Review: Balcones True Blue 100 Proof Corn Whisky vs Jameson Special Reserve 12yr Irish Whiskey

Last catch up review. I will have a story about my trip to Ireland up next, but until then you will have to make do with an Irish Whiskey I sampled while there!

Whisky - Balcones True Blue 100 Proof Corn Whisky











Overview: Having recently moved to Texas, I am always on the lookout for a good Texas Whisky. I had heard from a few friends that Balcones was out there making some rather different whiskys and picked this one up to try. The Balcones Distillery is based out of Waco, Texas and is only five years old at this poing. They have made quite a name for themselves, and I was really looking forward to the tasting.
Tasting: This whisky hits you with the corn base from beginning to end. It's claim to fame is that it is made with roasted blue corn. Very sweet on the nose, with an almost caramelized sugar smell. It had a smooth, oily mouth feel with stronger sense of sweetness and a more pronounced corn flavor. My struggle was that it had quite a burn, probably due to its higher than normal alcohol strength for whiskys. Even on the nose it burned a bit. The burn made me think more of using it to keep warm on cold winter nights in Illinois more than enjoying it in the Texas summer.
How to Drink: Sipping or Shots - I think the particular flavor of this whisky could come through in mixed drinks.
Price: $$
Chance of Buying Again: ** (Unlikely - it just wasn't my cup of tea)
Overall: While this particular whisky was not my favorite, the sheer inventiveness of it makes me look forward to trying another one of their expressions. Additional kudo's are given for making a Texas Whisky as opposed to a Texas Whiskey!


Whiskey - Jameson Special Reserve 12yr Irish Whiskey











Overview: I recently got the chance to visit the Jameson Distillery in Dublin and I have to say I had a great time! I highly recommend the tour in downtown Dublin, and will blog about it in more details in my next posting. Jameson has been made the same way since 1780, and is one of my favorite Irish whiskeys. While it is very mainstream, you really can't go wrong with several of the expressions.
Tasting: The Jameson Special Reserve12yr is one of my all time favorite Irish whiskey's, and is a go-to whenever I need a great taste at a great price. The years spent in a sherry wood are very apparent and the richness of this Irish whiskey needs to be tasted to be believed! It starts with an almost fresh fruit and oak smell, like oranges in a wooden barrel. As you taste it you get a warm, mild spiced flavor in your mouth, like your are drinking something mixed with a bit of honey and cinnamon. It finishes smooth, with the sherry notes lingering in your mouth. Its just a great dram of Irish Whiskey that I can't think of a time I wouldn't enjoy it.
How to Drink: Sipping, Shots, or Mixing - Just a great whiskey!
Price: $-$$
Chance of Buying Again: ***** (For the cost, a GREAT whiskey that I will always have on hand!)
Overall: If you visit me in Austin, I guarantee I will have the Jameson 12yr available for you to taste. It is a great whiskey at a great price, and if you haven't sampled it yet I can't encourage you more to do so. It doesn't have the uniqueness that some of the Scotches have, but makes up for it in its consistently good taste and versatility for any possible use.

VERDICT: Whiskey wins in a landslide this week. While I enjoyed the native Texas whisky, I will go back to the Jameson Special Reserve 12yr Irish whiskey anytime. It is just a great whiskey, and very accessible to anyone. Try it today!

Review: Oban Distiller's Edition (1997) Scotch Whiskey vs Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

Still more catching up on reviews to do! Here is the next one...

Whisky - Oban Distillers Edition (1997) Scotch Whisky

Overview: The Oban Distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland, founding in 1794. It is a Highland malt, although the distillery is on the western side of Scotland close to the sea and so renown for its briny flavors. This particular whisky came to me as a Christmas present from my beautiful wife. The Distiller's edition is a particular bottling they do annually, usually with some variance in the length of maturity or wood used. This particular bottling was aged an additional two years over the normal Oban 14yr Scotch in Montilla Fino barrels.
Tasting: When smelling this, the first thing that came to mind is a lush growing field by the sea. There is a strong smell of heather (a flowering shrub found in Scotland) with just a hint of smoke by the ocean. It doesn't have the strong briny, boggy smell like the Islay malts (see my Bowmore review) but more of a subtle, green flavor. The taste is reminiscent of an ocean breeze, and then brings in fruit flavors to finish.
How to Drink: Sipping - Like many single malts, the flavors would be overpowered in mixed drinks and missed in a shot.
Price: $$-$$$
Chance of Buying Again: **** (Absolutely!)
Overall: I liked this Oban, and it was an interesting expression compared to the Oban 14 yr. I am glad my wife picked it up!



