Millstone 100 Rye Review

“We're Almost There”

Country: The Netherlands

Brand: Millstone 100 Rye

Type: Small Pot Still Rye Whisky 

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 50 %

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: The Alcohol is strong so you'll have to nose your way around it. There is quite a bit going on here. I find Sour Rye-Bread, Chocolate-Milk (Chocomel), Oak in the form of Pencil Shavings, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Varnish, 
Menthol, Grass, Aniseed, Citrus Peel, Mashed Bananas and Peach Preserves. Not many people would recognise this as a Dutch Whisky in a Blind Tasting and for the time being that's a compliment!

Palate: Quite Strong and Spicy Delivery with Rye Bread, Caramel, Vanilla, Mint, Lemon, Ginger, Brown Sugar, Pepper, Cinnamon, New Oak and Varnish.

Finish: Middle Long and Spicy with New Oak, slightly Bitter Almonds, Ginger Ale, Mint, Pepper, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Varnish and Buttered Toast.

I added a bit of Water but that does not improve this Millstone 100 Rye. 

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21 

New Pot Stills at Zuidam Distillery

General Remarks: The Zuidam Distillery was founded in 1974 by Fred van Zuidam and his wife Helene and is currently run by their sons Patrick and Gilbert. It is located in Baarle-Nassau on the Dutch-Belgian border and is the only Distillery in The Netherlands that ferments, distills, ages and bottles at its own premises. Next to Rye Whisky, Zuidam also produces Malt Whisky, Gin, Rum, Genever and Liqueurs. The name Millstone derives from the Windmills that are used by Zuidam to mill the Malted Barley. The sample that I'm tasting today does not mention any specific data but I'm pretty sure it was bottled in 2013. The 100 stands for 100% Rye, maturation of a 100 Months in 100% new American Oak Casks and bottling at 100 Proof. It's not cheap at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: First of all I would like to congratulate Zuidam on this Rye Whisky as it's one of the very few made outside the USA. And on the Nose it can most certainly compete with its American brothers. On the Palate and in the Finish however I'm not too fond of the Young Oak and Varnish Tones. Perhaps eight years in New American Oak is a bit too much. I wonder what would happen if you would mature this Spirit in a Mix of New - and Refill American Oak. In any case, the Millstone 100 Rye is a good, albeit quite expensive Dutch product. And I'm pretty sure that future Rye expressions will be even better. So I will end with a song that Andy Williams sang a long time ago: "We're Almost There" 

Jan van den Ende                                                          November 5, 2014 

 Rye 

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015

Hello Everybody and Welcome at Best Shot Whisky Reviews!

The purpose of Best Shot Whisky Reviews is to give my personal opinion on Whiskies from all over the world. To maintain my independent position I'm not engaged in any commercial activity. But today I would like to make a rare exception and introduce you to a book that should be on the shelf of every Whisky fan in my opinion. I'm talking of course about the Malt Whisky Yearbook that has been released every year since 2005 by Ingvar Ronde. This year's 2015 edition is packed with interesting stories about a/o Maturation, Irish Whiskey, An Overview of the Last Decade in Scotch, Non Age Statement and a Preview on the Next Decade. The writers include Charles MacLean, Gavin Smith, Ian Buxton and Dominic Roskrow. There are also interviews with people from all over the world who talk about how whisky is enjoyed in their respective countries. But the most important part of the book remains the detailed description of over 140 Scottish - and Japanese Distilleries and short presentations on another 219 Malt Whisky Distilleries from the rest of the world. And there's still a lot more such as the 150 best Whisky Shops in the world, Whisky Statistics, favourite Whisky Web Sites and so on. Now it is true that there are a lot of Whisky Books around. But what makes the Malt Whisky Yearbook stand out is the fact that it is interesting and useful to both seasoned whisky connoisseurs and people who have just started their journey in Whisky Land. I can guarantee you that The Malt Whisky Yearbook will be on your desk for the next 12 months and you will consult it almost every day. At least that's what I did since I got my 2014 copy. And to make things even better, this book is not really expensive. So have a look at the site Whisky and see for yourself.

Cheers!

Jan

Glencadam 1971 DL Review

“Woody Woodpecker”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Eastern

Brand: Glencadam 1971 (Douglas Laing)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  28 Years

ABV: 50 %

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: The Oak is quite present as could be expected after 28 years. Mainly in the form of Pencil Shavings. But I l also find some nice Fruit tones like Papaya Cream and Sugared Pineapple. After a while I get more Floral notes as well  that remind me of a certain Soap my late Grandmother always used. I can't remember the Brand I'm afraid. And finally a bit of Vanilla, Toffee, Orange Peel, Plum Brandy (Eau de Vie) and Milk Chocolate. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. It's not a very complex Nose but agreeable nevertheless.

Palate: Oak and Heavy Woodspice like Pepper, Nutmeg and Ginger. Underneath it all I can still recognise the Papaya Cream, my favourite Brazilian desert. I also identify Vanilla, Sweet Barley, Hay, Nut Shells and Dried Apricots.  

Finish: Middle Long, very Dry, slightly Bitter and a bit disappointing. Lots of Oak, Spices like Pepper and Nutmeg, Salted Butter, Juicy Malt and a very heavy dose of Licorice. Perhaps the strongest Licorice Note I have encountered so far. After 5 minutes or so the Eau de Vie (Plums) unexpectedly returns for a final note.

With a bit of Water, the Nose gets more Floral, Waxy and Soapy. On the Palate and in the Finish it feels like drinking Liquid Oak. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 80

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 20 

The Glencadam Distillery

General Remarks: The Glencadam Distillery is located in Brechin (Angus) close to the (small) river Esk. The Distillery was built in 1825. Since 1954 it was subsequently owned by Hiram Walker, Ballantine's, and Allied Distillers and was mainly used in Blends like Ballantine's, Teacher's and Cream of the Barley. It was mothballed in 2000 and things looked bad until Angus Dundee Distillers (Owners of Tomintoul) bought it in 2003 and brought it back to Single Malt status although it's still used in Blends like Dundee and Parker's as well. The Glencadam I'm tasting today was distilled in 1971. It matured in a single Oak Barrel and was bottled by Douglas Laing & Co Ltd in July 2000. Fortunately it is un-chillfiltered and uncoloured. Only a total of 246 bottles were commercialised. I'm not sure if it's still available but you could try Whiskybase in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where I bought the sample. The price would be around 200 US Dollars for a full bottle.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: Not my favourite type of Whisky. It starts pleasantly enough with a Nose that showcases Tropical Fruit Deserts and Plum Brandy (Eau de Vie). But on the Palate and in the Finish it's the Woody Woodpecker Show and it's not easy to detect anything else but Oak and Woodspice. The 28 years in the Cask almost completely erased the original Distillery character of the Glencadam Spirit. Quite sad actually considering the time and effort that was made to create this Single Malt!

Jan van den Ende                                                          November 1, 2014