A Little Bay of Holiday Cheer

Oban-Little-Bay

The holiday season is always busy, between family visits, parties and overindulgences; however, as much as we miss the festivities, we would be lying if we said we weren’t (at least a little bit) looking forward to getting back to business as usual.

The seasonal celebrations may have involved us sipping more than a couple different scotches and Irish whiskeys, but one that left a particularly strong impact on us was Oban Little Bay.

Admittedly, we’ve had a small love affair with Oban for awhile—for one of us, it was the first scotch we tasted…and fell for instantly. This may or may not have been due to the fact that we were on a tour bus with one of our all-time favourite mandolin players…but that is a story for another post. Another reason we find Oban so delightful is the fact that the distillery is one of the smallest, operating with just two pot stills and producing 650,000 litres of liquid magic yearly.

This whiskey starts out as the famous, lightly seated and bright 14yr-old single malt Oban, then is transferred to, and finished in, new oak casks. This gives Little Bay a copper gold colour with a bold, forward start that opens up and surprised us with a deep, smooth finish. We also enjoyed the spicy clove and citrus notes that came in with the warmth of the whisky. You could add a little splash of cold water to Oban Little Bay—this increases the oiliness of the whisky—but we find it detracts from the spicy finish that we loved so much.

A great value for the price point (where we live, you can get a bottle for around $90), Oban Little Bay goes down easy and leaves us satisfied. It just might be one of the tipples we choose to indulge in come Robbie Burns Day…

 

 

A Festival and a Prophecy

IMG_5305

Sun setting, whisky tasting about to commence, at the Cowichan Valley Whiskey Festival.

We recently had the pleasure of attending a whiskey festival on beautiful Vancouver Island. A number of brands present we were already familiar with, though we were introduced to a new cast of characters as well including an interesting Indian whiskey, a chocolate whiskey and very tasty bourbon.

IMG_5302

We’ll gladly sip in a setting like this, any time.

However, true to nature, we were most drawn to the single-malts. One in particular stood out, and we found ourselves making our way back to that table for a second (ok, maybe it was a third…or fourth) taste—fortunately, the lovely gentleman pouring at the table indulged us. Although we’ve enjoyed Jura Superstition in the past, this was the first time that Prophecy had graced our palates and it packed the peaty punch we’d been searching for all night!

juraprophecyThe nose is dominated by peat, with a good amount of smoke and a slight sweetness. The peat and sweet balance and complement each other beautifully on the palate, while a hint of spice and brine emerge, further highlighting the smoke. The balance of the dram carries through to the mouthfeel, with an oiliness that’s isn’t too thick or syrupy, but certainly not thin or watery.

As the story goes, “In the early 1700’s the Campbells of Jura evicted a wise old seeress. Bristling with resentment, she prophesied that the last Campbell to leave the island would be one-eyed with his belongings carried in a cart drawn by a lone white horse. In 1938 it came true when Charles Campbell, blind in one eye from the Great War, led his white horse to the old pier for the last time. Just like Jura, Prophecy is a dram that’s steeped in stories, and every drop has a different tale to tell.”

Prophecy is aged in Limousine oak casks, matured without chill filtration, and has easily become our favorite Jura.

Links We Love

IMG_5232Friday has finally arrived, and we’re ready to sit back with a scotch and relish the weekend! What will you be drinking? Have a fantastic weekend, and enjoy these links from around the web…

1) As whisky-loving women, to this we can relate.

2) Would you take a bullet?

3) We’re huge fans of a good infographic—especially one related to our favourite tipple.

5) This about sums it up.

4) While we still prefer our scotch neat, these rocks are pretty cool. (Pun intended)

 

A Storm We Don’t Mind Being Hit By…

Talisker_Storm

 

Last year, one of our favourite single-malts, Talisker, expanded its portfolio with three new releases: Storm, Dark Storm (matured in heavily charred casks) and Port Ruighe (with a port finish). We recently tried Storm and couldn’t agree more with one review describing it as “…everything that you love about other Taliskers, with the settings turned right up.”

Storm has a bold aroma and flavour, achieved by using a mix of refilled casks and rejuvenated casks. Rejuvenated casks are casks that have been de-charred and re-charred to give them a second life. Although Storm doesn’t carry an age statement, its smooth finish and mouthfeel would never betray a true age.

Golden in colour, with a buttery, smoky nose and teasing notes of vanilla and black pepper, there is no mistaking that this is Talisker. While we can’t decide which Talisker we like best, we certainly agree that with a similar price point to the 10yr, Storm will definitely be a welcome addition to our bar cart.

Hold the phone! You assumed we were going to order what…!?

