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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
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August 8, 2024
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The Olympic Classes,
Day 11
For as soon as, we’re going from elsewhere. Oh, look, it has been so lengthy since we have tasted this toddler…
(Jack Daniel’s journal advert, circa 1998. Rattling proper! Besides possibly on the Olympics.)
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Jack Daniel’s ‘Previous No.7’ (40%, OB, USA, Tennessee Whiskey, +/-2024) 
Every time I see a bottle, I can’t assist however consider Keith Richards, and surprise if he couldn’t afford one thing a bit higher. Absolutely, he should have had contracts, pricey Keef… Color: gold. Nostril: not a lot happening, however nothing offensive both. Hints of coconut, nougat, brioche, popcorn, vanilla, and pancake syrup. It’s totally delicate. Mouth: fairly drinkable, as they are saying in wine. Caramel, popcorn, touches of caramel and nougat, a slight trace of violet liqueur, and a really mild construction. The caramel side builds up however, in the long run, all of it stays drinkable. End: somewhat brief and extra on the plank, alas. Only a unhealthy second to get via. The aftertaste is considerably cloying. Feedback: it’s not “good,” however I don’t suppose it’s absolutely the horror some often point out.
SGP:730 – 72 factors. |
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In the identical vein, whereas we’re at it…
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Jameson (40%, OB, Irish mix, +/-2024) 
The final time we tasted this entry-level bottling was in 2011 (I gained’t point out the rating). Since then, we have solely sampled older bottles of Jameson’s or extra prestigious variations, typically wonderful. Color: pale gold. Nostril: nothing, completely nothing, there isn’t a nostril. Maybe a touch of grass. They might name this cuvée ‘the Cuvée of the Sphinx’. Mouth: higher than the nostril, in fact, however extra within the fashion of a Havana Membership or Bacardi. Sugar syrup, vanilla, tea, hay, ethanol. When you might move me some ice cubes, that will be good… End: what end? Joking apart, you discover low-cost grocery store black tea and sugarcane syrup. Feedback: does anybody drink this little Jameson with out ice, orange juice, Coca-Cola, ginger tonic or simply Perrier? It’s not completely catastrophic, nevertheless it’s a somewhat empty spirit. By the way in which, they are saying ‘triple distilled’ on the label, which could imply there’s no grain, a minimum of nothing distilled constantly. Weird.
SGP:320 – 60 factors. |
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Let’s be severe, that is Whiskyfun in any case…
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The Wiseman (45.4%, OB, USA, Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, +/-2023) 
This by Kentucky Owl. Love this line on the label: ‘Guided by knowledge and crafted with information’. Is the model owned by some politicians? Additionally love the 1910-style label and the truth that this child was constituted of 4 Kentucky Straight Bourbons. Color: gold. Nostril: not unhealthy in any respect, not a bourbon ooh-ha, we’re somewhat on liquorice and damp earth, even mint leaves and peaches which can be very, very, however very ripe certainly. Fairly ‘clever’ in impact. Additionally some mild tobacco touches and a touch of leather-based. Mouth: it is good, simple, barely candy, with jams, corn syrup, then peanut butter and eventually some barely drying spices round cinnamon. Fairly traditional. End: somewhat brief, somewhat honeyed, with touches of fruity rye. Feedback: very good, actually does the job. Very ‘clever’, so a bit the other of us at WF.
SGP:640 – 82 factors. |
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We’re leaping from one fashion to a different…
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Cotswolds 5 yo 2016/2023 (62.4%, OB, New Vibrations LMDW, England, 2nd-fill bourbon barrel, cask #932, 285 bottles) 
Color: pale gold. Nostril: extremely alcoholic and brimming with rose petals and orange blossom water, one would possibly suppose we’re in a protected place within the Center east. Fast, some water… With water: all types of brioche from each nook of the globe. Mouth (neat): very creamy, ultra-fruity, with the well-known mango-banana mixture. It’s harking back to virgin US oak. Properly, it’s superb… With water: white chocolate, akin to white Toblerone. A small-size mannequin will suffice. End: good size, very fruity, very trendy. Pink grapefruit within the aftertaste. Feedback: not a lot to say, it’s all in regards to the wooden and mastery of molecules. It’s a marvellous whisky, little question, I simply hope the whole planet doesn’t begin making the identical bourbonised (but good) whiskies.
