Scotland | Page 14 | NYC Whiskey Review

Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

January 28, 2020 Scotland

Name: Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

Color: Light Gold

Nose: Sweet, dry sherry, spice, honey wood, flowers

Taste: Sweet dry Spanish sherry, some wood, honey

Review:

The Deanston Distillery is located on the River Teith, about eight miles from Sterling, Scotland (near Edinburgh) and was founded in 1965. The Distell Group Limited owns Deanston and also owns Bunnahabhain, Isle of Islay, Tobermory, and Isle of Mull whisky. The name “Deanston” is named after the Dean of Dunblane. Dean was connected to the Gaelic term “toun” meaning farm/settlement to make the name “Deanston”.

My cousin, who lives in Sterling got me a sample pack of Deanston Scotch. Each bottle contains 3cl (1oz) samples from the distillery and Palo Cortado was the second sample I tasted.

Deanston Palo Cortado is a 12 years old whisky and finished in Palo Cortado Sherry Casks. This type of sherry is somewhere between an Amontillado (darker sherry from Montilla Region of Spain) and Oloroso (darker than Amontillado and dry) sherry and is on the dry side. From my research, only 1-2% of grapes pressed for sherry naturally develop into Palo Cortado. Sherry casks are very popular to finish whisky, but is not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to flavor. Usually the sherry cask creates a very sweet tasting whisky (aka a sherry bomb) which I do not like. In this expression the flavor profile is very dry.

Palo Cortado has a good balance and flavor, but I could see many Americans not liking this expression because of the dry sherry flavor. Sherry is not popular in United States and dry sherry is even less popular.

Priced around $135, and more of an after dinner or one and done whisky. Not sure where you can find it but worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Aberlour A’bundah Bin 54

January 16, 2020 Scotland

Name: Aberlour A’bunadh Bin 54

Color: Red brown

Nose: Cherry, sherry, dried fruit

Taste: Cherry, oak wood, chocolate, sherry bomb

Review:

The name “A’bunadh” (which I can barely pronounce and I’m half-Scottish) means “Original”. Aberlour has blended 5 to 25 year old whiskeys to create this non-aged stated (NAS) cask strength Scotch and finished them in Oloroso Sherry butts. Oloroso means “scented” in Spanish and is a darker, nutty sherry.

This whisky is all about the sherry finish, also known as the “sherry bomb” because of the way it hits your palate. Sherry finished whiskies are very popular right now with distilleries. From my discussion with a few blenders, they have told me it is what the market is currently demanding. I theorize that the whisky popularity might be peaking so sweetening up the whiskeys will bring in new drinkers. Everyone seems to be doing it when you take a look at the distilleries products.

A’bunadh is not a candy whisky by any means. It has a medium body with a nice full finish, but still is a bit too sweet for my taste. On a previous post, I reviewed Yamazaki 18yr Sherry Cask and I wrote that A’bunadh was listed in a magazine article as a potential equal at a cheaper price. As I do not agree with this statement, I will say that you get good idea of the Yamazaki taste profile at much more affordable price if you buy A’bunadh.

Since this whisky is sherry sweet and high proof it makes a good, but dangerous combination if you are enjoying a few drinks. If you have not tried cask strength sherry based whisky I recommend you try a sample at a bar to get a feel for the sweet kick that comes with this style of spirit. I believe Copper & Oak on the Lower East Side will have a 1oz tasting pour at a fair price.

Priced around $120 it is a good value if you like this flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

*Note: I lost my 54 photo so a online photo of the 52 was used. Sorry!

Highland Park – Valkyrie

January 14, 2020 Scotland

Name: Highland Park Valkyrie

Color: Gold

Nose: Smoke, chocolate, spice

Taste: Smoke, wood, spice vanilla, white fruit

Review:

Highland Park Valkyrie is one of several “Viking themed” expressions released by Highland Park Distillery. It is a non-aged stated single malt that has 50% peat mix that is finished in ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Highland Park has partnered with Danish fashion designer and writer Jim Lyngvild to create this whisky and the bottle. He is said to have an old Viking blood line and is related to the ancient Earl from the Orkney Islands. The Valkyrie expression is an award winning scotch with many fans. I am not one of those fans.

A brief history;

Valkyrie(s) are from Norse legend and by translation of their name it means “chooser of the slain”. They are ones who decides who lives or dies in battle and escorts them to the afterlife in Valhalla. The Scottish (Scots), which I am half, are direct decedents of the Vikings. They share the same warrior blood line, but not so much the same historical or religious beliefs.

My thoughts;

So, Highland Park hired a guy who is in fashion and very popular from Northern Europe. They slapped his name on a black and gold bottle, added some Viking symbols, blended some smoked whisky, put it in a bottle and there you go! Wow, what a load of horse shit in advertising and marketing. The scotch is ok, it’s not amazing at its price point, however, with a little marketing it seems to be amazing.

