Author Archives: antihero7

Arran 17 y.o. Review

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Arran 17 y.o.102

46% abv

Score:  86.5/100

 

Arran turns 20 this year.  That’s right.  20.  I know we’re all used to distilleries touting claims of antecedence and longevity, but Arran is a relative upstart in the Scotch whisky world.  The distillery was founded in 1993, released it’s first malt a couple years later and has since continued an evolution that has been both innovative and on an impressive upward trajectory.

Arran, it should be noted, is one of the heavyweights in the cask manipulation game.  They’ve engaged in malt maturation in a wide range of barrel types, put together quirky and unusual vattings and found angles to market these oddball releases (think Devil’s Punchbowl, the Peacock Edition, Millennium Casks, Machrie Moor, Moscatels, Madeiras, Pomerols, etc).  Sounds a little like Bruichladdich’s M.O., no?  None of this tomfoolery works, however, without a good base spirit, and fortunately Arran is another distillery that has managed to find a sweet spot with their distillate.  Good new make put into good barrels leads to great whisky.  And that is exactly what is happening here.

It’s already been a fun ride watching Arran mature and evolve into a respectable malt, and quite frankly, they’re only getting better.  The prospect of some really mature whisky from this distillery in another decade or so is enough to seriously whet the appetite if the character holds consistent.  Arran’s most mature expression to date is this 17 year old, but now that we’re into 2015 we should be seeing an 18 year old crop up at any time.  I know some whisky geeks that will be vulturously watching the clock tick down till the release of that one, just as lecherously as those out there who had their creepy Emma Watson birthday countdowns going.  (Bad joke, I know)

And this one?  Clean, elegant 17 year old malt.  As the warehouses on the Isle of Arran fill up over the years, and the blenders have more casks to choose from, I can see this whisky getting better and better.

Nose:  Some great fruity notes.  A little bit of orange and milk chocolate.  Some very soft vanilla cream notes.  A faint banana note.  Good granola.  Some citrus…almost lemon meringue pie-ish.  A touch of butterscotch.  Nice spiciness.  Great creamy nose.

Palate:  Some cinnamon on the tip of the tongue.  Apple and lemon.  Berry coulis.  Toasted marshmallow.  More spices and licorice too.  Some oak comes at the back, but not a strong influence.

Thoughts:  One of, if not the best Arran I’ve tried to date.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt

Talisker 25 y.o. (2012) Review

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Talisker 25 y.o. (2012)025

45.8% abv

Score: 89/100

 

Let’s have a go at another of the great old Talisker 25s.  This one a little less great than the earlier editions that bounced around at more natural cask strengths, but well worth discussing anyway.  For whatever reason (read: profit margins and stretching of mature stocks) Diageo opted to bring this one (and I think the 2011 edition) down to their standard Talisker strength of 45.8%.  Still respectable compared to a lot of the standard industry bottling strengths, but such a shame to hobble a malt like this in its prime.

Talisker is one of the most iconic of Scotch whiskies.  A peppery, moderately peaty malt from the Isle Of Skye.  Its character is immediately recognizable in youth, but becomes a little more chameleonic in its twilight years.  As with most peated (or peppery)whiskies in their 20s and 30s, you’ll see an emergence of fruits at this age that serves to slightly outshine some of the more phenolic notes.  To me, Talisker is Talisker at any age, but it definitely gets better as the years move on.

I’ve seen some of the less than enthusiastic reviews of this one online and, while I know where they’re coming from, I’ll go somewhat contrarily here.  Not because I don’t agree with the gist of their beef (the lower bottling strength, in relation to previous iterations), but because the whisky has to stand and fall on its own merits.  The malt is really good, and at the end of the day this was a $220CA bottle of 25 Talisker.  Hard to believe, in this age of seriously skyrocketing pricing structures.  That sort of value for dollar may NEVER be seen again from this distillery.

