Malt Mission 2011 #404

The Silver Grouse
Blended Malt Whisky

45%
£30


Honestly? I have no information about this bottle to share except for what the label told me:


It is a blended malt and is chill-filtered at -8 degrees Celsius, a proposition that seems familiar to the brilliant commercial failure of J&B -6. The label explains that this whisky was specially designed to celebrate Famous Grouse's 25 years as Scotland's number 1 blended whisky. 


I took a sample off a bar in an office in Taipei and I am afraid neither the internet nor my shelves of books offer me much else by way of background. Sorry! Do you know this whisky?


For more info on the Famous Grouse family of blends and to see all tasted so far on the mission, click HERE.


TASTING NOTES:

Wildly pleasant and easy-going nose. Creamy and sweet with dates and honey. Slight salty or briney note in there, too.

More dates, raisins and an oaty gristiness, drying with dusty oak and pleasant sherry.


SUMMARY:


Classic Grouse style, easy to drink and a joy all the while. Now who knows where the hell this thing is available?

Malt Mission #401

Malt Mission #402
Malt Mission #403


Malt Mission Home

Malt Mission 2010 #392

Bushmill's Black Bush

Blended Irish Whiskey

40% abv

£22

$35 (USD)

First thing I want to mention is THIS blog creating a whisky advent calendar, something I swore I would do "next year" every year since since 2006. It is in Swedish, and seeing as you already drink like a viking, it is about time you learned how to speak like one.

Now, back to Black Bush. No, not THIS Black Bush, the Northern Irish, award-winning blend from Ireland's oldest working distillery which has been owned by the two global spirit giants: Jameson owners Pernod Ricard (1987-2005) and Diageo 2005- present. Still practicing triple distillation of their malt whiskey, Black Bush is 20% matured grain whiskey blended with 80% malt matured in sherry-seasoned casks.

I was supposed to in Dublin today to meet with my global colleagues but the weather has scared those of us on this snow-covered island into staying put.

For all Bushmills had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Grass, grapes, apple cider, raisin and soft anise on the surface with brown sugar, nuts, and Christmas cake at deeper levels.

Nuts again, wood, honey, and more raisins. Simultaneously fresh, light, and rich.

SUMMARY:

Really nice balance in this whiskey, certainly quaffable but also sippable with enough going on to keep you entertained.

Malt Mission #391
Malt Mission #393
Malt Mission #394

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2010 #376

Jameson Irish Whiskey
40% abv
£17
$25 (USD)
$30 (CAD)

Married to a member of the Haig Scotch whisky dynasty, founder John Jameson moved from Scotland to Ireland and began making the water of life in 1780. Originally produced at one of the six Dublin distilleries, Jameson is now distilled way south at the Midleton distillery in Cork, an impressively large complex built adjacent to the old Midleton distillery.

The "new" Midleton distillery makes Jameson (a mixture of pot still and grain-distilled spirit of malted barley, green barley, and other grains), along with RedBreast (100% pot still, but not 100% malted barley), Paddy (blended), Tullamore Dew (blended), and of course Midleton Rare (available since 1984). As Kate Hopkins observes in 99 Drams of Whiskey, although owned by different companies (since 2005), some Jameson is still bottled at Bushmills and Midleton's continuous stills produce the grain going into Black Bush and Bushmills Original.

Jenna Masoli took her stage name from that of her favourite drink.

Jameson has grown volume sales 3x since 1995. Today, 30 million bottles are sold worldwide annually so the flavour certainly agrees with the masses. Let's see how it goes down on the malt mission.

For all Irish had on the mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Vanilla, lemondade, oak, Sprite, gentle clove spice, too.

Nice oily texture, waxy. Some heat. More spice than the nose indicated, balanced against a strong bready sweetness, barley sugar, and maple. Honey. Vanilla.

SUMMARY:

In the USA it is really noticeable just how huge a brand Jameson is. It is everywhere and very often a suggested shot by bartenders or by friends when out at the bar. A pretty serious shot, in my mind, and I love whisk(e)y. So, I am surprised that it is such a widely done thing here.

Contrary to common practice, I would not recommend this as a shot. That being said, its honey and vanilla finish after a slippery texture down the hatch is a good combination, but aren't all good whiskies then good enough to be shot? My point is this whiskey is worth sipping, rocks or whatever. What's the rush? Tasty, clean, straightforward stuff.

Malt Mission #375
Malt Mission #377
Malt Mission #378
Malt Mission #379
Malt Mission #380

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2009 #335

Crazy Glen 1976
Highland (Blended) Malt Scotch Whisky
43% abv
$¢£ PRICE UNKNOWN

The bottle has a fantastic image of a wild-eyed horse and proudly states "Over 5 Years Old". Ah, what a surefire promise of quality.

Crazy Glen was featured in our crazy whisky bar at our crazy Canadian Norwegian Jewish Scottish Burns Night Wedding in London last month and was one of the few bottles completely drained (and, from what I understand, dumped into a trashcan in Hyde Park) by the end of the night. There can be no better whisky review than that, really. Nonetheless...

TASTING NOTES:

Waxy and full of apricot sweetness, and some leather. Clementines and shortbread, vanilla, apples, and still some leathery element. Shockingly complex and very pleasant.

Big wave of vanilla and lemons, buttery oak and a touch of smoke. Finish offers the first hints that the bottle might have been sitting around for over nearly 30 years with plastic or a dusty wrapping-paper drawer smell. Still, very full-flavoured and satisfying.

