Round the world – Bushmills, Beam’s Choice, Kornog, Yamazaki Sherry

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Carissa Hickling

By far, the #1 whisky sampling evening I’ve experienced til date was at The Auld Alliance in Singapore.

My fellow whisky adventurer and I began our evening with a stop at The Auld Alliance thinking we would have a wee dram there before carrying on to dinner and exploring another whisky spot.

Then we met Arun and were treated to a detailed tour of the remarkable collection, full of fascinating trivia, rare bottles and such a clear passion for the water of life it was almost overwhelming! Worthy of another post however I could never do justice to the experience.

We went to our dinner but were determined to return to settle down for a proper tasting. Return we did and chose from the sampling menu the ‘World’ and ‘Scottish cask’ options. Arun then offered to curate a custom experience for us, along our chosen lines, completely blind. As in dark glass can’t even glean a clue from the colour blind.

How could we say no?

It was such a treat to sample four such distinctive and unique global whiskies.

Bushmills (Whisky Lady)

1st Irish – Bushmills Single Barrel 1975 49.1%

Cask No 164, Bottle No 153, Part of the 365 single barrel millennium series

Nose – Spirity, coconut, raw, citrus lemon, not smooth instead a sharp woody scent
Taste – Indeed has a kick – wow! Sharp spice, bitter, no body – simply collapses
Finish – Dies like that – snap!
Impression – A sharp ‘Zap!’ kinda whisky that tingles… something to jolt you awake rather than woo your heart

This was an ‘in your face’ kinda whisky. It had a raw quality – not watered down, natural strength. A dash of water did open it a bit and while it was a terrific ‘kick-off’, just whetted the appetite for further sampling adventures…

Beam’s Choice (Whisky Lady)

2nd American – Beam’s Choice 8 year, 1980 (58.7%?)

Nose – Sweet flowery fragrance, clean, pure
Taste – Bourbon – no doubt! Sour raw mango, curd, raisins, smooth like a good rum
Finish – What finish? It was like it was knocked out for the count and simply couldn’t recover
Impression – There was zero doubt this was a bourbon. What we also noted was after the initial sip, when we went back to the nose post sampling other drams, the delightful flowery fragrance had disappeared.

While we knew it was a bourbon, we were both surprised it was Jim Beam as there was a different quality than one finds in the current incarnation. For one, it was matured for 8 years instead of the typical 5 years found today. For another, it had such contrasting elements between the nose and palate.

Kornog (Whisky Lady)

3rd French – Kornog NAS 2013, bottled for The Auld Alliance 58.7%

Nose – Smooth flowers, garden greens, nail polish or varnish, very sweet – almost too sweet, smells light, bright and fresh… just couldn’t get beyond the sweet
Taste – PEAT as in serious peat, horses kick kinda peat, with bitter tamarind, super sour yet also rich and creamy – may sound like a contradiction yet it works
Finish – Smoooooth, warm, beautiful and simply delightful
Impression – Has a distinctly different character. Superb. We speculated that it may be cask strength

Of all the world whiskies sampled, this one stood out as being in a completely different league. I resolved to explore more from this distillery to learn that it is difficult to track down both the unpeated Glann ar Mor or peated Kornog whiskies and is likely to become even more challenging as the distillery just announced it will be closing in August 2015. What?! No!! Say it isn’t so!

PS – Since this post (June 2015), it now has a slightly extended lease on life… however tracking down bottles from this distillery remains challenging!

Yamazaki 1998 (Whisky Lady)

4th Japanese – Yamazaki Sherry Cask 1998 61%

Cask # CU70067, Bottled in 2011, Bottle #429

Nose – Like a candy store, bursting with sherry soaked sweeties, fresh, young, powder of flour
Taste – A fizzy spice, with some ginger, dried fruits, bursting with raisins, citrus zest and a sense of being rather well-manicured, utterly delicious and… well… dare I say ‘nice’
Finish – It warms up, more sweet spice, licorice, long and juicy
Impression – There is a youthful exuberance about this whisky. The closest of the lot to something identifiably Scottish which meant to us it must be Japanese!

There is a lot going on with this whisky and what made it special was the interplay of many different elements. What is also remarkable is that it is so utterly smooth you would never guess it to be 61%. We had absolutely no temptation to add even a drop of water.

While a complete treat, I would prefer to come back to it when the focus is on this whisky alone. As one amongst eight, it was simply over shadowed by the distinctive quality of the Kornag and the remarkable Lochside 1981. However without a doubt, one to be savoured and enjoyed and I do hope to have another opportunity sample it.

The Auld Alliance World Whiskies (Whisky Lady)

I would encourage you to not miss The Auld Alliance if in Singapore… you can find it at:

9 Bras Basah Road, RendezVous Hotel, Gallery #02-02A, SINGAPORE 189559
info@theauldalliance.sg Tel: +65 6337 2201

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix 55%

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Carissa Hickling

Our June monsoon tasting session featured a merry trio from Ireland, the US and Scotland – harkening back to our May session which also represented each country.

