Single Malt Welsh Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 46%
Non-chill filtered

I came across the Penderyn whiskies at the West Side, an agency shop. I’ve never seen these at the NSLC, but have repeatedly seen this Sherrywood, as well as some sampler bottles and a couple of other expressions now and then.

This is a Welsh single malt whisky – Penderyn heralding as the first whisky distillery in Wales for over 100 years. Nice looking bottles, decent price – worth a walk on the Welsh side, for sure.

Nose
Very approachable. A lovely, crisp fruit and light malt bubble up, promises of something more underneath. A bit of vanilla, a light skim (this comes back often through the dram). Pips of cherries brighten up here and there. Images of a spring day, fruits and berries in the air. Quite pleasant, largely a berry and fruity presence, nice undertones of barrel. Fresh linen hung out to dry on a sunny spring day. Cherries more and more as the dram progresses. There is definitely a feel of fields with cherries and berries about.

Palate
A bit of fire for my first sip of the evening. The fruit and berries hang in there though. Light, quick off the tongue, crisp. Later in the dram, the tingle of spirit still remains, but recedes to a backdrop for the melange of malt and fruit. I say fruit, but truly, berries seem to hold my mind – cherry, other red berries. Creamy at the finish of the dram, keeping the sweetness front and center.

Finish
Lingering fire, sweetness, gentle fade. There is a quick fading of the palate, but a very subtle sweetness persists.

Final Thoughts
The uniqueness of a Welsh whisky definitely drew me to this bottle initially. Then, the physical bottle itself was quite a draw – it is very tall, with fluted fins on either side, giving it a rocket-like appearance. Its height will be a problem for some shelves, I imagine – the tallest bottle I’ve had in my cabinet by far.

I enjoyed the Sherrywood as a now-and-then dram. It provides a crisp presence that feels very well crafted and intentional. These notes come from the tail end of the bottle, open for a couple months shy of two years, but it noses and tastes much like I recall through the entire shelf life. Light and fruity on the nose, fiery on the tongue and belly, gentle lingering sweet finish.

The bottle truly is a piece of art, with “Welsh Gold” along one fin, and “Aur Cymru” down the other. Overall quite a nice offering. I don’t think I rush out to replace it, but some day I think it would be nice to revisit this, and other Penderyn expressions.

Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age:  10 yo
Abv:  48%

This is a neat twist on the one of my favorite smoky treats.  The Laphroaig 10 (yet to be recorded here!) was my first plunge into the smoky whiskies, and it’s one I keep coming back to.  A year ago I saw this one pop up as a limited release, so I snagged it pronto!  Granted, I see it on the shelves again, a year later, so… maybe I need to consider the FOMO hype when these limited quantity selections pop up on the NLSC website.  These notes come from the very last dram of this bottle.

Nose
Well, it is tame, for a Laphroaig 10.  Almost certainly this has mellowed from it’s time in the open bottle, however, it still delivers all of the dockside, tarry rope, wet ship deck, seaweed love that I look forward to from any Laphroaig.  Dark, peated bog.  Wet ship ropes.  Pretty quick tonight to arrive with the medicinal, latex, sterile medic tent.  The sherry influence definitely front and center.  Perhaps this presents a muting blanket to the normal fire of the 10?  It’s nice, a fruity blanket laying atop the bog.  After some time, the glass seems to mellow, blend – a nice, integrated nose.  The sherry seems less separated from the rest, better blended.

Palate
Big Laphroaig punch here, right out of the gate.  Conjures manifestation of the nose.  Oh, quickly the sherry cask pushes forward.  Interestingly, it presents a sweetness that is not quite the same sweetness I sometimes get from the 10.  In fact… tonight, I wonder if it is warring with the base sweet.  Later – ashy on the start, seaweed and brine creep the edges.  Quickly fades to the sweet.

Finish
The ship side maritime notes linger, but the sweetness of sherry seems to lay on top.  Later sips, as with the nose, the finish seems to blend better.  Time in the glass, or sips in the belly – either way, enjoying the latter half of this dram a far sight more than the first.

Final Thoughts
While I still feel the Ardbeg 10 is my Desert Island whisky, I waver between it and the Laphroaig 10 as my top Islay whisky.  (Port Charlotte 10 a serious contender as well – look for that note coming soon!).  I was very pumped when I saw this Sherry Oak Finish twist on the 10 – at the time I was very much in to the fruity, sweet sherry whiskies.  I recall my first several drams of this bottle to be awesome – top tier!  Must try!  Bruce, come taste this one!  Later drams, the excitement faded, as they began to fall a bit short – Laphroaig 10, but without the stark character, and a sweetness that at times felt out of place.

