Monthly Archives: January 2011

Ardbeg: The peat and the earth

Ardbeg, Featured

Ardbeg distillery panorama

Its name rise passions between whisky aficionados. One of the peatiest islay whiskies.
Founded in 1815 by the MacDougall family, the distillery located at the south of Islay, Scotland, between another two monster like Lagavulin and Laphroaig, has recently rise from its ashes.

Perhaps production of whisky on the site was there a few decades before 1815, but on 1886 more than a third of the townfolk were working on the distillery. Only a century later the distillery was closed. Most of Ardbeg production were used in blended whiskies whose creators realized that they didn’t want strong peat whiskies.

Fortunatelly, Ardbeg distillery was reopened in 1989 under a limited basis and continue on a really low level until 1996 under the ownership of Hiram Walker. In 1997 the distillery was adquired by Glenmorangie plc ( owned by LVMH ) that resumed the production on June 25, 1997. One of the things that placed Ardbeg in the cult status that is now are the great independent bottlings of Douglas Laing from early 1970 which were great. Unfortunately, the malting on Ardbeg was not reopened and they sourced their malt now from Port Ellen maltings.

Water is sourced from Loch Uigeadail. Whisky is matured on the warehouse of the distillery in Islay using several types of casks, mainly bourbon and sherry casks.

The Ardbeg Committee was established in 1999, and it was a great way to pass the word about Ardbeg around the world. Members of the committee usually has access to special bottlings.

Ardbeg have garnered a good array of awards on Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

  • 2008 Best Whisky of the World to Ardbeg 10 years old
  • 2009 Best Whisky of the World to Ardbeg Uigeadail
  • 2010 Best Scotland Whisky to Ardbeg Uigeadail

These is my collection of Ardbeg:


Buchanan’s Deluxe Scotch Whisky 12 years old Tasting note

Buchanan, Tasting
84
Buchanan's 12 year Deluxe
Buchanan's De Luxe Scotch Whisky is established as a whisky of uncommon quality and strong tradition.

This blended whisky is created using traditional skills and methods of distilling perfected over centuries. It's quality is still measured according to the uncompromising standards set by Sir James Buchanan.

This Buchanan's whisky has a really nice sherry touch that you should taste!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, fruity, peach and mango, honey. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . sweet, honey, vanilla, wood, sherry, spicy. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. wood, honey and pepper. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Buchanan's 12 year Deluxe with 84 points over 100.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Tasting note

Johnnie Walker, Tasting

“A-m-a-z-i-n-g taste. I know, i know... overrated, very expensive, stupid presentation box... but it is a delicious whisky.”

92
Johnnie Walker's Blue Label
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is their rarest blend.

Blue Label is created from the rarest and most expensive whiskies in the world, this iconoclastic scotch whisky has the authentic character and flavour of a traditional nineteenth century blend, just like those that John Walker and his son Alexander developed for their most valued customers.

At the heart of Blue Label is Royal Lochnagar, a rare malt distilled near Balmoral, the Queen's holiday home. Around 15 other mature and precious whiskies are added to balance Blue Label perfectly - 'a blend that cannot be beat', (Alexander Walker, 1888).

Don't get me wrong. It is a great whisky, but for that price you can buy better single malt whiskies.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): strong. peaches, wood, honey, vanilla, smoke, citrus, floral.

Palate (95): smooth, oily, powerful. peaches, apples, wood, honey, vanilla, smoke, orange zest, chocolate.

Finish (90): long. fruity, honey, cinnamon, a little peat.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Blue Label with 92 points over 100.

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Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 years old Tasting note

Johnnie Walker, Tasting
89
Johnnie Walker's Gold Label
A superior deluxe 18-year-old blended Scotch from Johnnie Walker.

This blended whisky is made from an exclusive selection of fifteen different aged whiskies. The blend delivers an exceptionally smooth taste together with a richness of character and lasting finish.

If you like this whisky, you better start stocking it as Diageo is going to discontinue it.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. honey, vanilla, floral, mandarine, cocoa. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . wood, sweet, mandarine, smoke, sweet fruit, pears, spicy. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. wood, honey, hot, a little smoke, spicy finish. long. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Gold Label with 89 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Blended Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:


Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years old Tasting note

Johnnie Walker, Recommended, Tasting

“A great whisky. It cost more than Black Label but trust me, it is worth each cent you pay for it. Most of the character comes from the Talisker whisky, that isn’t my favourite, but it works really great on the whole.”

91
Johnnie Walker's Green Label
The pure malt amongst the Johnnie Walker 'family', bottled at 15 years old.

A great gift malt, and a good, sweet but hearty malt with bags of character. The lead malts in this are Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore and Caol Ila.