SUMMARY:

Overall, a crazy surprise that I am only too glad I managed to win at www.whiskyauction.com almost two years ago. An old-school, highland style whisky rarely found these days, especially at such a ripe young age. Perhaps whisky DOES mature in the bottle as a recent article in Malt Advocate First Quarter 2009 suggests...

Malt Mission #331
Malt Mission #332
Malt Mission #333
Malt Mission #334

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #306

Grand Macnish
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£15
$22.75 (CAD)

Right, let's get back to the Malt Mission. In no particular order, here come some tasty treats starting with Grand Macnish today, a blend I bought in Ontario some time ago. Will try to get a few MMs done before I am off to Scotland for ten days. Am certain I will try some treats while there, as well.

If you know Dr. Whisky at all then you will know how he loves the obscure no-age-statement blended whiskies to be found in various markets across the globe. Though, Grand Macnish isn't exactly obscure. Created by Robert Macnish in 1863, this blend is no longer easily found in all markets, although it has been consitstently produced for 145 years. Hemingway even wrote about it in 1954 and was an avid fan of its nectar. Or maybe the dimples in the bottle just served well as a pillow for passing out on the beach.

Tasted with IM.

TASTING NOTES:

Old leather coats, bananas, has a congnac-y edge. Some citrus fruits, red grapes and caramel. Still some musty vintage clothes shop and a bit like Inder's memory of a doctor's office when growing up, "Dr. Ham, if you must know."

Toffeed and generally sweet with a corn flour element. Salt and vanilla, a mix of spices. Quite a long finish of sweet and dry woody impressions with gentle smoke.

SUMMARY:

Some off-notes on the nose, for sure, but a pretty decent drop with a big and confident, if simple, finish. Great value and ridiculously retro bottle: you will either dig the dimples or not. And on that point, are there any practical point to them or are they simply for design?

Malt Mission #305
Malt Mission #307
Malt Mission #308
Malt Mission #309
Malt Mission #310

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #276

Vat 69
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£12

Still between places in a big way, but surviving. Said goodbye (for real this time) to Edinburgh and everyone we love there yesterday which means the mission continues at its recent frequency, and we continue to live out of suitcases. Many, many suitcases. Found a good (new) website for info while without my books (which are not in said suitcases), HERE. Good quick whisky nerd info if you need it.

Born in Leith, the historic docks Edinburgh, William Sanderson worked in the wine and spirits industry for most of his life. With Andrew Usher and the he built the North British grain distillery in Edinburgh, bought Glen Garioch (pronounced "Glen Geery") and managed Royal Lochnagar in the first half of the 20th century.

The blend was created when Sanderson (and his son) allegedly created 100 blends or vattings of malt and grain whisky. Then, with the help of friends, family, and fans of spirit consumption, tested each batch to choose the best. The victor was vat number 69, and hence the whisky was born.

Vat 69 has featured prominently in American and British war movies and series as well as in many Bollywood films in India, where the whisky retains some of the popularity it had in the rest of the world some 70 years ago. It is currently the 17th highest selling Scotch blended whisky in the world. Sanderson and Son currently have their names on bottles of Glenesk (a rarely seen Highland single malt form a distillery that was fatally closed in 1985) and Antiquary blended whiskies.

And yes, to pick up on discussions from the last 'week' on the malt mission, the term "vat" has been used to describe whiskies made up from a number of single malts, but this whisky is a blended whisky: made up of different single malts AND grain whiskies.

TASTING NOTES:

Waffle cones sweetness with fresh corn and some butter, too. Simple chords of aromas: grain, cask, spirit and generally really sweet.

Vanilla and wooden spoons, like licking cookie batter without chocolate chips, very syrupy sweet. Spirity in the middle with corn and petroleum lingering.

SUMMARY:

Rugged stuff. Sir Ernest Shackleton brought it on his Trans-Atlantic expedition in 1914 for "medicinal and celebratory purposes", for killing the pain of this dead (seafaring) life on loan and on land. Let us hope you never suffer from such pain and thus avoid this drop, making exemptions only for research purposes, nostalgia, or ginger ale enhancement.

Malt Mission #275
Malt Mission #277
Malt Mission #278
Malt Mission #279
Malt Mission #280

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #273

Juveniles 20th Anniversary
Compass Box Whisky
Malt Scotch Whisky*
53.9% abv
£50

Back in 2003/4 Compass Box created a few vattings called Juveniles that were successful but discontinued due to the drying up of a certain constituent malt. Created to celebrate 20 years of Juveniles, Tim Johnston's restaurant in Paris, this whisky from Compass Box joins the Cantos Cask range in its method of creation.

* This is a vatted malt, or what the SWA would like us to refer to as a BLENDED MALT whisky, ie. a mixture of different single malt whiskies without the addition of grain whisky. We have been talking about this in the past two posts (Malt Mission #271 and Malt Mission #272) and I will continue to taste vatted or blended malts and single and vatted grain whiskies over the next few Malt Missions.

Tasted with Chris at TWE.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich and fruity with age apparent through oaky tones. A baked sweetness with spice and grain, barley and corn. Soft at bottling strength, but fruitier with water.

Oranges and vermouth, very toasty and sweet like muffin tops. Doughy and crispy, somehow.

SUMMARY:

Rich nose, but soft. Big palate, but restrained. A nice chewy malt whisky that can handle a good deal of water but is perfectly drinkable at cask strength. A very Compass Box-style whisky with much in common with Oak Cross and the Cantos range.

