Maker's Mark 101

”Love on the Rocks”

Whisky Review # 924

Country: USA

Region: Kentucky
Brand: Maker's Mark 101
Distilled at: Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto, Kentucky
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age: NAS (said to be around 6 Years)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50.5%
Maturation: Fresh Charred American Oak Bourbon casks
Chill-Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 35-50 (July 2021)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍
Buying Advice: 👍 Delicious on the Rocks!

Colour: Bronze (Natural Color)

Nose:

Vanilla and Fruit-filled Puff Pastry are the first impressions. It's quite Sweet but in a sort of relaxing way. The extra Alcohol provides some steroids and my advise would be to Nose along the edges of your glass. You will get much more Fruit that way. I like the Nose of Maker's Mark in general and this is no exception.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Corn, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Toffee, Creme Catalan, Fresh Peach-filled Puff-Pastry, English Breakfast Orange Marmalade, Sawdust, Cinnamon, Cloves, Aniseed and a few Fresh Herbs. 
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Sweet Barley/Grain, Honey, Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Golden Syrup, Cooked Apple, Strawberry Yogurt , Resin, Milk Chocolate, Charred Oak, Leather and a pinch of squeezed Lemon.

Palate:

The Alcohol is noticeable and Wood and Spices come to the front at the expense of the Fruit. Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes are all part of the mix.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Corn, Vanilla, Caramel, Cherry Mint, Apple, Orange Marmalade, Resin, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Menthol and Aniseed.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Grains, Demerara Sugar, Vanilla-Flavored Pipe Tobacco, Honey, Toasted Nuts, Pear drops, Slivovitz, Lemon, Leather, Fresh Herbs and Black Tea.

Finish:

Middle-Long and quite Dry. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. The Alcohol is noticeable. Wood and Spices are in a constant battle with the Sweeter Grain notes and tend to be on the winning side for most of the time. I find Caramel, Sweet Grains, Toffee, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Buttered Toast/Honey, Orange, Baked Apple, Charred Oak, Straw, Nuts, Cocoa Powder, the Famous Dutch Chocomel, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger and Mint/Aniseed.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that helps to mellow out Palate and Finish. It shows that the ABV of the 46 is the correct one for Maker's Mark Bourbon in my opinion.

Rating: 85.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experience On the Rocks: Very Good

Conclusion:

Maker's Mark is America's only handmade Bourbon with each individual batch less than 19 Barrels. The distillery still uses the Sour Mash method where they start each new batch fermentation by using a little of the last. This results in a consistent final product. They rotate the barrels during the season for that same reason. The Mash Bill consists of Corn (70%), Malted Barley (14%) & Red Winter Wheat (16%). By not using Rye, a sweeter and softer profile is created. I have previously tasted the Standard Maker's Mark and the Maker's Mark 46, both of which I liked. In fact, Maker's Mark is my to go to everyday Bourbon. The 101 I'm tasting today, initially was served only to select visitors at the distillery. But in 2018 it was launched as the brand's first exclusive Global Retail bottling.

You can't go wrong with any Maker's Mark edition if you like your Bourbon a little Sweeter and without the Rye component. I like the standard Maker's but it misses a little Punch that both the 46 and 101 provide. The 46 is the best sipping Maker's of the three if you ask me as the ABV is spot-on. The 101 accepts a little Water and therefore it's my favorite Maker's on the Rocks. Simply delicious! With Maker's Mark you'll never enjoy " A Shot in the Dark" 😜 

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           July 28, 2021

Miltonduff 1988 (Carn Mor)

”Green Green Grass of Home”

Whisky Review # 923

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: Miltonduff 1988 - Distilled on October 27, 1988

Bottled by: MMcK - Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Series - bottled : 06/10/2014
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 9954 - 144 Bottles

Age: 25 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50.1% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: Around US$ 240 (July 2021)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay for a 25 Year old Single Malt.
Buying Advice: 👍 Certainly if you like your Single Malt Grassy, Citric and Herbal!

Colour: Chardonnay (Natural Color)

Nose:

Please give this Miltonduff enough time in your glass before Nosing as it opens very slowly. Even after a while however this Speyside Malt presents itself as an introvert Spirit. Quite Green, Floral and Grassy. The Oak is noticeable but that's no wonder after 25 years. Still, I wouldn't call Cask # 9954 an extremely active one. It's all very laid-back on the Nose. Not unpleasant though.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Grass & Straw, Pear, Apple and Nectarine, Fresh Oak, Fresh Herbs, Green Tobacco, Cinnamon, Pepper and Wet Newspaper.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Heather-Honey, Bounty Candy Bars, Fresh Pancakes with Golden Syrup, Resin, Wax, Peach-Flavored Yogurt, Floral Soap, Marzipan, Wet Forest, Ginger and Aniseed. A distant hint of PVC Pipes.

