“Piano in the Dark”
Whisky Review # 1067
Country: Canada 🇨🇦
Region: Vancouver Island
Brand: Macaloney's St. Mallie - Single Cask Series
Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Portuguese Re-charred Red Wine Barrique
Maturation: Portuguese Re-charred Red Wine Barrique
Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 60-80 (July 2025)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 60-80 (July 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 A bit too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😐 Not bad but a little immature
Colour:
Dark Amber with Shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young and slightly Thin with Sweet, Sour and Burnt notes. Lots of Dark Fruit. The Alcohol is noticeable.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Grain, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, (Dark) Red Berries & Currants, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates and Figs, Dark Honey, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Red Wine, Charred Oak, Leather, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Caramel, Vanilla, Syrup, Lemon, Grated Coconut, Apples cooked in Rum, Tobacco, Wet Rocks, Green Plants, Roasted Coffee, Nuts Liqueur, Nutmeg and Pepper.
Dr. Graeme MacaloneyPalate:
Young and slightly Hot. A mix of Sweet and Sour notes with a light Bitterness in the background. Lots of Dark Fruit and Chocolate.
Colour:
Dark Amber with Shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young and slightly Thin with Sweet, Sour and Burnt notes. Lots of Dark Fruit. The Alcohol is noticeable.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Grain, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, (Dark) Red Berries & Currants, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates and Figs, Dark Honey, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Red Wine, Charred Oak, Leather, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Caramel, Vanilla, Syrup, Lemon, Grated Coconut, Apples cooked in Rum, Tobacco, Wet Rocks, Green Plants, Roasted Coffee, Nuts Liqueur, Nutmeg and Pepper.
Young and slightly Hot. A mix of Sweet and Sour notes with a light Bitterness in the background. Lots of Dark Fruit and Chocolate.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dark Honey, Dark Red Berries and Currants, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Dates, Leather, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dark Honey, Dark Red Berries and Currants, Dark Chocolate (80%), Seville-Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Dates, Leather, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Buttered Toast, Yeast, Roasted Coffee, Sour Red Wine, Sliced Coconut, Cigar Box, Wet Rocks, Metal Coins, Armagnac, Charred Oak, Milk, Cloves, Licorice, Nutmeg and a distant hint of Meat.
Finish:
Buttered Toast, Yeast, Roasted Coffee, Sour Red Wine, Sliced Coconut, Cigar Box, Wet Rocks, Metal Coins, Armagnac, Charred Oak, Milk, Cloves, Licorice, Nutmeg and a distant hint of Meat.
Young, Thin, bit Sharp & Short/Middle-Long. Sweet & Sour notes in the beginning but a light Bitterness towards the Medium Dry/Dry end. There's an "Old" feeling to it as in Old Wood and Old Books. I also find Toasted Grains, Salted Caramel, Red Berries and Currants, Brown Sugar, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Figs, Dark Chocolate (80%), Roasted Coffee, Nuts & Nutshells, Tobacco, Leather, Sour Red Wine, Charred Oak, Green Plants, Seville-Orange, Sliced Coconut, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger. A hint of Meat perhaps.
Drinking Advice:
Drinking Experience:
Okay/Good
I added a little Water and that helps calm down the Nose. It also fortifies the Fruit and takes away the Sharp edges. You will lose some Flavors on the Palate and in the Finish but the overall creaminess is enhanced. Please try it both ways.
Rating: 7 (*******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Okay/Good
Conclusion:
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
The Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The resulting New Make Spirit won several global awards.
This is not a bad effort by the Canadian distillery. Light notes of dark aromas and flavours. Hence the title of this review. There are some nice notes to be found but I got an image of an armed master-distiller pointing a gun at the New Make Spirit saying "Mature Quickly or Die". I like the "Spirit" of this St. Mallie but I would love to see it matured for a longer time in the traditional way. "Call me old-fashioned but I would" as the late great Dame Edna would have said!
Cheers, Jan 🥃 July 3, 2025
