Santis Malt Edition Alpstein Review

Country: Switzerland

Brand: Santis Malt (Appenzeller Single Malt)

Type: Edition Alpstein

Age: 5 Years

ABV: 48%

Date: 28/10/2012

Colour: Oloroso Sherry

Nose: The good quality Sherry Cask certainly did its job well. The Sherry is accompanied by Oak, Malt, Wood Spices and Buttered Toast with Fruit Marmalade. Think of Pear, Plum, Blueberries and Peach. There are some Floral tones as well. It would be quite difficult or even impossible to identify this Dram as a Swiss Whisky in a blind tasting. There are some similarities between the Alpstein and Irish Whiskey but I'm sure the Sherry Finish would "confuse" a lot of tasters. And that's a great achievement by a young distillery like Locher! I would be really curious to know what a couple of years more of Wood contact could do to this dram.

Taste: I was expecting lots of Fruit and Butterscotch on the Palate but that's not the case. In fact, the Alpstein is quite Dry and Spicy thanks to the 48% ABV with Malt, Oak, Herbs, Sherry, Licorice and Dried Fruits. 

Finish: Some Fruit returns together with Oak, Caramel, White Pepper and Licorice. Hints of Tea with Stroh Rum that I drank a lot in the late Seventies and early Eighties when skiing in Austria.

I added a few drops of Water and you get More Malt and Fruit on the Nose. Palate and Finish get a bit too spicy as far as I'm concerned but you can certainly experiment with a couple of drops.

Rating:  82.5 

Nose:  22 - Taste:  20 - Finish: 20   - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: Alpstein is one of the new expressions from the Locher Distillery in Appenzell, Switzerland. The Alpstein matured for three years in Old Oak Beer Casks from the Locher Brewery and was finished for another two years in Sherry Casks. The Alpstein does not contain E-150 Caramel and is Non Chill-Filtered. Of this Edition, only 450 bottles were produced.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: A very mature whisky from a very young Distillery. The Alpstein has a very pleasant Fruity Nose that can easily compete with Scottish Malt Whisky. Unfortunately, as happens so oft with whiskies, Palate and Finish don't quite live up to the expectations created by the Nose. This is quite understandable as the Alpstein only matured for 5 years. Imagine this dram after 10 years in Old Oak and a 2 year Finish in Quality Sherry Casks. I think a great after dinner dram would emerge. I really cross my fingers for the Locher Distillery. I hope they will get the chance to surprise the whisky world with fully matured Swiss Single Malts.

Jan van den Ende                                                                       October 2012

Macallan Select Oak Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: The Macallan Select Oak

Type: Single Malt

Region: Speyside

Age: NAS

ABV: 40%

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: The First Fill Ex-Sherry Casks make their mark together with Oak, Butterscotch, Malt, Dried Fruits (Raisins and Blackberries), Fresh Fruit (Pears), Leather and Tobacco. Hints of Grass and Lemon. Hardly any Alcohol present.

Taste: Sweet Sherry, Spices (White Pepper and Ginger), Butterscotch, Licorice, Nuts, Oak, Vanilla.

Finish: Middle-Long and Dry with White Pepper, Oak, Raisins and Almonds. A hint of Chocolate.

I added a few drops of Water and you get more Malt and Fruit (Peach) on the Nose. Palate and Finish don't benefit from the Water however so my advice is to sip this dram neat. 

Rating: 85.5 

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

General Remarks: The Select Oak forms part of the 1824 Travel Retail Series, released in 2009 to celebrate 1824, the year that the Macallan Distillery was licensed. The other 3 are the Estate Reserve, the 1824 Limited Release and the Whisky Maker's Edition. The Select Oak is a vatted blend of Single Malt Macallan whiskies matured in different Cask Types namely American Oak seasoned with either Bourbon or Sherry and a high percentage of First-Fill European Oak Sherry Casks.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: If you like a sherried dram, this Macallan might be a nice option. I think it's better than the 10 Year Sherry Oak. I don't know if it's still available but I bought it two years ago at the Duty Free for US$ 55 a liter. And that's not a bad price. On the Nose the Sherry and Butterscotch are dominant. The Oak is of good quality though and I like the Tobacco and Leather Tones. The Palate is basically a combination of Sweet Sherry and strong Spices. The Pepper holds its ground in the Middle-Long Finish. In my opinion the Select Oak is a well-crafted dram with a good price/quality ratio, especially for a Travel Retail Bottling. It would improve even further if it would be bottled at a higher ABV of say 46%. As it is, the Select Oak is a good choice for an after dinner dram but not quite exciting enough for me to sip on a regular basis. 

Jan van den Ende                                                               October 26, 2012

Jim Beam Devil's Cut Review

Country: USA

Brand: Jim Beam Devil's Cut 

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Age: NAS but aged for at least 6 Years

ABV: 45%

Colour: Golden Caramel

Nose: Sweet Grains, Deep Oak, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Lemon, Butterscotch, Coconut, Maple Syrup, Brown Sugar, Orange, Cherry - and Peach Liqueur.  

Taste: Sweet start quickly gets Rough with Orange and Earthy Oak, Vanilla and Nutmeg, Butterscotch and slightly bitter Grains. Wood Spices are quite present. You can certainly feel the higher ABV.

Finish: Burn Baby Burn, Devil's Inferno was a hit for the Trammps in the Seventies. Okay, it was Disco Inferno and yes, I'm exaggerating, but there's quite some Fire in this Whiskey with Nutmeg, Ginger, Grains, Orange and Oak.

