This was a pleasant and enjoyable Speyside. I recommend letting this single malt breath once you pour it into the glass to enhance the aromas.
A hint of citrus with lots of spice that stays with you well after you have had a swill of this well crafted dram. Overall I enjoyed this Scotch, if the first sip doesn’t quite appeal to your palate don’t be discouraged, there is much more to be discovered in the next mouthful.
At first glance you will see a beautiful light amber colour and the long legs of this Lowlands spirit. On the nose you will immediately smell the characteristic vanilla that comes from being aged in bourbon casks.
The nose feels heavy and gives the impression you are in for a harsh first sip. However, you receive a pleasant surprise when the dram goes down smooth and has a nice crisp finish. It is this mellow impression that reminds you why Auchentoshan is known as “the breakfast whiskey”. At $60.00 in the LCBO it would be a nice addition to any collection, for those looking for an easy sipping spirit.
This 12 year old single malt is light amber in colour and has very light legs in the glass. Your nose will be treated to a clean citrus smell which gives way to a crisp toffee flavour.
This spirit reminds us why Auchentoshan is known for making “Glasgow’s Malt whisky” as it has a long and yet still smooth finish. Available for $65.00 at the LCBO this simple spirit can help anyone who has discovered a new love for single malts and is looking to begin building a single malt inventory.
Here we have a complex dram, which it owes to being aged first in bourbon casks and then being finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks.
Your eyes will see light legs of dark amber, almost bronze in colour. Your nose will smell a rich bouquet of spices. Your tongue will enjoy the flavour of these spices along with a touch of rich honey like sweetness. As you finish your dram you will receive a warmth in your chest to remind you of the lovely lowlands single malt you have just enjoyed. At $80.00 in the LCBO this spirit is best suited for someone who has been building their repertoire and can appreciate the complexity of the dram.
As you swirl your dram you will be struck by the rich molasses colour and your nose will be treated to a symphony of spices. Your first sip will bring the tastes of cinnamon and a fruity flavour that will bring cherries to mind. This will give way to a subtle, but still noticeable, warmth in the chest. This very welcome feeling will linger to remind you of the full flavoured whisky that has been gifted by the Scottish Highlands.
The club had the pleasure of a guided tasting with Frank The Glenlivet Ontario ambassador. We were all enthralled with the detailed guided tours supplemented by some fascinating whiskey stories. Frank brought 4 scotches for the main tasting. Founders’ Reserve, 12 Year, 15 Year and finally 18 Year. The tasting took just under an hour while Frank treated up to an oral history of The Glenlivet, mixed in with personal Glenlivet stories, including his trips to Scotland. After the 4 tastings Frank surprised the group by pulling out a special bottle he had hiding in his trunk. We had the enjoyment of tasting The Glenlivet Nadurra First Fill Selection. Overall a great guided tour, thank you Frank and Glenlivet, now time for detailed tasting notes below:
Founders’ Reserve: Sweet fruit notes of oranges and pears with the hint of apple toffee. Great smooth finish with a touch of cream. You can almost taste hints of the over 23 whiskeys that were blended together for this complex dram. Overall a fantastic whiskey that is available at the LCBO for just over $50.
12 Year: Little touch of a floral note mixed with fresh peaches and pears. Touch of vanilla and sweet honey. Finished smooth with a light spiciness mixed with a nutty note… I can’t quite place the type of nut, maybe a hazelnut flavour.
15 Year: A slightly darker version compared to the 12 year, this 15 year iteration has a sweet balanced flavour with the traditional fruitiness rounded out by a touch of cinnamon and spice, almost like the oatmeal flavour from when you were a kid.
18 Year: A balanced darker finish as this gets the bourbon and sherry cask treatment to make it quite distinct from the other three tasters. Smooth balanced flavour with a burst of spice mixed with oranges or orange peel and a nice oaky toasted touch. The sherry cask finish is one of my favourites.
Nadurra First Fill Selection: For this one I will consult The Glenlivet web site so you get the full picture; Nàdurra, meaning “natural” in Gaelic, is The Glenlivet’s range of small-batch expressions made using traditional 19th-century techniques. The Nàdurra First Fill is drawn from casks made of American white oak which have never before been used to mature Scotch whisky. These oak casks, which distillers at The Glenlivet have favoured since the early 1900s, impart hints of creamy vanilla to this wonderfully rich single malt.
You can really taste the difference with the different finish of a virgin oak barrel, sweet pear and pineapple notes with a touch of citrus followed by a bit of a spicy finish as this bottling is a little strong at 48% ABV. Great overall Glenlivet expression.