Something “smells rotten in the State of Denmark” with respect to some of the high ratings this scotch receives. Valkyrie is not a bad scotch; it is just not worth the price. I get the strong feeling the price is connected to the marketing. I get an Emperors clothes like feeling when I step back at think

Priced around $90 and not worth it. I will stick to my regular aged Highland Park.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Aberlour 12

January 9, 2020 Scotland

Name: Aberlour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Color: Brown

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, oak

Taste: Sweet sugar, raisins, oak

Review:

Aberlour 12-Year-old Single Malt Scotch is a baseline expression for the Aberlour Distillery that makes wonderful expressions of Scotch Whisky. If you have not tried Aberlour yet, I highly recommend this scotch. I also recommend you start at the beginning and not the high end stuff. It is just easier on the wallet.

The Aberlour Distillery was built in 1879 by James Fleming and today is owed by the Chivas Brothers. Aberlour is Scottish Gaelic and translates to “Obar Lobhair” which in a roundabout way means “stream”. It is located in the Speyside region of Northern Scotland which is part of the Highlands. Other expressions from Aberlour include the 16 Year Old, 18 Year Old, and A’Bundah.

Aberlour 12 is good but a little too sugary sherry sweet for me this time of the year. I find this type of sherry flavored whisky to be more of a summer outdoor drink than a cold weather dram. The sweetness does not warm me up in the cold weather.

I like the bottle style of Aberlour Scotch. It is not too short, not too tall, has wooden cork with a wide mouth, and a glass lip. In your hand it feels like quality glass and fortunately it has quality scotch inside it.

Price around $50 and worth the price if you like it a bit sweeter.

If you like it, drink it! -Christopher

Glenmorangie Signet

January 7, 2020 Scotland

Name: Glenmorangie Signet

Color: Black, brown

Nose: Espresso, sherry, orange

Taste: Chocolate stout, spices

Review:

In case you are wondering, the word “Signet” is defined as a small seal, usually in a ring used with or instead of a signature. A seal like the kind used in period piece movie with a scroll of paper, feathered pen, and candle wax.

Signet is a blend of whiskies that are 30 years in age but is a non-aged stated (NAS) Scotch. The flavor profile is that of chocolate malt and comes from the 100% roasted barley malt that is used in production. Roasted barely malt is usually reserved for making beer and this gives the chocolate, stout beer, and whisky flavor. It does have a big smooth finish, but has the baseline flavor of Glenmorangie. The bottle is impressive, beautiful ornate square design and does stand out among other bottles.

This scotch is a sweet chocolate after dinner drink and that is fine by me but it is not that amazing and is very expensive. I recently read that in the 1980’s there was a massive overproduction of whisky for predicted future demand. I am sure the roaring 1980’s markets had something to do with that plan. Today, there is a lot of whisky around that can be blended into 25+ year old bottles and with that, experimental flavor profiles can be created. How true this statement is, not sure, but I believe I am using logic so it is probably accurate educated guess.

Flavored whiskies at high prices and sold in fancy bottles remind me of the story of the Emperor’s Clothes. Eventually, you need to step back and take a real hard look at what you are getting for the price. Yes, there are old whiskies in the blend and I know that chocolate and whisky pair up nicely, but whisky is something that should stand on its own. It is not a bad tasting whisky it is just strange to me.

If you need to go to a dinner party and you need to look good at the table, bring a bottle of Signet and open it at dessert. It will be consumed, enjoyed, and you will receive compliments. You and the bottle will both stand out.

Priced at $200 per bottle it is too much money for too strange of a taste profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenfiddich “Unique Solera Reserve” 15 Year Old

January 2, 2020 Scotland

Name: Glenfiddich 15 Unique Solera Reserve

Color: Gold

Nose: Sweet, vanilla, flora honey

Taste: Smooth, sherry, marzipan with vanilla/cinnamon

Name: Glenfiddich “Unique Solera Reserve” 15 Year Old

Review:

Over the holidays I got to enjoy Glenfiddich Solera 15 year Old before Christmas dinner. It is far better than the mass produced 12 Year old ($45) and much more affordable than the 18 Year old ($150+). Solera is a lighter, smooth, and sweeter whisky that is finished in three barrels. These barrels are the following; American Bourbon, Portuguese Sherry, and Virgin Oak. The interesting part of this expression (other than the taste) is the name and what it means for the method of making the scotch.
Solera in Spanish means “on the ground” and comes from a method of making wine. Glenfiddich does a similar vatting process by using multi-level barrels to mature the whisky. The barrels are filled from top down which creates a finished product that is a mix of aged whisky in the various barrels. In the process the barrels are stacked and the barrels which the whisky is bottled from (bottom) is never drained more than 50%. Since no container is ever drained, some of the earlier product remains in each container. I would assume some barrels are replaced from time to time to maintain flavor profiles.

