Aug 15

Open-Bottle Shelf-Life Experiment – Lagavulin 16

Lavavulin 16 Year Old Scotch Detail

My good friend Ryan at the now out of commission Value Whisky Reviews started an idea that examines a concept that whiskey drinkers have wondered about for a long time.  He wanted to determine how much the air in your bottle of opened whiskey changes the contents over time.  He called these his “Open-Bottle Shelf-Life Experiments“.  From Ryan, I have acquired an opened bottle of Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch and several small sample containers with whisky from the same bottle.  The idea is that the large bottle has more air interacting with the whisky and the small containers have as little air as possible to interact and manipulate the contents, thus retaining the aromas and tastes of the original whisky.

For simplicity sake, we will call the “preserved”, small container Lagavulin Whisky A and the “open bottle” Lagavulin Whisky B.  The original bottle was opened on February 15, 2012 , and the small container was filled and sealed on February 19, 2012.  I am performing the experiment on July 12, 2012, nearly five months later.

 

Experiment

Nose

Whisky A is decidedly more full-bodied than Whisky B.  It has the chocolate orange that Ryan had previously mentioned in his review.  I also totally “get” the band-aid peat references he made.  In comparison, Whisky B has a much weaker aroma, with almost an unpleasant smell.  It doesn’t seem to have lost its kick as far as alcohol content in the nose, but it has certainly lost its allure.  To be completely honest, Whisky B has a similar quality in the nose to a cheap, watered down bourbon like Virginia Gentlemen.

Whisky A is quite mouth-watering to any serious whisky fan, whereas Whisky B smells like a run-of-the-mill Scotch with not much else to it.

Taste

In the mouth, Whisky A tastes pretty watered down, but good flavor overall.  There’s a nice amount of peat and it tastes well-balanced.  Whisky B is actually pretty similar in taste, which is a positive!  Perhaps the nose is what is affected and not the taste – maybe there’s hope!  There’s a little more smoke in Whisky A, but that’s about it.

Finish

The finish for both Whisky A and Whisky B is pretty long due to the peat influence.  They both hold up pretty well and are very similar.  The only difference is that Whisky A carries more peat in the finish and Whisky B carries more generic maritime Scotch flavor.

 

Conclusion

This whisky certainly changed over time, which was very noticeable from the second I compared the nose of the two of these side-by-side.  However, I fully expected the difference to be much more extreme, and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised, largely because bottles of whiskey can spend a gratuitous amount of time on my shelf before they are finished.

I give my friend Ryan a lot of credit for starting these experiments and digging deeper into whiskey and the way we perceive and interact with it.  I have certainly learned a lot and will continue to be inquisitive when it comes to my whiskey and the way it changes over time.

 

-Ryan

Aug 11

Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch – Review

Lagavulin 16 Year Old ScotchLagavulin 16 Year Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky

86 Proof

Price Point: $80 – $90 for 750 ML

Distiller: Lagavulin Distillery

 

Background

Lagavulin is one of those iconic brands in the world of whiskey.  It has quite a reputation, and at that price point, it better!  Most of the time, I’m very skeptical of legendary brands like this, as I’ve found that I have a tendency put them up on a pedestal only to have my expectations come crashing down to reality upon the first sip.  I have almost subconsciously stayed away from Lagavulin for that very reason.  Until now…

 

Review

Lagavulin 16 Year Old starts out with a great nose!  It’s big, bold, and powerful from the very start.  The forceful smoke pushes you back while also drawing you in.  It’s salty and warm, with some kind of citrus fruit (orange?).

It’s surprisingly light in texture and taste – gentle almost.  It has matured Islay peat with strong smoke undertones.  An instant classic.

The finish on Lagavulin 16 Year Old is delicious, with lots of complexity.  Really very nice.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Lagavulin 16 Year Old has lived up to its reputation, earning a 90 out of 100.

