Fellowship Malt 10 Years Review

“The End Justifies the Means”

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: The Fellowship Malt
Bottled By: Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin. 
Bottled For: The Rotary Club of Elgin c/o The Mansion House Hotel, Elgin.

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years

ABV: 40% 
Chill-Filtration: Yes 
Whisky Review # 585
Buying Advice: 😔  It's a good cause and the Price/Quality ratio is okay. Don't expect miracles though!

Colour: Light Golden Hay (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Light and Malty. I'm pretty sure the Spirit matured in Refill Ex-Bourbon casks. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. I find Malt Biscuits, Buttered Toast, Toffee, light Vanilla, light Heather-Honey, Grass and Straw, light Refill Wood, Nut Shells, light Dirty Earth, light Orange Peel and hints of Coconut and Milk Chocolate. Some light Floral - and Fruity notes (Apple/Apricot) as well. On the Nose, the Fellowship Malt is not really bad but quite light and slightly boring.

Palate: Light, slightly Watery delivery. Quite Spicy as well which comes as a bit of a surprise after the soft Nose. I find Sugared Cereals, Malted Barley, Toffee, light Vanilla, Caramel, light Heather-Honey, Apple, Pear, light Refill Wood, Alcohol, Lemon, Pepper, Cinnamon, light Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed and Licorice.

Finish: Short, mostly Sweet and Medium Dry with a slight Alcohol/Pepper bite at the end. I find Malted Cereals, Sugared Nuts, Caramel, Toast, light Heather-Honey, Dirty Earth, Citrus Peel, Pepper, Aniseed, light Ginger, light Cinnamon, Licorice, light Menthol, light Refill Wood and some Cocoa Powder. 

I added a little Water and on the Nose you get a bit more Fruit (Pear, Pineapple) and some Ginger cookies. Palate and Finish become too Thin. Better sip this Malt neat.

Rating: 81

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: Since 2009, the Rotary Club of Elgin, Scotland has been promoting the sale of a 10 Years old Speyside Single Malt. The actual bottling, sales and distribution were outsourced to local Independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. All commissions went directly to the Rotary Foundation to support an ongoing campaign against polio. In the meantime these commissions have covered the costs of well over 500.000 inoculations against this disease. The official sales prices is around 35 US Dollars although you might find it cheaper sometimes in British supermarkets. (January 2017). To be honest I have no idea where this Mystery Malt was distilled. When tasting, distilleries like Glenlivet, Glen Moray, BenRiach and Cardhu came to my mind. If you have additional info on this, please leave a comment!

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay.

Conclusion: One can only applaud the initiative of the Rotary Club of Elgin. The fight against polio is indeed important. I also understand the need to offer a Malt at a reasonable price to stimulate sales. In today's expensive Whisky world you can't expect a superb Malt at 35 US Dollars. As a result, the Fellowship Malt is a light Speysider that matured in indifferent refill casks. It's not bad and the Price/Quality ratio is okay. But don't expect much depth and substance. But like I said in the heading of this post " The End Justifies the Means". Finally I would like to wish all the readers of Best Shot Whisky Reviews and their families a good and healthy 2017. Let's make the world a better place! Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   January 4, 2017

Jameson Signature Reserve Review

“I Won’t Give It To Someone Special”

Country: Ireland

Brand: Jameson Signature Reserve

Type: Triple Distilled Blended Irish Whiskey
Age: NAS

ABV: 40% 
Chill-Filtration: Yes
Whisky Review # 584
Buying Advice: 😒 I won't buy it again. There are better expressions in the Jameson portfolio at more or less similar price levels.

Colour: Pale Gold (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: The Alcohol is quite present so you have to find your way around it. Most of the Jameson expressions have similar, mainly light, Aromas and Flavours. On the Nose, the Signature Select is Sweet and a little Dusty. I find Sugared Cereals, lightly Buttered Toast, Puff Pastry filled with Apricots, Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Straw, Red Apple, Pear, Nectarine, Toffee, light Coconut, Banana Ice Cream, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Raisins, Cinnamon, light Ginger, Fresh Mint and a little Oak. 

