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As you most likely know, we’re a fan of a wee dram right here at Nice Drams, and we’ve been lucky sufficient to pattern whiskies of all ages and flavour profiles from totally different areas not solely within the UK and Europe, however throughout the globe as nicely.
For those who’re a daily reader of our weblog right here on the positioning, you’ll know that I’ve a mushy spot for family-owned distilleries. I do know I’m not the one one, however there’s simply one thing that appeals to me if you see a family-run enterprise thriving. Add to that, the truth that it’s a whisky enterprise, and you may see why I discover it so interesting.
Why am I speaking about family-owned whisky manufacturers? As a result of right now I’m reviewing the Home of Hazelwood 2024 Assortment for you.
Owned by the Gordon Household, who themselves are house owners of William Grant & Sons, the whisky they produce comes from their very own non-public assortment, which the Gordon household have been storing for near a century now.
Their third iteration would possibly nicely be their hottest to this point. That is the Nice Drams assessment of the Home of Hazelwood 2024 Assortment.
Home of Hazelwood 2024 Assortment
These with a ardour for journey will discover this assortment very interesting. This assortment attracts inspiration from extraordinary locations everywhere in the globe. It’s a celebration of the free-spirited, adventurous facet of the Gordon Household, and I’m very a lot right here for it.
As this is a pretty big assortment, I’ll maintain every assessment temporary and attempt to cowl the idea for you. It’s exhausting work this whisky reviewing, you realize?
For those who’re a fan of American Bourbon whiskey, you’re going to like this expression.
A blended grain Scotch with a stunning deep, nearly crimson treacle color, it’s aged for 33 years and packs an actual wallop at 57.3% ABV.
This blended Scotch grain celebrates all that’s nice about each Scotch and Bourbon. It’s Scotland assembly the South, and gives the right stability of candy, woody, and barely smoky.
On the nostril that American oak punches you proper within the face. You get it immediately, with loads of vanilla notes in there, intertwined with heat buttery cinema popcorn, treacle sponge, and inexperienced olive vines.
On the palate, you get candy sweet notes, golden syrup, toffee apples, and extra oak. There’s additionally a contact of bonfire smoke in there, coupled with sweet floss. Think about an autumn go to to the funfair.
The end is prolonged and gives a thick and creamy mouthfeel. It lingers, leaving a touch of maple syrup, honey, and candy toasted oak as soon as extra.
This single grain is actually particular. It’s a celebration of higher instances and is a throwback to the Scotch whisky trade within the early Nineteen Seventies. 1972 to be precise. This whisky is 51 years previous and celebrates a bygone period of the whisky distillery trade.
At 50.1% ABV, it’s deceptively easy and has a stunning wealthy mahogany color. It’s fragrant and sophisticated, with candy and woody undertones.
On the nostril you’re immediately transported again in time. Consider wax candles and previous ebook outlets the place leather-based and snuffed out candles dominate the senses. These notes shortly dissipate, leaving you with a gorgeously candy aroma of muscovado sugar, a contact of smoked oak, and a sprinkling of burnt orange peel.
On the palate, the nostalgia journey continues. Right here you’re taken to an previous candy store because the sugary sweetness is clear from the primary sip. There’s rhubarb and custard candy flavours right here, together with gooseberry jam and a blended berry compote.
The end is medium in size, providing a surprisingly oily mouthfeel. Once more, you choose up the sweetness, a contact of wooden, and a little bit of lingering smoke or cinder toffee.
Named in honour of the Silk Highway, which was a serious Eurasian commerce route from the twond century BC till the 15th century, this silky easy whisky is the right fusion of Scotland and Asia.
Toffee in color, and coming in at 47.6% ABV, the whisky itself is 44 years previous and makes the right accompaniment to a summer time of winter dessert. It’s stuffed with fragrant flavour and aroma and it’s so, so, moreish!
On the nostril you get these Asian spice notes instantly. There’s star anise, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg all tied along with mint, honey, and a contact of apple. You’re out of the blue taken from the spice markets of Asia to a backstreet tannery. Loads of leathery notes right here. Maybe a whisper of oak, although your nostril will actually need to work to get there. However that’s a part of the enjoyable, proper?