Whiskey - Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey











Overview: Bulleit is a Kentucky Bourbon distilled from a 150 year old recipe, in a distillery less than 30 years old. It is made in small batches, like whiskey used to be made, and over the last 10 years has won a stack of awards. I have wanted to try it for months, and finally took the plunge with a very inexpensive small bottle.
Tasting: I enjoyed this whiskey, but flavor wise it was very understated. I know that this is due to it's heavy rye component (as opposed to corn), but the end result was a tasty whiskey that didn't quite deliver at the end. The nose is very subtle, with hints of grain - like smelling an old grainery from far away. It is very smooth to drink, with no flavor really jumping out at you but an easy sweetness in the finish.
How to Drink: Sipping, Shots, or Mixing - Because of its mild flavor, it is easy to use however you wish!
Price: $ (VERY inexpensive)
Chance of Buying Again: **  (Unlikely - I favor whiskey's with a stronger taste)
Overall: This was a very mild whiskey - it was hard to complain about but also hard to get excited about at the same time. It probably would be a good introduction to whiskey for folks that normally don't drink whiskey, but I think you would be missing out on variety of flavors available in a good whiskey. A whiskey that lends itself mixing and very inexpensive for the quality, but nothing to get excited about.

VERDICT: While I enjoyed the Bulleit, it just wasn't exciting enough to overcome the flavor of the Oban. While the Bulleit is a very inexpensive entry into whiskey drinkg, I think you will enjoy the unique flavors of the Oban more. Whisky wins this week!

Review: Springbank 15yr Scotch Whisky vs Willet Special Reserve Pot Still Boubon Whiskey

Ok, time to catch up on a few reviews. Here is one that has been sitting in my draft folder for a few weeks...

 

Whisky - Springbank 15yr Scotch

Overview: Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery, which is one of the "peaty" Scotch regions. Campbeltown is on a long peninsula that juts out into the ocean, just south of the isle of Islay. This particular distillery is know for its mildly smokey concoctions, and I have to say this one really delivered. This was the first Campbeltown Scotch I have ever had, and it was nothing short of amazing!

Tasting: I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this whisky. The nose starts with a strong peaty aroma, containing just an edge of sharpness. However the taste smooths out into a rich dried fruity flavor that mellows into a delicious oakey roundness with just the right hint of peat smoke. No strong burn at the end but just the delightful warmness that comes with a strong drink. Someone recommended this Scotch would pair well with a cigar, and it was a perfect conterpoint to a pipe on the porch on a cool spring day. It really was that amazing.  

How To Drink: Sipping - Like many single malts, the flavors would be overpowered in many mixed drinks and missed in a shot.

Price: $$$ (about $150)

Chance of buying again: ***** (Any chance I can get! It was that good!)

Overall: A pricey, but unbelievable drink that everyone should try once. I absolutely loved it!

 

 

Whiskey - Willett Special Reserve Pot Still Bourbon

 

Overview: The Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky is a small scale operation started in 1935 as a family operation. It has had its ups and downs, but right now they bottle two whiskey's, one of which I feel privileged to have tried.

Tasting: This was one of the better bourbons I have had to date. It has a very mild aroma, that really expands on the palate. The taste was reminiscent of a (mildly) yeasty loaf of bread, all warm and freshly baked. I wasn't attacked with the corn flavor, like many bourbons, but just pleasantly warmed through and through. It was a great drink at the end of the evening, and its milder flavor allowed me to relax as the day came to a close. 

How To Drink: Sipping, Mixing, Shots - This was a very versatile whisky, and you certainly could use it any way you like. I have to say I really enjoyed sipping it, and would encourage others to do the same 

Price: $$ (about $60)

Chance of buying again: **** (Absolutely!)

Overall: A relaxing bourbon that could be enjoyed any time - a good recommendation for novice or new bourbon drinkers.

 

VERDICT: This week was very tough. While I was very impressed by the Springbank 15yr, I can't say enough how much I enjoyed the Willett Special Reserve Pot Still. At almost a 1/3 of the price, it's an incredible drink packaged in a stunning bottle. You can't go wrong with either of these choices, but I have to go with the Springbank 15yr Whisky for the overall winner this week... if you are willing to pay for it!

After a long break, I'm finally back!

The last couple of months have been too busy, and I left my blog by the wayside. Here are just a few pictures of what's been happening...

