Category Archives: Whisky of the Month

Posts of each month’s taster!

Whisky of the Month

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast: Nikka Discovery

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Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast

47%

700ml

$279.95 (LCBO)

Medium and Herbal

Fruit aromas of Peach and Apricot

Pepper, spices, Tomato Leaf….haven’t heard that one before

From the Distillery:

After the remarkable Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated launched in 2021, the magic behind this unpeated version comes from the use of yeasts that encourage the development of delicately fruity aromas and flavours. An invitation to dive quite literally into a washback in the midst of fermentation, it begins first by laying the foundations of a deeply malty character. Then, as the tasting unfolds, deliciously luscious, floral, rich and even fruity sequences interweave with one another, like dissolving transitions in a film.

COLOR: Bright gold.

NOSE: Refined, full of ardour. The very exuberant first nose (lavender, marshmallow, marsh mallow plant) is also softly liquoricey and lush (malted barley). Allowed to breathe, succulent perfumes of comté cheese, flowering meadow, and fruits (peach, pear, apricot) intensely take hold of the olfactory arena. Gradually, notes of vanilla, coconut milk and lemon meringue tart draw out the first stage of the tasting.

PALATE: Radiant, well-balanced. The full-bodied attack is at first refreshingly herbaceous (barley field, fern). Very delicately, the mid-palate then becomes wonderfully rich (brioche, leavened baguette). Next, white peaches and pears release their deliciously tangy juice onto the taste buds as acacia honey spreads voluptuously around the sides of the palate.

FINISH: Long, silky. Closely linked to the end of the palate, incredibly fresh flavours of herbal tea (sage, camomile, verbena) cross through the start of the finish. At the end of the finish, grains of salt are placed gently onto a bed of cut grass. The mentholated, very slightly empyreumatic (smoking cigar) and spicy (fresh ginger) retro-nasal olfaction gradually reveals subtle floral notes (pear tree, lily of the valley). The empty glass releases fermentation aromas.

Whisky of the Month

Yoichi Aromatic Yeast: Nikka Discovery

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This month we have a double header, a pairing of unique whiskies from the Far East coast!

Born from the Nikka distillery these two special releases are sure to be interesting shift from our usual Scottish malts.

Nikka operates several distilleries across the land of the rising sun and these 2022 single malts come from the Yoichi and Miyagiko locations. 

Through yeast experimentation over a number of years they have been able to create unique flavours instead of the traditional maturation methods used, essentially by growing and aging yeast Nikka has been able to create a variety of flavours to use in their single malt whiskey, flavours that are normally only obtained by traditional barrel aging methods.

The reviews on both of these Bottles were quite good and with a limited number of each experimental bottle available in Canada, we would have to have Zombie brain to not give them a try!

47% ABV

700ml

$279.95 (LCBO)

This rare version of the Yoichi Single malt is from the Nikka discovery series. Focusing on Aromas selected from Nikka’s vast collection of yeast the expression is partially made a batch that has aromas similar to ginjyo sake, know to be fruit and floral which is balanced by the peaty, smokiness of the original Yoichi.

Cereal, Elderflower, licorice, berries, light peat

Whisky of the Month

Tamdhu 18 Year Single Malt

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Tamdhu 18

46.8% ABV

$285.20

LCBO

Matured exclusively in Sherry oak cask

The distillery is Located in Speyside region.

Owned by Independent bottlers Ian Macleod a majority of the whisky distilled at Tamdhu that not made in Sherry casks are used for independent bottling or blends.

Not completely rare but Single malt Tamdhu are bit of a unicorn in certain markets and made in limited releases.

Nose:

Rich dark fruits with Cherry and plum, zesty citrus notes and nutty milk chocolate

Palate:

Red apples, dried fruits

Sweet spice, cinnamon and brown sugar

Finish:

Long and lingering, spiced apples and a hint of Sherry 

Whisky of the Month

Orphan Barrel: 14 year Old Single Malt from Teaininch Distillery

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From American Boutique Independent bottler Orphan Barrel, a unique company for the fact they distill their own whiskey but also seek out forgotten barrels from rare distilleries, previously they have unearthed and released a 24 year old from Port Dundas dubbed “Muckety Muck”.

I initially passed this off as a Bourbon or American whiskey because of the label, it wasn’t until I looked closely at the bottle it distinctly says “Single Malt Whisky bottled in Scotland”.  Labelled as Castle’s Curse from Orphan Barrel( story to follow).

Teaininch is typically only used in Diageo blended whiskies.

Located in the Highlands region Teaninich distillery has had a long and complicated history in the distilling business for nearly 200 years. Very rarely do you find a single malt offering from them.

Procured from: LCBO

$235.25

750ml

47.4% ABV

Whisky of the Month

BenRiach 24 year old Single Cask

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This bottle #2 for our July BenRiach double tasting.

Distilled in July 7th 1997

Bottled in 2022

Bottle 69/176

Cask Strength 56.7% ABV

Exclusively selected and bottled for Alberta

Bourbon barrel cask

Notes from Kensington Wine market website.

Nose: decadent, creamy, and fruity with subtle spice; creamed honey, clotted cream, and creme brule; orange pith, dried apricot, and honey dew melon; nutty and toasty with almond brittle.

Palate: creamy, sweet, and fruity with juicy malt; a base of buttery toasted oak with decadent spices; more clotted cream, creme brule, and creamed honey; the fruits start in the citrus/orchard range, but evolve into more tropical ones like green mango and pineapple; Earl Grey Tea icecream and toasted marshmallows to round things out; sliced ginger and cinnamon hearts.

