|
What I'm Tasting
| |
Compass Box Great King Street NYC Blend
(46% ABV)
John Glaser's first regional variation of Great King Street has a higher malt content and more smokiness, and is meant as a throwback to the whiskies of 80 or 90 years ago. The nose is intense with a nice smokiness, hints of dried apples, peaches, and honey, with a touch of maltiness. The taste is smooth, but with a powerful peaty smokiness balanced well with honey, apple, peach, and cinnamon notes. The finish is smoky with a good long cinnamon touch and hints of honey underneath. Outstanding!
94 points.
Glenglassaugh Revival
(46% ABV)
This is the first Glenglassaugh release with whiskies distilled since the distillery reopened four years ago. It's young, and that's reflected in the grassy and light nose, with a floral hint of dried rose petals to go along with a touch of tropical fruits. The taste is young, intense, and peppery with hints of grass, straw, green apple, pear, and licorice. The finish is tart and long.
88 points.
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
(55% ABV)
Jimmy and Eddie Russell's latest creation will be available starting in January. The nose is creamy and smooth with notes of caramel, toffee, honey, molasses, light oak, and a hint of maple syrup. The taste is peppery and mouth-puckering, very spicy with black pepper and chili powder notes. Hints of honey and caramel underneath add balance. The finish has lingering cinnamon and oak notes, and is good and spicy.
94 points.
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
(66.2% ABV)
This uncut, unfiltered rye whiskey from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is a whopper. The nose is soft with no burn despite the high ABV, and notes of allspice, linseed oil, lemon, almond, and a soft oakiness. The taste starts off with caramel cola and cinnamon notes, followed by a mouth-filling spiciness with hints of dried lemon peel and becoming very dry as the finish builds. That finish is very long with hints of cinnamon, lemon, almond, and oak. A classic!
94 points.
Canadian Rockies 10
(40% ABV)
This whisky is only available in Taiwan, and comes from Highwood Distillers in Alberta. The nose is smooth with notes of butterscotch, oak, grapefruit, and a subtle rye aroma. The taste is peppery with a nice tropical touch of mango, along with ginger, butterscotch, and a hint of caramel leading into the finish, which has that caramel sweetness balanced by subtle spices and a nice tart citrus touch.
84 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. |
|
GOOD WHISKY & GOOD FRIENDS
Sometimes, sipping a glass of whisky quietly by the fire is just right. There's nothing quite like sharing a dram or two with good friends, though. A week or so ago, I had the pleasure of recording this month's episode of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings on a snowy night at the Miner's Delight Inn in Atlantic City, Wyoming. Once we finished, it was over to Bob Townsend's hand-crafted bar to sample more of the whiskies in his "Two-Bit Cowboy Saloon".
Atlantic City is the last place you'd expect to find a bar with a first-class collection of whiskies, but it also proves that our whisky community knows no real bounds. The Internet has brought us all closer together, making it possible for us to connect virtually for a dram, as we do most months on WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings...or even better, when we're able to finally meet for a real dram after years of chatting via email.
This past week, we celebrated the 7th anniversary of the very first episode of WhiskyCast on November 12, 2005. It's been a privilege to meet many of you over the last seven years, and I'll always treasure the friendships I've made and the drams we've shared...so far. There are many more places to visit and whiskies to taste, and we're just getting started.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your support, and here's to good health and happiness for you and yours in the year ahead!
Slainte! Mark Gillespie
  WHISKYCAST GALLERY HOLIDAY UPDATE T  he holidays are upon us, and you'll find great gifts for the whisky lover in your life (or even for yourself) in the WhiskyCast Photo Gallery. I've had the chance to create some unusual photos during my travels to distilleries around the world, and some of my favorite photos from this year are now available as exhibition prints in the Gallery. These prints are available in sizes ranging from 7 X 10 inches all the way up to 20 X 72 inch panoramas, and add a unique touch to your whisky room, office, or bar. However, time is running out if you want to be able to give one as a holiday gift. The deadline to order prints for international delivery in time for Christmas is December 1 (and we'll do the best we can). For US delivery, orders received by December 12 will be delivered in time for Christmas.
|
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
I hope you'll join me in thanking all of the sponsors who make it possible to produce WhiskyCast each week. Without our advertisers, WhiskyCast would not have been able to expand over the last couple of years to include HD video episodes and our monthly WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings podcast. I'm pleased to be able to work with them, and appreciate their respect for our editorial integrity. We've never had an advertiser try to influence the editorial content of WhiskyCast, and that shows their respect for you, the whisky lover, as well. |
|
UPCOMING WORLDWIDE WHISKY EVENTS
Presented by Laphroaig
November 21-23: New Brunswick Spirits Festival, Fredericton, New Brunswick
November 23-24: Whisky Live, Moscow, Russia
November 24: The DramBusters Whisky Festival, Dumfries, Scotland
November 27: Bruichladdich Tasting, Nickolls & Perks, Stourbridge, England
November 27: SMWS US Chapter Single Malt Extravaganza, Philadelphia
November 28: SMWS US Chapter Single Malt Extravaganza, Washington, DC
November 29: Glenfiddich Explorers 125th Anniversary Party, Los Angeles, CA
November 29-December 3: Whiskyschiff 2012, Zurich, Switzerland
November 30: Master Malt Tasting, Kensington Wine Market, Calgary, Alberta
December 2: Hurricane Sandy Benefit Auction, Astor Center, New York City
December 3: SMWS Australian Chapter Tasting, Christchurch, New Zealand
|
|
