A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WORLD OF WHISKIES,ONE INSIGHT AT A TIME
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Single malt whisky from the Hellyers Road distillery in Tasmania (which Mike wrote a blog post about a while ago). This is the Original "Roaring Forty" expression, named after the 40km/h winds which blow in the rain-clouds, making the production of this whisky possible. It's aged in American white oak barrels
A 10 year old Tassie single malt, produced at the excellent Hellyers Road distillery. This expression spends a decade slumbering in American oak bourbon casks, developing oodles of yummy vanilla-y notes alongside touches of cooked fruit and soft baking spices.
The Pinot Noir finish of the Hellyers Road varieties is matured in American White Oak casks first (see Hellyers Road Original Whisky), then finished for six months in Pinot Noir French Oak casks from Tamar Ridge, Tasmania. A delightful blend of two of Tasmania's greatest talents, it is marvelous to wonder what we may see produced here in the future. Hellyers is available in many European countries in addition to Australia. This is not currently available in the US.
The Hellyers Road distillery in Tasmania creates this expression by blending its Original (unpeated) single malt with a small portion of its Peated single malt - hence "Slightly Peated". As you would expect from that name, this whisky offers up a subtle suggestion of smoke, with plenty of barley-rich notes to keep the peat from getting out of hand.
A wonderful single malt from the island of Orkney. Aged in American oak and then finished in casks that used to contain peated whisky. Glansa is described as a gentle introduction to the world of peated whisky. Fresh fruit, caramel, vanilla with a noticeably smoky finish.
J.P. Wiser’s 18 Year Old is a Canadian whisky from the J.P. Wiser, one of the country’s oldest and bestselling whisky brands. It is a blended whisky matured for 18 years in ex-Bourbon barrels for exceptional smoothness and mellow flavours.
In 2014, the Tomatin 12 Year Old was given an update and bottled at 43% ABV rather 40%, as it was previously. This core single malt from the ace distillery in the Highlands is finished for six-to-nine months in Oloroso Sherry casks before being bottled.
"The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill has been aged in a first fill, ex-bourbon cask for at least 12 years. Almost all Scotch Whisky is matured in casks previously used by Bourbon distillers. When brought to Scotland and used for the very first time they are known as ‘First Fill’.
Wm Lawsons Scotch
Seagram’s 7 Crown is a blended American whiskey, although it finds its origins in Canada. It is one of the oldest whiskey brands in North America and belongs to Diageo LLC, who split the Seagram’s portfolio of brands with other global beverage giants in 2000.
Imperial is a Scotch whisky distilled from the finest malted barley and Scottish water. The elixir is renowned for its authentic, complex, yet smooth flavours
An iconic blended Scotch whisky from Glasgow, Teacher’s is a drink from the East Highlands, a region of Scotland famous for retaining smoky characteristics in their whiskies. Sourcing their single malts from Ardmore, Teachers is a brand with a significant portion of history behind their products and the years are reflected in their fine blends. Although the standard expression from the house of Teachers is the Teachers Highland Cream, the Teachers 50, released in honor of India’s 50th Independence Day contains a unique blend of single malt and grain whiskies that is hard to come by. The foundations for the Teachers brand were laid by William Teacher in the 1830s, capitalizing on the newly passed Excise Act of 1823. He procured a license to sell whisky and began running a ‘dram shop’ where whisky lovers would stop by and feast on drams of their favorite whisky. Years later, when the Spirits Act of 1860 further allowed more freedom for sellers to mix and create whisky blends of their own, William Teacher put his expertise to good use by experimenting with a number of blends. The Teachers Highland Cream came into being during this time when William Teacher was positively satisfied with a peaty drink with a high malt content, a drink with a complex and rich flavor that made him considering naming it after his own family name. After he laid the foundations for the Teachers brand and created the quintessential Teachers Highland Cream blend, William Teacher passed away in 1876, leaving the responsibility and the Teachers’ brand into the hands of his son, William Junior, and his younger brother, Adam. A rampant growth under the authority of William Junior and Adam Teacher saw increased sales and profit, the purchase of new land in 1895 with the purpose of building a new distillery of their own in Aberdeenshire in 1897. Adam died a year later without witnessing the completion of his plans although by then, the Teachers brand was well on its way towards glory. Surviving Prohibition, and a decline in the number of operational distilleries in Scotland, while also scripting victories by beginning to export Teachers to the United States and the acquisition of the Glendronach Distillery defined the later years for the brand. Fast forward to 1997, the brand released the Teachers 50, a 12-year-old blended whisky that commemorated 50 years of Indian Independence, strengthening their positioning in one of the world’s most prolific whisky drinking nations.
Blenders Pride is a blend of imported scotch malts from Chivas Brothers and selected premium grain spirits with no artificial flavouring. It is described to be smooth and smoky. Blenders Pride is usually served with still or sparkling water or on ice.