John Barr Black Blended Scotch Review

Country: Scotland 

Brand: John Barr Black

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS 

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: There are no unpleasant off-notes but there's not much to discover as well. A very basic combination of Wood, Spices (Mainly Pepper), Cereals, light Peat/Smoke, Caramel, Nuts, Honey, Alcohol and hints of Sherry and Green Apples.

Palate: Smooth, Sweet and Uneventful with Caramel/Butterscotch, Malt, Grains, Honey, Wood, Nougat, Pepper and a bit of Sherry.

Finish: Short with Caramel/Butterscotch/Toffee, Oak, Vanilla, Licorice (Slight) and Pepper.

With some added Water, extra Fruity tones (Apple, Pear) appear on the Nose. Although Palate and Finish are watered down slightly, the John Barr Black Label does accept a couple of drops. Just try it out.

Rating: 77

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

General Remarks: John Barr Cumming was a whisky trader from yesteryear. His family background dates back to the Speyside region in the 19th century. The Brand became known in 1977/1978 when it replaced Johnnie Walker Red Label in the UK following the EEC ruling on pricing and taxes. At that time the EEC ruled in favour of the free flows of goods and JW's owners at the time (Distillers Co.Ltd) decided to vastly increase the JW prices, effectively pricing itself out of the market for a while. Almost immediately, Distillers Co.Ltd introduced John Barr Blends with very similar quality, packaging and bottles in order to keep their customers satisfied. Eventually, the Brand name was acquired in 1986 by John Barr & Company of Glasgow, part of the Whyte & Mackay Group. The John Barr Blend was created by Richard Paterson, W&M's Master Blender. Malt whiskies of up to 15 years are used in the Black Label. Speyside - and Highland Malts are said to be at the heart of this Blend of 40 Grain - and Malt whiskies. I'm fairly sure a bit of peated Highland or Islay is mixed in as well. In most places, John Barr Black sells at between 22 and 25 US Dollars. In Brazil I paid 35 US Dollars. There are also Red, Gold and Blue versions of this Blend. In some countries the John Barr Black Label is bottled at 43%.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience On the Rocks: Good

Conclusion: There's nothing really wrong with this blend. It's quite drinkable both neat and on the Rocks. I can't find any significant off-notes. And it's a big step up from the unpleasant Red Label. But on the other hand it's almost completely dominated by Caramel and Wood (Spice). Too one-sided really and therefore a bit boring. It's no match for Johnny Walker Black Label if you allow me to make the comparison.

Jan van den Ende                                                                     April 9, 2013

Bakery Hill Peated CS Single Malt Whisky Review

Country: Australia 

Region: Victoria

Brand: Bakery Hill

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 59.8 %

Sample Received from Andrew in Australia. Thanks!

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: There is a young, almost savage feeling to the Nose. Peat is the initial impression and it's quite different from Islay Peat, certainly at first. It's more like a mix of the Cooked Vegetables of the Jura Superstition and the Metallic, Rubber and Plastic impressions of the Irish Connemara Peated Single Malt. With time in the glass however, the Peat becomes less dominant, almost mellow and more in balance with the other aromas I pick up such as Pizza or (Sour) Bread Dough, Cured - and Raw Meat, Green Coffee Beans, Sweet Grains, Buttered Toast, Leather, Ashes, Wood and Brown Sugar. After a while, light additional Sweet tones like Toffee, Honey, Vanilla, Milk and Butterscotch come through, as well as some Stone Fruit. The Alcohol is there for sure but not as overwhelming as you would expect given the ABV of around 60%. 

Palate: Very Powerful Delivery with Peat, Sweet Cereals, Vanilla, Wood, (Chili)Pepper, Malt, Toffee/Butterscotch, Salt, Berries and Marzipan. 

Finish: Quite lasting with Wood-Smoked Meat, Peat, Oak, Pepper, Aniseed, Licorice, Menthol, Talisker-like Pepper, Ashes and a handful of Salt.

