Tastes

I'm still buzzing from my first in-person whisky tasting in a very, very long time. While this expression was not one of the Glenmorangie expressions that I sipped at the tasting, it's a review that I've been meaning to write. Glenmorangie Nectar D'or is aged for 10 years in American oak bourbon casks and a minimum of 2 years in Sauternes sweet wine casks. Fun fact: 60-70% of all Sauternes casks in France go to Glenmorangie! Nectar D'or is intended to evoke the whimsy and sweet delight of a French pastry shop. Sign me up! The nose introduces crisp green apples and light clover honey. As if one slid down the dimmer on a light switch, its aroma becomes more mellow and moody with rich stewed apricot and grapes within buttery puff pastry; like a glazed danish. There's a dash of aged cask for good measure. My sips begin rich with barley, fruity acidity and transition to lightly drying baking spice, honeyed sweetness, almond and oak. The finish is longer than I'd expect for a whisky this easy to drink. I am one for high quality pastries which was a creative vision for this dram. Imagery of sticky, flaky baklava kept entering my mind through tasting. I'd envision this whisky being a great companion to a charcuterie board (full of French cheeses, of course) as well. Santé! 7.75/10

GlenDronach 12 is my first from the distillery that I received from a family member for my last birthday. GlenDronach 12 is aged in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks for a minimum of 12 years. The intial nose is softly sherried. It opens up nicely with subtle oak and notes of vanilla, baked goods and maple syrup, like a stack of fresh pancakes. After ~15 minutes, the nose settles with sweet stewed plums, allspice and ginger. This has a spicy first sip in a way that seems more effective at jolting me awake than my morning coffee. A rush of spices wash through an oily baseline of sultana raisin, sherry and subtle brine. A tannic, lightly drying finish lingers with cherry, pepper and bitter oak. This is an enjoyable sherry cask whisky without being too sweet. I like the pairing of spiciness with enough body and viscosity to support its strength. This might not be my daily go-to, but I appreciate the balance it has for a bold, fruity dram. 7.75/10

It is so cool to see Ontario's whisky landscape evolve. Kinsip released their 2020 edition Headland's Hearth, a "grain-to-glass" 100% malted barley single malt. Headland's Hearth is aged in a Scottish barrel and finished in an Oloroso sherry cask.  It sold out within a day. Sadness ensued.  I was beside myself in delight when I was given the opportunity to taste this creation.  The nose provides light savoury peat with apple and moss; evocative of rolling hills leading to a stone castle. It has a depth and maturity that is unexpected. It opens up after a few minutes with some added oak, nuts and caramel.  As I sip, a momentary sweet apricot tanginess with white pepper turns into a pleasant crescendo of bitter smokiness. This peatiness is more dry and savory, like a cocoa rub BBQ skewer with a spritz of lime on top. The smoke is at no point overwhelming. I prefer a bit more viscosity but this is a pour that is very easy for whisky drinkers (particularly coffee inclined ones) to enjoy. This dram could even introduce peat to smoke-curious folks too. Hearth, much like its literal definition, makes me think of cozy and warming sensations (like a warm drink by a roaring fire) and this dram does just that for me. 7.75/10

Today I'm missing my late grandmother who passed away two years ago. While she wasn't much of a drinker, a negligible amount of "schnapps" poured into her cup would elicit a cheeky "...what, are you trying to get me drunk?" with a big smile across her face. In the spirit of family, it makes my heart happy to know that Glenfarclas 15 is bottled at 46% ABV because it was their grandfather's strength preference of choice. Grandparents are special.  My first inhale of Glenfarclas 15 gives me a beautiful trio of apricot, butterscotch and chocolate. Orange marmalade, sherry and oak seep in later. This nose is sumptuous.  This single malt is rich, oily and the kind of medium gold in colour that nicely compliments their iconic yellow labeling. Mild sherried sweetness pairs with white pepper, inspiring a shiver down my spine. A light tannic transition takes me to a moderate, comparatively mellow finish laced with cocoa nibs, walnuts and oak . The nose is a perfume that I'd be fine to bathe myself in. I wish there was more transference of that aroma substance within its flavour as well. While I would happily sip this dram, it's hard to not feel wistful for the excellence of their 21 year old bottling.  7.5/10

My first trip to Texas was Dallas. Aside from pursuing the best BBQ I could find, I made sure to bring home a bottle of Herman Marshall Small Batch Texas Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 16-1). Herman Marshall is Dallas County's first distillery since prohibition, hand-crafting whiskey in new white oak barrels. The nose is unexpectedly bright - apricots, grapes, mulled citrus and very light woodshavings. With time, I can smell a light leather influence and deeper caramelization, which paints an appropriate Texas-inspired Western image in my head. I can picture a cowboy sidling into a saloon with worn leather boots, kicking up the dust and wood remnants on the floor with every step. The body is luxuriously oily and it then stings the tip of my tongue within 5 seconds of sipping. It provides a balanced flavour combination leading with sweet honey and orange followed by saltiness and a subtle sourness. The last savoury note barely reaches the back of my throat as it finishes in the chest, rather than the stomach. Subdued apricot and tannic oak linger as I enjoy the indefinite warmth like wrapping a scarf around my neck and shoulders. The finish is very lightly drying on the tongue and lasts until whenever I choose to take my next sip. I'm pleasantly surprised by this one. I'd be happy to pour this when an American whiskey craving arrives when I don't need my hair blown back by a loud ABV. If you're craving aggressive spice, this bottle may not be for you, but I appreciate how this amber (and almost orange tinted) pour compliments the American whiskey landscape. 7.5/10

Do you have any favourite booze mash-ups? While rum cask aged whiskies are now common, I must say that I stopped in my tracks with curiosity when I saw the Bearface One Eleven Series on the store shelf. This whisky is a 10:1 ratio of Bearface whisky to agave espadin mezcal.  The nose smells of herbal steeped tea, smokiness and earth. It later develops with vanilla and rustic charred oak. Mouthfeel is light with bright, faintly sweet agave at the forefront. It transitions to moodier, smoky tones with a swath of white pepper. An earthy finish fades with a sprinkle of light acidity. It's lightly drying but oddly soothing. I enjoyed Bearface One Eleven more throughout the tasting so I'd recommend letting this sit and being patient with it. This whisky begs to be experimented with in some warm weather or whisky remix cocktails as well (Oaxaca old fashioned, anyone?). I'm still undecided if it's a whisky having an identity crisis or delightfully weird, but I'm intrigued.  7/10

Do you have a favourite blended whiskey? Tullamore Dew is a blend of triple distilled single malt, grain and pot still whiskies that are aged in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask barrels.  The nose is light and refreshing. Initially I smell crisp green apples and honey with a dash of sea spray. Faint wood shavings, clove and nutmeg waft in over time. The flavour profile is quite mild with a thin mouthfeel. Soft shortbread sweetness quickly makes way for spices like black pepper and cinnamon to make a (subdued) appearance. The finish is fairly quick and lightly drying with tannic notes. I'd love to try a higher ABV offering from Tullamore Dew. I see a lot of potential that could benefit from turning up the volume. Honestly, at the price point, it's a good value buy as an easy sipper or for cocktails that benefit from a mild whiskey. 6/10 I'd love to hear if you've had their other expressions (and if so, what you think of them!).