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Showing posts with label Blended Whisky. Show all posts

Book Review: Whisk(e)y Distilled by Heather Greene

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Book Review: Whisk(e)y Distilled by Heather Greene

Original cover image provided by Heather Greene and used with permission.

I reviewed the Audible and Kindle editions of Whisk(e)y Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life and must begin by complimenting the excellent narration of the audiobook version by Tavia Gilbert. It was a pleasure to listen to and I felt like I was in the company of the author throughout. My only issue will be if I ever meet Heather Greene in person as I will no doubt be surprised when her voice does not sound like Tavia’s.

Heather Greene, is one of the most prominent and at times outspoken figures in the world of whisky. She was once a brand ambassador for whisky giant Glenfiddich but at the time of writing this book, was director of whiskey education at the Flat Iron room whiskey school in Manhattan and restaurant sommelier. Heather now writes freelance and travels the world teaching and consulting about spirits and has appeared on television as an expert in the field. Heather writes in a style and voice with a no-bullshit attitude to whisky that instantly appealed to my sentiments and compelled me to read on.

The topic of women and whiskey dominated my conversations so much that some reporters even though my book was about women and whiskey, or written specifically for them. It’s not. This is a book about whiskey. Plain and simple. 

The book begins with how Heather got into whisky in the first place; an industry that many still find surprising to see a woman reach positions of prominence in. Competing with the digital music revolution of the early 2000’s, Heather reluctantly left a professional music career and was hired by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh, Scotland. Despite facing male prejudice regularly, Heather built a lucrative career around whisky. She establishes her credibility early in the book and for me drove home the dream of following your passion and finding a job that you love; something I hope my blog will one day lead to for myself.

Like many books on the subject, Whisk(e)y Distilled covers all the whisky fundamentals, such as history, production and regions with a welcome focus on whisky appreciation. Even detailing how to organise and run your own whisky tasting event. Her explanation of the whisky making process is excellent; one of the best I have read. It is written in a logical sequence and in easy to understand language that anyone could follow.

No palate is the gold standard, and no one tastes quite like you do. 

Heather’s thoughts on how to discover your own palate and the importance of nose and sense of smell were very interesting to read. She also manages to delve into basic organic chemistry and aromatic molecules without losing someone like me with only a modest grasp on the subject. I like how she emphasises the subjectiveness of aroma and taste and that it is ok to disagree. Whisky is a very personal thing and tasting notes should be seen only as a guide not as a ‘gold standard’ or as the correct notes. She discusses nosing technique to maximise the chance of isolating aromas and to minimise alcohol burn and olfactory numbing, without all the wank that often encroaches debates on the subject. 

In fact, Heather’s propensity to tackle the misinformation often touted by whisky snobs and dismiss common myths is welcome and encourages an inclusive whisky culture rather than the rubbish elitist scene that pollutes some social circles; a view that appeals to my own ideals. Regardless if you are not sure what you should or shouldn’t believe or if perhaps you think you already know everything, Heather will set you straight; personally, I learnt quite a few things.

…whisky loving in Scotland is far from snobbery, even if in America those two words—‘Scotch’ and ‘snob’—are often drawn together like magnets. You are more likely to share drams with a local lorry driver finishing his weekly whisky transport down the A1 to Glasgow from Dufftown than with someone holding the latest literary novel or a golf club. 

So who should buy this book and why should you buy this over other books about whisky? A quick search online will reveal that there are many books written on the subject and not all of them are equal. Whisk(e)y Distilled stands above many of the other offerings and managed to engage me from beginning to end. What I loved most about this book was the way it was written. I felt like I was having a chat with the author over a dram; perhaps facing each other from comfy chesterfields in front of a crackling fire. There's a certain contagious energy that someone has when discussing a topic they love and it's rare for that passion to translate to the written word quite as well as Heather manages to do in her book. This may even be my favourite whisky book to date and I highly recommended it for both the whisky novice and aficionado alike.


