Talisker Skye Review

“Middle of the Road”

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland (Island: Skye)

Brand: Talisker Skye

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 45.8%

Colour: Bright Gold with a touch of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Be sure to give the Skye some time in the glass as the Alcohol is very present at first. This is obviously a Young Whisky and most of the Aromas are still underdeveloped. I find Dirty Earth, light Smoke, light Soot, light Ashes, Pencil Shavings, Charred Oak, Sweet Cereals, slightly Burnt Toast, Salted Butter, Toffee, Treacle, Honey, Vanilla, light Medicinal and Floral notes, Light Leather, Unripe Bananas, Citrus, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg. A distant hint of Fish on the BBQ. Even after half an hour in the glass the Alcohol remains strong. If this is your first Talisker you might actually like this. If you love the 10 and 18 Years however you will be quite disappointed. The Sky is Young, Sweet and does not pack the same Punch.

Taste: A slightly Thin delivery despite the adequate ABV. The Smoke is more noticeable now and and so are Salt and Spices. I find Sweet Barley, Sugared Breakfast Cereals, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Earth, Wet Grass, Ashes, light Soot, Caramel, Honey, Vanilla, Charred Oak, Unripe Fruit (Apple, Banana), Citrus, Pepper, Salt, Nutmeg and Ginger. Distant hints of Bitter Chocolate and Salted Nuts.   

Finish: Middle-Long, Spicy and Ashy. Quite Dry actually. The Alcohol remains present until the very end. I find Malted Cereals, light Smoke, Charred Oak, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, slightly Bitter Orange Juice, Pepper, Salt, Licorice and Ginger. Images of Wet Rock and Wet Sand.    

I added a little Water and on the Nose the Smoke becomes more noticeable. I get a little Bitter Chocolate as well. Palate and Finish become too Thin. Better sip it Neat. 

Rating: 83.5 

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

General Remarks: The Talisker distillery is located in Carbost on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. It was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill and produces around 3 million litres of Alcohol per year. It is part of the Diageo Group. The Talisker Skye was released in early 2015 as a Sweeter and Mellower Alternative to the Rougher, Spicy Expressions like the 10 Years. The Skye matured in a mix of refill and toasted American Oak Casks. The Toasted Casks are used to increase the Sweetness. It costs around 50 US Dollars on average but in some places you can get it for as little as 30 US Dollars (March 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Good  

Conclusion: After having tasted the Storm, the Port Ruighe and the Skye it's now time to evaluate these recent Talisker NAS expressions although I must admit I haven't tasted the Dark Storm as yet. Let me start by saying that all three of them aren't bad Single Malts. They are actually quite drinkable. But I have two problems with them. The first is the lack of age. No way, this can be compensated or masked by a higher ABV. In fact, the Alcohol is overly present and the Aromas and Flavours are underdeveloped. The second problem is even worse. All these NAS expressions are aimed to please the mainstream Whisky public. Therefore they steer away from the original Talisker Distillery profile. As a result you get Middle of the Road Whisky accompanied by a nice little Story and modern attractive Packaging. True Talisker fans however will miss the sheer Punch of the 10 Years and the rounded balance of the 18 Years and some of the Distillers Editions. Let's hope that the market circumstances will change again over time. If not, you won't be able anymore to taste the differences between say Caol Ila and Talisker in 10 years from now. And that would be a great pity! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 10, 2016

Springbank 15 Years Review

“Older But Not Wiser”

Country: Scotland

Brand: Springbank

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Campbeltown

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol: 46%

Colour: Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose: Sweet, Fruity, Floral, Waxy and a bit Musty. I detect a very light Sulphur note but it's nothing serious. It's not really an overwhelming Nose and the Alcohol is quite present. I find slightly Burnt Toast, Toasted Cereals, Sawdust, Straw, Salted Nuts, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Tobacco, light Leather, Green Apple, Papaya, light Pineapple, Dried Fruit (Raisins and Apricot), Citrus, light Honey, Syrup, Starch, Wet Cardboard, Varnish and light Spices. Most of the Aromas are mere hints. In the background I find a very light Earthy Peat. On the Nose, the 15 Years is not really my kind of thing. I liked the 10 Years a lot better.    