I did put aside a couple bottles of this one, but may actually scoop one or two more before they’re gone for good.

Nose:  Old book and a little bit of dust.  Faint smoke and light earthy peat.  Nice soft white fruits in syrup (green grapes and pears, maybe).  A note of blanched almond.  Salt and pepper.  Wet beach.  Faint waxiness.  A little bit of leather.  And…some more sweet fruit notes.  There is an odd tangy note here too (coming from sherry maybe?).

Palate:  Yep.  Talisker with age: delish.  A sweet candy, gum-like fruitiness.  Mouthwatering.  Mature, waxy and beautiful.  Lemon juice over oyster.  Pepper.  Might be some bittersweet chocolate too.  Tastes like there’s some sherry at play here, but its influence is minimal.

Thoughts:  Not the glorious old Talisker 25 of days gone by, but great nevertheless.  Definitely still a ~90 pointer.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt

MS Calgary Whisky Festival

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(Shameless ATW plug for a local event and good cause…)

 

The 2015 MS Calgary Whisky Festival

MS FEST

 

Folks,

Please allow me a moment to share the word about an upcoming event for our local folk here in Alberta:

Next Thursday, January 15th, 2015, The MS Society of Calgary is hosting one of the city’s most lauded annual events.  The MS Calgary Whisky Festival has become one of the biggest and most recognized whisky fests in the country, and this year’s fest promises to live up to all that came before.

Not simply a gathering of whisky world elite (though certainly that), the MS fest is a chance to come out and do some good for a charitable cause.

“The 2015 Calgary Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Calgary is set to be another barnburner of an event. Last year’s festival drew 400 attendees and featured nearly 150 whiskies from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan and India. This year’s event is set to be even bigger and better with over 100 different whiskies, over 30 presenters and a capacity of 500 participants. New this year we are offering a VIP package, which will include a Macallan Master Class featuring a very rare and special bottling. This is a unique chance to taste whiskies from around the world, and meet talk directly to distillery representatives. Funds raised at the event help us provide much needed services in the community for those affected by MS, as well as help fund ground-breaking research dedicated to finding a cure. Get your tickets now, they won’t last long.”

 

When: Thursday, January 15, 2015
Doors Open: 6:00 pm
Where: Epcor Centre- Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby
Tickets: $99

Click here to purchase tickets.

 

This is a chance to sample whiskies from the following distilleries and bottlers:

Aberlour, Adelphi, Alberta Distillers, Antiquarry, Arran, Auchentoshan, Balvenie, BenRiach, Benromach, Big peat, Black Burn, Bruichladdich, Bushmills, Bowmore, Cadenhead, Canadian Club, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Chichibu, Clan Denny, Compass Box, Edradour, First Editions, Glendronach, Glenfarclas, Glenglassaugh, Glengoyne, Glen Kinchie, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Green Spot, Glen Scotia, Gordon & MacPhail, Jameson, Johnnie Walker, Hepburn’s Choice, Highland Park, Inchmurrin, Jim Beam Brands, Kavalan, Kilchoman, Knob Creek, Laphroaig, Loch Lomond, Macallan, Michter’s, Miyagikyo, Mortlach, Nikka, Old Particular, Red Breast, Samaroli, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Smokehead, Spey, Springbank, Springbank Society, Stronachie, Talisker, Timorous, Tomatin, Tullibardine, Yukon Spirits, WemyssScallywag, Yoichi

 

Come find me if you do make it out.  Let’s turn this into a night to remember while doing something positive for the MS society.

 

– ATW 

 

Ethics In Whisky Writing

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This is a big topic. Bound to offend some.

Anyone else out there noticing a glaring lack of critical writing when it comes to whisky? Yes, there are threads of rampant discord in the commentary sections beneath many an article or post online, but what about the actual article itself? Is it critical? Or the printed word in hard copy? What happened to the type of writing that was meant to parlay objective truth, and not merely tout the rainbows and unicorns side of things? Is it a thing of the past?