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Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Whisky Impressions

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Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Whisky Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: Johnnie Walker 
Name: Double Black 
Make: Blended Scotch Whisky 
Extra Info: Marketed as "...created in the style of Johnnie Walker Black Label but with a rich, more intense, smokier flavour." Johnnie Walker Double Black commands an extra 11% premium over the Black Label which in whisky terms, is really not a lot of money. I suspect that the extra richness and smokiness come from a higher proportion of Caol Ila whisky being used in the blend, but cask selection could have also played a part; since the Double Black recipe is not public knowledge, I can only guess.


Why did I buy it?

I received a bottle of Johnnie Walker Double Black as a house warming present and after tasting it, I am glad that I did. It's not something I would have picked up off the shelf myself, but it presented a good opportunity to taste it along side the Johnnie Walker Black Label.


What did I think of it?

Presentation: The same iconic narrow square-sided bottle but this time with black tinted glass and it is the bottle colour that makes it stand out next to it's slightly cheaper sibling.

Appearance: Pretty much exactly the same bright gold colour as the Black Label and also bottled at 40% ABV. 

Aroma: Noticeably smokier on the nose than the Black Label, but nowhere near Islay single malt levels. Mossy, earthy notes and faint vanilla. Although 'sweet' is a flavour not an aroma, there are hints of something sweet underneath.

Flavour: Surprisingly good. Very smooth and creamy, buttered toast with plenty of charcoal and sweet porridge perhaps with some honey drizzled on top. The smoke is there, but not overpowering. I can drink this neat without issue. 

Finish: Medium length finish with a spicy tingle that slowly fades. Inoffensive.


Would I buy it again?

Yes, Johnnie Walker Double Black is a great tasting and great value blend. Suitable for drinking neat and with ice or however you take it. It won't appeal to someone who dislikes smoky whisky but if you appreciate a little peat and are looking for a cheaper blended alternative for cocktails or drinking with ice and/or a mixer on hot summer nights, look no further than Johnnie Walker Double Black; a surprisingly good blended Scotch whisky. 


Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.

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Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Whisky Impressions

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Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Whisky Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Name: Black Label
Make: Blended Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Rumoured to contain over 40 different Scotch whiskies (the actual blend recipe is a closely guarded secret) all aged for at least 12 years, Johnnie Walker Black is the second lowest priced whisky in a long line of popular blends. What is known, is that a major component of Johnnie Walker Black Label comes from the Caol Ila distillery on the island of Islay, Scotland. The core 'Colours' range includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label 18 Year Old and Blue Label with many other special and limited editions on offer. Prices range from less than $40 to hundreds of dollars per bottle.

Why did I buy it?

I bought a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label because it is cheap, commonly available and immensely popular. Most whisky drinkers have tried at least one Johnnie Walker blend and many bars use Johnnie Walker Red Label as their standard mixing whisky. Everyone needs a good mixing whisky at home and I wanted to see if Johnnie Walker Black Label would do for me.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Iconic narrow square-sided bottle with as the name suggests, a black label. Gold writing and iconography contrast well against the black label on the clear glass bottle.

 Appearance: Bright gold in colour, with consistency and crystal clear clarity achieved through the use of caramel colouring and chill-filtration. Bottled at 40% ABV.

Aroma: Although most commonly drunk with a mixer, neat, it smells of sea spray, definite maritime elements with the faintest hint of smoke with some cedar, like stepping into a traditional sauna.

Flavour: I try blended whiskies a variety of ways, neat, on the rocks, with Coke, etc. Johnnie Walker Black Label with a sweet mixer reminded me of a misspent youth and mornings waking up to bad whisky breath and regret. With soda water and ice it was more palatable, but the regret remained.
Smooth, like most blends. Heavy on the vanilla, sweet and a little more smoke than on the nose. Some indistinguishable fruitiness. 