Palate: Here, the Mild Smoke, Dry Peat and Sulphur are more noticeable. On the Palate, this Springbank is Bitter Sweet, slightly Sour and Spicy with Toasted Barley, Nuts, Cereals, Lemon, Grapefruit Juice, Papaya, Melon, light Leather, Tobacco, Dried Fruit, Oak, Ashes, Dried Herbs, Aniseed, Menthol, Pepper, light Licorice and Nutmeg. Again, the Alcohol is quite present.   

Finish: Bitter-Sweet, slightly Sour, Nutty, Spicy and Dry with Malt, Nuts, Cocoa Powder, light Peat and Smoke, Tobacco, light Ashes, light Leather, Salt, Pepper, Cardamom, Oak, Alcohol, Dried Herbs, Menthol and Licorice.

Rating: 83

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

I added a couple of drops of water and the Nose becomes Fruity and Floral. On the Palate, Oak, Peat Smoke, Malt, Fruit and Spices are a bit more Balanced. The Finish becomes Short and Boring. Still, there's room to play with a little Water.

General Remarks: The Campbeltown region is the most southerly point on the west coast of Scotland. Today only three distilleries remain in the area namely Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia. Springbank is the only distillery left in Scotland that malts all its Barley. The whisky is distilled 2,5 times. The distillery also produces Hazelburn and Longrow. The latter two each represent around 10% of the production. A lot of Springbank Spirit is used for the Campbeltown Loch Blend. The core range of the distillery includes the 10,15,18 and 21 Years as well as a 12-Year-Old CS. The average price of the 15 Years is around 80 US Dollars but it can get as high as 140 US Dollars depending on where you live. It matures in Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks and is not Chill-Filtered. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: I bought this Miniature bottle a couple of years ago. Most likely it was bottled in 2006/2007. The impression I have is that quite a lot of Refill Casks were used to mature this 15 Years. The Sherry notes are there but they are not very clear. I must admit I had high hopes when I started the Tasting Session, as I really liked the 10 Years that I reviewed some years ago. But I'm quite disappointed to be honest. Five extra years in refill casks didn't serve the Spirit well. I find the 15 Years to be lacking in confidence and I miss balance as well. It's a bit of an expensive weird mixed bag of Sweet, Bitter and Sour. As such I can't really recommend it. I'm sure there are quite a lot of people who will like this expression as Springbank has got some cult status worldwide. But I'll stick with the 10 Years for the time being! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 3, 2016

Glen Grant 16 Years Review

“The Feminine Touch”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Speyside 

Brand: Glen Grant 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 16 Years

ABV: 43% 

Colour: Golden Amber 

Nose: Malty, Floral and Fruity with Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla Ice Cream, Heather-Honey, Grass, Milk Chocolate Candy Bars with Raisins and Nuts, Red Apples, Pear in Syrup, Peach Jam, Citrus, Caramel, Blossom Perfume, Rum, Cinnamon, Ginger and Aniseed. The Alcohol is reasonably well integrated. The Oak is there but it stays quietly in the background. The Nose is not too Sweet. It's uncomplicated, quite pleasant and it brings me in a Summer mood! 

Palate: A little Thin but nevertheless Creamy and very Malty. This would be so much better at 46%. I find Sweet Barley, Hay, Buttered Toast, Cocoa Powder, Nuts, Toffee, Vanilla, Golden Syrup, Nectarine, Lemon Pie, Orange, Floral notes, Pepper and Fresh Herbs. Towards the end, the Oak gets more of a say.  

Finish: Sweet and Malty but on the Short side. Dry and with a light Bitterness towards the end. The Oak is quite noticeable by now. I find Sweet Barley, Nuts, Golden Syrup, Toffee, Cocoa Powder, Nectarine, Dried Herbs, Pepper and light Licorice. Hints of Espresso and Dusty Road.