Tonight, the start was similar – a faded memory of what I recalled as a masterpiece.  But – redemption.  The final sips tonight are sweet, smoky, maritime bliss.  Time in the glass may be a factor here – just drinks much more smoothly, and makes sense.  The sweetness isn’t so jarring/distinct, and the Laphroaig 10 personality is there, intact, just lowered.

It’s a nice whisky.  I would not place it in front of any other Laphroaig’s that I’ve tasted to this point (10, Quarter Cask, Triple Wood), and not one I will likely add to the shelf again.  However, very happy to have gone through the bottle – not an acquisition I will regret.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a purchase, unless you’ve gone through the other expressions and want to experience another dimension on the excellent Laphroaig lineage.

Laphroaig Triple Wood
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 48%
Non-Chill Filtered

Nose
Rolling waves of peat, pushing along billows of smoke. There is a dark charcoal thread in there, peeking here and there. On some approaches, I am struck by sweetness – not a characteristic I normally find in Laphroaig. Certainly there is the Laphroaig Islay personality here, but more sweetness returns on this night. Perhaps a factor of the last dram of the bottle, but this is different than what I was expecting for my tasting notes for the Triple Wood.

Palate
Big punches of dark peaty smoke, dang near nasty! Strong. Again a big swell of sticky sweet. Full, some spirity kick. Woosh. The medicinal and tarry rope notes are there, underneath, trying to push their way out, but the swamp of charcoal and peat beat them back and hold center court.

Finish
That smoke and vegetal peat just glom on to my tongue like an oil slick, lingering with a fading charcoal streak. As the dram nears an end, I feel like my mouth is becoming numb.

Final Thoughts
I surprise myself with this being my first tasting note for a Laphroaig. The Laphroaig 10 was one of my very first Islay smoke whiskies, and it’s been a favourite for a few years now. Haven’t had it on the shelf for a bit now though, having been exploring the other expressions.

This note taken on the last dram of the bottle. My understanding is that the Triple Wood halted production several years back, so I actually snagged this one over a year ago, intending to keep it around for a bit. After months of seeing more and more of them, I figured maybe they’d be around, but now, I don’t see any so… last of the TW.

My first experience with Triple Wood was an unbelievable waft of heavy, charcoal smoke on first opening a bottle. That experience has never quite been repeated, but in general I have always found this one to be like a Laphroaig 10, just smokier, peatier, heavier, stronger. Tonight I was getting a sweet shot here and there that I don’t recall in the past. But the ever present charcoal smoke, particularly on the extremely long finish (seriously, still tasting it five minutes later!), dominates most elements.

I was happy to have it on the shelf, but won’t pine for it now that it has retired. I recommend to reach for a Laphroaig 10 instead.

Johnnie Walker 18
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
Abv: 40%

Nose
Musty, layers of caramel, hay and dark fruit. There are layers here, and they seem to stack neatly on top of each other. Fruit, smoke, malt… Another very rich feeling dram from JW. Butterscotch, threads of vanilla bean.

Palate
Rich and golden, some sweetness here, tempered with an oaken malt. Ethereal and light on the tongue, leaving trails of rich, sweet and malty flavours

Finish
Oily, lingering and sweet. Lingering butterscotch, faint fruit, barest threads of smoke.

Final Thoughts
Although this did not hit the same high notes as it did from my JW Blind Tasting night, this remains an excellent, top shelf dram in my books. Deep, rich, layered and so delightful on the nose. My second sip tonight was special – it seemed to dance up off my tongue and paint dabs of flavour through my mouth – ethereal! A fine finish that perhaps fades too quickly, but keeps the memory alive.

This would be a bottle I would put on my shelf, definitely. It’s on the pricey side, so unlikely to do so outside of a very special occasion. But knowing what it delivers, it makes my list of special buys at this price range.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 40%

Just a little sampler bottle, for what it’s worth. Still, it is the blue juice!

Nose
Honestly, how about some dark red berries of some sort? Wow, unique out of the gate. I start to get very gentle wisps of smoke, and a kind of tobacco pouch leather – more leather than tobacco, but there is some kind of deep richness along those lines. Sparkles of darker fruits, some deep grape, not quite drifting into fig or raisin. Gosh, that sense of old leather keeps coming back, like an old, well worn pouch that’s been well oiled over the decades. Slight dustiness brushes the nose.

Everything in here feels old – old leather, old fruits, old citrus rind, old vanilla oak. It’s quite wonderful.

