ScotchBlog

Glenmorangie Astar Highland Single Malt

By Sean on January 31, 2012 5:16 PM | 0 Comments

Another rare find from the Glenmorangie is the Astar (gaelic for "journey") which is currently not available at the LCBO, but was brought to me from the UK. The Astar is aged in specially selected and dried young white oak from Tennessee, without finishing in any other type of barrel. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at an impressive 57.1 percent abv.

Nose: Smoky and spicy, cinnamon, fennel and hints of fresh apple, strawberry, and vanilla cream.

Palate: Spicy, floral and smoky, with notes of raisin, bitter chocolate and espresso.

Finish: Quite hot with bold oak and a long sustained finish.

Adding water is advisable to open up such a potent malt, and this produces a sweeter nose of chocolate, vanilla and orange peel. The palate with water is more oaky, floral and creamy.

Overall: This is another impressively complex malt from a distillery that continues to produce unique variations on its distinctive flavour profile of smoke, floral, vanilla and gentle fruitiness. For those who already appreciate some of these malts (such as the Signet, Quinta Ruban, or Nectar d'or), the Astar is very much the bright, bold, "cask strength" cousin and worth snapping up if you are shopping abroad.

6 Whiskies Paired with Food for Less Than $25

By Matt on January 23, 2012 8:37 PM | 0 Comments

No. It's not a typo. What you're seeing is what's on offer at the next ScotchBlog reader meet-up.

Similar to last time, we've worked with our fantastic hosts to put together two flights of 3 whiskies each, and once again the chef has paired each whisky with a nibble to highlight the fact that whisky and food do indeed go together. Exactly like last time, there will be full food and whisky menus for a la carte ordering, and no cover. Just pay for what you eat and drink.

This month's edition will focus on the smokier side of the whisky spectrum. Some will be a combination of smoky and sweet, while others will display the classic peat, and all will be delicious. After the flights are finished, feel free to stick around to mix and mingle, as many of us will be going deeper into the whisky list.

The tasting will be held in downtown Toronto this Saturday, January 28th with a start time as close to 3pm as we can manage, as we'll do our best to ensure that we get rolling once everyone is there. So how do you find out where? Well just to your right is the "Contact Us" option that we'd like you to use to email us with your name and the number of guests that will be joining you (we'd love to know their names too!). The reason for this is to provide the chef with a reasonable estimate of the number of flights to prepare. After we receive that email, I will personally get back to you with all of the details.

On behalf of all of us at ScotchBlog.ca, we look forward to seeing everyone this Saturday.

Is a price hike looming at the LCBO?

By Ryan on January 18, 2012 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

Last week, I heard a rumour about an impending price increase at the LCBO. My first reaction was typical of the embittered Ontario consumer: a sigh and a resigned muttering: "First coffee, then hydro and now they're going after my whiskey..."

A quick search online yielded a description of the increase in the LCBO's minimum pricing structure and as outlined by the CBC "About 10 per cent of spirits sold by the LCBO and three to four per cent of beers will see their prices go up. A 24-bottle case of the cheapest beer will go up by 55 cents, from $28.80 to $29.35. A 750 mL bottle of a mainstream spirit will go up by 50 cents to $23.90."

"Meh. What's so bad about that?" I can hear you thinking. Small change right?

Well, maybe not...

Continue reading Is a price hike looming at the LCBO?.

Deanston Virgin Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch

By Sean on January 16, 2012 3:09 PM | 0 Comments

This is a non-age-statement bottle from the Deanston distillery, produced by Burn Stewart distillers, which also produces the Bunnahabhain and Tobermory whiskies. Young whisky finished in new American oak and bottled at 46.3%.

Nose: The nose is bright with lemon, grape, sugar and floral/grass notes. Sweetness, yeast and light oakiness.

Palate: Honey, vanilla, orange marmalade and grapes followed by caramel, oak and light nuttiness. Adding water brings out hazelnut and light coca flavors.

Finish: Brief and dry with a slight oiliness as well as hints of fruit and coca.

Overall: A bright, light, simple and enjoyable whisky. The formula of young whisky, finished in first-fill oak and unchillfiltered seems designed to achieve a sort of minimalism (I am further supported by the slogan on the bottle: "Simple, Handcrafted, Natural") which is admittedly pleasing in results, while also being a shrewd marketing strategy for a somewhat immature whisky. Available at 39.95 at the LCBO, I would consider buying this again, and would recommend it to those who find my tasting notes on it appealing.

