Hey whiskey lovers, I have some exciting news for you! We celebrated St Patrick’s day with an Irish Whiskey focused tasting session. It began with a bottle of Kinahans Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and let me tell you, it’s a treat. This whiskey is made from 100% malted barley and aged in ex-bourbon barrels for a smooth and complex flavor. It has notes of vanilla, honey, citrus and spice, with a long and satisfying finish. It’s perfect for sipping neat or mixing in cocktails.
If you’re looking for a new whiskey to try, we highly recommend Kinahans Single Malt Irish Whiskey. It’s a true Irish gem that will make you feel like you’re in the Emerald Isle. Cheers!
Our next sampling in the tour across Ireland was a new release from one of my favorite Irish distilleries: Writers Tears Double Oak. This is a blend of single pot still and single malt whiskeys that have been aged in both American oak and French oak casks. Sounds intriguing, right? Let’s dive in!
The nose is rich and sweet, with notes of vanilla, honey, caramel, and dried fruits. I also get some hints of spice, oak, and leather. The aroma is very inviting and complex. The palate is smooth and creamy, with a nice balance of sweetness and spice. The flavors are similar to the nose, but with more depth and intensity. I taste vanilla, honey, caramel, raisins, figs, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, oak, and leather. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering sweetness and spice. The oak influence is noticeable but not overpowering.
Writers Tears Double Oak is a delicious and satisfying whiskey that showcases the best of Irish whiskey making. It has a lot of character and flavor, but also a lot of elegance and finesse. It’s a whiskey that can be enjoyed by both beginners and connoisseurs alike. I, and the club, highly recommend it to anyone who loves Irish whiskey or wants to try something new and different. Cheers!
To finish our Irish Whiskey tasting we bring you a very special discovery: Writers Tears Inniskillin Ice Wine Cask. Yes, you read that right. This is a whiskey that has been aged in barrels that previously held ice wine, a type of dessert wine made from frozen grapes. Sounds amazing, right?
Well, let me tell you, it is. This whiskey is smooth, sweet and complex, with notes of honey, vanilla, apricot and oak. It has a rich and creamy texture that coats your mouth and warms your soul. It’s like drinking liquid poetry.
But why is it called Writers Tears? Well, according to the legend, this whiskey was inspired by the 19th century Irish writers who would drink whiskey to cope with their creative struggles and personal tragedies. They would shed tears of frustration and sorrow into their glasses, giving the whiskey a unique flavor and character.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I would want to drink someone else’s tears. That sounds kind of gross and sad. But I do appreciate the idea of a whiskey that celebrates the joys and sorrows of writing. And I think this whiskey does just that.
So, if you’re looking for a new way to treat yourself after a long day of writing, or if you just want to try something different and delicious, I highly recommend Writers Tears Inniskillin Ice Wine Cask. It’s a whiskey that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Cheers!
Hello, whisky lovers! Today I’m going to review a new release from Lindores Abbey Distillery: the Lindores Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This is the first whisky from this historic site, where the earliest written record of whisky distillation in Scotland was found. The whisky is aged for three years in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, and bottled at 46% ABV. Let’s see how it tastes!
On the nose, I get a lot of fruity and floral notes, like apples, pears, honey, and roses. There’s also a hint of spice and vanilla from the oak. It’s very fresh and inviting.
On the palate, the whisky is smooth and creamy, with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. The fruitiness continues, with some citrus and dried fruits coming through. The spice is more pronounced, with some pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. The finish is long and warming, with a touch of smoke and malt.
Overall, I really enjoyed this whisky. It’s a great example of a lowland style, with a lot of character and complexity. It’s also very easy to drink, and would suit any occasion. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a light and fruity whisky with some depth. Cheers!
Today I’m going to tell you about a new release that will blow your mind: the Smokehead Rum Rebel Cask!
This is not your ordinary whisky. This is a peaty, smoky, spicy beast that has been finished in Caribbean rum casks for an extra kick of sweetness and complexity. It’s like a pirate party in your mouth, with explosions of vanilla, banana, caramel and smoke.
If you’re looking for a whisky that will challenge your taste buds and make you feel like a rebel, this is the one for you. But be warned: this is not for the faint of heart. This is a whisky that demands your attention and respect. It’s a whisky that will make you scream: “I am Smokehead!”
But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself and see if you can handle the rum riot. You won’t regret it. Cheers!
The fifth and final bottle from our 15 year anniversary. Port Dundas 43 – distilled June 1, 1974! Bottled by independent bottler, The Exclusive Grains, with only 228 available. There is very little out there about this rare bottle, from a closed and demolished (2011) Lowland distillery, which once was the largest in Scotland. From our perspective, this was a light and easy-going dram, with some vestiges of vanilla, and definite cereal and herbal tones. A whopping $2300 CAD average on Whisky Base!
What a pleasure to sample these 5 great bottles this past January, now concluding our “139 years in the barrel” journey.
Taster #4 from our 15th Anniversary prestige whisky extravaganza, leaving only 1 more reveal for that total of 139 years in the barrel! Do the math, this means our 5th and final taster was a whopping 43 years old (post coming soon)!!
Check out Cadenhead’s Strathclyde 31, a single grain whisky from the Scottish Lowlands. It was aged in ex-bourbon casks, with heaps of vanilla ice cream and pecan pie on the nose, and subtly spicy, orange chocolate on the pallet. Sounds scrumptious, and it did not disappoint!
Strathclyde distillery opened in 1927 and its production primarily goes into blends. It is currently used in Chivas Brothers offerings and owned by Pernod Ricard. There are very few bottlings of straight-up Strathclyde ever made, all from independents. One of a kind, ours was bottled in 2020. Couldn’t have an anniversary without another new distillery to the club, at an impressive 31 years old!
A lovely pre-pop photo, chilling in a snowbank just waiting for us to crack into it!
Our third selection for our 15-year anniversary was “A Marriage of Casks” Bunnahabhain 27, from the Single Malts of Scotland range bottled by Elixir Distillers. This is a small batch vatting of 4 refill bourbon hogshead casks bottled in 2018. Apparently, the bourbon influence is front and centre! Rich, fruity, complex, balanced and buttery with spicy notes. Round and beautiful. It has an average price of $786 CAD. A unique and limited quantity run – a hogshead generally holds 250 liters, meaning less than 1000 liters of this nectar were ever available!
Taster #2 from our 15th Anniversary line up, inching closer to that total of 139 years in the barrel!
From the Glenfiddich web site: “The finest flavours of Scotland and France have been fused together to redefine moments of celebration and create a new extraordinary drinking experience.”
This exclusive expression has been matured for 23 Years in American and European Oak casks and elegantly finished in rare French Cuvee casks.
Colour: Deep Gold (Mark loves gooooooold) Nose: Apple blossom, freshly baked bread, candied lemon Taste: Layers of rich vanilla oak, sweet brioche, sandlewood, pear sorbet and white grape Finish: Long, opulent, sweet 40% Abv.
The 15th anniversary of ETKW did not disappoint! 139 years of skilled patience went into aging the 5 highly sought after drams featured by the Club on January 28, 2023.
Our youngest selection was Laphroaig 15, which was a regular product offering in the 1990’s. Its discontinuance was met with harsh reaction in the whisky world as it was very popular among lovers of Islay. We sampled a revived limited edition created to celebrate Laphroaig’s 200th year. Considered highly collectible, it was one of the most sought-after whiskies of 2015. Full-bodied, rich and balanced, with an average listed value of $670 on Whiskybase.
Stay tuned as we highlight 4 further age statement bottles selected to celebrate ETKW’s landmark 15 year anniversary, for a total of 139 years in the barrel!
