Tastes

What Japanese whisky is on your tasting wishlist?  You may be thinking "all of them" and I'd empathize. When I spent time in Japan, a highlight was walking into any matchbox-sized bar and being greeted like I was a dear, long lost friend. Suffice to say, I drank a lot of whisky. When I was gifted* this bottle of Shinobu to review, I couldn't have been happier.  This light amber offering has a delicate yet fragrant balance of orange blossoms in spring, light honey and a freshness like green pepper. With time, oak and citrus shine through along with gooey caramel drizzle and faint smoke. The smoke is gentle, like lingering campfire scent on a laundered shirt after a wilderness trip. Shinobu has both a rich mouthfeel and a light body. Early sips immediately make their presence known with moderate white pepper in the mid tongue. The pepper contrasts with juicy notes of apple and salted caramel that gracefully shift to light smokiness. The finish fades quickly to a lingering belly warming sensation with notes of vanilla and subtle char. This is a whisky that you don't have to overthink as a consumer. Not in the way of it being too straightforward, but how its nuanced complexity doesn't make you fiercely aware of every individual piece. Similar to when you see a performance, you don't think about the stage manager, tech crew or hours of rehearsal; you sit back and enjoy the show.  Shinobu has broad appeal: It's bright enough that newer whisky drinkers wouldn't have their hair blown back by spice and smoke but it's elegantly composed in a key that whisky connoisseurs would play on repeat. 8.25/10

How are you celebrating/did you celebrate Burns Night? I'm having shortbread and sipping Té Bheag, which quite literally means "a wee dram" in Gaelic. My first nosing of this whisky brings light peat, black tea and orange. Later, I can smell leather bound books in a forgotten corner of the library with hints of tobacco and honey. This is a scotch that would claim to put hair on one's chest. While neat, there's a fair amount of heat that rolls from the moment the glass touches my mouth down to my stomach. The initial caramel-peat flavour quickly morphs, via a dash of pepper, to a tangy brined, almost sour quality. The finish is medium-long and makes my lips tingle. Oak and smoke return, like a drag from a nice cigar. I wish that the main palate notes stuck around longer; it's a quick rollercoaster through Flavour Town. I do enjoy this dram as a better performing affordable blend for those who don't mind a bit of smoke and salt. Slàinte! 7.25/10

What has been keeping you busy during the pandemic winter months? I've been rediscovering my "bar rail" bottles amongst the "fancier" offerings and I came across this bottle of Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch Whisky. This is a bottle that I'd use when fighting a cold with the almighty power of the hot toddy, but I I've never had it straight before. The initial whiff gives me fermented grain and apricot; almost beer-like in nature. Over time, that cereal tone deepens (boozy cheerios, anyone?) but it still has an objectively light nose. Ballantines has both a moderate burn and light mouthfeel. It is lightly peated, has slight acidity, saltiness and little else. During an inhale, I can taste oak and sweet vanilla. The finish is a bit drying and the peat taste softly lingers indefinitely.  This whisky doesn't offer tremendous substance though it's uncomplicated in the way that a "non whisky enthusiast" might enjoy on ice: a little smoky and inoffensive. Ballantine's could be an inexpensive mixer option to add smokiness within a cocktail. That said, if this is whisky is "Ballantine's Finest", then it leaves much to the imagination.  5.5/10

I didn't realize that Perth, Ontario was once a hub for Ontario whisky production! When I found out, I felt it my Canadian duty to honour that history by tasting Perth Canadian Whisky Sherry Cask Finish. This limited edition is a sherry Oloroso cask small batch release from fall 2020. Post pop, the nose has a bright, cherry candy like sweetness. After ~15 minutes, it relaxes into a mellow sherry and citrus honey bath. Sipping neat, there's a sweet sherry solo at the top that quickly brings spicy back-up singers (not quite the Spice Girls) like green cardamom, white pepper, nutmeg and subtle savory umami for balance. While there's light tingling on my tongue, there's no harshness here. Its general sherry sweetness sunsets to a mild charred campfire wood, warming finish. The palate is not over complicated, but when a sweeter-profile whisky mood strikes, this would be a good option. I could imagine that this whisky would make a great post-meal dram over ice. 7.75/10

I was just given this bottle of Glenfarclas 21 for my birthday. What better way to usher in 2021 than with a 21 year old spirit in hand. With a fresh bottle pop, the nose provides clover honey and green apple. Over time, sumptuous caramel drizzles over bananas, which brings me back for several dessert-inspired whiffs. My first sip of Glenfarclas 21 has a bold initial sensation of white pepper, crisp tart apple and a notable salinity with subtle oak and tobacco in the distance. Over time, more of the ex-oloroso sherry cask and European oak spice flavours emerge. The finish is a long series of waves by the seaside; brine, a puff from an old wooden pipe, sweet grass and vanilla. Amidst a precise spicy tap dance on the tongue, this has a light, barely oily mouthfeel and gently dry finish. This dram is smooth and enjoyable to drink and evolves beautifully over time. 9/10