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Showing posts with label Impressions. Show all posts

The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Impressions

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The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Impressions


What is it?

Distillery: The Macallan
Name: 12 Year Old Double Cask
Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: The Macallan are very particular about the casks they select to age their whisky in, believing the cask wood to be responsible for imparting two-thirds of the whisky’s final aromas and flavours. Fast growing American Oak, from Ohio and Missouri, is selected for its dense tight grain structure which imparts lighter flavours of vanilla and fresh fruits to the spirit. Slower growing European Oak, from the northwest of Spain, is selected for its porous grain structure, imparting more tannins and richer flavours of dried fruits and spices.

Why did I buy it?

I didn’t. This bottle was a gift after attending the Sydney Toast The Macallan event in June last year. The event celebrated whisky from The Macallan, but in particular the launch of The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask onto the Australian Market. Sietse Offringa, The Macallan Brand Ambassador and now Head of Education at Edrington,  hosted the event on the night; that's his signature on the bottle. The 12 Year Old Double Cask is matured in a combination of European and American Oak ex-Sherry casks.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Classic Macallan packaging, clean and premium looking.

Appearance: Naturally bright gold in colour and chill filtered for clarity. Bottled at 40% ABV which is the minimum for a whisky.

Aroma: Yeasty, bread dough, sweet vanilla cream and a hint of further sweetness like munching on milk chocolate coated sultanas.

Flavour: Velvety mouthfeel, smooth and light, orange rind but not too bitter, some hot spices prickle the palate towards the finish.

Finish: Medium length, dry, malty aftertaste lasts but spice fades quickly.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, some whisky from The Macallan can be rather expensive, primarily because of their rarity, but the 12 Year Old Double Cask is reasonably priced and commonly available. The Double Cask is lighter than a typical ex-sherry cask matured whisky but I quite enjoyed it.


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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Longrow Red 13 Year Old Malbec Cask Impressions

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Longrow Red 13 Year Old Malbec Cask Impressions


What is it?

Distillery: Longrow
Name: Red, Malbec Cask Matured, Aged 13 Years
Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Malbec (sometimes called Côt and Auxxerois) is a purple grape variety used in making red wine and is grown predominantly in Argentina. Malbec is known for its blackberry, plum and black cherry flavours and a sweet tobacco finish – a perfect match for a peated whisky perhaps?

Why did I buy it?

I have been chasing a Longrow Red for a long time and snapped up this expression when it became available locally. Longrow Red is a limited release from Longrow and each batch uses casks seasoned with different red wine varieties. For this batch the spirit was aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for 15 months in fresh Malbec casks sourced from Stellenbosch in South Africa. This particular batch is limited to 9,000 bottles worldwide and Longrow Red expressions are usually only available in very limited quantities outside of European markets.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Keeps with the current Longrow white labelling with the use of red helping to denote this as a Longrow Red expression.

Appearance: Dark orange in the glass, amber in the bottle. Naturally coloured and turned cloudy in the glass for me; a product of being non-chill filtered, not a fault. Bottled at 51.3% ABV.

Aroma: Clear tobacco notes with a restrained, not overpowering smokiness. A little fizz in the nostrils, red orchard stone fruits and rasins soaked in alcohol. 

Flavour: A delicious full mouthfeel, sweet fruits at first with building spice as the liquid warms in the mouth. A slight bitterness like coffee beans, balancing the initial sweetness before the prickly spice takes over.

Finish: Long powerful finish, dark chocolate aftertaste, the slightest tingle left on the tongue with a mild warming in the chest and a lasting smoky kiss.

Would I buy it again?

My chances of finding this particular expression again are slim, but I would definitely buy other Longrow Red expressions when available. Use of ex-wine casks is quickly becoming a signature of the Australian whisky industry and Longrow Red is a great example of what the Scots can achieve matching ex-red wine casks with a peaty Campbeltown spirit.



