The Singleton bottlings are a release of Diageo intended to help introduce new customers to the world of scotch. They are designed to be approachable, drinkable, and a defining taste of a particular distillery. The Singleton of Dufftown Tailfire single malt was first produced in 2014 and part of a program to select specific barrels to produce particular flavors. The Tailfire is said to use a higher proportion of European oak casks They describe it as smooth and intense, with an emphasis on flavor notes of "cut grass" and "vanilla" and "red berry." It is bottled at a relatively light...
The Singleton bottlings are a release of Diageo intended to help introduce new customers to the world of scotch. They are designed to be approachable, drinkable, and a defining taste of a particular distillery. The Singleton of Dufftown Sunray single malt was first produced in 2014 and part of a program to select specific barrels to produce particular flavors. The Sunray is said to use a higher proportion of "toasted bourbon casks." They describe it as smooth and intense, with an emphasis on flavor notes of black currant and baked apple." It is bottled at a relatively light 80 proof....
Scapa Skiren Orcadian Single Malt scotch was first released in 2015 and takes advantage of a growing (and to some purists, disturbing) trend of non age statement (NAS) whisky. The name "skiren" translates, as the label announces, "glittering skies," but mean to represent the Orkney Islands and the famous peat reek for which their style of whisky is known. It is aged in "first fill" American Oak casks, which is a departure from most scotch matured in ex-bourbon barrels and suggests a more pronounced vanilla/caramel wood influence. It is bottled at 80 proof, a mild bottling strength and aimed for...
The Singleton bottlings are a release of Diageo intended to help introduce new customers to the worldof scotch. They are designed to be approachable, drinkable, and a defining taste of a particular distillery.
The Singleton of Dufftown 15yr is an older expression of Diageo's classic malts collection and aged for 15 years in a combination of American and European oak.
Glen Garioch 12yr is their flagship expression. It ages for 12 years in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks. It "unpeated" (that is, not at all smoky) and is considered light with notes of heather and fruit by several different reviewers. The Glen Garioch Distillery was founded by Thomas Simpson in 1797 in the self-named Garioch valley that is known for barley production near modern-day Aberdeen. They specialize in traditional "handcrafted" scotch that is never chill-filtered. It was purchased by current owners Morrison-Bowmore in 1970. "Garioch" is pronounced "geer - ee." Glen Garioch is owned by...
The Singleton bottlings are a release of Diageo intended to help introduce new customers to the world of scotch. They are designed to be approachable, drinkable, and a defining taste of a particular distillery.
The Singleton of Dufftown 12yr is part of Diageo's classic malts collection and aged for 12 years in a combination of American and European oak. It falls into their "rich and rounded" category. It is sourced from the Dufftown Distillery in the Speyside region, known for lightly peated and smooth scotch. They suggest comparing to Oban and Clynelish.
The Isle of Jura 10yr single malt is one of their classic bottlings. It is the youngest expression from the island distillery. On the Island of Jura itself, whisky distilling had been going on in a cave on the Isle of Jura as far back as the 1600s but legally began in the early 1800s. The distillery was reopened in 1963 in part as an employment venture to help revitalize the island. They regard the sea air as one of the principal features in the maturing of their scotch. In modern times, the island of Jura--accessible only by ferry--is still...
The 10 year is Talisker's youngest and entry level scotch with a peat smoke nose and a finish of "appetising sweetness." Talisker Distillery has the distinction of being the only distillery operating on the famous Isle of Skye. It was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill near the springs of Cnoc nan Speirag, which source they still use today along with a traditional peat smoke drying with Glen Ord malt. Today, it is one of the distilleries comprising the "six classic malts" of Diageo meant to showcase the breadth of scotch whisky. Talisker is "made by the sea"...
Cutty Sark scotch has its name from the sailing vessel Cutty Sark. Its production reaches back to 1923 and they credit themselves with being "the first lightly coloured whisky of exceptional quality." Berry Bros & Rud sold the brand to the Edrington Group in 2010.
The 2011 Wine Enthusiast review regarded the Cutty Sark scotch as "reminiscent of Irish whiskey" and made for "very pleasant sipping."
Aberdour Piper Blended Scotch is a blend of Highland single malt scotch (generally only lightly peated and floral) and grain whisky. It is intended as an entry-level scotch, somewhat mild and inexpensive.
