Ardmore Traditional Cask Review

“A Great Alternative for the Fans of JW Black on the Rocks”

Country: Scotland

Region: Highlands - Speyside

Brand: Ardmore Traditional Cask

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS 

Alcohol: 46%

Colour: Slightly Dark Gold

Nose: The combination of relatively young spirit (5-10 years perhaps) and the accelerated maturation in the Quarter Casks is certainly interesting. We might see this more often, at least as long as demand exceeds supply. It's a Nose you have to get used to. It resembles a mix of Alcohol, Vanilla and Creamy, Burnt Driftwood. It's a bit Thin. Despite that I find Smoked Fish sprinkled with Lemon, Leather, Salted Butter, Caramel, Nut Shells, Toast, Yeast, light Earthy Peat, Wet Grass, Green Apples and Grapefruit Juice. Hints of Burnt Tyres and Apple-Vinegar. The Alcohol is not at all integrated. Finally, it's important to give this Ardmore enough time in the glass before Nosing.

Taste: Young, Light, Edgy, Oaky and Yeasty. I find Cereals, Alcohol, Tobacco, Earthy Peat, Ashes, Smoked Meat and Fish, Drift Wood, Bitter-Lemon, Pepper, Caramel, Toffee, light Vanilla, light Honey and a sprinkle of Salt. 

Finish: Middle-Long. Sugary Sweet at first but quickly becoming Sharp and a tad Bitter. I find Sweet Grain, Alcohol, Dried Fruit, Nut Shells, light Smoke, Ashes, Caramel, Toffee, Pepper and a hint of Aniseed. Again, too much Oak influence for my taste.

I added a few drops of water and on the Nose you will find some Milk and White Chocolate. On the Palate and in the Finish you take out a bit of the Edgy character of the Spirit. You can carefully experiment with a couple of drops. As you know I usually prefer my Single Malt neat but this Ardmore is not really good enough for that. My advice: Enjoy it on the Rocks!

Rating: 83

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

General Remarks: The Ardmore Distillery was founded in 1898 by the son of William Teacher called Adam. It is located in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire and is owned by Jim Beam Brands since 2007. Ardmore is the home of Teacher's Highland Cream and most of Ardmore's output is destined to be part of this Blend. In 2007 however the Ardmore Traditional Single Malt was released, in fact the first Single Malt of this Distillery to be produced in large quantities. The Traditional is not Chill- Filtered, lightly peated and matures firstly in Refill Ex-Bourbon American Oak Barrels before being finished for around another year in traditional 19th Century style Quarter Casks. Usually it sells at around 40 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Very Good!

Conclusion: An interesting tasting experiment. There are not that many peated Speysiders around. And Ardmore, like Beam sister-distillery Laphroaig, is busy experimenting with the Quarter Casks. The Nose of the Traditional is okay when given enough time to open up. It's not overly sophisticated but there are just enough Aromas to keep you busy for a while. Palate and Finish are a different story altogether. The Oak overwhelms the other Flavours and the Tannins leave you with an overall Bitter impression in these Departments. I would therefore not qualify the Ardmore Traditional as an adequate sipping Malt. However, since I bought a full bottle of this peated Speysider in the Airport Duty Free Shop, I tried it out on the Rocks as well. And..... I liked it a lot! I gave it an extra half point for that. What a great alternative if you are a Johnnie Walker Black on the Rocks fan like me! And given its fair price I'm sure I will buy me another bottle next time I'll fly away.

Jan van den Ende                                                                     April 10, 2014

Highland Park Harald Review

“Toy Soldier”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland-Island-Orkney

Brand: Highland Park Harald

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 40% 

Date: 06/04/2014

Colour: Yellow Golden 

Nose: Very similar to Svein. Quite Light and Floral with Honey, Heather, Pine Needles, Straw, Oak, Malt, Cereals, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Orange Peel, Red Apples, Coconut, Mint, Treacle, light Vanilla, Soft Peat Smoke and assorted Spices including Cardamom. Traces of Ginger-Ale, Vinegar and Soy Sauce. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.  

