Chris | Page 38 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch

December 6, 2019 Scotland

Name: Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch

Color: Light brown

Nose: Malted barley, oak, peat, sea

Taste: Peat barley, smoky, wood

Review:

Christmas is coming!! Do you have your gifts and bottles ready?!

Talisker Storm is an expression from the Talisker Distillery that is a well-known classic Scotch from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Talisker Distillery was found in 1830 and is located in Carbost, Isle of Skye. Being so close the ocean it states it is “Made by the Sea” and is a fun play on words. I get the sea taste in the scotch but I also get it from Old Putney which is located even more North in Wick, Scotland.

Other expressions include; 10, 18, 25, 30-year-old, Skye, Distiller Edition, 75 North, Port Ruighe, and Neist Pint. I have the post the Talisker Skye posted in previous reviews.

I received a 3-pack sampler when I was in Scotland from a family member and I enjoyed each of them while I was spending a few days in a hotel in Edinburgh. Talisker Storm is a softer version of Talisker and is still good and a little cheaper.

The Storm tastes like cheaper version of the 10 year Old even though it is priced a bit higher. I am not sure what is going on with that but I will assume it is a combo of distillation and marketing. Probably more marketing.

Price around $75 and good but I prefer the 10 Year Old

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Backbone Bourbon

November 6, 2019 America

Name: Backbone Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Oak, orange spice, nutmeg

Taste: Vanilla, orange, spices

Review:

Backbone Bourbon is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and is bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is a cask strength bourbon at 113 proof, officially non-aged stated, but is aged approximately 4 years. The mash bill is 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley. The bottled I sampled was Batch #14 and was distilled on July 2008 and bottled on October 2016.

The name “Backbone” comes from the saying that the Midwest of America is the “Backbone of America”. It is a romantic description of hard-working people coming home each night for a glass of bourbon. It sounds nice, but people coming home for a bourbon each evening was a big complaint of the Tempest Women who were the catalyst of Prohibition. Gotta love that marketing!
The overall taste profile is tight and young with no real mellowness to the bourbon. Add a little water and it is a bit easier to drink. Backbone would be better for a cocktail not to drink neat.

Price around $60 and I was not very impressed. I would recommend Maker’s Cask Strength or Bulleit 10 at this price point and proof.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky

October 30, 2019 Scotland

Name: Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky

Color: Brown

Nose: Smoke, malt, barley, heather

Taste: Smoke, oak, caramel, honey

Review:

The Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky is produced by Gordon Graham & Co. who were originally known for tea, not whisky. The whisky is bottled at 40% abv, is colored, non-aged stated, and created from blends from the Islay Region of Scotland.

The unique looking black bottle is a throwback to its 1879 origins. The bottles back then were darker and flatter in shape. Unfortunately, today the bottle stands out and looks like you might be getting crappy scotch in a cheap bottle. I get what they are trying to do but it does not have shelf appeal.

Black Bottle Scotch tastes decent but is not amazing by any stretch. I am not overly impressed, but when you look at the price its ends up being somewhere between decent and good. The flavor profile is lighter than Johnnie Walker Black but at a lower cost.

Priced around $30 and decent for the price. Good for a slugging whisky or a gift.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

James Oliver American Whiskey

October 23, 2019 America

Name: James Oliver American Whiskey

Color: Copper

Nose: Cheap, tight, vanilla, corn

Taste: Vanilla, corn, oak/wood, burn finish

Review:

James Oliver American Whiskey is produced by Indio Spirits Company and comes from Portland, Oregon. Portland is an interested place in America right now. Perhaps they need more whiskey, maybe less?

The whiskey is distilled from high rye mash aged in two different barrels. The aging is in ex-bourbon and sherry casks for 2 years and is bottled at 43% abv. I have found conflicting information online about the barrels, char level, and abv.

James Oliver won Best American Whiskey Gold Metal in 2015. For the tasted of this spirit I question if this award was bought and paid for ahead of time. I cannot taste any quality, care, or interested in making this whiskey. It has a very cheap rough taste and cannot taste the sherry finish. It appears to me this is a rushed whiskey with a questionable award.