Robbie Burns Day Planner

By Matt on January 14, 2012 3:10 PM | 0 Comments

As always, January 25th is Robbie Burns Day, and as usual many restaurants and pubs will be offering up specials on food and drink, poetry, dancing, and more. But what about us whisky fanatics in Toronto? What are we to do?

In years past I would hum and haw, mulling my options until it was too late to get a ticket anywhere, and ultimately end up at home or a friend's with a bottle from my own collection. Surely there must be a better way right? A short list of venues with extensive whisky lists and their menus, offerings, and prices perhaps? Well, there is now.

This is your Toronto Robbie Burns Day shortlist.

Continue reading Robbie Burns Day Planner.

Grant's 18 and 25 Year Old Scotch Whisky

By Jeff on January 12, 2012 9:30 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Our friends over at William Grant & Sons were kind enough to send us samples of their 18 and 25 year old blended whiskies, which unfortunately are not currently available outside the UK. Grant's 18 Year Old blended whisky consists of a mixture of malt as well as grain whiskies which are then finished in port casks. Grant's 25 Year Old is an extra special treat for us, as this is the first batch that has ever been produced. Made up of 25 different distinctive malt and grain whiskies, including Ladyburn and also the first ever whisky laid down at Grant's Girvan distillery in 1963, we were extremely excited to sample this new product.

Grant's 18 Year Old

Nose: This has a very distinctive Speyside nose, very similar to other Grant's expressions. A heavy brown sugar kick along with figs and fruitcake, surely a characteristic imparted by being finished in port barrels. A citrus zest combined with a touch of smoke provide some balance against the largely sweeter characteristics.

Palate: This expression lacks the sourness normally associated with the Grant's Sherry & Family Reserves. Dried fruits including apple and pears sweetened with caramel and rich malt. This is a flavourful whisky which if one peels back, reveals hints of fresh leather with flecks of peat smoke. You'll find that this dram is great to roll around on the tongue - it's surprisingly (and enjoyably) peppery.

Continue reading Grant's 18 and 25 Year Old Scotch Whisky.

Rosebank 17 Year Old by Gordon & MacPhail

By Matt on January 10, 2012 9:57 PM | 0 Comments

Mothballed since 1993, and looking more and more like it will be forever closed, Rosebank is a distillery whose whisky is absolutely worth hunting now before the clock truly strikes midnight for the average consumer. Triple distilled in the traditional Lowland style, aged in a refill sherry hogshead, this whisky has been delivered unto to us fans (some may call me more of an obsessive) of closed distilleries by the fine independent bottlers Gordon & MacPhail.

Distilled in 1991, bottled in 2008 at 55.3% ABV, and procured at Boston's venerable Federal Wine & Spirits on my trip there in late 2010, this whisky has been testing my restraint and tantalizing my taste buds for over a year now.

So if you are prepared to hunt this expression, or enjoy vicarious whisky-masochism, please do read on. If not, well, keep your eyes open for it at the finer purveyors of single malts and please read away anyway.

Continue reading Rosebank 17 Year Old by Gordon & MacPhail.

Bruichladdich 12 Year Old - Second Edition

By Jeff on January 3, 2012 6:28 PM | 0 Comments

Bruichladdich has recently released the Second Edition of their 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt. Bottled at 46% ABV and without any colouring or chill-filtering, Master Distiller Jim McEwan has succeeded at producing a traditional, gracefully balanced as well as lightly peated Islay whisky. This expression has been fully aged in quality ex-bourbon casks, hand selected by Mr. McEwan.

Nose: A hint of smoke and vanilla combines with green apples and pears to provide a subtle yet layered nose which I'd recommend the reader let sit in a covered glass for some time to allow this whisky to develop to its full potential. Adding water brings out the Islay qualities - damp leaves, a hint of seaweed and as one would expect, peat.

Continue reading Bruichladdich 12 Year Old - Second Edition.

Beer Fit For A Whisky Blog - Innis & Gunn

By Robin on December 29, 2011 1:27 PM | 0 Comments

Normally we stick to whisky, save for the occasional April Fools joke, but the unique nature Innis & Gunn Oak-Aged Beer makes it worth sharing here. And, to be honest, they're bloody delicious. Through the folks at Your Brand, ScotchBlog.ca was treated to a flight of I&G bottles.

Continue reading Beer Fit For A Whisky Blog - Innis & Gunn.

