|
15th April 2024 |
|
Review of the
Scottish Craftmen’s Association 25th
annual whisky event and the whiskies
tasted on the night by guest writer and
Scotch Malt Whisky forum member,
Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen.
(From left to right: John McIntosh,
Murray Cohen and Jackie Gordon)
Murray Cohen, Companion of the Quaich
and scotchmaltwhisky forum member and
guest writer attended this premier
whisky event on April 12, 2024 in St.
Catharines, Ontario, Canada. This event
is held annually with carefully chosen
single malts.
This 25th special anniversary year was
augmented with performances by the
Niagara Police Pipe Band, Highland
dancers and topped off with a glorious
roast beef dinner with haggis. There
were 80 in attendance.
The stars of the evening of course were
the 5 single malts which were:
- Lochlea Fallow Edition First
Crop
- NcNean Organic Quiet Rebels
- The Balvenie 14 Year The Week of
Peat
- Gordon & MacPhail Linkwood 27
Year Connoisseur’s Choice
- Balblair 25 Year
You can read 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 and
Master of Malt
|
Lochlea Fallow Edition First Crop Review
|
Lochlea Fallow Edition First Crop 46%
ABV. Matured in first fill oloroso
sherry casks. NCF & NCA.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Dark Amber.
Nose:
Stewed prunes, Colt’s rum and wine
tipped cigars, Eccles cakes, sultana
raisins, burnt orange, dense citrus and
banana split doused with distillery
smoke.
Taste:
Full-bodied, oaky tinged fruit, orange
syrup, ashy, cherry cough medicine,
nutmeg and a melange of other spices.
Finish:
On the shortish side. Oaky tannins,
McIntosh apples and some flapjacks.
Comment:
A young robust whisky which no doubt
will benefit from more time in the cask.
The nose is quite impressive.
Score
84.5/100
|
NcNean Organic Quiet Rebels Review
|
NcNean Gordon Organic Quiet Rebels 2019
Release, 48.5% ABV. Red wine and
American oak casks. NCF, NCA.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Gold.
Nose:
Grandma’s hot cocoa, Coffee Crisp
chocolate bar, dessert wafers,
cranberries, Terry’s Orange Chocolate,
cranberry jam, fruity Niagara ice wine
and Devon cream on scones.
Taste:
Medium to full-bodied, oranges and dark
chocolate on the arrival with a fusion
of chocolate peanuts and molasses on the
development.
Finish:
Lingering, dark chocolate (high cocoa
content) with wisps of bitter chocolate
and crushed walnuts.
Comment:
Quite interesting organic single malt
with dessert dram qualities in
abundance. The cornucopia of chocolate
notes is most appealing. The nose is a
recipe for High Tea.
Score
88.5/100
|
The Balvenie 14 Year The Week of Peat Review
|
The Balvenie 14 The Week of Peat 48.3%
ABV. ex-bourbon barrels.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Light gold.
Nose:
A livestock, sales barn, mildly gamey
note (quite pleasant), peanuts and
hardened molasses, an aired-out medicine
cabinet, cotton balls soaked in light
peat, mild aniseed, slow roasted brisket
and some drips of new auto oil out of
the can.
Taste:
Full bodied, the more innocent peat
merges with generalized sweetness and
lots of Australian black licorice.
Finish:
Long, mildly sweet and sour, licorice
root, BBQ chips and late home-made
aromatic hand soap with a pine
character.
Comment:
A milder peaty whisky with some unique
elements culminating in a delightful
nose.
Score
86/100
|
Gordon & MacPhail Linkwood 27 Year Connoisseur’s Choice Review
|
Gordon and MacPhail Linkwood 27 Year
Connoisseurs Choice 54.5% ABV., first
fill sherry butt cask 8088 564 bottles.
NCF, NCA.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Amber
Nose:
Caramel-custard
sandwich, fruit cocktail with an edge,
stewed fruit, sweet iced tea, lemon drop
candy, robust citrus tentacles, pot
pourri and cedar chest.
Taste:
Full-bodied, a blast of citrus and red
liquorice, berry jam, cinnamon and
cloves.
Finish:
Very long. Spiced citrus, lemon peel,
mince pie with lots of dried fruit,
chocolate fudge, cinnamon, black
currants, lemon meringue pie, walnuts,
oak and delicate beach sand infusion.
Comment:
A cracker of a cask strength single malt
which benefits from a few drops of
Spring water to be sure.
Score
96/100
|
Balblair 25 Year Review
|
Balblair 25 Year 46% ABV. NCF. NCA.
American oak bourbon casks then
transferred into Spanish oak butts, NCF.
NCA.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Copper.
Nose:
Poached over-ripe pears, plums, cinnamon
and spice, shelled sunflower seeds,
watermelon and aromatic herbs.
Taste:
Full-bodied, thick citrus essence, melon
truffle, drying tobacco leaves, soft
herbs, mild cinnamon and a flash of new
leather.
Finish:
Long, Dutch black liquorice, fruit sushi
in sweetish nori, blood oranges and
old-fashioned chocolate balls made with
coffee, vanilla and unsweetened cocoa
powder.
Comment:
A stylish well-tailored integrity single
malt that frankly hits the mark.
Score
95.5/100
|
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 |
|