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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Baldwin Premium Rye Whiskey Impressions

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Baldwin Premium Rye Whiskey Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: Baldwin Distilling Company
Name: Premium Rye Whiskey
Make: Australian Rye Whiskey
Extra Info: Baldwin Distilling Company is based in Mitchell, ACT and produces a range of US bourbon-style 51% corn mashbill 'premium whiskey' and moonshine including a premix whisky & cola using their own in-house cola. Baldwin spirits are produced in a single distilling run using a column still. 

Why did I buy it?

This bottle was given to me as a gift but it was my pick of the Baldwin Distilling Company range. I am quite partial to Rye whisky and while it may taste quite different to malt whisky or bourbon at first it's the differences that make it worth trying to improve your own whisky knowledge and appreciation.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: I personally love the Baldwin Distilling Company logo, it looks fantastic printed directly onto the 700ml short and stubby bottle. The Baldwin Rye is bottled at US 100 Proof or 50% ABV.

Appearance: Naturally amber gold in colour and chill filtered for clarity.

Aroma: Takes a little work to isolate the aromas in the glass but presents notes of fresh green grass, mint, vanilla and just a slight reminder of the harshness I noticed in the high alcohol (90% ABV) newmake spirit from which it began.

Flavour: Light mouthfeel with strong peppery spice popping through flavours of ginger and grapefruit with some sweeter melon flavours developing with the addition of water.

Finish: Long lingering spice on the tongue with a slight drying bitter aftertaste.

Would I buy it again?

Probably not, but there are few whiskies that I would. When there are so many whiskies out there to try, it takes something truly special to make my repeat buy list. Having only been around since 2015, it's safe to say that Baldwin Distilling Company has some room to improve and with time, I have no doubt they will. Right now Anthony Baldwin is tackling the lucrative premium spirits market head-on, which in itself is a point of difference to other Australian craft distilleries. If this approach pays off, Baldwin Distilling Company could become one of the biggest names in Australian distilling.


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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Bruichladdich PC12 Impressions

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Bruichladdich PC12 Impressions

What is it?

Distillery: Bruichladdich
Name: Port Charlotte 12 Year Old PC12 "Oileanach Furachail"
Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Bruichladdich was established in 1881 on the Scottish island of Islay. It was closed in 1994 before being refurbished in 2001 and reopened in 2013, with much of the original Victorian-era machinery still in use to this day.

Why did I buy it?

This particular expression from Bruichladdich is only available via travel retail outlets. I happened to be travelling overseas so I took the opportunity to purchase this bottle duty-free on my return.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Most Bruichladdich expressions are bottled in the same stout bottle with modern looking sans serif typeface lettering. The exception being the heavily peated Octomore range which use distinctive taller bottles. I quite like the Bruichladdich design language and it is definitely one of the more modern looking whiskies available. The PC12 is bottled at 58.7% ABV.

Appearance: Dark gold approaching amber in colour, this whisky is bottled at 58.7%ABV in non-chill filtered and has no added colouring.

Aroma: On first nose, it smelt like it could get you drunk on fumes alone. There was some smoke and alcohol at first and not much else. Some whiskies have more of those nose-burning volatile compounds than others and I have tasted higher ABV whiskies that do not smell as alcoholic as this. Perhaps surprisingly then, the PC12 got the 'Wife of WhiskDad Tick of Approval' i.e. she did not hate the smell of it.

 With a subtle change in nosing technique, the quite pleasant aroma of alcohol soaked sultanas is revealed more easily. The addition of water cuts the alcohol fumes and allows the dried fruit notes to come forward.

Flavour: Very smoky but with a distinct sweetness. Plenty of heat that may present a challenge for a palate not accustomed to cask strength whisky. The burn can be tempered with water without diluting the dominant smoke flavour, although it leaves the whisky tasting a little flat. The flavour benefits from the high ABV but it creates a more prickly mouthfeel rather than being smooth on the palate.

Finish: Long bitter smoke finish leaving a slight warming in the chest. Lingering aftertaste of smoke that stays in the mouth long after the drink is finished. Better brush your teeth after this one if you don't want your breath to smell like a log fire.

Would I buy it again?

