Tastes
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Appearance: Clear as water, almost. Slightly viscous. Aroma: Alcohol, orange zest (from many types of orange), orange juice. Flavour and texture: Surprisingly friendly and sweet arrival, with an abundance of orange (of course). Clean, crisp and sweet with very little alcohol burn. The texture is just oily enough. Quite compelling for a focused liqueur. This is pretty much the gold standard for orange liqueurs. The only real competitor is Grand Marnier (which has its own charms). Just steer clear of any bargain basement or generic "Triple Sec" and use one of the two giants of the style - there is a darn good reason they rule the roost. As a neat drink it is actually not too bad and the official Distiller notes for this are right on the bullseye. It remains, however, primarily an ingredient and there are a multitude of cocktails that simply would not work without the magic touch of Cointreau. Let's face it - it's just plain very good stuff. If you're putting together a home bar you NEED to have this on the shelf. "Excellent" : 88/100 (4.5 stars)79.0 AUD per Bottle
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Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 15 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed January 9, 2020 (edited January 23, 2020)Nose: Orange liqueur, malt, mild banana, vanilla, apple cider, moist earth. As it rests in the glass the aromas of oak casks start to emerge. With water some floral and sherry notes come to the front, and although the nose loses a little definition the melded aromas are very pleasant. [After watering, the dry glass has an aroma of milk chocolate!]. Palate: A sweet arrival with mild baking spices and lemon zest. Hard caramel toffee, a faint hint of licorice (or maybe anise), stewed apples and more spicy notes are noticed as it develops. There is a faintly metallic barley note but it's not objectionable. The texture is full but just short of either creamy or oily. Adding water develops more caramel toffee characteristics but does not mute the spicy notes too much. Finish: Medium. Spices and cereal that gradually fade. You definitely taste barley grist at one point and it lingers into the aftertaste. Adding water breaks the finish - it becomes much shorter and less interesting. An enjoyable single malt if not an outstanding one. At AUS$72 it's very fairly priced for a 15 year old expression, but keep in mind it's not one of the greats. The Distiller official score is pretty much on target but I didn't get some of the tasting notes - in particular I didn't notice any smoke on the nose and neither did I think the palate was over-oaked (however bear in mind I tasted this right after the Method & Madness Single Grain which indeed has a madness degree of wood influence). Certainly worth a taste. At the price point it is a no-brainer experiment for enthusiasts and if you're on a tight budget and want to try a proper 15 year old scotch that is easy to drink, has a pleasant profile and a balanced character you could do far worse than this Glen Moray. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)72.0 AUD per Bottle -
Method and Madness Single Grain Finished in Virgin Spanish Oak Casks
Single Grain — Ireland
Reviewed January 9, 2020 (edited November 9, 2022)Nose: Oak, vanilla, something crisply floral (lemon peel?) and a resinous note (pencil shavings). The nose is completely dominated by the barrels. Palate: A rather spirity arrival with some bitter oak and grapefruit, but there is a little sweetness as well. There are also buttery notes but these are accompanied by an acidic quality like sour citrus peel. The texture is silky but modulated by sharp tannic notes. Finish: Medium. Hot spiciness that eventually trails off into a subtle, sweet minty aftertaste. This whisky is unusual compared to most single grains. Typically the better ones (particularly Scottish single grain) are matured for a long time in first-fill bourbon barrels and wind up with a buttery, toasty vanilla profile. This is completely alien to that, instead featuring brisk, almost harsh and spiky European oak tannin which gives it a woody and citric character. It's like a barrel full of bitter grapefruit. This makes it an interesting whiskey but it's not one you easily love. The Single Malt and Single Pot Still expressions I've tasted from this producer have been very good and instantly approachable for any whiskey enthusiast, but this one is brittle and more of a challenge. The nose is unremittingly woody in character and although some supporting aromas arise over time it is steadfast in its acerbic oakiness. It takes forever