I added a bit of Water and on the Nose you get even more Malt as well as some extra Toffee and Blossom. The Malt and Toffee take complete control over the Palate and in the Finish you get a little Spice and slightly Bitter Wood towards the end. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water. 

Rating: 84.5  

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: 

Glen Grant is the only Scottish Distillery that was named after its founders/ owners John and James Grant. The Distillery is located just off the A 941 in Rothes, Morayshire, around 10 miles South of Elgin. It was founded by the Grant Brothers in 1840 and since 2006 it belongs to the Italian Campari Group. Glen Grant is mostly known as a Single Malt, especially in Italy but it's also a part of the Chivas Regal - and Old Smuggler Braemar Blends.

The 16 Years is the latest addition to the core range that also includes the NAS Major's Reserve, the 10 Years and a 5 Years expression that is only available in Italy. Glen Grant is still the best selling Single Malt in that country. The 16 Years mainly matures in Ex-Bourbon casks although a few Ex-Sherry casks are used as well. It sells at an average 75 US Dollars per bottle.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: The Glen Grant 16 Years is a great Whisky for starters. It's Sweet but not overly so, Creamy, Floral and Fruity. It feels very feminine. Don't get me wrong, I know that many women adore Laphroaig and Ardbeg as well but the majority of them would rather drink a Malt like this. I don't use this word often but the Glen Grant 16 Years is really Smooth and Silky. It could have been even better if bottled at 46%. Still, this is a Single Malt I would consider as one of my daily drams if it would have been a little less expensive. Despite this, the Glen Grant 16 years is a safe buy if you like the Aroma/Flavour profile!  

Jan van den Ende                                                               February 29, 2016

VC Glen Grant (May 2014)

Ardbeg Ardbog Review

“Beg and Bog but not really Big”

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Ardbeg Ardbog

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS  

ABV: 52.1%

Colour: Dark Amber (Natural Colour). The Manzanilla casks have worked their magic!

Nose: Initially, the Alcohol is quite strong so please give the Ardbog sufficient time in the glass to calm down. The Manzanilla casks certainly add a different dimension to the Ardbeg Spirit. I find Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, light Briny Coastal Peat, light Campfire Smoke, light Soot and Tar, light Iodine, Rubber, light Gasoline, Wet Sand, Dirt Road and light Ashes. When I say light I mean light when compared to other Ardbegs I have tasted. Besides these classic Aromas I also pick up Treacle, Charred Oak, Plum Jam, Citrus, Apple, Smoked Meat, Balsamic Vinegar, Sugared Tea, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pepper and Salt. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. I liked the experiment as such but on the Nose the Ardbog isn't quite as convincing as some personal favourites like Supernova or Uigeadail. Still, it's not bad either. After a while in the Glass I find a little hint of Cooked Vegetables that might hint at some Sulphur. It's nothing significant though.

Palate: A little Thinner than expected given the high ABV. There's still a Young and Edgy feel to the Ardbog although the Manzanilla Casks try to hide this fact. On the Palate, the Ardbog is quite Salty, Spicy, Nutty and Bitter-Sweet. I find Sweet Barley, Treacle, Toffee, Caramel, Dark Red Fruit, Grapefruit - and Orange Juice, Lemon, Apple, Dried Fruit, Almonds, Smoked Meat, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Cigar Ashes, Rubber, light Iodine, Charred Oak, Pepper, Salt, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aniseed and Licorice.       

Finish: Quite Long, Salty, Spicy, Bitter-Sweet and Herbal. Dry towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Soot, Tar, Cigar Ashes, Lemon, Apple, Charred Oak, Almonds, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Smoked Ham or Bacon, Smoked Paprika, Pepper, Salt, Cardamom and quite some Licorice.