Malt Mission #271
Malt Mission #272
Malt Mission #274
Malt Mission #275

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #231

Grant's Family Reserve
Finest Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£12.50
$23.45(CAD)
$15(USD)

It's Burns week... but that doesn't change much round here.

The weather is very un-wintery here as of late so we will have a week of Speyside whiskies to celebrate our first springtime-blossom-sighting 2008 (happens early over here). We will start a speyside-themed week here on the Malt Mission with a blend from the 'capital' of Speyside, Dufftown.

With a reasonably high malt content (35%) coming from Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie (and allegedly around 25 others), Grant's Family Reserve is the 5th biggest selling Scottish blended whisky worldwide. Introduced in 1898, the whisky has gone by the name "Stand Fast" and "Best Procurable" but is now known as Family Reserve. It is an award-winning blended whisky from the family-owned distillers William Grant and Sons who own Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie single malt distilleries and Girvan grain distillery (built in 1963).

The famous triangular bottle was designed by Hans Schleger, introduced for Grant's in 1957, was altered slightly and applied to the Glenfiddich bottle in 1964. Grant's experimented with 'wood finishing' with Grant's Ale Cask and Grant's Sherry Cask (Malt Mission #78 and Malt Mission #216) and has 12, 15 and 18-year old expressions that are available in the far east, Russia, and South America. I know many whisky lovers in Europe and North America who would LOVE to get their hands on these award-winning aged blended whiskies. I promise to share, if and when, if you do.

The Budget Hedonist had THIS to say about Grant's Family Reserve.

TASTING NOTES:

Floral, some baby powder, creamed corn. Pepper, nailpolish, green bananas and apple turnovers.

Excellent initial impact, banana and vanilla sweetness with a malty bite that is rounded with dust and smoke. Gets complex, thickens out after swallowing, which is unusual. Long earthy finish with a persistent but gentle sweetness.

SUMMARY:

The nose put me off a touch initially because there was such variety, but upon drinking the stuff the complexity of the nose was much more appreciated. VERY drinkable. Family. Indie. Scottish. All good.

Malt Mission #230
Malt Mission #232
Malt Mission #233
Malt Mission #234
Malt Mission #235

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #222

Compass Box Canto Cask 6
Blended/Vatted Malt Scotch Whisky
53.1% abv
£50

As this is effectively the first week in the second year (!) of Malt Missions, I think we will commemorate with an interest of mine: we will celebrate the craft of the whisky blender. This will be a week of blended whiskies (and blended malt whiskies), the whiskies that get such a bad rap from "discerning amateurs" and are rarely given the credit they are due. Never forget that if it were not for the popularity of blends worldwide we would have lost many more Rosebanks, Broras, Port Ellens, Glenglassaughs, Lochsides, Carsebridges, etc., over the years. Bullocks to Blends?

This is the UK release (exclusive to Britain) from the Canto Cask series of whiskies from Compass Box, a series that has been nominated for one of Kevin Erskine's (The Scotch Blog) 2007 Drammies. Go vote for John... and if you feel like it, support Dr. Whisky in the Best New Product (non-whisky) category as well!

We tasted Canto Cask 46 (for the US market) back at Malt Mission #207 where you can find more info about the idea and composition behind the range. This canto is from French oak to a level-7 toast. With the 46, I made comparisons between John Glaser's Cantos and those of Ezra Pound. Without spending too much time, let's see if we can find any resonance between the three Canto 6s in Dante's Divine Comedy and Compass Box's Canto 6.

Critics have attributed Dante's appreciation of symmetry to the thematic alignment of Canto 6 in Inferno, Puragtrio, and Paradiso. They can all be read as political commentaries touching on Roman and regional Italian (1300s) political situations, addressing characters who are just among those who are corrupt, and calling for justice and civic renewal. Okay, it works in a poem, but can whisky EVER be political? Is whisky ALWAYS political? Some would say the the suppression of the production of this spirit, an economic and ecological way to use up excess or inedible grains, in Scotland and America over the past centuries makes it a powerful symbol of freedom in modern times. Some would say, "bullshit! Tear that stillhouse down!"

In Inferno, we have a very Scottish scene: gluttons lying in mud under cold rain and hail. That pretty much summarizes my years in Edinburgh... or at least most of the late Friday nights. Anyways, enough. I am having fun but it must be a bore to read. Moving on, then...

All proceeds from the sale of this whisky are being donated to Cancer Research UK. Please see Compass Box for more whisky stuff. Please see the excellent DanteWorlds(really amazing resource) at The University of Texas for more poetry stuff.

TASTING NOTES:

Immediately varnished, slightly medicinal and pharmaceutical, "and deeper plagues their deadly stores disclose"(C.6, Inferno). Sweet, with some Egg Nog and spice, but "foul steams arise and fill the troubled sphere,"(C.6, Inferno) with loads of a processed earthiness: cardboard, coal, and mosquito repellant. Needless to say the higher abv% initially speaks with the loudest voice, but with time, that alcoholic impression gives way to a sumptous balance of creamy sweetness (peach Campinos) and oaky dryness.

Soft, then hot and sweet, like teething a freshly charred marshmallow off a stick at a campfire. Carmelised shallots, crisy bits of steak fat. Sweet and meaty. Toasty and kind of sherried. Organic black licorice. Very drying with impressions of a wet wood kitchen cutting board. Long and oaky.