Perhaps the best value whisky in the Johnnie Walker range of blended scotch whiskies. This whisky is now know a blended malt and it is going to be discontinued in 2013, so do a good stock of it while you can!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, many flowers, some honey and melon. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, wood, peat, somefruity and malt. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. wood, sea salt, malt and wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Green Label with 91 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 years old Tasting note

Johnnie Walker, Tasting
83
Johnnie Walker's Black Label
Johnnie Walker set the standard to follow in scotch blended whisky with their Black Label.

Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky is made of up to 40 malts and grain whiskies , all of which are at least 12 years old. The final blend is a combination of Speyside whiskies, like Cardhu with a fair amount of smokier Talisker to produce a whisky that is characterful, smooth and high in quality.

If you like Black Label, I suggest you give a try to Johnnie Walker Green Label that, although a bit more expensive, is a totally different and better experience.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (76): inexistent. sweet, malt, wood, flowers. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . malt, sweet, oak and fruits, peach. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. toffee, pepper and wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Black Label with 83 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Blended Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:


January order

Orders

Order from La Fuente

January has been a calm month after all the Christmas shopping. Not any new releases that I am interested on. I have order some bottles from La Fuente to expand the collection. Mainly whiskies from other parts of the world: Tasmania, Japan, Ireland, Spain, …

Here is the list:

Whisky-xperiment: ageing

News

I bought a cask of american oak and filled it with Oloroso Sherry wine of Bodegas Sanatorio.
It is a 4 litres cask.

I am going to let the wine work the wood for a few months and then I plan to fill it with whisky. Right now I am not sure what to place inside: Laphroaig? Macallan? Balvenie? Not sure. I am very inclined to the Laphroaig 10 years old Cask Strength because it is more affordable.

What do you think?

Johnnie Walker Red Label Tasting note

Johnnie Walker, Tasting
81
Johnnie Walker's Red Label
One of the world's most popular blended whisky.

This Red Label from Johnnie Walker is a full bodied smooth whisky that stands over other brands. Or so they say.

The actual fact is that the brand that build itself over great quality whiskies is right now just selling booze. If you are still drinking this whisky I suggest you give a try to a better whiskies in the same price range as those in the Bang for the buck list of whiskies.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (76): inexistent. sweet, peat, toffee, floral. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . sweet, wood, honey, fruity, pears. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. wood, peat and honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Johnnie Walker's Red Label with 81 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

Save money when you buy Blended Whisky online. Check for the best prices from best online shops below:


Johnnie Walker: the striding man keeps walking

Featured, Johnnie Walker

Kilmarnock, Scotland

Johnnie Walker is the story of a brand that started in a humble grocery at Scotland and became one of the best selling whisky company in the world. Johnnie Walker openend many countries to Scotch whisky: Keep walking.

John Walker, born at Kilmarnock in 1805, was a shopkeeper at Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire, Scotland. He founded his grocery in 1819 with only fourteen years.

John Walker managed to sell almost everything, even his own whisky, under the Walker’s Kilmarnock Whisky, which was surely a single or blended malt, as blended whisky was forbidden up to 1860.

In 1843, with the arrival of the railway at Kilmarnock, John and his son Alexander realize the potential of the train for their enterprise.

In 1860 they decide to use squared bottles, that remains an icon of the mark, together with the slanted johnnie walker label, that is inclined 24 degrees. Having squared bottles was good because they stock in less space and there were less broken bottles. Five years later, Alexander Walker create their first blend.

Each type of blend: Old Highland Whisky, Special Old Highland Whisky and Extra Special Old Highland Whisky, had its label of a different color. Alexander so renamed each bottle according to their label color in 1909.

In 1908, Tom Browne, a cartoonist, created during a meal the striding man, that has become the icon of Johnnie Walker to nowadays.

More expressions were introduced, in 1920, Johnnie Walker Gold Label was created and it was a special blend given only to the most successfull directors of the brand and in 1932 Johnnie Walker Swing, a blend which bottle was specially created for ships so that the bottle would swing with the movement of the waves.

In 1934, King George V gave the Royal Warrant, one of the highest distinctions in the United Kingdom. In 1966 they obtained too the Queen’s Award for export achievement.

In 1991, they created Johnnie Walker Premier, a blend of malt and grain whiskies with many of them from closed distilleries.

In an attempt to gain the premium market they created the Johnnie Walker Blue Label, that although it is non age statement whisky, contains many old whiskies some of them from already closed distilleries.

Expanding the firm, Johnnie Walker Gold Label was introduced in 1995 and Johnnie Walker Green Label in 1997, which is a blended malt.

In 2008, they created the Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V, that contained whisky from oak casks that date of the period of king George V, the one that gave the royal warrant to Johnnie Walker.

Now, Johnnie Walker is part of Diageo, and they no longer blend the whisky at Kilmarnock. Also Diageo announced that they were moving what remained of the production out of Kilmarnock too.

Johnnie Walker most common bottles