Tullibardine The Murray – 2018 Marsala Cask Finish

This beautiful package was a birthday gift from my buddy, Richard. As usual, Richard’s gifts are rather impressive-looking and typically excellent whiskies. Why would this one be any different?

I am not yet all that familiar with Tullibardine malts and I don’t recall previously sampling one finished in Marsala wine casks, so it was exciting to receive this bottle as a gift. The carton explains that this particular whisky is named after Sir William Murray, the second Marquis of the village from which the distillery takes its name. Although not given an age statement, it is indicated that this dram was distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2018, so I guess it’s safe to consider this an 11- or 12-year old whisky. The carton further describes the exclusive use of first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in Marsala casks. Colour me intrigued!

This whisky is bottled at 46% abv and, as a gift, I have no idea or interest in the price tag.

To the Eye

I don’t often comment on the packaging of a whisky, preferring to focus on the product inside the bottle, but this is a nice presentation! The carton is levelled up, compared to most 12 year old whiskies, and the interior is embossed with beautiful floral patterns that are apparently inspired by carvings at Scotland’s oldest chapel, at Tullibardine. From the gold and purple label to the black velvet interior of the box, it’s an impressive bottle to pull out of the cabinet!

As for the actual dram, it’s a rich, golden whiskey that shows flashes of copper and orange, belying the influence of the bourbon-barrel aging regime. The liquid appears noticeably viscous and it thickly coats my class, producing considerable legs and tears.

In the Nose

Surprisingly, a biscuity aroma of malted barley jumps out in front but it’s followed closely by a veritable fruit salad. Apples and pears dominate… pear peel, actually. Sweet cream and some bourbon notes create a nice sensation of vanilla milkshake, with a hint of cinnamon joining the parade.

On the Tongue

Every time I sample this bottle, the first sip is just delicious! Due to my appreciation for bourbon, and my love for bourbon-aged single malts, this isn’t a surprise. As that first sip fades and subsequent ones follow, however, The Murray reveals a myriad of additional flavours. Relatively sweet flavours of shortbread, creamy Werther’s caramels, blackberries and currants sum things up fairly nicely but there are also countered by bitter flavours of citrus pith and dark chocolate. There is also an interesting herbal note that reminds me of fresh basil wandering around in there.

The finish is quite long, with bourbony baking spices, orange peel and oak notes lingering. There is a salty quality about the finish as well, which begs me to take another sip. Overall, It’s a nicely balanced, well-composed dram!

Final Thoughts

Good stuff… really good, actually! I don’t know a lot about Marsala and I’m not sure what qualities of this dram should be chalked up to the wine-finish, but it’s a tasty and interesting drop! I will definitely purchase this for myself once this gifted bottle is gone!

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

For years, this whisky was one of my “secret weapons” of a sort…

The first time I ever sampled Glenmorangie’s golden nectar, was many years ago when a bonus sample bottle of the stuff was included in the carton of the standard 10 year old bottling. That first taste told me a lot – especially that it was a delicious expression that I estimated would be appealing to a number of my dramming pals.

We’ll imagine my surprise – here’s where the “secret weapon” part comes in – when I discovered that a full 750 mL bottle of this Sauternes-finished whisky came in a beautiful, display-type carton and that the price tag was still relatively in line with other quality 12 year old single malts! It almost seemed too good too good to be true and I knew that I had a go-to gifting whisky… one that would immediately impress most of my beginner and novice scotch-drinking pals but also one that they would enjoy consuming.

Over the years, I’ve gifted more bottles of this whiskey than I can count on both hands and it has been a hit each time. Surprisingly, however, I think I’ve only purchased it for myself a couple of times, despite really appreciating the malt. We’ll, that changed recently when I decided to treat myself and, while perusing the scotch section at one of my favourite bottle shops, I saw Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or in regular old run-of-the-mill cardboard cartons! I was dismayed, knowing my old-faithful gifting whisky had taken a small step backward in terms of the “wow-factor” packaging. However, as my gaze drifted around and toward the uppermost shelf, I noticed one last familiar, beautiful carton…

I bought myself this gift for roughly $90 CAD and the whisky inside is bottled at 46% abv.

Lovely, don’t you think?!

To the Eye

Deep, rich gold with flashes of both brighter and darker gold… it looks very much like Cuban honey. (And many other honeys, for that matter!) A twist of my Glencairn produces moderate legs.

In the Nose

Immediately spicy but not pungent, it reminds me of a how bouquet of lilies scents a room. Nutmeg and cardamom, peppercorns, orange marmalade and a subtly tropical aroma as well. Time in the glass reveals a biscuity shortbread sensation as well.