This is truly a step above many Scotches, and the benchmark by which other Islay whiskies should be measured.  Thankfully, my high expectations were met with Lagavulin.

 

-Ryan

Aug 04

Highland Park 12 Year Old Scotch – Review

Highland Park 12 Year Old ScotchHighland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

86 Proof

Price Point: $35 – $45 for 750 ML

Distiller: Highland Park Distillery

 

Background

Like many of my other recent reviews, I first had Highland Park 12 Year Old at Whiskey Fest 2011.  It was a pleasant surprise among an overwhelming variety of whiskeys to try.

The Highland Park Distillery is Scotland’s northernmost distillery, far away from the hustle and bustle of Speyside or even Islay.  The distillery is on the isle of Orkney, and just a half mile north of the Scapa Distillery.  This unique terroir gives Highland Park a unique set of characteristics.

 

Review

The nose on Highland Park 12 Year Old is relatively standard, although it does seem well-aged from the first whiff.  There’s a little bit of fruit present, similar to the Glenlivet.

The taste is a bit sharper than its 43% ABV suggests.  There are some spicy notes here, but nothing too over the top.

The finish is smoky, which is kind of surprising as the nose doesn’t necessarily suggest the presence of smoke.

 

Rating & Recommendations

I like Highland Park 12 Year Old, but I wouldn’t rate it as high as some of my colleagues.  To me, this whisky earns a rating of 79 out of 100.

As with all single malts, leave it alone and drink it neat.

I do enjoy Highland Park 12 Year Old, but it seems to be missing something.  Perhaps the older expressions have more to offer.

 

-Ryan

Jul 28

Bruichladdich Rocks Scotch – Review

Bruichladdich Rocks ScotchBruichladdich Rocks Un-Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

92 Proof

Price Point: $45 – $55 for 750 ML

Distiller: Bruichladdich Distillery

 

Background

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bruichladdich (pronounced brook-lad-dee), but it’s not a Scotch I had previously tried.  On a recent trip to the liquor store, my wife and I were drawn to the unique cylindrical package with the teal blue background and large white font.  The other thing that got our attention was the descriptor of “un-peated Islay single malt”.  Kind of an oxymoron, so we thought it would be worth the try.

 

Review

The nose on Bruichladdich Rocks is far from the typical Islay whisky.  Upon my first waft, I noted that there was a distinct sweet smell of bread.  After reading the pamphlet inside, the distillers pinpoint it to banana bread, which is spot on!  There’s a slight vegetable smell (in a good way) with a hint of mint.

Rocks tastes a little young; there is definitely more complexity in the nose than in the taste.  It’s slightly fruity, but still has more banana bread than anything else.

The finish is a bit rougher than the nose and taste.  More of the finish of a Highland than an Islay.  Very nice.

 

Rating & Recommendations

I really enjoy Bruichladdich Rocks, therefore it has earned a rating of 87 out of 100.

Despite the name of Rocks, this stuff should be as far away from ice as possible!  Drink it neat or regret it!

Although I typically buy Islay whiskies for their peat and smoke, I really appreciate what Bruichladdich did with Rocks.  If you like drinking out-of-the-ordinary Scotch, give this one a try.  I would buy again, for sure.

 

-Ryan

Jul 22

My Whiskey Decision Has Been Made

Hedonism Spice Tree DetailAbout a week and a half ago, I wrote a post asking you to Choose My Next Whiskey.  I had $150 in AMEX gift cards to use, and wanted to get your opinion on how I should use them.  You guys had some great suggestions:

Ultimately, I chose to go with Hedonism, as I had already experienced other Compass Box expressions (Peat Monster and Oak Cross).  I had a little bit of money left over, so I picked up another member of the family – Spice Tree.

Overall, I’m very happy with my decision, and would like to thank everyone who commented with suggestions.  Look for my reviews soon!

