Gerlachus WiskiE Batch 10 Review

“Child in Time”

Whisky Review # 718

Country: The Netherlands

Region: Limburg

Brand: Gerlachus WiskiE - Batch 10 (Bottle # 148) - Bottled October 8, 2016

Type: Single Malt WiskiE 
Age: NAS - Probably 6-12 months. 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Fresh French Oak (Quercus Robur)   
Chill Filtration: No           
Price Range: Around US$ 40 for 0,5 Liter (April 2018)
Sample provided by: Jan Bronkhorst. Many Thanks!
Buying Advice: 😒 Nose Okay. Palate & Finish are not. Negative P/Q ratio.      

Colour: 

Chestnut (Natural Colour). Very dark colour for a Spirit that matured less than 1 year. It suggests intense Wood contact using small casks and maybe Oak chips. I don't have specific information on this though.

Nose: 

The dark colour can't hide the fact that we are Nosing a young Spirit. I must admit however that you wouldn't give it 6-12 months. The process used by this Dutch distillery certainly succeeds in disguising the fact that we are dealing with a very young product. The Nose is very Soft and Sweet and relatively Simple but doesn't present any aggressive (off-) notes.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Cereals, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Pencil Shavings, Toffee, Vanilla, Nuts and Nutshells and Dried Fruit (Apricot and maybe Plums).       

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, inexpensive Brandy, Nougat, Apple, Resin and Pear and perhaps Peach both on Heavy Syrup. A very distant hint of Smoke.

Palate:

Not aggressive but very Thin and Watery. The Alcohol is much more present. It's hard to picture it as a Whisky/WiskiE at this point.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Cereals, Alcohol, Toffee, light Citrus, Pepper, Pencil Shavings, Varnish and Menthol*.                   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Nutmeg, Cloves, Soft Smoke and Candies*.    

* Please note that most Flavours are mere hints/suggestions with the exception of Cereals, Wood Spice and Alcohol.
         
Finish:

Short, Watery and Thin. The Alcohol is much more noticeable by now. Sweet at first but quite Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Cereals, Sugar, Margarine, Fresh Oak, Varnish, Toffee, Artificially Flavoured Fruit Candies, Menthol, Pepper and a puff of Smoke.      

Drinking Advice:

On account of the small size of the sample, I only tasted this Gerlachus neat. I can easily imagine however that added Water will probably kill Palate and Finish.

Rating: 70      

Nose: 18.5 - Taste: 17  - Finish: 17 - Overall: 17.5    

Drinking Experience:

Borderline. Saved by the Nose.

Conclusion:

Gerlachus is located in Hulsberg (Limburg) and was founded in 2002 as a Beer Brewery. In the meantime they also produce WiskiE, Whisky and Liqueurs. The Gerlachus WiskiE/Whisky is made of Malted Barley, some of it peated. Gerlachus is distilled twice in a copper pot still. Half of the production matures for 3 Years in Oak Quarter casks and will be bottled as of September 2018 as Whisky. The other half matures much shorter but more intensive. During around six months, the casks are matured using different temperatures, different humidity and different pressure. It's tested before bottling to verify if the Spirit needs to mature a bit longer. At this stage it can't be called Whisky by law, hence the name WiskiE.

The sample I'm tasting today is part of Batch # 10, Bottle # 148 out of a total of 150. The dark colour suggests a longer maturation than six months. The capacity of the distillery was increased in 2015.

This Gerlachus WiskiE makes it clear that modern production techniques are quite capable of speeding up the maturation process. I must admit that I was impressed by the Nose and Colour of this WiskiE. The Nose is quite simple but not unpleasant and it misses any aggressive (off-) notes. The very Thin, Watery and almost flavourless Palate and Finish however also clearly show that making a real Whisky requires a lot more time and effort. I applaud the initiative and I'm certainly looking forward to experiment a matured Gerlachus. But making Gin might perhaps be a better option to improve cash-flow than WiskiE. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                     April 23, 2018

Millstone 2014 Cask Sample Review

“Active Little Cask”

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone 2014 (Sherry Octave Cask # 3 Casqueteers)

Type: Single Cask Sample

Age: 2 Years

ABV: Not Provided 
Chill-Filtration: N/A
Whisky Review # 548
Sample provided by Adri from the Netherlands. Many Thanks!