My favourite of the night is the one I am most likely to purchase in the near future the Founders Reserve. I absolutely loved the expression, was a perfectly balanced blend. Who needs a date on the bottle to enjoy Whiskey? Not this guy.
Overall a huge thank you to The Glenlivet and Frank for the fantastic tasting and history lesson!
On February 26th, Expensive Taste KW was graced with the presence of Glenfiddich and taken on a tasting tour of a variety of the drams available, and a special rare cask Storas 21.
For anyone that hasn’t tried any of the Glenfiddich bottles I suggest you go out and purchase one of these fine batches. Whether it’s the beginner level 12 year old or a rare hard to find 21 year old Stòras with only 4,600 bottles produced I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.
12 year Review
Nose: A nice scent of fruits mixed with a hint of caramel. Although a little dry, it has crisp earthy tones with next to no smoke scent.
Pallet: It has a thin, watery body to it which flows very well down the throat. Slight taste of pear with very mild oak and vanilla flavorings makes this a very easy drinker.
Finish: The finish is a little sweet but has a long, smooth and mellow taste that makes me want to indulge more frequently. Great overall bottle, especially for the price.
15 year Review
Nose: This 15yr old has an amazing smell of honey and vanilla mixed with rich dark fruits that all blend beautifully together.
Pallet: The pallet is smooth with hints of sherry, cinnamon and vanilla which give it a full body of bursting unforgettable flavor.
Finish: The finish is definitely anything but bitter. With a taste of faint dried fruits, a little nuttiness and almost a shortbread lingering, this 15yr old is satisfyingly rich in sweetness and is one of my all-time favorites.
18 year Review
Nose: A rich aroma of fruit, oak, hint of apple and a slight whiff of sherry make this an amazing kick to the nose for a batch that has been in casks for 18 years.
Pallet: The taste delivers rich, elegant flavors you could only expect from an 18 year old. Strong hazelnut and pecan flavorings mixed with fruit and honey make this an exceptional year.
Finish: Medium finish but very warm and inviting. Leaves a savory, distinguished taste at the back of your throat. Glenfiddich knew what they were doing with this batch.
The Original – 63 Review
Nose: A great mixture of vanilla, sweet honey, berries, dry fruit and a touch of oakiness makes this original flow nicely with the senses. Also has the strongest scent of these 5 reviews.
Pallet: Starts soft and sweet with notes of caramel and honey, then dips into Smokey oak with just a touch of peat, citrus and spices.
Finish: Has the finish Glenfiddich is known for but enough character to keep it interesting and deliciously dry. Great bottle.
Nose: Very peaty smell but blends nicely with the aroma of mocha, vanilla and toasted nuts.
Pallet: This bottle is a little sweet like the original 63 but has a wonderful taste of oaky vanilla and caramelized fruit with just a touch of smoke and spices.
Finish: The finish on the Stòras is amazing and very enjoyable. The medium intensity of this easy drinker is something you need to try if you are a fan of whisky. With a long complex finish of fruits, oak and buttery goodness this is absolutely something worth indulging in if you can stomach the price tag of almost $200.
Caol Ila 30 year old is a special release from the Diageo collection in 2014. The oldest official bottling to date from the distillery. A marriage of American and European oak. Only 7,638 bottles worldwide.
Nose: As we have come to expect from Caol Ila. This 30 year old is very warm and bacon like. With a bouquet of orange and lemon, and hints of vanilla which is very pleasing.
Palate: At first sip it commands respect and reminds you that you have a dram of a fine single malt! As it sits it begins to mellow and the ashey peat begins to peak thorough followed by the citrus undertones that come through on the nose.
Finish: Is one that can be summarized in one word… AWESOME!!! This mouth coating ,well rounded flavour house, is one which has to be enjoyed with a sophisticated palate and a fine cigar .
Overall 9/10. I would still recommend an eye drop of water just to really open it up. Anyone would be privileged to have it on their bar.
For someone who has only tasted a handful of Irish Whiskeys this one was by far the best I have ever tried!
A well balanced nose which was pleasant and addictive, but that was only the beginning of this memorable experience. The palate was even more exciting with a sweet full flavour that had hints of vanilla, cinnamon and candied fruits. The finish was spicy and long lasting. When it was all over I was sad to say goodbye.
I would highly recommend this bottle to any amateur or experienced whiskey drinker. A great bottle! If you can get your hands on one…