 

-Ryan

Jul 21

Ardbeg Uigeadail Scotch – Review

Ardbeg UigeadailArdbeg Uigeadail Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

108.4 Proof

Price Point: $70 – $80 for 750 ML

Distiller: Ardbeg Distillery Limited

 

Background

Today happens to be my birthday, so I thought I would make today’s post extra special by reviewing an extraordinary Scotch – Ardbeg Uigeadail.  For those of you unfamiliar with this whisky, it has achieved quite a reputation in many other blogs and publications.  I am perpetually a skeptic, as taste is something entirely subjective, and is often influenced by things outside of the quality of the whisky (marketing, price point, fellow bloggers, etc.).  So when I first shelled out $75 for a bottle of Uigeadail, I was really hoping that the rest of the world was right.  Maybe I should stop being so skeptical…

 

Review

The nose is powerful on this stuff.  There’s smoke (obviously!) and motor oil, burning and alluring all at once.  Uigeadail is also conversely floral, like a walk through Longwood Gardens.  This is a nosing whisky on steroids.

The taste is simply incredible.  Uigeadail is sherry and smoke (sweet and salty) combined to perfection.  I was a little concerned that the sherry influence would extract some of the powerful maritime notes I was familiar with from the 10 Year Old, but it seems they are even more evident in this whisky.  There’s some nice oak in here too – you can really taste the time and care in the aging process.  This is Islay at its absolute best.

Uigeadail has a refined, ultra-aged finish, complemented by the 54.2% ABV.  Fantastic!

 

Rating & Recommendations

This is my favorite Scotch to date, easily earning a rating of 96 out of 100.

Uigeadail is perfection for Islay whisky lovers, and should be on your bucket list if you call yourself a Scotch fan.  Not for the whisky novice, but absolutely should be in your whisky queue.

 

-Ryan

Jul 14

Booker’s Bourbon – Review

Booker's BourbonBooker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

128 Proof

Price Point: $40 – $50 for 750 ML

Distiller: James B. Beam Distilling Co.

 

Background

Everybody has an opinion.  Even our relatives.  Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t.  When I first started this blog, I posted a link to it on my Facebook.  I got a comment from my Uncle Chris who lives out in California.  He asked about my opinion on Knob Creek, and I said I wasn’t a huge fan.  My credibility with him seemed to disappear.  He asked if I had tried Booker’s, and I said no.  Within a few days, I had a bottle in my possession, with the agreement that I would review.

This review’s for you, Uncle Chris.

 

Review

The nose is pretty intense at 64% alcohol.  Once you get past the harshness, it’s very sweet, and at the same time very rye-heavy.  A pretty good mix from the nose alone.

Booker’s packs on the flavor.  It reminds me of Thomas H. Handy with the rye toned down slightly.  It’s very big . . . and sweet.  Not for the bourbon amateur.  Despite sharing a pedigree with other Jim Beam products, there’s a heck of a lot more going on with this whiskey than the others.

Just like with Handy, the finish is long and warming.

 

Rating & Recommendations

I really like Booker’s, but I don’t rate it quite as high as many of my fellow bloggers.  I give it a solid rating of 85 out of 100.

I don’t usually like to add water to bourbon, as you would some Scotches, as I feel it takes away more of the flavor.  With Booker’s, you might feel the need to.

I have to say that although I don’t share all the same opinions with my Uncle Chris, I respect his taste in whiskey, and Booker’s is evidence of that.

 

-Ryan

Jul 12

Choose My Next Whiskey

AMEX Gift CardsI recently came into some money . . . sort of.  In reality, I ran a successful promotion at work and was rewarded with $150 in AMEX gift cards.

Now, anybody who knows me knows that I’m frugal – not cheap, mind you.  The bulk of my whiskey collection over the years have been gifted to me by friends, family, and most often, my wife.  I seldom pick up a bottle over $35 on a whim, and I’m frequently the guy in the liquor store with two bottles in hand spending a half hour trying to decide between them.  Despite my loving relationship with whiskey, I find myself feeling guilty spending a lot of money on something that can be consumed and forgotten so quickly.