I added a few drops of Water and immediately the Spices on the Nose are toned down in favour of the Vanilla and Fruity Flavours. On the Palate and in the Finish however Bitter Oak and Wood Spice start to dominate. You can Nose it both with - and without Water but I prefer to sip it neat or with some Ice.   

Rating:  82.5

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

General Remarks: According to the Distillery, the Devil's Cut (released in early 2011) is a Blend of the standard Mash Bill 6 Years Beam, matured in virgin Oak Barrels and  " Barrel-Treated Extract Bourbon", Bourbon residue extracted from dumped barrels. Some water is inserted in the barrel that is subsequently shaken for half an hour. The liquid is drained off and used to dilute the final product instead of using regular spring water. Master Distiller Fred Noe invented the product and the name.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion: This is seriously potent stuff. Much rougher than the standard expressions White and Black 6. It certainly tastes nice on Ice but so does White and that's a lot cheaper. At around US$ 27,- I don't see myself sipping this Bourbon on a regular basis. But it's certainly something else when compared to the standard Beams because of the deep Oak and Wood Spices and it's nice for a change every once in a while. The Angel's Share might be lost forever but the Devil's Cut has been recovered. Thanks to Fred Noe!

Jan van den Ende                                                               October 23, 2012

Buchanan's 18 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Buchanan's Special Reserve

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 18 Years

ABV: 40%

Colour: Deep Amber

Nose: Balanced Nose with Grains, Oak, Toffee/Caramel, Nuts, Peat, Vanilla, Plums, Leather, Orange Zest  and hints of Tobacco and Mango. Only mild Spices, mainly Nutmeg.

Taste: A pleasant though not extremely exciting combination of Orange, Oak, Lemon, Peat, Toast, Leather, Nuts, Spices, Caramel and strong black Coffee.

Finish: Sweet Fruit at first (Ripe Banana) but quickly becoming dry with Vanilla, Pepper, Leather, Oak, Peat, Nuts and English Breakfast Marmalade (Orange).

I added a few drops of Water and you get a more Maltier Nose. Peat, Fruit and Leather are also enhanced and I notice a touch of Honey. Palate and Finish don't show important improvements. Still, there is some room to experiment with a couple of drops of Water.

Rating: 84.5  

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

General Remarks: 

The Buchanan's Blend is now owned by the Diageo Group and is very popular in Mexico, South America and with the Hispanic population in the USA. The Blend was originally introduced by James Buchanan, originally a grain trader who was born in Canada as a son of Scottish immigrants but moved to the UK at a very young age and started James Buchanan & Co in 1884. The Highland distillery Dalwhinnie is one of the important components of this Blend.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: 

A comfortable and well-balanced Blend without any off-notes. The Oak is there but does not control the flavor profile despite the 18 years. It's a dram for English Lords to be savoured in leather arm chairs in a private club that did not change over the last century. I think you get the picture. Not exciting enough for Rugby Fans, New York Stock Exchange Traders and nervous Investment Bankers. But well-made and a good step up from the rather boring Buchanan's 12 Years.

Jan van den Ende                               October 21, 2012

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Review

Country: Ireland

Brand: Bushmills Original

Type: Blended Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Young Grain, Alcohol, Vanilla, Grassy tones and Green Oak are the first impressions. After a while I get Brown Sugar, Citrus, Toffee, Apples and Pears and Toast with Butter and Peach Marmalade. Instead of Butter you can think of Whole Whipped Cream as well. Hints of Malt and Honey. There is a slight Metallic feeling to the Nose as well that I could do without. It's not strong enough though to consider it a serious off-note.

Taste: A tiny bit harsh with Sweet Grains, Oak, Vanilla, Licorice, Cardamom, Nuts, Pepper, Caramel, Citrus and some Floral Notes.

Finish: Short and quite Sugary with tones of Pepper, Oak, Grains, Green Apples, Cardamom and Vanilla. It is saved by a last minute Peach Note. It leaves your mouth quite dry after a minute or two.

I added a few drops of Water but won't do that again. It somehow becomes a muddy river of Grains and Spices with a Metallic Finish. My firm advice therefore is to enjoy this dram neat.

Rating: 78.5 

Nose:  20.5 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish:  19 - Overall: 19.5

General Remarks:  The Old Bushmills Distillery is located in the Antrim County in Northern Ireland. Since 2005 it's owned by the Diageo Group. In 1608 a licence to distill was granted by King James I which makes Bushmills the oldest licensed Distillery. That's why the year 1608 is printed on the label. The Distillery produces a whole range of Bushmills expressions including the Original or White Label as it's often referred to, the Black Bush, the 10, 12, 16 and 21 Years Single Malts and the Special Edition 1608, released in 2008 to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Legal Distilling at Bushmills.The Original is a Blend of Malt and Grain Whiskies, is Triple-Distilled and is matured in American Oak Casks. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion: Too much young Grain, Alcohol, Metal and Cardamom around to really enjoy this dram neat. Despite the fact that you can pick up some nice Peach and Whipped Cream on the Nose with the Peach returning in the Finish. The whisky leaves you with a quite dry and slightly uncomfortable mouth-feeling after a couple of minutes. This is probably more suited as a basis for Long-Drinks although I'm not really an expert in that field. I conclude that the Bushmills Original is not a bad whiskey but not a bottle I would care to buy on a regular basis.

Jan van den Ende                                                              October 19, 2012