Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Highland

Age: NAS

Alcohol: 46%

Colour: Golden Amber with a Reddish Glow

Nose: Port Wine, Red Grape Juice, Oak, Malt, Fresh Cut Grass, Strong Citrus Fruit (Tangerine, Orange, Grapefruit) and Nutmeg. After a while Vanilla, Pears, Honey, Buttered Toast and light Acetone. There is some green Wood and a bit of Alcohol around that leads me to believe that some younger whisky might have been used in this expression. Otherwise I would have scored the Nose a full point higher. The Alcohol is particularly strong when you have just opened the (in this case 10cl.) bottle. It’s essential to give this dram some air before starting to nose it. 

Taste: Strong delivery thanks to the 46% with Orange-Chocolate, Red Grapes, Port Wine, Tangerine, Honey, Malt, Oak, Cocoa, Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, White Pepper) Raisins, Nuts and Dried Apricots.

Finish: Warming. Port Wine, Bitter Orange, Mint, Spices (Cloves, Ginger and White Pepper), Aniseed. The Bitter Orange stays around for a while.

With a bit of Water you tone down the Alcohol on the nose but loose a bit of the intensive Fruit. On the Palate the Spices loose their power and the Red Wine/Red Grape Juice and Orange impressions increase. Lots of Cooked Dark Red Fruits and Red Wine on the Finish. This dram certainly allows you to experiment with a couple of drops.

Rating: 84 

Nose  21– Taste 22 – Finish 20 – Overall 21

General Remarks: This Single Malt has probably matured for 10 years in American White Oak and 2 years in Ruby Port pipes from Portugal. But it’s NAS so younger whiskies could have been included. It’s Non-Chill-filtered. It replaces the  12 Years Port Wood Expression.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I found this dram not so easy to judge. On the one hand I’m not really a fan of Red Wine Finishing. Somehow the combination of Whisky and Red Wine does not quite work for me. Especially on the Palate and in the Finish I find that the Red Wine generally takes too much control. On the other hand this is the best Red Wine Finishing I’ve tasted so far. The Nose is quite nice although it takes a long time to open up. Not sure how much of this, if any, is caused by the 10 cl bottle. On the Palate the strong Port Wine tones are counter-balanced by the Orange flavoured Chocolate and the Spices. The Finish is the weakest part of this dram. All in all however I find the Quinta Ruban quite enjoyable although I wouldn’t drink this every day. But occasionally, as an after dinner dram with Coffee and a fine dark Chocolate, the Quinta Ruban will do just fine.

Jan van den Ende                                                         September 21, 2012

Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Review

Country: USA

Brand: Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey

Type: Honey Liqueur

Age:  NAS

Alcohol: 35%

Colour: Yellow Hay/Straw

Nose: It’s Sweet but not quite as Sweet as I would have thought it to be. You can still smell the Old # 7 here. I also had expected to get a lot of Honey upfront but instead my first impressions are Maple Syrup, Spices (Pepper and Cinnamon), Vanilla and Charred Oak. At the borders of the glass I get Bananas. I think I’m getting Honey as well but it’s a bit Sugary and, well, artificial.

Taste: Very Sweet and Syrupy with Cinnamon, Tangerines, Oak and Sugared Honey. I miss a bit of balance here. You can drink it neat if you like.

Finish: Bittersweet with Maple Syrup, Vanilla, light Spices and Cocoa Powder.

With a couple of drops of water, the Nose becomes more restrained but not in an unpleasant way. I get Sweet Corn, Oak, Apple-Pie and Buttered Toast. Palate and Finish don’t change a lot and just get watered down. I did get a bit of Cherries in the Finish. I smelled the empty glass after a while and the Honey was much clearer at that point. Interesting that! I would suggest that the people at Jack Daniels have another look at how to optimise the infusion process. But then again, who am I to suggest that!

On the Rocks, the Honey develops better on the Nose and smells less artificial. The Palate is much less Sugary and it becomes highly drinkable with a touch of Honey and Cherries. Drinkable to a point where it can become dangerous! It does have 35% Alcohol in the end. My advice to you is clear. Drink Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey on the Rocks or mix it in your favourite cocktail. Cheers!

Rating 76.5 

Nose: 20 – Taste: 19 – Finish: 18.5 – Overall: 19

General Remarks: The Jack Daniels Distillery is located in Lynchburg (Tennessee). It was indeed founded by a man called Jack Daniel in 1866 and it stayed in the family until 1956 when it was bought by Brown Forman from Kentucky.

The Tennessee Honey was released in early 2011.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion: I had expected a bit more of this. The combination does not work out that well for me. And that’s not the fault of the Old # 7 although the 35% Alcohol is on the weak side of course. But it’s the Honey that I found wanting. On the Nose it’s hardly there and on the Palate and Finish it has an artificial feeling to it. On the Rocks, this liqueur is highly drinkable though!

Jan van den Ende                                                       September 17, 2012

Locke's 8 Years Review

Country: Ireland

Brand: Locke’s

Type: Single Malt (Pure Pot Still)

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Date: 15/09/2012

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: Lots of Malt. Oak, Honey and Citrus. Very light Peat and some Fruit tones. Walnut shells. The empty glass smells like Oatmeal Porridge with Sugar and Honey.

Taste: Sweet Barley, bit of Pepper, Honey. Hints of Peach and Orange zest. Quite dry altogether.

Finish: Short and quite dry with Malt, Oak, Honey and Pepper.

I added a bit of Water and you get even more Malt on the Nose. Bit of extra Fruit as well. I prefer to nose it without Water but there’s room to experiment. On the Palate and on the Finish the Sweet - and Wood tones are a bit more accentuated and the Pepper is toned down somewhat. The Finish gets some Sweet Licorice. Certainly worth while to try it out both ways.

