February 5th, 2010

Malt Advocate Whisky Awards “Irish Whiskey of the Year”: Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release)

John Hansell

Irish Whiskey of the Year

Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release), 46%, $250

The Midleton Distillery, where Jameson is made, has proven that it can make wonderful whiskeys of great diversity. Jameson Gold, Jameson 18 year old, Redbreast 12 year old, and Power’s 12 year old are just a few of them.

Late in 2007, the distillery introduced Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (which didn’t get into circulation in the U.S. until 2008). The combination of aging some whiskey in port casks, including some older whiskeys (over 20 years old), and bottling—without chill-filtering—at 46% ABV has helped make Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve rich, deep, and complex.

A 2009 vintage was released toward the end of the 2009 calendar year. (The 2008 vintage was never brought into the U.S.) How does it stack up to the 2007 release, our award winner last year? I like the 2009 vintage even better! If anything, it’s richer and lusher than the 2007 vintage.

It’s rich, silky, and oily in texture. You’ll discover extremely well-integrated flavors loaded with fruits, ripe berries, caramelized banana, nougat, date nut bread, glazed tangerine, and maple syrup, peppered with warming cinnamon, vanilla icing, and nutmeg. A firm, dry, resinous finish balances the sweetness. I love the pot still character and the lushness that some of the port-wood aging has imparted. This is another classic Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve.

Tomorrow’s Malt Advocate Whisky Award annoucement: Scotch Whisky Blend of the Year.

Category: Awards,Irish whiskey,Malt Advocate Mag,Reviews,competitions Tags: 29 Comments

February 4th, 2010

Malt Advocate Whisky Awards “Canadian Whisky of the Year”: Crown Royal Cask No. 16

John Hansell

Canadian Whisky of the Year

Crown Royal Cask No. 16, 40%, $100

This great whisky was also our award winner two years ago (only to be temporarily eclipsed by the limited-edition Canadian Club 150th Anniversary 30 year old bottling last year), and our opinion of it remains the same.

The well-established Crown Royal “Reserve” has long been one of the finest Canadian whiskies. It’s difficult to imagine one as good, let alone better. But over the past several years, the distillery started releasing limited edition, special release. The first one, Crown Royal XR, missed the mark. It showed its age on the finish, with too much oak influence. But its successor, Crown Royal Cask No. 16, is a silky-smooth ride the whole way.

Crown Royal has always been a stylish line of whiskies. This bottling adds a new dimension in flavor and texture with its cognac cask finishing. It’s a velvety, polished whisky with notes of creamy vanilla, butterscotch, nougat, dried fruit, and gentle spice, all well-defined and nicely balanced. Gently sweet, fruity finish. A very classy Canadian.

(Author’s note: the owners of Canadian Club asked to be excluded from consideration, because the 150th Anniversary was a one-time release and is no longer being produced.)

Tomorrow’s Malt Advocate Whisky Awards announcement: Irish Whiskey of the Year.

Category: Awards,Canadian whisky,Malt Advocate Mag,Reviews,competitions Tags: 53 Comments

February 2nd, 2010

Malt Advocate Whisky Awards “Artisan Whiskey of the Year”: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey

John Hansell

Artisan Whiskey of the Year (operating 10 years or less)

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (Batch #49), 47%, $55

In the U.S. alone, there are dozens of small artisan distillers now making whiskey. Many of these whiskeys are already on the market and are only a few years old—at most! Some show great potential, while others…well, let’s just say you should definitely “try before you buy.”

A few of these distillers are now making whiskeys that rival well-established scotch or bourbon distillers in quality. A great example of this is Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. The distillery began operations in 2004, using beer (wash) from the adjacent Flying Dog brewery, and then distilling it into whiskey. Batch #49, the whiskey we are honoring with this award, was made this way. (In 2009, the distillery moved to a larger facility, and they now make their own wash.)

Stranahan’s whiskey is sort of a hybrid. Being an all-malt product, it does resemble a single malt scotch in many ways, with a unique flair and a hint of bourbon character. (It is a “straight whiskey” aged in new charred oak barrels, similar to bourbon.) It shows nice maturity, considering it contains whiskey as young as two years old, but not older than five. It’s smooth, too, with layered sweetness (honeyed caramel, English toffee, maple syrup), tangerine, roasted nuts, and peppered with spice (warming cinnamon, glazed ginger). A good grip of tobacco and polished leather on the finish balances the sweetness that comes earlier. This is an example of the right way to do artisan distilling.