Screen Shot 2014-01-22 at 8.28.40 PM

Upon rejecting the offer of a cocktail menu at a Yaletown watering hole recently and instead each requesting a glass of Talisker, neat, these two Whiskey Chicks received a look replete with disbelief and intrigue from the bartender.

“Sorry,” he said, “I was just surprised. It’s refreshing to have a couple of women come in and order something other than a vodka soda or a Cosmo.”

Far from the first time we have received this response, we’re commonly faced with raised eyebrows and a look of surprise from both men and women when ordering our tipple of choice. And while we certainly don’t aim to shock with our taste preference, we’re okay with not fitting a stereotype—particularly one that emerged in the late 90’s courtesy of the Cosmopolitan-swilling ladies of Sex in the City (which, nonetheless, will forever be a show close to our hearts and never far from our DVD players).

Carrie_cosmo

But when exactly did scotch become “a man’s drink”? This recent article in Esquire references several historical events and movements involving whisky, with women at the forefront. Yet sometime between women calling the shots during prohibition and the modern day, scotch became a measure of manliness.

Even if you are a woman (or a man, for that matter) who does enjoy the occasional fruity beverage with an equally fruity name—Flirtini anyone?—there’s no reason to shy away from a bold, peaty monster of a scotch. Or perhaps your palate is tempted by something lighter and more floral.

That’s one reason why we love the amber nectar so much—the wide range and depth of flavour profiles offers endless opportunities to discover something new and deliciously enticing, and also means there’s likely a scotch out there with just the right notes to delight those with even the most discerning of tastes. And it doesn’t hurt that even if you happen to indulge in more than an ounce or two, you aren’t faced with quite the same drunken affect as with other liquors and rarely will you have a hangover afterwards…

#YouStayClassySanDiego

#YouStayClassySanDiego

 Besides, let’s be honest, there’s something just plain sexy about a glass of scotch. The smooth texture—heavy and viscous, but not syrupy—the rich amber colour, the immediate warmth that spreads through your body as you roll it over your tongue and it trickles down your throat. There’s an air of romance around it. It’s a drink that insists that you slow down, that you savour it. We like it for its attention-seeking boldness—the way it asks you to be aware of it with each sip, and consider it.

This anthropomorphization of whisky made us laugh:

Whisky doesn’t care. That’s what makes it cool. The only other liquor that’s anywhere near as cool is Tequila. But Tequila’s always been too crazy to really be cool. Tequila will cut you for looking at its woman, then laugh while the cops drag it off to jail, and spit at you during the trial. And trust me you don’t want to pick on Vodka either. Dude doesn’t have much of a personality, but I swear he goes to the gym twice a day. You want the nerd of the liquor crew? Try Gin. You can give Gin an atomic wedgie and the worst it’ll do is scream that his daddy will have you banned from the yacht club. (source)

I mean…it’s kind of true. And that’s not to say that you’ll never find us tossing back a tequila shot (or two, or three…), or a vodka-something-or-other. But we have a true love affair with good scotch that only continues to grow stronger every day. And this is one love affair that won’t end up with any broken hearts.

Prime Find of the Week: Daneson Single Malt Scotch Whisky Toothpicks

Daneson Scotch toothpick

Daneson is a Canadian company manufacturing small batches of toothpicks. Made from premium northern white birch, they are available in flavours like salted birch, lemon, cinnamint and, our personal favourite, Single Malt.

What really makes these toothpicks stand out is the barrel-aged Islay Signal Malt Scotch— from a 200 year old distillery—that they’re soaked in, and the kiln drying process which leaves behind a delicious peaty flavour and deep, wood notes.

We recommend these tasty little treats for scotch lovers like us, who enjoy the finer things in life.

To Chill or Not to Chill…

ice-cube

CHILL FILTERED WHISKY
     Chill filtering is a process of removing residue, such as fatty acids, esters and proteins, from whisky prior to bottling. Purely cosmetic, chill filtering clarifies the whisky, preventing it from becoming hazy or cloudy when ice or water is added and also preventing the formation of sedimentation in the bottle.
In order to do this, the whisky is cooled (to around 0°C for single malts and colder for blends) and passed through a series of filters. This allows producers to dilute the whiskey to a lower proof and have it remain clear both on the shelf and in the glass.

NON-CHILL FILTERED WHISKY
     The substances that are removed during the chill filtration process are also components that contribute to the flavour, aroma and texture of a whisky. Removing them may improve clarity, but many connoisseurs feel this alters the taste and other characteristics.
Some feel strongly about “preserving the integrity of the whisky” and the traditional craft, preferring a non-chill filtered whisky. The number of distilleries offering non-chill filtered products is growing to satisfy this demand, while some distilleries, such as Bruichladdich, do not filter any of their products.

