Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold

Diageo's Dalwhinnie distillery is centrally located and renowned as Scotland's highest (and coldest!) distillery. Cashing in on that has taken a bit of time but finally we have "Winter's Gold," a 2015 release of vatted casks laid down during the winter months and released without an age statement. Given that Diageo's marketing wing recommends drinking this from the freezer we can safely assume that we're dealing with a chill-filtered expression (so the liquid isn't cloudy when it gets a wee bit of a chill). I've never had any success with straight-from-the-freezer dramming so rest assured that this one will be sampled at a pleasant room temperature of 68F (20C).

Behind window #21: Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold, 43% alc., £33/$49

C: Golden (not surprisingly)

N: Quietly floral at the outset with hints of apple and pear, honey, and dried barley -- which is all to say it noses like a young whisky

P: Starts to liven up here with pronounced honey, toasted oats, pear skin, and clove -- credit where it's due, there's more texture than I anticipated despite the chill-filtration  

F: Moderate with lingering spice (cinnamon and clove) and dark honey

In conclusion: After a slow start on the nose the palate and finish really open up. There's a pleasant spiciness that builds on the palate after two or three sips and remains in the back of the throat after a few more. I'm really surprised; didn't think this would be nearly as tasty as it is! Maybe I'll have to return to it and see if the straight-from-the-freezer bit is more than marketing mumbo jumbo.

Sincere thanks to Master of Malt's Drinks by the Dram for the sample.

Great Lakes Brewing Co Ohio City Oatmeal Stout

Founded in 1988, Great Lakes Brewing Company produces a vast range of brews. When in the northern states I enjoy drinking their Edmund Fitzgerald porter on draft. I haven't had the opportunity to taste anything else from their range so I'm excited for today's offering from Midtowne Bottle Shop's "Twelve Beers of Christmas" dark beer box. 

Behind door #5: Great Lakes Brewing Co Ohio City Oatmeal Stout, 5.4% alc., 12oz. bottle

C: Black with wisps of a white head

N: Leads with coffee notes, a little bready

P: Thin across the palate with some roast malt and hints of oatmeal 

F: Short with hints of coffee and dark chocolate

In conclusion: Light in both texture and flavor. A very underwhelming oatmeal stout. I'll stick with their Edmund Fitzgerald porter.

Jura Elixir 12 Year Old

After yesterday's selection, it's hard not to experience a bit of a let down. The fact that the letdown comes with Jura (not a favorite) makes it even worse. However, it's time to put on my big boy pants and give this a fair shake. Crossing fingers...

Behind window #20: Jura Elixir 12 Year Old, 40% alc., £38/$57

C: Reflective copper

N: There's a jammy sweetness (damson jam) with young wood (cedar and pine), beeswax, and resin, toffee notes around the edges

P: Again with the woody notes, walnuts in toffee, warming spice (cinnamon), and vanilla extract

F: Moderate length with lingering wood notes, some citrus and some nuttiness

In conclusion: If you're a Jura fan you have to be over the moon with this. For a non-Jura fan it's not too bad. I don't see me ever needing to reach for a bottle of it but out for a drink with friends or at a party I would happily sip on this while enjoying some lively conversation.

Sincere thanks to Master of Malt's Drinks by the Dram for the sample.

Stone Coffee Milk Stout

This is the second Stone in the first four windows (an observation, not a complaint) of my "Twelve Beers of Christmas" selection from Midtowne Bottle Shop (Harrisonburg, VA). However, I can guarantee you this Coffee Milk Stout is no Xocovena!

Behind door #4: Stone Coffee Milk Stout, 5% alc., 12 oz. bottle

C: Black with a caramel head

N: Sweet malt, milk chocolate, and distant farmyard notes

P: Soft entry with a massive and unmistakable farmyard note (reminiscent of a smoked porter) then sweet lactose notes with roasted coffee elements and a bitter chocolate that transitions into the finish

F: Roasty with bitter chocolate, dark malt, and lingering farmhouse notes

In conclusion: The farmyard assault on the palate is very surprising and makes me wonder if there's a little peated malt in here. Given that I don't think that makes sense I wonder if the roasted coffee is doing something similar to peated malt. Worth paying attention to in other stouts that include roasted coffee. 

 

The Lost Distilleries Blend, Batch 6

Well, lookie here! Last year's Christmas eve dram makes a reappearance in this year's number 19 slot. That bodes well for the final countdown to Christmas Day! The Lost Distilleries blend, as the name suggests, is a blend of whiskies from shuttered distilleries. Batch 6 contains malt whisky from Mosstowie, Port Ellen, Glenisla, Imperial, Caperdonich, Glen Mhor, and Brora, with grain whisky from Port Dundas. It was limited to 534 bottles that sold for around $450 each. This should be fun...

Behind window #19: The Lost Distilleries Blend, Batch 6, 49.3% alc., SOLD OUT (but 3cl sample is £18/$27)

C: Extra virgin olive oil

N: Complex and beautifully integrated with pine resin, pear drops, and distant farmyard

P: Velvety texture with a nutty sweetness that presents notes of toasted hazelnuts in toffee, however, there are also lighter lemony/grassy notes to bounce off the heavier sweet notes

F: Excellent length with a lingering oily mouthfeel that holds flavors of wildflower honey, milk chocolate, and lightly salted almonds

In conclusion: A tremendous blended whisky! Obviously the price is prohibitive to most but it's well worth treating yourself to a sample for the experience of an expertly crafted blend.

Sincere thanks to Master of Malt's Drinks by the Dram for the sample.