November 2020 – The Whiskeyteers

Today we’re debuting a new feature: Coming Attractions. Here, we’ll share our most notable and/or interesting label approvals of the week from the TTB’s (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) database.

For the debut edition, we’ll be reaching a little further back (to November 1) to do some catching up. Without, further ado, here…we…go.

Ardbeg Scorch

Next year’s dragon-themed Committee Release is sure to fly off the shelves. A single malt from Ardbeg from the most heavily charred casks in their dunnage–could this be Alligator 2.0? I’m in.

A pair from Single Cask Nation

If you’re not familiar with Single Cask Nation (“SCN”), they are the most notable US-based independent bottler. While they require a membership to order, there is no membership fee.

14 Year Old Straight Bourbon: “Tennessee”

“Tennessee” is so labeled because some distilleries, as a rule, don’t allow their name to be used on an independent bottling, presumably to prevent brand dilution. This SCN label reveals that the whiskey was distilled and matured in Tullahoma, TN—the home of Cascade Hollow Distillery, the distillery behind the George Dickel brand.

6 Year Old Ben Nevis

It’ll be interesting to see the price point on this youthful scorcher (67.6% ABV!). It’s not often you get to taste really young Scotch single malts.

Don’t Mess with Texas

Texas is quickly becoming a distinct whiskey region with a character all its own, and two distilleries leading the way, Balcones and Ironroot, each have a new approval.

Balcones Luckenbach

A “whisky finished in Texas wine casks”. Head Distiller Jared Himstedt has touched on a cask exchange program with a local winery: wine casks would go to Balcones for whisky finishing, then back to the winery for wine finishing, then back to Balcones for whisky finishing, and so on until the casks are no longer useable. Could this be the first iteration of that program?

Ironroot Outlier

A light whiskey is one distilled to between 160 and 190 proof, and tends to have lighter, more delicate flavor characteristics. It will be fascinating to see how maturation in the aggressive Texas climate effects a distillate with a lighter profile.

Three from Kaiyo

Redesigns of “The SHERI” and the Cask Strength offerings are slick; very Shibusa. More exciting is “The RUBi”. I can only speculate that this is a Ruby Port finished Kaiyo. If true, this very well may be the first wide-market whiskey to combine Mizunara aging with a Port finish.

Special Editions from Springbank Distillers

Longrow Red is one of the more sought-after annual releases in the Scotch World. The next iteration is a bit younger (10 years old), but spent three years in South African Malbec barriques. It’ll sell quickly, as per usual. Keep an eye out for it.

Springbank Local Barley is another offering in the (very welcome) trend of transparent whiskey provenance. This is one we’ll have to target and experience.

Port-finished Rye…so hot right now

On the heels of Angel’s Envy Rye, we’re seeing more distilleries producing their take on the finishing combination. Next up, Revival and Smooth Ambler (Old Scout).

Tater Bait

A limited release from a major Bourbon distiller? Good luck finding this Toasted Barrel version of Heaven Hill Select Stock at MSRP unless you’re willing to camp out like you’re your trying to score Grateful Dead tickets

An Exciting Newcomer to the American Scene.

Generally, American distillers producing malt whiskey have applied Bourbon distilling techniques to a malt mash bill, or have taken inspiration from Scotch. Talnua Distillery in Arvada, Colorado has taken their inspiration from Irish whiskey to create American Single Pot Still whiskey — a mash bill of both malted and unmalted barley triple-distilled using a pot still. Here’s hoping it’ll find its way to the DC area.

A New Scotch Distillery…Need I say more?

Yes, I need say more. The second distillery on the Isle of Skye, Torabhaig’s debut is a 3 year old single malt that touts “Smoke & Brine”. Will it grow into a true rival of its isle-mate, Talisker? Fingers crossed.

Octomore and Octomore-lite

Fresh off their October release of the 11 series Octomore, Bruichladdich received approvals for 12.1 (Scottish Barley, usually aged in American oak ex-bourbon casks), 12.2 (Scottish Barley, aged in European oak), and 12.3 (Islay Barley) editions, likely due to be released Fall 2021. The PPM readings are bit lower than usual, but that doesn’t dim our excitement. Port Charlotte’s Cask Exploration series has yet to make it to the glasses of the Whiskeyteers, but this will definitely be a target. We are unabashed lovers of Bruichladdich.

Mike’s Blind Drop 11-23-2020

Rachid’s tasting notes:

Mike’s blind whisk(e)y drops are getting trickier these days. While still deeply in love with SMWSA, he’s branched out into distillery releases (and not just Scotch). Two vials were dropped, one marked with an umbrella and the other with a mountain sticker. Mike’s also in love with his fancy label-maker.

I thought both were both Speyside distillery releases, bottled at around 45% at 12 years old. They were both enjoyable and extremely easy to drink. As far as complexity, I told Mike (pre-reveal) that the whisky that eventually turned out to be Hakushu 12 is a bit darker/more substantial.

Glen Grant 12:

Glen Grant is a Speyside producer owned by Campari. The 12 is bottled at 43%.

Appearance: pale gold
Nose: honey and pear, a sprinkle of Maldon. With a bit of time, butterscotch emerges.
Palate: caramel and vanilla, a touch of cherry. decent mouthfeel. Finish: medium, caramel.
Score: 5/10

Hakushu 12:

Produced by Suntory, bottled at 43%.

Appearance: slightly less pale gold
Nose: juicy apples, vanilla custard
Palate: a bit more oomph here. Apples, caramel, a kiss of oak.
Finish: medium-long, white pepper and a touch of cinnamon.
Score: 6/10

Mike’s tasting notes:

Glen Grant 12:

After a long period of targeting single cask, limited releases, cask strength, and independent bottlers, I started to feel some very real palate (and wallet) fatigue. I figured the best solution was an exploration into core expressions of distilleries slightly off the beaten path. First is Glen Grant.

Nose: Toffee, red apple, a touch of baking spice: anise and cinnamon
Palate: Apples, honey, vanilla
Finish: Short. Fruity with dry spice.
Score: 5.5/10

This is a nice, affordable whiskey. Very fruity and a tasty, easy drinker that isn’t particularly complex but has no major faults. Malt mustiness and barrel tannins are very low here, so it could also make for an excellent mixer.

Hakushu 12:

“For relaxing times…make it Suntory time.”

The words that sparked a Japanese whiskey boom. Ever since Bill Murray’s disenchanted Bob Harris struggled to deliver that marketing slogan “with intensity!” in 2003’s Lost in Translation, the hype and accolades for Japanese whiskey have been seemingly unending. My experience with Japanese whiskey has been less enthusiastic. I haven’t yet drank the Kool-Aid. Will an expression from Suntory’s forest distillery change that?

Nose: Damp leaves on a forest floor, freshly cut flowers, fresh mint leaf, Asian pear, butterscotch, salt, a wisp of smoke
Palate: Red apples, honey, grapefruit zest, oak, pine, black pepper, wood char
Finish: Medium-long with oak, black pepper, and char
Score: 7.5/10

Freshness rules the day here. The nose is evocative of a walk through the forest after a spring rain. Damp earth and fresh flora unfurl into fresh fruit and butterscotch and a kiss of smoke and salt. The palate reveals more fruit and finishes with a decidedly woody character–one could be convinced some of spirit was aged in virgin oak. This is the Japanese whiskey I’ve been looking for. Restrained and subtle initially, with a stunningly fresh character. Patience unveils layers of complexity and balance.