Palate:

The Oak and Spices come to the forefront in a combo with Green, Citric and Herbal notes. A nice Salty touch can be noted as well. A mix of Bitter, Sweet, Salty and  slightly Sour notes. It's not your everyday Single Malt profile but I would not mind enjoying a glass every once in a while.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Grass & Straw, Marzipan, Wet Forest, Dusty Oak, Lemon, Grapefruit, Salted Nuts, Pepper, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Nutmeg & fresh Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Toffee, Wax, Bounty Candy Bars, Green Apple, Nectarine, Fresh Herbs, Green Tobacco, Strawberry-flavored Yogurt, Tutti-Frutti Bubble-Gum, Clove and light Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Citric notes as well. Lots of Dusty Oak & Spices at this point but not over-the-top. The Green, Floral and Herbal notes still shine as well. There's a hint of the PVC Pipes again but it's not enough to consider it to be an off-note. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Grass & Straw, Lemon and Grapefruit, Strawberry-flavored Yogurt, Dusty Oak, Milk-Hazelnut-Chocolate, Marzipan, Floral Soap, Fresh Herbs, Iron Bars, Green Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Ginger, Nutmeg, Menthol, Tutti-Frutti Bubblegum and light Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

A little Water helps to calm down Wood & Spices although the Finish becomes very Minty. I like it both ways though.

Rating: 86

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good.

Conclusion:

This distillery was founded in 1824 and is located in Elgin. A huge reconstruction of the distillery took place in 1974. It changed hands various times over the years but since 2005 it is owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard). Most of the production is destined for the Chivas blends. More specifically, Miltonduff and Glenburgie form the heart of Ballantine's. The capacity of the distillery is around 6 million litres per year. The only official bottling is the 15 Years.

Quite a different story when compared to today's Mainstream Malt. This Miltonduff centers around Green, Grassy, Oaky, Herbal and Spicy notes. It's not a complicated Whisky and certainly a bit shy on the Nose. But it's got character and that's very important, at least for me. Not for everyday but certainly nice to sip occasionally. If you like Clynelish, this might be an alternative. It's time that the distillery shows a bit more action on the Single Malt market. Such a pity that most Miltonduff is used for second division blends like Ballantine's Finest. 😡

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                            July 14, 2021

Macallan Enigma

”Macallan Vs. Oakenfold”

Whisky Review # 922

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: Macallan Enigma - Quest Collection
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled 2017

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 44.9%
Maturation: First Fill European Oak Sherry-Seasoned Butts and Hogsheads from a single cooperage-partner, Tevasa in Jerez de la Fronteira
Chill Filtration: Probably

Price Range: US$ 240-360 (July 2021)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Extremely expensive for a NAS Whisky
Buying Advice: 😃/😔 Well-made but very expensive Sherried Speysider. 

Colour: Golden Amber (Natural Color)

Nose:

Wafts of Sweet Oloroso and PX Sherry and Fresh European Wood are certainly the first impressions. Dark Fruit and Nuts lead the way in this reasonably Dry mix of Sweet, Sour, Dusty, Woody, Meaty and Spicy notes. The Alcohol is well-integrated. Very good cask management. It's a one-way Sherry street for sure but it's nicely done.

Main Aromas:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Buttered Bread, Demerara Sugar, Candied Orange Peel,  Dark (Dried) Fruit like Sultanas, Apricots, Plums, Prunes & Dates, Dark Chocolate, Mixed Nuts including Candied Almonds, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Yeast, Straw, Red Apple, Banana-Bread, Herbs, Strawberry flavored Yogurt, Peaches in Sour-Cream, Meat-Broth, Soy Sauce, Nutmeg, Pepper and Menthol.

Palate:

Medium-Dry and perhaps a little on the Thin side despite the adequate ABV. I think that an ABV of 47/48% would be even better in this case. On the Palate the casks take control and Dark (Dried) Fruit, Nuts, Spices and Oak lead the way. I quite like this mix of Sweet, Sour and mildly Bitter flavors with a nice Salty and slightly Meaty touch. 

Main Flavours:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Dried Fruits such as Sultanas, Raisins, Apricots, Plums and Dates, Candied Orange, Candied Almonds, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Yeast, Straw, Red Apple, Banana Pie, slightly Sour Berries, Meat Broth and Herbs.

Finish:

Middle-Long, perhaps slightly on the Thin side and a mix of Sweet, Sour and mildly Bitter notes. Well-Balanced in this respect. Flavor-wise the Dried Fruit, Oak & Spice are back in force. A nice Salty touch as well. I find Toasted/Malted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Toffee, Honey, Straw, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apricots, Plums and Dates, Red Apple, Candied Orange, Banana Bread, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Dusty Oak and a hint of Iron bars. Medium-Dry.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Macallan.

Rating: 86

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat:

Good.

Conclusion:

The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid and is located in the village of Craigellachie (Morayshire). The majority of the shares is owned by the Edrington Group. The current production lies at around 11.5 million litres per year. The Quest collection was launched in 2017/2018 to replace the 1824 Collection that consisted a.o. of Gold, Amber, Siena and Ruby. While these series focused on color, the new Quest collection that consists of Quest, Lumina, Terra and Enigma focuses on Oak. The Quest collection was initially launched on the Travel Retail market and does not bear an age-statement.

If you like well-made sherried Speysiders and you've got the cash, this Macallan will work out fine for you. It presents a nice combination of Sweet, Sour, slightly Bitter and Dusty notes with a touch of Salt. It's just a little too much on the Thin side to call it a total Sherry-Bomb though. A slightly higher ABV would have really done that trick in my opinion. If you're not into sherried whisky you should leave this one alone though as it's quite one-dimensional on Dried Fruit, Nuts, Spices and Oak. In any case I have to say that the price is really too high for a NAS Whisky despite the fact that good casks were used for this Enigma. And that's a pity 😞.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                              July 7, 2021

All Pictures Taken During Our Visit in May 2014