There's a certain segment of whisky fans (and I think I used to be one) who believe that for whisky to be good it has to slap you in the face and your ability to take it makes you a 'real' whisky drinker. This is one of those face slapping whiskies, but I am not one of those believers anymore.

Bruichladdich PC12 is not a bad whisky; in fact, it would no doubt be highly regarded by the segment of whisky fans I mentioned above. But, I can't help thinking it lacks finesse. It's a little rough around the edges and perhaps that brashness is exactly the charm this whisky will have to some. Personally, I think I would rather try another Bruichladdich expression next time, rather than buy the PC12 again. The Bowmore 15 Year Old Darkest is a more balanced example of the marriage of sweet sherry and smoky flavours.


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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Paul John Peated Select Cask

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Paul John Peated Select Cask

Original photo provided by Tim Grant and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Paul John
Name: Peated Select Cask
Make: Indian Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: The Paul John distillery is situated in Goa, on the west coast of India. This is my last review of the standard Paul John range which consists of the expressions: Brilliance, Classic Select Cask, Edited, Bold and the subject of this review, Paul John Peated Select Cask.

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Paul John. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions. That is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Paul John whisky has an unusually uniform design language across their entire range. In fact, it can be difficult to distinguish between expressions from a distance, since the label differences are very subtle and the colour of the whisky look very similar. Bottled at 55.5% ABV.

Appearance: All the whisky in the Paul John range looks the same golden hue to me, but Paul John proudly claim their whisky contains no artificial colouring and are non-chill filtered. I can only assume that some form of distillery wizardry must take place to achieve such a consistent colour across the range.

Aroma: A beautiful combination of sweet fruits, caramel and faint smoke; less smokey than you would expect an expression with 'Peated' in the name to be.

Flavour: Powerfully spicy, not for the faint hearted. Beneath a strong cooling menthol hides a sweetness that reveals itself if you hold off swallowing. Chocolate coated liquorice, black coffee and woodchip smoke.

Finish: A long lasting smoky slap on the tongue.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, Paul John Peated Select Cask is a great single malt but it may scare off drinkers not used to a particularly lively cask strength whisky. It has a pleasant nose, a dramatic flavour, a nice long smokey finish. I would pick a bottle of this up for myself or recommend it to a sceptical peat whisky fan. So which Paul John expression is my favourite?

 My pick would have to be the Classic Select Cask, it is a little more balanced than the Peated Select Cask but both higher alcohol expressions from Paul John are excellent. A special thanks to Paul John Whisky for providing the samples for these reviews.

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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Paul John Bold Impressions

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Paul John Bold Impressions

Original photo provided by Tim Grant and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Paul John
Name: Bold
Make: Indian Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: The Paul John distillery is situated in Goa, on the west coast of India. In the hot and humid weather of Goa, whisky ages three or four times faster than in your typical Scottish storehouse. This means a young Indian single malt can look, smell and taste comparable to a much older Scotch single malt. Unfortunately, the rapid ageing also means that far more whisky is lost to the “Angel’s Share” in India; in the case of Paul John, around 6% to 8% of the volume of a cask is lost per year of ageing. In comparison, an ageing Scotch whisky cask usually reduces in volume at a rate of less than 2% per year.

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Paul John. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions. That is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Paul John whisky has an unusually uniform design language across their entire range. In fact, it can be difficult to distinguish between expressions from a distance, since the label differences are very subtle and the colour of the whisky look very similar. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Appearance: All the whisky in the Paul John range looks the same golden hue to me, but Paul John proudly claim their whisky contains no artificial colouring and are non-chill filtered. I can only assume that some form of distillery wizardry must take place to achieve such a consistent colour across the range.

Aroma: Quite a restrained nose, faint clove spice, not smokey at all, a little fruity.

Flavour: A very pleasant smooth and balanced spicy mix with a smokiness that builds as the whisky warms in your mouth.

Finish: A bit of a nothing finish, a brief spicy pop that fades quickly.

Would I buy it again?