Dewar's 12yr blended scotch is "double aged" taking 12yr scotch whiskies and then returning them to oak for a final "marrying" of flavors. As the name might suggest, the company John Dewar and Sons was founded in 1846 by founder John Dewar, Sr and his sons John, Jr and Thomas Dewar. The began in 1846 as a seller of spirits and began experimenting with what turned out to be very popular blends. They were the first company to offer its scotch in bottles rather than simply casks. They went through a series of ownership changes--as many companies in Scotland did--in...
Compass Box blended scotches are a new range meant to both nurture and evolve the traditions of scotch and provide a "re-birth" to the respect of blended scotch. Spice Tree blended scotch is a blend of Highland scotch whisky with a primary emphasis on the Clynelish Distillery. It is aged primarily in a combination of first-fill and re-fill American oak, traditionally promising vanilla and caramel flavors. There is a second maturation process using French oak heads with varying levels of "toast" (char) to create "additional layers of complexity." They suggest for after-dinner sipping with cheese. This scotch was banned by...
Peat Monster Blended scotch is designed specifically for those enthusiasts of smoky, peaty scotch. It is a blend of Islay, Island, and Speyside scotch.
Compass Box blended scotches are a new range meant to both nurture and evolve the traditions of scotch and provide a "re-birth" to the respect of blended scotch.
Compass Box blended scotches are a new range meant to both nurture and evolve the traditions of scotch and provide a "re-birth" to the respect of blended scotch.
Hedonism blended scotch is a limited edition that is bottled according to their capabilities to source the right type of casks they require for aging. It is a "grain" scotch whisky rather than malted barley whisky, which is highly unusual. They use very old grain whisky, often up to 20 years (though there is no age statement) aged in American oak. They say is it rich, sweet, and alluring.
Compass Box blended scotches are a new range meant to both nurture and evolve the traditions of scotch and provide a "re-birth" to the respect of blended scotch. Asyla Malt & Grain blended scotch is the lightest and, we presume, most approachable of the Compass Box blends. It is a mix of malt (barley) whisky blended with other grains and aged in "first-fill" American oak barrels (most oak barrels are re-used from prior aging, often bourbon) that they feel provides a heightened vanilla character. They call it the "everyday, before dinner, and Sunday afternoon" whisky and suggest drinking with a...
Johnnie Walker--the man whose name would grace the bottles of more scotch whisky than any other brand in the 21st century--was born in 1805 and began as a grocery store manager at age 14 in 1819. Part of the grocery business was a personal blend of whisky. Yet it was his son Alexander who took the Johnnie Walker blend of whisky to the worldwide markets in its square bottle (the first of its kind and designed to save space in shipping) in 1860. The Eyewitness Companion to Whiskey quotes brand owner Diageo claiming over 7 million casks of whisky in...
Dewar's White Label scotch was first produced in 1899 and remains their most popular brand of scotch. The recipe is a closely guarded secret and said to be a blend of over forty different scotches. Today, it remains one of the most recognized scotches on earth. As the name might suggest, the company John Dewar and Sons was founded in 1846 by founder John Dewar, Sr and his sons John, Jr and Thomas Dewar. The began in 1846 as a seller of spirits and began experimenting with what turned out to be very popular blends. They were the first company...
Today, Johnnie Walker offers several different "labels" of scotch whisky, designated by color. Johnnie Walker Red Label is the flagship blend from the world-famous label and they regard it as their best scotch for mixing due to its "vibrant character." It is the biggest selling scotch in the world. The 2011 Wine Enthusiast review suggested serving the Red Label "tall" in ginger ale and ice. In 2014 (Kara Newman) called it a "mild-mannered, polite sipper." Johnnie Walker--the man whose name would grace the bottles of more scotch whisky than any other brand in the 21st century--was born in 1805 and...
Today, Johnnie Walker offers several different "labels" of scotch whisky, designated by color. Johnnie Walker Black Label is the second tier scotch from the famous and well-known label and said to be the personal favorite of Winston Churchill. One of its principal components is from the Cardhu Distillery, which is not widely available outside of Spain. Johnnie Walker--the man whose name would grace the bottles of more scotch whisky than any other brand in the 21st century--was born in 1805 and began as a grocery store manager at age 14 in 1819. Part of the grocery business was a personal...
