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Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Glenfiddich

“A real crack! Really a phoenix raising from the snows.”

90
Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix
On the evening of 7th January, in the most remote part of the distillery estate, a number of warehouse roofs dramatically collapsed under the weight, leaving the maturing oak casks exposed to the night sky. In wintery conditions and temperatures of -19?C, distillery staff swung into action, working round the clock to clear the snow.

Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, commented: "Standing amongst the wreckage and exposed casks, we were working out our next steps and assessing the situation. I was thinking about how the casks, some of which were very old, contained some beautiful whisky and it occurred to me that they would create a fantastic non-aged single malt. A limited edition bottling from the whiskies in the damaged warehouses would be an appropriate way of celebrating the pioneering spirit of the distillery team at this moment in Glenfiddich's history. "

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. malt, vanilla, spices, wood, peaches, floral.

Palate (91): smooth, oily, powerful. fruits, malt, wood, spices, honey, vanilla, floral, chocolate.

Finish (90): long. fruits, peaches, wood, honey, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix with 90 points over 100.

Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion review

By Miguel in Recommended , Books

Perhaps the best whisky book out there about whisky and single malts. I reviewed the 5th edition

Malt Whisky Companion 6th Edition

Really intructive with a very interesting section that analyze the flavor of whisky and where it come from. The book is very centered in Scotland and well it is now more than seven years old but if you are new to malt whisky and what to raise your education on the matter this is a must-read book.

First, Michael Jackson writes about new trends in malt whisky, with a really sighful vision of the future: microdistillerries, japanese malts, Islay whiskies, different kind of malts from the same distillery ( see Bruichladdich or Springbank ), wood finished whiskies, cask strength, vintages, single cask and unchillfiltered whiskies.

Then proceed to explains the possible origins of whisky, malt whisky and blended whiskies. Also how to read whisky labels and understand the different terms written like single malt, peated, sherry aged, cask strenght, single cask, etc…

Then Michael Jackson writes a full section explaining there flavors of whisky comes from: regional variations of Scotland, different kind of waters, peat, heather, types of barley, seaweed, shapes of the still, kind of casks. It is a most interesting chapter that everyone that want to know about whisky should read. The book also portraits maps of Scotland with its distilleries.

Michael Jackson writes about age statement on whiskies and discuss which age is better for whisky and the reasons behind most distilleries range of single malt whiskies.

Malt Whisky is centered in distillies of Scotland, it writes about its history and relevant facts, its house style and then some tasting notes of its most relevant bottles along with color reproductions of some of the whisky bottle labels. Michael Jackson use a five points score system: color, nose, body or mouthfeel, palate and finish. His recommendations are whiskies above 80 and very few are beyond 90. The tasting notes are more rigurous that Jim Murray’s and they also has recommendations about how to get the most of each whisky.

If you were going to buy just one book about whisky you better make sure it is this one. The best most complete malt whisky book I have ever read. Really recommended. There is also a new edition published recently where Dominic Roskrow, Gavin D. Smith and William C. Meyers update Michael Jackson’s work, as he passed away in 2007 of a heart attack. A huge lost for whisky world.

Buy Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion at Amazon.co.uk


Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Buffalo Trace

“Good bourbon. One of the best noses I remember on Bourbons of this price range. I can't recommend you this enough.”

90
Eagle Rare Single Barrel
Buffalo Trace, who makes this 10 year old whisky, was named Distiller of the Year by Whiskey Magazine in 2005 and 2007 and by the Wine Enthusiast in 2006.

Paul Pacult of the The Spirit Journal gave it four stars and said: "Easily one of the most tactile yet assertive and expressive bourbons I've tasted in the last two years; fasten your seatbelts."

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (92): strong. corn, vanilla. Perfect bourbon nose!. You can't get anything cleaner.

Palate (90): light, smooth, powerful. corn, honey, vanilla, floral, bananas.

Finish (88): long. vanilla, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Eagle Rare Single Barrel with 90 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Amrut Fusion Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Amrut

“Woo! Serious stuff! It is so much better that the last I tried. Scots be scared!”

92
Amrut Fusion
This high-strength Amrut Fusion gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish - with the latter being peated for good measure.

A really excellent mouthfeel and palate combining oak, smoke, dark fruit, mocha and high-cocoa dark chocolate. Delicious stuff.

This Amrut was the 3rd best whisky in the world in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible. Definitively something not to miss!

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (92): strong. honey, peat, fruits, a little nuts, spices, vanilla, raisins, cocoa. Better nose than the standard Amrut. It is more complex and darker, like a Tim Burton film.

