Connemara Turf Mor Review


“Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!”

Country: Ireland
Brand: Connemara Turf Mor
Type: Single Malt Whiskey
Age: NAS (Most likely around 3 Years)
ABV: 58.2%

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine 

Nose: The Cooley Distillery bought the heavily Peated Malt from Port Ellen on Islay so you would expect a similar Nose as, say a young Ardbeg or Laphroaig. But that is not the case. The Peat and Smoke are there of course but they don't remind me of Sea, Wet Earth or Campfire. It's more Artificial and Metallic. It reminds me of a Car Repair Shop. I get Rubber Tyres, Diesel Oil and Plastic. The Spirit itself still has a New Make feel to it with Pear, Cherries and lots of Barley. It's mostly Sweet and some Floral, Herbal and Farmyard notes come through like Straw, Cow Shed and Heather. Finally I find some Leather, Nuts, Cooked Cauliflower and Citrus. The Alcohol is there of course but it didn't bother me a lot while Nosing. The Nose of the Turf Mor is not bad but I had expected a lot more from this Connemara.

Taste: Young, Bitter-Sweet and Edgy with Grass, Hay, light Smoke, Burnt Rubber, Plastic, Struck Matches, Diesel, Cereals, Smoked Salty Bacon, Bitter Grapefruit, Nuts, light Vanilla, Pepper, Dried Herbs and a hint of Aniseed.   

Finish: Quite Long, Medicinal, Dry and slightly Bitter with Dirty Earth, Plastic, Soot, Ashes, Burnt Grain, Caramel, Smoked Sausage, Nuts, Citrus, Pepper and light Licorice. 

With a couple of drops of water the Nose gets less Peaty and more Fruity with Pears and Green Apples. On the Palate and in the Finish, the Turf Mor almost becomes a peated Obstler (German Fruit Liqueur). You can certainly experiment with a bit of Water. The more you add however, the less the Turf Mor resembles
Whiskey.

Rating: 82

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


General Remarks: The Turf Mor was released in 2010 and is the 2nd expression in Connemara's Small Batch collection. The Phenol level of over 55 PPM is quite high and similar to Ardbeg. The peated Malt is actually bought from Port Ellen at Islay. The Turf Mor is not Chill-Filtered and bottled at Cask Strength. It basically matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks but I would not rule out that a couple of Sherry Casks were used as well. Connemara is distilled at the Cooley Distillery that is owned by Beam Suntory since 2012. The Turf Mor costs around 80 US Dollars and that's very expensive for such a young Whiskey (July 2015).

Drinking Experience Straight: Okay/Interesting/Different 

Conclusion: It was certainly interesting to try a sample of this Connemara Turf Moor. But no way I would spend 80 US Dollars or so on a full bottle. While Nosing and Tasting, I thought a couple of times that this Spirit could be an interesting basis material for a true Whiskey. Because the Turf More tastes unfinished and edgy and would clearly benefit from a longer cask maturation. 
The Spirit deserves that as it shows potential even at this young age. The Turf Mor is quite different from your average young Islay although it uses the same Peated Malt from Port Ellen. Don't expect Bonfires on a Sandy Beach because you will be disappointed. But people who repair cars might feel at home with all the Rubber, Plastic, Soot and Diesel. In this respect, the Turf Moor is certainly a different type of Whiskey. Not really my taste though. And without any doubt too expensive!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        July 9, 2015

Ledaig 1972 Alambic Classique Review


“That’s How Strong My Peat Is”

Country: Scotland
Region: Highland - Islands - Mull 
Brand: Ledaig 1972 (Alambic Classique - Rare & Old Selection) 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 40 Years
ABV: 48.2 %

Colour: Full Gold

Nose: Dusty Peat, Dirt Road and Silky Smoke are the first impressions. It's a lovely Mature Nose and the Alcohol is perfectly integrated. Very little Wood for a 40 Years old Single Malt. Give this Ledaig sufficient time in the glass in order to release all of its Aromas. After a while I find Malt, Buttered Toast, Assorted Dark Red Fruits, Mandarin, Apricot, Lemon Peel, lightly Sour Cherries, Dusty Shelves, Leather Upholstery, Salted Nuts, light Vanilla, Medicinal notes, Cocoa Powder and a hint of Soy Sauce. Quite nice!

