LCBO Vintages Release for April 2012

Well the pickings are slim this month, but fear not as we do have some very interesting items!  I have been informed (little bird on my shoulder sort-of-thing), that the LCBO is gearing up the usual laundry list of special items for father's day at inflated prices.  Albeit this month is dry, the next few months will have plenty more in store.  On the other hand, there are quite a few good sipping rums coming into the LCBO for the first time in a long time!  As I'm not purely biased towards whisky, I'll follow up with a few other interesting items to check out.

First up, April 14/2012 Vintages release:

Two bottles are presented this round, but not bottlings to scoff at!  I'll lead off with the away team:  Ardmore Traditional Cask makes an appearance at the LCBO.  No age statement (you ageist bastard, always judging based on the number printed on the bottle! LOL  I'm just kidding), as this is matured in quarter casks (much like the Laphroaig bottling of the same name).  As a result of the smaller casks, the spirit ages faster and we are rewarded with Whisky sooner.  The problem with this approach is that without careful management the wood notes will take over everything, (smaller cask = greater wood contact = faster aging).  The nose is wonderful on this, lots of peat notes mingling with floral hints and crème brûlée.  This is interspersed with hints of iodine, wood smoke, and herbal vanilla.  The mouth feel is excellent giving you that oily coverage feeling.  I found that adding water detracts from this and sort of diminishes the finish quite a bit.  Speaking of finishes, this one is long and drawn out.  With notes of cream, spice cake, herbs and wood interwoven with the peat and iodine notes; this is a great dram.  My favorite part about Ardmore is that it is a UCF (unchillfiltered), 46% ABV bottle (unfortunately no mention of colour added or not, but I think from the electric marmalade colour that's obvious).  I feel that this is a great deal at $45/bottle; you can't go wrong with that wonderful floral nose and slight peat.  I suggest you check your local LCBO [Sku #228106], for your own.

Next up is the home team!  The Barry's from north of Toronto have brought us a special treat/preview of their stocks.  Premium Bottlers (AKA Still Waters Distillery) is a local distiller of premium spirits such as the award winning Single Malt Vodka (a good example of their base spirit), and their very own Single Malt Whisky.  Aging quietly now, their single malt will have to wait another day before it's spotlight, but it is within the depths of this blend.  As a good faith gesture to the whisky world, they have created 1+11 to gel their reputation as a quality craft distiller in the Canadian market, and to preview things to come from the distillery.  That is 11 4-6 year old Canadian whiskies blended with their own single malt whisky.  It's a big bouquet to start,  there is a rocky/limestone thing happening that gives way to lots of bright fruit and floral notes (similar to a Highland), citrus and spice mingle together with slight hints of toffee.  There is a fantastic balance going on in the nose that continues with one of the smoothest Canadian whiskies I've ever tasted.  The mouth feel is almost overwhelming!  There is a thickness like a light syrup that covers your mouth with dry oak, hot pepper, citrus peel hints of fresh floral notes and sweet toffee cream candies.  The finish is medium but very clean, hints of roasted nuts and worked oak present themselves here and the buttery toffee notes blossom in little patches and are highlighted with subtle bursts of rye pepper and toffee.  I'm really loving this!  This whisky is excellently crafted giving you the best of both worlds, fantastic fruits and flowers with awesome oily mouth feel that turns into a clean and sparkling finish.  There is a reason that the LCBO bought the ENTIRE case lot for the first batch!  Scoring 91 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (only 1 point short of the Chairman's Choice award); this is an incredible deal for Ontarians - $35/bottle @ 40% ABV!  Also as per conversations at the distillery, this is UCF and no colour added whisky; I think that deserves commendation too!  Get your bottle [Sku #273565], and get it fast.

The second release for Vintages April 28/2012 doesn't have any whisky.  Bummer!  But what thine LCBO taketh away in one amber spirit, it provideth within another... or something regal sounding such as that.  This is where maltblog diversifies itself and moves into the cane sweetened southern territory of Rum!

First up, a journey to the hot and balmy Central American island of Hispaniola.  Ron Brugal is the larger of the two distilleries in the Dominican Republic (Ron Barceló being the other),  with the whole gamut of offerings from blanco (white) up to extra viejo (very dark).  I have recently noticed the añejo in the LCBO (weird surprise as I was only there a few months ago.... who's following me?), and am pleased to see the flagship product from the distillery.  The 1888 Gran Reserva Familiar.  This distillery (founded in 1888), is still run by George Arzeno Brugal, and is staffed by descendants of the family.  The 1888 Gran Reserva is monster:  a sherry finished rum consisting of spirits up to 14 years of age.  There are rich intense notes of demerara and molasses on the nose, broken up by worked leather and rich dark red/purple fruits, subtle wafts of caramel provide an incredibly heady nose.  Very complex, and yet wonderfully soft in the mouth with notes of toffee and caramel sugar, gentle wood notes and subtle dark fruit cake spices and licorice.  A long lasting sweet finish with further hints of licorice and oak notes.  40% ABV and only $70/bottle, this is a rare treat imported by the LCBO and you'll feel like you have spoiled yourself and taken a trip to the Dominican Republic.  Check you local LCBO [Sku #270843], for your bottle.

