If you are looking to explore sherry-finished scotch whisky, and you have done some research looking for value, typicite, and renown, you will very likely end up at a cashier with a bottle of Glenfarclas 15 in your hands. This bottle is a darling of beverage critics, most likely due to its purity of expression and complexity. This is a dram for cold winter nights next to the fire. It features, deep dark colour and texture from the sherry wood finish. This dram is also remembered by many for the …
If you are traveling to the west coast and Vancouver, as we at The Aspiring Gentleman did over the last few weeks, you may be curious as to where to go to get the best selection of whisky, local wines, or Cuban cigars. While the taxation laws in British Columbia are somewhat prohibitive to the consumer of perceived luxuries such as these, retailers have not slacked off one bit, and some of the best selection of these products anywhere in the world is available right in downtown Vancouver for the discerning connoisseur. The only catch is that the prices …
The Dalmore is not shy about Sherry, and we have waxed poetic on these pages about the pure orange citrus notes of Dalmore 12 and the savoury decadence of Dalmore Mackenzie. Bottled at 43%, and with a suggested retail of $150, the relatively new bottling of Dalmore 18 slots in nicely among the other offerings in their range. Which is to say, it feels like a product created from a desire to fill out slots in the range and not borne of a desire to exhibit a unique expression of …
Last fall Chivas Brothers (owned by Pernod Ricard) gave The Aspiring Gentleman and other whisky media a rare opportunity to deconstruct one of their prized blended whiskies, Chivas Regal 18 year. While we thoroughly enjoyed the tasting and process as it originally unfolded, we are guilty of letting portions of the samples linger on the shelf until recently, when we broke out the four components of Chivas 18 once more. Without further ado, this is how we felt about Grain 18, Longmorn 18, Strathisla 18, and Islay 18, which (although …
In honour of the Clan Mackenzie, former owners of their distillery, the Dalmore has released Mackenzie, a limited edition run of 3000 bottles of Highland Malt aged 11 years in ex-bourbon and a further 6 years in port pipes. The Legend of Clan Mackenzie is immortalized in a painting by Benjamin West that is featured on the packaging – an ancestor of the clan bravely protects the king from being gored by a stag. Revenues from these limited bottles will go to the Clan in an effort to maintain their cultural presence …
Canadian Club, one of the most widely consumed Canadian whiskies, is often maligned with a bad reputation. After ending near the top in a recent blind tasting amongst friends, however, we decided it is time to take a closer look at Canadian Club. As a whisky which, in my experience, most often ends up mixed with coke, it’s about time people recognize Canadian Club for what it is — a balanced yet flavorful Canadian whisky. If the standard offering of Canadian Club — matured for 6 years — is …
