Tastes
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Nose: Sherry, light oak, some mild dried pear and honey/apple notes. A little malt, caramel fudge and nutty aromas. It's well constructed, quite big and robust. As it opens a warm, deep floral note comes forward. [The dry glass aroma is heather honey and traces of charcoal]. Palate: A rounded and mostly sweet malty arrival with a little dry tannin at the sides. The development mainly brings sherry and diverse sugary notes but they are on an umami foundation, which is unusual. It gives the palate texture and prevents it from being sickly-sweet. With some time in the glass a honey note emerges. Finish: Medium/short. A sherry aftertaste lingers with a hint of mild coffee. It's years since I last tasted Cragganmore but it's still very much as I remembered - a competent single malt with a classic (almost iconic) Speyside sherry profile that is just slightly on the dry side. It's balanced, pleasantly fragrant and rounded but is certainly not a sherry-bomb. There is nothing difficult or off-putting about it, but you could also say it lacks that spark of challenge that makes a single malt really interesting. There is a strong resemblance between this whisky and that of most Johnnie Walker expressions, which suggests that Diagio uses it as a major component in their blends (you get the same impression to some degree from a lot of the Flora & Fauna releases, but here in this Classic Malt release it is very strong). The official profile summary here is "fruity & tart", but personally I'd say "fruity and softly dry". I also didn't detect smoke on the palate, other than maybe a faint leathery-ash note, and I don't remember ever particularly associating smoke with this whisky. At least, it's not smoky like a Laphroaig is smoky - more like how a Glenfarclas is smoky. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)100.0 AUD per Bottle
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Tariquet Bas-Armagnac VSOP
Armagnac — Bas-Armagnac, France
Reviewed March 17, 2019 (edited July 15, 2022)Nose: Freshly pressed fruit-juice, particularly featuring peach, apricot, strawberry and nectarine. A hint of ginger-ale and some vanilla, but the sweet fresh fruitiness overshadows everything else. Some solid and elegant oak cask in the background. A reviving and enlivening nose. Palate: A soft, fruity arrival that turns slightly spicy for a moment but then does a double-take and moves back to sweet fruitiness. The same stone-fruits as are found in the nose appear here together with some fresh plums. The texture is full but verging towards the dry side, which is very pleasant. The tannins from the oak are perfect. Finish: Medium. Fruity and demi-sec, leading into a faintly tannic-spice, leather and cinnamon aftertaste. I don't quite agree with the official tasting notes here for this (I thought it was well balanced for one thing, but meh, what do I know) however I agree that it's an apéritif rather than a digestif. In fact this would be a very pleasant substitute for pastis on a cool autumn evening. Actually, this would work after a meal but the magic pairing would be a very mild cigarello or even a machine-made cigar. Something light enough to let the armagnac dominate. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)59.0 AUD per Bottle -
Nose: Lemon juice, herbal cigarettes, brine, peach, apricot, fruity-cereal notes, honey, vanilla and distant wood-fire smoke. A particularly crisp and sweet nose. Palate: A sweet, light entry with a trace of smoke. Stewed fruits, vanilla, fresh oysters off the rock (!), honey and some mild earthy notes as it develops. A very pleasant light texture - bright but not watery. Finish: Medium/long. Fruity, sweet and peaty with a lingering sweet smoke aftertaste. This is one of the more unusual malts I've tasted. It's crisp, light and fruity overall but for a bright profile it's not particularly spirity. At first I was not impressed, but over time I came to appreciate it. It has many aspects that bring to mind Lagavulin 8 year old - that same citrus/smoke profile and bright but assertive body. The colour is very pale and it reminded me in some ways of some sweet, bright young cask-strength Highland Park expressions I've tasted. On first taste you could be forgiven for wondering if there is any peat-reek at all. It is certainly there, but it's a sweet and gentle smoke more like mild aromatic pipe tobacco than oily peat, and it's dominated by the citrus fruit notes. This is absolutely not a peat monster by any stretch of the imagination. Even though this is called the tourbé (ie "peaty") expression, my advice is to forget all about peat when tasting it and approach it without any expectations. In that context it will present as a light, fruity malt at first, but gradually the smoky notes will become noticeable. It's a more than acceptable malt and for the money it's good value. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)71.0 AUD per Bottle
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Nose: Wet brown cardboard boxes. Plywood sawdust. Grass clippings. A trace of vanilla and aniseed, some grainy ethanol and a whiff of fly spray. Very faint overall – there is virtually no nose. Palate: Light, nondescript arrival with brown sugar notes. There is no development. The texture is less dense than water. Finish: Very short. There is no finish other than a mild soapy ethanol note, which leaves a trace sweetness in the mouth. This is incredibly thin, watery and gutless – it’s like drinking a dilute shot of vodka to which a few drops of whisky have been added. The only complimentary thing I can say is that it is so lacking in personality that it even lacks offensive notes. It’s not the worst whiskey I’ve ever tasted – far from it – but it is without question the most anaemic. As a mixer all it adds is a vague suggestion of “brown spirit”. “Inferior” : 67/100 (1.5 stars)43.0 AUD per Bottle