In the vein of the last review, I'm going to post about 2 bottlings that didn't get the mainstream coverage that they deserve.  Ladies and gents, first stop Nicaragua!  Flor De Caña 18 year old is the first on list.  A deep dark brooding rum from the Chichigalpa valley at the base of the San Cristobal volcano.  This is a very rich full bodied rum.  Dark sugar cane and heavy spice notes permeate the nose, with complex twists of cocoa and toasted nuts.  The finish is very long and is a fantastic interplay between caramel, pepper, heavy oak, and spice cake. This is a serious rum that makes me think of a rainy day indoors that I can relax and savor the warm and inviting flavors of Central America.  $80/bottle for 18 years of deep dark complexity, check your local LCBO [Sku #585836], for your very own bottle.

Last stop, but most certainly not least is Guatemala.  Ron Zacapa 23 Solera Reserva is a pure sugar cane rum, coming from the city of Zacapa in central Guatemala.  Produced in the method typically used for sherries (or Gelnfiddich 15), Solera vatted rums in the ranges of 6-23 years comprise this deep mahogany spirit.  Intense notes of sweetness, honey, floral and herbal vanilla, macerated fruit, hints of almonds and cocoa with peppered notes of spice cake and oak.  In the mouth this is a monster bomb of sweetness and vanilla.  Honey, dried fruit, roasted nuts, notes of cane sugar syrup and oak create an incredibly dense and complex balanced rum.  The finish is long; so, so long!  Intermixing notes of oak, sugars, caramel, and fruit play on the tongue and seem to last forever.  This is a great buy at $80/bottle, and I strongly suggest you check you local LCBO [Sku #273516], for your own bottle.

So that does it for this month of releases.  Sort of slim pickings, but there will be much more coming along soon.  I can assure you with the Spirit of Toronto show coming up at the start of May, and some tasting notes to be posted, I'll be sure to keep you busy.  So until next time, keep your stick on the ice and the ice out of the glass, and we'll be sure to share a dram again soon.

LCBO Vintages Release for March 2012

Well it seems that every year around St. Patty's Day, the LCBO likes to delve into its Irish holdings and release a few special selections for the occasion.  Let's check out what they've released.

March 02/2012 release:

This is the big St. Pat's release, so there are quite a few re-releases and a couple of new bottles this time around.  First up, Inishowen.  Irish for Island of Eoghan, this whiskey is named for a small peninsula of land on the northernmost end of Ireland.  A blend of both standard and peated malts, and some grain whiskies for balance.  This creates a great balance of bright fruits, sweet grains and subtle peat, pepper the nose.  In the mouth; that fruitiness blooms with notes of red fruits (berries and such), floral vanilla, hints of pears, and the peat scatters through the mix.  The finish is strong but short lived; the grain builds the finish very quickly into a dry and short pop.  Check your local LCBO [Sku #656017], for a $35 bottle.

Next up is Kilbeggan's Finest blend.  This is one of my favorite Irish blends. Vanilla and caramel one the nose, with hints of wood in the background.  In the mouth notes of caramel and golden raisin mix with hints of pepper and spice.  The finish is medium and creamy with the wood notes coming through.  Check your local LCBO [Sku #657247], for a bottle.  Priced at only $35/bottle; it's hard to go wrong.

Locke's 8 Year Old is a pure pot still single malt.  There is a fantastic fruity sweetness on the nose, with hints of barley and malt syrup.  In the mouth big malty sweetness blooms and dominates, there is a slight hint of a metallic note that seems to precede the dry fruity notes.  The finish is excellent with vanilla, peat and more malty goodness.  An excellent bottle for $59, and a great introduction to Irish pot still sweetness. Check your local LCBO [Sku #913475], for your bottle.

The Irishman Single Malt is a 100% pot still Irish malt.  This 10 year old is made up from a bourbon sherry mix and features citrus, creamy notes and floral hints in the background.  The mouth reveals red fruits (passion fruit and berries), cereal grains, honey and almonds.  The finish is medium and very well balanced.  There are both drying notes and warming notes that blend with the sweetness which creates the balance.  Check your local LCBO for Sku #250159 for your $60 bottle.  I also see the Irishman 70 (70% pot still blend) under Sku #135186, but no stock; A future release?

Last but certainly not least is Writer's Tears Pot Still Blend.  This is a bit of an anomaly; rich honeyed notes seem to over shadow the traditional pot still fruitiness.  There are peppered throughout; bright notes of sharp fruit like starfruit or fresh passion fruit (very sharp and sour but sweet at the same time). In the mouth, this is a belter!  It mingles so well, soft sweet notes, hard brash malt, bright fruit.  I strongly suggest you check your local LCBO [Sku #271106], for you own bottle.  At only $48/bottle  this is the one I'm on the look out for.  There were none left where I tried it, but I think it will be an order in for sure.