SUMMARY:

Another oddity from Compass Box that is challenging, complex, extremely tasty, and remarkably unique. The drying finish weighs a bit too much on the oak for my tastes but this is a whisky that would appeal to those who like dry sherry-type of impressions in their malts. Would be excellent in a (posh) winter-themed cocktail. Totally drinkable straight and at strength, though, just give it a chance for the alcohol to flash-off (ie. let it sit in a glass for a bit).

Malt Mission #221
Malt Mission #223
Malt Mission #224
Malt Mission #225

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2008 #221

The Gordon Highlanders
Blended Scotch Whisky
40%
£16
$28.15 (CAD)

Glad to be back in London to my own bed, my own kitchen, and back to my morning routine. My body has greatly missed my morning malt and the habit was hard to kick... I was even caught sticking my nose into coffee and orange juice at breakfasts. A great time was had and I hope you had a brilliant Christmas period as well.

And Happy New Year!

Yes, it was a year ago that this Malt Mission began, when I was challenged to taste my way through my shelf for the entertainment of a few whisky liking/loving friends, a much needed impetus on a whisky blog that was pretty pathetic up to that point. As far as I am concerned, THAT was the real birth of Dr. Whisky. And now, here we are 250 whisky blog posts, 220 Malt Missions, and a few small miracles later. Yes, I remain somewhat shocked that this is still going strong with ever-increasing numbers of readers and a queue of whiskies to taste over the coming weeks. Some mornings I really do shake my head. Thanks to those who have shared drops over the year and those who regularly visit to see what whisky the doctor is medicating himself with each day. Here's to another year!!!

Launched in 1994, when the British regiment of the same name was amalgamated with another (more history HERE), The Gordon Highlander is a blended whisky from William Grant and Sons and is yet another bottle discontinued at the LCBO, not that I imagine it was a huge seller. And not that sales seem to have any bearing on which whiskies the LCBO chooses to discontinue.

Enough typing for today. Let's taste.

TASTING NOTES:

Floral and fruity with a malty core. Apples and honey, sweet oak and almonds. Some black tea and a touch of sherried spice.

Good density, but very easy drinking. Malt, shortbread, stewed apples, and a pleasant bitter grip of oakiness in the finish with a lingering whiff of roadworks/tar.

SUMMARY:

Nothing earth-shattering, but affordable, good, clean, easy-drinking blended whisky with a nice speyside-y character. Went down well in a rock n' roll basement in Toronto with folks playing terrible cover tunes... and cover tunes terribly.

Malt Mission #220
Malt Mission #222
Malt Mission #223
Malt Mission #224
Malt Mission #225

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #216

Grant's Sherry Cask
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£14
$25.15(CAD)
$18(USD)

I figure that over the coming cRaZy pre-Christmas and New Year weeks I will get through at least 5 Malt Mission posts. They will be irregular, but will be representative of my juletide travels to see friends and family. And January 1 will be the first anniversary of this Malt Mission! Wild. This drop was shared with MC in Toronto.

This is one of Grant's Cask Reserves (we had the Ale cask back at Malt Mission #78). These are variations on the standard Grant's blended whisky that undergo a second maturation or 'finish' in ex-sherry or ex-ale casks. This expression was put in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry barrels in order to add sweet, warming, sherried and fruity impressions. Let's taste it.

For all William Grant and Sons products had on the mission click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Thin, not in a bad way; tight and compact. Coconut, licorice, and sweet sherry.

Toasty oakiness, toffee, coffee, cinnamon and biscotti. Even an impression of smoke in the finish.

SUMMARY:

Great blend with good depth of character with enough of interest for frequent sipping. Affordable, in fact great value considering the cost of sherry butts these days. Wholly pleasant stuff. I am still tasting its toasty charms minutes later. I imagine this didn't spend too long in the Oloroso cask as it only has accents of sherry and is not dominated by characteristics that might be expected. This is a good thing.

Malt Mission #215
Malt Mission #217
Malt Mission #218
Malt Mission #219
Malt Mission #220

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #212

Tullamore Dew
Irish Whiskey
43% abv
£17
$29.15(CAD) $25(USD)

Now we'll have a couple Irish whiskies, an under-represented sector of the whisky market here on Dr. Whisky, but the country of origin for many extremely popular and often excellent whiskies.

Tullamore Dew was first distilled in 1829 and takes its name from its town of origin and the initials of an early owner, Daniel E Williams (DEW). After 1887, the line "Give every man his dew" appeared on every bottle. Irish whiskey was extremely popular the world over, but a combination of American prohibition and trade/economic fallout following the Irish War of Independence(1922) effectively killed the prominence of Irish whiskey on the world market. Today, many distilleries and distilling companies have made great strides towards once again becoming a force to be reckoned with on the world whisk(e)y stage. Tullamore Dew is no longer produced at the original distillery in Tullamore, but in Cork. It sells in excess of 2.5million bottles per annum.

TASTING NOTES:

Odd whisky nose. Copper, envelope glue, herbs(basil). Cigarette smokers' breath. Very faint cherries. Polish Vodka-like.

Soft cherry ice cream and vanilla to start, soft, um, dew-y or misty impression upon swallowing that goes from flavours of juicy stone fruits to a drying oakiness.

SUMMARY:

Odd stuff. Very particular. Unlike anything else I've had on the mission.

