GENERAL
From Johnniewalker.com:
Formerly known as Platinum Label, Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years is made using whiskies that have matured for at least 18 years. Carefully chosen for their flavor and quality, these whiskies make for a wonderful combination of both classic and contemporary tastes.
EYE
- Amber
- NOSE
- Light smoke
- Malt
- Almonds
TASTE
- Almond
- Citrus
- Brine
- Honey, dried fruits, some caramel notes
FINISH
- Hint of smoke, dried fruit, some dry oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
- Great blend, balanced, medium body, silky.
OVERALL
- Great release, great age statement, reasonably priced for a18 years
AZwinegroup Scotch by David: Glen Scotia - 2003 Limited Edition Peated Rum Cask Finish
GENERAL
- Close to the Irish Sea and next to the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown
- Non-chill filtered, cask strength, natural color
- ABV 51.3%
- 15-16 years age (limited bottling - good luck finding it!)
- Peated version matured in refilled American oak Bourbon hogsheads casks (preserves the phenolic nature of the single malt)
- Demerara Rum (from Guyana) cask finished (for precisely 8 months) - Ralfy suspects afterward the whisky was put back into the hogsheads casks to allow it to settle (to “blend-settle”)
- Released for the Malt Festival 2019
- This is a modern malt — it’s about blending with a diversity of casks
EYE
- Beautiful natural color
NOSE
- Dark cherry (Maraschino)
- Burned cane sugar
- Banana flambe
- Cinnamon spiciness
- A beautiful “phenolisism” (Ralfy!)
- Very dense and rich
- An array of spices and nuts
TASTE
- Strong peat
- Pepper
- A bomb of flavors
- Lucious sour note, rich voluptuous
- Salty and briny
- Whistles and bells….just enjoy!
FINISH
- Just everlasting and beautiful
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
- On the heavy side to be sure, but the flavors are wonderfully integrated.
OVERALL
This is among the all-time favorites. Again, good luck finding it. If you can, buy 2 or 3 bottles. It is a collector’s item. Relish it.
Azwinegroup Scotch by David: Tomatin's Cù Bòcan
GENERAL
- 46% ABV
- Non-chilled filtered
- Re-fill ex-Bourbon casks (keeps the peat contact as intact as possible)
- NAS with a guess of 8 years
EYE
- Green tea, light
-Very natural color with a bit of the haze
NOSE
- Fresh fruit
- Light smokiness (10-15 PPM)
- Cocao and cream
- Savory
- Tiny hint of mint
- Touch of chalk
TASTE
- Zesty, spicy and sweet
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- The peat is hiding in the corner behind the fruit note
FINISH
- Soft, sweet
- Light smokiness
- Vanilla and ginger (almost like a tea)
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
- Solid but medium body feel
- Beautiful, elegant balance
OVERALL
I would recommend anyone who is obsessed with strongly peated Islay scotches to give this a try. Don’t be afraid to try a Highland! This will not kick you in your teeth, but it is truly a nice dram that offers a wonderful finish.
Azwinegroup & Scotch by David: Writers Tears
GENERAL
- Single Malt Pot Still Whiskey (traditional copper stills)
- Malt Blend (60% Malted & 40% un-Malted Barley)
- Ex-Bourbon casks
- 40% ABV
- NAS 8-10 years old suspected
- An affordable price for a single malt Irish at $40-50
EYE
- Apple juice
- Suspect coloring added
NOSE
- Malt mash
- Wild honey
- Fresh green notes
- Touches of menthol
- Green apple
- Wintergreen
TASTE
- Green apple
- Malt and hay
- Slight astringency
- Dry spice herbal
- Honey
- Milk chocolate
FINISH
- Semi-sweet to dry
- Slightly tannic
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
- Medium and very balanced
- Crisp
OVERALL
This is an incredible Irish whiskey that offers great quality for a good price. It is a go-to whiskey that should be on everyone’s shelf. It is not overly complex, but anything but simple with rich layers. It is eminently satisfying.
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Bobby Burns
Another great example of a successful coctail based on Scotch. Used a blended Scotch Whisky, make sure that it is not overly peated and you will get wonderful aromatics.
