Chris | Page 43 | NYC Whiskey Review

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Nikka Pure Malt

October 4, 2017 Japan

Name: Nikka Pure Malt Whiskey

Color: Medium Brown

Nose: Light fruits, peat, and malt

Taste: Apples/pears, spice, peat, and smoke

Review:

The first sip of Nikka’s Pure Malt reminded me of Scotch Whisky from the Highlands. The flavor profile is smoky, peaty, but well balanced and on the lighter side. I found this to be a lovely combination if you are a fan of Scotch and Japanese styled whisky.

The exact fruit is a little difficult to detect among the peat/smoke/malt profile, but after a few sips it comes out. The fruit profile is more white fruits such as apples and pears. I would have expected more exotic black fruits, but when I think about it the combination of black fruits, smoke, peat and malt sounds like a tough receipt to get right.

Pure Malt is a blended non-aged stated (NAS) whisky. Nikka Distillery states that the average age of their whiskies is 10 years. I believe this because I choose to believe it, but to be very honest, marketing it where the “truth lies” as they said in Mad Men. The blends are stated to be Miyagikyo malt whisky and some Yoichi whisky with Miyagikyo making up a high percentage of the blend. Pure Malt is aged in sherry butts, bourbon barrels, and new America oak casks.

“Pure” means “balanced” with respect to flavor when it comes to Nikka’s standards of production. As mentioned in previous reviews, Japan makes great whiskey. It is your choice to enjoy this spirit neat, dash of water, or on the rocks. I would not recommend making cocktails out of Pure Malt. Good whiskey does not need to be mixed to be creative in your glass. The master distiller was already been creative, it is your turn to enjoy

Priced around $65 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi

August 16, 2017 Japan

Name: Nikka Single Malt Yoichi

Color: Light Gold

Nose: Spice, fruit and light smoke

Taste: Dark fruits, slight nut flavor and peat

Review:

As I have mentioned previously, Nikka is excellent Japanese whisky and when it comes to single malt whisky, they got this one right. This is excellent single malt that is medium bodied and well balanced.

The flavor profile and combinations is wonderful and I have not tasted anything like this whisky to date.

Japanese whisky is known for being softer and light, but in this whiskey, there is a very nice amount of peat and smoke on the nose. On the taste, you get of fruit and spices make a great taste flavor with the peat.

Yoichi comes from Hokkaido, which is the second largest Island in Japan. The distillery is in the North part of the island near the sea and used imported Scottish peat in direct coal fire pot stills. This method of direct fire is very traditional and somewhat rare now a days when it comes to whiskey making.

I tasted this whisky at the Astor Center when Master Distiller Sakuma Tadashi from Nikka was in town and bought a bottle right after the tasting. I have a little dram left so I am saving it for a special occasion.

I have not yet tried all the whiskeys that Nikka produces, but I am looking forward to reaching that goal.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, if you are not drinking Japanese Whiskey you are missing out. Try some and let me know your thoughts.

Price around $100 per bottle and well worth the money. I highly recommend this whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

August 4, 2017 Scotland

Something for the weekend?

Johnnie Walker produces a four pack of 200 ml bottles of Black, Gold, Platinum and Blue Scotch for around $200. You might not find it as easy in a store but it is online at various distributors and I have seen it in Duty Free in Heathrow Airport. If you want to do a tasting with friends and make up your own minds while saving some money I would definitely recommend this box set in lieu of full bottles. I would strongly suggest you treat it like a tasting with measured pours of whisky in different glasses, note taking, trying it with a splash of water etc. After that, you can decide on the value of the higher labels and see if it is your cup of tea (or whisky!)

Note: Specific Johnnie Walker Labels may vary in 4 pack box. Confirm with supplier prior to purchasing. I have seen red and black then two other higher labels as opposed to what I have described.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

August 2, 2017 America

Name: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Color: Amber

Nose: Strong alcohol, cherries, vanilla

Taste: Caramel, cinnamon, nuts, alcohol burn finish

Review:

For over a decade I have traveled to Kentucky every October for the closing weekend at Keeneland Race Course with my college roommate. If you have not heard or have not been to Keeneland, I highly recommend a visit. It is a great racetrack and it is close to the Bourbon Trail tours so you can make a great weekend trip out of a visit. I have never been to the Kentucky Derby, but I know for fact it is an absolute shit show at Churchill Downs if you are not VIP. So go to Keeneland when you get a chance and have some Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.