Machrie Moor

By Matt on December 27, 2011 12:35 PM | 0 Comments

Coming from the ever impressive distillers at The Isle of Arran, Machrie Moor is a lightly peated single malt named after the large peat bog on the West side of the island. Built on their fantastic new make spirit, the bottling available now is the second edition, part of a limited run of 12,000 bottles, and weighs in at 46%

Nose: Opening with light peat and smoke, the sweet, malty notes ultimately give way to reveal vanilla crème brûlée. This is matched up nicely with a faint yet interesting combination of apples and citrus.

Palate: Rich, warm, and fruity. The light citrus begins to develop an undercurrent of orange, while red apples remain distant, yet detectable. A light iodine note appears at the same time as a honeyed sweetness, before dashing off to the finish.

Continue reading Machrie Moor.

Discontinued in Ontario: Grant's Ale Cask Edition

By Ryan on December 19, 2011 6:09 PM | 0 Comments

Alas t'is true....

Last week I was searching the LCBO website for blended whisky and was alarmed to find a big red "Product Discontinued" disclaimer next to the entry for Grant's Ale Cask Reserve. Remembering that the labelling has recently changed to Grant's Ale Cask Edition, I re-entered the search terms only to be met with the same results.

Continue reading Discontinued in Ontario: Grant's Ale Cask Edition.

Glenfiddich 1974

By Jeff on December 16, 2011 5:48 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

Scotchblog was recently lucky enough to again have an opportunity to get together with Global Brand Ambassador Ian Millar. Ian was in Toronto showcasing the new and extremely limited Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1974 edition. The entire run of Glenfiddich 1974 consists of only four individual casks, specially selected by Ian and 13 of Glenfiddich's brand ambassadors.

Ian excitedly described to us their process of selecting the casks that went into this product - they sat for hours nosing and tasting cask-strength whiskies, adding water, nosing again, and mixing with other cask samples. He describes some of the challenges they faced; while one cask tasted fantastic, when they added water to bring down the alcohol content, it would become reprehensible. While another cask would take to water nicely, it wouldn't necessarily meld well when mixed with others. The final four casks selected to create this expression were a 1973 European oak cask, a 1974 American oak cask, and two 1975 casks.

Continue reading Glenfiddich 1974.

Armorik Single Malt Whisky

By Jeff on December 10, 2011 9:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

The Armorik Single Malt is a French whisky produced by the Warenghem Distillery in the Breton region of France. Armorik has no age statement and is matured in ex-bourbon casks. As one of only three French whisky distilleries in operation, we were understandably curious as to how a French single malt would stand up to its Scottish cousins.

Nose: A sour sweetness provides extreme notes of overripe fruits. Mashed bananas and apple sauce are the main elements, however this nose is very muddled and does not have any extremely defining characteristics. Some breadiness and waxy butter notes provide an overall strong, but not overly enjoyable nosing experience.

Continue reading Armorik Single Malt Whisky.

The 2011 Gift Buyer's Guide to Single Malt Scotch Whisky

By Matt on December 7, 2011 8:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks

No matter what holiday you celebrate, there is no denying the fact that we are now in the middle of the gift buying season once again. So whether it be for a friend, family member, co-worker, or yourself, if you are anything like me then you could probably use a helping hand in selecting a couple gifts. Well, if you are looking at giving whisky as a gift, then let us help you with that task.

As always, I'll lay it out into 3 price ranges (based on LCBO pricing) of Under $70, $70 to $100, and Over $100, and this year there are some real treats out there, both rare and wonderful, and many with dwindling supplies. So read on and don't forget, if you provide yourself enough time, inter-store transfers are free in Ontario.

This is your 2011 holiday edition of the Gift Buyer's Guide.

Continue reading The 2011 Gift Buyer's Guide to Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Glen Grant 25 (Gordon & MacPhail)

By Scott on December 6, 2011 9:29 PM | 0 Comments

Glen Grant distillery's own products aren't bought by the LCBO, so many thanks to Gordon & MacPhail for bringing this sherry cask matured expression to our market.

There was an earlier release of an 11 year old american oak bottling by Hart Brothers, but otherwise Glen Grant is rarely available in Ontario indeed. This is especially unfortunate, as for over 40 years, Glen Grant has been recognized as the best selling whisky in Italy and this is surely the reason why Gruppo Campari purchased it as their only scotch distillery in 2006.

Continue reading Glen Grant 25 (Gordon & MacPhail).

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