to open up and demands time and patience. I'll be interested to see if it mellows a little once there is some air in the bottle. The palate is similarly cantankerous with a bitter/sour quality coming from some highly active oak tannin. Well, yes, it IS aged in virgin Spanish oak so what do you expect, but I can't help but wonder if this was such a terrific experiment. A touch more refill bourbon softness would not have gone astray. As I said, an interesting whiskey, but certainly not one I'd recommend to a novice (N.B. the official Distiller notes are from an experienced critic and novices should be wary - this is not as approachable as it might seem from the description). You need time, patience and experience to really enjoy this. I'm not disappointed in it and I'm looking forward to the journey of exploring it as it oxidises, but if the choice was between this and the chestnut-barrel finished single pot still expression I'd choose the latter any time, even if it was twice the price, and as much as it is an "interesting" whisky there is no way I'd ever buy a second bottle of this. "Good (but not easy)" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)85.0 AUD per Bottle -
Amarula Cream Liqueur
Dairy/Egg Liqueurs — South Africa
Reviewed January 9, 2020 (edited November 16, 2023)Appearance: Opaque beige, like milky coffee. Aroma: Fruity, malty, caramel nougat. There is an almost bizarre *tiny* waft that is reminiscent of scotch whisky. Flavour and Texture: Creamy and dairy sweet, a little alcohol is detectable but it's very light. Caramel and soft fruity flavours, but it's not bright fresh fruit - more like faint stewed figs or dates. There is a slight hazelnut or macadamia note in the aftertaste and a butterscotch character. Guilty confession time - I utterly adore this liqueur. I could drink far more of it than was healthy in a single sitting, I find it so compelling. The closest thing to which I can compare it is Bailey's Irish Cream but it is way better. I've served it to people who are not normally fond of creamy liqueurs and they have become instant converts. Part of my love for this is undoubtedly nostalgia, as I have vivid memories of the first time I tasted it and the company I was with, but that doesn't diminish its quality. Wonderful neat, on the rocks, as a milkshake, in strong black coffee, over ice-cream, and so on. Try freezing it to make Amarula gelato (yummy). "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)35.0 AUD per Bottle -
Appearance: Dark, opaque midnight red - almost black. Hold it up to a light and you can just barely see through and the colour is more like a that of a merlot. Aroma: Cherry syrup. There is an aroma in the background reminiscent of almonds. Flavour and Texture: Sweet but less so than the aroma might lead you to believe. Certainly cherry but more bittersweet than sweet, and there is that almond presence again. The texture is fairly neutral. Very reminiscent of a tart cherry conserve. At first taste this may seem a little bitter-sour for a liqueur, but as you become accustomed to the profile it becomes more palatable. It's better as an ingredient than as a neat liqueur, however, and the best possible use IMHO is in a Singapore Sling (choose your own preferred recipe from the dozens available). It's also excellent added to ganache as a filling for home-made chocolates or added to red berry preserves for Danish pastries. "Very Good" : 85/100 (4 stars)46.0 AUD per Bottle
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Appearance: Transparent yellow-gold. Aroma: A sweet herbal-honey nose with a strong alcohol prickle. Flavour and Texture: Unctious and sugary-sweet on the arrival with a character almost like golden syrup. The honey is noticed after the initial sugar bloom and the herbal flavours follow, and there are notes of orange zest, menthol and licorice. The texture is thick and there is a soothing warmth to the aftertaste. Drambuie can be divisive. Some drinkers find it far too sweet and brightly herbal - an unnecessary embellishment of scotch whisky. For others it is the epitome of the ideal liqueur - high abv, bold taste, whisky based, no dairy component, etc. Personally I think it tastes like medicine - very nice medicine. In fact, the best medicine I know of to deal with the symptoms of the common cold is a hot toddy made with Drambuie. Pour a generous double dram into a tumbler, add the juice of half a lemon, two aspirin tablets and top it up with very hot water. Stir well and sip it as it cools. If it's not strong enough, add some whisky or more Drambuie. Go to bed and put a hat on the bedpost - keep drinking until you see two hats. Beats the heck out of any medicine I've bought in a pharmacy. As for drinking it for pleasure, I've been known to indulge but one small dram is usually enough - it's just not something I enjoy sufficiently to crave more and a little goes a long way. Oh, and as for the Rusty Nail - it's a good way to get smashed quickly but most times I'd rather not spoil a good whisky (and the hangover can be monumental). The one exception is camping in cold weather - a flask of pre-mixed rusty nail is just the thing to take the chill off a cold tent. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)64.0 AUD per Bottle