Priced around $30 and not very good. You can use it as a mixer or in an emergency if a you are bit by a snake.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Cask & Crew Whiskey

October 16, 2019 America

Name: Cask & Crew Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Sweet, ginger, spices, orange

Taste: Sweet, ginger, spices, orange

Review:

Cask & Crew Whiskey is a ginger spiced fruit flavored whiskey. It is a blend of Kentucky Whiskey and Canadian Rye that is aged for 3 years and bottled around 35% abv.

It smells cheap and tastes sweet and spicy. I could barely drink it neat and it was not much better on ice. It is one of those whiskeys made for holiday cocktails.

I am not going to spend any more time writing a review. If you like a ginger flavor and not spending money, go buy a bottle.

Priced around $25 and I am not a fan of ginger with my whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Kavalan Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

October 3, 2019 Taiwan

Name: Kavalan Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

Color: Brown

Nose: Sweet, strong alcohol, dry fruits

Taste: Dry fruits, spices, tobacco, coffee, and burn finish

Review:

Kavalan Sherry Cask Single Malt is full bodied, beefy type whisky with just enough sweetness to round it out. It has a strong “in your face taste” that would make for a good pre-steak dinner drink or relaxing with a cigar. The whisky is not too heavy with wood or peat so you would be able to enjoy the smoke from your cigar, but please, do not smoke a cheap stick.

Kavalan Sherry Cask is similar to other cask strength whisky’s; you will want to cut it with some water or ice to open it up. At 57.1% abv (114.2 proof) it is a big hit on the palate. I am not huge fan of cask strength whisky’s. I find that they sometimes go straight to my head so I always cut it with ice. It can be annoying sometimes that I have to continue blending the whisky in my glass, but when the whisky is good I do not complain. So, add some water or ice to lighten the load on your palate. If you opted for ice, use the small 1“x1″ cubes to start and add more if needed.

With many types of whiskies from many countries you may be in a situation here in NYC where you need to stand out among your co-drinkers or on a date. I would recommend you order Kavalan. When people ask you what you ordered you can Steve McQueen the response, “Single malt from Taiwan” and leave it at that. Sit back and watch everyone be impressed.

Priced around $200 and rising. It might be hard to fine but it is very good.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

Compass Box – Peat Monster

September 4, 2019 Scotland

Name: Compass Box – Peat Monster

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, banana fruit, oak, iodine, earthly

Taste: Light peat, smoke, wood, earthy

Review:

Compass Box Peat Monster is a blended scotch from the Compass Box Company. It is not as peaty as some other heavily peated whiskies like Lagavulin, Laphroaig, or Peat Week. If you have seen Compass Box on the shelf but do not know much about it, here is the break down. They are a producer and bottlers of a bunch of blended scotch whiskies. The company was founded by John Glaser who was a former marketing director of Johnnie Walker and he is an American. Toasted French oak and American oak for the second round of maturations. Buy whiskies and blend them to make everything.

This method was under security with the Scotch Whiskey Association (SWA) for not being in compliance back in 2005. Since then they have resolved this matter and nobody seems to give a shit including me. I only add this in case someone smart ass comments on my leaving it out. I have sampled Peat Monster before and it is ok for the price vs. taste. It is definitely a good starter peat whisky if you need to ease into the world of peaty scotches.

Compass Box have a signature range which consists of the following: The Spice Tree, The Peat Monster, The Spaniard, Oak Cross, Asyla, Hedonism. They also have a range blended scotch whiskies called “The Great King Street” which have the following; Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend. They also have Limited Editions which consist of the following: Hedonism, Maximus, Flaming Heart, Optimism, Morpheus, Canto Cask and Orangerie.

Priced around $55 and worth the money if you like light peat or want to start drinking peated whisky.

If you like it, drink it!

Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask

August 8, 2019 Japan

Name: The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask

Color: Cherry red

Nose: Plum, cherries, and sherry sweetness

Taste: Dry plum, cherry, chocolate, sherry

Review:

My first reaction to this whisky was “Holy shit this stuff is good!” and as it should be, it was rated “Best Whiskey in the World 2015”. The opportunity to sample this whisky was a surprise at the end of a Japanese tasting hosted by Dominic Roskrow at Union Square Wines in NYC. I recommend his books and tastings at the store if you are interested and live in the area.