On the Tongue

That cardamom aroma comes through on the palate in a very distinct way for me, kind of similar to many other baking spices yet distinct in a uniquely floral way. Honeycomb and citrus pith and a slight hint of fresh lemon zest. There is also delightful, slightly bitter nuttiness that leaves me indecisive whether it’s leaning closer to almonds or walnuts. Oak is gentle, but it’s there.

The finish is long! Some of those spices stick around with a bit of cocoa powder. Lingering citrus and oak fades into to an awesome slate, mineral-like quality. In some ways I’m left contemplating Grappa, or maybe a very dry white wine… whatever it is, there a certain grape-ness about it.

Final Thoughts

For me, few whiskies remain as composed from nose to finish as the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. It’s never overly complex but also never boring… it’s just flat-out delicious! Even though it appears that the stepped-up presentation is a thing of the past, this is definitely still a dram that I will feel confident to present as a gift and one I will continue to enjoy myself!

A Wee Dram… Old Pulteney 12

My friends and I gift a fair amount of whisky amongst ourselves… I imagine this sounds familiar to most people who would be reading and/or writing blog posts such as this!

One of my good friends has always been a bit more of a rum drinker but, over the years, he’s definitely expanded his repertoire into the world of whisky. We’ll, he celebrated his birthday recently so I dropped off a bottle of Old Pulteney and couldn’t resist when he invited me in for a quick pour.

As you can see, my buddy had been celebrating in earnest!

I had chosen this whisky because, in my experience, it would be an easy-drinking dram that a novice scotch drinker should enjoy and it seemed to turn out that I chose wisely.

Old Pulteney displays as a classic, honey-gold highland dram. The dominant aromas were gentle honey, vanilla and oak with an interesting herbal-tea quality. On the palate, assertive oak gave way to lots of caramel and a “Dad’s Cookie” cereal biscuit character. The finish seemed shortish, with sawdust, citrus zest and mint. Throughout my glass, I searched unsuccessfully for the briny, maritime note that I remembered this whisky to once have had…

Completely safe and inoffensive and my buddy said he quite enjoyed it, so mission accomplished, I think! I’d never turn OP12 down, but I was reminded why it’s not a regular inhabitant of my own cabinet.

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old

Over the years, my lovely wife’s attitude toward my whisky-drinking hobby has evolved directly alongside my passion for the water of life. From eye-rolls when I’d come home with a new bottle to mild amusement toward my nerdy comments about the dram I was enjoying… I’m glad that she’s managed to put up with me all these years!

This summer, Tena and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. (Don’t ask me where the time went!) It’s pretty crazy to look back at how much things have changed over the years and the family that we’re raising… but this is a whisky blog, right! So let’s focus on her contribution to my spirited ramblings.

Yeah, she’s a catch!

On our anniversary, Tena surprised me with a bottle of the Glenfiddich 18 year old. I would have been surprised by any bottle but I was particularly impressed that she chose a rather well-aged single malt. Either she’s been paying more attention than I give her credit for or my buddy Richard was in cahoots on this one! This whisky is bottled at 40% abv and, as a gift, I have no interest in what it cost!

To the Eye

Manuka honey in a glass, with almost brownish flashes. A swirl of my Glencairn produces a crest that gathers dramatically before releasing thick tears and long, droopy legs. It’s a deep, dark and luxurious-looking drop!

In the Nose

Gently spicy right off the bat, with some bourbony vanilla and a subtle ginger zest that pairs intriguingly with a perfume-like floral note. A second sniff reveals classic Speyside apples, though these are more of the red, very-ripe variety. More nosing reveals some cinnamon and a bit of citrus.

On the Tongue

Bourbon? Sherry? Bourbon… sherry… It’s interesting how the influence of both cask types are dancing together in this whisky. Those dried fruits and toffee flavours I associate with bourbon are there, as is the dry, raisiny goodness of a sherry finish. In amongst it all, there are some of the classic Glenfiddich flavours of orchard fruits and cut green grass.

The finish is somewhat gentle but it lingers, with oak, cinnamon, and menthol.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes I have a hard time deciding what to think about rather well-aged, (presumably) more-expensive whiskies. Let me explain…

Would I like a whisky of this caliber at a higher proof? Of course! Did I expect some kind of stand-out, more-memorable characteristic? Probably… I think I tend to hold these kinds of whiskies to a higher standard, which might not be entirely fair.

The Glenfiddich 18 is a delicious drop! It is rich, well-composed and has a surprisingly long finish. If I had a larger whisky budget, this would probably be a favourite… the kind of dram I’d choose as an everyday sipper. However, at least at this point, that’s not quite my reality and, when I splurge, I’m still looking for something that blows my mind just a bit more.

Let’s see where I’m at in another 19 years!