Colour: Mahogany/Chestnut (Natural Colour - Very Active Cask)

Nose: The Spirit is certainly maturing rapidly. The Casqueteers are considering a total cask time of 3-4 Years and that seems indeed adequate. The influence of the Sherry Wood is very clear, both in Colour and Aromas. The first impressions are Toasted Barley, Plum Jam, Fortified Wine (Oloroso Sherry, Port Wine), Oak and Wood Stain. I also find Buttered Cake, Coconut, Dried Fruit (Raisins and perhaps Apricot), Ripe Banana, Puff Pastry and some traces of Spice, Espresso, Chocolate, floral Perfume and Bitter Orange. The Alcohol is not fully integrated as is expected at this stage. The octave is a small cask and the Wood-Spirit contact is intense. A larger cask might provide a better balance between the character of the Zuidam Spirit and the Sherry Wood. Certainly something to consider. As it is, Cask # 3 seems to develop into a rich and full after dinner Whisky in the line of Brandy or Port Wine. 

Palate: Here the youth of the Spirit is more noticeable. And so is the Alcohol. On the Palate, this Millstone is Bitter-Sweet, slightly Sour and Spicy. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Oak and Wood Stain, Assorted Dried Fruits and Nuts, Sherry, Port Wine, light Honey, light Vanilla, Coconut, Bitter Orange, Grapefruit, Pepper, Cinnamon and Cloves.

Finish: Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and slightly Sour. Medium Spicy and with a light Alcohol Bite. I find Toasted Barley, Buttered Cake, Wax, Oak and Wood Stain, Nuts, Butterscotch, Orange, Cinnamon, Cloves, Pepper and traces of Milk Chocolate, Coconut, Espresso and Vanilla. Quite Dry in the end.

I added a little Water and the Spirit calms down a bit as the Alcohol retreats. I find a little Porridge with Butter and Milk showing a bit more of the original Distillery characteristics. A little Honey as well. Palate and Finish become less "heavy" too and the Spices develop nicely now. Nosing and Tasting are less intense this way. I certainly recommend to add a little Water, at least at this stage of maturation.   

Cask # 3 (Picture Credit: The Casqueteers)

General Remarks: The Zuidam Distillery was founded in 1974 by Fred van Zuidam and his wife Helene and is currently run by their sons Patrick and Gilbert. It is located in Baarle-Nassau on the Dutch-Belgian border and is the main Distillery in The Netherlands that ferments, distills, ages and bottles at its own premises. Next to Malt Whiskies, Zuidam also produces Rye Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The distillery has been expanding rapidly during the last couple of years. Their range includes a/o the 5 Years (in a peated and unpeated version), the 10 Years American Oak, the 10 Years French Oak, the 12 Years Sherry Oak and the 100% Rye.

Early 2014, the Casqueteers acquired 3 octaves of around 50 litres each of Millstone Spirit. The octaves were made of used Sherry Wood. The three casks with Cask # 1,2 and 3 were filled on February 10, 2014. They will most likely mature for a period of 3 to 4 years. Samples were drawn in February 2016 and today I'm reviewing a sample of cask # 3. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good  

Score: N/A. I only score bottled Whiskies.

Conclusion: Cask # 3 is without any doubt a very active cask. I have tasted quite a few Millstone whiskies in the meantime and I'm familiar with the Distillery characteristics. As I wrote above, the small cask allows a very intense contact between the Spirit and the Sherry Wood. In my opinion, the Wood might start to dominate the Spirit, certainly considering the fact that the Spirit will mature for an other year or two. The end result will likely be a very Full and perhaps slightly "Heavy" after dinner Whisky. During the Nosing and Tasting, images of mature Port Wine appeared in my mind all the time. My advise is to taste the Spirit again in early 2017 to decide the best time for bottling. Also I think that on another occasion, a larger cask might provide a better balance between the Fruity, Malty Distillery character and the active Sherry Wood. In any case, Good Luck and Cheers!

Casqueteers 

In 2011 three Whisky fans from the Netherlands jointly decided to buy a cask of Bunnahabhain 1986. The experiment was a success and the idea was taken a step further. Other selected casks would be bought and each cask would be offered up for sale in a limited number of parts per cask. The idea was to have a relatively small number of owners per cask that would facilitate joint tasting sessions. In the meantime 200 owners from Europe and Asia possess 45 casks from distilleries like Clynelish, Tomatin, Littlemill, Wolfburn, Strathearn, Isle of Harris, Tormore, Mortlach and Miltonduff. If you are interested to participate in this project, please visit their website: www.casQueteers.com

Jan van den Ende                                                                      June 23, 2016

The New Pot Stills at Zuidam.

Millstone French Oak Review

“Not the Ideal Marriage” 

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone French Oak

Type: Pot Still Malt Whisky 

Age: 10 Years 

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Dark Golden

Nose: Sweet with New Oak, Varnish, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Orange Marmalade, light Honey, Nut Shells, Dried Apricot, Pencil Shavings, Toffee, light Spices and light Floral tones. It's okay but not overly exciting.