Palate
Warm, oily, gentle. Fruit, vanilla, hints of smoke, leather. Some of the red berry dances about. Some light grassy notes.

Finish
Smoke persists, along with malt. Nice lightly oiled mouthfeel. Fading plinks of fruit, vanilla, berries.

Final Thoughts
Johnnie Walker Blue – the unicorn, the status symbol of the shelf. This is a nice whisky. There is a real sophistication to the blend, I was all over the place on the nose, chasing berries and smoke and citrus rind and malt. It was a delightful hunt. The feel of old leather was distinct and enjoyable. The palate seemed a bit fleeting, and far less dimensional than the nose. The finish was a bit of a recovery from the palate, bringing in a bit more of the smoke and other fading flavours.

I like this one, but I think knowing the price tag on it takes away some of the joy. At more than $300 for a full bottle, that sets a certain expectation. It is a fine whisky, but I have tasted many that I have enjoyed more than this one, at a quarter the price. Very happy to have the opportunity to explore it, though.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 40%

Bottle Notes
A luxurious and smooth whisky with notes of vanilla, dark fruit and gentle smoke made with vibrant single malt and grain whiskies.

Nose
A striking sweet honey to open the dram. A very light waft of smoke dances across the surface, nimble like a dust mote. As time passes, the sweetness intensifies, and brings a bit of a bit of flowery field freshness. A bit of pleasant dusty malt enters later on.

Palate
Tingles of honey sweet dance through the mouth. A light, watery mouthfeel, largely dominated with sweetness. Nothing intense, but a gentle, sippable sweetness.

Finish
Quick, like water running through your fingers. A faint sweetness stays in the mouth, but largely is gone quickly. Yes, it departs mere seconds after the swallow.

Final Thoughts
Tonight I found this to be distinct from the other expressions. The sweetness eventually becomes the main, and sometimes only, character. It is smooth, very light drinking, quite an easy sipper. Dare I say, not challenging? In the past I had a full bottle on the shelf, and most of it I would say was not enjoyed overly much. However, I do recall near the end of the bottle it had settled in to a very nice, sweet, easy sipping dram. One that I would point to if I wanted to demonstrate the sweet profile to someone.

Perhaps some day I will stock the full line up of Johnnie Walker, and if so, this would be a welcome addition to the shelf. On its own though, probably would not reach for it at the store.

Johnnie Walker Double Black
Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS
Abv: 40%

These notes from the second half of a taster bottle, the other half having been wonderfully used in a Johnnie Walker Blind Tasting event.

Bottle Notes
A blended whisky created in the style of Johnnie Walker Black Label, with a rich, more intense, smokier flavour.

Nose
Quite a bit of rich fruit to start with a light bed of vegetal. I honestly don’t get anything that I would call smoky. Maybe a barest hint of a stale smoke, but that’s a stretch. Tonight it does hit the nose with some intensity. Okay, coming back to the nose after a sip, the smoke seems to be here now. This is an interesting one, may need a slow, leisurely dram to fully enjoy it.

Palate
Rich lively fruit, now I do get some of that smoke on the tongue, nicely received. I’m a bit surprised at the rich, fruity mouthful – it’s quite bold and not as I remembered it from the blind tasting night (although it would have been lost in the lineup I’m sure). Full, boisterous flavour, a hint of spirit creeps in, but not distracting.

Finish
Nice, slightly oily mouthfeel, carries the rich fruitiness and faint smoke along. Quite alright.

Final Thoughts
Well, not sure I’d call this one a proper tasting, but since it’s the first time in years I’ve had any drop of it on the shelf, I thought I’d try for a tasting note. It would have been better to take the full sampler bottle vs. the half I had for this night. Also likely would have benefited from more time to explore than I gave it tonight.

Overall, pleasantly surprised by the Double Black. After the tasting night, I found it less smoky than the Black, and not terribly distinctive. Tonight, I definitely got a sense of it’s character. The first sip was a lovely, rich and intense fruit bomb, and the smoke came in right after it.

Worth an exploration, I would say. At or near the same price of a Black Label, I would mix it up with a Double Black if I was to reach for an affordable Johnnie Walker.

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Natural Color
Age:  12 years
Abv:  43%

Bottle Notes
Nose: Sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger and autumn fruits.
Palate: Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, a full mouth feel, raisins, soft fruits.
Finish: Long, full and firm. Slightly nutty.

Nose
Malt, dusty bubblegum fruit.  Some juicy roundness. Rich, raisin/grape, dark fruit. Little sparkles of spice starting to poke through, nice.  Yes, now after several minutes, the character is starting to come forth.  That wet ginger spice is a coating around the rich, ripe dark fruits.  Later on, I feel like I am pulling a thin strand of light smoke out of the glass.

