Category Archives: Not Bad At All

Glendalough Double Barrel

Once again, I’ve been on quite a hiatus from posting reviews. This time, though, I have a reasonable excuse. You see, I was all set with a number of new bottles purchased and ready to go… and then I ended up testing positive for COVID-19 on March 15th.

So what, right?! It seems that we’re all going to end up getting it, wouldn’t you agree?!

For me, the infection itself was not pleasant- a couple days with a wicked headache, several days of miserable body aches and general fatigue – but fortunately it was relatively mild. However, it was the lingering effects that kept me from reviewing whiskies for so long because it’s awfully difficult to comment on the nuances of the Uisge Beatha absent your senses of taste and smell!

About a week after my quarantine period had ended, I realized that I wasn’t smelling the pungent lemongrass-ginger hand soap that my wife stocks our house with. And sure enough, I soon discovered that I wasn’t really able to smell anything at all! My sense of taste was not diminished so dramatically but I definitely lost my ability to fully detect sweetness. (Fruit tasted terrible!) So, for the past two months, even though I’d indulge in a dram every now and again, I had no confidence that I was enjoying everything my glass had to offer.

So I have waited… for about two months! And I do believe my senses have returned. I’m not entirely sure they’re fully back, mind you, but neither am I sure when I will be able make that assertion, so I figured I might as well get back on the horse, as it were!

Here’s the whisky I had planned to review first: Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whisky, which I believe to be a single grain whisky. There is no age statement but the label asserts that the liquid has been aged in Bourbon barrels for three years before being and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. It’s bottled at 42% abv. I spent just under $50 for this bottle.

To the Eye

Bright, almost sunny gold with flashes of a deeper butterscotch. When I do make my customary twirl of the glass, the resulting sheen crests dramatically before releasing moderate tears that trail rather thin, speedy legs.

In the Nose

Okay here goes… Malt and some other cereals, a distinct grape character and perhaps some subtle orchard fruits too. I also pick up a hint of vanilla and a bit of oak but that’s about it.

On the Tongue

There is more going on with the palate than the nose suggested… at least for me and my dulled senses! The first thing that jumps out to me is the creamy, almost buttery mouthfeel of this whisky, which also seems to carry a salty sensation of the freshly churned butter I enjoyed at my Grandma’s as a child. This is paired nicely by vanilla and a custard-like sweetness that transitions to orange marmalade. The finish is shortish but very nice as oak lingers before fading away with a flourish of almonds and a distinct dried-fruit sherry note. Good stuff!

Final Thoughts

I’m still an Irish Whisky neophyte and I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this bottle. (To be honest, I was drawn in by the attractive label!) Nevertheless, I’m glad that I selected it as it’s a dram that proves yet again that a whisky needs to be neither old or single malt to be quite delicious! It’s not super complex but, in my opinion, perfectly suited as a quality “daily sipper”!

If you’re familiar with this whisky, I’d love to hear if you also found it to be a bit basic on the nose or if my review proves my guess that my senses are still not at 100%.

Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey

I don’t drink much Irish Whiskey…

To this point, I’ve only reviewed two other drams from the Emerald Isle: Jameson and Proper No. 12. Well, I guess it’s time for another and, since three is a magic number, I guess it’s time to create a category on this site for Irish drops. (I suppose I’ll have to try to review more sooner than later!)

As I’ve mentioned before, compared to Canadian, Scottish and American, there aren’t usually as many Irish whiskeys on the shelves here in Alberta. But I have noticed the number of different offerings increasing – especially in the big city liquor stores, but also in my smaller hometown bottle shops. Anyway, I noticed Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey at my favourite shop, recently, a few visits ago and something about the bottle must have been particularly attractive to me because I couldn’t take my eyes off it the next couple times I popped in. Well as I said, three is a magic number, and the third time I saw it, I decided I had to have it!

From what I have gathered, Roe & Co. is a combination of malt and grain whiskeys that have been aged in bourbon casks, which always scores points with my palate! I believe that Roe & Co. is currently sourced and blended from Diageo’s vast arsenal. On their website, their lineup consists of a variety of proofs, age statements as well as single malt and grain offerings, but this entry-level whiskey is the only one I have so far seen in my stomping grounds. It is marketed as a high-end cocktail whiskey but, since I rarely drink cocktails, let’s see if it can be enjoyed neat! This whiskey is bottled at 45% abv and cost me about $45 CAD.

