, clamouring of the sea in motion: the taste is strong and keen enough to carry one straight to the shore in a slight drizzle to listen to the crashing waves and taste the salt on one's lips. After this climax, the taste recedes into a graceful finish of peat which, though it makes its presence sternly felt, is in no way overwhelming; it is at this point that oak gently pokes its nose out for a seat by the fire, accompanied by the spectre of the earlier malt, to haunt the palate for a minute longer before slowly fading away. What more can I say but that it is Beauty in a bottle?

The younger Bowmore as its points; it is wild and lusty with peat, oak and other straightforward tastes, this is quite different, full of lightness and subtlety, and one should not expect to know the one because he knows the other, though both are beyond excellent. If you are a lover of older Islays and subtle, complex tastes, you simply must try this.

Lagavulin Distiller's Edition (16 years)

Price: UNKNOWN/1L
Bought at: UNKNOWN (France)

My father gave me a bottle of this at a little reunion upon a conjoint visit to Montreal, I from Halifax, and he from France. I was thrilled, as this was one of the last Islays (there are only six in all, if memory serves right) I had not tasted. The smell is nice and light-hearted, with rather less peat and more sweetness than one is used to in Islay malts: it is reminiscent of a time where one might have sat by the kitchen fire whilst cherry preserves were being made. Upon hitting the tongue, the taste is quite mild and light, leaning far more towards the malty and floral than the peaty, with an airy elegance which is quite appealing and certainly uncommon in Islays. The peat kicks in at mid-palate, the taste becoming quite big and far darker with overtones of charred wood and chocolate, creating a wonderful contrast to the aforementioned lightness. Throughout, the sherry finish is quite obvious: in the first place, in gives a sweet, fruity nose to the first, lighter phase, in the second, it imparts a fairly long sweetish finish, which is my least favourite feature of this drink. Don't get me wrong, I like this Whisky and am sad to see the bottle die, but, at the same time, I can't help feeling that the sherry finish impairs rather than enhances it, and am curious to see what plain, twelve year-old Lagavulin might be like. I would deem it an excellent choice for those seeking an introductory Islay, or for those with more sensitive palates, though my father's violent expostulations upon tasting it that he by far prefered wine leads me to think that others might harbour a somewhat different opinion.

Old Malt Cask (23 years)

Price: Paid Approx. $40/750ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

In March, right around my birthday, the NSLC decided to offer me a huge present by ridding itself of its holidays specials to make place for its summer specials, sometimes offering astounding price cuts. This allowed me to buy not one, but two special bottles for the price one usually pays for one of the more affordable single malts reviewed in these pages. This is one of the two, the other should be reviewed shortly. Since I am a Highland Park fan, though you wouldn't think so, if you knew how seldom I drink it (it's not exactly cheap), I could not pass the opportunity to taste this old malt issued from the same distillery which produces it.

The smell is fragrant with sweet herbs and spices, thyme and fennel, to name a few, as well as wet grass and green apples. A smoky character rounds out the smell and balances out what could become too sweet. It's fresh and has a zest to it, though the higher alcohol content (50%) makes it difficult to smell it for long stretches. Taste-wise it is a surprisingly straightforward Whisky. The taste is malty, nutty and creamy, very rich, with some smoky overlays to further deepen that impression. There is a whiff of cherries mid-palate, as well as a slight, sweet finish of berries, crowned with a light, smoky bitterness at the very end. On the whole, this is a good Whisky, but fairly one-dimensional. I would not want to give the impression that it is bad, because it isn't, but it is, to me, lacking in depth and complexity. This is the first time I taste such an old Whisky and I had expected more surprises; now, though, I wonder whether it has not perhaps gone over the hill and into its decline and wish I could taste a slightly younger version. So, in short, a highly drinkable Whisky, but nothing I would pay extra for. The other Whisky which I bought at an absurdly low price and will review next, though younger, is by far more remarkable. Stay tuned...

Seagrams V.O.

Price: $20.62/750ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

Ahh, Seagrams V.O., the third member of the Rye Whisky trinity, along with Crown Royal and Canadian Club. It was the second Rye I ever tried, after Canadian Club, bought at a friend's request for the new year celebration of 2005--- over two years ago already--- a celebration in which we were destined to kill this bottle as well as many other unfortunate containers. This Rye really opened me up to the world of Ryes and is for that reason member of my personal Pantheon of sentimental first drinks, along with Jameson's and Grants.

