Well I was called out on my lack of updates. Good to hear that people are really reading something that I produce, it really brings me a warm fuzzy feeling. Like that first dram on a cold winter day, warmed to the cockles.
So what came out in November that looks delicious and is worth your hard-earned pennies? Let's take a look! Due to the mass releases in October, there are only 2 for November. The first being November 12th:
The first item we see is Auchentoshan Three Wood [LCBO Sku #70532 / $76.95] - The last time I tasted it, it was woody, sherry, and spicy hot (as in my mouth and lower extremities of my brain are on fire). I don't know how old this is (there isn't an age statement), but it definitely needs some water to loosen it up. There is a lot of wood at play in this bottle, and I'm honestly not a big fan. It seems a little too busy, with a reliance on over sherry-ing to cover up a rough young spirit. I do love sherry finishes however, but my money goes to the Auchentoshan 12-year-old [LCBO Sku #107359]
at $54. It has a much better balance with a much more subtle sherry finish that I find doesn't overwhelm the palette. There is a ton of caramel in the bottles, giving that weird electric marmalade colour, but they do redeem themselves by serving the spirit at 43%. Being heavily chill-filtered the bottle is immaculately clear though, and I believe that this takes some serious body away from the spirit. I am a huge lowland fan, and really believe that if Diageo took the time and created something without all the gubbins, they would have a real prize. On a side note, there are some excellent bottles from independent distillers out there for Auchentoshan; but they are few and far between. Lowlands have a rich, refined, soft and smooth palette that suits drinking at any time, I only wish there were more of them left!
Next up is Bruichladdich 7-year-old Port Cask finish. If you know me, then you'll know I'm a sucker for a good glass of port and this is no exception! Rich marmalade and copper tones throughout the scotch (no colour added), this gives way to rich dark fruits, oats, and gentle smoke and brine. This is an excellent foray into the Islay subculture and a great showcase of quality finished scotch. At only 7 years this tastes like a much older whisky, and the port notes back up the smoke and peat with a rich and vibrant fruitiness all their own. Served at a healthy 46%, this is produced by an indie distiller for real drinkers like us. Check your local LCBO [Sku #220905]
, bottles are $95 (a bit steep, but worth the investment come the first heavy snowfall; you know the one where you'll be sitting indoors watching those fat flakes fall to the ground).
Last, but certainly not least is one of my favorite distilleries, Isle of Arran. Their entry into the peat saturated world began in 2004 and continues today with
Machrie Moor (said Mach-ree More). This is absolutely one of my favorite peated scotches currently. I'm not a huge smoke and peat fan as yet, and am still developing a nose for what lays beyond the smoke and brine, but the sweet, punchy and tropical fruitiness of Arran malt characteristics blends so well with the gentle peat and smoke. If you're not sure about testing the waters of Islay, go for Machrie Moor! Named after a the peat bog, the Machrie area of the Firth of Clyde area is one of few areas to have Megaliths (standing stones like Stonehenge). Once said to even been home to Robert the Bruce, and legendary characters such as Fingal. Fingal's hound, Bran, is represented on the tin/bottle anchored to one of the stones. As usual with all Arran malts, no colour, no chill-filtration, and served at 46% gets the grades. Apples and iodine, pears and smoke, vanilla and smokey bergamot on the nose. This became a favorite at the WhiskeyLive show in Toronto with our tasting group. Check your local LCBO [Sku #254920], bottles are $72.
I'm going to mention two other spirits that caught my eye on this release:
Moniack Mead - a traditional mead from Scotland. It has a wonderful rich amber colour. Nose shows clover and spices. It's marked as a sweet, so I'd expect it to be around the same sweetness as a port, and at only $16 it would make a great cellar companion. Check you local LCBO for Sku #987263.
Quinta do Noval Black Port - A dark and serious entry into the competitive world of ports. Stewed prunes and black fruits on the nose with an intensity that lasts into the finish. This sounds like something tasty, and something that you could sip with friends after dinner. At $25 it would be worth a try, or drop it into the cellar for a year or two. LCBO Sku #235689.
The second November release for the 26th was a little bit lacking. Featuring only 2 malts and a couple of honorable mentions.
