Category: World Whiskey

Whiskies produced in Countries other than America or Scotland. Examples Include: Ireland, Japan, India, and Canada.

Amrut Rye

On By MajorHopIn 70-74, Amrut, Indian Whiskey, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Amrut Rye

Price: $200 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Amrut

Region: India

50% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted European rye

Aged For: 5 years

Cask Type: American oak casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Cinnamon, red fruits, citrus, floral, white tea, grassy

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Lemon, sandalwood, citrus, oak, caramel, bitter

Finish: Medium warmth and length, floral, rye spices, cherry, oranges

Thoughts: This was surprising, it was very fruity and citrus forward and in no way fits with the traditional American rye profile. That said for me this didn’t land well, and given that in the U.S. it’s an expensive bottle I was not a fan.

Score: 72 out of 100

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Canadian Whiskey, Crown Royal, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

Price: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Crown Royal / Diageo

Region: Canada

51.5% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley

Cask Type: New oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Vanilla, honey, confectionary sugar, oak, sweet corn

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Vanilla, oak, sugar, honey, cinnamon, maple

Finish: Maple, butterscotch, cream, honey, pepper, and vanilla

Thoughts: There you go Crown, you can make a good whiskey! It’s on the sweet end, but the much-improved mouthfeel and robustness of higher proof address my beef with a lot of Canadian whiskey. Also the lack of filtration and additives help the flavor immensely.

Score: 85 out of 100

 

La Alazana Sherry Cask

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, La Alazana, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

La Alazana Sherry Cask

Distilled/Owned by: La Alazana

Region: Argentina

46% ABV

Aged For: NAS, around 6 years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Sherry Casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Light amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Caramel, young malt, sherry, vanilla, toasted nuts

Feel:Medium body

Taste: Grapes, sherry, brown sugar, caramel, raisins, citrus, oak

Finish: Medium warmth and length, Sweet dried fruits, honey, malt, cinnamon

Thoughts: I didn’t know what to expect with this sample, but color me pleasantly surprised. It’s a solid young sherry cask malt whiskey, Its similar to the Westland Sherry Wood.

Score: 80 out of 100

Orphan Barrel Entrapment

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Canadian Whiskey, Gimli, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Entrapment

Price: $125 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Gimli / Diageo

Region: Canada

41% ABV

Aged For: 25 Years (Distilled 1992)

Mashbill: 97% corn, 3% barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, possibly others

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Light Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Caramel, sugar, vanilla, oak, bubblegum, butterscotch

Feel: Light bodied

Taste: Vanilla, oak, caramel, brown sugar, rum like, coconut

Finish: Light warmth and shorter finish, sweet caramel and vanilla, with coconut, rum, and confectionary sugar

Thoughts: There’s nothing offensive about this, its sweet, straightforward and an easy sipper. But this in no way warrants it’s limited release status and the price it is selling for. It’s an alright whiskey that was put in a sexy bottle and selling given the current state of the whiskey market.

Score: 80 out of 100

Whistlepig 10 Single Barrel Exit 9 W&L

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Alberta Distillers, Canadian Whiskey, Rye WhiskeyLeave a comment

Maker:0x4c,Date:2018-1-12,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Paid: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Alberta Distillers / Whistlepig

Region: Canada / Vermont

60.4% ABV

Aged For: 10 Years

Mashbill: 100% rye

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

 

 

Color: Dark copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Vanilla, mint, oak, rye, herbs, pepper, cinnamon, caramel

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Rye, cinnamon, leather, oak, caramel, vanilla, mint, and earth

Finish: Warm, and lasting, with oak, spices, sweet tobacco, coffee, cream and cinnamon

Thoughts: Not as good as the last single barrel WP I had but still a good buy in the current market, and a nice alternative to the MGP and Kentucky ryes.

Score: 87 out of 100

 

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B1/17

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Irish Whiskey, Midleton, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

RB12 CS B1/17

Paid: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Midleton / Pernod Ricard

Region: Ireland

58.2% ABV

Aged For: 12 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted and unmalted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Graham crackers, honey, malt, stewed fruits, copper, vanilla

Feel: Rich and oily

Taste: Vanilla and graham crackers with honey, spices, with a bit of oak and leche

Finish: Medium warmth and length, honey, vanilla, grass, and oily pastries with powdered sugar.

Thoughts: The best quality to price Irish whiskey hands down, it throws off all of the restrictions that prevent most Irish whiskies from truly shining and is all the better for it.

Score: 86 out of 100

 

Teeling Single Malt

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Cooley, Irish Whiskey, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Teeling Single Malt

Price: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Cooley / Teeling

Region: Ireland

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in sherry, port, madeira, white burgundy, and cabernet sauvignon casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Pale gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Pears, white wine, malt, honey. Very airy and light.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Grapes and cinnamon, wet oak, and sugary barley, floral

Finish: Gentle warmth and medium length, fruity, gentle oak with bits of caramel

Thoughts: Light and fruity would be the words that come to mind, a step up above Jameson and the like, but I actually preferred the single grain Teeling a touch more.

Score: 77 out of 100