The whisky is labeled as “15 Year Old Single Salt Scotch Whisky”. The laws for Scotch whisky say that the stated age must refer to the youngest of whisky’s components. Since the process began in 1998, it has been stated, “the vat has never been emptied”. I’ll take the distilleries word for it and I’ll take another dram. I cannot say if this is the best way to mature scotch. I will say I enjoy this expression from Glenfiddich very much and I recommend it.

Priced around $70 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old

December 24, 2019 Scotland

Name: Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old

Color: Gold

Nose: Honey, vanilla, light oak

Taste: Citrus, pepper, sea salt/brine

Review:

It’s Christmas tomorrow!! Do you have your gifts and bottles ready?!

Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch is from Wick, Scotland. It is made from 100% malted barley, aged in Bourbon casks, and bottled at 80 proof. Old Pulteney states you can taste the ocean because the distillery is so close to the ocean. I will agree that there is a bit of ocean salt in the flavor profile when I sip in neat.

Another interesting marketing note: You would have thought that Old Pulteney being from Wick, Scotland that John Wick should be drinking this instead of Blanton’s. Of course the product placement in movies goes to the highest bidder.

The distillery was established in 1826 and named after Sir William Pulteney. Pulteney was a landowner and politician with investments in Scotland, England, and America. The distillery closed in 1930 due a decline in business and re-opened in 1951.

Important Safety Tip: Do not drink Old Putney drink for drink with a 300 lbs. Scotsman in Glasgow. Not a good idea. I regretted that decision, but my uncle was impressed I could keep up with his mate.

Old Pulteney is a very nice scotch but more of a summer than a winter. It is a bit on the light/sweet side, but it is definitely worth a try.

Price around $60 and worth the money for a lighter scotch.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Compass Box – The Story of the Spaniard

December 22, 2019 Scotland

Name: Compass Box – The Story of the Spaniard

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Dry Sherry, dry wood, pepper spice, strong, orange

Taste: Amontillado sherry, orange, pepper

Review:

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

Compass Box – The Story of the Spaniard is a blended scotch whisky from the Compass Box Company. If you have seen Compass Box on the shelf but do not know much about it, here is the break down.

Compass Box is a producer and bottler of a bunch of blended scotch whiskies. The company was founded by John Glaser who was a former marketing director of Johnnie Walker.

The Story of the Spaniard has a nice taste of dry Spanish sherry which is very defined with respect to sherry flavors. It is blended whisky, non-age stated, and bottle at 43% abv. Aged in both Spanish sherry and red wine casks and difference percentages. See the chart below for the blend.

Compass Box has 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 â€œThe Great King Streetâ€ 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.

Price around $65 and worth for the price if you like value and if you like the specific dry Spanish sherry taste in your whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old

December 11, 2019 Scotland

Name: Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old

Color: Gold brown

Nose: Wood, honey, rose, citrus, peach, smoke

Taste: Wood, slight burn, butterscotch

Review:

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

If you have not heard of Johnnie Walker I will assume you are new to whisky. I can’t think of another reason you would have not heard of it if you are reading this. Johnnie Walker has several expressions and the Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old is relatively new but not too new. The 18 is a replacement for the Platinum expression. I always found the name Platinum to be a bit douchey since the Blue is a higher than the Platinum.

Johnnie Walker 18 is bottled at 40% and is a blend of 18 whiskies that are 18 years old. I could not find an exact list but since Diageo owns J Walker it’s probably all of their distilleries. Diageo, which is a massive spirits company, owns, but not limited to; Buchanan’s, Cardhu, J&B, Black and White, White Horses, Logan, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Black Dog, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Clynelish, Singleton, Haig, Royal Lochnagar, Glen Elgin, Knockando, The Dimple Pinch, King George IV, Dailuaine, Inchgower

JW comes from Kilmarnock, East Ayshire Scotland which is in the Lowlands.

Johnnie Walker 18 is very good, well balanced and has a very nice flavor but very nice and well blended. I was very surprised and enjoyed it very much.

Price around $80-100 ($60 in Costco) and worth the money. Skip the Blue and go with the 18.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

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

Deanston 12-Year-Old Palo Cortado Finish

Aberlour A’bundah Bin 54

Highland Park – Valkyrie

Aberlour 12

Glenmorangie Signet

Glenfiddich “Unique Solera Reserve” 15 Year Old

Old Pulteney 12-Year-Old

Compass Box – The Story of the Spaniard

Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old

Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch

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