Following the strict voice of Allt om Whiskys editor, Åke, I gladly accepted to do a tasting of 36 japanese whiskies for the next issue of the magazine.
As this is no task to be taken lightly, I summoned my most trusted noses (aka Peo, Olle and El Mannio) and we sat down with our blends, malts and vats.
We started out with nothing, and we've still got most of it left, as Seasick Steve put it. Or, we started out with the blended and vatted whiskies such as the Hibiki, the Taketsura and others, moved over to non-age single malts and went through them all up to 20+ years (the oldest being 35 yo).
If you live in Sweden, or understand swedish, the test will be in the next number. Otherwise you'll have to drop me a comment for more info on which were good, better and best!
onsdag 24 november 2010
tisdag 19 oktober 2010
Ridiculous
Many are the times when you start wondering about the ways of the world, or at least the world of whisky. Prices for aged whiskies and "rare" malts are sky-rocketing beyond belief, and no sign of things slowing down.
Have a look at whiskyauction.com. If you manage to find an Ardbeg from the 1970's for less than 700 pounds, you are either lucky, or about to be out-bid.
But, all prices aside, nothing beats the Dalmore Trinity, which - with only three bottles produced including whisky from the late 1800's - apparently retails (or, as only one bottle is left to sell, perhaps should be retail in singular) for 100.000 pounds.
Provocative pricing, but somewhere, somehow, somewhat smart marketing.
Funnily enough though, I still find few whiskies that beat, for example, a 21yo Glenfarclas for 65 pounds. Thank God.
Have a look at whiskyauction.com. If you manage to find an Ardbeg from the 1970's for less than 700 pounds, you are either lucky, or about to be out-bid.
But, all prices aside, nothing beats the Dalmore Trinity, which - with only three bottles produced including whisky from the late 1800's - apparently retails (or, as only one bottle is left to sell, perhaps should be retail in singular) for 100.000 pounds.
Provocative pricing, but somewhere, somehow, somewhat smart marketing.
Funnily enough though, I still find few whiskies that beat, for example, a 21yo Glenfarclas for 65 pounds. Thank God.
söndag 8 augusti 2010
The top selling whiskies of Sweden
Just back home after doing a tasting of the 12 best selling whiskies in Sweden for an article in the magazine (that's Allt om Whisky for you who weren't aware).
One can say alot about the massive interest in all things whisky in Sweden, but the fact that two of our three top selling whiskies are Canadian says a lot.
Not only are the canadian, but they - and I have to apologize to all my Canadian friends here - do taste like shit. Sweet as a liqeur, no body, absolutely no finish at all, and no character to mention. No wonder grandmothers of the country all buy this... this... alcohol.
Call me a snob, but I just simply can't get my head round why the top selling whiskies all are so bad?
Funnily enough, the tasting was built around a few people without any major whisky interest, but none of them found any of the 12 whiskies particularly exciting.
Ah well, I'm thinking that not even the world of whisky is free from the Lidl-mentality.
One can say alot about the massive interest in all things whisky in Sweden, but the fact that two of our three top selling whiskies are Canadian says a lot.
Not only are the canadian, but they - and I have to apologize to all my Canadian friends here - do taste like shit. Sweet as a liqeur, no body, absolutely no finish at all, and no character to mention. No wonder grandmothers of the country all buy this... this... alcohol.
Call me a snob, but I just simply can't get my head round why the top selling whiskies all are so bad?
Funnily enough, the tasting was built around a few people without any major whisky interest, but none of them found any of the 12 whiskies particularly exciting.
Ah well, I'm thinking that not even the world of whisky is free from the Lidl-mentality.
onsdag 28 juli 2010
Era Ora
Copenhagen, these days, is not as much a haven for hasch-seeking customers (they actually have shut down that street in Christiania you know), as it is a fantastic city for fine dining.
So, heading over to the danish capital for a day of record-store visiting (they also still have quite a few of those!), beer-drinking and eating, a visit to Michelin-Guide-starred italian restaurant Era Ora in Christianshavn was booked.
Having been here once before, in the company of half The Cardigans, I knew to expect a set menu of 14 dishes and some great wines.
But, boy had I forgotten the greatness of this place.
The courses came in threes, each with a new glass of wine. And every single course matched perfectly with the wine - each in it's own, personal way.
It was - literally - bringing tears to my eyes.
Seldom have I tasted such great food/wine-combos.
Believe the magic. If you ever, as in EVER, visit Copenhagen and are slightly interested in wine and food, make sure to visit Era Ora.
There. You have been warned!
So, heading over to the danish capital for a day of record-store visiting (they also still have quite a few of those!), beer-drinking and eating, a visit to Michelin-Guide-starred italian restaurant Era Ora in Christianshavn was booked.
Having been here once before, in the company of half The Cardigans, I knew to expect a set menu of 14 dishes and some great wines.
But, boy had I forgotten the greatness of this place.
The courses came in threes, each with a new glass of wine. And every single course matched perfectly with the wine - each in it's own, personal way.
It was - literally - bringing tears to my eyes.
Seldom have I tasted such great food/wine-combos.
Believe the magic. If you ever, as in EVER, visit Copenhagen and are slightly interested in wine and food, make sure to visit Era Ora.
There. You have been warned!
Balblair - attention to detail.
Balblair has, as might have noticed, should you have visited a whisky-selling shop the past year or so, had a total make-over on their design and product-range.
