Clontarf Single Malt

★★★

Nose

A lovely straw colour, this whisky has a nice thick texture that hugs the glass. It has a wonderful nose, releasing lemon and rainfall, moderately sweet white wine like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, some walnuts and a lovely grassy backdrop, not dry but lush like moss. Apricots and prunes come through, all swirled into a nice creamy porridge.

Taste

Very smooth and soft, lots of fruitiness and spice hits the tongue with that fine smack of porridge and bitter dryness of white wine as sweet bursts of prunes cur through that dry fog.

Finish 

Very nice and long finish on this whiskey, smooth and not overpowering but gentle. 

Overall

This whisky dances on the tongue ever so softly like a graceful ballerina. It does not have dramatic punch but it tip toes on the tongue with majesty and grace. Lovely! I would have liked a bit more smack, though. It is a little disappointing when it hits the tongue, because a lot more is expected. This whisky has a fabulous nose, but it is let down a bit by its taste and finish; much too weak and dry with not enough body.

Johnny Drum Kentucky Bourbon (Green Label)

★★★★

♟$

This whiskey confidently proclaims on its label to be “Kentucky’s Finest Bourbon”. You need to admire that confidence – YEE YA! 

Nose

This whiskey has a wonderfully soft nose with wood, dense fruit like mango and banana peel and some hints of marzipan and aniseed.

Taste

Like velvet this whiskey slides down my tongue with an oily texture. It softly delivers a kick of flavor with the lovely sweetness corn competing with bitterness.

Finish

This whiskey has an excellent finish, that lasts a long while thanks to its oily texture. It fades very slowly, in fact five minutes after taking a sip the taste remains on my tongue.  

Overall

I enjoy this whiskey very much, because it has a soft smooth entry with nice kick and a good diversity of flavours. It is an excellent bourbon, though it is very different to other bourbons I have tasted which have been noticeably sweeter. I thoroughly enjoyed the bitter-sweetness of this bourbon. Excellent!

Bakery Hill Double Wood

★★★

♟- Great for beginners, soft and smooth (delightful but dull)

Bakery Hill distillery is located in Victoria, Australia. It produces a variety of whiskies, including cask strength whiskies. After sampling the Double Wood, I am very keen to try the cask strength Bakery Hill whiskies which would have some more flavour and clout (more alcohol = more flavour!). Power and kick is something I think this whisky lacks, but it is incredibly smooth so I can only imagine it at cask strength; a strength that would probably rectify the lack of power and kick!

Nose 

A little alcoholic on the nose, this whisky releases some wood (obviously!), caramel, toffee, lemon and subtle hints of vanilla. After resting for a while, raspberries float up with cherries, some peach and mango. 

Taste 

With a light kick this whisky offers a sensationally smooth delivery with wood and notes of citrus and lime. A lovely dry smokiness coats my tongue and bitter fruits add a sharp crispness; delightful. Tart, the sweet raspberry on the nose morphs to bitter blackberry. Beautiful! Excellent work Bakery Hill! I can taste a distinct sweetness in this whisky, either bourbon or sherry.

Finish 

A respectable intensity of warmth lingers on my tongue, with that lovely bitter fruit smokiness radiating from the middle. 

Overall 

It is fitting that Australia Day only recently passed, because this Australian whisky is excellent! Laid back, it delivers a youthful glow in a silky smooth package. 

This whisky seems lacking in spark and clout. I look forward to sampling the cask strength whiskies from Bakery Hill!I think this whisky is very good (until the middle when that sweetness starts to take over, derailing the ride a little), so any improvement would make a good whisky excellent!

Hellyer's Road (Peated)

★★

Hellyer’s Road is a distillery in Tasmania, the apple island off the south coast of Victoria. It is the most southern state in Australia, very lush and beautiful. I have been fortunate enough to work in Hobart and attend a conference in Launceston, both of which are in Tasmania. 

Tasmania is famous for many things, and very slowly whisky is creeping into that list. It produces oysters, salmon and beer, so this might allow for good whisky because Tasmania has access to crisp clean water and high quality barley. 