Taste: Not quite as good as the Nose. It's a combination of Dirty Earth, Wet Clay, Tar, Ashes, Smoke, Bitter Citrus (Orange, Grapefruit), light Pepper, Salt, Bitter Chocolate, Dried Fruit Leather, Cough Medicine, Espresso and Oloroso Sherry. Again, very little Oak for its age.    

Finish: Middle Long and slightly Medicinal with Dirty Earth, Smoke, Tar, Ashes, Bitter Oranges, Dark Red Fruit, Salty Licorice, Toffee and Bitter Chocolate. This is the less interesting part of this Ledaig. 

I added a little Water and on the Nose you get more Citrus and Pineapple. On the Palate, the Smoke and Peat retreat somewhat while the Citrus increases its presence. I prefer to sip it Neat as the Alcohol is perfectly integrated. But this Ledaig allows you to add some Water as well. 

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5


General Remarks: The Tobermory Distillery is located on the Hebridean Island of Mull. It was formerly named Ledaig and was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. Nowadays it is owned by the Distell Group Ltd. The Distillery produces unpeated Malt under the name Tobermory and peated Malt under the old Distillery name Ledaig. The latter is mainly used in blends like Black Bottle and Scottish Leader. The Single Malt I am tasting today was distilled in the year 1972 and matured in an Ex-Oloroso Sherry Cask with # 13310. It was bottled by Independent bottler Alambic Classique from Germany at Cask Strength in 2013. Natural colour and not Chill-Filtered. It costs around 280 US Dollars but it will be hard to find. I got the sample at Whisky Base, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This is one of the oldest and more expensive whiskies I've tasted so far. It's a pity I only had a small sample as I would have liked to taste it a little longer. Two things are quite remarkable and called my attention right away. In the first place I noticed the absence of Oak from start to finish. The Wood is perfectly integrated as is the Alcohol. And secondly it's remarkable how the Peat and Smoke have maintained their strength in those 40 Years. Even to the point that they still dominate the proceedings, especially on the Palate. The Cask was not quite able to create a perfect balance between the Sherry and the heavily peated Spirit. A pity as the Nose was very promising. The Finish is not very memorable I'm afraid. But despite some little flaws, I quite liked this Ledaig. I am glad though that I had the chance to try a sample. Because I don't think it's worth spending 280 US Dollars. Despite the fact that the price by itself is okay given the age of the Spirit.

Jan van den Ende                                                                       July 6, 2015

Highland Park 10 Years Review


“Breakfast at Highland Park”

Country: Scotland 
Region: Highland-Islands-Orkney
Brand: Highland Park
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40% 

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Light but Pleasant with Malt, Butterkekse, Straw, Dried Fruits, Orange Peel, light Smoke, light Leather, Vanilla, Heather Honey, Yogurt with pieces of Apple, Banana and Peach, Plum Marmalade, light Oak, Salt and a distant hint of Cardamom. The Alcohol is not completely integrated.

Palate: Thin Delivery. The Smoke is more present here. I also find Salted Nuts, Heather Honey, Vanilla, Dried Herbs, slightly Bitter Citrus, Tea, Apple-Juice, Cocoa Powder, Leather, Pepper and Ginger.    

Finish: Slightly Oily, Dry and on the Short Side with Malt, Toast, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Caramel, Tea, slightly Bitter Almonds, light Smoke and Ashes, light Honey, light Licorice, Ginger, Cinnamon and Oak. 

The Highland Park 10 Years does not improve with added water. 

Rating: 83

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


General Remarks: Highland Park was founded in 1798 and is located on the Orkney Isles, off the North-East coast of Scotland. 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 matures its spirits mainly in Ex-Sherry casks from both Spanish - and American Oak. HP is one of the few remaining distilleries that malts part of the Barley on their own malting floor. The HP 10 years was introduced in late 2012/early 2013. It is a limited expression that was initially released in 35 cl bottles in The Netherlands. Later these small bottles also became available in Germany, the United Kingdom and Denmark while a 75 cl bottle was released in Canada. The Spirit for this 10 Year old matured in a mixture of First-Fill and Re-Fill American Oak Ex-Sherry Casks. The average price for a 35 cl bottle is 25 US Dollars (July 2015).