Once a year (conveniently, not long before Christmas) the ‘prophet’ Jim Murray takes to his pulpit and spews forth two pages of fine print fire and brimstone on subjects such as sulphured casks, the rise of world whiskies and decline of Scotch or what have you. But two pages?  Once a year?  That’s a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. And I have to admit my own cynicism in this regard. How much critical thought is actually behind these diatribes in terms of representing reality vs simple self-serving agenda-pushing (read: “I need a new tack to help sell this year’s ‘bible’). Just as an example: sulphur is honestly about 1/50th the problem Jim makes it out to be.

Aside from Jim, though, who is at least doing something in his own twisted way, who out there is actually taking the industry to task? The whisky periodicals (Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate, Unfiltered, etc) are nothing more than ad space, seemingly endless and over-generous awards and the occasional distillery feature. Even worse…pseudo-irrelevant articles about cooking and such.  These publications are pretty much nothing more than an extension of the various marketing departments.  I mean, c’mon…any supposedly respectable publication that puts that Beckham/Haig bullshit on their cover and still expects to be recognized as a reliable authority on the subject is at best delusional, and at worst absolutely contemptuous of their readership.Haig & Haig

And unfortunately, yes…it is indeed true. Most bloggers (not all, mind you) are simply so enamoured with whisky that it seems nearly everything is awesome. I don’t question their hearts being in the right place, but I do question the rose-coloured glasses they seem to view the spirit through. Hey…we all wear them in the early years. Been there and had to recognize my own shortcomings through experience.  I honestly do think most bloggers are truly in it for love of the game, but a lack of criticism to offset the praise leads to the scales tipping immeasurably in favour of the brands. Do I think these bloggers are throwing out glowing reviews and kind words in return for free goodies? Not really, no. Some do perhaps. They’re probably the exception though, and not the rule. I can really only think of one egregious example of overt shilling for freebies (even self-confessed, in fact), but this is not as much of a problem as others seem to believe (or so I choose to believe).

So, I guess what I’m asking is: Where’s our Noam Chomsky? Our Naomi Klein? Not necessarily pure journalists, per se. But researchers par excellence who do the sifting through tons of information to collate truths into digestible chunks for the masses? Critical writing, that is. Does this even exist anymore?

We almost need our own sort of crisis to force change, I think. A ‘Whiskygate’, if you will. We need a ‘Deep Throat’. An insider to come forth from the industry and speak in a way that blows the doors off the sleight of hand the brands try to bamboozle us with. We need more truth telling.

I highly recommend reading the Whisky Sponge, if you don’t already. Any reference he (or she) makes that you don’t understand…google it. There are many truths buried therein. Additionally…our own Maltmonster teases here on ATW with conspiracies and far-fetched takes on reality, but the nuggets of criticism are real and founded. Read My Annoying Opinions for much less annoyance than you might imagine. I think he was a little more cantankerous in early days, but still occasionally pulls the curtains back a bit. There are others. Find them.  Don’t be lazy.  Don’t be content with what you read in the magazines.  Nowadays they only exist to exist and to sell you stuff.

Read the comments in the forums and sites by some of the more cynical whisky lovers out there. They may not have their own podium from which to orate, and yes, some of the overt pessimism and seeming anger need be ignored, but the insight is often priceless. Take these cynical views and temper them with optimism.

Before closing, I do want to laud one individual who has spoken out about this very issue. You likely know him. Lads and lasses, Mr. Dominic Roskrow in video form.  The eight minute mark of this video is key. Well done, Dom. Appreciate the candid approach.

That’s my two cents (and probably worth only half as much).  Up to you now whether you want to reach for the red pill or the blue one.