March 17/2012 re-release:

Here is my single most favorite expression from The Balvenie distillery; 21 year old Portwood.  This is a fantastic expression, revealing notes of honeycomb, worked leather, almond brittle (salty sweetness), poached pears, canned peaches, and hints of spice cake or potpourri.  In the mouth, an explosion of red and black fruit notes.  Plums,cherries, currants, honey and spice notes permeate.  the finish is long, drawn out and fantastically smooth and silky.  This is my personal favorite Balvenie release (followed by the Carribean cask, and the 15 year old single cask),  but I have a real beef with the cost associated by the LCBO.  $216/bottle for a standard release served at 40%!  That's crazy, and I personally can't justify spending that much on it.  If we had the 47.6% ABV that the travel retail stores get; that's a little different.  I don't think the value is there at that price; but should you feel flush, check your local LCBO [Sku #500090], for your bottle.  All the pricing nonsense aside, should you see this on a menu somewhere, indulge yourself and enjoy some of the best that Balvenie has to offer.


March 31/2012 release:

Well here is an interesting one indeed!  Auchentoshan Valinch.  This is a limited expression of their Classic bottling, albeit unchillfiltered and served at 57.5% ABV.  All this for $64/bottle; I think you've got a heck of a good deal on your hands.  Auchentoshan is one of the last 3 remaining lowland distilleries, and one of the few to claim triple distillation (I hear they their triple is really 2.5 times but that's beside the point).  Nose is quite lively with notes of citrus, vanilla, candied ginger, crème brûlée and hints of rose water.  This is a pretty hot whisky in need of a drink to settle itself down.  In the mouth, there are lovely notes of sweets, creamy richness, bitter orange zest that blends so well with the creamy notes.  With water, it settles quite nicely and opens up with the more typical Auchentoshan floral honey notes.  Check you local LCBO for this bottle [Sku #266577] and grab one!

Wow!  That was a big one!  There are a lot of great items that came out this round, and quite a few that I never see listed in the flyers.  I'll have to soon start compiling a list of bottles that I find interesting, but then I'll let my secrets out of the bag.  If you follow my twitter feed <HERE>, maybe I'll let you in on some odd finds and interesting bottles that I see.  Until the next time, keep your stick on the ice, and the ice out of your glass.

ScotchBlog.ca Tasting Event @ Quinn's - January 28th/2012

This past January, I was invited as a reader and good friend to the ScotchBlog.ca group to join a tasting party held at Quinn's steakhouse.  Not willing to miss the chance at having 6 tastings for under $24, I jumped at the occasion.

2 flights were offered - First up was the aptly named "Smoke Ladder". We moved from lightly smokey up to full on roaring bonfires of peat with Longrow CV, Jura Superstition, and finally Ardbeg 10.  All drams were accompanied by a chef approved item to accent the natural flavours within the Scotch.  I chose to jot notes about the 2 that I don't have in my collection, Longrow CV and Ardbeg 10.

Longrow CV:

• Colour:  Very light straw, slight hints of orange/gold in the highlights.


• Body:  Thin and light, medium drops form; legs run at a medium rate.
  


• Nose:   Soft notes of heather, peat and vanilla cream.  Accents of spice cake and sweet barley.


• Palate: Spicy wood smoke, Hints of peat and candied lemon peel.  Vanilla highlights.


• Finish:  Short.  Hints of wood smoke and grainy sweets permeate. Herbal vanilla notes, and rubbed/worked oak.


• Empty Glass:  Here the barley grain and peat show up!  Roasted oats with honey, salty brine (just a hint like movie theatre popcorn).


• Paired with an chocolate bon-bon (orange creme centre), making this an excellent after dinner treat.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old:

• Colour:  Very light, in fact surprisingly so!  Certainly doesn't look like any colour added.  I'll call it sun bleached straw.


• Body: Medium, and slightly oily.  Medium sized drops; legs run slowly.  Hints at lots of flavour here, but you should know that already (you can smell the peaty fires from 3 feet away!).


• Nose:  Peat (duh!), lots of peaty fires.  Coffee grounds, fruity notes. Licorice, and dark chocolate. Real mint (like in a muddled drink)


• Palate:  Spice and smoke dominate.  Ashes mix with strong quality coffee fruitiness (not that Starbucks crap; real barista pulled stuff in a place where they care what coffee tastes like!).  Chocolate notes and hints of toffee in the background.


• Finish:  Sharp and biting.  Dry smoke and espresso.  Hints of sour peat permeate the finish.


• Empty Glass:  Smoke galore! Wood smoke, campfires, ashes and peat!  No actual notes of the oak here, the smokiness sort of takes over.


• This was served with smoked salmon on Irish soda bread.  Excellent pairing with all that smoke, almost overwhelmed the fish.

So the reasoning behind the smoke ladder was to be able to allow ourselves to genuinely enjoy monster peats without being overwhelmed by the smoke.  Moving from low to medium to high allows your senses to adjust to the amounts of peat in the Whisky and thus allows your nose to mare easily drift through the peat and smoke to find the other scents and tastes within the dram.  Excellent stuff, and a great way for anyone to get into peated whiskies!

The second flight was sweet and smoky.  This gave us a chance to calm our taste buds and enjoy some different types of smoky notes within the whisky.  This flight featured Springbank 10, Oban 14, and Connemara Peated Irish (a personal favourite of mine).  I chose to jot notes for the Springbank and the Connemara, I'm still not a great Oban fan (but I'll work on it I promise).

Springbank 10 Year Old:

• Colour:  Golden Hay


• Body:  Medium.  Large drops form with legs running slowly.


• Nose:  Worked teak (interesting of all things wooden), dried grasses, bread, dried herbs, and olives.