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: A drinkable but pretty Standard Young Highland Park. The Nose is the best part. It reminds me of a plate of of Milk and Breakfast Cereals with added Fresh - and Dried Fruits. The Palate and Finish do not quite deliver what the Nose promises. Here I find this HP lacking in Depth and Consistency. It's all a bit Thin if you ask me. The "low" ABV does not help either. It's similar to the 12 Years but the 2 years do make a difference and my advice would be to stick with the 12 Years if you like this Flavour Profile.   

Jan van den Ende                                                                        July 2, 2015

Angels Nectar Review


“I’m No Angel”

Country: Scotland 
Brand: Angels Nectar (1st Edition - Small Batch)
Bottler: Highfern Ltd, Grantown-on-Spey
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine

Nose: Young, Edgy and Sweet with Barley Sugar, Buttered Biscuits, Dried Fruit, Nut Shells, Refill Oak, Apple-Flavoured Gin, light Honey, Floral Soap, Roasted Coffee and Lemon Peel. Quite Malty Nose. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. 
  
Palate: Slightly Oily, Thin and Sugary Sweet with Malt, Refill Oak, Lemon Peel, Fruit Candies, Dried Herbs, light Licorice, light Pepper and Buttered Toast. Perhaps a tad of Smoke from a very distant fire.

Finish: Short, Edgy, Herbal, Metallic and Bitter Sweet with Malt, light Vanilla, Lemon Peel, Dried Herbs, light Licorice, Pepper, Candies with artificial Citrus Fruit Flavours, Refill Oak and Sand. Quite Dry in the end with some Tobacco.  

Angels Nectar does not accept added Water very well. It simply becomes too Thin. Better sip it neat or over a little Ice.

Rating: 78

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 19 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 19.5

Picture Credit: Highfern

General Remarks: Angels Nectar was launched in late 2014 by Robert Ransom (Ex Glenfarclas), founder of Indie Bottler Highfern Ltd. The name of this Malt refers of course to the Angel's Share, the part of the maturing whisky that is lost through evaporation at a rate of around 2% per year. Angels Nectar is a blend of Speyside and Highland Malts. It is naturally coloured and costs between 40 and 50 US Dollars (June 2015). That's a reasonable Price/Quality ratio. Very nice bottle and presentation.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay. 

Conclusion: The idea behind the Angels Nectar is certainly original and the Presentation and Marketing are nice and professional. But that can't take way the fact that this is a Blend of young Malts that matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks. And although this Blend does not contain any Grain Alcohol, it's still quite Edgy and Immature. It's drinkable of course but you won't find a whole lot of interesting Aromas and Flavours. As such it's only slightly less boring than a standard Blended Scotch Whisky. I can't speak for all the Angels of course but if I was one I would prefer sniffing mature Single Malts!

Jan van den Ende                                                                     June 30, 2015

Balblair 10 Years Review


“Pleasant Highlander”

Country: Scotland
Region: Highlands
Brand: Balblair (Gordon & MacPhail)
Type: Single Malt
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 43%

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Light and Mildly Sweet with Floral Soap, Barley, Vanilla, Dried Fruits, Citrus Peel, Heather Honey, Hay, Grass, Charred Oak, Apple, Cinnamon, Toffee and a hint of Peach Marmalade. The Alcohol is nicely integrated.

Taste: Light, Spicy, Oaky and Herbal. Lots of (Charred) Oak for a 10 Years old. I also find Toffee, Heather Honey, Dusty Road, Orange Peel, Apple, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg, Ginger and Cinnamon.    

Finish: Middle-Long and Sweet with Fruit Candies, Sweet Barley, Peach, Orange, Heather Honey, Buttered Toast, Charred Oak, Light Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Mint and Nutmeg. Very Dry towards the end.

I added a few drops of Water. You get additional Floral tones, Barley and Vanilla on the Nose. More Spice, Pear Drops and Vanilla on the Palate. This Balblair 10 allows you to play with a bit of Water.