 

– Words:  Curt

– Image:  Shamelessly cribbed from The Whisky Sponge site

Old Pulteney 17 y.o. Review

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Old Pulteney 17 y.o.076

46% abv

Score:  88/100

 

A couple years back when Old Pulteney 21 was declared Jim Murray’s whisky of the year, I said it was (in my opinion) somewhat inferior to the 17 year old.  Here we are now, a couple years down the line, and I have to say that the latest releases of 21 are actually now better than the 17.  More in line with the way it should be, really, especially recognizing the premium that has been levied on Pulteney since the award of said distinguished title.  We’ve seen the 21 year old expression increase by at least a couple dozen dollars in the past year or two.  The quality…meh.  It’s still in the ballpark of where it was back then.

Pulteney is one of the Northernmost Highland distilleries in Scotland.  And while the distillery doesn’t necessarily have warehouse walls that are being battered by the sea, it does actually produce a malt that stands out a little from the pack, bearing as it does, a rather pronounced coastal influence.  Similar in some respects, I suppose, to Bunnahabhain or Scapa or something for bringing the briny, oceanic side to the bottle sans the hefty peat influence that we normally find in parallel with that profile (let’s face it…the briniest buggers are from Islay).  It’s also a malt that has found favour among the old school cognoscenti.

This latest 17 year old?  Good stuff.  Well worth having a bottle around when the price looks right.  Do note though, that it is not the same 17 as a few years back.

Nose:  Salty and coastal, as most have noted when it comes to Pulteney.  A slight putty note.  Roman nougat.  Reminiscent of almond paste, or Indian sweets.  Almost a distant smokiness.  Cream of wheat.  Lemon zest.  Is that caramelized pineapple?

Palate:  Still getting that smoky note.  And waxy.  A touch of lime.  Oak.  Orange, pear and a little apple.  Black currants.  Very old school and appealing palate.

Thoughts:  Not as strong an outing as the Pulteney 17 of a couple years back, but a great whisky nevertheless.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt

SMWS 77.28 “Tropical Nights” Review

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SMWS 77.28 “Tropical Nights”155

54.9% abv

Score:  92/100

 

Would seem the only way I can get my hands on Glen Ord is through our friends at the SMWS.  Literally the only releases from this somehow seemingly elusive Highland distillery I’ve ever tried have been via the enigmatic green bottle with the oh-so-clever tasting notes and the naming conventions that put even the most out-there baby-naming Hollywood celeb to shame.  So be it.  As long as the quality remains as astronomically high as these SMWS expressions I’ve tried, I’m more than ok with the concentration of brand.

Glen Ord produces oodles of juice, but precious little ends up with ‘Glen Ord’ on the bottle.  Most finishes its journey under the ‘Singleton’ banner or smushed into obscurity in Johnnie Walker.  This 25 year old was a real treat to run into in its slightly more bespoke incarnation.  Sadly though, this hoggy yielded a mere 236 bottles at 54.9% abv.

The bottle says this whisky was matured in a second fill charred oak hogshead.  Nothing overly unique there, of course, but a style that definitely appeals to my palatal preferences at this wizened old age.  This is arguably my favorite whisky profile right now.  Yep.  Even supercedes the big peats I’ve been pouring down my gullet for years.

Not a lot more to say here, other than this is another absolutely exceptional malt from Glen Ord.  In fact, it was actually one of the most exciting drams I tried all year.  Not to say best, but unforgettable and yes…very, very good.

Nose:  We are indeed close to tropical here.  What a great nose.  Grilled pineapple.  Dried orange fruits.  Fruit scones and sugar cookies.  Dusty and waxy notes.  Rosewater.  A dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg over good vanilla ice cream.  Soft pie crust.  Just a hint of candied ginger.  Pristine wood.

Palate:  Some pineapple again.  Oh, wow…what a great development throughout.  Lots of sweet mouth watering fruit notes.  White chocolate.  Pepper.  Fruit flan with sweet pastry crust.  Very juicy.