Palate: Malt, Toffee, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Oak, light Honey, light Menthol, Orange, light Varnish, Salted Butter, Nutmeg, Pepper and Cinnamon. 

Finish: Middle-Long, Fruity, Spicy and Bitter-Sweet with Oak, Vanilla, Orange Peel, Buttered Toast, Nutmeg, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice, Menthol, Varnish and a little Salt.

I added a bit of Water and on the Nose you get more Vanilla and Floral Soapy tones. A little more Fruit in the Finish as well. You can experiment with a few drops at a time.

Rating: 82

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Zuidam Distillery was founded in 1974 by Fred van Zuidam and his wife Helene and is currently run by their sons Patrick and Gilbert. It is located in Baarle-Nassau on the Dutch-Belgian border and is the only Distillery in The Netherlands that ferments, distills, ages and bottles at its own premises. Next to Malt Whiskies, Zuidam also produces Rye Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The Millstone 10 Years I'm tasting today was actually distilled on February 26, 1999, matured in French Oak Casks and was bottled on the 21st of August 2013. That's 14, 5 Years! The ABV of 40% is lower than the 43%, Zuidam is using today. My 200 ML bottle hails from Cask # 351. On average you will pay around 60 US Dollars for the 10 Year old Millstone French Oak, bottled at 43%.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Although there's nothing specifically wrong, the French Oak is not my favourite Millstone. It's not a subtle whisky and the Oak and Oak Spices are quite present. I prefer the 12 Year Sherry Cask anytime. The Sherry Cask is similar to Sherried Speyside Whisky while the French Oak has all the main characteristics of a European mainland Whisky with Oak, Vanilla and Spices as the main drivers. So while the French Oak is not a bad Single Malt, I don't find it sufficiently interesting to enjoy on a regular basis. Look forward to try the 1999 Special # 1 PX Cask who has just been nominated Best European Single Malt Whisky in the 13-20 Years category. Well done Millstone! It looks like Zuidam Spirit and Ex-Sherry Casks were made for each other. Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 2, 2015

New Casks Arriving at Zuidam (Photo credit: Zuidam Distillery) 

Millstone 100 Rye Review

“We're Almost There”

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone 100 Rye

Type: Small Pot Still Rye Whisky 

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 50 %

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: The Alcohol is strong so you'll have to nose your way around it. There is quite a bit going on here. I find Sour Rye-Bread, Chocolate-Milk (Chocomel), Oak in the form of Pencil Shavings, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Varnish, 
Menthol, Grass, Aniseed, Citrus Peel, Mashed Bananas and Peach Preserves. Not many people would recognise this as a Dutch Whisky in a Blind Tasting and for the time being that's a compliment!

Palate: Quite Strong and Spicy Delivery with Rye Bread, Caramel, Vanilla, Mint, Lemon, Ginger, Brown Sugar, Pepper, Cinnamon, New Oak and Varnish.

Finish: Middle Long and Spicy with New Oak, slightly Bitter Almonds, Ginger Ale, Mint, Pepper, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Varnish and Buttered Toast.

I added a bit of Water but that does not improve this Millstone 100 Rye. 

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21 

New Pot Stills at Zuidam Distillery

General Remarks: The Zuidam Distillery was founded in 1974 by Fred van Zuidam and his wife Helene and is currently run by their sons Patrick and Gilbert. It is located in Baarle-Nassau on the Dutch-Belgian border and is the only Distillery in The Netherlands that ferments, distills, ages and bottles at its own premises. Next to Rye Whisky, Zuidam also produces Malt Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The sample that I'm tasting today does not mention any specific data but I'm pretty sure it was bottled in 2013. The 100 stands for 100% Rye, maturation of a 100 Months in 100% new American Oak Casks and bottling at 100 Proof. It's not cheap at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: First of all I would like to congratulate Zuidam on this Rye Whisky as it's one of the very few made outside the USA. And on the Nose it can most certainly compete with its American brothers. On the Palate and in the Finish however I'm not too fond of the Young Oak and Varnish Tones. Perhaps eight years in New American Oak is a bit too much. I wonder what would happen if you would mature this Spirit in a Mix of New - and Refill American Oak. In any case, the Millstone 100 Rye is a good, albeit quite expensive Dutch product. And I'm pretty sure that future Rye expressions will be even better. So I will end with a song that Andy Williams sang a long time ago: "We're Almost There" 

Jan van den Ende                                                          November 5, 2014 

 Rye