Finish: warming, spicy, and toasty, the finish is long, coating the palate with fading fruits and sweet creamy treats.

Certainly this bottling is a rarity and once one of our members wins the remaining at our annual bottle auction it is likely to be gone forever. One of only 176 bottles made from this single cask, amazing find and a treat for the whisky lover!

Whisky of the Month

BenRiach 20 Year Old

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Both tasters this month are from the vault of our very own Tamara Mauer! Thank you very much for coming through for this month, no doubt everyone will benefit from your generosity and perfectly normal and healthy addiction to hoarding whisky! No doubt we are in for a treat with this BenRiach double taster.

BenRiach 20 year old

43% ABV

700ml bottle

Notes from Whisky Base:

  • Nose
    Balanced nose with apple Helene and berries with spicy vanilla. You think of smoke, but very far away. Then some herbs in the soup. This is how fun the nose is.
  • Taste
    Less happens here than the nose promises. Too bad. But still very balanced sweetness with woody spices and some candied caramel. OK, there are also small oranges with vanilla sticks. But everything looks very harmonious. After work malts.
  • Finish
    Medium to long but everything in the bitter direction. Not uncomfortable, however. With peppery spices and still sweet, he says goodbye with his head held high. Good craft!

Wow! Another great BenRiach expression, they never disappoint!

Whisky of the Month

Glenbow Single Malt whisky from Bridgeland Distillery

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(Calgary, AB)

45.5% ABV

$74.00

2 years in New American Oak and 1 year in ex-Bourbon barrels from Texas’ Balcones distilling.

I didn’t get many tasting notes on this extremely unique Single Malt whisky by way of Calgary. In my searches I came across a fantastic write up by Park Whiskey Society. Figured they wouldn’t mind if I add a link to their detailed and extensive write up on this wonderful whisky. Thanks to them for sharing their expertise! Have a look!

In-Depth Review: Bridgeland Distillery Glenbow Canadian Single Malt Whisky – Park Whiskey Society

Whisky of the Month

Two Brewers Release 42 Yukon Single Malt

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This 2nd Canadian whisky taster this month hails from way up north in the Yukon Territory. One could say that Two Brewers Distillery has started another gold rush, this time in liquid form!

(Whitehorse, YT)

46% ABV

$106.00

This delightful expression offers a lighter take on the Two Brewers Classic, approachable for all but each morsel tinged by complexity. A gentle ride for some, an exhilarating chase for others.

Flitting and flickering through the nose, delicate and enticing. The prominent aroma of fresh hewn oak hides hints of soft-fleshed fruits that better reveal themselves as the dram rests. Raw sugar sweetness leads across each sip joined by green peppercorn and bright melon and a lingering oaken finish.

Two Brewers Whisky | Yukon Single Malt Whiskyhttps://www.twobrewerswhisky.com/

What a fantastic whisky, well done Two Brewers, looking forward to trying more of your expressions!

Whisky of the Month

Shelter Point 10 Year Old Single Malt

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The Single Malt Canadian whisky market is here and is here to make a statement.

This month we have Three Single Malt Canadian whiskeys on tap. 

In a small niche market which Glen Breton had typically only played in has now become a boom on Canada’s beautiful West Coast up to Yukon Territory across the Prairies to the 100th Meridian(where the Great Plains begin).

Are we ready to take on the global single malt market dominated by Scotland? Not yet, however, us Canadians are not scared of our foes and we thrive on commitment and excellence in every endeavour we choose to take on.

This is just the beginning for our Home and native land and its Single Malt whisky industry.

Friday June 28th we can sit back, relax and enjoy some Canadian ingenuity in liquid form. Whether the whisky is good or bad it won’t matter because after the last drop is gone, Canada is still the best country in the world!

Shelter Point 10 Year Old Single Malt

(Oyster River, B.C)

46% ABV

$118.00

Matured in 3 different ex-bourbon casks

  • Nose: Rich chewy caramel malt, no abv, light spice, touch floral
  • Taste: Bold, sweet and spicy, creamy caramel malt, baking spice, the oak is balancing
  • Finish: Salinity, joins the sweet malt and tasty oak.

The club felt this one was bang on and most represented a true single malt scotch version, just one that was distilled and aged right here in Canada on Vancouver Island. What a fantastic bottling and taster that all enjoyed. Oh Canada!!

Whisky of the Month

Bruichladdich Black Art 6.1

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For May 2024 monthly taster we were lucky to find a special release through our own member Lee. Thanks for the sourcing of the fantastic Bruichladdich Black Art 6.1 version!

Cask Strength at 46.9% ABV, 1990 vintage at 26 years old, 100% unpeated malted barley, matured on Islay, non-chill filtered. 1 of 18,000 bottles world wide. Only 17,999 remain!

Nose: Aromatic malt that reaches your nose even as the glass sits on the table. Black cherries, ripe bananas, green pears and other stone fruit. Spicy butterscotch and burnt orange peel. White chocolate, nutmeg and leathery depth.

Palate: Wood is definitely present, but is more balanced than expected given the age. The play between whisky and wood is a powerful one, with a lot of flavor and character behind it. It is a dance of savory vanilla, tingling spice and sweet dark fruits.

Finish: So smooth and lingering. Leaves you wanting a 2nd, 3rd and 4th sip. Just a fantastic whisky and version of the Black Art series. Looking forward to trying another version at some point!