To the Eye

This is a bright, coppery coloured dram. It’s not quite like bourbon, but the dark-honey and orangish flashes definitely suggest a bourbon influence. A tilt and swirl leaves my Glencairn coated with big, reluctant tears and thick legs.

In the Nose

Subtle but inviting… The first impressions are of malty biscuits and a sweetness that hints of toasted marshmallow. Mandarin oranges and a floral note that brings clover blossoms to my mind. Oak and vanilla, again revealing the bourbon casks used in the aging regime. Further nosing also reveals a bit of dry, grassy hay and a bit of candied ginger.

On the Tongue

Similar to the nose, actually. It’s a light-bodied dram, with sweet, malted-milk candies balanced nicely with more bitter flavours of citrus pith and oak. Bourbony flavours of caramel and vanilla and that floral note also weave throughout the entire experience. It’s a relatively straightforward palate but also quite delicious!

At first blush, the finish is shortish, with pretty much everything but the caramel and that floral note fading away with a dry astringency. As I have pondered my tasting notes a few times now, however, I have noticed that when I resist the call of that dryness to take another sip, a very discernible honey-flavour develops on the tongue. Patience is a virtue and one that will reward you with this whiskey!

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if I’ve ever described a whisky in this way, but Roe & Co. is whisky refreshing! I can definitely see myself enjoying a dram with ice, on my deck and under the sun in the summertime!

I don’t know how or why such a gentle whiskey with subtle aromas and flavours would be marketed as a mixer, but I don’t drink cocktails, so what do I know! I do quite like this dram, however, and I’m sure this won’t be the last bottle of Roe & Co. that finds a home in my cupboard!

Legent Bourbon

I’m not all that familiar with Japanese whiskey (yet) but I fancy myself relatively well-educated in bourbon… at least in comparison to most of my buddies here in Alberta, Canada. As such, I often find myself on the lookout for previously undiscovered bottles that might expand my horizons just a bit further.

So, it was a pleasant surprise that I stumbled upon Legent , a Kentucky straight bourbon that celebrates the East-West synergy of Beam-Suntory. From what I have gathered, this whiskey was distilled by master bourbon distiller, Fred Noe before being aged for a minimum of four years in charred white oak barrels and then finished in California red wine casks and sherry casks before Suntory’s chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo, worked his magic. It’s kind of a neat collaboration between the philosophies of western master distilling and eastern master blending.

This bourbon is bottled at 47% abv and cost me about $60 CAD.

To the Eye

Classic bourbon… that older-than-new, newer-than-old copper colour that is a mixture of orange and honey-gold It’s such an appetizing appearance for me! Swirling my glass creates a dramatic crest that eventually releases distinctly separate skinny legs and thick, stubborn tears.

In the Nose

Aromas of dried fruits, like apricots and papayas jump out front, along with brown sugar and vanilla. More focused nosing reveals a biscuity character and a distinct nuttiness. With time, I do believe that a subtle wine note makes an appearance.

On the Tongue

Although the aromas and vanillins do their best to mislead you, this is not a super-sweet bourbon and, in fact, there is a dry-wine sort of astringency that grabs my attention. Chicago mix, cola and baking spices and an almost-smoky oakiness. When I barbecue, I often make a graham cornbread and the flavours of this whiskey kind of remind me of that… subtle sweetness and wood smoke woven around a chewy, buttery corn backbone.

I’m sure there must be a healthy dose of rye in this bourbon, as that dusty, spicy quality really asserts itself in the medium-long finish that offers lingering anise and oak. There is also a raisiny quality, presumably from the finishing regime, that is rather unusual for a bourbon but super-interesting!

Final Thoughts

Good stuff! I definitely need to gather more experience with Japanese whiskey before I can have any idea about the influences that the blending has had on this bourbon, but I do know that I quite like it.

If you like a fairly classic bourbon profile but welcome the odd unexpected surprise in your dram, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Legent bourbon too!

