Canadian Mist Review

Country: Canada

Brand: Canadian Mist

Type: Blended Canadian Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 40%

Date: 23/11/2012

Colour: Pale Amber

Nose: Rather subdued but not unpleasant Nose with some Malt, Grain (Toast), Orange Peel, Bourbon, Rye Spices, Oak, Prunes, Vanilla, Red Grapes, Caramel and Apple. Less Alcohol then I expected.

Taste: Rather Thin and Sweet delivery with Caramel/Toffee, Rye Spices, Orange Peel, Oak and Pepper.

Finish: Short with Toffee, Pepper, Grain and Citrus. Dry, Spicy and slightly Bitter.

I added a few drops of Water and it reinforces the Grain, Vanilla, Caramel and Orange a bit. But Palate and Finish do not benefit from Water. Better have it neat if you must. In practise, most people use the Canadian Mist only as a basis for Cocktails. 

Rating: 80 (out of 100)

Nose:  21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 20

General Remarks: Triple-Distilled Canadian Mist is one of the most popular whiskies in Canada and was first launched in the sixties. Nowadays, it is distilled from Corn, Rye and Malted Barley at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood, Ontario. The water is sourced from the Georgian Bay. The whisky matures in charred White Oak Barrels, most likely for around 3 years. The Brand is owned by Brown Forman from Louisville. The presentation and bottle are very nice.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: The Nose is certainly the better part of the Canadian Mist. The Palate is not very complex and the Finish is short and forgettable. It's sweet and light and therefore a good basis for Cocktails. It's quite drinkable but not really interesting enough to sip neat.

 Jan van den Ende                                                          November 2012

Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Deja Vu

Songs: Carry On, Teach Your Children, Almost Cut My Hair, Helpless, Woodstock, Déjà Vu, Our House, 4+20, Country Girl, Everybody I Love You.

Type of Music: (Country)Rock /Folk 

Comments: 

This Album changed my musical views when it was released in 1970. Until that time I was mostly a Soul - and Motown kind of guy. My favourites were Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Four Tops, Temptations etc.  Liked the Stones as well. But I can still clearly remember a rainy night in my hometown Rotterdam in the Netherlands  when a friend played Carry On for me. He drew my attention to the point in the song where the A Capella part of the chorus ends and the organ flows in. I thought then and still think now that it´s one of the great moments in Rock Music. And I was hooked forever. As a result , 42 years and thousands of records later, I´m writing a review of what must be one of my all time favourite Albums.

It´s different from the debut album. Neil Young joined CSN. This resulted in two things. Good songs and a lot of trouble. Captain Stills did not want to share his ship with Captain Young. Therefore most of the album was recorded in separate sessions. Strangely enough you don´t notice that at all when listening to the record. Especially Joni Mitchell´s Woodstock sounds as a great Group effort.

As a whole, Déjà Vu sounds more dark and serious than the flower (folk)rock of the debut album. They grew up very quick indeed.

Some songs like Graham´s Teach your Children and Our House and David's Almost cut my Hair sound a bit dated as well now. And most of the songs on the album have been overplayed by Classic Rock and MOR Radio Stations. Nevertheless these songs are among the best that Graham and David ever wrote, together with the dreamy Déjà Vu.

And the same goes for Stephen´s contributions. His acoustic 4+20 is simply a great little song and Carry On is in the Top 10 of my favourite Classic Rock Songs.

Neil´s songs are good but pale a bit in comparison to the rest. I thoroughly enjoy the first half of Country Girl but it deserves a better final part. But Helpless, although not bad really, and Everybody I love You are just a bit below par. Not by much though.

Déjà Vu is an essential Rock album and a musical statement of the Woodstock generation. What a pity that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young  separated shortly afterwards. They would re-group from time to time but would never be able to reach the level they display on this here record.    

Rating: ********* ( out of 10)

Santis/Abhainn Dearg Viking Review

Country: Switzerland/Scotland

Brand: Santis Malt/Abhainn Dearg Edition Viking

Type: Blended Single Malt

Age: NAS (Probably between 3-5 Years)

ABV: 48%

Date: 20/11/2012

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Crisp Nose of a young Malt Whisky with Malt, Anise, Lemon, Grass, Oak, Brown Sugar, Dried Apricots, Orange Peel, Butter and hints of Varnish, Underberg and Apple Pie.

Taste:  Sweet Malt, Anise, Orange, Spices, Oak, Vanilla, Plastic (Slight) and a Salty note. Despite the 48%, the Alcohol is never too present.

Finish: Middle-Long with Pepper, Cloves, Orange, Light Spices, Nuts and Oak. Dry and slightly Metallic towards the end.

I added a few drops of Water and you get more Malt, Apricot, Peach and Buttered Toast on the Nose. But Palate and Finish do not benefit from the added Water. So my advise would be to nose the Viking both neat and with a couple of drops of water but to sip it neat.

Rating: 80.5 (out of 100)

Nose:  21.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 20

General Remarks: The Viking is a Private Bottling prepared by order of Detlef Sommer by the Locher Distillery in Appenzell, Switzerland. It's a Blend of two Single Malts, one distilled by the Locher Distillery and one by the Abhainn Dearg Distillery. Its probably the first marriage between a Scottish - and a Swiss Single Malt. The Viking will be officially introduced on the Whisky ship Zurich event to be held from November 28 until December 2, 2012. Only 250 bottles of this vatted Malt will be available.

