Karuizawa 1971 Cask 6878 64.1%

There is more and more good quality Japanese whiskies coming on the market these days thanks in many ways to the guys at the Number One Drinks Company I hope that they keep up the good work. This one is an old one at an amazing strength for its age 64.1%

For a good review of the distillery check out the excellent Nonjatta site

Anyway lets try it.

Nose: Big rich sherry nose, warm leather, cinnamon, and a touch of metallic fruits (like when making Jam). There is almost a hint of smoke as well - the alcohol does hit you if you breath in too sharply. Water opens this up a lot and gives more of the smoked cheese note and also a faint hint of a farmyard - but in a good organic kind of way.

Taste: Lots of prickly alcohol, and then smoked cheese and marmalade. At full strength this is hot! Quite a bit of sandalwood. With water it is softer and the smoke becomes a bit more pronounced and more like wood smoke.

Finish: Long and spicy with a touch of incense sticks. Becomes more like clove studded oranges with more cinnamon once water is added.

Comment: What a dram! Not one you would drink a lot of on one sitting but full of character and definately worth seeking out if you can find it!

Score: 90/100

For a superior review check out Dave Brooms and Gavin Smiths

Glenmorangie Nectar D'or 46%

I thought that this might be an interesting one as I have already reviewed this one so having had this one as my fifth whisky of the evening I thought it might be interesting to see how my notes compared from my original notes til this new one. I was quite pleased by the results as I gave it the same score and several key notes were similar. So here goes take two.

Nose: Lots of lemon, someone said bacon and actually I get it! Fruit loaf and highland toffee, the fruit loaf has lots of butter on it.

Taste: Difficult to pick anything out beyond the sweetness, syrupy and a good bit of spice coming through.

Finish: Dry soft and then spice comes through.

Comment: I like this but the taste is not as good as the nose suggests and the dryness lets it down.

Score 81/100

I was well impressed with myself that these were similar but for a decent review check whisky fun or Dr Whisky.

Price check:

Royal Mile Whiskies -£39.50

The Whisky Exchange - £38.99

Loch Fyne Whiskies - £42.50

Single Malts Direct - £39.99

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 46%

The New Port Wood version from Glenmorangie. Good to see that it is at 46% and non-chillfiltered.

Nose: Light, fresh, rose wine like and ice cream. A bit of mint and a touch of raspberry jam and maybe plums.

Taste: The soft fruits are coming through and this is exceptionally smooth. There is also a more creamy notes coming through.

Finish: A little bit short actual, softer than the LeSanta. But the brief finish is pleasently fruity.

Comment: Dangerously drinkable - I like this actual but as an everyday drinker or session whisky not something that is overly complex.

Score: 84/100

Price Checker
Royal Mile Whiskies - £32.89
The Whisky Exchange - £32.49
Loch Fyne Whiskies - £32.90
Single Malts Direct - £35.99

Macallan Estate Eco-Friendly Whisky - Not!!

The Macallan has just launched a whisky proving how environmentally conscious they are with their new Estate Oak bottling. For Each bottle of the whisky sold an oak tree will be planted at the Macallan Estate to help the environment. Also the whisky does not come in wasteful packaging but instead comes just in the bottle with labels being certified by the Forest Stewardship Council what ever that means.

Now I must applaud Macallan for what they are trying to do here - after all we must all take responsibility for the future of the planet. However it is a bit hypocritical really from the company that brought us the elaborately overly packaged Lalique decanters!

The really daft point about this environmentally friendly whisky is that it is a world duty free exclusive so the only way that you can get it is by travelling on an aeroplane! Thank god it's environmentally friendly then eh!

Their quote from their press release is a cracker!

“We anticipate it will be a huge success with people wanting to make a difference to the environment,” said William Ovens, The Edrington Group’s global travel retail area director.

On another point linked to this Macallan had previously sold there Woodland Reserve bottlings where by you could buy a bottle and have a tree planted at Macallan with your name on a plaque. Having visited Macallan recently I noticed that probably around a quarter of these trees were dead, so is this new initiative just away of getting more pr for trees that you are having to buy anyway to replace the last lot that died?

Just a thought!