Alberta Premium Canadian Rye Whisky

For the small handful of you who actually have set eyes on this blog, you’re probably aware that I hold a number of Canadian whiskies in high regard and that I’m quite fond of a few drams produced in my home province of Alberta.

Alberta Premium, in particular, is a brand that I enjoy. I have reviewed a number of releases from Alberta Distillers but I’ve not yet reviewed their flagship expression. This is kind of funny to me since, for years, this was the only “Alberta Premium” that existed and it’s really only in the last 5-6 years or so that they’ve offered some new and exciting whiskies. (As soon as I have a good excuse to open my last bottle of their 30yr old, I’ll have to do a Wee Drams side-by-side review of them all!)

At any rate, Alberta Premium, was once the rye-and-cola bottle of my youth and one that I moved away from as I got to searching for “better”, certainly more expensive drops. I have now come full-circle and now recognize the Alberta Premium brand as one of the best values in whisky. This particular dram is distilled from 100% Alberta Rye, is bottled at the minimum 40% abv and cost me a ridiculous $18 CAD!

To the Eye

It’s appears as a classic and inviting Canadian whisky… amber with flashes of bright copper. A swirl of my glass produces big droplets that eventually release into skinny legs.

In the Nose

Initial impressions are of a light and slightly fruity whisky. The fruitiness is all rye berries, accompanied by a dusty, grassy note. With a little effort, I find breezes of yeasty rye bread and aromas of caramel and vanilla, along with some subtle baking spices. Nothing super special here but nothing off-putting either.

On the Tongue

Considering how gentle the caramel, vanilla and spice was on the nose, they come across with considerable force on the palate! Subsequent sips progressively move that caramel flavour fully to butterscotch. Oak and almond skins join the party and, all the while, that dusty and fruity rye-berry note ties it all together. Super smooth, with a short finish of fennel seeds, oak and marzipan. Nothing to knock your socks off but a nice, quite-classic Canadian profile.

Final Thoughts.

You know, despite being unspectacular, I appreciate this whisky! I drink my whiskies neat, almost without exception and I can’t imagine what you’d get out of mixing the Alberta Premium, besides a buzz… Oh to be young again!

At the end of the end of the day, this is a very gentle dram that won’t really offer any surprises. If you’re seeking a surprise keep saving your loonies and buy something else. But if you’re not too proud to bargain shop, the flagship Alberta Premium is very smooth and easy-drinking, with some delicately delicious rye flavours.

$18?! Come on… it’s pretty hard to argue with that!

Proper No.12 Irish Whiskey

☘️Éirinn go Brách!☘️

I think this will officially be my second-ever review of an Irish whiskey… for whatever reason, I’ve yet to really get into much water of life from the Emerald Isle. I think it’s mostly because there aren’t too many different Irish whiskey options in my local shops.

However, I’ve had a couple bottles of this particular dram go through my cabinet in the past several months. The first time I noticed it on a shelf, I remember wondering, Isn’t that the brand Conor McGregor’s always promoting? Once the label confirmed it, the fairweather MMA fanboy in me took over and I had to give it a go!

Like most Irish whiskeys, Proper No.12 is a triple distilled spirit. It’s bottled at 40% abv and cost me a bit less than $40 CAD.

To the Eye

Nice bright gold in my glass, with skinny, speedy legs. The label notes the use of bourbon barrels in the aging regime – from the colour, I’m guessing refill casks and expecting a young spirit. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)

In the Nose

The first impression is of delicious cereal notes, reminding me of oatmeal spiced with cardamom. There are some slight bourbony breezes of vanilla and wood and a hint of “Goodies” candies. (I don’t know if this just a Canadian thing, but Goodies are a candy-coated licorice confection.) Fairly straightforward nose, but appealing, nonetheless!

On the Tongue

For whatever reason, I am challenged to tease out individual flavours when I drink this whiskey… There’s a malty sweetness that I could call honey, if I really wanted, with a firm oaky backbone but beyond that, it’s hard to describe – it just tastes like whisky! There are a few rough edges, which you expect with a young whisky at this price point but they are actually rounded off nicely and what remains adds to the enjoyment of this dram. The finish is on the shorter side, but fades away to leave a nice mint-chocolate character that lingers for a moment.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, Proper No.12 is to world whiskeys as Jack Daniels is to bourbon. (Yeah, yeah… Tennessee whiskey) This is one of those drams that you buy to drink, and I mean that in the best way possible. This isn’t really a whiskey to ponder or one that will cause you to try discovering new flavours each time you pull the cork. But, it’s an honest and straightforward drop that can easily be enjoyed on a St. Patrick’s Day, like I am today, or after a long day of work, as I have a time or two!