Thoughts:  Malts like this are the reason we drink whisky.  Keeps getting better and better as the bottle breathes.  One of the best SMWS bottles I’ve tried.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt

A Whole New Way Of Engaging Here On ATW

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0001Musings…

In less than four days our little chat on NAS whiskies has drummed up 100 comments.  Holy hell.  Is it that people want to chat and engage somewhere other than the big four forums?  Or is it more simple than that, and simply due to the need to work this NAS debate out of our systems.  Dunno.  Either way, there are a whole load of topics worthy of discussion, but not necessarily worthy of an oration.

Going forward, I’m gonna drop a quick paragraph or two in a post just like this one – under a category called ‘Musings’ – and share a thought or two (or perhaps pose a question) and just see where it goes.  Nothing more than shits and giggles.

Lemme get a new review or two outta the way first, then we’ll jump in.  Look forward to hearing what you all have to say.

 

– Curt

Bruichladdich Legacy Series Three 35 y.o. Review

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Bruichladdich Legacy Series Three 35 y.o.139

40.7% abv

Score:  93/100

 

Bruichladdich wasn’t always guerilla marketing, peat wars and CADD (*cask attention deficit disorder).  Before they began pouring brimstone down our throats and bouncing from one weird wine finish to another (all of which were somewhat fun in their own way), there was a more naked and old school whisky snoozing away in the casks alongside Loch Indaal.

Years ago, long before the socially savvy and indescribably charming Jim McEwan took over the reins as Bruichladdich’s master distiller, there were other hands involved in the production and management of Bruichladdich’s stocks.  Some of these other hands being slightly more famous and curmudgeonly than others (ahem, Wee Willie), but the whisky produced under these various owners and managers reputedly seems to have been of a rather uniformly high quality.  The wood policy, on the other hand, was apparently questionable.  Fortunately, however, some of the whisky from these times long gone has survived not only intact, but as a shining example of just how good older Bruichladdich can be.  Hopefully this is a foreshadowing of what may come to be in a couple more decades from the ‘Laddie guys.

This whisky we’re drinking here is a 35 year old malt from the Legacy series.  It was quite probably one of the first production runs of Invergordon Distillers after acquiring the distillery in 1968, and was released within a year or two of the distillery’s 2001 rebirth.  The only fingerprint the new owners would have had is in making the decision to pull it from the barrel and bottle it.  Or perhaps this was freshened up in a new cask for a short spell, as Jim is wont to do.  Rumour has it he did a lot of recasking when he arrived, helping to triage some dying spirit.  Either way…this is clean, pure and absolutely glorious Bruichladdich.  If you ever get the chance to try the distillery’s old distillate, do so.

Nose:  Beautiful, sweet and old.  A touch of cherry.  Fresh peach.  Soft creamy vanilla.  Pear with white pepper. Pink grapefruit.  A slight soft putty note.  Faint cinnamon.  Clean, fresh oak.  Just a touch of florals.  Soft and beautiful.  As you can tell…everything is soft, gentle and barely there.  Great integration.  Complex and outstanding nose.

Palate:  Almost tropical here.  A lot of wonderful soft fruits all mixed together.  Crunchy underripe pear.  Fruit salad.  A little more wood showing now.  Slightly drying, in fact.  A palate built on fruits and woods.

Thoughts:  This is a sexy old malt.  Unquestionably the best Bruichladdich I’ve ever tried.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt

We’re Not Done With This NAS Thing Yet

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Happy New Year, all.

Let’s close out 2014 in style.  Or at least controversy.

It’s taken me a couple of days to pull together some words on this one, but I think we’re finally there.  And just in time too.  I see a few new comments by our more opinionated commenters have just been posted.  Grab a fork and knife, friends.  This post will be tasty fare for some of you.