This last trip was a little colder than usual so with cigar in hand I strolled over to the outdoor bar for a warm up drink. At the bar, they were offering a variety of bourbons so I opted for Makers Cask Strength since I had not yet tried it. As you may know, I am not a fan of cask strength whisky’s. As expected, it had a strong burn and was difficult to enjoy neat but, it was cold out so it got the job done quickly.

I am a big fan of Makers 46 in my cocktails and Maker’s Cask Strength is good, but it packs a punch at 113.3 proof. I recommend this bottle for more a kick to your cocktails, but not for serving neat or on the rocks.

Price around $60 it is good price, but it is really just a strong version of Maker’s without the smoothness of Maker’s 46.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

July 5, 2017 Scotland

Name: Glenmorangie Nectar D’or

Color: Gold

Nose: Citrus, vanilla, light sweetness

Taste: Citrus, honey, nuts, vanilla

Review:

Not a fan. Sorry Glenmorangie, just not digging this scotch. It is probably me, not you. I just feel the need to see other scotches this summer. Glenmoragnie is keeping up with the industry trend of sweetening their products due to market demand. Their Nectar D’Or is a sweeter wine flavored scotch that has a unique taste, but comes across as a bit of an old flavor.

Nectar D’Or is a 12-year-old scotch aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels and 2 years in sauternes barrels. If you are not familiar with “sauternes” let me summarize.

Sauternes is a French sweet white wine from the Graves region of Bordeaux, France.
Bordeaux is mainly known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon wines but does produce white, blends, and Merlot.
Sauternes is made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle which are all white grapes
Sauternes is usually sold in 375ml bottles and is usually enjoyed as a dessert wine.
It is not known to be cheap stuff.

This scotch is different and I will give Glenmorangie credit for trying to something different. I have tried other whisky’s that used barrels from other fortified wines and they can provide a very nice flavor profile so do not be afraid to try something new. Nectar D’Or has done well in creating something different in their premium label scotches but taste profiles vary with consumers like me.

I found this scotch to have a rough, cheaper vanilla taste, and a burned finish. I would not buy this one for myself, but I could see it being enjoyed on the rocks in the South of France or the Hamptons while everyone else is drinking Rose wine. Nectar D’Or is not a bad whisky; it is just not my thing.

Approximately $70 per bottle.

If you like it, drink it. – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

April 12, 2017 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

Color: Orange brown

Nose: Sweet mandarin citrus, peat, smoke, reduced iodine

Taste: Citrus, vanilla, peat, smoke, and wood

Review:

“Big boy strong” scotch from the Highlands of Scotland, the Laphroaig 30 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt has arrived from Islay. I am a fan of Islay whisky’s and Laphroaig is one of my go to scotches in the winter. There is nothing better to warm you up after braving the cold weather through the streets of NYC then a glass of Laphroaig as you sit in your tiny-ass 350 sf apartment and warm up.

I got the opportunity to try this scotch at Whiskey Live in NYC and enjoyed a nice sized dram by their brand ambassador. This single malt is 107 proof and has been twice matured in ex-bourbon casks. This whisky has been double matured in first and second-fill ex-bourbon barrels. Those 30 years in the barrels have created a very good scotch, but it comes at a very high price.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old is a very well balanced whisky with great flavor, but at $800 it is not very well balance for my bank account. The thing I find with Laphroaig is this; I can always taste their baseline flavor of smoke and peat and that gets into my head and takes away from what they have created. This is not a bad thing, but I have a hard time separating the flavor from the attempt to create something new versus what I just paid for a bottle. For example, Laphroaig Cairdeas is much sweeter and cheaper, but again has the underlying flavor. Naturally, the 30 year old is far superior to Cairdeas, but that is expected after thirty years of maturing.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old is very good but at $800 per bottle you have to be able to afford it.

If you like it, drink it!