I mentioned off the top that this isn’t my first bottle of Proper No.12. I’ve also taken a couple bottles over to a friend’s place for an evening of playing cards or, funny enough, to watch the UFC fights – when we used to be able to do those kinds of things! If repeat business isn’t a pretty good endorsement of a solid product that provides good value, what is?

Sláinte! But be safe this St. Patrick’s Day!

Glenlivet – Captain’s Reserve

Man, it has been a looong time since I’ve posted to this blog! To be honest, I’m not too sure why I stepped away either… I think that, at the end of the day I just needed a break! A lot has changed since I last contributed to my blog: New house (same city), new job (I’m a school principal now), my son moved out at 16 to play hockey, then a pandemic struck and he moved back home… I could go on and on!

Anyway, I’m back – at least for now – for the very few of you that used to follow along, and I’ve got a few new whiskies in my cupboard, waiting for my review. Let’s get at ‘er!

For my return post, I’m going with The Glenlivet Captains Reserve, a NAS bottling that has been out for a while now, which I think makes it appropriate for a belated review! This bottle piqued my curiosity as a cognac-finished whisky. It is bottled at The Glenlivet’s standard 40% abv and cost me roughly $70 CAD.

To the Eye

It’s a deep amber looking nectar with flashes of shiny copper in the glass. I hope that this rich, attractive colour is due to the cognac casks but I am sceptical that it may be due to some e150a… My customary swirl produces a brief crest before revealing skinny legs on the side of my Glencairn.

In the Nose

There certainly are some of the classic aromas that a classic Speyside like The Glenlivet is typically known for: apples and fresh-cut grass among them. But there are some darker, jammy fruit-notes and some spices like cinnamon and anise. As I continue nosing, I believe I can pick up some cigar tobacco and maybe a bit of ginger… I’m intrigued.

On the Tongue

Ok, it tastes like a Speyside too, with orchard fruits, some citrus zest, vanilla and toffee jumping out in front. A little time in the glass and a few more sips bring a chocolate note along with a that dark, jammy sensation I picked up on the nose. The fact that this whisky is cognac-finished encourages me to call it a raisiny flavour, but that’s not quite correct… have you ever tried those “Brookside” chocolate-covered fruit candies?

The finish is medium-short, smooth with almost no alcoholic bite. It leaves me with oak shavings, a bit of that tobacco and a curious rubbery taste. I like it quite a bit!

Final Thoughts

Yeah, not bad! The Captain’s Reserve is a decent dram that seems a good value to me! It’s approachable like virtually every whisky in the Glenlivet’s lineup but just interesting enough to make you think about what you’re experiencing too. I’m sure I’ll buy it again.

Glenfiddich 14 Yr Old Rich Oak

It’s kind of an unwritten rule for get-togethers with my father-in-law, that we each bring a bottle of scotch to share. We never go too over-the-top with the whiskies that we bring… It’s all about sharing a dram or two, not trying to impress each other with something expensive. (Pops puts a lot of ice in his dram and we want to feel comfortable leaving whatever is left in each other’s cabinet, but maybe we’re just a little on the cheap side!) Nevertheless, we do both like to bring something expected to be a new experience for the other. Generally, it’s quite a bit of delicious fun!

Well, this year was once again time to spend Christmas with my wife’s family and this time I decided to bring two bottles that fit the bill for our little whisky exchange: a personal inexpensive favourite in Bruichladdich Classic Laddie and something I hadn’t yet tried before – Glenfiddich 14 yr Rich Oak. (In case you’re wondering, Pops’ bottle was Aberlour 12.)

Apparently this Speyside malt is aged for 14 years, using Glenfiddich’s usual casking regime before separate finishing periods in both European and American casks. This whisky is bottled at 40% abv and it cost me about $65 CDN. 


