Strathisla 12 Year

Spirit Name: Strathisla 12 Year

Category: Scotch

Country:  Scotland

Region: Speyside

ABV: 43%

Price range: 750ml $56.50 CDN

Nose: A little hot and spirity.  Slightly earthiness surounds a core of American oak vanilla and ripe orchard fruits.  A sherry backbone punches you in the nose.

Taste:  A good mouth feel improves with a few drops of water, gets creamier.  Malty sweetness is almost candy sweet, but not to the point of cloying.  Sherry influence comes on strong towards the conclusion.  Wood in the form of cedar hides in the background and mingles with some earthy qualities.  Not smokey in any way, more mineral and metallic qualities.  Hard to pin down but pleasant enough.  Nice spirit warmth coats all the way down.  Typical Speyside fruits and honey vanillas hang about making it a nice experience with the sherry amping up the party.  Not quite refined and can be a bit sharp though.  Its 12 years going on 8.

Finish:  Hot, spicy and long.  Chest warming with sherry sweetness coating everything.

Would I buy it again: Well yes I would if the LCBO didn’t discontinue it!  Get it while you can.

Would I recommend it to a friend:  Yes because $56 isn’t a bad price for any SWM like this.

Worthy as a daily dram: Yes but I could pick a few others that would top this one.

Collection worthy:  Yes, its a must have Speysider to complete any shelf.

Comments: I always thought I should have a bottle of this in my collection because its attractive price range (sub $60) and the fact that its the “fingerprint malt” in the Chivas Brothers blends.  I first had this malt at a Companions of the Quaich tasting event.  I was impressed by the lightly sherried influence’s ability to pack a punch with only 43% ABV.  Don’t get me wrong, this is not world beater, but it sure is a nice after dinner sit by the fire and watch a movie with your wife kind of dram...

From the bottle:

“At Strathisla, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, they have been distilling fine malt whisky since 1786.  Little has changed over the centuries; this is still a craft, not an industry, and the fact shows in the quality of the whisky itself.  Fresh water from the spring, and lightly peated barely malt, are the only ingredients.  Strathisla has been described by an expert as “very smooth, long, soothing”.”

In summary I would describe this whisky as everything that’s good about your basic stereotypical Speyside malt, infused with a dash of sherry, with the volume amped up to 11.  Let this one sit for 10 mins in the glass with 2 drops of water before you even touch it.  It will ripen to reveal its depth and complexity if given the chance.

LCBO product information.

More information on Strathisla SMW

Let's see what Tom the peatluvr has to say:

Poll Results: What are your favourite Scotch producing regions?

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SCOTCH PRODUCING REGIONS?

Highlands	(25%)
Lowlands	(8.33%)
Speyside	(8.33%)
Islay	(25%)
Campbeltown	(8.33%)
Outer Islands	(25%)

Well it looks like people like their malts heavier in general with peat and smoke influences.  Can't same I blame you, I'm in the same boat.  My personal choices would be Islay > Outer Islands > Highlands > Campbeltown > Speyside > Lowlands in that order.  But each to their own of course!

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year

Spirit Name: The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year

Category: Scotch

Country:  Scotland

Region: Speyside

ABV: 40% (But should be 43%)

Price range: 750ml $68.95 CDN

Nose: A little hot and spirity.  Slightly earthiness surounds a core of American oak vanilla and ripe orchard fruits.  A sherry kiss.

Taste:  Good mouth feel improves with a few drops of water, gets creamier.  Malty sweetness is almost candy sweet, but not to the point of cloying.  Sherry influence comes on strong towards the conclusion.  Wood in the form of cedar hides in the background and mingles with some earthy qualities.  Not smokey in any way, more minerals and metallic vegetal qualities.  Hard to pin down but pleasant enough.  Nice spirit warmth coats all the way down.  Typical Speyside fruits and honey vanillas hang about making it a nice experience.

Finish:  Hot, spicy and long.  Chest warming.

Would I buy it again: Oh ya, this will be a regular on my shelf.

Would I recommend it to a friend:  Yes. 

Worthy as a daily dram: Without doubt.

Collection worthy:  Yes, its a must have Speysider.