Malt Mission #211
Malt Mission #213
Malt Mission #214
Malt Mission #215

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #211

Upper Ten
Finest Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£20

Another Monday morning and the third (and final) week of our internationally-themed weeks here on the mission. Hope you continue to enjoy it. Thanks for your emails, comments and links.

This is a blended whisky that, so far as I know, is only available in Norway. Like I have said before, the Vinmonopolet has some unusual malts and blends. But don't let this lead you to believe that this stuff is garbage. It has won awards(in the IWSC beating out Ballantines and Johnnie Walker) and outsells the best selling single malt(in Norway) by a longshot.

It is said that the blend is of superior quality because more money can be spent on its contents rather than marketing and/or promotion due to the fact it is illegal to advertise alcohol in Norway.

Apparently Upper Ten contains whisky from 30-35 distilleries and grain from 3. It has a malt content of 47% (which is VERY high for a standard blend). It is four years old, which means that the youngest whisky is 4 years old but there are considerably older whiskies used. It is a powerful whisky, sweet but full of smoke and malt. The blend originated after the First World War when a "pjolter" (whisky and seltzer) was being consumed as a 'cool', 'hip' cocktail. In 1927 there was a wish to create a Norwegian whisky that could be the whisky base in this cocktail. To match the salty seltzers there was a need for something powerful, a smoky and malty whisky. The ambition of this creation was to be among the top 10 in the list of Norway's most popular whiskies, hence the name. This has happened: Glenfiddich sells 10,000 litres per year while Upper Ten sells 165,000 litres.

The label reads "Distinctive peaty character," but the funnier bit is this: "Age old Scottish heritage and craftsmanship lie behind the making of Upper Ten Scotch Whisky at its best." I love these kinds of descriptions. What does it mean? What is "age-old (...) heritage"? Isn't heritage 'age old' by definition, that which has been inherited through the ages? In fact, isn't AGE always AGE-OLD and that which is OLD, old due to AGE? I seriously giggle out loud when I read these things, like shampoo bottles: they'll never say, "mediocre, not suitable for daily use, smells like soap," but rather things like, "Used daily, Shampoor helps fight residue building shine and body, leaving hair voluminous and fresh as the spring air."

But back to the Upper Ten label. The bigger blunder here lies in the last three words, "at its best." In the context of the sentence, is this label not telling us that ONLY when Upper Ten is at its best are craftsmanship and 'age-old' heritage responsible; beyond that, it is left to fate... ?! Love it. LOVE IT!

TASTING NOTES:

Very Teachers-like nose, with less toffee: creamy, damp and earthy, with a slightly astringent grain presence. Malt and some smoke are also present along with some salt and pepper, magazine paper and instant coffee.

Bready, malty, surprisingly weighty in the mouth. Smoke, peat, and damp earthiness are balanced against brown sugar and some pepper. A long, waxy finish of damp wood, oatmeal cookies, and some smoke. Long.

SUMMARY:

Rich, smoky whisky with a very long oaky finish that definitely tastes bigger than its price tag, as a great blended whisky should. Excellent, and for under £10 for a litre at Duty Free in Norway this is an absolute steal.

Don't trust the Dr? Need a second opinion? Visit Malthead's Upper Ten review HERE.

Malt Mission #210
Malt Mission #212
Malt Mission #213
Malt Mission #214
Malt Mission #215

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #210

Hibiki 21 yo
Japanese Blended Whisky
43% abv
£90 (20,000 JPY)

Four years in a row has this blended Japanese whisky been awarded a Gold medal in the International Wine & Spirits Competition. Consistent, and consistently great.

Hibiki 17, 21 and 30 are made from spirit from the Suntory single malt distilleries Hakushu(1973) and Yamazaki(1923) and grain distillery Sungrain (I wonder how they came up with the name...)

More info can be found HERE, if you speak Japanese. Chris Bunting's Nonjatta is a great site (in English) for Japanese whisky as is Takeshi Mogi's Japanese Whisky Web. Misako Udo, author of the amazing The Scottish Whisky Distilleries is set to release a book about Japanese whisky distilleries just as soon as she finishes it. For other whiskies from Japan had on the mission click HERE. Have a nice weekend and please stay calm if you must engage the pre-Christmas mayhem.

TASTING NOTES:

Confectionery, candied nose with a luscious maltiness. A sour yeastiness acts in perfect balance to the sweetness. Carmelised, nutty, and really juicy.

Sensual and buttery. Hard peach and pipe tobacco. Dry, spicy oak. Sweet, yes, but with a toasty, smoky, oaky element to keep it all from becoming tart.

SUMMARY:

An absolute delight to stick your nose into, if a bit sweet for some. But it is as if every odour (apart from the more phenolic ones, peat, rubber, etc.) you think of can be ticked off as present. Unbelievably balanced, and dangerously drinkable. Is this to be consumed Japanese-style? Stupidly, I tried it, and it is an absolute waste as a Mizuwari.

Malt Mission #206
Malt Mission #207
Malt Mission #208
Malt Mission #209


Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #206

Something Special
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£25

Another week of international whiskies here on the Malt Mission. Last week focused on two corners of the world that are not necessarily synonymous with "whisky", Kenya and India. This week the focus will start with two Scotch whiskies that exist on an international stage, ie. they are not often found on these shores, then we'll make a mid-week stop at a real American oddity, and then move to Japan. We will keep the focus on international whiskies into next week. Hope you continue to dig it.