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes Sweeter and more Herbal. Palate and Finish do not improve. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 – Finish: 21.5 – Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Ardbog is a Limited Edition that was launched in June 2013 during the Feis Ile Festival. It was especially produced for Ardbog Day (June 1st, 2013) and celebrates the very imported peat bogs on the island of Islay. It is basically a 10 Year Old Ardbeg that matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks and was vatted with some Ardbeg that matured in Ex-Manzanilla Sherry Casks. It was bottled on or near Cask Strength and without Chill-Filtration. Prices vary a lot from place to place but are usually in the 140/250 US Dollar range (February 2016). That's quite expensive for a 10 Year old Malt.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I'm not quite sure what to do with this Ardbog. On the one hand, it's much better than a lot of stuff that appears on the market these days. But on the other hand it is a young Ardbeg although the Manzanilla casks do their best to hide that from us. And as a young Ardbeg it's certainly overpriced when compared to the 10 and the Uigeadail. I also believe that the name is slightly misleading as you would expect the Ardbog to be a Smoky Peat Monster while in fact it's not. Saltbog or Chilibog would have been much more accurate as these Aromas and Flavours are quite present as is the Licorice. But I have to admit that Ardbog is a much nicer and more commercial name. If I sum it all up, I find it quite interesting to see what the Manzanilla casks do with the relatively young Ardbeg Spirit. The Ardbog is a good Single Malt but not great like the Uigeadail or the Supernova. And for sure too expensive!

Jan van den Ende                                                               February 25, 2016

Clynelish 1995 (Dewar Rattray) Review

    “Pleasant, yet Forgettable”

Country: Scotland

Region: Northern Highlands 

Brand: Clynelish 1995 (Bottler - Dewar Rattray)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 17 Years

ABV: 45.2%

Colour: Pale White Wine (Natural Colour)

Nose: Relatively Light. Colour and Nose make it clear that Ex-Sherry Cask 4630 wasn't a very active one. I would have expected more depth after 17 years! On the Nose, this Clynelish is quite Floral, Grassy and Mineral. I also find Buttered Toast, Bread Dough, Candle Wax, Sweet Apple, Chardonnay Wine, Lemon Peel, Mandarin Juice, Vanilla, Milk Chocolate bars with Nuts and Raisins, Oak and Herbs. Very fresh for a 17 Years old. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.  

Taste: Sweet and Slightly Sour with Sweet Barley, Candle Wax, Buttered Toast, Mandarin, Lemon, Sweet Apple, Grass, Oak, Vanilla, Grappa, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Salted Licorice, Milk Chocolate and Mustard. This is the second time I pick up Mustard in a Clynelish.    

Finish: Middle-Long. Sweet, Sour and Fruity at first. Dry and Spicy towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Mandarin Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Oak, Pine Resin, Lemon, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and light Licorice.   

I only had a very small sample so I just Nosed and Tasted it neat.

Rating: 84 

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

General Remarks: The Single Cask Clynelish I'm tasting today was distilled on the 14th of June 1995. It matured in a Sherry Hogshead with Cask # 4630 and was bottled by Indie Bottler Dewar Rattray for The Specialists' Choice (NL) on the 17th of April 2013. It was not Chill-Filtered before bottling. It might be hard to find but it was for sale at around 75 US Dollars last time I saw it.

The Clynelish Distillery was opened in 1819 and rebuilt in 1896. In 1968 a new Clynelish Distillery was erected nearby and the old Distillery was renamed Brora (The Bridges River). Brora was closed in May 1983 and part of the buildings are used by Clynelish, now owned by Diageo. A lot of the production is destined to be part of the JW Blends.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: This 1995 Clynelish is a relatively simple Single Malt. It's Fresh and Clean for its age and should be enjoyed as an Aperitif. There's nothing really wrong with it except for the fact that, in my opinion, 17 years in an Ex-Sherry cask should have given it more Depth and Complexity. In this case I must blame the cask rather than the Spirit. If you're a Clynelish fan and like the described Aroma and Flavour profile you should give it a try if you can find it as it's not really expensive for a 17 Years old. If you like Sherry bombs however you should leave this Malt alone. As for me, I found this Clynelish pleasant but forgettable.   

Jan van den Ende                                                                February 22, 2016

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Review

    “Saddle Your Horses”

Country: USA

Brand: Bulleit Frontier Whiskey

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

Age: NAS (Said to be around 6 Years)

ABV: 45%

Colour: Light Copper with a dash of Orange.