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Cognac Paul Giraud Napoleon
Cognac — Grande Champagne, France
Reviewed March 10, 2019 (edited July 15, 2022)Nose: Peach, pear and a heavier background note of prune juice. There is also a sweet fragrant nutty aroma, some mild orange notes and honey - but it's lighter than "honey" might suggest - more like honeysuckle. A hint of elderflower and chamomile as well as it opens. A very pleasant and compelling nose. Palate: The arrival is sedate and dry rather than sweet, but not too dry. As the development unfolds the palate quickly gains sweetness with a little cidery fruitiness and white-grape tones, but it never veers into a simple grapey-sugar character. There is also a touch of spice and aromatic wood from the casks and together these elements create excellent balance that leans ever so slightly towards a dry character. A neutral and warming texture. Finish: Medium. Lightly semi-sweet and fruity with good length and a lingering fruity-wood aftertaste. Although marketed as a "Napoleon" this expression contains components that are up to 15 years old. This is a 100% Grand Champagne expression which is unblended and uncoloured and presents a very focused picture of the house character. It may well be drier than expected on first encounter, however there is a better than even chance that by the end of a tasting you'll start to think that many other cognacs are overly sweet in comparison. The official notes here summarize this one very well. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)18.0 AUD per PourCourgette Restaurant -
McHenry Barrel Aged Gin
Barrel-Aged Gin — Tasmania, Australia
Reviewed March 6, 2019 (edited July 22, 2022)Nose: Vanilla, lilac, lavender, orange blossom, ground coriander seed, lemon myrtle, faint pine needles. Palate: Creamy, round, sweet arrival. Vanilla, mild baking spices (notably coriander, caraway and poppy seed), a slight spearmint note, some trace juniper and a foundation flavour of lemon zest. The texture is very rich and full. Finish: Medium. Sweet and mildly spicy with vanilla on the aftertaste. This is probably the most rounded and approachable barrel-aged gin I've tasted. The compulsory juniper note is very restrained (hardly noticeable, in fact) and the emphasis is all on a warm, floral vanilla and baking spice profile, enlivened by a little citrus. Unlike most gin, which I like to try neat but inevitably end up enjoying best in a G&T, this one is best as a sipping spirit, either neat or with just a chip of ice. Adding tonic makes a pleasant drink but also detracts from the spirit. This was produced through a variant of the solera system employing 24 heavily charred 200 litre ex-Russell's Reserve bourbon casks. The total maturation period was 12 months, with half the contents of each cask being cycled through the solera every 2 weeks. This is an unusual approach, and a long, intense maturation for gin. However the result speaks for itself through this richly flavoured, but subtle spirit. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars.)99.0 AUD per Bottle -
Nose: Hibiscus, lime flower, tamarind concentrate, peach, apricot, pear juice, fuji apple, mild pineapple, a hint of honeysuckle, distant brine. There's a leather note as well, but very mild. It’s a crisp, uplifting nose. [The dry glass aroma is faint tropical fruit juice]. Palate: Silken and slightly sweet with a hint of ammonium salt (as opposed to sodium) and fresh orchard fruit. The texture is light but not watery with dilute honey at the periphery. A little orange peel, white grape juice and dried orchard fruit starts to show through as it develops. There is hardly any indication that you are drinking alcohol at all, apart from a mild warm sensation as you swallow. A microscopic white pepper note towards the finish. Finish: Short. The mild juicy sweetness of the palate gives way to an umami note. Smooth and well balanced. The nose is light and delicate but not weak by any means, and is slightly reminiscent of a fruit-forward whisky - something like young Glenfiddich. The palate is balanced and shows no sign of cloying sweetness nor of astringent dryness. The casks are discreet and supportive, but barely noticeable. I had heard that this has a briny profile and yes there is a maritime quality, but if you're used to maritime whiskies then that quality will seem very tame here. There is a crisp dryness, but more than anything it's juicy and fresh tasting and there is certainly no emphasis on heavy dried grape flavours. An enjoyable cognac, and although it has qualities that do bring whisky to mind it's certainly no malt! I'm enjoying it and I'll be interested to see whether the freshness survives oxidising. There are two other expressions in this Camus "island" range, with increasingly intense maturation. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)100.0 AUD per Bottle