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Appearance: Opaque mid-brown, rather like a chocolate milkshake. Aroma: Jaffas (explained below). Flavour and Texture: Sweet mild malted milk chocolate quickly followed by sweet orange liqueur. That's it. The texture is on the thin side. This is one of several liqueurs being made by a fairly new Australian family company based in Thebarton, South Australia. So far their products have all been citrus, nut or chocolate based. This particular liqueur has a rather narrow profile - it's milk chocolate and orange, full stop. That doesn't make it bad, but it is very simple and I thought it would be improved with a little added complexity. I noted above that the aroma is of Jaffas. These are an iconic Australian sweet, round candies about the size of a marble with an eggshell-thin orange candy shell surrounding milk chocolate. They are much beloved and I bet this liqueur was crafted to emulate the aroma of a freshly opened packet. The taste is pleasant and mild, with a little nip of alcohol accompanying the orange component. I did think that the chocolate part of the recipe could do with some enhancement. It is too faint and shy and the texture is too thin. Have you ever ordered an iced chocolate which arrived with heaps of cracked ice in the glass. By the time you are half-way through enough of the ice has melted to make the remainder of the drink watery and unsatisfying. This is exactly like that and I wish they had used a more robust dark chocolate and made the texture thicker - it would be an altogether better liqueur. Still, there's nothing unpleasant about it, it just lacks a certain something. "Adequate" : 74/100 (2.25 stars)40.0 AUD per Bottle
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Nose: Led by an array of lemon fragrances (lemon zest, lemongrass, lemon verbena) and also some tangello. It's a clear and fresh citrus introduction followed by floral notes of lavender and honeysuckle with some fresh pine. Juniper takes a back seat for once. Palate: Smooth and full arrival with a distinctly floral palate. Lavender, rose and honeysuckle are all present along with other floral flavours I can't identify. I believe they include fuscia and heather among the botanicals so it's probably those elements I'm tasting for the first time. There are also some sweet berry notes like mild cranberry. The texture is creamy, rich and warming. Finish: Medium. The floral notes dominate and the aftertaste features a very aromatic tone almost like jasmine (again, this is probably coming from a botanical that I've not tasted previously). A very interesting gin and I can see why it has won so many awards. The field of modern gin contains many very good expressions but a lot of them are little more than variations on tried and tested themes. That's not to meant to denigrate the skill of artisanal producers or criticize fledgling whisky distillers for bringing out gin to create cash flow while their first stocks mature. It's just that this gin has a genuinely original palate. A nose with a floral focus is not unusual, but to find such intensity of floral botanicals on the palate is unexpected and the success of this gin is that it does this with a masterful touch. However there is also a lower emphasis on juniper and citrus on the nose which leads it to seem a little shy at first. That's the one criticism I have and I'm knocking off a quarter-point from the rating. Otherwise this would be a 5-star gin. This gin is very good tasted neat with or without ice, and it's also very good with tonic, making one of the most enjoyably flavourful G&Ts I've tasted. The nose retains its character even through tonic and on the rocks, and the palate is similarly robust. I was gifted a sample and the person who gave it to me recommended Fever Tree Elderflower tonic as a mixer. That might seem like gilding the lily with such a flavourful floral profile to begin with, but it works well and I can recommend it. This gin rockets to the top shelf of my gin cabinet and it is the equal of the very good Method & Madness Gin I tasted yesterday. "Excellent (very nearly Outstanding)" : 89/100 (4.75 stars)90.0 AUD per Bottle
