December 24th, 2009

And the winner is…

John Hansell

I asked you to help me pick which special whisky to open on Christmas eve by voting for your choice of three different whiskies, each bottled more than 20 years ago. Thank you for all your help.

Well, it’s 10:20pm on Christmas Eve. The rest of my family is working their way upstairs to bed. I tallied your votes, and the winner is…

It was a tie! Both the Caol Ila and Ledaig got 25 votes, with Dallas Dhu getting 14. So, after all this, I still must make a deciding vote. (It’s too late and I am too tired to open up two bottles.)

I chose the Ledaig, for the simple reason that the level of the whisky is at the lower part of the neck, and I don’t want it to get down to the shoulder.

I’m glad I did. It’s still in good shape, and it’s a very delicious whisky. No fancy tasting notes right now, but let me say it’s very smoky, peaty, leafy, and briny, with a lovely sweetness to match…an old-fashioned island whisky.

Let me thank my friends at Gordon & MacPhail for nurturing and bottling this whisky many years ago. And, as I sit here sipping end enjoying it, I toast all of you and wish you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best to you in the New Year.

I will now do the right thing, and share it with my whisky-loving friends over the next week or so.

Slainte!

John

Category: Opinions,Scotch whisky Tags: 17 Comments

September 21st, 2009

Review: G&M Glen Grant 1966, 41 yr. old

John Hansell

Gordon & MacPhail (distilled at Glen Grant), 1966, 41 year old, 49.4%, $500 (CAD)
There’s been a lot of old, heavily sherried, independent bottled Glen Grant whiskies on the market over the past several years. Many of them have been heavily sherried. This one appears to be from a refill sherry cask, as its influence is more subtle. It has aged well, showing no excessive oak, but plenty of fruit (summer fruits, dried citrus, stewed fruit, tangerine, golden raisin), balance by polished oak, grape skin, and subtle dark chocolate. Distinctively pleasing.  Don’t add too much water, though, as it breaks down. (A Kensington Wine Market exclusive.)

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 90

Category: Reviews,Scotch whisky Tags: , Comments Off

September 3rd, 2009

Looking for value in single malts? Here are three!

John Hansell

Some of you have been asking for me to review and/or recommend whiskies that are really good values (and not just the really fancy expensive ones). Well, here are three new ones from Gordon & MacPhail. I don’t have time to conduct formal reviews, but I have tasted all three on multiple occasions and think they are good whiskies (I would rate them in the low to mid 80s) at a good price.

The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Highland Park), 8 years old, 43%

The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Glenrothes), 8 years old, 43%

The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Tamdhu), 8 years old, 43%

The typical price range, according to the importer here in the U.S., will be $33-35. However, they also informed me that in some markets you might see them priced under $30. A good single malt for under $30? Now that’s value!

Category: Independent Bottler,New Releases,Reviews Tags: 7 Comments

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