No, in my opinion, Paul John Bold is a little one dimensional; by saying that I mean Paul John Bold definitely stars on the palate but fails to impress on the nose and in the finish. I am sure that a lot of people would like this whisky since it excels in flavour without overpowering the drinker but personally, I like a little more going on regardless of how tasty it may be. Paul John Bold is an inoffensive single malt that tastes great but is just not as involving as I would have liked. It would make an excellent introduction to Indian single malt whisky or as an example of a lightly peated malt for someone new to a peated style. Perhaps it could have been better if it was bottled at a slightly higher ABV.

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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Mackmyra Ten Years Impressions

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Mackmyra Ten Years Impressions

Original photo provided by Mackmyra and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Mackmyra
Name: Ten Years
Make: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: Mackmyra was founded in 1999 by a group of eight like minded whisky-loving friends studying at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Their first whisky, Preludium 01, was released in 2006. Mackmyra source all of their ingredients from within Sweden. Mackmyra Ten Years is the brand’s first age statement single malt whisky.

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Mackmyra. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions; that is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: If Mackmyra Ten Years was IKEA, it would be called 'Giant catalogue maze that you can't escape without buying a side table with a silly name, when all you want is a hotdog.' It pretty much says it all on the label. Bottled at 46.1% ABV.

Appearance: Um, yellow? It's not pale like straw or darker gold.

Aroma: Smells like a freshly opened box of IKEA flat-pack furniture, with tinned fruit in syrup and some grass. 

Flavour: Fruity with a slight sweet smokiness - not peated, more like a smokey spice, paprika perhaps?

Finish: Quite long with a strong spicy fade.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, I only had a measly 50ml to taste and that was enough to pique my interest. I have tried a number of Mackmyra whiskies in the past and the Ten Years is definitely one of the better ones. An excellent choice for an introduction to Scandinavian 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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Paul John Edited Impressions

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Paul John Edited Impressions

Original photo provided by Tim Grant and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Paul John
Name: Edited
Make: Indian Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: The Paul John distillery is situated in Goa, on the west coast of India. Paul John Edited is distilled from a mix of unpeated Indian malt and malt dried with fires fuelled by peat imported from Islay and Aberdeen in Scotland. Approximately 15% of the final whisky uses the peated malt, producing a lightly peated profile for this ex-bourbon cask matured Indian single malt whisky.

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Paul John. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions. That is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Paul John whisky has an unusually uniform design language across their entire range. In fact, it can be difficult to distinguish between expressions from a distance, since the label differences are very subtle and the colour of the whisky look very similar. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Appearance: All the whisky in the Paul John range looks the same golden hue to me, but Paul John proudly claim their whisky contains no artificial colouring and are non-chill filtered. I can only assume that some form of distillery wizardry must take place to achieve such a consistent colour across the range.

Aroma: Big leather notes, perhaps some lanolin and charcoal.

Flavour: Thin mouthfeel with a clearly medicinal taste and a little spice.

Finish: Smooth, medium length with a lasting tingle on the tongue.

Would I buy it again?

No, it is not my favourite expression in the Paul John range. I stand by my own impressions but my tasting notes differ quite a lot from some other opinions I have read. Although I found the strong leather nose to be pleasant, it was also rather overpowering, leaving the whisky's aroma a little unbalanced. The flavour tasted like what I would imagine a lightly peated Laphroaig to taste like, so if you like your peated malts with a more medicinal flavour, you will most likely find a lot to enjoy in the Paul John Edited. 

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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Paul John Classic Select Cask Impressions

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Paul John Classic Select Cask Impressions

Original photo provided by Tim Grant and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Paul John
Name: Classic Select Cask
Make: Indian Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: The Paul John distillery is situated in Goa, on the west coast of India. Indian single malt whisky is produced primarily for the export market. An Indian 'whisky' is produced and sold locally made from blending a molasses-based spirit similar to Rum with either grain whisky or blended Scotch whisky. This cannot be sold as 'whisky' in most of the world and is often referred to as a 'spirit drink.' However, according to Forbes, in 2014 one such 'spirit drink,' Officer’s Choice sold 28.4 million 9-liter cases - about 255 million litres and enough to fill over 100 Olympic-size swimming pools. By comparison, that is over 14 times the volume of global Johnnie Walker sales!