It kicked off with a little Irish lilt from Tullamore D.E.W….

Tullamore DEW Phoenix (Whisky Lady)

Tullamore Dew Phoenix NAS 55%

Limited edition bottle no 14/08360

Nose – Freshly opened, it greeted us with a hit of instant alcohol – sharp! Then it started to have the more familiar whisky notes with a hint of vanilla, out popped a fruit basket, overripe bananas, sweet and pleasant, classic malt smell, not dry, in a comfortable band, caramel, taking time to open.. sweet milk chocolate

Taste – It tingled on the tongue – bright, sweet, yet surprisingly ‘thick.’ As it rested on the palate, it continued to remain sweet, then a bit of chocolate, gaining a salty then bitter turkish coffee quality, and finally a little sour, creamy element

Finish – Mild spice with a bit of a kick

Water – Made it much sweeter, harsher on the throat. Spoiled the whisky for some, enhanced for others…

Before the unveiling, one member kept saying how it reminded him of Irish whiskies sampled til date – spot on! Though it didn’t have the ‘sociable’ character of the Teeling Single Malt.

The Tullamore Dew Phoenix was released to celebrate the first aviation disaster in history and the re-opening of the Tullamore distillery. It also has a higher alcohol percentage than most Tullamores.

Tullamore Dew Phoenix close-up (Whisky Lady)

Official tasting notes – with slightly confusing information abut the ‘3 types’ of whiskies:

This special limited edition is a triple distilled blend of all three types of Irish whiskey; golden grain, malt and pure pot still whiskey. It is characterised by its high content pot still whiskey finished in old oloroso sherry casks and comes to you at 55% ABV. Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix is a medium bodied whiskey, with distinctive sherry notes and pleasantly spicy creamy pot still whiskey flavours nicely balanced.

Nose – Warm and spicy initially, then rich, toffee, vanilla notes become evident. The characteristic leafy, malty notes of Tullamore D.E.W. are enriched with deeper, toasted oak aroma and a hint of sherry nuttiness.
Taste – The higher strength tingles on the tongue leaving a spicy pot still flavour. Addition of a little water releases layers of caramel sweetness, delicate floral notes and oak tannins.
Finish – Long lasting with a lingering warmth. A perfect balance of oloroso sherry sweetness and spicy creamy pot still.

While we didn’t pick up on the nutty quality, the sherry was unmistakably there and ‘creamy’ is an excellent way to describe it overall.

Up next… something very special from the US of A… Westland cask no 395 54.6%
Followed by a meaty 18 year old from Scotland… Ledaig 18 year 46.3%

Monsoon trio – Tullamore DEW Phoenix, Westland Cask No 395, Ledaig 18 year (Whisky Lady)

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Jameson jamboree!

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Carissa Hickling

Jameson is a blended whiskey from Ireland that pays attention to the Indian market. Their merry brand ambassadors actually live here, build relationships with night spots to create cosy corners for Jameson events and every once in a while put together Irish evenings with Indian whisky tasting groups.

Our tasting team originally experienced an ‘Irish Night‘ November 2013 with no less than nine whiskies sampled! The lads from Jameson put together a blind comparison between Irish, Scottish and American whiskey plus most of the Jamesons’. We scored the 18 year, Green Spot and Redbreast.

What follows is an extract from that evening’s adventures focused only on the tasting notes for Jameson. For the full version – see the original post on Everyday Adventures in Asia.

Jameson lads with their set-up

Jameson Original NAS 40%

Nose – Sweet caramel, apricot and a hint of pine nuts, nutty vanilla
Taste – Honey sweet, sherry smooth with cherries and a hint of leather
Finish – Nothing much really
Water – Just too light… in a word DO NOT add
Our verdict? Certainly light and sweet, the kind of whiskey you aren’t adverse to mixing or for some, just knocking back.
Additional info – The Jameson lads shared that though no age is stated, typically the Jameson Original contains whisky aged between 5 – 7 years

Jameson 12 Year Old Special Reserve (Formerly known as Jameson 1780) 40%

Nose – Sherry dried fruit, raisins, like an apple pie or crumble
Taste – Cherry with the sherry even more pronounced than the Jameson Original, a bit of pine nut
Finish – One single note – nothing more. Certainly not the vaunted “warm long finish” however at least it didn’t disappear almost instantly like its “Original” cousin
Our verdict? Again, value for money, pleasant, decidedly on the sweet side

Jameson Gold Reserve (uses virgin American oak) 40%

Nose – Sweet bourbon style, light
Taste – Hint of pepper
Finish – Not quite a bourbon finish
Our verdict? It is a bit confused… not quite a bourbon yet trying to be… honestly? If you really are in the mood for a bourbon, just get a bourbon! However if you don’t mind a bourbon twist in your Irish whiskey, enjoy!