Comments: I’ve always thought that The Balvenie looked the part of a classic single malt.  Their packaging is relatively plain but still seems to say “I’m the real damn deal”.  Thankfully, what’s in the glass can back up the classy presentation.  This is a really nice dram anyway you cut it.  Even if you aren’t a fan of sherried malts, this only has been “kissed” by the sometimes overpowering sugar sweetness from a sherry cask.  It adds complexity without running roughshod over the whole thing.  Here is what the carton has to say:

“The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old single malt which gains its distinctive character from being matured in two woods. Over its period of maturation it is transferred from a traditional oak whisky cask to a first fill European oak sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt ~ the traditional casks soften and add character, whilst the sherry wood brings depth and fullness of flavour.”

More information on the DoubleWood

LCBO product info

Lets see what Ralfy has to say:

Ardmore Traditional Cask

Spirit Name: Ardmore Traditional Cask

Category: Scotch

Country:  Scotland

Region: Speyside

ABV: 46%

Price range: 750ml $44.95 CDN

Nose: Earthy peat, minerals and sweet thick rich malt.  Spirity nose from the higher ABV.

Taste:  Damn this is good stuff.  Tangy hot pepper with the sweetness of ripe orchard fruits.  Smoke and earthy peat.  Not an island peat because there is no salty island flavours to accompany the peat.  The peat levels are significant but not like the big 3 Islay malts.  Think more like Bowmore, Talisker or Jura Superstition levels.  This malt is think and oily.  The mouth feel is awesome, slides on your tongue.  This is so thick you could stand a straw up in it!  Damn I’m really liking this flavour package.  No wonder its the backbone of Teacher’s Highland Cream.

Finish:  Hot, spicy and long.  Pleasant peat hangs on as smoke curls up your nose.

Would I buy it again: Yup, I’ve already got two bottles.

Would I recommend it to a friend:  Yes, already have. 

Worthy as a daily dram:  The best taste-to-price ratio of any Scotch on the market.  This is a frigin’ cracker!

Collection worthy:  Yes, buy two.

Comments:  This is the most enjoyable dram I’ve had in this price range.  Its almost too cheap for how good it is.  I wouldn’t hesitate to run right out and nab a bottle.  Its a peat, smoke, and sweet malt clinic.  An education in a glass.  Here is what it says on the bottle:

“Founded in 1898 by one of Scotland’s most famous whisky families, Ardmore Single Malt has a long commitment to quality.  William Teacher was a believer in traditional distilling methods and insisted that Ardmore only use the aromatic smoke from natural, Highland peat fires to dry our malted barely.

Sadly today, the high cost has meant that only one Highland Distillery still routinely fully ‘peats’ its standard malt.  Ardmore is rightly proud to be that distillery.  Our traditional methods extend to maturation.  Ardmore Traditional Cask is double matured, first in the more usual oak barrels, and then in much smaller ‘Quarter Casks’.  These were common in the 19th century, but are too costly for most distillers to use today.

Finally, bottled at 46% ABV, Ardmore is only barrier rather than chill filtered thus preserving the natural flavours.  These methods ensure we maintain the quality of our uniquely complex and rewarding malt whisky.”

Ardmore Traditional Cask information

LCBO product information

What do the Malt Maniacs have to say?

Poll results: Which country makes the best whisky?

Well its been a week of gathering votes in the poll and I have the results.


Poll question: Which country makes the best whisky?


Scotland - 66%
Japan - 22%
Canada - 11%
Ireland - 0%
USA - 0%


Not a surprising result however there are some interesting things to note:


- Japan took second place.  I know they make some pretty terrific stuff but I would have thought they may have taken third or possibly fourth.
- Both the USA and Ireland received zero votes.  I would have thought that with the population of American whisky drinkers and the resurgence of Irish whisk(e)y fans, there would have been some support for these options.


Interesting.  Thanks to those that participated!


WINNER - SCOTLAND

Gibson’s Finest 12 Year

Spirit Name: Gibson’s Finest 12 Year

Category: Blended Whisky

Country: Canada

Region: Ontario

ABV: 40% (but should be at 43% or above)

Price range: 750ml $28.25 CDN

Nose: Sweet warm spirity nose.  Typical Canadian but with more refinement because it thankfully isn’t “corn forward”.  There is a nice spice and rye undertone propping everything up.