I purchased a sample bottle of Hellyer’s Road (Peated). I am not sure what kind of peat was used by Hellyer’s Road, but blind tasting this alongside Talisker made it clear that while Tasmania may have some wonderful lush peat Hellyer's Road have not found the sweet stuff. Something seems to have gone wrong with this batch, especially because reviewers from the UK describe this whisky as one with a barely noticeable peat. Barely noticeable? Tasting this whisky is like a boxing match with a grass monster. In contrast, the whisky I am tasting is overpowered with peat, and not a very pleasant peat either.

You might conclude from this that I do not much like peated whisky. Wrong. Among my favourite whiskies are Laphroaig 18 and 10 Year Old, Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Sheep Dip Old Hebridean, all peated whiskies. The Hellyer's Road (Peated) whisky I tasted was harsh with a surge of unpleasant dry grass. Try these Islay malts alongside the Hellyer's Road if you have a chance, you'll see what I mean (that is, if you get the same batch). This whisky/batch is not a good example of peated Australian whisky.

Nose 

On this nose this whisky smells like dry grass, hay, burnt twigs and it is very earthy. It is a little overpowering for a beginner, so if you’ve just started a whisky journey and you want to try Australian whisky go for the lighter unpeated styles. 

Taste

No surprises here, the strange peat hits my tongue like an angry Tassie Devil. It is almost like a bushfire in my mouth; I can swear I taste notes of eucalyptus. That earthiness I identified on the nose comes through, like being the recipient of a good rugby tackle and landing face first in the dry grass.  

Finish 

With quite a strong finish, this whisky has lots of fire and smoke but the vibrancy and energy of a koala (for those unfamiliar with our furry friends down under, koala’s like to sleep most of the day!). 

Overall 

This whisky offers lots of fire and a strange style peat, but it is a little overpowering. With some water it mellows down a little, but this whisky does not have much variety of flavours or complexity. Smoke and peat… some twigs, wood… not much sweetness. I think this whisky may only please "peat heads", and even they may disappointed after comparing this whisky with other peated whiskies. 

I am left scratching my head, and wondering, what all the fuss is about concerning Hellyer's Road in overseas markets. Why is it everywhere I look? It may be - and I could be wrong - pure economics. Hellyer's Road is the cheapest Australian whisky around. It is not "cheap" by any standard, but it is the cheapest option. Most consumers want the least costly option, and sometimes quality takes a back seat... so long as the product is Australian whisky, Colombian coffee or an Italian suit.

Canadian Club (bottled 1982)

Being produced since 1858, Canadian Club is a whiskey with a long history. During the prohibition era in the United States, Al Capone smuggled thousands of cases of this whiskey. It was popularly known as club whiskey, and developed a lot of popularity.

This popularity continues today. Canadian Club whiskey can be found in almost any liquor store in Melbourne and it has a very popular range of ready mixed drinks.

A few months ago I found an old dusty bottle of Canadian Club whiskery, and on further inspection discovered that this was bottled in 1982. Canadian Club is a blended whiskey, and this one is bottled at 37.5% Alc/Vol. During a blind tasting of the 1982 Canadian Club whiskey, I found it more pleasant than the Jim Beam white label and despite its age fresher and lighter (incidentally Canadian Club is now owned by Beam Inc). So put on your skinny tie and lets beam back to 1982! 

Nose

The nose on this whiskey is light and fresh with mellow lemon tones wafting up with some crisp lime leaves and metallic spring water. This 6 year old is no doubt meant to be a mixer, as the back of the bottle clearly shows, but this whiskey has a surprisingly good nose! There are some clear dull moments when nosing this whiskey and the smell of alcohol is evident, but that crisp lemon is an ever present scent.

Taste

Thin in texture, this whiskey gives a hit of fresh lemon with lots of sweetness. It is extraordinarily smooth, lovely! Notes of honey and grapefruit fall on the tongue, very vague though. This is a one dimensional whiskey.

