|
11th April 2022 |
|
Review of the
Scottish Craftsman's Association 23rd
Anniversary event and the whiskies
tasted on the night by guest writer and
Scotch Malt Whisky forum member,
Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen.
The Scottish Craftsmen's Association
Whisky Experience like most
things was hit by the Covid pandemic and
hasn't taken place for a couple of years
but I am pleased to say as the world is
emerging from the pandemic the Scottish
Craftsman's Association 23rd Anniversary
event took place on April 8, 2022 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and as
always Scotch Malt Whisky forum member,
Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen
was there to cover the event and share
with us his opinion of the whiskies
tasted on the night.
Eighty-four people were in attendance
for the event for which tickets are
always highly sought after. The
enjoyable evening also included pipers
from the Niagara Regional Police Pipe
Band and Highland dancers as well as a
lovely full Scottish roast beef dinner
with all the trimmings.
The stars of the evening of course were
the 5 single malts which were:
- Deanston 18 Year Old Bourbon
Cask Finish
- Glen Grant 18 Rare Edition
Ex-Bourbon Casks
- Jura Tastival 2017 Limited
Edition
- Aberfeldy 19 Single Cask
- Tullibardine 20 Year Old First
Fill Bourbon Cask
You can read the Murray’s own taste
notes and reviews of the whiskies below,
the whiskies are available from
LCBO stores in Canada and outside Canada
most are available from specialist
online whisky shops such as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop and
Master of Malt
|
Deanston 18 Year Old Bourbon Cask Finish Review
|
Deanston 18, bourbon cask finish ,
unchillfiltered at 46.3% ABV. The
distillery is located in Doune,
Perthshire and the buildings were
adapted from a cotton mill designed by
Richard Arkwright.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Antique gold.
Nose:
Apricots, honeydew melon, vanilla
birthday cake with sprinkles, sponge
candy, lemon and lime accentuate over
time, a hybrid of lilacs and Lily of the
Valley. Late buckwheat honey and angel
food cake.
Taste:
Full-bodied, creamy, a vanilla ice cream
sandwich with soft chocolate biscuit
wrapper, caramel candy and high cocoa
content dark chocolate.
Finish:
Medium, perseverating dark chocolate,
stewed black cherries with citrus, oak
and leather layers.
Comment:
A memorable nose to be sure highlights a
well-balanced single malt.
Score
88.5/100
|
Glen Grant 18 Rare Edition Ex-Bourbon Casks Review
|
This distillery is unique in that it is
named after its owners. Major James
grant had installed a “dram safe” on the
grounds so he could entertain guests as
he showed them around.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Gold
Nose:
Fruity melange with green grapes,
watermelon, summer meadow flowers with
sticks of Juicy Fruit gum, caramels and
toffee.
Taste:
Medium-bodied, assorted melons along
with a cornucopia of sliced fresh fruit
and vanilla chocolate.
Finish:
Lingering with a definite dessert
profile with shades of French pastries
and marzipan.
Comment:
A light refreshing whisky that would
suit a pleasant summer’s eve.
Score
85.5/100
|
Jura Tastival 2017 Limited Edition Review
|
Jura Tastival 2017 Limited Edition at
51% ABV. Natural Cask Strength Bottle
No. 8751 American oak barrels and Douro
Valley port pipes.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Amber sunset.
Nose:
Sweetened porridge with nutmeg, peaches
and cream, maple fudge, crème brulee,
Flambeed bananas, and pecan pie. Late
ginger with a raisin flare.
Taste:
Full-bodied, thick and meaty mouthfeel
with layers of honey on the arrival and
fresh coffee cake and walnut torta on
the development.
Finish:
Long, dark chocolate, malty, dark
toffee, leather and oaky tendrils.
Comment:
A substantial dram with a sweet table
nose that actually packs a punch.
Score
92.5/100
|
Aberfeldy 19 Single Cask Review
|
Aberfeldy 19 single cask (cask no.2),
bottled 2016 at 54% ABV. Exclusive
release with an independent bottler
style of 258 bottles but under their own
brand. Built by the Dewar brothers, this
distillery site was that of the former
Pitilie brewery which had also been a
distillery of the same name.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Mahogany.
Nose:
Sultanas, Eccles cakes with currants,
cherries jubilee and a remarkable steak
tartare with a sweetish edge.
Taste:
Full-bodied, syrupy, dripping with
caramel candy on the arrival with a
cross between maple and chocolate fudge
on the development. Late background
Mediterranean spices.
Finish:
Long, dark fruit compote with an earthy
foundation. A confectioner’s dream with
an added assortment of fruit flavored
jelly beans. A thick and desirable
after-taste.
Comment:
This is the real deal with the analogy
of a full turkey dinner with all the
fixings at the liquid level.
Score
95.5/100
|
Tullibardine 20 Year Old First Fill Bourbon Cask Review
|
Tullibardine 20, first fill bourbon
casks at 43% ABV. This distillery is
named after Tullibardine Moor, the
renown estate of Gleneagles Hotel and
its champion golf course.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Antique gold.
Nose:
Honeydew and cantaloupe melons with
candied beer nuts and cedar chips with a
hint of lemon peel and citronella.
Taste:
Medium-bodied, fresh figs and date
squares on the arrival with McIntosh
apples and summer squash on the
development.
Finish:
Medium, oak and sherry accents coalesce
with sherry truffle, shortbread biscuits
and black coffee.
Comment:
Two decades old, the whisky dances on
the nose and palate, delicate but mature
making it an easy drinking dessert dram.
Score
88.5/100
|
Where To Buy Whisky Online
|
|
Select a country for a list of
specialist Whisky shops who delivers to
you:
|
Whisky Focus
<<<Back to
Whisky Focus for more Whisky News
|
Top
Of Page |
|
|
Online Whisky Shops |
|
|
|
New Whiskies |
| Check out the latest
new whisky releases. |
 |
| Worldwide delivery
available.
More Info |
|