With the focus being moved to vintages, they now release various years production - and after a visit to Copenhagen, I picked up a 12yo expression bottled in 2009.
Yes friends, that makes the vintage 1997.
Not having had that much experience of the Balblair previously, apart from the occasional independent bottling, and mostly older ages, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
The new packaging looks good, and I quite like the square box, I must admit. The accompanying letter with the "ye olde attention to tradition and detail" bull went straight to the waste-bin, but after pooring myself an initial dram, I stand corrected.
This is one great malt.
10-12yo is the age most (read: almost all) distilleries bottle their standard single malt at, and it is with that in mind I compare the whisky.
The nose is intriguing: a whiff of peat followed by exotic fruits. A nuttiness with malty overtones followed by sweeter vanillas and a hint of toffee. Very very pleasing.
On the palate, the fruitiness takes over, reminding almost of a young Glenugie. The exotic fruits are there, as well as the bourbon-wood influences and the peat rears it's smoky head slightly.
A nice, warming aftertaste that stays on longer than your average malt makes this well worth looking at as your everyday whisky.
It's not too expensive, and kicks serious butt with most other 12yo malts. What's not to like? me thinks.
With the focus being moved to vintages, they now release various years production - and after a visit to Copenhagen, I picked up a 12yo expression bottled in 2009.
Yes friends, that makes the vintage 1997.
Not having had that much experience of the Balblair previously, apart from the occasional independent bottling, and mostly older ages, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
The new packaging looks good, and I quite like the square box, I must admit. The accompanying letter with the "ye olde attention to tradition and detail" bull went straight to the waste-bin, but after pooring myself an initial dram, I stand corrected.
This is one great malt.
10-12yo is the age most (read: almost all) distilleries bottle their standard single malt at, and it is with that in mind I compare the whisky.
The nose is intriguing: a whiff of peat followed by exotic fruits. A nuttiness with malty overtones followed by sweeter vanillas and a hint of toffee. Very very pleasing.
On the palate, the fruitiness takes over, reminding almost of a young Glenugie. The exotic fruits are there, as well as the bourbon-wood influences and the peat rears it's smoky head slightly.
A nice, warming aftertaste that stays on longer than your average malt makes this well worth looking at as your everyday whisky.
It's not too expensive, and kicks serious butt with most other 12yo malts. What's not to like? me thinks.
söndag 25 juli 2010
Beer... Good.
As this a blog on malts, and I've been known to enjoy the occasional beer, I might as well mention them when they cross my path.
One lesser known (at least here in Sweden) is from Bath-based brewery Bath Ales - the clue is in the title etc etc - and is called the Wild Hare.
With a strength of 5% abv, and completely organic, it is a perfectly balanced ale with both the lighter notes that some refer to as citrus, and heavier malty notes to make the picture complete.
Though lighter on the palate, it's still well worth discovering if you're a fan of the Fullers ESB and such ales.
And where would you find such an ale in Sweden? If you by any chance are in the far south of Sweden, there is a small village called Bästekille. This translate roughly as Best Guy. Just outside this small village, and trust me when I say it's small, is a pizzeria on a field. Friden is it's name, and apart from the weird fact that you can order a pizza in a vegetable field, they also stock a wide range of micro-brewery beer.
Weird, but nice. Very nice indeed.
One lesser known (at least here in Sweden) is from Bath-based brewery Bath Ales - the clue is in the title etc etc - and is called the Wild Hare.
With a strength of 5% abv, and completely organic, it is a perfectly balanced ale with both the lighter notes that some refer to as citrus, and heavier malty notes to make the picture complete.
Though lighter on the palate, it's still well worth discovering if you're a fan of the Fullers ESB and such ales.
And where would you find such an ale in Sweden? If you by any chance are in the far south of Sweden, there is a small village called Bästekille. This translate roughly as Best Guy. Just outside this small village, and trust me when I say it's small, is a pizzeria on a field. Friden is it's name, and apart from the weird fact that you can order a pizza in a vegetable field, they also stock a wide range of micro-brewery beer.
Weird, but nice. Very nice indeed.
Glenfiddich Solera
It seems to be the fate of the big brands; once you reach a certain level of production, you loose the love of the noobs. And in no case is it as obvious as with Glenfiddich.
Granted, there standard malt is anonymous to the level of criminality, but go one step beyond and there are some beautiful malts to be discovered.
Apart from the older bottlings, one bottle not to be missed is the Solera bottling; aged at 15 years it is still a light whisky, but with a more intense honey note than usual.
Given the Solera cask-system (a principal of refilling and using casks) there is a heavier note of wood with more fruit, vanillas and a subtle nuttiness in the background.
If you are on holiday, as one is when one writes pieces like this, a dram of Solera-fiddich sits nicely on a sunday evening.
Granted, there standard malt is anonymous to the level of criminality, but go one step beyond and there are some beautiful malts to be discovered.
Apart from the older bottlings, one bottle not to be missed is the Solera bottling; aged at 15 years it is still a light whisky, but with a more intense honey note than usual.
Given the Solera cask-system (a principal of refilling and using casks) there is a heavier note of wood with more fruit, vanillas and a subtle nuttiness in the background.
If you are on holiday, as one is when one writes pieces like this, a dram of Solera-fiddich sits nicely on a sunday evening.
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