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Grant’s 12yo
Whisky: Grants’s 12yo, 40%
Producer: William Grant & Sons, Scotland
± £20 ≈ R240 (Unavailable in SA)
Produced by Williams Grant & Sons (owners of Glenfiddich and Balvenie), this blended whisky is equal parts single malts and grain whiskies, with the components married together for six months in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. Distribution of this expression seems to be limited to France and South America.
Nose: Rich bouquet of citrus, honey and dry grass. The grass is not quite on fire, but it is smoldering with wisps of smoke and earth. Slightly waxy with hints of cinnamon.
Taste: Full bodied and well rounded, with sherry notes and more spice, especially pepper. There’s also a subtle note of herbs ground with coffee and orange rind. Smoke is slightly more pronounced now, but still not exactly peaty. The viscosity a little weak for my liking.
Finish: Warming with the spice lingering but balanced with the sweeter honey. Slightly tannic and astringent.
My Score: 79
Another drinkable, good-value blended whisky from Grant’s. Flavours are well married and the experience is smooth and easy. The faint smoke and earth notes are good nuances, with the grains providing varied sweetness. If you find yourself at a bar in France or South America, order a double.
Other Scores: JM’12 89.5
Johnnie Walker Double Black
Whisky: Johnnie Walker Double Black NAS, 43%
Producer: Johnnie Walker & Sons, Scotland
R290 ≈ £23
Initially released in early 2010 to only several international duty-free stores, this more peaty/smoky version of the standard Black Label subsequently made its way into a wider range of duty-free locations after successful tests, and now looks to have found it’s permanent place among it’s Johnnie Walker siblings in any well-stocked bottle store.
Nose: At first a robust grain and oak sweetness. There is peat smoke here but not what one would expect given the positioning of this whisky- very light. Lots of BBQ sauce (the authentic American kind) cooked to a sticky coating over a rack of meaty ribs – well, it was right here, where’d it go? Grilled fruit kebabs now. I want that BBQ again!
Taste: As you have to expect from JW this is smooth and very palatable (read: drinkable). The smoke is more concentrated now but still no where near a peat monster. Wood spice, the toasted wood kind. A bit of zing near the end but overall very well composed.
Finish: Smoking pineapple with a weak chili powder and spice rub. Sticky BBQ returns but more sweetness and less meat. Definitely more smoke here than previously experienced, but always tamed.
My Score: 83
The finish is my favourite part of this whisky with the sticky pineapple and BBQ a delectable duo. If the BBQ sauce on the nose was less elusive I’d up the score by at least another two points. If you like peat this will be easy and enjoyable drinking. Well balanced, and a strong contender for the star of the JW range.
Other Scores: Couldn’t find any
The Wild Geese Rare Whiskey NAS
Whisky: The Wilde Geese Rare Irish Whiskey NAS, 43%
Producer: Cooley Distillery, Ireland
±£42 ≈ R460
The Wild Geese range of Irish Whiskies from Cooley don’t seem to be widely distributed, but have been available in SA for some time now. The asking price however seems unreasonable, so I was only happy to receive an attractive tasting set of three of their expressions. Curiously none of them have age statements which I find suspect, and perhaps misguidedly so, lowers my expectations.
Nose: Immediately the bourbonesque vanilla and toffee is there along with sweet malt and cereals, and a bit of pepper. Sweetness is layered with depth creating a smooth and enjoyable aroma.
Taste: Young and fiesty, and not in an admiring way. With more time and on second sip it mellows a bit – thankfully. A quality grain present with lots of barley and oak. Rich and bodied, approaching smooth but some roughness is hard to shake.
Finish: Peters out fairly quickly with the sweetness remaining. Leaves an unusual, but pleasant, glossy coating on the palette.
My Score: 77
After trying The Wild Geese Single Malt that I scored 68 points, I didn’t have high expectations, and although not great, this expression is much better. There is a balance here that it’s sibling is missing with the malt, grain and sweetness finding some harmony, but reminders of its youth never stray too far.
Other Scores: JM’11 89.5
Three Ships 5yo
Whisky: Three Ships 5yo Premium Select, 43%
Producer: The James Sedgwick Distillery, South Africa
R90 ≈ £8
This is a blend of both South African and Scotch produced whisky (grain and malt), but I can’t find any information on cask type. The Three Ships range, currently consisting of five whiskies, has received several international awards in recent years, and can be found in most international whisky books, putting the distillery firmly on the map. (Hoorah.)
Nose: A rich fruity profile with stewed apricots, plums and peaches. Fragrant oak and whiff of peat. Not the smoothest, but still flavoursome and enjoyable.
Taste: The youth of this whisky is evident in its vigour. Plenty of wood spices; cinnamon, ginger, and if held for a few seconds, some chili. A sweeter dimension does emerge and helps to balance out some of the coarser notes.
Finish: A warming glow of fruit and wood. Lots of toasted wood. Medium length and slightly drying.
My Score: 75
This is not an excellent whisky, but nor is it touted as one. It is quite drinkable though, and for the price it offers very good value for money. Because it is a blend consisting of Scotch whisky, I think its safe to assume that batches will vary slightly. I’ve seen reviews that note a lot more peat influence, whereas this particular one shows minimal signs, and only on the nose.
Other Scores: JM’11 88.5