• Palate:  Hot and sweet on the initial rush. Sour notes like old coffee mixed with a mossy-ness and toffee candies.


• Finish:  Medium length with smoke and sharp notes.  Gentle oak and roasted almonds.


• Empty Glass:  Slight sulphur notes and roasted nuts. Worked oak and wood shop floors (like sawdust form a wood shop).


• This was served with an incredible hand made Irish blue cheese. Cashel Blue is a semi-soft mild blue cheese made from Cow's milk.  It emphasizes the salty/briny notes in the whisky and amplifies the smoky notes while providing a wonderful creamy palate for the whisky to bloom in.  Find this cheese, and have it with something smoky/briny like an Islay and see what I mean!

Connemara Peated Irish Whiskey:

• Colour:  (Try not to laugh at this one, but I have written) Honey Nut Cheerios gold.  That roasted golden colour with some brown highlights.


• Body:  Thick. Tiny drops seem to form, legs run very very slowly.


• Nose:  Pink rubber school erasers, and soft peat bogs. Sweet grains (like mashed corns, or fresh harvested wheat).  Rubber tires in the hot sun (seriously! not bad, just something astringent to bring contrast to the sweet notes). Sweet honey notes, with floral hints in the background.


• Palate:  Wood smoke and gently smouldering peat fires.  Roasted nuts and


• Finish:  Short but great!  Smoke and vanilla notes intertwine with rubber in a drawn out way through the finish.


• Empty Glass:  Sour peat and coffee grounds,  Oak and a musty note like grape mash after fermentation/extraction (or like the smell of a wine maker's cellar).


• This was served with shortbread and chocolate covered raisins, but was switched up at the last minute to what little was left of my Cashel blue.  That rich creamy and salty cheese melts and compliments peat and smoke so well.  In the case of the Connemara, the sweet pot still Irish malt lends itself even better to the cheese providing a sweet nutty note to compliment the cheese.

LCBO Vintages Release for January 2012

Happy New Year to all my loyal readers! With a new year comes new whisky, new friends and new events.  So what does this mean for you?  More blogging and work on my end will mean more rewards for you the reader.  That being said, lets begin with the LCBO vintages line up for January and the special imports for Robbie Burns Day.

For the January 07/2012 release we have a few peaty selections brought in specifically for the great Scot himself - Robbie Burns.  In honor of Robbie Burns Day (January 25), a feast is held in which Haggis is a central item and an Address to A Haggis is traditionally read before dinner.  Check out Robert Burns World Federation for further information on the beloved Scottish poet and for ideas to plan a Burn's night of your own.

First up a not so classic, but very becoming Bowmore.  Bowmore Laimrig (Gaelic for pier, dock, or wharf or something along those lines I'm told); is a 15 year old, heavy sherryied, cask strength, unchillfiltered Islay monster.  With notes of robust sherry, almonds, rich figs, coca and cherries are balanced with the typical wet peat, campfire smoke, sulphur, brine and burnt rubber notes of a true Bowmore.  From what I understand, the majority of this will end up in the hands of  Bowmore collectors (think of them as Coca-Cola collectors but for alcohol).  Either way this be a dragon that require slaying with some water.  By some, I mean quite a bit!  It can handle a good dollop (at 54.5% ABV), and with it reveals more rich red fruits, floral notes and quells some of the smoke and flames.  The nose softens and it becomes quite palatable.  This is a thick and heavy dram, but sold at a respectable $98.95, it's not a bad investment into a CS Bowmore.  Check your local LCBO for Sku #263681.

Also released in this round Hazelburn CV from Springbank Distillers.  This is a triple distilled Scotch from the Campbeltown region, and is made with non-peated barley.  The CV is new to the LCBO, and very similar to the Hazelburn 8 year old (with the exception being this is created from 6-10 year old casks vatted together).  For 12 dollars cheaper than the 8 year old, you'll get the lots of citrus and herbal notes on the nose.  Fresh spice cake (orange peel, ginger cloves), and vanilla on the palate.  There are some interesting and slightly unpleasant notes though like acetone, and warm blood (that metallic fruity note).  It's a medium body but short finish make for a refreshing whisky.   I don't want to come off as an ageist, but the 8 year old has much more going on and seems to have worked out the few kinks experienced here.  Check your local LCBO for Sku #262709 for the CV bottling, and Sku #180380 for the 8 year old.

Also released in this round is the Laphroaig 10.  Intricate smoke and sweet barley come through in this dram.  Jim Murray gave it a 91, and for only 10 bucks more than the quarter cask ($69.95), I think the 10 year old is a seriously good buy.  I am still working my way into the heavy peats, and I found this to be a very good representation of what a good peat is.  That being said, I'm somewhat new to peated whisky and you can take that how you will.  The nose shows immense smoke and sour peat notes.  Layers of brine, seaweed and sweet barley grains feather through the whisky.  In the mouth, the grain sweetness cuts through to take centre stage, and the olive brine follows.  There is an earthiness that accents the peat and brine making the mouth feel longer, and the finish linger. Check your local LCBO for Sku #248997, and grab yourself a bottle.