So…To Chill or Not To Chill?
     This has been a hot topic in the whisky industry lately. Those against chill filtration are convinced that the bouquet of the whisky is altered during the filtration process, resulting in a less than superior product. Those in favour of it maintain that the taste and texture of the whisky remain intact and that filtration simply provides a clear, well-balanced dram.
As always, we feel that the best way to determine your preference is to taste and compare both types of whisky on your own.

Here are some a few non-chill filtered selections, at different price points, to get you started:
Ardbeg 10yr unfilltered
Tasting notes: sweet vanilla counter balanced by lemon and lime
Finish: long and glorious with sea salt caramel and beach bonfire smoke
Aberlour’s A’bunadh
Tasting notes: orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger
Finish: robust and intense with bitter sweet notes of spices
Macallan Unfiltered Cask Strength (MC)
Tasting Notes: orange and light, spicy wood resins (clove & ginger) with smoky oak
Finish: intriguing and complex; layers of citrus fruits and a hint of vanilla sweetness 

Single…it doesn’t have to be complicated

shutterstock_63009898

While some swear single malt scotch is the only whisky worth sipping, others are loyally devoted to blends—and the battle rages on.

There are some common misconceptions when it comes to the difference between the two, as the word single can be quite deceptive.

So what exactly does single mean?

*deep breath*
A single malt scotch whisky is produced from malted barley. But here’s where the confusion comes in: “single” does not mean that the product came from one single batch or barrel. Instead, it refers to the fact that the whisky is the product of one distillery and contains whisky from multiple barrels (normally aged in oak casks for a minimum of three years) produced at that location. The year on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle—ie. a 12yr scotch may contain whisky from barrels aged for longer but it must be labeled based on the barrel aged for the least amount of time. 

Single grain scotch whisky is similar to single malt whisky in that the whisky is produced at the same distillery. Where they differ is single grain whisky contains barley and one or more other cereal grains such as rye or wheat. Again, in this case, single only refers the fact that the whisky is from one distillery and not that it comes from a single type of grain or a single barrel.

Single-barrel or single cask scotch is just as it sounds—from one single barrel of whisky. These are much more rare and exclusive than other single malts. Characteristics of the whisky (flavour, colour, bouquet) produced in each barrel vary from one to the next, so every single-barrel release is different.

 Now that we have that sorted out, let’s move on…

What about blends?
Now that we’ve clarified “single”, hopefully the word “blended” makes a bit more sense in relation…

Blended malt scotch whisky contains single malt whisky from multiple distillery locations. Some blends include up to 40 different whiskies in a single bottle.

Blended grain scotch whisky contains single grain scotch whisky from several distilleries.

Blended scotch whisky is from two or more distilleries and contains several kinds of grains—a mix of both malt whisky and grain whisky. Most of the blended scotch purchased at liquor stores today falls into this category.

With so many variables, we recommend trying a variety of both single malt and blended scotches to determine whether you have an inclination for one over the other or simply enjoy both.

The Water of Life

shutterstock_80763847

 

Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
                                                                                               – Mark Twain

 Oft underappreciated and/or misunderstood by both fellow members of the stiletto-sporting club, as well as the “brewskies with the boys” crew, whiskey offers such a wide selection of brands, varieties, flavour complexities and ways to drink that even most basic of palates can be satisfied with the right type.

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s start off with five basics that even a beginner whiskey drinker should know.

1)    The whiskey vs. whisky debate is an ongoing bone of contention among connoisseurs of the beverage. Generally speaking, Irish and American brands label their products as ‘whiskey’, while Scotland, Canada and largely everywhere else in the world use the ‘whisky’ spelling.

2)    All whiskey is made from fermented grain mash. Scotch, rye and bourbon are all types of whiskeys. Each is distinguished based on the kind of grain used, the type of cask and length of aging and the region of origin.

 3)    Trying to decide between single-malt or blended? A single-malt scotch whisky is made from water and fermented barley distilled by one producer at a single site. A blended scotch can include a mix of malt and grain whiskey combined from two or more distilleries. We recommend beginners stick to single malt in order to truly determine their taste preference in whiskey, as flavor profiles and characteristics can be more defined in a single malt.

4)    Many purists consider neat (room temperature whiskey in a glass) the only way to drink good whiskey. Others claim that adding a splash of distilled water can bring out the more refined notes. On the rocks, or over ice, is another way to enjoy whiskey, although the melted ice can water down your beverage beyond the point of adding a small amount of water. Finally, when you’re not sipping the finest of whiskeys and are looking to mix things up a bit, turn to a classic Old Fashioned or look into creative new whiskey cocktails coming from top mixologists.

 5)    Finally, one should know that whiskey comes from the Gaelic phrase “uisge beatha” which literally translates to “water of life”. To this, we can agree!

Cheers! Slàinte!