The Macallan Rare Cask

March 2, 2017 Scotland

Name: The Macallan Rare Cask

Color: Amber Brown

Nose: Dried fruit, wood, dark chocolate

Taste: Burnt wood, iodine, dark dried fruit, and a medicine flavor

Review:

I will be as straight forward as I can be; this scotch is far too expensive for the taste.

Macallan Rare Cask is a non-aged statement single malt finish in Sherry casks (sort of) and the flavor is not impressive. Sherry casks are very popular in Scotch and I can think of several that half the price and better in flavor.

I sampled the Macallan Rare in January at the Astor Centers Robbie Burns Tasting and last night at Whisky Live NYC at Chelsea Pier 60.

What comes to mind with this whisky is “What are you paying for when you buy a bottle?” For me, I am paying for flavor. Everything else after flavor is an addition or subtraction to the whisky. When it comes to Rare, I feel I am paying for a fancy box and the marketing/PR work to promote the scotch. (I stole it from the trash bin for the pic)

My motto is “If you like it, drink it”, but price always needs to be considered along with taste and price is the heart of all my reviews. If price is not an issue for you and you need to give a high-end scotch in a fancy box this would be a good choice for the wow factor but not for the flavor factor.

Approximately $300.00 per bottle or $75 per glass in NYC area. Your call…

If you like it, drink it!

Maker’s 46 Bourbon Whisky

January 26, 2017 America

Name: Maker’s 46 Bourbon Whisky

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Candy sweet, cherries, caramel, and vanilla

Taste: Medium bodied with spices and sweetness but smooth finish

Review:

Similar to Maker’s Mark but smoother due to a longer aging process and the addition of seared French Oak staves (curved part of the barrel). The staves are steeped in the whisky at the end of the distillation process and provide more flavor. The name of this whisky comes from the ranking profile of the charred staves, which is “46”.

NYC tip; I don’t know the bartenders name, but at the Grand Central Oyster Bar Saloon at Grand Central Terminal on 42^nd St. there is a older gentleman who tends bar several nights a week. He is a true old school bartender that can make a perfect drink. Order a Makers Mark 46 Manhattan Straight up and let me know your thoughts in the comment section or on Facebook. Just writing this review makes me want to head over there now!

Priced around $50 and worth the money. I highly recommend this whisky for cocktails and your home bar.

If you like it, drink it!

Maker’s Mark Bourbon

January 26, 2017 America

Name: Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Spice, cinnamon, vanilla and caramel

Taste: Medium bodied with spices and sweetness

Review:

Most bourbon is distilled from either corn, rye, malt or a blend of these grains. Maker’s Mark is made from wheat, which provides a sweeter, lighter taste and has its own individual nose and taste due to the wheat. Whisky made from wheat is known as a “wheater” in whisky language.

For me Maker’s Mark is a starter Bourbon, good for a daily drinker, or just to kill a bottle at a house or beach party. More of a Summer than a Fall, the sweeter taste makes it easier for non-whisky drinkers to enjoy.

Priced around $40 it is a good value.

If you like it, drink it!

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

January 24, 2017 Scotland

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Color: Dark Gold

Nose: Peat and wood

Taste: Peat, wood and light seaweed

Review: I jokingly refer to this whisky as “big boy” Scotch as it comes from the Islay region of the Highlands of Scotland and Highlanders are not known to make light flavored whisky’s. This whisky is not for everyone. You need to enjoy a very strong peaty wood flavor to swallow this Scotch. Some people have told me, “it is like drinking smoked wood” and do not enjoy it. Personally, I really enjoy it because I prefer big flavors in my scotch.

I can tell you and little life tip I have learned. For me, I find it very difficult not to have a whisky while enjoying a cigar but I have noticed that the more smoky and peaty the scotch the less I taste the smoke of the cigar. The two flavors fight each other. Big boy whisky sometimes takes away from taste of the cigar but if you like it that way you enjoy it that way!

I recommend if you have not tried Laphroaig to order a small 1oz dram to try this type of big and bold flavor from Islay. Priced around $50 and it’s a great value if you like strong peat and wood flavor.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

christopher.dias.nyc@gmail.com

Nikka Pure Malt

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi

Johnnie Walker 4 Pack Sampler

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

The Macallan Rare Cask

Maker’s 46 Bourbon Whisky

Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

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