Palate: Thin and slightly Sharp delivery. The Signature Reserve is basically a standard Jameson Blend with some added Ex-Sherry matured Pot Still Whiskey. I find Sweet Cereals, Straw, Vanilla, light Heather-Honey, Toffee, slightly Sour Apples, Grass, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Raisins, Coconut, Dried Apricot, Cheese, light Pepper, light Cloves, light Cardamom, light Cinnamon, light Ginger, light Licorice, light Citrus and some Fresh - and Dried Herbs. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.

Finish: Short, mainly Sweet but with a few Bitter - and Sour tones as well. I also find a light Metallic off-note right at the end. Other than that I get Sweet Cereals, Toffee, Vanilla, Nectarine, (Coco) Nuts, Alcohol, Dusty Shelf, Lemon, Wet Stone, Red Apple, Pear, Menthol, light Pepper, light Cardamom, Cinnamon, light Licorice, light Ginger and light Varnish.  

I added a little Water and on the Nose you get a little extra Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate and some tropical Fruits. Palate an Finish become too Thin for my taste. 

Rating: 80

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 20

General Remarks: The Jameson Signature Reserve was launched in 2008 and was originally only available in the Travel Retail Shops but in the meantime it's widely available and is still part of the Jameson core range. The Signature Reserve is said to contain a high proportion of pure Pot Still Whiskey which matured in a mixture of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. It is usually priced between 35 and 50 US Dollars (December 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion: The Jameson Signature Reserve is not a sipping Whiskey. Better enjoy it over a little Ice. When drinking it neat, the slightly Sharp Alcohol is a little bit irritating. Taste wise, the Signature Reserve leans heavily on Cereals, Dried Fruit, Vanilla, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate and light Spices. Most of the other Aromas and Flavours are merely hints. I'm not impressed by this Jameson expression. It's nicely priced of course and you get a full litre but it pales when compared to the Crested 10 that I tasted recently. I bought a full bottle at the Airport out of curiosity but I won't do that again. If you're into Jameson, better look for the Crested 10 or Crested as it is called today.

Jan van den Ende                                                                   December 26, 2016

The Old Midleton (Jameson) Distillery (Picture Credit: Friends of Islay)

Glen Elgin 1997 (Connoisseurs Choice) Review

“Merry Christmas”

Dear Whisky Friends and Readers of Best Shot Whisky Reviews!

Another year has passed by too quickly and we're on the brink of Christmas Eve 2016. Looking around the globe I can't say that 2016 has been a fantastic year. Too much violence, hatred, unemployment and dissatisfaction in many places. I can only hope that the positive forces will start fighting back in 2017 and make it a better year for everybody. As far as Whisky is concerned we are still being confronted with very high prices and the ongoing release of Special - and Limited Editions as well as the apparently unstoppable tsunami of indifferent NAS Whiskies with beautiful names and marketing stories. I believe these trends will stay with us a little longer. The good news is that all over the world new distilleries are being inaugurated to provide quality alternatives. Good luck to them all! An other alternative for today's mainstream distillery standard bottlings are the Independent bottlers. Although I do believe they will find it harder and harder to purchase good quality casks from the distilleries as they need those casks themselves to comply with ever growing world wide demand. To honour the Independent bottlers I have chosen the 15 Year old 1997 Glen Elgin, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as my Christmas Dram. I bought this bottle at the Whiskybase shop in Rotterdam, the Netherlands earlier this year following the advice of shopkeeper Menno.

Finally I would like to wish all my Whisky friends and their families a Merry Christmas. I also wish for a better 2017. The World and the Whisky deserve it!

Cheers!

Jan

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“The Christmas Review”

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: Glen Elgin 1997
Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin (Connoisseurs Choice Series)

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years

ABV: 46% 
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 583
Buying Advice: Positive. Good Sherried Speysider. Adequate Price- Quality Ratio. 

Colour: Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose: Sweet and Fruity. The Ex-Sherry casks were pretty active as is evidenced by the Colour and the Aromas. I find Sweet Barley, Demerara Sugar, Buttered Cake, Bounty Candy Bars, Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Roasted Nuts, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Apricot, Tinned Pineapple, Sugared Dates, Mixed Ripe Citrus Fruit, Banana Liqueur, Papaya Cream, slightly Sour Apples, Hay and Cinnamon. Oak and Alcohol are present but they are reasonably well-integrated. I would not go as far as to call this Glen Elgin a heavy Sherry Bomb but the Fresh - and Dried Sweet (Tropical) Fruit Aromas do lead the way.  