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Paul John. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions. That is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Paul John whisky has an unusually uniform design language across their entire range. In fact, it can be difficult to distinguish between expressions from a distance, since the label differences are very subtle and the colour of the whisky look very similar. Bottled at 55.2% ABV.

Appearance: All the whisky in the Paul John range looks the same golden hue to me, but Paul John proudly claim their whisky contains no artificial colouring and are non-chill filtered. I can only assume that some form of distillery wizardry must take place to achieve such a consistent colour across the range.

Aroma: A delectable blend of nutmeg spice, sweet honey and faint vanilla notes.

Flavour: Oily mouthfeel, sweet and peppery.

Finish: Smooth, medium length, late spicy pop with some bitterness at the last moment.

Would I buy it again?

Yes. Paul John Classic Select Cask is an ideal whisky for when you want to just wile away the hours savouring the aroma and taking the occasional sip. Depending on your tastes, you may want to add a little water due to the relatively high alcohol content, but I found it to be great neat. Paul John Classic Select Cask is the kind of whisky you can nose incessantly and where a single dram can last an age. I really enjoyed it.

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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Paul John Brilliance Impressions

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Paul John Brilliance Impressions

Original photo provided by Tim Grant and used with permission.

What is it?

Distillery: Paul John
Name: Brilliance
Make: Indian Single Malt Whisky
Extra Info: The Paul John distillery is situated in Goa, on the west coast of India. A popular tourist location with temperatures ranging from an average of 25°C in winter to an average of 30°C in summer. Pair this with a tropical monsoon climate at you have all the makings for rapidly ageing (and evaporating) whisky. Paul John tries to slow this process by ageing their whisky in underground temperature-controlled bond stores, but don't expect to India whisky boasting of double-figure age statements like those of Scotch; similarly to Taiwan and Australia, whisky just ages and is lost to the "Angel's Share" much faster in these climates.

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. This is a review of a sample bottle kindly provided by Paul John. I usually only review full-size bottles since I can take my time and drink as much as I need to finalise my impressions. That is more difficult to do with a sample bottle, but I have done my best.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Paul John whisky has an unusually uniform design language across their entire range. In fact, it can be difficult to distinguish between expressions from a distance, since the label differences are very subtle and the colour of the whisky look very similar. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Appearance: All the whisky in the Paul John range looks the same golden hue to me, but Paul John proudly claim their whisky contains no artificial colouring and are non-chill filtered. I can only assume that some form of distillery wizardry must take place to achieve such a consistent colour across the range.

Aroma: Pleasantly oaky, citrus notes and vanilla cream sponge cake.

Flavour: Tingling spices on the tongue, saliva-inducing dry with fennel and pepper.

Finish: Medium length, fading spice with a bitter aftertaste.

Would I buy it again?

If I had tried it in isolation, Yes; but I tried it alongside other expressions from Paul John and to be honest, Brilliance wasn't my favourite. Paul John Brilliance is a perfectly fine example of Indian single malt and I bet if you haven't tried Indian whisky before, it tastes better than you would expect. In fact, Brilliance was awarded 'Best Overseas Whisky' at the 2017 Òran Mór Whisky Awards in Scotland. But in my opinion, Brilliance is the tamest of the Paul John whisky range and is not the one I will be coming back to.

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 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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Kilkerran 12 Year Old Impressions

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Kilkerran 12 Year Old Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Glengyle, Campbeltown, Scotland
Name: Kilkerran 12 Year Old
Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Glengyle is the fourth whisky label to be owned and operated by J&A Mitchell and Co. along with Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn. The distillery is named after the original Glengyle distillery, founded in Campbeltown by William Mitchell in 1875 and operated until 1925. The name Kilkerran is used to distinguish the brand from the similarly named 'Glen Gyle' which is an established blended Highland malt scotch whisky and in reference to the Gaelic name of the original settlement where Campbeltown now stands.