Nose: The first impressions include Artificially Fruit-Flavoured Bubblegum and Glue. That's not a great start and I decide to give the Bulleit more time in the glass. After an additional hour or so I put my curious nose to work again. The extra air contact certainly helped although hints of the above mentioned Aromas are still there. But I also find Sweet Corn, Vanilla, Charred Oak, Toffee, Sweet Red Apples, light Corn Syrup, Sugar coated Nuts, Orange, Cinnamon, Fresh Mint and some Floral tones I can't quite place. It's Sweet but not overly so thanks to the relatively high Rye content. After a while I get images of saddling a horse. It might be Leather but it's not just that. Odd! The Alcohol is not fully integrated.

Taste: The Delivery, while Hot Sharp and Spicy, is nevertheless a bit on the Thin side. The Rye is very noticeable though and the overall Flavour profile is Bitter- Sweet and Spicy. I find Sweet Corn, Vanilla, Caramel, light Syrup, Charred Oak,

Orange, Sugared Nuts, Red Apple, Cinnamon, Pepper, light Menthol and hints of Leather, Bitter Chocolate and Floral Soap. 

Finish: Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Dry towards the end. The Rye Spices are quite evident as well as the Cherries and the slightly Metallic Alcohol Burn. I also find Sweet Corn, Charred Oak, light Menthol, Toffee, Dusty Road, Vanilla, Floral Soap, Sugared Nuts and Orange Liqueur.

The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey does not improve with added Water.  

Rating: 84.5 

Nose: 22 – Taste: 21 – Finish: 20.5 – Overall: 21

General Remarks: The original Bulleit was distilled between 1830 and 1860 by Augustus Bulleit. Only in 1987 the Brand was revived by Thomas E. Bulleit Jr., a great-great-grandson of Augustus. The new mash bill consists of Corn (68%), Rye (28%) and Malted Barley (4%). A Bulleit Distillery does not exist. At least until 2010 the Spirit was produced at the Four Roses Distillery. But Diageo, the owner of the Bulleit Brand since 2010, sold Four Roses to the Kirin Group. It's likely that at least a large part of the Spirit used for Bulleit is still produced at Four Roses but no one knows for sure. In the future, Bulleit will be produced in the new Diageo distillery that is being constructed in Shelbyville , Kentucky as we speak. Production is expected to start still this year. What we do know for sure is that all Bulleit Whiskey matures in the old Stitzel-Weller warehouses in Louisville. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is priced between 25 and 45 US Dollars, depending on where you live (February 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good. I would love to see it a little Sweeter but I'm afraid they won't change the Mash Bill just for me!

Bulleit 40% ABV

In 2008, Bulleit was launched in the UK market. It was bottled at a lower ABV of 40% however. I tasted a sample that I bought at Master of Malt. As Bulleit is produced in relatively Small Batches, the quality may vary of course. Fact is I did not like it a lot. I'm not sure if it was just this sample but I got lots of Young Oak, Varnish, Alcohol and Cooked Vegetables on the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish it was Thin, Dusty, Metallic and Mineral without pleasant Aromas. Like I said, it may have been just a bad Sample or a bad Batch. To avoid any risks however I would advise you to go for the 90 Proof only.  

Conclusion: A decent everyday Bourbon, especially if you like Rye Whiskey. Just be sure to give it some time in the glass when you have just opened your bottle for the first time. The Nose is the best part of the Bulleit and I'm still wondering why I got images of Saddling a horse! On the other hand, Whiskey and Horses were a common sight in the Wild Wild West! On the Palate and in the Finish the Bulleit is Bitter-Sweet, Spicy and a little Hot & Sharp. And there are a couple of slightly Artificial Aromas and Flavours that I don't care for too much. However, if my notes are in line with your preferred Bourbon profile you can't go wrong with Bulleit, especially when you can buy it at around 25 bucks. However, if you, like me, prefer your everyday Bourbon a little Sweeter I would like to recommend Wild Turkey 101 or Maker's Mark. 

Jan van den Ende                                                              February 18, 2016