Palate: Good but not spectacular delivery. This Malt deserves to be bottled at Cask Strength in my opinion. It's still mainly Sweet but the Oak and Spices are much stronger than the Nose would suggest. Some Dried Herbs appear as well. I also find Sweet Malted Barley, Cake with Cream and Mixed Fruit, Heather-Honey, Orange Marmalade, Dried Apricot, Roasted Nuts, Toffee, Cinnamon, light Ginger, Pepper and Vanilla. 

Finish: Middle-Long, Creamy and Sweet. A bit Dry and Woody in the end. I find Malted Barley, Heather-Honey, Caramel, Dried Apricot, Orange Marmalade, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate and a hint of Aniseed.  

You can add a little Water to this Glen Elgin although it does not significantly change the profile. I did get some slightly Sour Apples on the Palate. As usual I prefer to sip it neat. 

Rating: 88

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: The Glen Elgin I'm tasting today was distilled in 1997. It matured for 15 Years in a mix of 1st Fill - and Re-Fill Ex-Sherry Casks. It was bottled by Independent Bottler Gordon & MacPhail in 2012. The price varies between 70 - and 90 US Dollars depending on where you live (December 2016). It might not be easy to find though as it is sold out in many places. 

The Glen Elgin distillery is located 4 miles south of Elgin in the village of Fogwatt close to the A 941. It was founded in 1898 by James Carle and William Simpson. It had its ups and downs but was finally bought by DCL in 1930. Today it's part of the Diageo Group and became one of their Classic Malts range in 2005. The 12 years is the Standard bottling but most of Glen Elgin's production is used in Blends like White Horse and Bell's.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Nice. If only this Glen Elgin would have been bottled at Cask Strength! 

Conclusion: I was pleasantly surprised by this Glen Elgin. In general it is a well-balanced sherried Speysider. Quite Sweet and Fruity on the Nose. Palate and Finish are still mainly sweet but Wood and Spices make themselves known as well. It's a pleasure to sip this Whisky and it will combine very nicely with the Spiced Christmas Cakes. I will also serve it after our Christmas-Dinner this year and I'm already looking forward to it. Thanks for the tip Menno!

Jan van den Ende                                                              December 22, 2016

Someday at Christmas at Glen Elgin

Ardbeg Day 2012 Review

“Ardbeg Christmas Day”

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay

Brand: Ardbeg Day 2012

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

ABV: 56.7% 
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 582
Buying Advice: 😔  It's a good Single Malt but there are better and less expensive alternatives in the Ardbeg portfolio.

Colour: Golden Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose: Young, slightly Rough, Peaty, Mineral, Lemony and Ashy. The Ex-Sherry Cask Finish is there but it's hardly noticeable. I find Wet Earth, light Campfire Smoke, Soot, Tar, Rubber, Wet Sand, Brine, Iodine, Diesel, Toasted Cereals, lightly Burnt Toast, light Vanilla, Straw mixed with Cow Manure, light Leather, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Dusty Road, Lemon, Mandarin, Salted Nuts, Sugared Tea, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and a hint of Banana/Muesli/Chocolate Bars. On the Nose, the Ardbeg Day has some elements from the 10, the Ardbog and the Uigeadail but it can't outshine any of those. I especially miss the Fruity tones. At the most I get some slightly Sour Apples. The Day is better though than the Perpetuum I tasted recently.      

Palate: Relatively Young, quite Fiery, Oily and a little Hot. I find Earthy Peat, Campfire Smoke, Tar, Soot, Ashes, Rubber, Brine, Iodine, Gasoline, Leather, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Mandarin, Lime, Oak, light Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Licorice, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Christmas Spices, Aniseed, Menthol, Straw, Black Espresso, Apple Juice and a hint of Chocolate.     

Finish: Middle-Long with Dirty Earth, Campfire Smoke, Brine, Cigar Ashes, Soot, Tar, Wet Sand, Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Caramel, Gasoline, Rubber, Oak Char, Licorice, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aniseed, Salt, Fish and Shell Fish on the BBQ, Menthol, Black Espresso, Apple Flavoured Candies, light Vanilla, Lime and a hint of Chocolate.     

The Ardbeg Day accepts a little Water without any problems thanks to the more than adequate ABV. On the Nose, the Peat, Smoke and Tar retreat and Mineral - and Citrus Aromas become more noticeable. The Finish becomes too Short but on the Palate you will get more Fruity Aromas like Apple and Pineapple. You can certainly play with a little water here! 