Last but not least for Robbie Burns day is another peat form the Isle of Mull.  The non peated Tobermory (brother to the peated Ledaig) arrives in a 10 year old form for $61.95. Arriving in at 46.3% ABV and 'un chillfiltered' written right on the box; this make me a pretty happy guy!  In fact, stopping by their website, they have an excellent video demonstration that shows what chillfilteration works, and what it strips out of the Whisky.  All that aside, the nose shows wonderful grassy notes with sweet cereal grains and citrus notes.  In the mouth it shows the gingerbread and fruit notes with a slight hint of brine and oak. Medium body, short finish, but an excellent whisky.   Check your local LCBO for Sku #37259 for availability.

There is one more bottle that got a special page to itself, and I'll admit I'm a huge fan of this distillery, Mortlach 15 year old.  They don't have a web page, or much information about themselves or their product.  They don't put out an original bottling, in fact the only bottle of recent memeory is the Flora & Fauna which failed to capture much of the distillery's majesty.  This whisky is another one of the core components of the Johnnie Walker blends.  Though Diageo doesn't bottle their own, some can still be found in the hands of the independent bottlers.  It's really a shame that so much gets blended down as I am in love with the complex noses and heavy, chewy flavors of Mortlach. I really believe that if they bottled their own product once in a while, they might gain their own following.  This bottling comes from Gordon & MacPhail's Distillery Labels lineup and totes an age of 15 years.  With warm sweet malt on the nose to open, flowers, fruits, maple sugar, wood smoke, and orange peel are present.  There is a sulphury note from the heavy sherry influence that somewhat dissipates, and doesn't deter from the nose.  In the mouth, rich dried fruits, with hints of sherry, chocolate, roasted almonds,  gentle dried floral notes and oranges.  This is a very well-rounded whisky with a medium finish.  An excellent addition to any collection or cabinet.  Check your local LCBO for Sku #262873, and grab a bottle for $99.95.

For the January 021/2012 release there are a few more stragglers for the Robbie Burns celebration and a few welcome additions.  Let's delve into the release and see what's worth your buck!

Let's start with the big guns this time!  Laphroaig 18 makes a reappearance at the LCBO, but at a massive cost!  $180 per bottle is a hefty fine for the golden spirit, especially when a 2 minute Google search nets me prices in the 30-40% less range.  All bitching aside, this is a wonderful dram!  Deep rich barley cream blend softly and subtly with the peaty fires of a typical Laphroiag.  This is a far deeper dram that the 10 year old, with an incredible richness that the extra few years provide. Check you local LCBO [Sku #183368] for locations.  If you happen to have an overtime cheque or 2, go for it, otherwise find it at a tasting bar or go in with a group of friends on it.

Next up, is another return for Robbie burns day, the Isle of Arran Robbie Burns single malt (see above for their connection to the World Burns Society).  This is a no age statement, 40% single malt whisky.  This is an interesting sort of dram, Arran spirit, with a younger maturation. With plenty of fresh apples and green fruits on the nose, and hints of cinnamon and ginger snap cookies.  This is a pleasing well-rounded dram, albeit simple, that will put a smile on your face and won't break your bank at only $40.  I grabbed a bottle last year around this time when they showed up, and have been pleasingly rewarded with the Arran malt.  Check your local LCBO [Sku #981084], for a bottle.

Also released is another Highland monster!  Dalmore 12 year old single malt arrives again in all it's stag head emblazoned glory.  This is a really rich dram with heavy sherry overtones, and the colour to match!  Dark amber in colour (most likely assisted via e150), and only 40% ABV.  This is possibly one of the prettiest bottles I've seen at the LCBO for an entry level whisky.  A golden stag's head is emblazoned on the front of the bottle and the black embossed labels all feature shiny gold writing.  Presentation aside, the nose shows deep rich plums, roasted almonds, orange marmalade and dark chocolate.  The palate is intense, with citrus notes dominating the palate, notes of cocoa powder, spiced coffee cake and hints of sherry pepper throughout.  The finish is excellent, starting smooth and ending up dry.  At only $65/bottle this is a definite buy for someone who wants to experience a classically styled Scotch whisky!  Check your local LCBO [Sku #38901], for locations near you.

Last up, but certainly not the least is the Dailuaine arriving via Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice line.  That's pronounced Dal-you-ayn for us non-Scottish folks.  This is a core component to the Johnny Walker lineup, and is a not often seen distillery.  This is another bottling from the independent Gordon & MacPhail's group, bottled at 13 years old and 43% ABV, it's not a bad deal at $65.  The nose features fresh notes of vanilla and raisins with Sherry playing the lead.  The palate is a bit harsh, with a hot notes of fruit and toffee.
  This settles down a bit with water allowing more green fruit/grassy notes and citrus to present themselves.  Not a bad dram.  Check your local LCBO for Sku #263301.

So that's quite a bit to digest for all of you, but there are quite a few good releases this month.  Check out your local LCBO and seek out a tasting bar if you can too.  This is still the best method for trying before buying, and your best chance to evaluate a bottle to see if it's worth a place within your collection. So until next time, keep your stick on the ice and the ice out of your glass!

LCBO Vintages Release for November 2011

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!

