Tastes

I saw a three pack of 50 ml samplers for AUD$30. Thought, why not. Original was last night and an ok enough start. Now the 12 and 18 later in the week. N: An instant hit of generic berries but as if delivered in a leather pouch. Undertones of crisp orchard fruits (pear or apple, I don’t know) and perhaps a little vanilla but more towards a custardy vanilla. P: Another generic flavour up front, this time brown sugar, but almost instantly followed by a wave of burning. Is there a little toffee fullness that carries a vanilla for a fraction of a moment between sugar and heat? I don’t know, my mouth hurts. I’m sad. The initial hit is pretty oily but also full. It’s short lived for the heat wave. Did I mention I’m sad. The heat is all chilli. Nothing good here. F: Drying and tart, possibly with a little peaty-iodine twang? I’m still sad. Raw, and fails to deliver from an acceptable nose. Rating a whisky is indeed subjective. Certainly personal preference and bias impart heavily on an opinion in this space. That said, even things I’m not a huge fan of I can recognise as good or with merit. I don’t believe that to be the case here. I think this is objectively badly made. The nose is redeeming, but the palate and finish are aggressively raw. Some raw whiskies are like a white water rafting experience, hectic and ferocious but enjoyable. This is like having my mouth set on fire; sadness. The trajectory from NAS to 12 does not bode well for 18 later in the week. (Nariokotome boy [H. ergaster] in picture because thats just how I roll). Distiller whisky taste #89

N: ambrosia rice pudding straight from the tin, a little harshness of sour green apples provides a sharp contrast. A little syrupy sugary sweetness and a hint of dried fruits. P: wood forward, dry tobacco, plenty of barley and biscuit with more sharp sour apple crunch. Some chary to smoky undertones. F: medium. chocolaty with brown sugar sweetness and some drying tobacco or leathery final flavours. The nose is the best thing here as I see (smell?) it. I think the palate under-delivers a little from the initial nose. There is some roughness I think, but it isn’t too distracting or detracting. Pleasant and session-able, but nothing I’m writing home about. Would gladly drink again if offered but not something I’ll go hunting for. Distiller whisky taste #87

N: wonderfully gentle but luscious almost creamy profile. Fresh, crisp. Full whack of honey with juicy grassy and stewed pear notes. Honey is balanced so it doesn’t reach a sickly or sticky sweetness. A very subtle citrus adds vibrancy. P: honeyed malt is crisp and toasty and wafted along on the most delicate herbaceous and perfume like peat smoke. Light citrus with slight clove spice is deep in the layers of flavour that keep unravelling. A full and velvety chocolate mouthfeel is a perfect vessel for the delivery. Delicious. F: Long. Warming bakery spice, light raspberry jam. A little mouthwatering and demanding of more. Truly excellent. It seems the Islands are on a tear with me. Skye, Arran, Orkney; bringing the goods. Whilst I think the heat on this is a little harsh the depths of flavour, layering of the profile, and overall quality of the spirit is exceptional for a

N: oaky wood laden with vanilla, Malibu coconut rum, toffee and milk chocolate. Sharp, crisp green apple adds a refreshing tartness. P: heathery with honey and a toffee are initially prominent. Lip tingling spiciness of tannin and marmalade. Jammy berries and fig are buried away in here also. Creamy mouthfeel of soft and well balanced oak. F: Medium-long. Caramel and chocolate initially with late and lingering pepper-chilli spice. Beautiful depth of flavour, wonderfully layered with rich and complex flavours. Excellent balance and mouthfeel speak of an excellent quality of process and product. I don’t much care for the tingly spice that arrives early on and ends as a chilli note. But that’s being a little nit-picky as this is rather wonderful stuff. (This was a Whisky Loot exclusive, limited to just sixty bottles. This tasting was from a 60 ml sampler. I doubt anyone will ever add to this review. But I’d be remiss not to share this wonderful stuff!) Distiller whisky taste #85

N: Yep, I want to climb into this glass and swim in it. There’s thick sticky caramel, biscuits, coffee, burnt brown sugar, and some fresh citrus zest. A jammy sherry cask influence indeed. P: A completely palate coating stickiness yet it remains light, a cool juxtaposition of texture and weight. Caramel and slightly woody toffee. Citrus zest and more sherry cask influence. There’s a leatheryness in here too that is very enjoyable and adds savoury balance. F: Medium-long. A spicy and zesty after taste explosion. Gentle cinnamon, cloves and citrus peel linger in stickiness. This is excellently made, balanced and delicious. I would, if given it, drink a pint of this without thought. My only complaint is that this is perhaps simple. You do not need to work to enjoy this or find what it has to offer, is that a bad thing? No, absolutely not. But I expected, and want, more depth and subtlety, a liquid of this magnitude, opulence, and price should deliver that. Distiller whisky taste #83