With a bit of Water the Nose softens up and Malt, Toasted Grains, Peat, Toffee, Honey, Lemon and Leather form a nice combo. The Palate is toned down a bit but (Talisker) Pepper, Menthol, Salt and Licorice are stronger in the Finish and some Cocoa Powder is noticeable.

Rating: 85

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

General Remarks: This Distillery was founded in 1998 by David Baker. The first spirit was produced in 2000 and the first Single Malt whisky was available in 2003. The Distillery is located in North Balwyn, Victoria in the South of Australia. It produces unpeated, peated and double matured (Ex-Bourbon and French Oak) Single Malts. The distillery only bottles Single Casks, does not use colourants and does not chill-filter. Initially, the Peated Malt was directly imported from the UK. Bakery Hill tried to negotiate buying Peated Barley from local Australian Maltsters but they showed no interest on account of the small quantities that Bakery Hill required. Nowadays, Bakery Hill buys the Peated Malt in New-Zealand. Most likely the New Zealanders import the Peat from Scotland. The peated Bakery Hill matures in small 100 L refashioned Ex-Bourbon Casks from Jack Daniels to intensify the interaction between spirit and wood. It's not cheap at between 100-130 US Dollars (April 2013)

Drinking Experience Neat: Good (Sip and Enjoy).

Conclusion: This is my first Australian whisky and I'm impressed. It's a young whisky of course and there are some raw edges to the Nose of this peated Bakery Hill. I miss some extra Fruity tones and this whisky would benefit from a longer maturation and perhaps some additional Sherry Cask Finishing. But it's certainly a well-crafted and interesting spirit with potential. It reminded me a bit of Talisker every once in a while. There are certainly some coastal elements to be found in this peated Bakery Hill. Would love to nose and taste a 16 or 18 years old in the coming years!

Jan van den Ende                                                                    April 7, 2013

John Barr Red Blended Scotch Review

Country: Scotland 

Brand: John Barr Red

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS 

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: The usual - and not very attractive Nose you will find so often in Bottom Shelf Blends. Lots of sharp Grain Alcohol, Toasted Grain, Wood Shavings, Malt, not quite so fresh Vegetables, Fruit and (Shell) Fish, Soap, Aniseed, Toffee and unidentified Spices.

Palate: Watery and Bitter-Sweet with Sugary Sweet Grains, Pepper, Green Oak, Nut Casks, Malt, Alcohol, Industrial Honey and Licorice.

Finish: Short with Sugared Grains, Wood, Licorice and Pepper.

With some added Water you remove most of the Sharp Alcohol and the off-notes from the Nose. However, not much else is left as well. On the Palate and in the Finish John Barr Red hardly tastes like whisky anymore. 

Rating: 68.5

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

General Remarks: John Barr Cumming was a whisky trader from yesteryear. His family background dates back to the Speyside region in the 19th century. The Brand became known in 1977/1978 when it replaced Johnnie Walker Red Label  in the UK following the EEC ruling on pricing and taxes. At that time the EEC ruled in favour of the free flows of goods and JW's owners at the time (Distillers Co.Ltd) decided to vastly increase the JW prices, effectively pricing itself out of the market for a while. Almost immediately, Distillers Co.Ltd introduced John Barr Blends with very similar quality, packaging and bottles in order to keep their customers satisfied. Eventually, the Brand name was acquired in 1986 by John Barr & Company of Glasgow, part of the Whyte & Mackay Group. The John Barr Blend was created by Richard Paterson, W&M's Master Blender. Speyside Malts are said to be at the heart of this Blend of 40 Grain - and Malt whiskies. John Barr Red sells at between 15 and 30 US Dollars. There are also Gold, Black and Blue versions of this Blend.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average.

Drinking Experience On the Rocks: Below Average/Okay.

Conclusion: I usually buy a bottle of cheap blended whisky every once in a while because I need to refill my empty miniature bottles after having tasted the original contents. After refilling they are then carefully placed in my nice wooden cabinet that decorates one of the walls of my little whisky corner. I believe the John Barr Red is very suitable for that purpose. And that purpose alone!

Jan van den Ende                                                                    April 4, 2013