As most of you are likely aware I spent a good part of this year drumming up some anti-NAS sentiment around the wider whisky world.  Here on ATW, on Twitter, in posts I started on Connosr and Whiskywhiskywhisky, at my public speaking opportunities and via all sorts of private discussions and email.  There were many a snarky comment inserted into various reviews and such before I finally stepped overtly onto a soapbox with this post here on ATW.  This post alone has just shy of 100 comments beneath it.  That doesn’t even speak to the dozens upon dozens beneath other reviews and features.  I like to think that this place is sort of a hotbed of NAS discussion.

This year was particularly bad in the industry.  The ongoing whisky bubble seems to have skewed relations between producer and consumer to a degree I’ve never seen in relation to our drink of choice.  The brands want to capitalize on global interest, but unfortunately their stocks have not supported their ambitions.  What happens?  Well…when you need to feed platoons of hungry soldiers on a thin supply line, you simply water down the gruel a little bit, right?  This is exactly what the big companies have done.  Provide more of less.

Highland Park Dark Origins, Laphroaig Select, Macallan 1824 Series, Ardmore Legacy, Glenlivet Alpha, Mortlach Rare Old, Talisker Storm, etc are all among the guilty culprits who seem to exist due to the twisted logic of ‘hmmm…Ardbeg and Aberlour have gotten away with it’.

Additionally Glenfarclas is dropping the 10 year age statement from its classic 105 cask strength, Bruichladdich dropped the Laddie Ten and Port Charlotte 10 in favour of their provenance-based ‘Scottish Barley’ and ‘Islay Barley’ and Glenmorangie and Ardbeg continue to lambaste us with cleverly marketed (but ultimately young and non age-stated) malts based on linguistics and novelties.

This latter particularly bothers me, as I have been an unabashed Ardbeg fanboy for the better part of the last several years, and while the quality has remained high…it would be no less so with a number snazzily decaled on the black and green, if you know what I’m saying.  And Bruichladdich…c’mon, guys.  You’re a champion for the purity of the drink and the best interests of the malt.  NAS is NOT beneficial to anyone but the bottom line in the producers ledgers.  ‘Laddie folk…how ’bout you come back to Team Consumer?

What this NAS crap has done, of course, is taken the pressure off the distilleries’ maturing stocks, while simultaneously granting the brands an effective blank check in terms of pricing.  And man…have we paid.  The only real positive I see in all of this nonsense is that we’re seeing distilleries getting a little more creative with their releases and thinking outside the box.

So, where am I going with all this rambling blather?  Trust me…there is a point.  I’m not simply reiterating what we’ve been saying all along.

A few days ago our mate Ralfy Mitchell, whom most of you likely know, released one of his year end vlogs, weighing in on this contentious issue.  Months back, when I first posted that piece on NAS whisky – wherein some industry folk weighed in with their own two cents – I contacted Ralfy hoping for his opinion, but never got a reply.  That’s ok.  He’s a busy guy.  And I should conceded that I have nearly unlimited respect for the guy.  He and I have had some wonderful email exchanges and interviews together.  He’s articulate and informed.  He’s also a shit ton of fun.  I love that.

Ralfy just went on record as moving forth into 2015 with a boycott on NAS Single Malt Scotch.  This is huge.  For a humble guy in a remote bothy, Ralfy is a gent with actual influence in the industry.  The ‘bigs’ are afraid of people like him.  Ralfy’s word holds some weight.  Even those whisky drinkers who’d not yet dug into the politics of the NAS debate will now have it thrust under their noses via Ralfy’s lastest video.  The industry has to hate that.  And the rest of us should love it.  Well done, Ralf.

Our own inimitable Jeff here on ATW has been advocating for more of us to boycott for quite some time now.  I’ve had a bit of a struggle with this.  Not because I need to buy the stuff myself.  Nor because I need to support the distilleries.  It was only because I was trying to present all sides of the story, and give consumers as much information as possible in making their whisky buying decisions.  The thing is…that’s wrong.  I was wrong.  I don’t want to help consumers support NAS whisky.  It’s hurting all of us.  And things are actually getting worse.

