WhiskyCast Newsletter: October 31, 2012

WhiskyCast Newsletter

October 30, 2012

What I'm Tasting

Samaroli Evolution 2012

(45% ABV)

This is a rarity, a blended malt with whiskies dating back to a 1957 Mortlach cask that Silvano Samaroli has tweaked each year, hence the name "Evolution". This is the final version of Evolution, and the nose is amazingly smooth with touches of hazelnut, almond, allspice, coconut, and a subtle hint of baked apple. The taste is smooth, rich, and buttery with a nice crescendo of subtle spices balanced by dried fruits, raisin, and coconut. The finish is long and smooth with a lingering spiciness. Outstanding!

97 points.

Michter's 20

(57.1% ABV)

This Bourbon is hard to find, but well worth the search. The nose is warm and rich with a subtle rye spiciness, vanilla, and hints of oak. The taste is intense and spicy with long, lingering notes of cinnamon and black pepper. Oak, molasses, and vanilla come out as the cinnamon and black pepper start to fade. The finish is amazingly long with a nice spiciness.

95 points.

Glenfiddich Rare Edition 1974

(46.8% ABV)

This expression was created by Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman with input from the distillery's brand ambassadors. The nose is aromatic and fruity with mango, papaya, ginger and almond notes. The taste is intensely fruity with similar mango, papaya, and ginger notes along with pineapple and coconut. The finish is long, fruity, and slightly spicy.

93 points.

G. Rozelieures Whisky de Lorraine

(40% ABV)

This single malt comes from a family-owned distillery in the Lorraine region of France, and is lightly peated with a blend of ex-sherry and Cognac casks. The nose reflects a light peatiness (6 ppm), and is ashy, but with delicate notes of allspice, peach, pear, and plum. The taste is fruity with a nice smokiness and notes of peach pie, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The finish is mildly smoky with a hint of citrus.

84 points.

Brenne Estate Cask

(40% ABV)

Another French whisky from a family-owned distillery. This one is available in New York, and is finished in Cognac casks that were originally used to mature the distillery's own Cognac. The nose is full of red grapes and fresh berries, along with a citrusy tartness and a hint of dried flowers. The taste has notes of orange, cinnamon, and fresh berries. The finish is spicy and lingering with a good consistency of orange, cinnamon, and fresh berries.

86 points.

Sullivan's Cove French Oak Cask

(47.5% ABV)

This one is sort of French...at least as close as you can get from a distillery in Tasmania. The nose is rich and fruity with orange, coconut, roasted nuts, copcoa, and a hint of ginger. The taste has an intense fruitiness and spicy balance with fruitcake, ginger, orange, and hints of dark chocolate and honey. The finish is fruity and slightly tart. Fresh berries linger nicely with a hint of brown sugar.

93 points.

How To Get Involved

You can download WhiskyCast episodes at the website or subscribe at the iTunes Music Store! That's also where you can download WhiskyCast HD video segments, our monthly WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings podcast, and our iPhone app, complete with tasting notes and ratings, the Calendar of Events, and access to all previous episodes of WhiskyCast.

Our Android app has the same features as the Apple version. It's available at Google's Android Market.

WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings is brought to you by Kilchoman, and is available in the iTunes Music Store. If you're interested in being a member of the tasting panel for WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings, email us and please put "Tasting Panel" in the subject line.

To ask questions, offer your feedback, or submit ideas for an upcoming episode, please e-mail us: comments@whiskycast.com
You can also post your comments on the WhiskyCast Facebook page or via Twitter.

WhiskyCast Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

CLEAN WATER, THANKS TO YOU!

In the 30+ years that I've been a journalist, I've been fortunate to do some pretty cool things. However, none of them made me feel as fortunate and proud as when I opened an email from Charity: Water earlier this month with the subject line "Your proof is finally here!"

Two years ago, WhiskyCast listeners raised $5,382 for Charity: Water in the "Water of Life Drive", with the goal of funding a drinking water project in a developing country. This photo is from Gira-Aedug, Ethiopia, where the well has been completed and is supplying 150 villagers with clean, safe drinking water. On top of that, there was enough left over to pool with other drives to fund a second project for the village of Rehay-1 and its 340 residents!

Thanks to everyone from around the world who helped support the "Water of Life Drive". It wouldn't have been possible without your generosity. The plaque at the base of the well says it all: "From WhiskyCast.com Listeners Worldwide With Love".

Slainte!

Mark Gillespie

Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

WHISKYCAST VIRTUAL TASTINGS UPDATE

Our latest episode of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings was recorded at Whisky Live Los Angeles, and featured a slate of Rye whiskies for our tasting panel of Marty Kari, Andy Smith, and Rob Gard. They tasted Temptation Rye, Hudson Manhattan Rye, Bulleit Rye, and the new George Dickel Rye.

We're always looking for listeners to serve on tasting panels for upcoming episodes. If you're interested, just email comments@whiskycast.com, and please put "Tasting Panel" in the subject line.

By the way, congratulations to David Bowman of Orange, Virginia. David was our second winner in the "Secret Word" competition to mark the first anniversary of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings. He and our August winner, Nimrod Rosenblatt of Holon, Israel, each received a special print from the WhiskyCast Photo Gallery. David's secret word for the September episode was "Speyside".

WHISKYCAST HD GOES ON THE ROAD!

If you haven't checked our WhiskyCast HD channel on YouTube or the podcast feed on iTunes, you're missing out on more of our cask-strength

WhiskyCast HD: The World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay

conversation.

In recent weeks, we've brought you highlights from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, the World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay, and Glenfiddich's recent 125th Anniversary party in Dallas.

In coming weeks, we'll look at the new visitors centers at distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, families reclaiming their distilling heritage, and much more.