Category Archives: Whisky of the Month

Posts of each month’s taster!

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.

Storas 21 Year Rare Cask Reserve

Nose:  Very peaty smell but blends nicely with the aroma of mocha, vanilla and toasted nuts.

storas21Pallet:  This bottle is a little sweet like the original 63 but has a wonderful taste of oaky vanilla and caramelized fruit with just a touch of smoke and spices.

Finish: The finish on the Stòras is amazing and very enjoyable. The medium intensity of this easy drinker is something you need to try if you are a fan of whisky. With a long complex finish of fruits, oak and buttery goodness this is absolutely something worth indulging in if you can stomach the price tag of almost $200.

Caol Ila 30 Year

Caol Ila 30 year old is a special release from the Diageo collection in 2014.  The oldest official bottling to date from the distillery.  A marriage of American and European oak.  Only 7,638 bottles worldwide.

caol_ila_30_year_old_psNose: As we have come to expect from Caol Ila.  This 30 year old is very warm and bacon like.  With a bouquet of orange and lemon, and hints of vanilla which is very pleasing.

Palate: At first sip it commands respect and reminds you that you have a dram of a fine single malt!   As it sits it begins to mellow and the ashey peat begins to peak thorough followed by the citrus undertones that come through on the nose.

Finish: Is one that can be summarized in one word… AWESOME!!! This mouth coating ,well rounded flavour house, is one which has to be enjoyed with a sophisticated palate and a fine cigar .

Overall 9/10.  I would still recommend an eye drop of water just to really open it up.  Anyone would be privileged to have it on their bar.

Midleton Very Rare Irish Whisky

For someone who has only tasted a handful of Irish Whiskeys this one was by far the best I have ever tried!

midleton-veryrareA well balanced nose which was pleasant and addictive, but that was only the beginning of this memorable experience. The palate was even more exciting with a sweet full flavour that had hints of vanilla, cinnamon and candied fruits. The finish was spicy and long lasting. When it was all over I was sad to say goodbye.

 

 

I would highly recommend this bottle to any amateur or experienced whiskey drinker. A great bottle! If you can get your hands on one…