Palate (93): smooth, powerful, oily. honey, peat, fruits, nuts, raisins, vanilla, wood, citrus.

Finish (92): longer than average. honey, wood, spices, nuts.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Amrut Fusion with 92 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Glendronach 15 years old Revival Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Glendronach

“Sherried and sulphured... not idea what this can be but definitively it is not a Karuizawa... isn't it, right?”

88
Glendronach 15 year Revival
Glendronach Revival is the culmination of nearly a year's hard work by the distillery's new owners, who have done such a marvellous job at Benriach.

This Oloroso-matured Revival single malt whisky has already received a whopping 92 points from the highly-esteemed Serge Valentin at Whiskyfun, who compared it to Macallan Gran Reserva!

One of the best sherried whiskies I have had the pleasure of drinking. Run! Buy one!

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (87): more than average. honey, wood, fruits, sulphur, spices, citrus.

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, wood, spices, fruits, sulphur, cocoa.

Finish (88): longer than average. honey, wood, cocoa.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glendronach 15 year Revival with 88 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Kavalan

“The best from the Kavalan range. A rather good whisky with lovely floral themes tuned with spices and vanilla.”

90
Kavalan Solist Bourbon Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky
A perfect showcase for the quality of Kavalan's Taiwanese made and matured spirit - a single cask bottling from a first-fill bourbon cask. Rich and fruity with lots of woody spice.
Many thanks to King Car Distillery for this sample of Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask. I have hear that these great whiskies will soon be available in USA and UK. They really worth the waiting.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. floral, vanilla, citrus, wood, a bit mango, a little apples.

Palate (90): oily, creamy, powerful. floral, spices, vanilla, wood, grass, citrus, biscuits, liquorice.

Finish (90): long. vanilla, wood, fruits, a little floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Kavalan Solist Bourbon Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky with 90 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Longrow CV Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Springbank

“ This Longrow remind me of Ardbeg but with less earthy peat. It has peat and citrus on abundance. Really good.”

92
Longrow CV
A special bottling from the Springbank distillery made up of whiskies aged between 6 and 14 years, matured in sherry, port, bourbon and rum casks.

This Longrow is a little like a CV for the brand, containing a range of differently aged whiskies.

Someone once said this was the big island version of Ardbeg. Just less earthier than Ardbeg but I agree. Awesome whisky.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. peat, sweet, citrus, floral, coffee. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . peat, sweet, floral, citrus, earth, cocoa. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. peat, citrus, peat. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Longrow CV with 92 points over 100.

Tomintoul 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Tomintoul

“ A really smooth interesting Speyside single malt. This whisky has a memorable nose with great floral notes. ”

92
Tomintoul 10 year
Tomintoul distillery was built in the 1960's in the heart of the famous Speyside-Glenlivet whisky making region.

This Speyside distillery takes fresh water from the Ballantruan spring. This gentle dram is soft, smooth and malty with a biscuity sweetness followed by a long, elegant finish.

A great value single malt that won't dissapoint you.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (96): inexistent. sweet, honey, tobacco, wood, floral, lavender, some apples and pears. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, honey, floral, pepper, wood, spices, toffee, apples. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. honey, citrus, floral, spices, a little wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Tomintoul 10 year with 92 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Ichiro

“ A bit woody but it is a really interesting whisky from Japan which something that remind me of Wasabi.”

91
Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve
Bottled in 2010, this was crafted by Ichiro Akuto, this is a vatting of various single malts which have been aged in Japanese Mizunara oak. It’s an incredible whisky, with loads of character from the Japanese oak.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, floral and sherry and wood, fruits, grapes and melon, a little tobacco. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, wood, spicy, wasabi, floral, peach, cool!, hot. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. sweet, honey, wood, floral, tobacco. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve with 91 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Springbank CV Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Springbank

“ An stunning Springbank that although young shows an extremly good peaty and fruity muscles.”

92
Springbank CV
In the words of Springbank, "What does CV mean? Chairman's Vat? Currriculum vitae? Curvee of Vintages? It means whatever you want it to mean, enjoying the whisky is the most important thing".

A Springbank bottling without an age statement that is crafted to show the distillery profile for their three different styles of whiskies: Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow.

An awesome value single malt whisky. Very recommended whisky from this Campbeltown distillery.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, fruity, peach, cherry, wine, citrus, cinnamon, cocoa. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, peat, wood, cocoa, peach, citrus, spices. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. peat, citrus, spices. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Springbank CV with 92 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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