Transparency in Scotch: Crusade or Marketing Ploy?

February 22, 2016February 21, 2016 The Scotch NoobArticles11 Comments 11282 views

After the debacle with the SWA censuring Compass Box’s recent Flaming Heart (5th Edition) and This is Not a Luxury Whisky releases for, literally, revealing too much information about the recipe used in the bottle, Compass Box has come back fighting with a Campaign for Scotch Whisky Transparency. Is this just a publicity and/or marketing stunt by Compass Box to drum up more controversy and thus more exposure, or a righteous crusade for more truth and transparency in whisky marketing? Let’s break it down.

Trader Joe’s Highlands Single Malt 12 year (2003 – 2015)

January 25, 2016January 30, 2023 The Scotch NoobReviews7 Comments 11239 views

At any rate, this is an ex-bourbon single malt from the Deanston distillery. (The bottle says “Matured in Oak Casks”. Duh.) It was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2015 at 40% ABV after 12 years of aging. Deanston’s official releases are bottled without chill-filtration, but there’s no telling what Alexander Murray chose to do when bottling this. I found it at Trader Joe’s in California for $30.

Trader Joe’s Speyside Single Malt 13 year (2002 – 2015)

January 25, 2016January 30, 2023 The Scotch NoobReviews5 Comments 12195 views

Bland, and somewhat bitter. Not a successful malt. This should probably not have been saved from the mountain of “blending fodder” barrels for which it was no doubt originally destined. There are no redeeming florals, fruits, or even cloying sweets. Instead, it mostly just tastes like insipid wood and alcohol. If you’re standing in a Trader Joe’s right now, trying to make a decision, I’ll make it for you: Get the 12 year-old Highland (psst! It’s from Deanston) instead.

Exclusive Malts 2015 Releases

November 2, 2015November 1, 2015 The Scotch NoobArticlesLeave a comment 4123 views

I got a batch of samples from Exclusive Malts’ new 2015 releases… These bottlings tend to go quickly and aren’t widely distributed to begin with, so if you’re interested in any of these… well, it may already be too late. Oops.

Alexander Murray: Mortlach (16 year) 1995 – 2011

March 9, 2015December 2, 2020 The Scotch NoobReviews2 Comments 12603 views

While it pales in a side-to-side comparison with classical sherry-aged Mortlach like the G&M 15 year, this Murray bottling stands on its own with a very pleasing combination of roasted/toasted/meaty flavors and without cloying sweetness on the palate.

Gordon & MacPhail: Mortlach (15 year)

March 2, 2015December 2, 2020 The Scotch NoobReviews4 Comments 14469 views

A stately, refined example of sherried Mortlach. Something about this distillery speaks of the Scotland of yore. Having never experienced the Scotland of yore, I can only assume it’s the combination of excellent sherry casks with the meaty, oily, rough-around-the-edges malt of Mortlach that gives me the impression.

Exclusive Malts: The Dalmore (13 year) 2000 – 2013

January 19, 2015March 23, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviewsLeave a comment 6523 views

Here’s a weirdo. Dalmore, in my mind, means two things: Heavy sherry, and orange peel notes. This independently-bottled Dalmore from The Exclusive Malts was distilled in 2000 as cask #6952 and bottled in 2013 at 53.5% ABV. And it’s peated. What?!

Exclusive Malts: North Highland (17 year) 1996-2014

October 20, 2014March 23, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviews3 Comments 5310 views

This is possibly an experimental cask that didn’t make it into one of the Glenmorangie special editions, and was sold on the independent market. It reminds me somewhat of Artein, but only as a single component.

Exclusive Malts: Laphroaig (8 year) 2005-2013

August 18, 2014March 23, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviews1 Comment 7453 views

I received a sample of the Exclusive Malts single-cask bottling of Laphroaig, distilled 2005/bottled 2013, by the distributor ImpEx Beverages (Thanks Katia!). It’s a single-cask Laphroaig bottled at 55.9% ABV. As usual with single-casks from independents, I’m looking for two very specific things…

Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon – 7 year

July 28, 2014March 23, 2015 The Scotch NoobReviews27 Comments 34290 views

I plopped down my $20 for a liter of “Premium Small Batch” Kentucky Straight Bourbon at 7 years of age and an impressive 103 proof, from batch B-5183, if it matters. The label indicated that it was made in Clermont, which leaves no doubt as to its distiller – the Beam Corporation’s Jim Beam Clermont Distillery.