V.O. exudes a pleasant and light fragrance of flowers and oak with perhaps the slightest shadow of berries and vanilla, unlike countless Ryes which lay it so thick you feel you might drown in it, no ripe bananas or mortuary here, but the soft smell of a country lane at dusk. The taste starts mildly flowery with whiffs of the previously mentioned vanilla, it then gets sweeter and creamier as it hits the tongue gaining a freshness not unlike that of a watercourse in the process. The sweetness could prove too much, if unchecked, but it is promptly mitigated by the entrance of the oak, which plies its bitterness to that effect, thus leading to a pleasantly balanced, slightly grassy finish. These characteristics make V.O. one of the most refreshing Ryes out there, one which the casual and serious Rye drinker alike are bound to enjoy. Its slight sweetness, light-heartedness and balance often remind me of blended Irish Whiskies, as do most of the better Ryes I have tasted. Definitely one of my favourites, and dangerously easy-drinking.

Jameson's (12 years)

Price: Approx. $40/750ML
Bought at: S.A.Q (Montreal)

If you happen to have read my review on Jameson's Irish Whisky, you
probably know that I am no fan of it, despite what sentimental
attachment I might still have towards it. It is perhaps because of
this attachment, or just to give it the old sporting try, that I decided to
follow someone's recommendation and pick
a bottle of the twelve year matured version during a recent, hectic
visit to Montreal. My first reaction upon opening the bottle was a
dismayed It smells just like Jameson's! And so it does, dark and
foreboding, with ripe bananas and just that hint of nail polish to make the drinker
nervous. It is therefore with a slight tremor that I took the first
tentative sip. The taste is at first much like the old Jameson, heavy,
flowery, and very faintly musky; it is slightly mellower and richer,
however, which makes the experience more enjoyable. The huge
surprise comes when the liquor travels towards mid-palate, the point
where most whiskies blossom out; there, the darkness is dissipated,
the taste lightens, and a great dawn comes, radiant with dew-sparkled
sunlight, as fruits and oak drift into sight. All these pyrotechnic
effects lead to a finish much more alike to Bushmills than to the
regular Jameson, which, especially when not expected, does leave the
drinker breathless. This is a good and interesting drink, certainly
miles above its younger counterpart, and its bipolar characteristics
do make it a unique member of the Irish Whisky family. This said,
one would have to be a great fan of the type to go and spend $40 on
it over such fine Whiskies as Bushmills, Black_Bush, or Tyrconnell. Just
five dollars off the price and it would be worth any one's while; in
the meantime, don't turn a glass of it down if it is offered you, it
is worth tasting.

Silent, but still drinking!

Well, well, well, almost eight months without an update: that is embarrassing! I hope you will forgive us (assuming any one actually reads this stuff) however, when you learn that these months have seen us move to a new apartment and, eventually, become the parents of a tiny little girl: well, not so very tiny any more already. This, in conjunction with many other exciting things and a lack of internet connection at home has made it difficult to update this blog as often as we would have wished. But, but, but, it did not stop us from drinking most delicious fluids whenever we could get them, and, what's more, reflect upon their virtues. Below, then, you will find five more reviews which have accumulated through these eventful months, bringing the total number of reviewed Whiskies to the proud, round number of 30! Enjoy!

Some other notes:

Due to our inabilities to review them often enough, Beers and Wines have now moved to a category called Etc until we get around to reviewing them more regularly again.
Some of the reviews which we feel deserve special attention will now have pictures added to them. Wyborowa is the first such review, but we hope many others will follow.
We hope to add more to this blog soon: in particular, we would like to start reviewing Teas, as well as add a few recipes and articles regarding spirits, the use of spirits, and the art of tasting them. Wish us luck...

Cheers!