Outside the Kilbeggan Distillery in Ireland

Outside the old Tullamore Dew Distillery in Ireland

Sizing up the Ardbeg Rocket here in Austin

As you can see, I have lots more stories and reviews to share! Coming up soon I'll have stories around my trip to Ireland's distilleries, as well as a stack of more tasting notes. Here are just some of the whiskey's on their way:

Ardbeg Galileo Scotch Whisky
Balcones True Blue 100 Whisky
Balvenie Portwood 21yr Scotch Whisky
Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14yr Scotch Whisky
Bushmill's 10yr Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Connemara Turf Mor Peated Irish Whiskey
Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky
Greenspot Irish Whiskey
Jameson 12yr Irish Whiskey
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yr Scotch Whisky
Macallan Fine Oak 15yr Scotch Whisky
Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Maker's 46 Bourbon Whisky
Oban Distiller's Edition (1997) Scotch Whisky
Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon Whiskey
Redbreast 15yr Irish Whiskey
Springbank 15yr Scotch Whisky
Tullamore Dew 12yr Reserve Irish Whiskey
Willett Special Reserve Pot Still Bourbon Whiskey
AND MORE!

As always your comments, whiskey suggestions, and stories are very welcome!




 

Review: Bowmore 12yr Whisky vs Redbreast Irish Whiskey

 Whisky - Bowmore 12yr Scotch

Overview: Bowmore is an Islay distillery (I really do need to get to explaining the whisky regions in Scotland!), which is known for its smokey, peaty whiskys. It is the oldest distillery on the island of Islay, founded back in 1779. I am in general a huge fan of Islay single malts, as the amount of peat and smoke make for very unique flavor.

Tasting: This is everything you expect from an Islay single malt. The nose starts with strong earthy, smokey flavor. The taste delivers on the smells, filling your mouth with the taste of peat, malt, and the ocean. I can almost imagine being on the shores of Islay, the peat fires burning behind me, and the sun setting on a perfect day by the sea. The flavor is not for the faint of heart, but is smooth without any strong burn.

How To Drink: Sipping - Like many single malts, the flavors would be overpowered in many mixed drinks and missed in a shot.

Price: $

Chance of buying again: **** (Absolutely!) 

Overall: A great 12 year smokey whisky and a textbook example of what an Islay single malt should taste like.

Whiskey - Redbreast 12yr Irish Whiskey

Overview: Redbreast is a small line of Irish Whiskey distilled at the New Midleton Distillery. It is one of the few single pot still distilled whiskeys left, and is made from a mixture of malted barley and unmalted "green" barley. 

Tasting: This whiskey surprised me. It came highly recommended, winning the Irish Whiskey of the Year in 2010. While I greatly enjoyed the taste, which is reminiscent of pipe smoke and dried fruits, although I found the aroma to be a bit too strong. The aroma came across with a slight alcohol burn, although the hints of leather and honey are there underneath. The flavor reminded me of sitting in a favorite chair in a sitting room, enjoying a nice evening with a pipe and a book. I just wish the aroma delivered as nicely.

How To Drink: Sipping, Shots - Although clearly a sipping whiskey, I think as a shot you could get past the aroma easier and enjoy the nice flavor.

Price: $

Chance of buying again: ** (Unlikely, even on sale.)

Overall Rating: A very distinctive Irish Whiskey (which normally has a milder taste), with great flavor once your get past the aroma

 

VERDICT: The battle of the 12 years this time, and the winner goes to Whisky. The smokey, peaty, Bowmore 12 has a very interesting and distinct flavor while the Redbreast comes off with a little too rough of a nose. For around $50, both are very different takes at whiskeys and I recommend you go try one!

Types of Whiskey (or Whisky!)

I know, I know... I've been away to long. I am going to try and pick back up on a regular cadence. I will say I have gotten to try several new whiskeys over the last month and am excited about sharing them with you soon! I am working on posting a list in the sidebar of the blog so that you can see whats coming up. Until then I wanted to answer an often asked question - what are the different types of whiskeys and how are they different? I am sure I could ramble on for pages and pages about possible ways to categorize, but here are some quick notes that I hope will help:

Bourbon - Bourbon is uniquely American Whiskey, distilled from corn. Bourbon can be distilled anywhere in the United States, however to be labeled Kentucky Bourbon it must be distilled and aged for at least one year in Kentucky. It must be aged at least two years in new charred oak casks.