SGP:641 – 84 factors. |
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Let’s return to Japan, by way of Hong Kong…
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Mars Tsunuki 6 yo 2017/2024 ‘Yakushima Ageing’ (58%, OB, Japan, for Tiffany’s New York Bar and AF Commerce, sherry hogshead, cask #2094, 252 bottles) 
Ah, right here we now have the famend maturation on Yakushima Island, the place the local weather is decidedly hotter. The whisky itself utilises barley peated to 50ppm. Color: amber. Nostril: I daresay the notion of umami was conceived for this whisky. Exhaust fumes, soy sauce, high-quality chocolate, tar, glutamate, sauna oils, overripe raspberries, miso, black and white truffles… It veers off in a number of instructions but maintains a sure ‘oneness’, akin to a high-quality outdated Pomerol, if you’ll. With water: aged balsamic from Modena, black earth (basalt), pumpernickel, and virgin wool… Mouth (neat): a whisky that delivers three slaps earlier than politely asking you so as to add water. And we comply. With water: an astounding arrival of bergamots and kumquats cloaked in honey and liquid caramel. An indulgence. End: not everlasting, however splendidly on prunes and enormous raisins, even a contact of rustic Armagnac. Although, should not all Armagnacs rustic? Feedback: dare I say, we want the bourbon or refill variations, but this one comes very, very shut. A somewhat mad Tsunuki, total.
SGP:641 – 88 factors. |
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I am not a giant fan of the widespread bourbonisation of malt whiskies, but it is what I want. Sure, it’s kind of difficult, let’s say I want refill…
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Kavalan 2014/2024 (61%, OB for Malt, Grain & Cane, Port, cask #O140201019A, 186 bottles) 
We’re in Singapore this time. Unhealthy information, that is Port. Excellent news, Kavalan often handle to make Port not too Porty (no uninteresting purple berry liqueurs in our whiskies!) Color: purple amber. Nostril: luggage of roasted nuts, some cigars, some charcoal, deep-charred hamburgers, prunes, black raisins, black nougat, miso and… a whole lot of alcohol. So: with water: potting soil, leather-based polish, pumpernickel, tamarind jam… Mouth (neat): heavy rums and cognacs, heavier brandies de Jerez (with out the sugar they often add) and fifty tons of bitter chocolate. Corinth raisins as the muse. With water: we’ve nearly recreated some pretty heavy/deep candy wine. You possibly can scale back it lots whereas it wouldn’t falter and wouldn’t quit. End: lengthy, candy, liqueury and intensely chocolaty. Feedback: some type of chocolate-and-raisins focus, undecided the bottom distillate is of any significance (whisky, rum, brandy…) All of the sliders are nearly at max, Nigel.