Palate: Light with Dried Fruits, Nut Shells, Berries, Orange Peel, light Licorice, light Honey, light Vanilla, Toffee, Treacle, light Cinnamon, light Pepper, light Smoke and Nutmeg.

Finish: Short with Toffee, Caramel, Treacle, Oak, Dried Fruits, light Smoke, light Pepper and Cloves.

I added a bit of Water and on the Nose you get a tad more Smoke. But Palate and Finish become too Watery. Better sip Harald neat!

Rating: 82.5

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

General Remarks: Highland Park was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson and is the most northerly distillery in Scotland, It is located on the Orkney Isles, off the North-East coast of Scotland. Highland Park is one the very few remaining distilleries that malts (at least part of) the Barley on its own malting floor. The distillery uses local Orcadian Peat, that mostly consists of Heather and other Plants. Only a limited amount of the Malt is dried with Peat though. Highland Park is owned by the Edrington Group. In 2008 the very nice Visitor Centre was upgraded.

Together with Einar, Svein, Sigurd, Ragnvald and Thorfinn, the Highland Park Harald is part of the Warrior Series, released in 2013, initially via Travel Retail. All six are named after Viking warriors with the idea to match the whisky with the characteristics of the warrior in question. Harald is named after Harald Fairhair, Norwegian King and founder of the Orkney Earldom. He is said to have been responsible for developing the Viking Armies that spread so much terror in Northern Europe. The Harald is sold at between 75 and a 100 US Dollars and matured in an almost equal mix of American Oak and European Oak. Roughly 50% of the casks used is first fill.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good.

Conclusion: I'm Sorry but Harald should not be part of a Warrior Series. The spirit reminds me more of a tired elderly lady selling Honey, Dried Fruits and home-made Raspberry Jam at the local fair. Harald is a very light, floral and fruity Single Malt that suffers from the low ABV and a too dominant Toffee and Caramel profile. It's dangerously drinkable but also extremely forgettable! 

Jan van den Ende                                                               April 2014

Johnnie Walker Platinum Review

“No Heavy Metal”

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker Platinum

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 18 Years

ABV: 40%

Date: 03/04/2014

Colour: Amber

Nose: Light, almost transparent. It's not bad but not very exciting either. I find Toasted Cereals, Malt, Nuts, Oak, Dried Apricot, Lemon Peel, Banana, Orange Marmalade, Toffee, Caramel, Butterscotch, very light Spices, Dried Herbs, light  Smoke and hints of Espresso, Candied Cherries, Peaches and Salt. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. It reminds me a little bit of the old JW Gold but somehow it seems more fragile, less confident.

Taste: Thin and slightly Watery Delivery with Grain Alcohol, Caramel, Toffee, Wax, slightly Bitter Oak, Resin, Orange, Dried Herbs, light Honey, light Smoke and a pinch of Salt.

Finish: Short, Clean, Sugary Sweet at first but quickly Drying. Doesn't show a lot of character here. I find Nuts, Caramel, Toffee, Orange, slightly Bitter Oak, light Smoke, light Spices and hints of Menthol and Cinnamon. 

The Johnnie Walker Platinum does not improve with added Water. It's best enjoyed over a little Ice.

Rating: 83

Nose: 21.5 – Taste: 20 – Finish: 20.5 – Overall: 21

General Remarks: The Johnnie Walker Brand is owned since 1997 by the Diageo Group. As you will probably know the Green and Gold were recently discontinued while the Gold Reserve and the Platinum were added to the range. 
The Platinum costs around a 100 US Dollars and sits price wise between Black and Blue. Platinum contains 20-25 Single Malts, mainly from Speyside, as well as some selected Grain Whiskies. All of them matured for at least 18 years.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good 

Conclusion: Slightly better than JW Double Black but no match for the old Gold and Green. The standard Black has a much better price/quality ratio and the Blue, while better, is too expensive for what it offers. The packaging of the Platinum is very sophisticated but the Blend misses Power and Character. The low ABV only reinforces these shortcomings. It's not interesting enough as a sipping Whisky and simply too expensive to drink over Ice. Back to Black for me!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 April 2014