Quick fire heel review - Glendronach 21

Last year we decided that we would take the better part of the month of January and we would try to finish as many dregs or "heels" as I call them. We managed to get 17 out of the way by the end of January. It only made sense to do it again this year but with a twist this time = Whisky & heels party. We asked that participants wear heels (male and female) OR pay $10.00 and they would have the opportunity to try 85 of our open bottles. All the money we raised would go to the local foodbank. 

40 people showed up and we did indeed have a great night. 7 bottles were drained, we said our sad goodbyes but all for a very good cause. Since the party, Graham and I have continued emptying some of those heels. We finished a lovely bottle of Glendronach Parliament 21 year old last night. I was truly heartbroken to see that one go, as Glendronach offerings were a lovely find for 2013 and I have several in my personal collection to get through. 

This was heel #13 and as I sat with my glass I realized I had never reviewed this one. We opened it for the sheer pleasure in February. So last night I took a few moments to put to paper what I thought, after all I am keeping a record again this year of all the lovely drams I will be trying. 

One of the best things about most of the Glendronach's is that they spend their entire existence in a sherry cask. That's correct, the maturation takes place in the finest sherry butts.

If you've ever had one the color is totally natural. They are the epitome of what I define as a sherry bomb! If you want to learn a little more about them, please click here:     http://glendronachdistillery.com/


Glendronach Parliament 21 year old

Color: Dark mahogany wood. Legs are long, thick and quite slow. 

Nose: Dark rich red plums followed by date squares. Chocolate covered coffee beans.

Palate: Rum soaked golden sultanas, rich and full bodied. Then the spices hit: Steamed Christmas pudding, oh droool!!!

Finish: Quite drying in nature and very tannic. Still quite fruity with lots of spice though. Delish.

Empty glass: Cloves, cloves and more cloves. 


Truly an enjoyable dram and for a 21 year old quite affordable. Next to the 15 which is one of my absolute favorite sherry bombs, I would highly recommend this bottling for anyone looking to further their discoveries into the world of sherry matured whiskies!  Really sad to see it go and will likely buy it again sometime in 2014. Available in Alberta, Ontario, BC and Quebec at this time and varies from $120 - $177 per bottle.

Cheers!

Lassie

First whisky reviews of 2014 - BLIND!

I decided to start off 2014 rather quietly, which was really nice. Here is it January 9th and already so many wonderful things have come my way. I also made a promise to a friend that his samples would be the first whiskies I reviewed for the year and so here are the first two. 

I have spoken before about the importance of doing blind tastings. For me it is a very good way to test your ability to trust your nose and palate. It's a great workout, you should try it! Don't worry about it, don't think you'll be embarassed, just do it!

So, my friend Dan D. (@Whisky_Yak) came to New Brunswick in 2013 so we made sure we would meet up. We had a great night at a local bar, just talked and shared a few whiskies. It truly is a fantastic thing to meet the people of the #whiskyfabric. Before he went on his way, we gave him a few special drams which he really enjoyed. I was surprised and excited when we received a little package from him of 4 whiskies, blind later on that summer. I placed them on the sample shelf for later... Well the next thing I knew it was December and those poor little samples were still sitting there. Ooopsy... Here we go! Although Dan sent me four very nice samples, I only reviewed two for now. Call me greedy, but I'll save the last two for some other time.  

Sample A. I knew nothing about it other than it was put in the bottle May 28, 2013. 

Color: Golden hay. Long skinny legs, very oily.

Nose: Harsh, industrial and smells like a new band-aid. Very spirited with not much of a personality, young, peated.

Palate: Even more harsh, lots of mouth burn, super bitter after taste. Hot, sour and compost!? Not enjoyable at all.

Finish: What finish? As my friend Stephanie would say it's "burny". That's about it, really has no distinct flavor profile.

I have a sneaking suspicion this is an Islay blend and a bad one in my personal opinion. It doesn't have much to offer on the nose and even less on the palate or finish other that hot young peat/organic. I guessed it's about 43% ABV. Also wrote down: I don't think I've ever had this before.

Sample B, Color: Very light, almost no color at all. It's almost a pale stream of yellow. Legs are long, skinny, fast running and plentiful. 

Nose: Golden Sultanas, very honeyed, a bit organic in nature (like a walk in the woods after a rain storm), dried hay, green apples (with a bit of water)

Palate: Sweet but quick to go to bitter grapefruit pith. A bit drying and tannic in nature. Long mouth burn on this one - Reminds me of when I was a child and I would put a handful of snow in my mouth. 

Finish: Not very long, a bit sweet with a peppery kick. I detect peat I think, but it's much more floral like heathered perhaps? I'm guessing 40-43% ABV and an NAS type whisky. 

I also wrote that I had tried this before or something similar from the distillery. I guessed Bruichladdich but not necessarily anything peated.


The reveals:

Sample A: Dun Bheagan 2002/2010, 43% ABV. 

Sample B: Robert Burns Single Malt, NAS, 40% ABV.

Well... I would say I was pretty accurate with the nose/tasting.  Nice to see the sniffer is still working. Going in blind is always an adventure in itself. I really enjoyed sample B and I'd probably buy it for my personal collection. Sample A, errrr... I will leave that one for the peat heads that like drinking the smoke & coke as I really was not a fan. 

Thanks Dan very much for the samples. I am super happy that they were my first whisky reviews for 2014.

Cheers all!

Johanne


   

The Arran Malt Westie Limited Edition 1998, I'll leave it for the dogs...

SHE SAID:  I had originally hoped for a bottle of the Peacock, however it was sold out.  I "settled" for the Westie instead.  I was a bit nervous my disappointment might affect my first dram.   We own several Arran's and I love them all.  I love that these are non-chill filtered and that they have no caramel.  They are a great new Island distillery (1995) making a name for themselves.  I love this region of Scotland and the flavors the majority of them have.  I tend to drink them in the fall, a bit in the winter and in the spring. 

Would I get another bottle of the Westie, probably not.  Unfortunately, I was not overly impressed with the dram. Maybe my opinion will change, otherwise it might take some time to drink this bottle.  I could simply save it for when my whisky drinking friends come over (that's an invite for any of you who live close by!)

Color:  Late season straw (golden).  Legs very close and stringy.  A bit viscous as it stuck to the glass, in general.

Nose:  Vanilla but very creamy.  Reminded me of Tortuga rum cake I had in the Bahamas.  Sweet, creamy and a bit of spice. 

Palate:  Not oily, but sort of like buttery oak.  I got a hint of metallic (?).  Something very citrus, but zingy like orange zest.

Finish:  A bit dry, leaves a prickly mouth feel that lingers a bit.  Hint of peppery at the back.  Very waming in nature.

Empty glass:  Still a hint of vanilla and a bit of spice.


I REALLY wanted that Peacock! 



Somewhere on the whisky trail brooding (hehehe!)


Johanne