Long Overdue Return

My apologies to all my readers (what's left of the lot of you).  I have been neglecting the blog and am slowly getting back into the swing of things.  I have acquired many moire bottles, many more stories and a few more items of interest.
So a quick recap of  what you missed in the LCBO vintages catalogue..... nothing really!  Summer is not the time for Whisky (or so the LCBO thinks), so they don't seem to be displaying their wares.  They are importing a ton for release over the fall/winter months when people can use a 'warm-up'.  The only thing that did catch my eye are listed below:


Rittenhouse Straight Rye :  That is American straight rye (Over 6 Years in oak and 51% Rye in the mashbill).  Well let's delve into this, super rich on the nose with loads of vanilla, peppery fruits and rich punchy rye.  There is also an earthy note that might be a little off-putting.  In the mouth; it's hot and sharp to start but fades into rich vanilla covered fudge and more fruit covered with pepper.  Then it's back!  That earthy note actually becomes dirty in the mouth, like eating a handful of dirt.  You know thouhg, it really grows on you (at least for me), and then it becomes a foundation to the finish.  That earthiness drops into the peppered fruit and melted vanilla ice ream come out of the finish.  If this is RYE; SIGN ME UP!!  It's also a hell of a lot better than the paint stripper they call Crown Royal nowadays.  LCBO SKU #230813.  The guys at Heaven Hill distillers really have a winner on their hands., this is a heck of a buy for $35.

   Ledaig 10 Year old (Isle of Mull) - This is the only distiller on the isle of Mull.  Tobermory (formerly Ledaig), is an island scotch, and a rarity to see in our market.  Tobermory is a standard single malt with some characteristic isle flair, Ledaig (pronounced Luh-chaig), is the slightly grumpier peated sister.  With a full peaty punch and a brisk stride (seems a bit sharp and youthful), there is a wonderful earthy nose featuring vanilla and bourbon florals with barley grains, and a soft, subtle, sweetness.  At $67, the LCBO is asking a bit much, but for the a bottle, but it's a chance for you to seek out a dram somewhere and try something different. LCBO SKU#315721.
Check your local LCBO stock, as I don't expect to see this one around long.  Toronto seems to be a peat-head's playground.  There are a lot of peat-smoke lovers in Ontario, and the LCBO preys upon that for the imports.

The Highland Park St. Magnus Edition (That's him on the right of the Ttrio), was released to celebrate the six canonized Norsemen born in the 11th & 12th century on Orkney Island.  Bottled at 55% ABV (natural cask strength), it has an intensity that can't be beat.  I found a rich and sour nose with notes of toasted oats, spice, moss and damp wood.  Incredible depth with a hot finish giving heat, toasted walnuts and ripe green fruits.  With only 11,994 bottles for the world to share, it's a sort of rare breed.; but at $180 it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Also tasted was the Adelphi Fascadale Batch number 2.  Adeplhi (another excellent indie bottler), tends to pander to the Whisky lover with cask strength bottling, no colour added and non-chillfiltration.  The Fascadale  is an unknown distillery(as in we're not telling no matter how many emails you send them), from the isles.  Limited to 3746 bottles world-wide, this is a definite collector's item, but a fantastic dram.  I found rich and vibrant peat heavy hitting, with a fascinating olive note on the nose (Seems very Talisker-ish).  The bite was definitely not what I had bargained for!  All that peat upfront the nose gives way to gentle smoke woven through the whisky.  Wildflowers and cracked pepper with a lime/chili note in the finish (Also very Talisker-y... hmmm).  Excellent dram!  At $120/bottle it might not be up everyone's creek but I can assure you that you won't be disappointed should you crack this bottle.  LCBO SKU #238154.

 There were a few other.  If you follow my twitter feed @ScotchCuyTO, then you'll surely have read some rare vintages that were sampled recently.

That being said; I guess that should be enough to fill you baskets with good tidings and golden whisky.  I will update again soon with the missed Sept 3/2011 Vintages release, and the coming Sept 17/2011 releases.

Until Then,

Happy Dramming!

Mr. Allen

LCBO Vintages – Release for July 09/2011

Well the new release is in stores this weekend, and features a classic malt from Blackadder as well as a surprising Isaly Gin.

So first off, I'll apologize for my tyrannical rant last round about the LCBO prices.  I'm still very unhappy, but I understand that many people don't want or wish to hear this.  Instead I'll talk about what I'm good at - that golden elixir known as Whisky.  I took a break, during my lunch hour, and a short jaunt over to an LCBO this afternoon to see what was out on early display for this release.  I didn't see the two bottles I've mentioned above, but I did come across this:

Its a terrible picture, but it's not mine.  Glendower 15 year old Port Wood finished "pure malt".  Now as far as I knew, you were not able to use the terminology " pure malt" any more according the the SWA.  The Scotch Whisky association oversees all that is Scotch.  This means from the harvest to the bottle, they (The Distiller) is to abide by their rules should they wish to call their product Scotch.  That aside, a pure malt is a vatted malt.  This means there are no additional grain whiskies  added to even out the flavor of the final product.  I quite prefer this to a blend which has the added grain whiskies as I find that the malt sometimes gets lost in the mix.  A good friend of mine brought the Glendower 8 to my attention noting it was a bit green (ha-ha the bottle is green too), but it was excellent for the price ($35 from the LCBO).  It shows excellent body, with fresh fruity notes and a slight hint of smoke.  Too my surprise I found a 15 year old Port finished version for $55 and snapped this up.  Even more to my surprise (after stashing this in the staff fridge), the bottle ended up cloudy.  I'm pretty sure this might actually be non-chill filtered whisky (albeit doesn't specify that on the label)!  The big hitch is that there is no distillery called Glendower.  It's just a name from the Campbell Meyer & Co group that created it.  Its a little sparse in the Google search too as it seems that not many people are really interested in trying a ground level whisky.  For the price, an ACE finished vatted-malt like this, is n excellent buy. I'm sure you will not be disappointed!  Check [SKU #182154] for the 8 year old and [SKU #210310] for the 15 port finish.