Why did I buy it?

Every whisky I have tried from the Campbeltown region to date I have loved, so it was only natural for me to try the new kid on the block. It has taken a few months for the Kilkerran 12 Year Old to make it to the Australia market and a slew of positive reviews have caused it to be already sold out in many regions...So I bought two bottles. Needless to say, I was very excited to taste.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Strikingly simple. Black text and graphics on a textured white background adorn both the packaging and clear glass bottle label. 
Appearance: Bright gold, non-chill filtered with no added colouring and bottled at 46%.

 I'm going to break from tradition here and discuss my tasting experience with the Kilkerran 12 Year Old. There are two main ways to drink whisky, critically where you attempt to systematically critique each aspect of the whisky and draw out as much information as you can; and non-critically, where you just sit back and enjoy the bloody thing. I am sitting here right now with barely a finger left in my first bottle of Kilkerran 12 Year Old and my tasting notes are still blank! I really want to explore the depths of this whisky but I keep giving up, putting my pen down and enjoying it instead. The following notes are taken against my will, I would have much preferred to just drink it.

Aroma: A generous fruit bowl with a banana just past its prime. Wet driftwood.

Flavour: A subtle smoky woodiness surprises since it does not smell smoky at all. 

Finish: Long, spicy tingle with a mild warming deep in the chest and a pinch of salt on the aftertaste.

Would I buy it again?

Yes and I thought I might, hence why I bought two bottles to avoid being disappointed in the future. The Kilkerran 12 Year Old is a great whisky and another winner from Campbeltown. I know I will have to come back and revisit my notes when I open the second bottle but for this first taste of a brand new Campbeltown whisky, I was more than happy to just sit back and enjoy the bloody thing.

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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Starward Wine Cask Edition 1 Impressions

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Starward Wine Cask Edition 1 Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: Starward New World Whisky
Name: Wine Cask Edition 1
Make: Australian Single Malt
Extra Info: Starward Wine Cask Edition was only this week awarded the coveted World Whiskies Awards - Best Australian Single Malt Whisky, for the second year in a row.

Why did I buy it?

I originally sampled this whisky as part of a whisky tasting event in Hobart last year and it was my favourite whisky tasted on the night and had this to say about it:
...matured exclusively in ex-Australian red wine barrels sourced from an undisclosed South Australian winery. The nose was sweet and fruity, delicate, with notes of strawberry. The sweetness continued on the palate with flavours of sweet summer berries followed by a medium-length finish that ended in a slightly bitter aftertaste.  
I had been meaning to buy a bottle since then and found one quite easily at a large local bottle shop chain and iIt will be interesting to if my impressions differ with a full bottle. It just so happened the bottle I picked up was one of the original run Wine Cask Edition 1, probably worth something to an investor (especially after two Best Australian Single Malt awards) but I was content to open it rather than just look at it because it really is a lovely whisky to drink.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: I love the label on the bottle, it is simple, clean and modern and so is the nicely shaped bottle that tapers slightly inwards towards a chunky base.

 Appearance: Dark gold approaching amber in colour. No age statement, bottled at 41% ABV.

Aroma: Confectionery sweet, strawberries and cream, marshmallow and raspberry coulis. A pleasant nose without any harsh alcohol burn.

Flavour: Light mouthfeel, sweet summer berries.

Finish: Medium length, a fruity aftertaste with the slightest spicy tingle and a mild warming fade.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, absolutely. The Starward Wine Cask Edition is a uniquely Australian whisky, it's like a Christmas Pavlova smothered in berries and cream, enjoyed on the veranda on a balmy summer afternoon. Not only that but it is very forgiving for whisky newcomers. It's sweet, without a harsh alcohol burn and quite easy to drink. It has subtleties for the seasoned connoisseur, but I believe this to be a great introductory whisky for someone looking to try whisky neat for the first time. Uniquely Australian, sweet and easy to drink, I can see why it was judged Australia's best.

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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