Rating: 79.5

Nose: 20.5 – Taste: 20 – Finish: 19 – Overall: 20

Locke’s Distillery Museum

General Remarks: This whiskey was originally made by John Locke’s & Sons distillery near Kilbeggan and is named after John Locke, an important person in the Irish Whiskey Industry. It is currently produced by the Cooley distillery and is a blend of some of their Malts. It was officially released in 2000 and is double distilled in Pot Stills. Around 10% of the Malt used is peated. This whiskey is difficult to find outside Ireland.

Drinking Experience Straight: Good

Conclusion: Another Irishman put to the test! Locke’s 8 year Single Malt is certainly not a bad dram. But the Barley is very dominant and leaves little space for anything else. Whatever the reason, I would really like to see a bit more personality. It’s harmless but will not linger in your mind for a long time. And that’s a pity really!

Jan van den Ende                                                                September 2012

Glen Edward' s Pure Malt Blend Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Glen Edward’s

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Bottled by: Bardinet Group, Bordeaux

Age: NAS (Probably around 3-5 Years)

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Dark Amber

Nose: Light in character. Young Oak and Harsh Alcohol form the Welcome Committee followed by some Malt, Brown Sugar, Hay, Nuts and Raisins. When nosing the rim of the glass I get a bit of Honey and a hint of Peat.

Taste: Slightly watery delivery with lots of Sugar and Spice and a bit of Malt. Not much else going on!

Finish: Short with Sugary Cereals, a touch of Honey, Licorice and White Pepper.

I added a couple of drops of water. On the Nose you get rid of the sharp Alcohol but other than that no big changes occur. Palate and Finish become slightly more smooth and less Sugary. Still, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. 

Rating: 74 

Nose: 19.5 – Taste: 18 – Finish: 18 – Overall: 18.5

General Remarks: It’s not easy to find information on this Malt Blend. It has a brother or sister that’s called Sir Edward’s, but that’s apparently a Blend of Malt – and Grain Whiskies. Owner of the Brand names is the French based Bardinet Group who also owns Glen Moray. This might give us an indication as to the Edward’s core Malt ingredient. It ages in Oak Barrels. Ah yes, the son of the owner of the Bardinet group, the late Paul Bardinet, is called Edward! The whisky is apparently distilled by Leith Distillers from Edinburgh, a daughter company of Whyte and Mackay. It is then shipped in bulk to France where it is bottled in Bordeaux by Bardinet. I bought my Glen Edward’s (same label as Sir Edward’s by the way) in the Duty Free Shop in Argentina. The bottle states that the whisky is aged and distilled in Scotland and mentions the name Bardinet , Blanquefort. The latter is a northern suburb of Bordeaux. Apparently there is also a 12 Years Expression of Sir Edward.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay

Conclusion: Drinkable but utterly boring. It smells and tastes a bit like a cheaper version of the Whyte & Mackay’s Special Blend. Coincidence? Who knows!

                                         
Jan van den Ende                                                     September 13, 2012

Jack Daniels Single Barrel Review

Country: USA

Brand: Jack Daniels Single Barrel

Type: Whiskey (Tennessee)

Age:  NAS (Usually over 4 Years)

Alcohol: 47%

Colour: Deep Reddish/Full Gold

Nose: Sweet Corn, Maple Syrup, Charred Oak, Vanilla, Spice (White Pepper), Acetone, Banana, Furniture Wax and Butter. A bit of Alcohol is present what can be expected when bottled at 47%. The Nose is a more mature version of the Old # 7. After a while I get additional fruit (Peach). Quite nice. Need a little time to open up.

Taste: Cinnamon, Rye, White Pepper, Charred Wood, Vanilla, Toffee, Cigar Box, Cherries and Licorice.

Finish: Quite long. Dry, Spicy and Sour with Lemon, Licorice, Walnuts and Rye. Bit of Maple Syrup is the only sweet component.

I added a couple of drops of water to the whiskey that suppressed the Alcohol and the White Pepper on the Nose. It becomes sweeter and mellow with more Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Sweet Corn and Caramel. Taste and Finish just mellow down a bit. You can certainly experiment with a little water here.

Rating   82   

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

General Remarks: The Jack Daniels Distillery is located in Lynchburg (Tennessee). It was indeed founded by a man called Jack Daniel in 1866 and it stayed in the family until 1956 when it was bought by Brown Forman from Kentucky.  

The Single Barrels that are chosen for this expression are selected from the uppermost floors of the warehouses located on the hills surrounding the distillery. During the year these floors endure extremes in temperature resulting in very aromatic and smooth whiskeys. Each bottle is hand–labeled and marked with the number of the Barrel, the Rick and the date of bottling. In this case I’m tasting bottle # II-5199 from Rick # L-2 that was bottled on the 13^th of October 2011. The mash bill for this whiskey consists of Corn, Barley and Rye.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Very Good

Conclusion: I found this Single Barrel to be in line with the general taste pattern of the Old # 7. It’s a bit more mature and polished than # 7 but not too smooth like the Gentleman Jack. It certainly benefits from the higher Alcohol percentage of 47%. If the Old # 7 would be bottled with the same percentage, it would be very difficult to tell them apart in a blind tasting session. Having said that, the nose of this Single Barrel was more interesting and mature than both Old # 7 and Gentleman Jack. The Peach tone was very convincing. And the colour is really beautiful. And it tastes great with Ice thanks to the 47% Alcohol. Is it worth all the extra money? I don’t think so. Despite the very nice bottle and packaging. In the end, I think that’s a compliment to the producers of Jack Daniels. It means that they have a very adequate standard expression with the Old # 7.

Jan van den Ende                                                           September 10, 2012