This $150 is my excuse to be irresponsible and make a whiskey purchase that I wouldn’t otherwise make.  But to make things interesting, I want that purchase decision to come from you, the reader.

For the next week or so, I will be collecting ideas via comments on this post, mentions on Twitter, and comments on the Whiskey-Reviews Facebook page.  Here are the “rules” of what I am looking for:

  • It must be a whiskey I have never tried before (I have tried many more whiskeys than what are on this site).
  • It must be available in Pennsylvania, although if I can find it in Delaware I’ll make the trip.
  • It must fit into the budget of $150.  If there are more than one whiskey that you think I should try while fitting into the budget, that works as well!

So, start choosing!  I’m very excited to see what my readers come up with!

 

-Ryan

Jul 07

Jura 10 Year Old Scotch – Review

Jura 10 Year Old ScotchJura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

86 Proof

Price Point: $35 – $45 for 750 ML

Distiller: The Isle of Jura Distillery Co. Ltd.

 

Background

There are certain brands in the whiskey business that fly under the radar, create a small portfolio of quality whiskeys, and gather a loyal cult following.  Jura is one of those brands.

The Jura distillery is on an island just north of Islay.  Although the current flagship product (the one being reviewed here) doesn’t share the smoky characteristics of its Islay neighbors, it used to according to the experts.

 

Review

The nose is great on this whisky.  Lots of fruit – pear and apples.  Not a hint of peat from the nose.

The taste of Jura 10 Year Old really opens up the complexity.  The fruit nearly disappears as malty, leathery notes fill in the flavor profile.  A very small amount of peat shows up if anything to remind you of the whisky’s origins.

The finish relatively long, with a lot of spice.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Jura 10 Year Old is a very complex Scotch, especially for how reasonable it is.  I give this entry-level expression a rating of 83 out of 100.

Jura 10 Year Old is a really enjoyable Scotch, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a high-quality, inexpensive whisky.

 

-Ryan

Jun 30

Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Bourbon – Review

Ridgemont Reserve 1792 BourbonRidgemont Reserve 1792 Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

93.7 Proof

Price Point: $25 – $35 for 750 ML

Distiller: Barton Distilling Company

 

Background

 

A couple of years ago, I was attending a bourbon tasting at a micro-brewery in my area.  Samplings were available from Heaven Hill, Brown-Forman, and couple of others, but the Sazerac booth was by far the most popular.  The usual suspects were there – Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and of course a select few of the Antique Collection.  One newcomer was present; Ridgemont Reserve.  I had tried it previously, but had not seen the reaction of others tasting it for the first time.  I remember one particular gentleman who couldn’t get enough of it.  Maybe it was the three-hour session of free whiskey, but he was having a good time, and couldn’t stop singing the praises of this bourbon.  As my palate has evolved since then, I’ve done my best to appreciate Ridgemont Reserve a bit more than I used to.

 

Review

The nose alone separates this from most other bourbons.  It has the rye-spice aroma of a Jim Beam product, but with a little something extra.  It smells very sweet too, almost to the point that sugar was added – although we know that can’t be true.

I have to say – my opinion of this bourbon has changed since I first tasted it.  This is a very nice whiskey with plenty of spice to make it interesting.  Very sugary, as the nose suggested, but not too much.  The taste is very nice; very well-balanced from oak to spice to sweet.  It’s definitely different than any other bourbon on the market right now.

Because of how sweet this whiskey is, the finish is almost like a rum with some sugarcane qualities.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Ridgemont Reserve 1792 is a very good bourbon, earning a rating of 87 out of 100.

I like this one neat, but a little water can help tame the beast and bring out some great flavors.  Feel free to try it both ways!

This is definitely a unique bourbon, and worth a try.  At a price of around $30, how can you go wrong?

 

-Ryan