To the Eye

This whisky displays a rich coppery-gold that brings bourbon to mind. I suppose this could be expected but it also has me wondering about caramel colouring. My usual tot and swirl results in some moderate legs that dissipate quite quickly. 

In the Nose

The name alone had me expecting a big blast of wood from this dram… That’s not really what I found, however. The oak does linger in the background but it’s not an assertive aroma nor one that really seems to provide a backbone or common thread to the nosing experience. Instead, I picked up some of the usual Glenfiddich character: orchard fruits, vanilla and a herbaceous note. Each of these were rather muted, though, and that herbal note, in particular was quite a long way off from the fresh, grassy quality that I usually enjoy from Glenfiddich and many other Speyside malts. I also find vanilla and a touch of biscuity malt but it’s kind of flat.

With water, the fruits stand out a bit more and become a little more juicy and maybe even somewhat tropical

On the Tongue

If I had to sum it up succinctly, I’d say this whisky comes across as rather bourbony, without coming close to the complexity or deliciousness of a quality bourbon. There is sweetness, but a metallic bitterness quickly makes you forget about it. There are a few spices but they are overpowered by vanillins. The oak is certainly there but it’s a muddy sort of dominating flavour, if that makes any sense – it just doesn’t compliment anything else that’s going on in my glass. The finish is on the short side, with bitter oak tannins and a dry, acrid metallic after taste that again suggests the use of E150a. 

With a few drops of water, I found the oakiness and the vanilla flavours were tamed and pointed in a more complimentary direction that allowed a malty sweetness to come forward. Water also helped some citrusy flavours to assert themselves and it also changed the finish into something more toasty much less bitter. 

Final Thoughts

I don’t usually water my whisky but I was forced to try it with this one. While I was not enjoying my first couple of drams, my father-in-law was finding his glasses of scotch-flavoured ice to be quite delicious… So I figured I could give it a try. In this case, I found a little water transformed the Glenfiddich 14 yr Rich Oak from something almost undrinkable into a pretty decent drop. 

Bulleit Bourbon 

I’ve been finding myself buying bourbon with increasing frequency as the American spirit continues to capture my attention and interest. When I started my bourbon journey, I was mostly looking at upper-mid level drams, as I tried to figure out if I really wanted to reallocate much of my whisk(e)y budget away from scotch and Canadian offerings. In short time, however, I began to branch out toward both ends of spectrum, exploring more top-shelf and entry-level offerings as I attempted to gain a more complete understanding of the genre. 

This search is what recently drew me to Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey, a bottle I had previously ignored because I felt the bottle presentation seemed rather low-end, an assumption that also seemed to be affirmed by the decidedly reasonable price…

Well, ahead of a camping trip, this summer, I found myself reconsidering Bulleit Bourbon as I looked for a dram I could possibly enjoy neat while also sharing with friends who’d be just as likely to add ice and too much cola. I’d seen Bulleit in many a drinking establishment and I’d read on other blogs that it was relatively underrated, so it was settled! Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey is bottled at 45% abv and cost me about $40 CDN

To the Eye

You know me, I think bourbon in my glass is a pretty sexy dram… All coppery and orange. Fairly nice legs, too!

In the Nose

For the most part, it pretty much has the standard bourbon smells of sweet caramel and vanilla, with some punky corn. But, with a little time in the glass, dried apricots and, interestingly, some dill pickles make their presence known. That dill pickle character seems to build and build until it is the dominant aroma in my Glencairn! There is also something almost soapy as well as a subtle charred smokiness lingering in the background. 

On the Tongue

Fairly straightforward bourbon, once again. Oak and vanilla, caramel corn and some rye spice. There is a drying bitterness that isn’t altogether unwelcome and which makes me want to take another sip. It has a nice alcohol bite, which is pretty much required for me to enjoy a bourbon, these days. The finish is shortish but full of oak and a sort of mineral-like quality, so let’s just call it pencil shavings and move along!

Final Thoughts

This is not the best whiskey or bourbon I’ve ever had… But it gave me exactly what I asked of it when I made my purchase! Reasonable price, plenty good to sip around the campfire and the family and friends who tried it (with or without mix) all seemed to enjoy it better than the whiskies they did (or didn’t) bring along themselves! 