Taste:  Wow, this is a fine example of what Canada can produce if we aren’t trying to fill the world’s requirements of cheap brown spirits to mix with ginger ale.  Its nicely matured and yet has some vigor provided by the spicy rye influence.  Its finely balanced and has a nice depth for a blend fronted by the strong anise tones throughout.  It’ll never be mistaken for Scotch or Bourbon; it is it’s own animal, and this sucker has fangs!

Finish:  Pleasantly warm on the palate.  Not too long but it’ll do the trick.  Sweet coating on the tongue hangs out and dances for a bit.

Would I buy it again: Yup, I’ll always have a bottle at the ready.  It’s also a great option to give someone who wouldn’t appreciate that bottle of Talisker on the top shelf.

Would I recommend it to a friend:  Yes, already have. Turned him away from his Crown Royal (corn based swill if you ask me) and onto this.

Worthy as a daily dram:  An excellent Canadian option for an after work nip. 

Collection worthy: Not this one, but the 18 year is a must have.

Comments:  If only Canada would spend more time producing something like this Gibson’s 12 Year we’d be MUCH more respected on the world whisky stage.  This whisky (although its a blend) can stand tall beside many of the worlds best blended options.  Its readily available throughout Canada for less than $30.  It isn’t however exported, even though its owned by William Grant & Son’s (think Glenfiddich/Balvenie).  I’m torn over wanting WG&S to show this spirit to the world.  If they do, I’m sure it will be well received and therefore constrict supply in Canada.  And that just wouldn’t do...

From the bottle:

“Gibson’s Finest 12 Year old is a superb blend of fine aged Canadian whiskies.  The result is the exceptionally smooth, soft and mellow taste unique to Gibson’s Finest, now recognized as one of Canada’s finest.”

I wish they would get a real webpage!

LCBO product information

See what Davin has to say at www.canadianwhisky.org

The Spirit of Toronto - recap and review

The Spirit of Toronto

So this year was my first time attending the Spirit of Toronto event.  I was really rather excited about the prospect of being in a room with dozens of distillery representatives wanting to force their wares on me.  After all, who am I to deny anyone their wishes?

For those that haven’t been to the event, the price of admission looks like this:

Event ticket - $129

Early admission fee - $29 (gets you in to the 5:30 master class and into the tasting hall before general admission)

Master classes - $10

Dinner is included as part of the cost and ALL tastings at the booths are FREE.

I went with a friend and we both chose to get the early admission so we could attend John Glaser’s Compass Box master class.  At the class we tasted a number of things of their’s including the original Spice Tree (now illegal) and the LCBO only botting of Magic Cask.  WOW, such tasty malts.  John’s a bit of a magician I think (pardon the pun).

We then attended Davin de Kergommeaux’s “Golden Age of Canadian Whisky” master class.  Very well presented and quite a learning experience.  We tasted some old beauties like Bush Pilot's Reserve and Lot 40 that have long been out of production.  Quite an interesting experience and very novel to meet Davin (a real Malt Maniac).

The rest of the night was spent roaming around the show floor at Roy Thomson Hall (a circular opera house by rights) sampling various spirits.  There was a broad selection of Scotches, Bourbons/Rye’s, Canadian whiskies and other world offerings including Australia and Japan.

Pictures from this year's Spirit of Toronto event

Whisky pod videos of people's reviews from the show.

The show is quite well done and gets a lot of international attention.  The only thing I was somewhat disappointed in was the bottle selection on the various brand booths.  It seemed to be limited to the offerings available as SKUs at the LCBO.  For instance Laphroaig only had their Quarter Cask at the booth, that’s it - 1 malt.  I mean WTF is that about?  Where is the 10, 18, 25 Year or some of the Islay Festival bottlings?  The same held true with other booths too, just odd really.

Would I recommend going back?  Absolutely without question.  

Would I recommend it to a friend?  Yup, already bugging my buddies about next year.

Anyone want to join me?!