Finish: Some spicy tingle that fades quickly, leaving just that bad whisky breath and regret behind.

Would I buy it again?

No, there is nothing wrong with Johnnie Walker Black Label, it's just not my mixer whisky of choice. I don't like the aftertaste it leaves in my mouth and there isn't enough going on across the nose and palate for me to want to drink it. I certainly would not judge someone for liking it, many people do the world over. If you like it great, if you don't and are looking for another blended Scotch, there are plenty of others to choose from including other expressions from Johnnie Walker. 

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky Impressions

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Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: William Grant & Sons Ltd., Scotland
Name: Monkey Shoulder, Batch 27 Smooth and Rich
Make: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: The name 'Monkey Shoulder' comes from an old distillery term for a strain injury often suffered by workers tasked to turn the malt by hand. Floor malting, where the barley is spread out over a malting floor and seeped in water, is a traditional method for making the barley germinate or sprout. The trick is to frequently toss or turn the barley with large malt shovels in order to prevent the sprouts from intertwining and clumping together. When the barley has germinated just the right amount to maximise sugar yield, it is dried in a kiln to stop the process and the finished product is called Malt.

Why did I buy it?

I bought a bottle of Monkey Shoulder for two reasons. It is cheap, coming in at around the mid-range for your most popular blended whiskies but still half the price of an entry-level single malt. I don't want to just write about expensive whisky. Not everyone feels the same way as I do about spending $100+ on a single bottle. You can pick up a bottle of Monkey Shoulder for under 50 bucks in Australia which for us, is cheap. Secondly, despite its relatively low price tag, Monkey Shoulder is a blend of only malt Scotch whisky, like the Compass Box Peat Monster. No cheaper grain whisky is utilised, like in most other blended Scotch whiskies including big names like Johnnie Walker.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: One of the best-looking bottles out there. A simple clear glass bottle with a pirate map-esk label, is set off by a distinctive and unique metal motif of three monkeys (one for each malt scotch used in the blend) pressed into the glass.
Appearance: Orange-gold in colour, almost certainly with some additional caramel colouring and chill-filtered. Bottled at 40% ABV.

Aroma: Fruity, honey and orange.

Flavour: I try blended whiskies a variety of ways, neat, on the rocks, with Coke, etc. Monkey Shoulder didn't really appeal to my palate taken neat or on the rocks. I preferred it with soda water and ice.
Smooth, with a hint of woody spice. Very easy to drink, no alcohol burn to speak of, at least to my abused taste buds. Fruity flavours like sweet banana, but overall unremarkable. 

Finish: Very little going on, not unusual for a blend. Slightly bitter aftertaste.

Would I buy it again?

No, but I would recommend it to others. Monkey Shoulder is a cheap blended whisky that doesn't taste cheap and nasty. No cheaper grain whisky is used in the blend and it is perfectly fine to drink neat, on ice or with the mixer of your choice if it appeals to your tastes. Personally, I would rather spend a little more money on my 'mixing whisky' and get something that appeals more to my own palate and drinking habits, but that is just me. If you like Monkey Shoulder then there is no reason to look any further for a quality go-to whisky.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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Compass Box Peat Monster Impressions

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Compass Box Peat Monster Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: Compass Box
Name: The Peat Monster
Make: Blended Scotch whisky
Extra Info: Compass Box is a bit of a rebel in the Scotch whisky world, having the first edition of their Spice Tree blend ordered off the shelves by the Scotch Whisky Association in 2006 and for being an active campaigner for total transparency in whisky labelling, contrary to current UK and EU laws which state only the age of the youngest whisky component in a bottle can be declared on a label or packaging.

Why did I buy it?