Finish   

This whiskey has the strangest finish I have encountered in a whiskey yet. Just as disappointment sets in, this whiskey redeems itself and pleases with a sensationally soft and long finish. The crisp character of this whiskey results in a dryness that bursts into live a few seconds late to develop into a finish that I was almost convinced was not coming. This whiskey is incredibly smooth, and it has no burn or harshness whatsoever. However, it is a little too light. It does not have much oomph but instead, what I would call some buzz.

Overall

This 1982 bottling of Canadian Club is a charming whiskey, crisp and light with bursts of fresh citrus, it has a lovely smooth taste and a nice but weak finish (though it does give a strong fume sensation of alcohol). Where I think it stumbles very noticeably is in the finish and balance. This whiskey has little variety of flavours, and it is heavily skewed towards dry citrus. It has a weak finish. Because this whiskey does not have much variety, its nose, taste and finish suffers because complexity and depth cannot be teased out. However, it is crisp and smooth, very drinkable! 

American whiskey: Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey

The United States produces many fine things, but I think one of the finest American exports is whiskey. The most popular American whiskies are Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon.

This page will: (1) explain how bourbon and Tennessee whiskey are different from each other and whisky in general; and (2) provide a list of American whiskies that I have reviewed (or that are 'to be reviewed' - "tbr").


1. What is American whiskey, bourbon and Tennessee whiskey?

Jack Daniel's is a Tennessee whiskey, while Wild Turkey and Jim Beam are Kentucky bourbons. Obviously bourbon can be produced elsewhere in the United States, but it cannot be called "Kentucky" bourbon or "Tennessee" whiskey.

American whiskey, like Irish whiskey, has an “e” in its spelling whereas Scotch is written as "whisky". Tennessee whiskey and bourbon tend to be a little sweeter than Scotch whisky, and this different taste is understandable because they have a different production method prescribed by an international agreement and by law.  

All bourbon is whiskey but not all whisky is bourbon or Tennessee whiskey. Whisky can be made anywhere in the world from grain which is fermented and dried, mixed with water to which yeast is added. This is then heated and the evaporated liquid is collected then aged in barrels. United States law provides for certain requirements to be met before an alcoholic beverage can be called a bourbon, so you can count on a difference!  Some of these requirements are: 

• Bourbon is distinctly American so it is only produced in the United States (its name comes from Bourbon County in Kentucky);
• A bourbon must comprise of at least 51% corn;
• Bourbon must be aged for a minimum period of time, at least 2 years to be called “straight” bourbon;
• Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels;
• Bourbon must not be more than 80% alcohol;
• Tennessee whiskey has special production processes too, and it must be filtered through sugar maple charcoal. 

From this, you can see how American whisky can develop quite a distinct taste. I hope to sample some more American whiskies in the future.

2. American whiskey reviews

Blanton's Single Barrel - ★★★★★
Buffalo Trace - tbr
Eagle Rare - tbr

Jack Daniel's (No 7) - ★★★
Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack - ★★★
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select - ★★★★

Jim Beam Devil's Cut - ★★★★
Jim Beam White Label - ★★★

Johnny Drum Kentucky Bourbon (Green Label) - ★★★★

Wild Turkey Rare Breed 54.1% - ★★★★★ (new bottle)

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel (Barrel no: 12-0798)

Recommended ★★★★

While I blind tasted a collection of American whiskies, one in particular cried out with the smoothness and strength of rhythm and blues. I did not know what it was, but for the first time I tasted a whisky that was ridiculously smooth and yet outrageously powerful with no harshness or burn. I later discovered that this whiskey was the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select.

The Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select is just smooth - silky smooth with a bright warm glow - like a Johnny Cash tune playing softly on warm spring day. It has no harshness or burn, but this softness is somehow balanced with intensity and power giving a velvety whisky with clout.  

