Review - Glenmorangie 18 Year Old Extremely Rare Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This is a very subtle and subdued whisky with flavors that are pleasant. It is well blended but just wish there was a little more ponch to it… we really wanted Chris Hemsworth but got Tom Hiddleston.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Glenmorangie Distillery
Years Aged: 18
Proof: 86
Local Price (USD): $115.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Golden honey with medium, thin and slightly runny legs.
Nose: Light hints of vanilla, hand sanitizer, and very floral. Kind of like walking into a hospital gift shop.
Taste: Mellow and balanced but hard to pick out individual flavors. Lightly charred oak & dried fruits.
Finish: Light, warm & dry with just a touch of smoke at the very end.
Conclusion: This is a very subtle and subdued whisky with flavors that are pleasant but nothing that stands out as spectacular. If you enjoy Johnnie Walker then you will definitely enjoy Glenmorangie 18. It is well blended but we just wish there was a little more ponch to it. Probably wouldn't seek it out at the price point as you are better off putting your money towards a good bottle of Highland Park or Aberlour. To analogize it… we really wanted Chris Hemsworth but got Tom Hiddleston.
Chris Hemsworth
Tom Hiddleston
Review - Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey
…Tuthilltown ages their Baby in “special small American Oak Barrels” which explains how they achieve such a dark color and heavy oak influence from such a young whiskey. The other unique thing…is their use of sonic maturation by playing loud music to agitate the whiskey inside the barrels....
The oak is really the front man of the band…Definitely makes a killer (albeit expensive) whiskey & coke and would feel right at home in an old fashioned…
Rating 2.5 Glasses
Distillery: Tuthilltown Spririts (Gardiner, NY)
Years Aged: < 4
Proof: 92
Local Price (USD): $49.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Honey with medium legs and pretty close to the consistency of fresh motor oil.
Nose: Rubbing alcohol, burns pretty good, citrus, oaky. Peeled the phlegm off the back of Russ' throat.
Taste: The initial hit burns just like the nose followed by dark fruits, red grapes and raisins.
Finish: A bit weak with tanniny sweetness and hints of charred oak and maple.
Conclusion: Year 2016, Batch 13, Bottle 3973, non-chill filtered, 100% New York Corn and the “first legal pot-distilled whiskey made in New York since prohibition”. Tuthilltown ages their Baby in “special small American Oak Barrels” which explains how they achieve such a dark color and heavy oak influence from such a young whiskey. The other unique thing about Hudson Baby Bourbon apart from aging in 3-gallon instead of 53-gallon barrels and the fact that it’s 100% instead of the required 51% corn, is their use of sonic maturation by playing loud music to agitate the whiskey inside the barrels instead of moving the barrels themselves for the liquid to interact with the wood.
The oak is really the front man of the band but feels just a bit sharp in this particular batch. Definitely makes a killer (albeit expensive) whiskey & coke and would feel right at home in an old fashioned but we would hold off seeking this one out and stick to your local watering hole for a short pour. It’s balls still haven’t dropped and feels too young despite its forced aging to demand a $50 price point. All this along with the acquired flavor profile brought the glass rating for us down to 2.5.
Review - IWAI Tradition Japanese Whisky
Mash bill consists of 75% malt & 25% corn which is a flip from the standard release and a blending of sherry, bourbon & wine casks probably wasn’t the best move. Definitely not worth the $60 as it doesn’t hold up to many other Japanese whiskys on the shelf hanging out in the same price range. Unless you are a Japanese whisky enthusiast we would steer you clear for sure.
Rating 2 Glasses
Distillery: Mars Shinshu Distillery
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 80
Local Price (USD): $59.99
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: A copper penny that went through wash a few too many times. Slow and thin legs.
Nose: Musky and oakey nose, odd sweetness, hint of citrus.
Taste: Oak, tannins, sherry & moldy mushrooms.
Finish: Fades pretty quickly but the tannins stick to your tounge causing a funkiness that hangs on and just won’t let go.
Conclusion: Mash bill consists of 75% malt & 25% corn which is a flip from the standard release and a blending of sherry, bourbon & wine casks probably wasn’t the best move. Definitely not worth the $60 as it doesn’t hold up to many other Japanese whiskys on the shelf hanging out in the same price range. Unless you are a Japanese whisky enthusiast we would steer you clear for sure. Interesting that it is the highest elevation distillery in Japan in the mountain ranges of Nagano. For the many reasons stated previously we would most likely not buy it again and could only give it a two on the glass rating.
Review - Stillhouse Original Whiskey
This is not a sipping whiskey but rather a mixing whiskey. Their website clearly states that it is to be served completely chilled (the reason for the stainless steel container)…
Rating 2 Glasses
Distillery: Stillhouse Spirits Co. USA
Years Aged: N/A
Proof: 80
Local Price (USD): $22.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Clear thick water
Nose: Buttered Popcorn Jelly Belly®, with just a hint of Fritos®
Taste: Smooth but corny like it's told too many knock knock jokes
Finish: The alcohol hangs around for a while fading to creamed corn
Conclusion: We reviewed this whiskey as we would any other; room temperature and in a Glencairn to capture the flavors, aromas and character but may have not enjoyed the true experience intended by the distillery as it was basically a corn dog in a can. This is not a sipping whiskey but rather a mixing whiskey. Their website clearly states that this is to be served completely chilled (the reason for the stainless steel container) and as such we may have to re-visit this one at a later date to give it fair shake. Check out Stillhouse.com for their many drink recipes including but not limited to the Stillhouse Mule, That's My Jam & Cigar Roller.
Review - Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Its a pretty good Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton but saying that it is fairly expensive for what you get is probably an understatement.
Rating 3.5 Glasses
- Distillery: Midleton Distillery
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $69.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $69.95
Background:
The Spot Names
Red, Yellow, Blue & Green
The Mitchells matured their whiskey in casks under the streets of Dublin in their network of underground cellars. When their fortified wine casks were filled exclusively with Jameson spirit from the old Bow St. Distillery, they were marked with a daub or ‘spot’ of paint which identified how long the barrels would be matured for. Blue for 7 years, Green for 10 years, Yellow for 12 years and Red for 15 years—hence the name Spot Whiskey. - spotwhiskey.com
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Golden Amber, medium and quickly developing legs
- Nose: Orange, tangerine, wet dog & donuts. Light alcohol, cocoa
- Taste: Smooth, very light spice and clove. Good mouth feel.
- Finish: Medium finish of grain and spice. Buttery.
- Conclusion: Its a pretty good Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton but saying that it is fairly expensive for what you get is probably an understatement. It would be a great gift for that Irish lover in your life or someone that can appreciate the more nuanced of distillates. For the money we most likely won't buy it again just because its good but not that good and unfortunately we had to knock it back on the glass rating solely due to that fact.