The reason for this special Blend is the book "Viking" written by Detlef Sommer under the pseudonym Ted Lindsay that was released earlier this year. The book is a mixture of history and fiction and is situated in Switzerland and on the Outer Hebrides, the Island chain off the Scottish West Coast. Part of the history of the book takes place near the Red River Bay on the Isle of Lewis. The Abhainn Dearg (Red River) Distillery can be found here. It's the most westerly Scottish Distillery. Abhainn Dearg is a small and very young Distillery that started producing in 2009. Thus the idea to Blend the two Single Malts was born. This can not be anything else than a very young whisky of course. The Scottish part matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks for a likely three years and the Swiss part in Old Oak Beer Casks, probably for 3 to 5 years. No added colour. Non Chill Filtered.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I am not yet familiar with the young spirit of the Abhainn Dearg Distillery. But I believe it brings the American Oak and the Salty Notes to this Blend. On the Swiss side it's easy to recognise the characteristics of the Sigel- Santis Editions. The Nose is clearly the best part of the Viking. The Palate shows promise but still bears the characteristics of a young Whisky. I would really be interested to know how this combination would have worked out after a longer period of maturation. Who knows what might happen in the future! In the meantime the Viking is a great initiative. I'm sure that young distilleries from all over the world would benefit from projects like this!

 Jan van den Ende                                                          November 2012

                             

The Abhainn Dearg Distillery

Scapa 16 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Scapa

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Highland - Orkney

Age: 16 Years 

ABV: 40%

Colour: Bright Yellow Gold

Nose: Light but agreeable. Immediately I get Butterscotch, Straw, Apricot Marmalade, Oak, Orange Peel, Malt, Heather and Vanilla- flavoured Biscuits. Traces of Brine and Peach. I had expected a more coastal feel to the Nose but it's hardly there. This Scapa is made with unpeated Barley of course but after 16 years of storage, presumably on Orkney, I would have liked to find a stronger presence of the location. It's pleasant enough though and quite inoffensive.

Taste: Smooth and Sweet. Hardly any Alcohol. Quite Floral with Heather and Honey, Caramel, Oak, Vanilla and light Spices (Cloves).

Finish: Middle Long and quickly becoming Dry with Oak, Vanilla, Spices, Caramel and Cocoa-Butter.

I added a few drops of Water and you get more Butterscotch, Heather and some Bananas on the Nose. But at 40%, the Water does not add anything to Palate and Finish. It's a crying shame that Single Malts like this are not bottled at 46%. 

Rating:  85.5 

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Scapa 16 years was relaunched in 2008 to replace the very popular 14 Years. It's distilled from unpeated malted Barley and matured in First Fill Bourbon Casks. It is chill-filtered. It's not cheap at around 70 Dollars. The Distillery, located on the Isle of Orkney off the North-Eastern coast of Scotland, is owned by Pernod Ricard/Chivas. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I believe that this could have a been a great whisky! With a little bit more Brine, Sea Air, Seaweed and whatever else you experience when you live on the coast plus a touch of Peat-Smoke this could have been splendid. And it should have been bottled at 46% of course and should have been Non Chill-Filtered to preserve more of the Distillery Character. Unfortunately, all of this is not the case and instead you get loads of Butterscotch, Honey and Heather. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very nice whisky and many people will love the smooth and easy going Palate. But it's a bit of a One Trick Pony in the end. The Scapa Distillery is capable of much more in my opinion.

Jan van den Ende                                                              November 18, 2012

Snow Grouse Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: The Snow Grouse

Type: Blended Grain Whisky

Age: NAS  (Said to have matured around 3,5 Years)

ABV: 40%

Colour: Pale Gold 

Nose: Light. The first impressions are not that good. There is some Sulphur present and I get an odd Metallic Off-Note. After a while it gets  better though with Oak, Lemon, Grain, Tangerine, some Spice and light Vanilla. Very little Alcohol which is good and unexpected. A very citric Nose not unlike the Lemon flavoured Vodkas. What can I say, it does not do much for me. I must admit that this is only my second pure Grain Whisky after the Irish Greenore Single Grain Whiskey. So maybe I'm not fully used to the characteristics of this spirit. As it stands however, I'm not overly impressed. It is quite smooth though!

Taste: Smooth but Thin delivery. Much Sweeter than I expected after the Nose. I find Sweet Grain, Biscuits/Corn Flakes, Vanilla, Oak, Light Spices and a touch of Mint.

Finish: Short with Sugared Grain, Vanilla Pudding and a hint of Honey.

I added a few drops of Water but that's not a good idea. The dram becomes completely unattractive.

Rating: 74 

Nose: 18 - Taste: 19 - Finish: 18.5 - Overall: 18.5

General Remarks: The Snow Grouse is the Chill-Filtered nephew of the Famous Grouse. You are supposed to drink it seriously chilled. I believe that the producers aim at a young vodka/gin drinking public. It's a blend of Grain whiskies, amongst others from the Girvan Distillery. These Grain whiskies have matured in Oak Casks. Nowadays, the Brand is owned by the Edrington Group. The Snow Grouse is not very expensive at around US$ 25.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience Seriously Chilled: Okay/Good. The Nose becomes unpleasantly Metallic. The delivery is a bit more Syrupy. On the Palate you get candied Pears, Vanilla and Spice. It wouldn't be too bad if there wasn't this Metallic Off-Note. Vanilla and Pepper are the main drivers in the Finish.

Conclusion: The Snow Grouse is not just a marketing Gimmick. It's a Whisky alternative for drinkers of flavoured Vodkas and Gins. Just put it in the Freezer and take it out on a warm day. It's drinkable, both neat and seriously chilled although the Metallic Off-Note there is unpleasant. People who love to sip a quality Single Malt or first rate Blend however should leave this white bird alone.

Jan van den Ende                                                             November 16, 2012