Longrow Peated

I’m a big fan of the Springbank 10yr – Sorry, upon rereading, it’s really an awful review that I ought to update and improve! – so I’m not sure what took me so long to buy a bottle from one of the distillery’s other arms… Longrow and Hazleburn.

You can look up all the details if you like but, in a nutshell, Hazleburn is an unpeated, triple-distilled whisky, Springbank is the flagship, slightly peated and roughly 2.5x distilled, and Longrow is the heavily peated, double-distilled dram.

My last visit to the bottle shop found me hankering for a peated malt, making it time to give the Longrow a go! I picked up this NAS whisky on sale from the usual price of nearly $90 CAD. It’s bottled at 46% abv.

To the Eye

As with all Springbank whiskies, this is non-chill filtered, with no added colouring… pale straw-gold. A swirl of my glass reveals fat, drooping legs that move quite quickly to the liquid below.

In the Nose

Soft and subtle, but this dram has plenty going on if you have patience and take your time. Tropical fruits, particularly pineapple jump out right away. A grassy note, citrus and that clay-like mineral quality that I always associate with this distillery. With time, green peppers and a slightly meaty aroma come through. There’s peat, but it’s not smoky… more earthy and herbaceous.

On the Tongue

The peat is not so subtle here! But, again, the smoke is restrained and well balanced with other flavours. Menthol with malty sweetness and a roasted cereal flavour. Slightly briny and rather medicinal with lemon zest and citrus pith. The finish is long, with a honeyed sweetness and plenty of peat, eventually fading into a healthy dose of cigar ash that lets you know there was some smoke in there all along!

Final Thoughts

If your looking for an Islay-type whisky, carry on. If you enjoy more subtle peat and smoke, you’ll probably enjoy this Campbeltown malt! Good stuff!

Auchentoshan – The Bartender’s Malt 02

I have a soft spot for Auchentoshan… Sure, maybe that soft spot is a bit smaller today than it once was, but it’s still there! Over the years, I have reviewed a couple “Damn Good” drops from this distillery (find them here) but, it seems to me that something in the character of this malt has slightly changed in recent years.

Nevertheless, I was in one of my favourite liquor stores a while back and I noticed The Bartender’s Malt 02 on the shelf. I had previously sampled the first version of this project at a buddy’s place and although not particularly memorable, it must have been good enough since I was checking out the 2.0… Anyway, the gentleman at the store saw me reading the carton and casually mentioned “old casks” in this blend that retained “that mushrooms note Auchentoshan used to have”. Colour me intrigued!

If you’re so inclined, the Google machine can fill you in about how this particular drop was concocted – it’s quite a story! From what I’ve read, this NAS dram includes whiskies as young as 4 or 5 or 6 years all the way to casks of 35 or 40 or 50 year old spirit. Who the hell knows what the true recipe is and, to be honest, I don’t really care… but how does it taste?

This whisky is bottled at 50% abv and cost me roughly $80 CAD.

To the Eye

Pretty typical Achentoshan appearance of honey-gold, perhaps a bit deeper than the 12 yr offering. The customary swirl of my Glencairn creates a sheen that crests dramatically before eventually releasing thick, reluctant legs.

In the Nose

Characteristic citrus zest and a distinct aroma of fresh-cut oranges immediately jumps out. Cinnamon and vanilla – presumably from bourbon casks – and hints of shortbread and sweet-cream are in there too.

On the Tongue

There’s a fair amount going on in this whisky! Floral, vegetal notes of heather and herbs such as lemon balm and thyme. Honey and delicious bourbony flavours of vanilla and caramel, along with a subtle oakiness. I can’t find the mushrooms that were suggested to me at the bottle shop but I do get a slight meaty, umami quality. The orange-note is still there along with a hint of milk chocolate, it’s kind of reminiscent of those “Terry’s” chocolate oranges… which I enjoy far less than this whisky!

The finish is shortish but very nice, with caramel candies, pink peppercorns and marmalade.

Final Thoughts

I have to admit that I was a little worried this whisky would prove to be a gimmick, better served in a bartender’s cocktail creation than in a typical scotch drinker’s Glencairn… I am happy to report that this is not the case. This is a quality dram that is delicious when enjoyed neat or, presumably, however else you might like your whisky!

Glenfiddich 14yr Bourbon Barrel Reserve

Over the years, I’d like to think that I’ve learned a thing or two… when it comes to enjoying whisky, anyway!