So let’s show Ralfy a little bit of support in his endeavours…and let’s take a stronger stance on the same issue we’ve been fighting throughout the year.  In short…let’s make something happen.

As of now, I’ll not be posting any more reviews of NAS whiskies.  Period.  No qualifiers.

Jeff is right.  This really is the only way.  I’m not setting a term for this ‘boycott’ (if you wanna call it that).  I’m also not saying it’s a permanent tack, but let’s just say that when we see some change (and I mean meaningful change), perhaps I’ll reconsider my approach.

This means that several of the reviews I have waiting in the wings may never be posted (including the Ardbeg Supernova 2014!).  Don’t worry, though.  There should be plenty of age-stated and vintage releases to keep us more than busy.  And those distilleries plodding along with boring, standard 10, 12, 15, 18 year old malts will suddenly find themselves at the center of our attention.

Sorry to those who disagree with this stance (and were hoping for more a’bunadh reviews), but let’s see if we can’t force through some positive change.

My ultimate goal?  Not to have the brands themselves be the catalysts for change, but the self-fellating SWA step in and mandate age statements, just as they’ve previously enforced agendas that suited their own needs.  Now it’s our turn.

So…if you’re on board, please help share the word.  Forward on links to this post and this post and Ralfy’s video.  Let’s get the industry talking.  And hopefully cleaning up their own back yard.

On that note…an Ardbeg Ten calls.

 

Respectfully yours, comrades.

 

– Curt

Advent Day 25: 1980 “The Samaroli” 33 y.o. (Samaroli)

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Secret Spirits Advent Calendar Day 25 – December 25th143

1980 “The Samaroli” 33 y.o. (Samaroli)

Cask #34 Blended Malt Bourbon Cask

43% abv

Score:  92/100

 

A whisky from the Secret Spirits Advent Calendar First Edition.

And this, my friends, is where we part ways.  If you’ve been dramming your way alongside with your own advent calendar you’ll likely have some idea of what I mean when I say that I’m actually a little sad not to have a new bottle to open tomorrow.  That’s ok.  It’s been a fun ride.  I think we’ll finish off this series with a bit of a recap and an overall score for the calendar.  Watch for that in the next couple days.  In the meantime…let’s check out our final dram from behind door number 25.  A little something special for Christmas day.

This is a 33 year old blended malt called “The Samaroli”.  Blended malt meaning, of course, that this is a blend composed of only single malts, no grains in the mix to water down the character.  As I’m writing this (Christmas eve, 2014) I have no idea what casks have gone into this particular expression.  You may recall that Samaroli has another nifty blended malt called Evolution that we looked at a while back.  That whisky was built from some pretty spectacular casks from days gone by.  Seeing as Samaroli have declared 33 years to be the youngest cask in this vatting, I can only imagine that this one also contains some stunners from eons ago.

Either way…this is a beautiful whisky.  Rich and seductive.  A perfect conclusion to a wonderful journey.  Well done, Secret Spirits.

Nose:  Oh wow…fantastic nose.  Good nougat with fruit.  Dunnage.  Orange.  Some cherry and toffee.  Chewing gum, fruit candies and the sweetest melange of spices.  Lots of fruits, but more fruit salad than overtly tropical.  A lovely soft almond note.  Did I mention fruits?

Palate:  Sweet, syrupy fruits and a touch of licorice.  Orange and citrus pith.  Slight waxy with a nutty background.  Oak and grain are clear and clean as individual notes.  Surprisingly mouthcoating for a rather anemic 43% abv.  Dries out into a paper-like note.

Thoughts:  Reminds of a lovely old Bruichladdich I’ve tried.  Slightly better nose than palate (especially at the back end), but overall a very special whisky.  The nose here is probably the best in the calendar.

Bonus:  My mate, Jonathan, and I are gonna blog on these drams side by side through the season.  Here’s a link to his notes on the same whisky at SingleMalting.com.

 

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt