Hey Everyone,
Today is a bit out of the ordinary, as I am writing up my expereinces on bourbon, a spirit which I usually don't really give a rat's arse about, as I consider it all tasty if a bit normal. I was invited to taste a selection of Buffalo Trace's whiskey's in Edinburgh and got to try some expressions which were somewhat out of the ordinary, including a whisky considered by Jim Murray to be one of the world's best. Whether I agree with the writer of the Whisky Bible, I will not yet say, but I will let my tasting notes for the whiskey's do the talking...
Buffalo Trace Tasting notes- Bon Vivant's Companion, Thistle Street Edinburgh. 11 October 2012.
White Dog- Unaged spirit. A bit of cocoa, vanilla, a definite predecessor for the whiskey. A big palate, silky and surprisingly smooth. Not as fruity as some new make I've experienced, but some pleasant aromas. Interesting. Not pleasant, but interesting.
Buffalo Trace-8 years-ish , 45% rye-bourbon. Initial ethanol, crisp fruity aroma, a hint of spice, banana, a bit of a LCD (lowest common denominator) whisky, but standard and pleasant. Boring palate, and neutral finish.
Eagle Rare 10 y/o. Big ethanol nose, more spice, like cinnamon ice cream. Woodier palate, (good sarcastic remark by the blender catches us all off guard, going over most of the present hipsters' heads) still a bit neutral but with a better, more interesting finish.
Elmer T. Lee 9-11 y/o. More rye heavy, intended to be sweeter. Much more of a molasses flavour like mature grain whisky. More reserved maturity, a bit of spice on the finish. Quite well balanced. This shows a bit more class and poise than the previous three. Elmer T Lee is a 90+ year old blender, so I think I see his practiced hands coming into play here.
Wheated Bourbon 12 y/o, no rye at all in the recipe, which would encourage more sweetness as opposed to the spicier rye. Grassier, fresh bell pepper, nice smooth, light palate, it is quite sweet and pleasant. Really rather nice.
Sazerac Straight Rye, 6-8 y-o. Made of at least 51% rye with corn for sweetness. Awesome branding. Roasted cinnamon aromas with fresh chili, jalapeño perhaps. Very dry by comparison, very pleasing. Possibly better than the previous. So far the best. Will the last whisky be the piece de résistance? Or a highlight on this one's funkiness?
George T. Stagg 15 y/o 71.4% uncut, unfiltered. Freaking massive, hugely boozy nose with a lot of spiciness at first, but quickly softens in the mouth to a neutral finish. Still thinner that I would like from a whisky. Maple syrup comes through with water. The texture is almost thinner for the high proof, and with water, much more of an interesting style comes forward. This may be Jim Murray's favourite whiskey, but its sure not mine.
Basically, whilst I do enjoy it, I really just don't get it entirely. The Eagle Rare, however, made a damn good Old-Fashioned...
Much Love,
G
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Torres Gran Coronas 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hey Everyone,
Tonight I am trying a nifty bottle of Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the members of the Primum Familiae Vini (First Families of Wine). Familia Torres, a sort of catch all operation making pretty much everything has been called the Starbucks of wine, meaning that you're rarely wow-ed but you'll not find any glaring issues with the product. Essentially, you always know what you will be getting from a bottle of Torres wine.
Torres, being perhaps the only grower with a reputation for it's Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain, is best known for it's cult wine, Mas la Plana, a big, full-on almost Napa-style Cabernet bottled in a Burgundy-shape bottle with an iconic black label. Selling for around £35 a bottle, there are plenty of skeptics for this wine, as it just doesn't fit any defined Spanish style and costs a fair bit.
At a more affordable price, around £12 or so, an entry level Cabernet called Gran Coronas is a nice, full-on Cab, with straightforward varietal characteristics, a good amount of tannin and enough acidity to take on fatty meats. It is an engaging wine that is both classic Cabernet, and definitely Spanish. It has those nice vanilla oak flavours, bright cherry and strawberry aromas; the signature of Spanish red as well as varietal hints of mint and bell pepper which call out Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, there is a hint of maturity with aromas of leather and cedar.
I had this bottle with a beautifully cooked steak with a healthy dose of pepper and garlic and while it worked wonderfully, I would see this wine pairing even better with a leg of duck or a bit of lamb shank. Even on it's own, it is a bloody good bottle of wine for the price, and while I usually don't bother heaping praise on the bigger houses, I do like that Torres has stuck with this variety and found a niche for themselves as the purveyors of Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain. I say good on them and I am happy that this wine presents itself so pleasantly and enjoyably and that I am glad to have another affordable, desireable Cabernet cross my path.
I hope that if you come across a bottle of the Gran Coronas you will give it a try, because it is a good, reliable wine. Also, if you're looking to splash out a bit and go for the Mas la Plana, I can say with confidence that you will be getting a really cool bottle of Cabernet.
Much Love,
G
Tonight I am trying a nifty bottle of Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the members of the Primum Familiae Vini (First Families of Wine). Familia Torres, a sort of catch all operation making pretty much everything has been called the Starbucks of wine, meaning that you're rarely wow-ed but you'll not find any glaring issues with the product. Essentially, you always know what you will be getting from a bottle of Torres wine.
Torres, being perhaps the only grower with a reputation for it's Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain, is best known for it's cult wine, Mas la Plana, a big, full-on almost Napa-style Cabernet bottled in a Burgundy-shape bottle with an iconic black label. Selling for around £35 a bottle, there are plenty of skeptics for this wine, as it just doesn't fit any defined Spanish style and costs a fair bit.
At a more affordable price, around £12 or so, an entry level Cabernet called Gran Coronas is a nice, full-on Cab, with straightforward varietal characteristics, a good amount of tannin and enough acidity to take on fatty meats. It is an engaging wine that is both classic Cabernet, and definitely Spanish. It has those nice vanilla oak flavours, bright cherry and strawberry aromas; the signature of Spanish red as well as varietal hints of mint and bell pepper which call out Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, there is a hint of maturity with aromas of leather and cedar.
I had this bottle with a beautifully cooked steak with a healthy dose of pepper and garlic and while it worked wonderfully, I would see this wine pairing even better with a leg of duck or a bit of lamb shank. Even on it's own, it is a bloody good bottle of wine for the price, and while I usually don't bother heaping praise on the bigger houses, I do like that Torres has stuck with this variety and found a niche for themselves as the purveyors of Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain. I say good on them and I am happy that this wine presents itself so pleasantly and enjoyably and that I am glad to have another affordable, desireable Cabernet cross my path.
I hope that if you come across a bottle of the Gran Coronas you will give it a try, because it is a good, reliable wine. Also, if you're looking to splash out a bit and go for the Mas la Plana, I can say with confidence that you will be getting a really cool bottle of Cabernet.
Much Love,
G
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