Of course, I’ve gone through what I imagine are fairly typical phases of ignorance growth and development. I’ve focused on single malts at the expense of other types of the spirit. I’ve believed that age statements are the most reliable indicator of a dram’s quality. I’ve increased my whisky budget in search of a “better” drink. You name it…

And, you know what? I’ve settled on the belief that there are no hard and fast rules. You can find wonderful drams from all over the place. I’ve drank 3yr old whiskies that are as interesting and full of character as much, much older drops. And I’ve learned that the availability and cost of a bottle do deserve to contribute to its value and my overall enjoyment – I’ve drank many $50 whiskies that I prefer over $100+ bottles and being able to have them on hand and not being shy to kill a bottle with friends means something!

Which brings me to the whisky under review – Glenfiddich 14yr Bourbon Barrel Reserve. I love bourbon and I tend prefer the character that American oak imparts on scotch over sherry casks and other types of wood. This whisky is bottled at 43% abv and cost me less than $60 at my local shop.

To the Eye

Perhaps it’s just the power of suggestion, but this whisky seems to have a deeper, richer, more bourbon-like appearance than some. Deep golden honey, with flashes of a darker copper-orange hue. My customary glass-swirl reveals an interesting combination of both thick, sticky legs as well as some skinnier rivulets that quickly descend to the bottom of the glass.

In the Nose

Typical Speyside notes of juicy orchard fruit and fresh-cut grass but this whisky also delivers some aromas of cinnamon, honey, vanilla and oak. The nose is decidedly scotch in character but I believe there is a hint of punky corn coming through as well.

On the Tongue

Terrific! The first notes that come through are elements of bourbon – vanilla, oak and some kettle corn. This bourbony goodness quickly subsides – to reveal the malt character. And you know, it’s not so much subsiding as it is merging… there is definitely a dance going on between the Scottish malt and the American oak that seasoned it for so long. There’s apple peel, eucalyptus, anise seed, dusty hay and a nice mineral quality. It’s not super complex but it is a smooth (but not too-smooth) whisky that just keeps begging me to take bother sip! The finish is medium-long with pencil shavings, leather and lingering cherry cough drops.

Final Thoughts

Yep, after all these years of dramming, I think this is pretty much the type of drop that I now gravitate toward! It’s an honest and straightforward whisky that is both interesting and exceedingly drinkable. I appreciate both scotch and bourbon and I really enjoy the marriage of those two whisky styles in this drop! A great value in my books, a number of these bottles have made their way through my cupboard and I expect that to continue!

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. 

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 yr Old

The Balvenie has been a distillery that I’ve… let’s not say avoided… It more like ignored.  Fair or not, you know what they say about first impressions and I was not a fan of the Carribean Cask as my introduction to the Balvenie and, well, I just haven’t had much urge to give ‘er another go… until recently. 

Lately, my whisky journey has been leading me toward drams that market themselves as throwbacks in some way. Call me old fashioned but I guess I kind of romanticize the idea of doing things from scratch or, at the very least, small-scale, hands-on craftsmanship. So, I’m in the bottle shop and I finally pull down a carton for the Balvenie and I read the words:

Hook, line and sinker… It was time to give them another chance! This whisky is bottled at 40% abv and cost me approximately $80 CDN. 

To the Eye

Lovely bourbony copper-orange with the odd flash of brighter brass. A tilt of my glass produces thick, stubborn legs. 

In the Nose

My first sniff reveals loads of orchard fruits – ripe red apples and juicy pears. Then comes some red licorice, honey and some typical vanilla-caramel goodness. Eventually, with time, a firm, spicy oak backbone reveals itself along with a subtle note that reminds me of kosher pickle brine. Overall, I find the combination of aromas to create a soft yet sophisticated nosing experience. 

On the Tongue

I had been a little discouraged that this dram was only 40% but it’s one of those good 40% whiskies that delivers plenty of flavour!  Oak, buttered toast, filberts. It’s not nearly as sweet as the nose suggested, although there is a drop of honey in there. Vanilla, a hint of cinnamon, dark, stewed fruit… Perhaps a bit of marmalade. (Maybe it’s the time of year but I get a vague sense of Christmas pudding but not in a heavy or overly sweet way.) Man, I really like how that oakiness asserts itself early and serves to harness all of the other flavours, weaving them into a thread of pleasant toasty, nutty bitterness!

The finish is medium, with pepper and licoricy fennel seeds, followed by a return of the oak and some mineral notes, with honey bringing up the rear. This dram exits with a similarly pleasant bitterness that was found earlier on the palate and creates a nice, slightly dry finish that encourages another sip!

Final Thoughts

I’m sure glad I grabbed this bottle and got sucked into the romanticized farm-to-glass marketing – this is a quality drop! I find The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 yr Old whisky to be wonderfully balanced and I love how it seems to hint at sweet while playing a savoury riff throughout. This is a well-composed whisky that needs to be in your cabinet, if it’s not already – I think all whisky drinkers, newbies or experienced drammer’s will appreciate it!