Tennessee Whiskey - Similar to Bourbon, it is primarily distilled from corn (although not legally required to be). The primarily difference is that all Tennessee whiskey must be filtered through maple charcoal into large wooden vats before aging, to remove impurities. Again it is usually only distilled once.

Canadian Whisky - Canadian whisky must be distilled and aged in Canada, for at least three years in wooden barrels. Canadian whisky is also known as Rye or rye whiskey, since many historically used rye as their primary grain. That is no longer the case however and while some rye is used for flavoring, the primarily grain now a days is usually corn. That doesn't stop the Canadians from calling all of their whisky's Rye however! It often goes through a single distillation, and a large differentiator from Bourbon is the fact that it is mostly aged in used wooden barrels over new (like Scotch).

Scotch Whisky - Scotch whisky must be distilled in Scotland, and matured in oak casks for at least three years. It is generally distilled twice (although some are distilled as many as twenty times!), differentiating it from Irish Whiskeys and Bourbon. The age statement on the bottle is the amount of time the youngest whiskey used in the blend has been aged in wooden casks. Scotch is generally made with malt, and the unique flavors are developed from the way the malt is smoked with peat.

Irish Whiskey - Irish Whiskey is distilled three times, must be made in Ireland, and aged a minimum of three years in wooden casks (although in practice it is usually quite a bit longer). A large difference from Scotch is the fact that the malt is usually not smoked with peat.

Now that I have you hit you with all of the boring details, what does this mean when presented with all of these options in the store! Generally speaking, the more times the whiskey is distilled, the less of a 'burn' you get from drinking it. So Irish whiskey tends to be the smoothest where as Bourbons tends to be a bit more harsh. Scotch has many of the more unusual flavor profiles (smokey, spicy, dried fruits, coffee, etc) due to the smoked malt and the longer aging in a greater variety of wooden casks. It's also why it tends to be the most expensive as well! Scotch represents some of my favorite sipping whiskys, Irish whiskey tends to be mild (in flavor, not alcohol content!) enough for even the uncertain whiskey drinker, Canadian whiskys can be great bases for mixed drinks, and American whiskeys deliver the best punch for those cold winter nights.

Hope that was helpful! Always like to see your comments and questions!

First Review: Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel Whisky versus Texas Silver Star Spirit Whiskey

 Whisky - Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel Scotch

Overview: Balvenie is a Speyside distillery (don't worry, I will explain more about that later) located in Dufftown, Scotland. I have enjoyed several of their scotches in the past and am looking forward to bringing them to you! In this case, the scotch was from a set of three mini bottles I bought for myself for Christmas.  

Tasting: I quite enjoyed this single malt, although it certainly has its own distinct character. The nose (or aroma) was of vanilla, with a hint of cinnamon. The taste started with honey and then quickly turning into a pleasant cinnamon burn, with just a hint of charred oak. It reminded me of a fall evening, with the light start and the nice dark finish of the oak.

How To Drink: Sipping - Like many single malts, the flavors would be overpowered in many mixed drinks and missed in a shot.

Price: $$

Chance to buying again: *** (Probably... Maybe...)

Overall: A very interesting Scotch from Balvenie, with a stronger than normal burn due to being from a single barrel.

Whiskey - Texas Silver Star Spirit Whiskey

 

Overview: My current home state is Texas and while it is known for a lot of whiskey drinking, it is relatively unknown for whiskey making. There are several small distilleries in state, and this is one of the newest. I was glad I ran into the owners at a local liquor store and was able to sample a very fine spirit!

Tasting: This was a very well balanced American whiskey. It has a mild smell, with a hint of citrus and grain. The taste had a very distinct oak flavor, that was followed up with a mild taste and burn I have come to associate with whiskey's made from corn. Overall though, it was very smooth. Just as the owners claimed, I could really imagine as a cowboy warming myself on a cool night in front of fire after a long day on the trail. For a whim purchase, I was very pleasantly surprised.

How To Drink: Sipping, Shots, or Mixing - This was a true multi-purpose whiskey. It had a nice flavor while sipping, but was mild enough that it could easily be mixed or used for shots.

Price: $

Chance of buying again: **** (Absolutely!)

Overall: It was very enjoyable and I was glad I made the snap decision to pick it up. A great value for a great taste!

 

VERDICT: Why did I pick a tough match up for my first review! As much as I am a single malt lover, I would have to say that Whiskey wins by a hair in this pair. The Texas Silver Star was a great go to drink for many occasions, and for the cost you just can't go wrong. Round 1 to Whiskey!