2023 Scotch Tasting
Date Held: Saturday, May 13th, 2023
Johnnie Walker Green Label (15 Year)
Johnnie Walker Green Label is crafted from a palette of Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Island malts matured for at least 15 years – all perfectly balanced to bring together the intense aromas of crisp cut grass, fresh fruit, wood smoke, deep vanilla, and sandalwood.
Nose: The clean aromas of cut grass and fresh fruit mingle with pepper, rich vanilla and sandalwood.
Palate: Discover a range of deep wood notes, lush with oak and cedar. Johnnie Walker Green Label combines these richer flavours masterfully with light garden fruits and tropical, fragrant, floral notes.
Finish: A fantastic expression our signature smoky finish, with notes of peat and the crisp flavour of sea salt.
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Other Scotch Whisky
Distillery / Brand: Johnnie Walker
Price: $57.99
ABV: 43%
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt
Brilliantly peaty 12 year old whisky here from the Benriach Distillery, released as part of its new core range launched in 2020. To create this expression, Dr. Rachel Barrie used a combo of bourbon, sherry and Marsala wine casks, imparting sun-dried fruit and warming festive spice notes to the smoky single malt. Ought to be fab for chilly evenings, this one...
Nose: Aromatic, toffee, fruit salad, lush nectarine, custard. Floral, apple blossom, honeysuckle. Apple peels, pear, touch of smoke.
Palate: Malty. Walnuts steeped in manuka honey with vanilla sponge. Gentle smoke weaves its way through the cereal with a touch of spice.
Finish: Long, malty, walnut, almond.
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Highland Whisky
Distillery: Dalwhinnie
Price: $61.99
ABV: 46.0%
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve
This 15 year old expression from The Glenlivet, was matured in French Limousin Oak casks. Limousin Oak is a popular choice for maturation of Cognac.
Nose: The nose is rich and oaked. There are notes of chewy resinous wood with a well-balanced acidity. Fudge and Madeira with apple crumble with calvados.
Palate: The palate is full and rich with winter spice; cinnamon and cloves, thick oak with developing aridity.
Finish: The finish is long and dry with a peppery note.
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Speyside Whisky
Distillery / Brand: The Glenlivet
Price: $62.99
ABV: 40%
Tamdhu 15 Year Old
Tamdhu is well-known and much-adored for its excellent use of sherry casks, and those of you with a penchant for single malt with heavy sherry influence will be delighted to know that the distillery's 15 Year Old expression continues that theme. This one has spent is maturation in oloroso sherry casks, resulting in generous helpings of dark fruit and Christmas spice
Nose: Charred pineapple, earthy barley and a hearty slice of dense fruitcake, then some toasty oak warmth, orange zest and fennel.
Palate: Still packing heavy dried fruit notes, with a hint of orange oil and dried apricots cutting through. Earthy vanilla appears later on with touches of cedar, leather and cinnamon.
Finish: Warm and sweet, with waxy peels, clove, chocolate ice-cream and oily walnut.
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Speyside Whisky
Distillery: Tamdhu
Price: $129.99
ABV: 46%
GlenDronach 15 Year Revival
The Revival has been revived! The GlenDronach's 15 Year Old Revival was a much-loved expression, though was sadly discontinued in 2015 by the distillery, citing lack of maturing stocks. However, stocks have been replenished and The GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival has returned to our shelves! Matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, this stuff is hugely flavoursome, aromatic and complex.
Nose: Coffee beans, sponge cake drenched in sherry, mint leaf, slightly buttery, sultana.
Palate: Oily walnut, new leather, blackberry and apple crumble, toasted brown sugar and a touch of liquorice root.
Finish: Fresh ginger, waxy orange, caramelised dried fruit and a hint of cigar box.
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland Whisky
Distillery: GlenDronach
Cost: $94.99
ABV: 46.0%
The Cigars:
CAO Brazilia
Origin: Honduras
Cigar Brand: CAO
Length exact: 5.00 in
Ring Gauge: 56
Strength: Medium - Full
Flavored: no
Taste: Wood and Earth
Type of filler: Long-Filler
Wrapper Type: Brazilian, Maduro
Extensively aged, the long-fillers here are all Nicaraguan tobaccos of the highest caliber. Though Brazilia performs well in every size, most notable here are the 54 to 60-ring options. The complexity offered from these wider vitolas keeps the cigars smooth, burning cool all the way down to the nub. In short, Brazilia is a classic blend, well worth your consideration.
Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua No. 2
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: San Lotano Factory
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6 1/8 Inches
Ring Gauge: 52
A full-bodied, box pressed cigar with a spicy and sweet profile and an overall creaminess. This Nicaraguan puro sports a dark chocolatey, oily maduro wrapper. The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua provides a well-balanced, smooth smoking indulgence. The cigar was crafted to commemorate this iconic brand’s 85th Anniversary. It is a re-imagined version of the original blend that was created in 1935. The blend was developed by master cigar crafters Rafael Nodal, AJ Fernandez and Altadis USA’s Grupo de Maestros. The cigars are hand crafted at AJ Fernandez’s famed San Lotano Factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.