- 1/2 Scotch whisky
- 1/2 Red Vermouth
- 3 dashes of Benedictine
- Lemon Zeste
Azwinegroup & Cocktails: VPB Daiquiri
I always liked the way the St Germain bottle looked. I remember trying an edelflower liquor years ago and liking the aromatic notes of grapefruit, pear, lemon and jasmine flavor.
A while a go I bought a bottle and started researching coctails with St Germain.
After trying a few coctails this modern take on Daiquiri is wonderful expression of St. Germain.
- 2 Parts Aged Rhum
- 1 Part St Germain
- 1/2 Part Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
- 1 Spoon of simple syrup
Azwinegroup & Whisky: Crown Royal XO
A blend of 50 of Crown Royal's finest whiskies, finished in cognac casks for an extraordinarily complex and smooth whiskey.
The nose is sweet with caramel, oak, and nutmeg.
The mouth starts out with toffee, rich chocolate, charred oak, and candied nuts. Pleasant, easy-drinking with delicious flavor, hints of vanilla, spice and rich dried fruit.
Best neat or on the rocks!
Azwinegroup & Cocktails: Cosmopolitan
The legendary Cosmopolitan reached its height of popularity in the 1990s with the HBO show “Sex and the City”. This is a wonderful, easy, coctail to make with a little citrus and orange flavor. It can be kept dry with controling the Cointreau and cranberry juice.
- 3/10 Citrus Vodka
- 3/10 Vodka
- 2/10 Cointreau
- 2/10 Cranberry Juice
AZwinegroup & Cocktails: Champion
Wonderful example of a successful coctail based on Scotch. Use a blended Scotch Whisky, make sure that it is not overly peated and you will get wonderful aromatics. Also it is blue since it is impossible to find “white” Curaco.
- 3/10 Scotch Whisky
- 3/10 Dry Vermouth
- 2/10 Benedictine
- 2/10 Curacao
AZwinegroup & Cocktails: Le Grand Livre des Cocktails (1988)
In November 1988 my grandmother bought me my first cocktail book. 30 years later we are going through “Les Fameux 50” sharing the best recipes with you.
Azwinegroup & Cocktails: Sabrine
Wonderful color and great orange flavor.
- 6/10 Dry Gin
- 3/10 Dry Vermouth
- 1/10 Cointreau
- 1/10 Blue Curacao
Azwinegroup & Cocktails: Reingold
Another Great classic. Smooth and balanced. Bitter orange flavors.
- 5/10 Dry Gin
-3/10 Cointreau
-1/10 Dry Vermouth
-1/10 Bitter Campari
Azwinegroup & Coctails: James Bond's Vesper
The Vesper was made famous by Bond author Ian Fleming in his book “Casino Royale.” It gets its name from double agent Vesper Lynd.
Recipe
- 3 Parts Gin
- 1 Part Vodka
- 1/2 Part Lillet Blanc
- Garnish: Lemon zest
Az Winegroup Nespresso Travel Case
Sometime it is not all about wine. When traveling bringing your own espresso is important. This is our case for traveling with a Nespresso.
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Block & Fall
Great summer drink licorish & orange flavors.
Recipe
- 1/3 Cognac
- 1/3 Cointreau
- 1/6 Calvados
- 1/6 Pernod
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Casino
Great refreshing cocktail.
Recipe
- 3/4 Gin
- 1/12 Marasquino
- 1/12 Orange bitter
- 1/12 Juice of a lemon
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Bentley
This is another one real classic. This is a real's man drink, beautiful flavors.
Recipe
- 1/2 Calvados
- 1/2 Dubonnet
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Clover Club
Very nice, citrusy, creamy and like a candy.
Recipe
- 1/3 Gin
- 1/3 Grenadine
- 1 Juice of a lemon
- 1 Egg white
Azwinegroup & Coctails: Planters
Another simple recipe where the ingredients make the difference. For this one we used Clement's Rhum Blanc Agricole de Martinique, the sweetness of the rhum comes out perfectly with the acidity of the Orange juice and lemon. It is a great summer drink, refreshing, easy to make, a great party drink.
Recipe
- 1/2 Rhum
- 1/2 Orange Juice
- 5 Dashes of lemon
Azwinegroup & Cocktails: Paradise
This is a pleasant drink, refreshing, easy to drink. Nice notes of fruit.
Recipe
- 1/2 Gin
- 1/4 Apricot Brandy
- 1/4 Orange Juice