Something Special is a "deluxe blended whisky" from Hill Thomson, the makers of Queen Anne. The blending company began in 1793 with William Hill taking up an office in Edinburgh on Rose Street Lane, at the time a dodgy stretch that is now littered with pubs and restaurants, tourists and business people. Hill moved to a more desirable location on Fredrick St and was joined by William Thomson in 1857. In 1884 a third William (Shaw) joined the firm and helped create the successful Queen Anne blended whisky, a slightly peaty malt with a Speyside core. Hill Thomson had interest in Longmorn Distillery and to this day Longmorn is an ingredient in Queen Anne and Something Special. Something Special was created in the first half of the 20th century and, as R.J.S. McDowall writes, "is really worthy of a better name."

Today, Something Special is mainly found in South America and South Korea, two markets where they are lucky enough to have Old Parr 18, Grant's 18 and Buchanan's 18, three brands unavailable in their country of production, and three blends that I would LOVE to get my hands on. Many thanks to Tante Anne who brought me this bottle from Korea. Let's taste it!

TASTING NOTES:

Hard, mineral, and clean corn whisky aroma with some vanilla and peach. Youthful vodka-like astringency barely saved by nutty malt and slight glimpses of stone fruits and whiffs of vanilla.

Smoky start that turns stale and dies mid palate. Some cocoa, but like instant hot chocolate made with too few scoops of powder... watery and only a faint chocolate presence. I cannot describe this as oaky, more like drywall and synthetic fabrics in the finish.

SUMMARY:

I am always suspicious of companies that call themselves BEST CAR RENTAL or AMAZING CLEANERS or PERFECT PLUMBING. In my experience, if you have to use the services of a company that feels the need to evaluate themselves in their company title, something is bound to go wrong.

Something Special this is not. This is a whisky to pour and leave for 10 minutes (at least) before drinking to allow the neutral spirit aromas to fly off. Even still, what remains is nothing to write home about (or fly home with... though I am grateful Tante Anne did). Hilarious retro 1970s bottle is about all this puppy has going for it.

Malt Mission #205
Malt Mission #207
Malt Mission #208
Malt Mission #209
Malt Mission #210

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #200

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yo (1970s)
Blended Scotch Whisky
43% abv
£100-120*

Here we are... finally. Sorry for the delay in posting, I swear it was not some ploy to build suspense or something stupid like that. I appreciate all your texts and emails and comments on the blog in anticipation. Especially those that were (playfully?) rude. I simply haven't had much time in front of my computer since Wednesday. Long days and nights. But it's the weekend and it's Malt Mission #200... WOO HOO!!!!! Thanks for reading. We will take a week off from the daily mission in celebration with posts on other topics, top whisky picks, whisky choices for Xmas, complaints and rants, questions answered, etc. Then we'll get right back to it. Lots of treats still on the shelf. Thanks to everyone for their support.

So Johnnie Walker Black. This mission started back in January with a contemporary bottling of Johnnie Walker Black Label (Malt Mission #1). We have been through 3 bottles since. Yup. We likey. This version is from the 1970s, when the words 'black label' first appeared on a bottle of Johnnie Walker. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. First, I really must explain why this drop ended up being Malt Mission #200. It was going to be a 40yo Balblair which was well suited for the cigar theme of the week (and has just had its price jacked by £100) until Tuesday night...

As readers of this blog will know, over the past few days I had a mate visiting from Finland. The poor guy recently had his heart broken so it must be said that we spent many hours putting it back together in anyway we know how. It involved a lot of talking, a lot of walking, and, naturally, some beer and whisky.

After a whisky tasting I hosted at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (where we enjoyed...um, a few malts) Tommi and I headed to the Auld Shillelagh, a gem of an Irish pub in Stoke Newington where they pour the best pint of Guinness in North London. After a few pints and much good conversation with the barman and surrounding folks we noticed an old bottle of Buchanan's Black & White blended whisky behind the bar. "Where did you get that?" He said he had inherited several old malts from a friend who's father (? grandfather?) had passed away. Turns out he had an old JWBlack hidden behind the bar too. We had to have some. And we did. We were happy chappys. It was fantastic... and he charged us 2.50 per dram. Wikkid. Upon closing, he was civilised enough to send us home with a small water bottle filled with enough spirit to taste under more controlled circumstances for Malt Mission #200. And here we are.

In 1870 Alexander Walker introduced the trademark square bottle with a label at an angle. This is easily on of the most recognisable bottles in the world. 1870! This is 24 years before Coca Cola created theirs. The coloured labels were introduced in 1909 changing the names of Old Highland to White label, Special Old Highland to Red Label, and Extra Special Old Highland to Black Label. Johnnie Walker White Label was dropped during WWI but the other two have survived until today (and have been joined by a few other colour classes, Swings, etc.)

For other Johnnie Walkers had on the mission and more JW info click HERE. "Tell them that 5 bottles of Johnnie Walker are sold every second," begs Kristin...

* price based on recent auctions and THIS

TASTING NOTES:

Rich and weighty, with a pleasant sherry influence. Deep and wonderfully complex. Shoe polish, leather. Rotting vegetables in the fridge drawer, decomposition. Slightly sour with cream cheese, custard, Clearasil, cake/bakery with a good smokiness and some pepper in there, too. Toffee and croissants. Sweet and rich, with some signs that a) we were a bit drunk last night and b) this may have been open a while.

Toasty and creamy with heavily honeyed sherried tones. Apple pie, ice cream, caramel, toffee, blueberries, vanilla or milk and honey-scented hand soap. Smoke and sherry intermingle in the finish that grows a bit stale and watery.