Onto the release notes!  Blackadder makes an appearance this month with the infamous Peat Reek.  So named for the smell of burning peat, this is an artisan bottling of an unnamed Islay monster.  Kept secret by the distillers, selected casks are pulled at their peak of smokiness and bottled without chill filtration or colour additions.  I haven't tried the latest release, but I have tried previous versions.  Boy oh boy!  This is a knock your socks off blast of phenols and creosols that you won't soon forget.  You will also definitely notice the lack of colouring agents in this.  It is a bit you and tends to be on the honey wine/straw yellow colour, but this is the spirit's actual colour.  Grab a bottle and take it over to a bottle of Johnnie Walker to see the difference (you'll notice the electric marmalade colour rite away).  This offers the buyer a small glimpse into the colour of e150a caramel that so many big distilleries use to pull the wool over your eyes.  At 46% ABV, it's right in the range that I enjoy drinking, and a steal for you peat freaks at the offered price.  It may be a bit out of season (I like this sort of thing in the Winter as a warm up), but for $70 I'd suggest you grab a bottle now.  Check [SKU #38455] for the LCBO item number and get some ordered to a location near you!



Last but certainly not least is a Gin this time.  Yes, another spirit makes it's debut on the MaltBlog (Guess I should have really re-thought that name).  But why gin I hear you ask?  Well hold on tight as this is right up a Scotch lovers alley!  From Bruichladdich distillery come The Botanist (A plant scientist).  It's new make spirit (sort of like single-malt vodka which is delicious in it's own rite),  with the addition of the characteristic Juniper berries and other assorted herbs, spices and such.  This is a limited edition bottling (15,000 Bottles), that features 31 different botanical ingredients (22 of which are native only to Islay) in a base of the infamous Islay spirit (un-peated of course).

I have yet to develop the palate for many Gins (Victoria Gin being my current favorite), so this will be a new foray into another spirit for myself.  Tasting notes paint a picture of a clean aroma with hints of pepper on the nose, briny seas, fresh juniper and wildflowers.  Lots of bitter elements on the palate, smoke and spice present throughout, hints of lemon zest, pear and pine needles in the finish.  If this sounds like a treat for you, find it at your local LCBO [SKU #242610], or get them to order a bottle to your local store. $45

That's all for the time being.  Having been so stressed at work lately, I haven't been able to unwind with a dram.  Not that I haven't  had a few drams, its more that I haven't been able to relax and loose myself in one.  I'll try my hardest as I'd really like to produce some more tasting notes so that I'm actually contributing something to the online community.

LCBO Vintages - Preview for March 19/2011

As usual for all LCBO Vintages members we get the sneak preview of the upcoming release.  My main interest lays in the Spirits section (obvious isn't it).

Saturday March 19/2011 brings back Eagle Rare 10-year-old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Say that 5x fast).  A single barrel bottling from Old Prentice Distillery (now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery), aged 10 years served at 45%.  This is an excellent foray into quality American craft bourbon.  Excellent rich mahogany color and fantastic lush vanilla, caramel, oak and root beer flavors dominate this Kentucky straight bourbon.  A good buy at $50 [LCBO Sku #604785].  American bourbon has an excellent reputation amongst quality spirit drinkers.  It is stipulated to made from a minimum of 51% corn, aged at least 2 years (4 years to earn the 'Straight' moniker), only in new American Oak charred barrels.  When withdrawn from its woody cache, it cannot be colored or added to in any way shape or form.  This means no e150a caramel to give it that marmalade perma-glow orange (much the same as Snooki has a seemingly impossible Oompah-Loompah orange glow about herself).

Also featured in the mid-March release is a newcomer to the LCBO:  Smokey Joe Islay Malt.  I've heard many good things about this particular blend, particularly noting that at 46% and non-chill filtered provided a complete flavor palate for the taster.  Produced by Angus Dundee Distillery, this a new and welcome import to the LCBO.  This is a vatted malt (malt-blend or blended malt [meaning no grain whisky added]), providing a much richer and narrower flavor profile.  I personally find that grain whisky (corn, wheat, rye or otherwise), tend to broaden, flavor, and sweeten the spirit.  This isn't necessarily bad, but it's nice to see the depth that a bunch of malts can create when they play nicely together.  If you're a fan of Islay Scotch or would like to try something smokey and fantastic, or know of a 'peat-head'.  Give this a try. $65 for a bottle, served @ 46% ABV with no chill-filtering.  You can't really go wrong.  LCBO item number #223719 should be sought after, but I think it's almost all gone.  Recently; Ralfy did a quick review on this vatted malt; and can be viewed here.

