Category Archives: Whisky of the Month

Posts of each month’s taster!

Oban Little Bay

The nose on this was slightly malty. I could detect honey, oak and maybe dried fruit. As I brought the glass closer this did not change, it just intensified. As I took my first sip, I was hit with the dry fruit element, waxy honey, and a strong oak.

As this rolled over my tongue, it started to mellow and I could slightly detect an orange component that surprised me as there was no hint of citrus until now. I found this scotch finished clean, a good one to sip on a summer patio all evening long. This scotch would pair well with seafood, or Mexican dishes as I think the sweetness from the fruit and honey would benefit from a spicy component that I did not find present in my glass.

Overall I enjoyed this scotch. At a $100 a bottle I do feel there are better choices for that price point. If you find an opportunity to taste this it’s definitely worth a try, but I will pass this one over when it comes to my personal collection.

Hart Brothers 20 Year Old

Hart BrothersI believe this was our first taste of Hart Brothers and it did not disappoint. This golden liquid was quite soft on the nose but offered quite the invitation with hints of toffee, fruits and honey. It was one of those smells that gives you the sense of deja vu.

The taste was the highlight of this experience – it also emphasized the complexity of the palette as discussions during the tasting identified varying characteristics. I found heavy tones of caramel and toffee with a spicy finish that instantly warmed the belly.

Overall, this scotch seems as though it would continue to impress with each ounce. Definitely a bottle that you could sit down and have a few glasses with – although at $175 – it would most likely need to be a special occasion – two thumbs up!

Redbreast 15

Once swirled, the Redbreast 15 year old has a great hang on your glass suggesting a full bodied whisky. The aroma is very sweet as it hits your nose but not so rich that it is unappetizing.

Redbreast Single Pot Still 15 YearYour palate is hit with a rich sweet caramel taste with vanilla and tropical fruit notes.  The finish has a bite on the tongue with flavours of citrus which helps cut the sweet taste. Overall thought, the Redbreast 15 is a great sipper after a meal as it goes down like a serving of tropical fruit covered with caramel and vanilla. Unless you have a sweet tooth, a glass or two would be the ideal amount.

Cu Bocan

Forest Gump said “life is like a box of chocolates”. If the world of scotch was a box of chocolates, I would imagine Cu Bocan is the gross orange flavored one that everyone avoids once they find out what it is. I can usually find elements of almost any whiskey to enjoy, but I was hard pressed to find that here.

In the glass, Cu Bocan showed long legs that really clung to the glass. On the nose, I found it pungent and perfumy. A rather bold dose of a high proof whiskey. Before I knew what it was, I had assumed it to be a cask strength because of this. It vaguely reminded me of the Glen Livet Nadura, though the Nadura had some pleasant undertones on the nose that made you want to drink it to see what flavors that would turn into on the palate. Cu Bocan really lacked that character and really just had that high proof on the nose. If I was forced to stretch, there may have been some caramel notes there too.

On the palate, heat and oak were what this malt was packing! The warmth stayed with me, and the rest seemed to evolve to predominant oakiness. There were some spicy elements to it that I would compare to cinnamon, with very little else at play. I found on the second sip no evolution past this, and on the third, even with a drop of water, nothing else really presented itself. The heat of the malt lingered, but not in an incredibly cumbersome way as the tongue went a bit numb with each passing sip (or maybe my taste buds were just bored with how little there was offered by the whiskey).

All in all, as an eight and a half year veteran of the club, travelling Scotland visiting distilleries, and with a decent collection of my own, I’d like to think I know a bit about this stuff. And if in fact I do, my verdict on this malt is a solid pass for lack of depth, complexity and refinement. But for a sanity check I read some other reviews online after writing the above, and there are a lot of people speaking to the opposite and praising the merits of Cu Bocan.

So I put this to you: those who care enough about the whiskeys you drink to read up on them. Let me know what you think on this bottle. Have I missed something, or are the online reviews nothing more than gimmick and hype? I appreciate everyone has their own taste, but I really struggle to find anything about this whiskey to praise.

Send your thoughts to joshoooa@gmail.com. I’m interested to see what you, the real scotch drinkers think.

21 Year Royal Salute

Overall, I would say although Chivas is outside my top 10 in favourite brands, this 21 year-old Royal Salute satisfied the nostrils quite well on a warm summer evening.  It was quite soft on the nose initially with what seemed to hint at a chocolatey (but not too sweet) sniff…. very inviting for a taste.

2016_06_24_20_07_49_ProShotThe palate felt like a party in the mouth with a wide variety of tastes ranging from creamy/fruity to a confirmation of the chocolatey/nutty nose.

The finish however disappointed for a blend, as a few flavours competed to make a lasting impression, but the dram lacked the necessary finishing time expected from a 21 year old.

 

 

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience, but other options exist for consuming multiple drams at this price point.

Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve

glenrothes-sherrycasksreserveThis was a pleasant and enjoyable Speyside.  I recommend letting this single malt breath once you pour it into the glass to enhance the aromas.

A hint of citrus with lots of spice that stays with you well after you have had a swill of this well crafted dram. Overall I enjoyed this Scotch, if the first sip doesn’t quite appeal to your palate don’t be discouraged, there is much more to be discovered in the next mouthful.

Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve is available at the LCBO.

Auchentoshan American Oak

At first glance you will see a beautiful light amber colour and the long legs of this Lowlands spirit. On the nose you will immediately smell the characteristic vanilla that comes from being aged in bourbon casks.

auchentoshan_american_oakThe nose feels heavy and gives the impression you are in for a harsh first sip. However, you receive a pleasant surprise when the dram goes down smooth and has a nice crisp finish. It is this mellow impression that reminds you why Auchentoshan is known as “the breakfast whiskey”. At $60.00 in the LCBO it would be a nice addition to any collection, for those looking for an easy sipping spirit.

Auchentoshan 12 Years Old

This 12 year old single malt is light amber in colour and has very light legs in the glass. Your nose will be treated to a clean citrus smell which gives way to a crisp toffee flavour.

auchentoshan_12_yearThis spirit reminds us why Auchentoshan is known for making “Glasgow’s Malt whisky” as it has a long and yet still smooth finish. Available for $65.00 at the LCBO this simple spirit can help anyone who has discovered a new love for single malts and is looking to begin building a single malt inventory.

Auchentoshan 3 Wood

Here we have a complex dram, which it owes to being aged first in bourbon casks and then being finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks.

auchentoshan_three_woodYour eyes will see light legs of dark amber, almost bronze in colour. Your nose will smell a rich bouquet of spices. Your tongue will enjoy the flavour of these spices along with a touch of rich honey like sweetness. As you finish your dram you will receive a warmth in your chest to remind you of the lovely lowlands single malt you have just enjoyed. At $80.00 in the LCBO this spirit is best suited for someone who has been building their repertoire and can appreciate the complexity of the dram.

Royal Brackla 16 Year

royal-brackla-16-year-old-whiskyAs you swirl your dram you will be struck by the rich molasses colour and your nose will be treated to a symphony of spices. Your first sip will bring the tastes of cinnamon and a fruity flavour that will bring cherries to mind. This will give way to a subtle, but still noticeable, warmth in the chest. This very welcome feeling will linger to remind you of the full flavoured whisky that has been gifted by the Scottish Highlands.