I am all for Compass Box's campaign for transparency, which was what first put the company on my radar. You can read about Compass Box's position and show your support here. Some of their bottlings are easier to find than others and The Peat Monster is one of the easier ones to locate in Australia. It may be more expensive than your average blend, but that is partly because The Peat Monster is made up exclusively of single malt scotch whiskies. There is no cheaper grain whisky used in this blend, which is common with most blended whiskies on the market.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Some of the Compass Box labels (especially the limited editions) are works of art. The Peat Monster's label is unlike any other whisky bottle label you are likely to see. Gold text and imagery on a dark brown background, it conjures images of a cross between a Lovecraftian Cthulhu and Audrey II of the Little Shop of Horrors. I love it and it proudly displays whiskymaker, John Glaser's name, which should be done more often.

 Appearance: Non-chill filtered and of natural colour, The Peat Monster is quite pale, being what I would call light gold coloured. A swirl results in thick legs clinging to the inside of the glass.

 Aroma: The following is a no-bullshit admission and although it could be just a lucky guess, it did happened and I am quite proud of myself.

 When I first opened the bottle and poured a dram, my initial thoughts on nosing were of Laphroaig and then Ledaig. As you can see from the nifty info-graphic below, provided by Compass Box, I was bang on! Perhaps I am learning something by drinking all this whisky.

© Compass Box Whisky Company

It is obviously smoky, but with a maritime element; Seaweed or wet sand. There is also an acridity to the smokiness, but it’s not unpleasant. The 46% ABV was surprisingly noticeably, suggesting this whisky is quite volatile, but that may just be because my part of Australia is suffering through a heat wave at the moment. Adding water really subdued the smoky aromas but unfortunately didn't bring much of anything else forward. There was something faint underneath that I couldn’t quite make out — pear skin perhaps?

 Flavour: Oily mouthfeel, cooling menthol, lots of pepper. Lives up to its name. Strong smokiness, catnip to peat freaks.

Finish: Long and mouth coating, slightly bitter smoke, lingering spice. Slight warming deep in the chest. The empty glass smells of aromatic woodchips, like those commonly used for smoking meat.

What did Scotchology think of it?

This is a special collaborative whisky review with Scotchology.com and as such, this is what the team at Scotchology thought of The Peat Monster from Compass Box. Be sure to check out their blog for more great whisky reviews and information.

 Adam - I actually enjoy this scotch. It is not the most complex I've ever tasted, but it isn't necessarily simple either. There is smoke and peat, of course, but it isn't trying to be an Islay, which I appreciate. There is a sweetness right on the edge, like seeing something out of the corner of your eye. I like the complexity.

 Michael - Two dimensional. It has this element of brine for me, then an element of peat. It just doesn't have a lot of layers. This one is fairly simple and consistent. It has a decent flavor and I don't mind it.

 Peter - It's strong. It definitely. It lingers. It stays a while. It's peaty. it has a lot. It's aggressive (there's the monster). I think it is fun. I like it.

 Jenny - The nose is pretty simple. Like I just get peat and smoke. Not much outside of that. Oddly enough, it's better after peated chips and humus. The palate is pretty straightforward. It's peaty. A little bit of smoke. Lingers for a bit. It's enjoyable, just not complex. Straightforward, enjoyable whisky.

 Caitlin - My general feeling is "eh". It's underwhelming. Ben - I expected this to be much more aggressive with a name like "Peat Monster." I've seen this on the shelf at the store before and been curious about it. The whisky itself is very fine but I feel a little misled by the name.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, but I am in no rush. I would like to sample more of what Compass Box has to offer before returning to The Peat Monster. One for peat freaks and better than your average blend partly because it is made up entirely of quality single malt Scotch whisky without the addition of any grain whisky.

 Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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Rare J&B Blended Scotch Whisky Impressions

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Rare J&B Blended Scotch Whisky Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Justerini & Brooks, London, England
Name: Rare J&B
Make: Blended Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: A blend of 42 different Scotch malt and grain whiskies, with a strong Speyside influence (Knockando and Glen Spey in particular). J&B was heavily promoted for the American market during Prohibition and subsequently became very popular in the USA after Prohibition ended in 1933.

