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Whisky of the Month

Compass Box Flaming Heart 2018 Limited Edition

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48.9%

700ml

The 6th edition of Flaming Heart a blended whisky using Clynesh, Deanston, Caol Ila and other malts matured in ex-bourbon cask

Nose: Coastal air and fiery peat with hints of honey and vanilla

Palate: Smokiness, dried spices and raisins.

Finish: Orange and clove

Once again Compass Box does not disappoint with this superb blend. Certainly warm but not over powering. The finish was clean and left you looking for another sip right away. What a great dram to combat the lingering coldness of a late November evening in Canada.

Cheers to all!

Whisky of the Month

Dewars Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara

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46%

750ml

$199.70

Named double double for its 4 stage ageing process while finishing in Mizunara casks from master blender Stephanie Macleod. Not noted what is blended other than single malt and single grain whiskies but Dewars owns Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigallechie, Macduff and Royal Brackala single malt brands.

Light golden amber colour with sturdy legs and  excellent viscosity.

Nose: Tropical Bananas, nutmeg, green apple and candied ginger.

Palate: Smooth with sharp green apple, pears, dried figs and hints of oak.

Finish: Sweet long and subtle finish

Whisky of the Month

Royal Salute 21 year Miami Polo Edition

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This months theme was inspired by members of the Expensive Taste club, 20 different personalities(maybe 40 if we really counted), 20 different tastes, an eclectic group of people with a common enjoyment for fine whisky! A perfectly unique blend of fine folks.

The original thought was to have a blind tasting to showcase quality blended whiskies at an affordable price but, in true Expensive Taste fashion the selection for the month has evolved into three higher end and pricey blended malts sourced from 3 different bottlers and with this wide range there is sure to be something for everyone.

As always we look forward to seeing everyone for what is sure to be a great wrap to 2024!

40% ABV

700ml

LCBO

$272.50

This is the sixth edition in the Royal Salute Polo series, fully finished in first-fill Rye and first-fill Bourbon casks a first for Royal Salute! This nod to the vibrant city of Miami reveals aromas of vanilla, coconut and subtle spice with a rich, smooth feel in the mouth. Stylized and distinct pink ceramic bottle is unique and eye catching on any bar or cabinet display. Can’t confirm but typical whiskies used to blend are: Strathisla, Longmorn, Glen Keith, Caperdonich.

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

Glenallachie 15 Year Old

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Pronounced Glen-alla-key, they are one of the few remaining independent distilleries led by iconic master distiller Billy Walker. They proudly present the Glenallachie 15 Year old with natural colour, non chill filtered and bottled at 46% abv. (Pictured on left above)

Colour: rich mahogany, surprisingly dark as labelled as natural colour

Nose: waves of heather honey, dark chocolate and figs. Notes of fruit cake, mocha and a wisp of cinnamon

Taste: fig syrup mocha and treacle toffee, followed by dark chocolate, sweet spices fused with ginger and the finish

This expression was a crowd favourite forsure. Lovers of sherry cask matured whisky will be sure to enjoy this expression. Available here in Ontario, currently in stock at the LCBO. Have a look and find out for yourself. Cheers!