On the palate you get these fragrant Asian spices, complimented with menthol and honey. There’s nearly a peaty, earthiness to this drop. It’s candy but astringent, leaving you with liquorice root and a touch of citrus zest.
The end is temporary but highly effective, with a syrupy mouthfeel right here. Virtually like honey and thyme cough combination. There’s extra spicey notes to complete, together with a contact of mint.
A Minute to Midnight is a shocking walnut brown color and maybe probably the most decadent dram you’ll ever pattern.
Aged for 45 years and with an ABV of 58.6%, this can be a whisky you would possibly count on to take pleasure in on celebrations or the very specialist of events. This actually is a sherry bomb. For those who like sherry influences in your whisky, you’ll love this dram, it’s so simple as that.
On the nostril as you would possibly count on, you get these sherry cask influences instantly. There’s raspberries right here, dates, prunes, figs, blackberries, and cherries. The tart fruity notes hit you immediately, although shortly give method to sugary strawberry jam aromas.
On the palate, extra heat sherry flavours shine by, tied along with hints of burnt toffee and honey. There are extra darkish fruits, together with winter spices. It nearly tastes like a mulled wine, and that’s no unhealthy factor.
The end is far dryer than you’d count on. You get grapes, winter berries, cinnamon, and somewhat vanilla oak char to complete.
The Hazelwood Highlander is pure Scottish Highlands in a bottle. One sniff of the mushy amber liquid gold inside and also you’re transported to a rugged Scottish glen.
This 33 yr previous whisky has an ABV of 45.8% and was restricted to 203 bottles.
On the nostril there are honey heather aromas with refined mossy grassy influences. There’s a contact of fruit right here and an oaky scent to it.
On the palate that sweetness actually comes by, with honey and toffee flavours. These meld completely with ripe orchard fruits and apple and pear tart in a shortcrust pasty.
The end is medium in size. You get the orchard fruits, a touch of moss, and a candy barley sugar syrup.
At 47 years younger, the Backyard at Hazelwood celebrates the gorgeous backyard at Hazelwood Home, that has been tended to by the Gordon Household for generations.
On the nostril, this mild gold delight gives up notes of lavender and cooking herbs. There’s aromas of an autumn orchard simply after a rainstorm. Particular notes of apples and pears right here, although they’re refined.
On the palate, these herbs actually come by. Specifically thyme, mint, and rosemary, all complimented by honey. Stewed apples and pear flavours make their presence felt right here, with a drop of parma violets.
The end is what you’d count on from a 43.7% ABV. It’s easy and pretty prolonged, with a medicinal high quality to it. Apples and herbs are the celebrities of the present right here, with somewhat woodiness that lingers.
Lastly, we’ve the Queen of the Hebrides.
This maritime delight celebrates the isle of Islay. As you would possibly count on, this can be a closely peated dram that’s not to be taken flippantly.
Aged for 36 years and matured in American Oak, the whisky isn’t as harsh as you’d count on, coming in at simply 43.4% ABV.
You need Islay? You get Islay with this dram. On the nostril, this mild golden colored delight gives up aromas of cigar smoke and distant bonfires and charred embers. The smoke is balanced completely by citrus aromas and bacon saltiness.
On the palate the smoky character actually strengthens. Right here you get toasted oak, smouldering barbeques, lemon zest, toffee, and tobacco leaves.
The end actually attracts you in and leaves you wanting extra. There’s oak and smoked woodchips, somewhat toffee apple, and scorched tree bark to complete.
For those who’re on the lookout for whisky, or whisky-related data, make sure you head over to GreatDrams.com and check out among the superb multiple-award-winning whiskies we’ve obtainable.
Whether or not you’re after a fruity Speyside, a peaty Islay, or something in between, right here at GreatDrams we’ve received you lined. We’ve additionally an abundance of whisky-related data so that you can learn at your leisure, so make sure you try our weblog.
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