SUMMARY:

It must be acknowledged that some of the flavours detected could be the result of an old bottle being open for an unknown period of time."There are some things that when you smell makes you think its not a good one, but when you taste it, it's a different story," said Tommi. But no matter how much oxidation has occurred, this stuff is very delicious and smells completely different than any whisky I have ever had. I have had old JWBlacks before and the core of this was the same, although some of the pieces had decomposed, so to speak. Lacks the grainy vanilla notes that the contemporary JWBlack has, but the grain makes its presence known, especially on the nose, with margarine and corny-type aromas. Again, in the finish, aged grain can be detected. It is a deep-filled sandwich of a whisky, a wonderful mix of flavours with a great mouthfeel and chewy finish. To think that this stuff was available for + or - £15 makes me want to give up buying new whiskies, esp the overpriced juvenile malts that are becoming more prominent today, and start an apple juice tasting blog.

When I drink something like this I cannot help but be concerned that the changes in whisky production over the past 30 years have had a negative impact on the flavour of Scottish whisky available today. What will it hold for the future? I know many whisky writers have been vocal about this trend, especially Charlie Maclean who has had his nose in glasses of whisky since long before my folks ever met, let alone thought of making a little Sammy, and I assure you it is not just nostalgia for the way things were. It is a reality. That being said, in many ways we are entering a new era of whisky with new grains and barley strains, maturation techniques and casks, new yeasts, and new markets. So please, raise a glass with me: Here is to the future of full-flavoured and affordable scotch whisky. And, of course, here's to 200 more Malt Missions. Have a good weekend.

Malt Mission #196
Malt Mission #197
Malt Mission #198
Malt Mission #199

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #176

The Black Grouse
Blended Scotch Whisky
40%
£20*

In the Spring of 2005, Famous Grouse Innovation and Development Manager Helen Potter was workshopping in Sweden when the idea of a peated, Islay-style version of the world-renowned blend was first realised. Interviewed by Mark Gillespie in the excellent Whisky Cast (Episode 106), Potter explained the inspiration behind the new expression from Edrington Group's flagship blend.

She said her research showed that new and younger drinkers were skipping blends, the traditional entry-point into the wide world of whisky, and, instead, moving straight to strongly flavour malts, ie. sherried beasts and, in particular, Islay malts. This blend hopes to appeal to those drinkers with an emphasis on added drinkability while being a little gentler on their wallets. In general, minimal marketing speak. We like.

Famous Grouse is the number #1 selling blend in Scotland... and in Sweden. Sweden has a pretty sophisticated whisky market, are generally big spenders, and 30% of all malt sold in Sweden is from Islay so it can safely be said that their tastes are, by and large, for the peated side of things. Liquor is controlled and sold through a state-run organisation called the Systembolaget (like Vinmonoplet in Norway, LCBO in Ontario, etc.). Advertising controls of alcohol in Sweden force companies to rely on making news to stimulate interest and this gradual pilot-ing of the product have achieved that goal in Sweden where the Black Grouse has been sold since being launched in April, 2007.

Before Christmas the rest of Scandinavia and selected European markets should be able to get their hands on a bottle. Folks in other countries will have to wait... if the stuff comes at all. And who knows if we want it!? Lets taste and find out.

All Famous Grouse had on the mission can be read HERE.

* - as this product is not available in UK, the price is based on RRP in Sweden.

TASTING NOTES:

Posh, sweet nose of fresh crumpets, cream, peach and strawberry jams. Stones, minerals like decomposing matter, ie. peat, and a touch of smoke. Very well behaved aromas of fresh apple, black pepper, and ice cream sandwiches.

Chewy sweetness, cereal grains, and a soft growth of peat and smoke. With water, this mineral smokiness is more pronounced. Gently drying with a disappearance of flavour.

SUMMARY:

In the interview cited above, Helen Potter described this whisky as "smoke in the nose, smoke on the palate, smoke in the finish." For me, the smoke was so faint in any stage of the tasting of this dram that to use it as a descriptor seems inaccurate. I get peat, and earthy matter appears in the mouth, but if we go into this expecting a smoky whisky, we will be sadly disappointed. None of this is to say that this drop is not enjoyable, though; it is a solid blended whisky. The nose is really appetising and becomes a spiced-up version of the standard Grouse with pepper, the aromas of tree bark and (faint) peat. The palate gives the most smoke, but it is still just a whisper in the full conversation of the whisky. A bit of a non-event between the palate and the finish, like a standard blend should be, encouraging healthy(sic) sips in quick succession.

Malt Mission #175
Malt Mission #177
Malt Mission #178
Malt Mission #179
Malt Mission #180

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #160

Lochside 1964, 42yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
47.7% abv
£69

Still creeping toward that MM200. It'll happen... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... Thanks for reading.

Highly unusual and incredibly affordable for the age, this 42 year old whisky is what might be called a single blend as it is a mix of grain and malt whiskies from just one distillery. Single cask, no less. And it is a closed distillery(1992). A true rarity.

The Lochside distillery began producing whisky in 1957 but the site had been the James Deuchars and Sons brewery in Montrose, in the east of Scotland. Until the 1970s, Lochside distillery was producing both single malt and grain whisky on site, like Ben Nevis and Loch Lomond. It was bought by Spanish interests in 1973 and mothballed in 1992. Allied Domecq acquired the distillery in 1994 and in 1997 all the equipment and maturing whisky was removed(or sold).