Glenmorangie (10yrs)

Price: $41.03/750ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

A very well known Whisky which I had somehow managed to ignore until now; but at last, in a quest for a new single malt under $50, I was compelled to give it a try. The smell is light and clean, wreathed in honey with hints of oranges. The taste begins sweet in the mouth, malty, perfumed with flowers, fennel, and a whiff of the sea; it then opens up and deepens, keeping those self-same flavours, but intensified, adding to them a feeling not unlike that of autumn sunlight reflecting upon the sea: the effect is very rich and lush. But, as this taste evolves and the time to swallow comes, the slightly green taste imparted by the oak, as well as a hint of peat, merge in, making the rich richer still, and marrying together to bring about a finish reminiscent of smoke and mint. But, perhaps most intriguing of all with this Whisky is the freshness of pears which comes in at about the same time as the flavours broaden (usually as the mouthful travels towards the back of the mouth), taking a richness which might otherwise have been very littoral and making it more airy in nature. This pear flavour is often found in Irish Whiskies, but it is the first time I encounter such a bold instance of it in Scotch; the effect is both pleasing and addictive. Such sweet flavours and dazzling pyrotechnics obviously make GlenMorangie a very palatable drink, but what really makes it worthy of praise, in my opinion, is the way in which they come together to produce a very well balanced experience. From sniff to aftertaste, this Whisky is elegant and the experience it provides is very pleasant and undoubtedly memorable: it is not so hard to find a tasty Whisky, it is rather harder to find one that is so well balanced. For $47 (with taxes), this is a steal. In fact, it has just slipped in second place behind Balvenie as my favourite Scotch, excluding Islays, which I keep in a category of their own.

Bruichladdich "16th Hole Augusta" (14yrs)

Price: Approx. $80/750ML; paid around $40
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

I was fortunate enough to pick up a bottle of this during a pre-holidays clearance sale at the liquor store for a significantly reduced price. It is a numbered, special run (18000 bottles), as I understand it, which makes it all the more interesting; though, as I have not had the opportunity to taste their more regular offerings, I will not be able to say exactly in what way it is special.

This Whisky definitely has an elegant, even delicate, smell for an Islay, the peat serving as backdrop for malt, caramel, and a touch of sea to refresh the nose. It all starts gently, with a silky texture and a creamy taste of malt, strengthened, perhaps, by a hint of vanilla floating around the mouth, then it expands to include a certain oaken sharpness which comes just in time to balance out the sweetness of the malt; but it is just before swallowing that the taste truly opens up, exploding into a kaleidoscope of salt and sweet, as though a great wave had come to crash on a shore where sweet herbs and fragrant flowers grew, perhaps whilst being caressed by a light breeze laden with the scent of distant lands, where orange groves are. Upon swallowing is when the peat really steps out of this tapestry of tastes and stands proud, accompanied and abated by a sweet fruity breath, which I surmise comes from the sherry cask finish this Whisky has undergone. This is a damned fine Whisky; most of my complaints are with the marketing behind it, which can seem a little tacky at times, but the drink itself, at least in this case, is beyond reproach. It is certainly lighter than many Islays I have tasted, but it is also slightly older, and it returns in complexity what it may seem to some to lack in power.

Benromach Traditional Malt

Price: $6.41/50ML, $45.79/700ML
Bought at: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (Halifax)

I picked up a sampler of this Whisky upon one of my more recent visits to the liquor store, curious of what I would find within this adorable bottle, as I had never encountered this distillery before. Well, it certainly smells good, with a more pungent perfume than what I would normally expect from a Speyside, with peat fairly strong and a hint of some smoked sweet wood, cherry perhaps; the effect is very refreshing, being somewhat reminiscent of a deep breath of fresh air taken in the heart of the country on a quiet night. The taste is somewhat of a surprise, following that smell; it is much lighter than one might expect and not very smoky in comparison. The first thing that strikes the tongue is a saltiness which one finds occasionally in some Scotch, though more usually Islays, Then follows a very interesting blend of the more usual Speyside characteristics, such as a more flowery bouquet, a fairly light body, and a certain leathery taste about mid-palate, along with very unique characteristics, such as a heavier peatiness and a slightly more earthy taste. The whole experience concludes with a finish strongly laden with peat and smoke strewn with flowers which certainly does not go gentle into that good night. I find this Whisky very interesting and I would certainly like to try a full-size bottle of it; it straddles the line between Speysides and Islays in much the same way that Connemara does for the world of Irish Whiskies, and, in fact, some of its characteristics, especially the saltiness and over all refreshing effect remind me strongly of this latter fellow. If you're looking for a Speyside Scotch with a pleasantly schizoid personality, this one is definitely worth a try.