Jura Prophecy

My first attraction to this whisky was the bottle and packaging. It was one of things that caught my eye when I walked by the aisle, along with having seen the name before in the 2013 program of the Islay festival of music and malt. I had recently viewed the festivals information as a trip to it next year might be a possibility. When thinking about something new to try it’s always hard to pick with the wide varieties out there so the packaging on this whisky certainly helped.

Jura Prophecy is distilled in the Isle of Jura which is part of Scotland’s west coast islands. Some could consider this distillery as being part of the Islay whisky region but in my opinion and to be fair, Jura it’s a different kind of whisky and could be considered to be on its own little region. It does set itself apart from all the others.

I enjoy peated whiskies so when looking at their range of whiskies I went for their Jura Prophecy which is heavily peated and has an ABV of 46%. This one bottle came at the price of $68.00. Jura has three other whiskies in their whisky range. Those are Jura 10-year-old Origin, Jura Superstition and a Jura 16-year-old.

The Prophecy has a nice golden amber color. The smell is a combination of sweet and smoke. At first taste I got sweetness but that was very quickly followed by a smokey, peaty and finally a salty taste. As you gulp you do feel a fiery burn. It took me a couple of sips for me to finally say; yes I do enjoy this whisky.

This whisky is raw and strong. Another way I could describe it is by saying that it is stormy. If a sea storm could ever be bottled in a whisky I would venture to say that Prophecy would be that whisky. Although it took me a couple of sips to really appreciate the taste I’ve got to say that trying this whisky is well worth it. It is different and intense, but it does end beautifully.

Cheers!

The difference: Whisky-Whiskey (spelling) and Whisky-Bourbon

Even since I started to drink whisky I’ve been asked before, by non whisky drinkers, about the difference in spelling between whisky and whiskey. I’ve also been asked about the difference between whisky and bourbon. Here is a simple and quick explanation without getting too in-depth.

Whisky and Whiskey

The difference between whisky and whiskey really is the spelling and the word itself denotes the place where the whisky or whiskey comes from.

The United States and Ireland are the only two countries that label their whiskey with an “e”. All other countries to include Scotland, Canada, Japan, etc., label theirs whisky without the “e”. In case you are re-reading that last line, I did say Japan. For those non whisky drinkers that aren’t aware of this, Japan has not always been known for their whisky but that has changed significantly within the last 10 years or so. Some of Japan’s single malts have claimed some national whisky awards. Their single malts are certainly on my list of, “must try”. 

Whisky and Bourbon

Now whisky and bourbon is where we get to actual differences. One simple explanation and a thing to always remember, Bourbon is always whisky but whisky is never bourbon. If you find out that confusing then here’s more to help you understand.

Whisky is made from fermented grains, aged for many years and it is made all over the world. You will find that the longer a whisky is aged the more expensive that whisky will be. Some of the grain mixtures, called a mash, used for whisky include barley, rye, wheat, corn, etc.

Bourbon on the other hand has to have at least 51% or more corn in their mash to be considered bourbon. It has to be aged for at least two years, although most distilleries age theirs for four or more years.

Another important difference is that it has to be distilled in the United States. Although Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US, Kentucky actually produces the most bourbon in the country and for it to be called Kentucky bourbon, it has to be made in Kentucky.

And done, I hope that was a quick and simple explanation!

Cheers!

Oban 14-year-old

In May of this year I visited Chicago for the 1st time and not only did we enjoy the sites but we also got to enjoy a nice dram of whisky at top the Signature Room located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Tower. To compliment the views I went with a 14-year-old Oban. Before this instance I had had this 14-year-old Oban. I got this whisky knowing it was a perfectly good choice for the occasion.

Oban isn’t only the name of the whisky but it is also the name of the town in Scotland the whisky is from.  It is considered to be a part of the Highlands region however it is in the western part of the region at the very end right before the islands.

To me Oban being on the western side of the highlands and very close to the islands might be why you still get the smokiness taste you usually find in most of the Islay whisky brands. It has an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 43% and depending on where you go, a bottle can cost you around $65-$75.

The whisky is a nice golden color and the first time I tried it, I immediately liked it mainly because of the light subtle smokiness. When you smell it you get a fruity smell but you also get to smell a hint of that smokiness. The taste to me is very rich and you first get hit with sweetness, followed by that subtle smokiness, ending with a hint of that sea-salt.  It is an extremely delightful whisky. In my first try I had it before dinner and in this instance I had it after dinner and it worked perfectly on both instances.

I liked and very much enjoyed this whisky. The whisky and the view from the Chicago tower was the perfect way to end a great evening out with loved ones!

Cheers!