Rating: 84 

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


General Remarks: The Balblair distillery is located in Edderton, Ross-Shire and was founded in 1790 by James McKeddy. It closed Between 1911 and 1949 and changed hands many times before being acquired in 2006 by the Inver House Distillers Group, part of Thai Beverages PLC. Balblair means " The Farm on the Moor". It is sold as Single Malt but it's also used in Blends like Inver House, Hankey Bannister and Pinwinnie Royal. The Balblair 10 Years I'm tasting today matured in a mix of First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels as well as some Refill Sherry Hogsheads. It costs around 55 US Dollars. (June 2015). Gordon and MacPhail is a well-known Independent Bottler and Distiller founded in Elgin in 1895. At the moment, the company bottles over 350 expressions from around 70 Distilleries.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: Pleasant and Discrete Highland Malt. If you like this type of Whisky it might a great day-to-day dram. The price-quality ratio is certainly okay. It's quite Oaky for a 10 Years old and the Finish is exceptionally Dry. But those are minor points really. This is my first Balblair and it will be nice to compare this Gordon & MacPhail edition to one of the standard distillery bottlings. Look out for that post later this year. In the meantime enjoy this Highland Malt if you like the Flavour profile. It's worth the money!

Jan van den Ende                                                                     June 25, 2015


Teerenpeli Kaski Review


“An Exotic Sherry Bomb from Finland”

Country: Finland
Brand: Teerenpeli Kaski
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: The Sherry Cask influence is obvious with lots of Dried Fruits like Raisins, Plums an Figs. I also find Young Oak,Toffee, Vanilla, Caramel, Nuts, Butterkekse (German Butter Biscuits), Golden Syrup, light Smoke, Dusty Road, Milk, Papaya Cream, Citrus Peel and a sprinkle of Cinnamon. I believe I pick up some Sulphur as well. The Aromas of this Malt are quite "Dark" and slightly "Tired" for such a young Whisky. Unfortunately the Alcohol is not integrated. It's not bad but it's quite Sweet and you need to love Sherry Bombs to fully appreciate a Nose like this. 

Taste: On the Palate the Youth of this Teerenpeli is much more noticeable. It's rather Edgy as well. I find Dried Fruits, Nuts, Caramel, Licorice, Bitter Orange or Grapefruit, Plums, Oak, Cinnamon, Pepper and a hint of Dark Chocolate.  

Finish: Rather Short, Bitter and slightly Sour with Orange, Licorice, Red Berries, Toffee, light Vanilla, Nutella, Milk, light Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Dirty Earth and a hint of Dark Chocolate.

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes slightly less Dusty. Palate and Finish do not improve.  

Rating: 81  

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20.5 – Finish: 19.5 – Overall: 20.5


General Remarks: The Teerenpeli distillery was founded in 2002 and is located in the city of Lahti. It is part of the family-owned Teerenpeli group that also includes a Brewery and restaurants in Lahti, Helsinki and Tampere. Teerenpeli is Finland's biggest whisky distillery that produces over 40.000 litres of New Make Spirit per year. All ingredients are purchased locally and the Pot Stills were all imported from Scotland. The Kaski I'm tasting matured for around 6 years in Ex-Sherry Casks and was bottled in 2013. It is naturally Coloured and not Chill-Filtered. The Kaski is certainly not cheap at around 70 US Dollars for half a litre. (June 2015).

Drinking Experience Neat: Slightly Disappointing.

Conclusion: This is my first Finnish Single Malt and I must say I have mixed thoughts about this Kaski expression. The Nose is Sweet but okay if you like Sherry Bombs. But on the Palate and in the Finish I found this Teerenpeli rather disappointing. Quite Edgy, slightly Sour and a little too Bitter for my taste. Too much Sherry perhaps. Instinctively I feel that this Spirit might do better in Ex-Bourbon Casks. I will try to find a sample somewhere to test my theory. The way it stands I can only recommend this Teerenpeli to die-hard Sherry Bomb fans looking for something exotic.  

Jan van den Ende                                                                      June 21, 2015

The Stills at Teerenpeli (Picture Credit: Whisky Advocate)