Travel Exclusive

For those that wander, there is always something exciting and new in the world of whisky. Travel Retail (read, Duty Free stores) exclusive bottlings have become the new hot ticket. Almost every distillery is now offering some form of travel retail exclusive, and the chaps at Glenlivet are definitely doing it right.While on a recent cruise in the Caribbean, I picked up a 1 liter bottle of The Glenlivet Master Distiller's Reserve. This bottle is amazing, rich and full-bodied with tons of mouth feel and a very pleasant finish. It starts with a robust nose of peach, apricot and warm toffee, then develops in the palate with plenty of oak and a gentle nip of apricots, figs and dried nuts. The finish is exceptionally long and leaves the drinker with a warm sunset of oak and light smoke.

As is becoming all too common, this is a No-Age Statement whisky...meaning we really have no idea how long the spirits used in it have spent inside of a barrel. But here there is no hint of young whisky, the combination of European oak butts, first-fill American barrels and refill hoggies certainly works in favor of a memorable dram. If you can find it, it's well worth the effort to pack a bottle back through customs!

Riding out the Storm!

I know, I know...it's been nearly 4 months since the last entry. A lot of stuff going on here in Whisky-land, and I'm going to try to get caught up as quickly as I can. Today we're going to look at the latest in the emerging trend of no-age statement whisky, Talisker Storm.

A new bottling from the famed Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye, Storm gives us everything we come to expect from this distillery by the sea. It's smoky, has plenty of brine and sea air overtones, and is complex throughout. The nose begins with a heavy splash of sea, salt and a hint of citrus and tropical fruits. A touch of spice and perhaps even old wooden boats left to decay by the sea...close your eyes and you can almost see them being lapped by the waves! The palate is thick and coats the mouth well, wood smoke and salt brine overpower in a good way and wash in a nice spicy chili pepper note. The finish is a touch dry, oak filled and smokey, and is a heavenly medium length. Overall this whisky is a great choice, smokier than other Talisker offerings and a nice middle of the road at its price point. At 45.8% ABV, it's got a bit of a punch but the alcohol isn't overpowering.