Rating: 85.5

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

General Remarks: This Ardbeg Day was bottled at Cask Strength in February 2012 and released later that year as a Committee Bottling during the end of May/begin of June 2012 Islay Festival (Feis Ile). Two, 8-12 Year Old, Vintage Ardbeg Single Malts were used for this Ardbeg Day. They matured in Ex-Bourbon casks, were married and finished for around six months in Refill Ex-Sherry Casks that were earlier used to mature Uigeadail. Around 12.000 bottles went to the market. Initially the price amounted to around 90 US Dollars but at the moment the price on auctions is more likely to be slightly over 300 US Dollars (December 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: If you like young peaty Ardbeg Whisky you can't go wrong with the Ardbeg Day 2012. The Peat, Smoke, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Brine and Rubber Aromas and Flavours can't be missed and are straight to the point. But if you are looking for a little more substance, subtlety and balance, this will not be your favourite Ardbeg. Personally I prefer the Uigeadail, the Supernova and even the Ardbog over this Day. Does that mean the Day 2012 is a bad Single Malt? Certainly not! But it's a bit straight forward and without the details and subtleties that create a truly great whisky. And it's way too expensive of course but so are most of Ardbeg's limited editions!   

Jan van den Ende                                                              December 19, 2016

Clynelish 1997 (Chester) Review

“Messy, But Somehow It Works”

Country: Scotland
Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Clynelish 

Bottled By/For: Chester Whisky & Liqueur Company Ltd, Chester (UK)
Type: Single Malt Whisky (Single Cask) 
Age: 15 Years 

ABV: 53.2% 
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 581
Buying Advice: 😃  Positive. Interesting! Adequate Price/Quality Ratio.

Colour: Golden Chardonnay (Natural Colour) 

Nose: Ripe Fruit, Green - and Cooked Vegetables and Fresh Herbs are my first impressions. The typical Clynelish Wax is there as well and it's slightly aggressive this time around. I also find Malt, Buttered Toast, Straw and Grass, Heather-Honey, Orange, Lemon, Pineapple in Syrup, Banana, White Grape Juice, Vanilla, Mango, Green Tomato, light Pepper, light Salt and some Mineral - and light Metallic notes. The Alcohol is strong but reasonably well-integrated. There's some Acidity around as well. It's not a very complicated Nose but it's quite interesting as it's not easy at all to name the various Aromas, especially the Vegetables and Herbs. This Clynelish might keep you busy for an hour or so!  

Palate: Fruity, a little Mineral and Bitter-Sweet. The delivery is good and the Spirit is slightly Oily. I find Malt, Toasted Cereals, Straw and Grass, White Grape Juice, Pear, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Vanilla, Nuts, Lemon, Tutti Frutti Bubble Gum, Nuts, Heather-Honey, Pepper, Salt, Ginger, Cloves, Cinnamon, Candle Wax and  a little Milk Chocolate.   

Finish: Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Quite Dry in the end with some Mineral, Metallic and Salty Notes. I also find Toasted Cereals, Nuts, Vanilla, Orchard Fruit, Banana, Pineapple, Bitter Lemon, Heather-Honey, Herbal Tea, Coriander, Tutti Frutti Bubble Gum, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves and a hint of Milk Chocolate.    

I added a little Water and on the Nose, the Lemon practically explodes. Quite Mineral as well. Palate and Finish become too Thin for my taste.

Rating: 86

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: 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. 

The Clynelish I am tasting today was distilled in 1997 and matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. It was bottled at Cask Strength by Independent bottler Chester Whisky & Liqueur Company Ltd, Chester (UK) in 2012. Unfortunately, this company closed its doors a year later. It costs around 80 US Dollars but it won't be easy to find as only 197 bottles went to the market (December 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I've tasted several Clynelish Indie expressions that were distilled in 1997. Some I did like, others less so. I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of this Distillery in general but I kinda liked the Tasting Experience of this Chester Clynelish. There's a lot to discover and you won't get bored when sniffing and tasting this Single Malt. I wouldn't call it a very Well-Balanced Malt but somehow this mixed bag of Aromas and Flavours works. I can't see me drinking this Clynelish on a day-to-day basis but I certainly wouldn't say no to the occasional dram.

Jan van den Ende                                                              December 12, 2016