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Nose: Cereal and fruity (a bright white grape juice note). Some vanilla, caramel and a yeasty aroma. As it rests and unfolds the peat smoke becomes more and more obvious. Palate: A sweet, easy and fruity entry. The development expands on the fruit note and there is an unmistakable smoke tint to the palate that is more prominent than the smoke aroma on the nose. A pleasing palate overall, with some dried fruit and salt-water taffy towards the end. Finish: Short. Cereal and fruity. Pleasant and uncomplicated, but made to a high standard - the new-make is clearly identical to that of their "Origine" single malt which is matured in sherry and cognac casks. This expression receives additional finishing in ex-sauturnes casks, which were obviously top notch and very fresh - either first fill or lightly used second fill. Like its brother this is a bright young whisky and it benefits enormously from resting in the glass for a while. To say it opens up is the understatement of the year. It's sweet, fragrant, cereal, malty, fruity and reminds me somewhat of wine-finished Kilchoman expressions. I opened this and the Blue Origin together a couple of weeks ago and at that time I preferred the other whisky. This one seemed a little unbalanced and reminded me of some less-than-stellar Australian wine-cask finished whiskies (it had the same grapey-plywood character). However over time it has improved and I've come to appreciate it more. It has surpassed the other malt now, having gained finesse, and the wood note is rounder and more restrained. Never judge from a neck-pour. Most enjoyable, and given the very reasonable price this is a bargain. Snap it up while you can. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)56.0 AUD per Bottle
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Nose: Fruity (apples and raisins), floral (jasmine, vanilla pod, Earl Grey tea), a light caramel/burnt sugar note. There's also a freshness as of lime juice and lightly toasted cereal. Palate: More present than the nose. The arrival is sweet and lightly creamy with some developing mild spice (tannin, menthol and clove), but it's delicate and poised. There are nuances of baked apple and orange zest. Not greatly complex, but what is there is good. Finish: Medium/short. The finish has light grapey notes and a little lemon pepper, but there is a more lingering minty/herbal aftertaste. The nose on this is subdued, but allowing it to develop in the glass enlarges it and finds more depth in the aromas. It's a friendly, approachable and fresh nose that is not particularly deep or resonant. There is an oaky note, but it's faint (a tree was involved somewhere in the production of this, but that's about all one would be willing to say). In comparison to many spirits this could be accused of just being a simple, fresh young expression, but it's compelling. You keep coming back for another nose and taste, and then pour another small measure because it's simply enjoyable to sit and ponder. A good sign. A spirit that is very easy to drink and enjoy. More than acceptable as a sipper, and fine as a mixer. Good value for money and certainly a step up from most entry-level VS cognac. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)85.0 AUD per Bottle
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Plantation Original Dark Double Aged Rum
Dark Rum — Multiple Countries
Reviewed February 24, 2019 (edited April 21, 2020)Nose: Funky hogo, molasses, brittle toffee, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, a crisp minty note, prune juice, strong black tea, leather books. [The dry-glass aroma is herbal, funky molasses]. Palate: Oily/syrupy in texture, but the arrival flavours are dry and bittersweet (you can taste the cask used for secondary maturation). A lot of sugar sweetness becomes immediately apparent in the development along with pineapple and mango, black coffee and dark chocolate. There’s an anise presence as well. It's warm and slightly spicy, but certainly not hot – you barely notice any alcohol at all until the aftertaste. The sugar sweetness builds over time to the point where it becomes intrusive. Finish: Medium/long. A pleasant combination of dry, spicy and rancio, but with an unwelcome white sugar aftertaste. There was an earlier Original Dark Rum by Plantation that was discontinued in 2015 and replaced by this "Double Aged" version. I’ve made a new listing here for the Double Aged because the mix of reviews for the two versions in the old listing is confusing. This is a very different rum to the earlier one. The earlier version was more fruity and contained rum from Trinidad & Tobago. You'll still see that recipe stated on most liquor website listings for this new version, but it's incorrect. This new one is a dryer, funky combination of young Bajan pot still and column still rum blended together with 10-15 year old Jamaican pot still rum. The two are married in a tun for 3-6 months in France which imparts a subtle cognac oak overtone. There is a great deal of white sugar sweetness across the palate of this rum, which spoils what would otherwise be an excellent bottling. It's unmistakable and obvious if you taste it in comparison to something like Doorly's 12 or any other Foursquare rum. Plantation employs dosage and this signature added sweetness appears in almost all of their rums, to a greater or less extent - here it is particularly noticeable. There is also a funky hogo note to both the nose and palate, and if you’re not into that you will probably hate it, so maybe try a dram before buying a bottle. It's sippable, but is primarily intended as a mixer. It makes a particularly nice Cuba Libre as the hogo note shows through the cola and lends it character, and it also goes well with dry ginger. “Above Average” : 80/100 (3 stars)55.0 AUD per Bottle
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