The warehouses have been destroyed, and from what I can gather, all remaining distillery buildings will see a similar fate as developers have acquired permission to build 37 flats on the premises. The landmark 'distillery tower' seen at the northern entrance into Montrose (see pic) has been demolished (2005). This lost distillery is, for now, somewhat of a hidden gem, with several expressions finding their way into well-received independent releases (Clan Denny, Cadenheads, Douglas Laing, Gordon & Macphail, etc.)

This unsual bottle was blended at birth, spending all of its 42 years maturing as a blend in a single cask. Unusual indeed, but a format founder Joseph W. Hobbs was quite fond of. Let's see if he was onto something...

TASTING NOTES:

Confidently announces its presence with a multidimensional impact: oak, spices, sweetness. A light and elegant bourbony vanilla sweetness with orange peels, cloves, nutmeg, and cheap vanilla ice cream (the kind whose first ingredient is guar gum and/or modified milk ingredients). Some grass or other vegetal aromas, hand creams, hazelnut puree, brio/chinotto.

Sweet/bitter balance, with age becoming VERY apparent. Rum-like tropical flavours that hint at bike tires, with chilli, green peppers, more orange rind or marmalade with bundles of oaky sweetness. Friendly finish where malt and chewable vitamin C tablets linger among a supple oakiness.

SUMMARY:

Impressive and tasty from beginning to end, and extremely unusual. Time in the glass really lets things become creamy both in texture and flavour. 42 yo for £70!? Buy one, buy one now! Don't tell too many friends about this gem. There isn't enough to go 'round, and besides, they probably don't deserve it, anyways.

Malt Mission #156
Malt Mission #157
Malt Mission #158
Malt Mission #159

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #159

Cutty Sark 18 yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
43%abv
£43

The old motto went, "Remove the cork and get the message." Cutty Sark is named after the famous clipper... which was named after the witch in Burns' poem "Tam O'Shanter"... who is named after the Scots expression for a short-cut shirt. Cutty Sark made a name for itself by finding routes into America during prohibition via Canada and the Caribbean.

This is part of the extended range of aged expressions from Cutty Sark. It is joined by the 12, the 15 (which i noticed in abundance at the LCBO when I was home last week), the 25, and the standard unaged blend. the 18yo is sometimes referred to as 'Discovery'.

London is still recovering from a fire that destroyed much of the clipper in Greenwich. News HERE.

More info on Cutty Sark and all expressions tasted on the mission can be found HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Initially extremely light and friendly, but by no means simple, with a buttery creaminess, nectarines, sherry undertones, and a gentle olive-oil-type of spiciness. Meaty.

Very nutty, spicy, and quite refreshing, actually. Stone fruits, cream, and a faint appearance of peat. Raw red meat, lamb? The organic flavours give way to more processed ones: freshly developed photos. Cardboard. Brown paper towels in public washrooms. Long nutty finish.

SUMMARY:

Another blend where the grains take a back seat and let the malts do all the driving. Easy drinking but with character. A little something for the adventurous in the meaty, oily flavours while retaining mass appeal.

Malt Mission #156
Malt Mission #157
Malt Mission #158
Malt Mission #160

Malt Mission HOME

Malt Mission 2007 #158

Whyte & Mackay 13yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£16.50

Vijay Mallya and his United Breweries Group recently bought Whyte & Mackay for £600million as growing affluence in India made whisky sales grow 26% over the past year, a trend that didn't come out of nowhere and one that smart-tycoon-y member-of-parliament-entrepreneurs like Mallya wouldn't dare miss. Unfortunately, W&M saw a £2.2million loss in the 12-month period before the takeover. Can King Madras turn everything he touches to gold?

W&M has a pretty good stable of malts and blends and may have performed poorly last year due to the relaunch of the Whyte and Mackay blends (with a fancy new Charles Rennie Mackintosh look) that never really had a chance to take off or get marketed properly. (Are they even available anywhere?) Jura, Dalmore, Fettercairn, Glayva and Whyte and Mackay are now set to invade India now that Mallya used his political pull to change the iNsAnE foreign spirits tariff in India, a change that was certainly unpopular among other domestic spirits producers.

Anyways, I won't talk too much about that. Truth is I don't have enough time to get my facts straight so f-it. If you want more info and opinion on the story, read THIS(BBC), THIS(Malt Maniacs), or THIS(Scotch Blog).

Let's drink Whyte and Mackay's The Thirteen. (All Whyte&Mackay tasted on the mission can be read HERE)

TASTING NOTES:

Soft and rich, pecans, butter tarts, vanilla candles, waffle cones, an ice cream parlour. Sherry influence is present but the tasty Invergordon (and other?) grains lead the sweeter, vanilla-ed appeal to 'drink me'.

Bigger body than the nose suggests, that dissipates quickly. Strange. Now you see it, now you don't. Rich sherry and nuts, Dairy Milk, and a touch of salt then Caramilk and honey, ginger, and a light finish of sherry, fresh figs, and older grain whisky.

SUMMARY:

An odd experience, and I know I have complained about this stuff before, but I quite enjoyed it today. The vanishing effect (in terms of mouth presence) on the palate was strange, but the lingering flavours made up for it. A late metallic flavour hurt my overall impression but affordability and drinkability combine to make this a worthwhile purchase to decide for yourself.

Malt Mission #156
Malt Mission #157
Malt Mission #159
Malt Mission #160

Malt Mission HOME