SGP:762- 87 factors. |
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Present Medal Standing
After Day 11
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92 – Gold
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- TTO Trinidad Distillers Restricted 14 yo 2009/2024 ‘Version N°1’ (62.9%, The Colors of Rum, Up Spirits Membership, bourbon cask, cask #106, 259 bottles)
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| 91 – Gold |
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- JPN Shizuoka 2019/2023 (65.2%, Asta Morris, Japan, peated, pot nonetheless Okay, bourbon barrel, cask #1222, 302 bottles)
- JPN Shizuoka ‘United S – Summer time Version 2023’ (50.5%, OB, Japan, first-fill bourbon)
- JPN Yamazaki 18 yo ’Suntory one hundredth Anniversary’ (48%, OB, Japan, Mizunara, 2023)
- FIJ South Pacific Distillery 11 yo 2012/2023 (57.5%, The Whisky Jury, Fiji, refill barrel, cask #12, 292 bottles)
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| 90 – Silver |
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- JPN Hakushu 18 yo ‘Suntory one hundredth Anniversary’ (48%, OB, Japan, 2023)
- NED Millstone 26 yo 1996/2022 (47.7%, OB for The Whisky Change, Netherlands, American oak, cask #1372, 264 bottles)
- JPN Shizuoka 2018/2024 (46.6%, OB, Sushi + Soul Munich, Japan, KS+WS, bourbon, cask #939)
- TTO Caroni 25-year-old 1998/2023 (60.1%, Impressions by The Colors of Rum, Trinidad, cask #8, 120 bottles)
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| 89 – Silver |
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- FRA Alfred Giraud ‘Une Odyssée’ (52.9%, OB, France, Assortment Singulière, cognac cask, 459 bottles)
- GBR Bimber ‘Stratford’ (58.5%, OB, England, The Spirit of the Underground, Fino cask, cask #267/16, 325 bottles, 2024)
- AIN Caribbean Rum 30 yo 1993/2024 (60.5%, eSpirit, Liquid Treasures, fifteenth anniversary, barrel, 282 bottles)
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| 88 – Bronze |
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- GBR Bimber ‘Wimbledon’ (56.6%, OB, England, The Spirit of the Underground, Vino de Naranja cask, cask #310/5, 298 bottles, 2024)
- JPN Chichibu 2017/2023 (65%, OB for ePower, 1st fill bourbon barrel, cask #8279, 176 bottles)
- USA Copperworks 3 yo 2018/2022 (56.8%, Whisky-Facile, USA, Black Cat Collection, virgin oak, cask #287, 239 bottles)
- ITA Exmu ‘Spirit of Sardinia’ (45.5%, OB, Italy, bourbon, +/-2024)
- JPN Kanosuke 2019/2023 (61%, OB, for ePower, Japan, oloroso sherry, cask #19421, 281 bottles)
- JPN Mars Tsunuki 6 yo 2017/2024 ‘Yakushima Ageing’ (58%, OB, Japan, for Tiffany’s New York Bar and AF Commerce, sherry hogshead, cask #2094, 252 bottles)
- GBR Penderyn 13 yo 2010/2023 (59.5%, OB, Wales, LMDW New Vibrations, second fill bourbon, cask #313/2010)
- JPN Shizuoka ‘Pot Nonetheless W Japanese barley First Version’ (55.5%, OB, Japan, Japan unique, 2,500 bottles, 2023)
- JPN Yoichi 10 yo (45%, OB, Japan, Version 2022)
- GUY Diamond 20 yo 2003/2024 ‘SVL’ (51.6%, The Roots, Guyana, bourbon cask, cask #23, 174 bottles)
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| 87 – Bronze |
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- GBR Bimber ‘Germany Version 2023’ (59.2%, OB, Kirsch Import, sherry, cask #456, 280 bottles)
- NED Kalkwijck 2019/2023 ‘Higgledy Piggledy Rye’ (44%, OB, The Netherlands, American oak, 480 bottles, +/-2023)
- TPE Kavalan 2014/2024 (61%, OB for Malt, Grain & Cane, Port, cask #O140201019A, 186 bottles)
- FIN Kyrö ‘Malt Rye’ (47.2%, OB, Finland, +/-2023)
- NED Millstone 2019/2024 (57.3%, OB for The Whisky Jury, refill PX hogshead, cask #2547, 319 bottles)
- GER The Westfalian ‘Masterpiece Peated’ (64.1%, OB, Germany, ex-Macallan sherry hogshead, cask #TW74, 238 bottles)
- AIN Ron Colon ‘Salvadoreno Excessive Proof’ (55.5%, OB, mix, +/-2022)
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