This whisky is not blended but taken from single barrels hand selected by the distillery master tasters “for its unique taste and smooth and aromatic character”. This means that each bottle reflects the character of the individual barrel from which it is drawn, so a bottle filled from one barrel may have a different character to a bottle filled from another barrel. The distiller also hand labels each bottle marking them with the number of the barrel from which they are drawn. My bottle is from barrel number 12-0798. These barrels are exposed to “extremes in temperature” resulting “in barrels which yield whiskey of uncommon smoothness, aroma and flavor” (quoted text in this paragraph is taken from the product box).

This whiskey is definitely superior to the standard Jack Daniel’s (No 7). During my blind tasting of the two, the No 7 was a gruff character giving a harsh delivery and a dull nose. The Single Barrel Select is, in my opinion, a much better whiskey.

Nose

Immediately I could smell the waft of vanilla and oak which was enlivened with the sweetness of brown sugar and light licorice with hints of biscuit all combining to give an energetic and vibrant nose.

Taste

This whiskey is like velvet on the tongue with a silky texture that bursts with oak and maple, sugar cane, and, cigar smoke. Butter and scones developed on the tip of the tongue, as it gave way, though not entirely, to smokiness.   

Finish

Initially met with a powerful punch of flavour, this whiskey graces the tongue with a strong warm glow that recedes as soon as it returns like a gentle tide. With no burn, this whiskey has a very long finish that is extremely pleasant. 

Different flavours jump out of this whiskey, from bittersweet fruit, oak, vanilla, licorice to cigar smoke!

Overall

Pure rhythm and blues, this whisky offers power, grace, smoothness and a fabulous story bound together by creative Tennessee style. This whiskey is a little on the sweet side, though (even for a bourbon).

Dimple 15 Year Old

Indifferent  ★★★

I found it difficult to find positive reviews of Dimple 15 Year old on the internet; though this whisky has received a number of awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (it was awarded a gold medal in 2011 according to Wine Searcher).  I searched briefly for some reviews of this whisky but did not find any positive ones. Nonetheless, Dimple is a staple in the blended scotch world and a very popular blend. 

I like the bottle. I am not sure about the wire on the bottle, though... unless the bottle likes wearing fishnet stockings. 

Dimple is produced by Haig, which is now owned by giant Diageo. The first Dimple whisky was distilled in 1890, and about three years after this the distinctive Dimple bottle was introduced. This whisky is a blend of over 30 malt and grain whiskies that are a minimum 15 years of age.  Some online research reveals (though, this does not appear on the official website of Diageo but rather reputable retailers) that this blend is based on Glenkinchie. I am not a fan of the Glenkinchie single malt, so, combined with the reviews I have read, my expectations of this whisky are low. 

Nose

Smooth and soft, this whisky has cereal and soft fruit at its core. Pear and cooked apple drift up with sponge cake, corn and porridge. The sharpness of chardonnay cuts through the subtlety of walnuts. Keeping with the sweet theme, the smell of lemon meringue and honey gets my attention. 

Taste

Bitter orange strikes my tongue immediately, with notes of sweet honey. Initially a little dull, the intensity of flavor slowly builds up. This whisky has a spicy and fruity clout in the middle of the tasting that fades and is overtaken by a dry smokiness and hints of wood.  

Finish 

The flavor of this whisky remains on my tongue for about a minute and 15 seconds after swallowing, quickly fading after that. This is pretty good! A few reviews say that the finish is short lived, but my tasting of this whisky reveals a whisky with a fine finish.  

Overall 

This whisky is initially quite dull. Be patient! Savour it, let it swirl in your mouth, and this whisky will deliver a brilliantly complex flavor in the middle of the tasting and in the finish. The flavor of this whisky builds up after hitting the tongue. It is wonderfully smooth, and a great whisky for blend drinkers to unpack. 

I do not agree with some online reviews about this whisky. Yes, it starts a little lifeless and boring but then, with some patient swirling, it delivers an energetic charge of citrus flavours that gradually give way (but not completely) to dry smokiness and wood; this offers great depth and complexity. The finish is excellent.

I think this whisky will start to climb up my favourites list as we get to know each other a little better!