First up is
Bowmore with the 15-year-old Darkest. This is a heavy sherry finished Bowmore, produced by a big box distiller. It's a good one, but it's not my sort of Bowmore. Dark auburn colour (yeah that's pretty real AKA a big gob of caramel e150a), and so clear you can see the third or fourth bottle behind it (that's some seriously heavy filtration). This is the most popular Islay in the world, and this is reflected as they colour and filter out all the best parts to make it super attractive to shoppers in the ever competitive world of Scotch. It is a heavily sherried Islay, with notes of dark chocolate, raisin and nutmeg on the nose. I found it a bit lively on the palette; and with a bit of water citrus and worked oak come out, with peat and smoke to follow. There is a dark rum note in the background that seems sort of alienated, but not out of place. Check your local LCBO [Sku #503649]
for a bottle, be forewarned though at $90/bottle there are many better choices for a peaty sherry treat
. In fact, I'd highly recommend looking for the beefier Laimrig instead, no filtration, no colour and served at cask strength... That's a real sherried Bowmore.
Second is the
Balvenie Port Wood 21-year-old. Great, a second port wood finish... I'm gonna go broke! Especially on this one! This is a monster and possibly my favorite Balvenie (in fact until the Caribbean Cask, the only Balvenie I really enjoyed). This is a monster and exhibits all the right notes in all the right places. Rich warm mahogany colour gives way to a butter cream richness. Honey, red fruits, over ripened pears, salty caramels and a wonderful drying finish round out one of the best Balvenie expressions I've ever had. Now the real problem is the price; $225! For a bottle of great whisky - yeah I can cough that up. The problem comes from the lack of distiller's information, there is no mention of colouring, or filtration, and it has been diluted to 40% ABV. If you've got the cash for a seriously good bottle, check your LCBO fro Sku #500090, or take my advice and skip it for it's cousin The Balvenie Caribbean Cask.
The second release of the Balvenie Caribbean cask has arrived! This is an excellent 14-year-old Balvenie! The nose seems a little muted at first, but then as it opens it really seems to take off. Sweet notes abound, lots of rum sweetness mingle witht he typically sweet Balvenie spirit. Rich notes of banana bread, roasted pecans, soft oats and grains in the mouth . Demerara sugar and spice cake on the finish makes this a real keeper. Sure, it might not be the ultimate Balvenie expression, but at only $100/bottle this is a lot more affordable than the $800/bottle 30 year old. The flavors are just as pronounced as the finish is as long as the coveted older range, which is to be expected in a well crafted Balvenie. Check your local LCBO for SKU #221200.
There are a couple of honorable mentions that I believe are far better than some of the
released vintages. A little bird on my should from the distillery mentioned that there would be a shipment of Old Rip Van Winkle lot 12 'B' to hit our shelves. Sure enough it did (LCBO Sku #976852
). This is the 'Lot B' Special reserve of the Old Rip Van Winkle, and wow is it good. At 45.2% ABV (standard range for a bourbon ~90 Proof), and no colour added by law in the US (way to go USA for that choice), this is a rich and deep bourbon that can rival any fine Cognac. Excellent and smooth, this is a definite purchase. I did get to try this at the tasting bar, and went back a couple of days later only to find it gone! Grab yourself a bottle of this before it's gone from the shelves, as there seems to be a lot of eager people waiting for a Van Winkle to grace our shelves, and the moment is nigh! Well worth the $72 they're asking.
Also released was an Armagnac that caught my eye.
Castadère 20 ans d'âge X.O. Bas Armagnac was quietly placed onto the shelves. I had to search this one out, and I won't lie, it was the price that grabbed my attention. $100 for a 20 year old Armagnac is sort of like stumbling across a Ferrari in the auto trader for under $10,000. It's not uncommon, but when you do see it, you need to seize that moment and check it out. I still have no Ferrari to my name, but I do have a
fantastilicious (yeah that's my own word), Armagnac sitting on my
shelf. Incredibly rich; with the wine flavors of Brandy, the fruity
notes of port, and the oak of a well aged spirit, this is a great buy.
There is a wonderful smokey/earthiness in the background of an Armagnac
that isn't present in the buttery finish of Cognacs. Check your local
LCBO for SKU #260190
for a bottle.
So that sums up November in a nutshell. I am also simultaneously working on a recent mega update for what's been happening over the last month, and will post that in good time. Until the next update,
Keep your Stick on the ice and the ice out of your glass. Happy Dramming!
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