“I fear I must blame the french for this. Not because I’m English…” N: Oak tannins are immediate and slightly mask a stewed fruit compote with lightest vanilla. This nose is delicate, light and softly warming. P: Drying, astringent wood leads with some light citrus and the beginnings of a dark figgy and jammy body that almost hits a lovely cherry flavour. But then tannic wood cuts back in and stops further development. A syrupy texture is enjoyable. F: Short. Peppery and oaky and then gone. I have wanted to try this last frontier of geographical whisky for some time now. The price has come down and the opportunity presented, so I was glad to get in on this. I had really high hopes and wanted this to be excellent. It sadly wasn’t. It was just ok to good. There are two oaks going on here and unfortunately the tannic wood flavours are too powerful. I fear I must blame the French for this. Not because I’m English, but I’m starting to find that European oaks are, if not tempered carefully, aggressive beasts. Six years in American oak and then 12 in French Oak, ooooph. What is here though is light, delicate, and very interesting. It’s a clean spirit and I think these Kiwis may even know what they’re doing, but they’ve let this oak influence build to be a little out of balance in the end. Distiller whisky taste #82

N: Dry, smoky, and mulchy. This is vaguely reminiscent of grandmas musty hosiery draw laden in dust and aged mothballs. To be honest, I find this horribly unpleasant. P: OK, how we transition from a gnarly nose to a really fun palate is beyond me, but I’m not going to say no to that! Salty (as in baked goods rather than brines), bitter cocoa, tobacco and drying oakiness. Vanilla cream blends it all together. Good stuff. F: Medium. Nutty and drying with a rounding smoke. I’ve never really been a fan of Irish Whisky. I always find them underwhelming. Not bad, but just, well; meh. Once I got past the nose on this, which I found gnarly and unpleasant, the whisky was quite tasty. Enjoyable flavours, interesting peat smoke and a good balance. Novel and enjoyable. But damn, that nose is nasty. Distiller whisky taste #81

I recently tore Jamiesons a new, errr, bottle hole. But someone recommended that the Stout Caskmates edition was worth the effort. With some trepidation, I obliged… N: Actually unexpectedly interesting. The grassy and fruity character is there but theres also an oily something, a little spice and dark bitterness of cocoa. I don’t dislike it. P: Its a little insipid but what is there is ok. There are more crisp orchard fruit notes, but also vanilla cream (cream soda?) with dark baking chocolate, mocha and some peppery spice. The bitterness is welcomed. F: Medium. A little spice that lingers a little longer than the espresso heavy mocha that accompanies it. This is surprisingly good. Its not great by any means, you can’t expect greatness at this price but it is perfectly acceptable. If the pallate could be dialled up with some more oomph i might even consider buying it! Well played Jamesons you got my attention. Distiller whisky taste #80

Quoting from the bottle: “The drink itself is mellow with slightly sweet flavours exceptionally balanced with citrus, grapefruit and rock candy notes. A smooth, long finish follows, reminiscing of honey, orange and rye whiskey character” What. A. Crock. Of. Shite. My honest notes: N: Orange. Orangey. Orange. P: Orange. Sticky sweet oranges. Orange. Did I mention orange? F: Short. Sticky sweet honied orange. All orange. Lots of honey sticky sweetness. Do not be fooled to thinking there is any notion that this is rye or has rye flavours in it. No spice, no grain, no barrel. Just orange crap. I guess the only redeeming factor is that they get the orange across well. I have no idea how to objectively score this as a whisky. But I wouldn’t buy it, I couldn’t finish drinking what I was poured either. That’s never happened before, so that can’t be good and so neither can the number of stars I give it (or lack there of). Point for orange. Distiller whisky taste #79

N: really interesting and engaging. Mixed fruits with perfumed blossom like smells and soft vanilla. Quite excellent. P: Short and punchy, popping flavours, sweetly winey with gentle cherry, but also chocolate, vanilla and a malty undercurrent. Really exciting, everything is delicate but capable of holding weight and presence with every flavour. There is a szechchaun pepper that comes and goes, quite aggressively though. F: Restrained, very winey and a little syrupy with gentle warming pepper. Would benefit from a little more integration and balance. The cherry could be more developed and the pepper toned down. Distiller whisky taste #78