Why did I buy it?

I am a massive fan of John Carpenter's classic film The Thing. Released in 1982 and starring Kurt Russell, The Thing is a shape-shifting monster movie set in Antarctica with some of the best and grossest practical effects you will ever see. So what has this got to do with J&B whisky? Me buying this whisky is a perfect example that product placement in films works...Be it over 30 years after the film was released. Kurt Russell's character, the American helicopter pilot, R.J. MacReady, is introduced drinking J&B on the rocks alone in his quarters as he plays chess against a Chess Wizard chess computer. The scene ends with MacReady cracking the shits and pouring the contents of his glass over the chess computer's circuit boards. I alway thought it was because he lost, but now I now understand the real reason why he did it.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Dark green glass bottle with a bright yellow label and iconic red J&B branding and screw cap. Looks perfectly presentable. Bottled at 40% ABV.

Appearance: Pale gold or straw coloured.

Aroma: Rubber and some kind of overripe fruit, bruised pear perhaps.

Flavour: Light and slightly smoky with an initial off-putting flavour that I cannot put my finger on. Addition of water or a mixer takes the edge off any unpleasantness.

Finish: Short with some spice.

Would I buy it again?

No. This is not a great whisky but to be fair it is not very expensive either, in fact, it is very cheap. The more of it I drank, the more I could tolerate the taste, but it is not really meant to be consumed neat. It is best with a mixer, preferably copious amounts of a strongly favoured one or in a cocktail. I bought it purely as a result of 30-year-old product placement in one of my favourite movies and will keep the bottle just in case I ever have the urge to dress up as R.J. MacReady and need a prop. I really wanted to enjoy it, but I didn't.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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Nikka Pure Malt Black Impressions

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Nikka Pure Malt Black Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Nikka Whisky, Japan
Name: Pure Malt Black
Make: Blended Whisky
Extra Info: There is a wonderful romance to the history of Nikka Whisky and the travels of its founder Masataka Taketsuru. In 1918, as a young man, Masataka, journeyed alone from Japan to Scotland. University educated in chemistry, Masataka learnt how to make whisky and fell in love with it and a Scottish woman named Rita Cowan. He honed his craft at both Hazelburn and Longmorn distilleries before he and Rita left Scotland, taking his newfound knowledge of whisky distillation with him back to Japan. Masataka worked for Suntory for 11 years before leaving in 1934 to make his own Japanese Whisky, after his 'Scotch-like' creations for Suntory were not favourably received by the Japanese. Masataka opened his own distillery, Nikka Whisky, in Yoichi, Hokkaido and produced what he considered to be authentic 'smoky' whisky, while Suntory went on to make milder blends.

Why did I buy it?

This was the first Japanese whisky that I purchased. I did some research and I wanted to buy something that was representative of the Japanese style but not prohibitively expensive. There is a huge demand for Japanese whisky and hence, the prices are quite high. Japanese blends are much more affordable than single malts so I decided on the Nikka Pure Malt Black.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: It comes in a small clear glass 500ml bottle that looks like it would be more at home in a laboratory than on a whisky shelf. It has  a short but wide cork top that can release suddenly if you are not careful when removing it. The label is a simple oval shape with black writing. It looks a bit home-brewish rather than a professionally bottled product if you ask me, but I and no doubt you, are more concerned with how it tastes than how it looks.

Appearance: Amber gold, bottled at 43% ABV and I believe it is both chill-filtered and has e150 colourant added.

Aroma: Sweet, faint smoke, pear and apricot.

Flavour: Peat smoke, fruity but I can't pick exactly what and some vanilla. 

Finish: Medium length, fading fruit with faint spice on the tongue.

Would I buy it again?

Probably not, but I do not regret that I did. It is a very nice blended whisky that is perfectly fine to drink neat and goes well in a Highball (with ice and soda water). It was a good introduction to Japanese whisky, but I want to try something different from Japan next time.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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