Bonus blog comment: The distillation date on the bottle states 10/15/07, which puts it at a little over two years old. I’m told there is older whiskey in here too up to five years of age, but it shows very nice maturity for its age range. My only issue is the price. I really like the packaging, but I would bet that many out there would prefer to see simpler packaging, and a lower price. [Although, judging by some of the comments I'm reading below, it looks like many places are selling this whiskey in the $40s, which is good news.]

Tomorrow’s Malt Advocate Whisky Award announcement: American Whiskey of the Year.

Category: Awards,Malt Advocate Mag,Microdistilleries,competitions Tags: 59 Comments

January 29th, 2010

Taiwan whisky: better than Scotch whisky?

John Hansell

That’s what one competition declared. It was published in the Times on Monday, and I’ve been meaning to post something up. Read the full article here.

It was a competition that took place in Edinburgh and included several three year old whiskies, including the new English whisky (from St. Georges), blended scotch, a Bruichladdich whisky, and a Taiwan whisky (Kavalan). There were a list of judges, headed by veteren whisky writer, Charles MacLean. The Taiwan whisky was the winner.

Read the article. Tell us what you think. Was it a fair competition? Was it a misleading competition? Should competitions like this even take place?

Category: Scotch whisky,Taiwan whisky,Writers,competitions Tags: , , 38 Comments

June 10th, 2009

Isle of Jura contest winners announced

John Hansell

As you may remember, Isle of Jura’s Willie Tait posted up a guest blog here back in March announcing a contest to guess the name of the new Jura line of whiskies. A few people correctly named the new line (“The Paps Collection”, named after the mountains on the island.) Here’s an email I received from Willie last week announcing the winners and what they won.

The Jura whisky festival day went very well and the new Paps collecting, got great reviews from the consumers. Lots of new faces this year and some of the familiar ones.

I made the draw for the Paps Collection everyone was very envious, I said that they should read your blog more often. Here is the name of the winner of the collection and the two runners up, who get a signed copy of Richards’s book.

Thanks again for allowing us access into your blogging world, if you want me again, you only have to ask.

PS if the winner and the runners up read this, get them to make contact with me, one for their address and what they want signed in the book.

Thanks again.

Aye,
Willie

Winner of the Paps collection is: Antti Saamanen
Runner up, winner of Richards book: Tim Fobes
Runner up, winner of Richards book: Michael Dereszynski

Well done guys!

So, if the three of you could reach out to Willie via email (Willie.Tait@whyteandmackay.com ), he’ll arrange to have your prize sent to you. Congratulations!

Category: Guest Blogger,Scotch whisky,competitions Tags: No Comments

March 24th, 2009

And the name of the new Jura whisky collection is…

John Hansell

Back in February, Willie Tait from Isle of Jura whisky, told us about a new line of whiskies that will debut later this year, and he asked us to guess the name of the new collection. Anyone guessing the new line’s name will get their name thrown in a hat to win the new collection (among other prizes). You can review his guest blog here.

Well, this is straight from Willie. Here, in his words, is the name of the new collection–and the people who correctly guessed the name of the new.

Now that the blog is exhausted, I can now reveal we have four worthy winners.

The new collection is called “The Paps of Jura.”

Below are the four people who guessed the  name correctly. Can they please email me with full names and address. Will announce the winner at our whisky fest in early June. The first out the hat, will win the collection and the two runners up, will get a copy of Richard Paterson’s book.
The call numbers:
19 Mike Dereszynski
28 Tim F
36 Antti s
37 Lori c.

So, congratulation to the four of you. Please email Willie (Willie.Tait@whyteandmackay.com) privately so he can get your names and other info to be included in the prize drawing.

Category: Breaking news,New Releases,Scotch whisky,competitions Tags: 3 Comments

December 14th, 2008

White Bowmore Competition

John Hansell

You might not want to spend $6,000 for a bottle of White Bowmore, but how would you like a free one? They’re running a competition. I found out about it a week or so ago but finally have the time to post something on it.

Hey, give it a shot. What do you have to lose, other than a couple minutes of your time?

Category: Scotch whisky,competitions 4 Comments

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