That's all that we got, but not all is lost; more is to come soon enough whisky mates.  Until next time enjoy a dram for me.

The Old English Pub of Gananoque

Apologies for the late update, there seems to be more work than hours in a day lately.

During our trip back home we, of course, stopped into the Old English Pub.  It was the big game day, and Green Bay was up over the Steelers, when we decided to head into town for a drink and some dinner.  The most obvious stop in town was the pub.  I was gearing my tastebuds up for a pint of Hobgoblin, and a dram of Scotch.  We arrived to find a quiet evening at the pub, no rowdy NFL watchers in town that night.  Warmed by the fireplace, there is a pleasant glow about the pub in the evening light.  The entrance gives you the impression that you've somehow stepped into Georgian England and are awaiting a pint at a porterhouse along the canal.

We weren't that hungry, but decided to split some appetizers (the Baby Yorkies [Mini Yorkshire Puddings with shaved roast beef and gravy], some Pub Skins and a burger to split amongst us), and a few pints.  I was gutted to find the Hobgoblin had run dry, and that they wouldn't have more until Monday.  I quickly changed my mind and ordered a Flying Monkeys Netherworld Cascadian Ale (Cascade Hops like crazy, with fantastic coffee under tones from the roast), while my better half ordered a Bass.  Dad followed suit and ordered a Netherworld too.  Excellent conversation starters and an introduction to Theo the bartender soon followed.  I inspected the Scotch selection, and made some early choices.  While being slightly more nosy than normal at the bar I was questioned by Theo about Scotch.  I bored him half to death with a smattering of knowledge and promised him that I would write an article on how to select a Scotch for the layman and what all those bottles mean.  I had decided on the Glen Garioch I saw on the top shelf and maybe a second dram depending on the evening.  I've got quite the selection (see The Collection for further details), and have sampled or own many of the bottles that appear in most bars/restaurants.  Not too boast, but I do enjoy perusing the bar (much to the dismay of my better half).  So after dinner and a couple of pints, I ordered a couple of drams for dessert.

So without further adieu  my review on the go for both the Glen Garioch 15 and the Isle of Scapa 14.

Lets start with the Garioch (as did I):

Glen Garioch 15 Year Old (Highland Single Malt) (1 Litre @ 43% ABV Distillery Bottling)

• Colour - Rich mahogany amber colour with slight highlights in the amber-red range.  Does not appear to have colour added.


• Body - Small tears (proof of proof as it were), legs form slowly and run slowly down the glass (much flavor to be had here)


• Nose  - Nose has rich sherry, pralines or butter almonds.  Figs and honey, dried fruit and old grains. Heather and rich grassy-ness. Very rich nose, faint sulphur in the very background from the sherry casking, not unpleasant as it serves to sweeten the nose.


• Palate - Sweet, sweet caramel and soft sherry notes dominate the palate.  Sweet and sour notes permeate. Gentle smoke in the very background, so subtle it could be missed. Balance is key, incredibly soft in the mouth. Grassy herbal-ness comes through at the end to round out the palate.


• Finish - Mouth feel is like velvet. Rich and heavy, but dissipates quickly. Plate blooms quickly, develops fast and fades slightly, finish continues for quite some time, balanced with the gentle background smokiness. Sweet sherry and wildflowers in finish.


• Empty Glass - Empty glass shows notes of cinnamon and citrus (sweet lemons). Wood notes come forward, mild oakiness with gentle char is apparent.

Isle of Scapa 14 Year Old (Orkney Isles) (750 Ml @ 40%ABV Distillery Bottling)

• Colour - Medium gold to light amber in colour


• Body - Tears are average size for an 80 proof bottling, legs form slowly and run down the glass (not looking too bad as Scapa is one of the lightest tasting Island whiskeys I've had from Scotland)


• Nose  - Nose has floral vanilla (inclined to believe this is bourbon casked), and coffee notes mixed with gentle smoke and peat. Very gentle smoke. Furniture polish (still a good thing), and sweet apple blossoms. Floral notes and perfume mix with a heavy undercurrent of malty sweetness.


• Palate - Sweetness blooms quickly with barley sugar taking the lead, smoke and oak take a second seat to the bloom of flavors; there is a lot going on in the glass.  The sweetness dies down and the malt comes through being held up by subtle wood smoke/peat.


• Finish - Finish is medium and sweet; sweet notes permeate with nuts and cereals notes present. Smoke (very gentle) carries the finish with a gentle end. Gentle wood smoke notes almost amplify the finish to a higher level.


• Empty Glass - Empty glass shows the vanilla notes (most likely bourbon casked) and oak smoke. Almost a butter note (like sweet cream) and slight hint of caramel.

Click here for a the picture to the left for a peek behind the bar, and to the right for a view of the what was missed in the first picture.

So two fantastic malts in a fantastic location.  I chose these two simply because they are not readily available at the LCBO and I myself have never tried either.  I would love a bottle of Glen Garioch myself now, but the Scapa I can take or leave.  There is a Scapa 16 year old from the LCBO that is available if you're interested (but trust me; it's not nearly as good as the 14...).  I would also like to apologize for the semi-lousy pictures; seems this is pretty good for a BlackBerry.