I could tell you all about the history and process of making this whisky and explain the rating it received, but there are plenty of articles about it so I will not waste your time. I will be discussing the price as this is the most expensive whisky I have every tasted and is well out of my price range. Whisky’s like this have a simple economic problem that drives the price. There is a limited amount created, everyone wants it, bottles are drunk, supply runs low, and the price goes up. Is it worth it? Yes, but can you afford it? Most of us cannot since we are not part of the 1% crowd. It is more likely the person who buys this whisky will charter Blade for a private helicopter ride to the Hamptons this summer than a ticket on the Jitney bus. For those not in the NYC area, that means you need cash to burn.

I cannot imagine every buying a bottle that cost 2x my first car (1979 Jeep CJ7). If you enjoy a sherry finish to you whisky, I would suggest the following whisky’s that are more affordable:

Aberlour A’Bunadh (Approx $125)

Macallan Double Cask 12 (Approx $60)

Tomatin 12 year Old (Approx $40)

I have read that the A’Bunadh is comparable to the Yamazaki, but I have a bottle at home and I have to disagree. It is very good and has some similarities but when you compare Japanese whisky to Scotch, you are comparing apples to oranges.

This whisky is amazing and worth trying or buying, but it is currently $3,500 to $4,000 a bottle and increasing.

If you can find it, if you can afford it, you should drink it!

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Kilkerran Cask Strength 8 Year Old

August 7, 2019 Scotland

Name: Kilkerran Cask Strength 8 Year Old

Color: Light gold

Nose: Barley, honey, heather, grass, apple

Taste: Malt, light oak, little honey/vanilla, strong burn finish

Review:

Kilkerran Cask Strength 8-year-old whisky is from Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery located in Campbeltown Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1872, closed in 1925, and reopened in 2004 after no production for 75 years.

The whisky is cask strength and bottled at 56.5%, 8-year-old single malt, natural color, and is non-chill filtered. The taste profile is good, but not very complex. As expected, it has a very strong alcohol taste and burn finish and needs to be cut with ice or water.

The name “Kilkerran” is derived from Gaelic words “Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain” which is the name of the original settlement where Saint Kieran was located. Saint Kieran was one of the 12 Apostles of Ireland and was considered the first Saint born in Ireland. Not sure if I would have chosen a Saint’s name in 2004. It was a bit too close to when The Boston Globe had broken the story on the Catholic Church in 2002. Just a thought.

I received the Kilkerran 8 as a gift from my cousin’s husband on a recent trip to Scotland. I enjoyed as much of it as I could but unfortunately I could not travel with it in my carry-on bag. I hope my uncle holds it for me until I return next year!

Price around $55 and good but and strong for the price. Not sure where you would find it here in NYC.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Compass Box Spice Tree

July 31, 2019 Scotland

Name: Compass Box Spice Tree

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Orange, spices, oak, malted barley, vanilla

Taste: Spice orange, honey, vanilla, oak, pepper

Review:

Compass Box Spice Tree is a blended scotch whisky from the Compass Box Company which is headquartered in England. You may have seen Compass Box expressions in the store but do not know much about them. I recently purchases a 3 pack sampler and Spice Tree was the first whisky I sampled.

Compass Box is a producer and bottler of several blended scotch whiskies. The company was founded by John Glaser who is the former marketing director of Johnnie Walker. The Spice Tree is matured in toasted French oak and American oak barrels. This method of maturing in two casks was under scrutiny by the Scotch Whiskey Association (SWA) in 2005 for not being in compliance with their regulations. Compass Tree has resolved this matter and since then nobody seems to give a shit, including me. I only add this in case some someone comments on my leaving it out.

The Spice Tree has a nice taste profile and has a good balance. It is a non-age stated whisky and is bottled at 46% abv. With a few drops of water, the whisky opens up very nicely. I feel with an ice cube it would water down too fast. I see this as a light winter or semi-heavy summer scotch and it would be better enjoyed neat.

They have a signature range of scotches which are the following: The Spice Tree, The Peat Monster, The Spaniard, Oak Cross, Asyla, Hedonism. They also have a range blended scotch whiskies called “The Great King Street” which are following; Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend. There is also the Limited Editions which are following: Hedonism, Maximus, Flaming Heart, Optimism, Morpheus, Canto Cask, and Orangerie.

Price around $55 and has a nice taste and balance and is good for the price.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch

Backbone Bourbon

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky

James Oliver American Whiskey

Cask & Crew Whiskey

Kavalan Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

Compass Box – Peat Monster

Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask

Kilkerran Cask Strength 8 Year Old

Compass Box Spice Tree

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