Jameson 18 Year Special Reserve 40%

Nose – Sweet, creamy, full-bodied
Taste – Leathery, overripe peach, scent of rubber, hint of coffee
Finish – Warm.. remains and stays… with a slightly woody, bitter kerela finish
Our verdict? Certainly the most interesting of the Jameson’s sampled and one heck of a good whiskey. However while it is enjoyable, has tough competition in this pricier bracket

For Irish whiskies tried til date, Yellow Spot is my favourite. However I’m always open to try more!

Check out other whiskies sampled from Ireland:

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Teeling Single Malt 46% (Bottled 10/2014)

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Carissa Hickling

Our May 2015 tasting session included three distinctly different whiskies from Scotland (Deanston), USA (Hudson) and this one from Ireland. As usual, we sampled it blind to reduce any influence of a particular brand or previous experience.

Teeling (Whisky Lady)

Teeling 46% Bottled 10/2014

Colour – Deep amber
Nose – Oh happiness and joy! Deep, strong character, while the first whiff has tar and leather, it soon mellows into a delicious spicy honey, a tart hint of lime, warm vanilla… after the first sip, strong cinnamon, plums, yum!!
Taste – Robust with a chewy depth, initially summer strawberries which later deepened into plums, envelops you with a delectable cocoa warmth, sooooo smooth and well balanced
Finish – Nice chewy finish that lingers
Water – Doesn’t overly dilute the character, however doesn’t reveal anything new either… can be added if you want to extend your sipping slightly…
Overall experience – An imminently SOCIABLE whisky.

It was uncanny how after just a few sips, the chatter rose, sparked animated banter with amusing faffery. As a practice, we never re-pour during our initial tasting, however at first one, then another and another reached for the bottle to have just a wee bit more…

In a way, it was hard to pinpoint down precisely why it is such a likeable whisky. It isn’t sweet, isn’t spicey or smoky. It’s simply a most enjoyable dram with a decided “feel good factor.” It also re-inforced our overall positive take on Irish whiskies.

After airing – still yum however wouldn’t pair with food. Instead, this is a whisky to kick back and enjoy with a bunch of mates. Don’t expect wonders but do expect to have a rollicking good time! One I would consider adding to my cabinet if the opportunity arises…

Teeling (Whisky Lady)

More about the whisky:

Teeling’s single malt contains whiskies aged for up to 23 years
Matured in a range of wine casks: sherry, port, Madeira, white Burgundy and Cabernet Sauvignon
Small batch production

May whiskies snapshot:

Scotland – Deanston Virgin Oak NAS 46.3% – Delicate, decent but a tad disappointing
American – Hudson Single Malt NAS 43% – Example that small doesn’t necessarily mean better
Ireland – Teeling Single Malt NAS 46% – Sociable dram

What others are saying:

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Tyrconnell 10 year Madeira Cask 46%

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Carissa Hickling

And we are off to the races!

Tyrconnell was once the Cooley (now Kilbeggan) distillery‘s flagship whisky. Once an independent Irish distillery, the label celebrates the Wyatt family champion ‘Tyrconnell’ racehorse – best known for winning in 1876 at odds of 100 to 1 the Irish “The National Produce Stakes.”

In the last few years I’ve started to explore more Irish whiskies… and am quite impressed with the results of the ‘single pot still’ method that produces the remarkable Redbreast and Yellow Spot.

The Tyrconnell 10 year Madeira Cask won the Irish Whiskey of the Year in Jim Murray`s Whisky Bible 2008.

So… I was both intrigued and delighted when a friend from the UK included this in my ‘Irish whiskies’ shipment on her trip to India last year.

I first shared it with our tasting team on 14 June 2014 together with Ledaig Island and Talisker Dark Storm.

Tyrconnell 10 year Madiera (Whisky Lady)

Tyrconnell 10 year Madeira (Whisky Lady)

And what did we find?

Tyrconnell 10 year Madeira Cask 46%

Colour – Light gold
Nose – Tamarind, fruit and flowers, copper, sour dough, chikoo, a sense of being a bit ‘young’
Taste – An initial sharp nip then spice, coconut, leather, pronounced exceedingly ‘nice’
Finish – Alas nothing spectacular… a hint of light leather and mild fruit, while it doesn’t dash off instantly, it does not have the long linger some reviewers boast!
Add water? – Don’t… does nothing to improve and with such a light whisky not needed at all

In our blind tasting session, we speculated that while clearly young, it showed ‘nice’ promise.

In my recent revisit, it re-inforced the impression of a light pleasant whiskey. The mood is that of a gentle cantor in a ladies saddle rather than a fast and furious dash to the finish line.

While certainly enjoyable, it doesn’t have that extra distinctive and complex character that I find most attractive.

And I’ve come to learn the 10 year has been discontinued and newer offerings are now are either a standard NAS Single Malt or 15 not 10 years… perhaps an older incarnation of the Tyrconnell will gain those additional elements that can transform a whisky from merely ‘nice’ into ‘oooh baby!’

Special ‘nod’ to a fab lass who was our delightful ‘mule’!