So, while I can’t exaggerate Bulleit Bourbon to an unreasonable level of excellence, I do need to tout it as an honest and versatile whiskey that punches above its weight class price point. In fact, over the course of the summer, I ended up choosing to bring along a fresh bottle of this dram for each of two camping trips and a charity hockey tournament that I played in! So, while I have only given this whiskey my third-highest rating, I do recognize the niche that Bulleit Bourbon fills and that I highly respect how well it it fills said niche!

A Wee Dram… Tangle Ridge Canadian Whisky

Trying something different here.

Grad studies, kids’ activities, everyday responsibilities of teaching and school administration at this time of year – they all seem to be conspiring against my blog. It’s been damned near two months since I did a review and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do a little better.

Enter A Wee Dram… I’m going to try writing brief entries for some those whiskies I get to try but can’t put through a full review process. After all, it’s not like the only time I enjoy a dram is when I sit down to carefully jot down tasting notes three separate times en route to a new review post. 

There might not be pictures, there won’t be a ton of depth to my comments,  but I hope it’s still worthwhile!

Tangle Ridge Canadian Whisky

Stopped out at my parent’s farm for a visit on World Whisky Day 2016 and, of course, Dad asked if I was up for a drop… Silly question! Ever the champion of Canadian whisky, especially those produced right here in Alberta, so I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see him produce Tangle Ridge from his cupboard. 

Not my pic; borrowed from http://www.thelonebiker.com
It had been a while since I last tasted this whisky. Much deeper copper colour than I expect from Canadian whisky – it says this is a 10 year old dram, but still! A little overly sweet, maybe, with loads of caramel and vanillins in this one… Extremely smooth exit!

Not quite my preferred profile these days, but Tangle Ridge is still a decent enough sipper on a cold, rainy day while shooting the shit with the Old Man! (I did accept a second glass. 😉)

Cheers!

The Macallan Amber

I’ve tried a few Macallan whiskies and always found them quite nice, but maybe just a bit uninteresting. I’m not exactly sure why that is, I think I generally just prefer a bolder dram. Nevertheless, I was interested to find out what The Macallan’s newer NAS offerings would have to offer. Not so long ago, they did away with several age-statement expressions from their core range and replaced them with what has been called the “1824 Range”, which differentiates whiskies based on colour. In this new lineup are the new Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby whiskies. As the names suggest, each whisky is a darker, more deeply coloured dram than the one before it and, judging by the prices, it’s clear that the distillery’s assertion is that this is their new basis for quality… What could this mean for the use of E150a? (I’d rather not think about it too much!)

Anyway, this review is for The Macallan Amber, which I’m left to assume/hope will at least be of similar quality to the old 12yr Fine Oak. The Amber runs around $80 per bottle here in Alberta – it’s bottled at 40% abv.  

To the Eye

Amber, go figure! The bright old gold of a rich honey… This is how I like my whisky to appear. A swirl of my Glencairn eventually reveals thick, stubborn legs that reluctantly return to the dram below.

In the Nose

Overall, a gentle and approachable nose, as I expect from The Macallan. Fruit-filled sherry is up front, along with some juicy orchard fruits, vanilla, toffee and cardamom. As the glass breaths a bit a fresh citrus is revealed and some interesting, slightly vegetal aromas develop – there’s a subtle dusty hay-like quality about this dram and occasional hints of some salty seaweed. With time, an almost meaty aroma also develops… I can’t shake the idea of some kind of Asian aroma and I’m left thinking of those weird rice crackers in those snack mixes.

On the Tongue

That Eastern character is solidified as the first sip is full of umami and that notion of meatiness comes up again. This dram is not sweet and, while it does hint at some rather young whisky as part of the malt, it’s still nicely balanced and there seems to be a modest variety of flavours to coax out. Oatmeal squares cereal, leather and a subtle oakiness all make an appearance. I’m left wanting for those juicy fruits that were suggested on the nose. The finish is medium-short, with a strong impression of graphite and a buttery flavour, kind of like breakfast toast.

Final Thoughts

Good. There’s not really anything to dislike but neither is there anything particularly memorable about it. The Macallan Amber has some interesting qualities about it, but it certainly didn’t knock my socks off. There are several drams at a similar price point, and less, which I would rank well ahead of this whisky.