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Method and Madness Irish Micro Distilled Gin
Modern Gin — Ireland
Reviewed January 2, 2020 (edited July 19, 2022)Nose: Sweet juniper and juicy citrus. A floral bouquet in the background and pine needle traces. Warm spicy tones simmer underneath the main aromas. Palate: Sweet and creamy arrival that expands into a ginger, cinnamon and sweet pepper development with a herbal background reminiscent of bouquet garni. As it develops, the pine needle note shows up again. The texture is rich and warming. Finish: Medium/short. The sweetness fades out into a grassy herbal aftertaste with traces of lavender, and it leaves you with a cosy feeling. A very enjoyable and well balanced gin that is pleasant to drink neat but also plays well with tonic. It has great body without being boisterous or placing too much emphasis on the juniper. I tried it with Fever Tree Mediterranean, Fever Tree Premium Indian and Schweppes Indian but it has sufficient presence to work well with anything. I'd think you could use some of the flavoured tonics like Fever Tree Lemon or Capi Native Botanical with this with great success. At the asking price it is competing against a wide range of similarly expressive artisan gins, but it more than stands up to the challenge. I tasted this from a sample gifted to me by a work colleague of Mrs Cascode (thank you, Wei!) who purchased it as a TRE. It now has local distribution and I picked up a bottle today. "Excellent" : 89/100 (4.75 stars)85.0 AUD per Bottle -
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2019 Triple Wood Cask Strength
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed December 30, 2019 (edited August 27, 2022)Nose: Neat this is big, bold and assertive with sooty smoke against a dominating background of dense sweet oak. Sherry, tarred ropes, pine resin, fried walnuts, citrus peel, leather, cloves and strong tobacco all stand out clearly and there is a slight trace of vanilla and the usual Laphroaig licorice. However most of these aromas are submerged beneath a mountain of oak. With water a strong aroma of sawdust or pencil shavings emerges and the assertiveness of the nose is tamed, however it does lose a little character. Palate: Tasted neat it's a sledgehammer arrival of great complexity. Sweet cigar-smoke, kalamata olives in brine and olive oil, bitter dark chocolate, blackstrap molasses, licorice and black pepper. There is a complex and immense phenolic aspect to the palate which in combination with all the oak tannin produces a bitter herbal quality. With the addition of water the palate becomes considerably sweeter and more interesting with layered waxy lemon, fruity notes and many new oily nuances unleashed. The texture becomes creamier and more pleasing. While dilution is debatable as regards the nose, in the case of the palate I'd say it is mandatory. Finish: Very long. Smoke, phenols, vegemite and brine. The aftertaste is slightly salty and a little sour - it actually tastes like freshly cut peat moss and oak tannin. Adding water softens the finish considerably but does not damage it. Some sweetness is set free to balance the herbal bitterness, which is most welcome. By the way, the information on the Distiller listing for this is incorrect - it is 59.5% abv, not 51.4%. This is not a subtle whisky. It has all the nuance and expression of a runaway steam locomotive, and it smells like one too - at least one pulling several dozen carloads of fresh resinous timber. I'd also wager that the constituents of this are mostly quite young. It has none of the finesse of really old Laphroaig and it benefits notably from dilution (apart from the nose, which loses definition). While this is much more intense and spectacular than the regular Triple Wood I wouldn't want to drink it every day, or pay the going rate here of $275 a bottle. It's a side-show intended to stun and amaze, not a quiet evening's conversation. However I'd be fascinated to taste this again if they put it into a good refill bourbon cask and let it sit for another 10 years. I think it would then be something truly special. Many thanks to @Soba45 and @PBMichiganWolverine for the opportunity to taste this highly expressive whisky as a 30 ml sample. Also, as it's my last review of 2019 I'd like to extend my best wishes to everyone in the community for a happy, safe and prosperous 2020. May the force of whisky be with you, always. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)275.0 AUD per Bottle
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