Palate
Bam!  Rich, round, full, smooth.  Sparks of that spice but the juicy, rich fruitiness is overwhelmingly delightful.  The juicy, sweet sherry is the main player here, and it is wonderful.  The spiciness of oak angles in on the edges, but the main is lovely, rich, full.

Finish
Slightly oily, gentle, fades to memories too quickly.  In line with the palate and nose, a lovely reflection of the journey,

Final Thoughts
This is a fine dram, one of the best.  It was a bit of a slow start for me tonight, but after a bit of time it opened up its treasures to the nose, and the palate followed from there.  “Matured in the finest Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks from Spain”, and that rich, red, sherry fruitiness is all over this excellent whisky.  That dusty malt baseline is mostly present and a lovely base for the Speyside/Highland promise.  I think tonight, the palate wins the day – it is such a full, lovely, creamy mouth feel, one that just kept getting better and better through the dram.  I might be off on this hint of smoke, but my mind gets there with it.

Sadly, I have not seen The GlenDronach 12 in Nova Scotia in the past 4+ years.  I picked this bottle up last spring on a trip through New Brunswick.  I do see that I have a GlenDronach 12 canister on my shelf from about 10 years back, so at one point we must have had it around here.  Would love to see it again!

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Barrel Proof
Abv: 58.4%

I don’t do a lot of bourbon journeys, but I do enjoy the occasional change to Canadian and American whiskies. The Wild Turkey Rare Breed packs a punch at barrel proof.

Nose
Spicy clove and cinnamon jumps out straight away. A dark, deep leather layer rolls under a smattering of spice, cake and maybe dark fruits. It kind of smells sticky. Solid, rich, big and holds the promise of a powerful palate. As the dram progresses, Christmas cake comes to mind, with dark raisins and baking spice.

Palate
The nose leads the way, and the palate fires hot with tons of spice, with a sticky sweet caramel holding it fast. The lovely wood notes are present, subdued a bit by the fire. For such a high abv, there is definitely spirit heat, but the strength of the spice keeps it together.

Finish
Long, lingering, the spice and sweet hold strong, gentle fade. Faint sticky smacking reminds of the sweet, and the spice retreats to the background. The fire holds initially, then burns lower, lower, until the spice and sweet are all that remain.

Final Thoughts
This is a nice dram. It is strong – really strong. If sipped too fast, it will punish your palate. If nosed too deeply, it will burn your senses. A gentle approach is rewarded with strong, lovely spice with hints of sweet, and that awesome leather note. A respectful sip returns memories of Aunt Gloria’s Christmas cake and wooden barrels.

The proof is so high, this probably benefits from one or several drops of water, but I have yet to try it like that. On its own, there is a deep, rich, powerful experience that is highly enjoyable, if you take your time. I needed time between sips to prevent the burn from taking over the experience.

It’s certainly a fine dram, and one that encourages me to stay the path on exploring more bourbon offerings.

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age:  10 years
Abv:  43%
Natural colour

Bottle Notes
“Only ever matured in the finest oak casks, our signature TEN YEARS OLD single malt delivers delicate forest fruits and creamy malt, a touch of smoke and rich, lasting sherry notes.”

Nose
A bit of a buttery malt (okay, creamy, like the bottle says).  Berry fruits – blueberry, mild blackberry, mild raspberry.  Smoke is elusive – the barest hint, a light and sporadic brush every now and then.  However, it does become more noticeable much later in the dram.  I get the occasional sense of leather.

Palate
Full with malt, and the berry sweetness waves from a distance.  Overall a sweet mouthful. Later sips continue to deliver a full mouth feel and a fruit and berry sweetness.  As with the nose, the smoke becomes a bit of a presence near the end.

Finish
The sweetness lingers, leaving threads of a butterscotch candy.  An oily mouthfeel is pleasant, but does not seem to carry the flavours.

Final Thoughts
I picked this up on a yellow tag sale, and overall it hasn’t been a stand-out.  It’s fine, politely pleasant.  However, it doesn’t shine in any one area, and it doesn’t pull my attention when I peruse the shelf for a dram.  I haven’t had an unpleasant dram yet, but also not had a dram of note.  As I tasted tonight, it seemed like the initial (light) strength of the malt and berries faded over time, and then there was a smoky character that came through.  But overall, quite light in nose and palate.  Primarily sweet (slight) and a decent mouthfeel.  The natural color is actually pretty striking, a solid, glinting copper.