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

If you have never heard of a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale it’s time to change that because this ale is the perfect alternative to straight up bourbon or whisky during this heat. To me combining beer and bourbon is genius. I am sure there might be other brands out there like it, but this is the only one I’ve tried so far and it is completely different to any ale out there.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a beer that has been aged in bourbon barrels and in the case of this ale, Kentucky bourbon barrels. For a beer, the alcohol content is higher than most roughly around 8%. Depending on where you live, a 4 pack can cost around $12 or so. In their range they also have a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout for those stout lovers. I have not tried this one yet, but it is on my list to try.

Although I’ve enjoyed the ale before, I recently had it after dinner a few nights ago while out with some friends. It was a perfect end to a meal. To me it is a beer to sip and enjoy slowly. You can and you will definitely taste the bourbon in this beer which to me it is why it ends up being stronger than your regular beer.

I will be honest; I can only have one of these, two at the most before I need to stop. It is however, refreshing and a beer like no other. I think everyone should at least try it once, if not for the taste out of sheer curiosity. You can’t go wrong with something like this on a very hot day like today.

The color is a nice deep amber color and the taste is smooth with a bourbon kick. At first it is sweet with a hint of vanilla and then I get hit with a woodsy taste. The ale finishes off with that nice bourbon kick. I’ve always believe that a good drink has a great start but an even better finish. The bourbon finish is a great end to this ale. If you are not a fan of strong ale’s then this is not the ale for you, however as a whisky and bourbon lover I really enjoyed it and will most certainly have again.

Cheers!

Bowmore 15-year-old darkest sherry cask finish

Yikes! I might have sounded a bit mean saying that The Glenlivet 15 wasn’t that great of a gift since my boyfriend was the one who gave it to me. He has long since made up for it and was the one who also gave me the whisky we are talking about today, a Bowmore 15-year-old darkest sherry cask finish whisky.

These two gifts are worlds apart from each other. We went from meh whisky to dark amazing whisky. I’ve said it before, I am hands down an Islay girl and it was the tasting of the Bowmore 12-year-old that first introduced me to this wonderful region on my last trip to Scotland.

It is matured in two different casks, a bourbon and the other a sherry cask. It is called sherry cask finish because it spends the last three years maturing in a sherry cask. It has 43% alcohol content and will roughly cost you about $64 or so.

Bowmore is considered to be Islay’s first distillery as it has been distilled since 1779. It is not the smokiest of the Islay whiskies but it certainly has that signature smoky taste. It was the main reason I first fell in love with it. It has a nice beautiful amber color. The smell is filled of smoke and chocolate. It is extremely rich and smooth. It tastes woodsy and smoky. At the end you get a hint of that sherry.

This whisky warms your throat and heart as you finish drinking it. It’s peaty, without the peat being too over powering. For the ladies, it makes you want a box of chocolates to go with it.  I definitely want a box of chocolate to go with it. It is a whisky I sip and want to keep drinking. It has a great start but an even better finish. It will always be on my short list of favorites.

I highly recommend you try it neat first, if it’s too strong then please drop that ice in. You can always add ice but you can’t take it away. I really recommend this whisky for the whisky lover. It is a must try as you will not be disappointed. If you aren’t a huge smoky fan, the upside is that the smokiness is not overwhelming in my opinion. So pick it up and try it for yourself.

Cheers!

Bourbon Smash (with Four Roses Bourbon)

While out today on this hot and sticky Thursday all I could think about was having something cold and refreshing. I know for most of you, whisky will not come to mind on a day like this, so I wanted to give you an alternative.

On a recent night out to a restaurant I tried my boyfriends Bourbon Smash, which is essentially bourbon, simple syrup, mint and lemon. This drink can be done with either whisky or bourbon. The bourbon the bartender used for the cocktail was Four Roses bourbon, which is from Kentucky. This was my first time trying Bourbon Smash and Four Roses bourbon. After trying it I realized that it was bourbon I would need to try on its own.

For this cocktail, the bartender did make it a little too tart for my liking, but the drink itself, if done correctly is extremely refreshing and very good.

For non whisky drinkers it is a good way to get the taste of bourbon, if you find that drinking it alone is too strong. With drinking this you can still taste the bourbon but the other ingredients help dilute it making it less overpowering.

So, if you are out there and wanted something refreshing to help keep cool, give this cocktail a try. If they have it available, I’d certainly have them go with the Four Roses bourbon.

Now for more whisky talk, join me on Monday as I review Bowmore 15-year-old darkest, which has a sherry cask finish.

Cheers!

The Glenlivet 15-year-old French Oak Reserve

When I first started this blog I knew I would eventually have to write about a whisky I didn’t love. To be honest I’ve been holding out on writing about The Glenlivet 15-year-old French Oak Reserve for that very reason. This range of The Glenlivet was given to me as a Christmas gift by my boyfriend. I’ve since forgiving him but am uncertain if this bottle will ever be completely finished by me.


The Glenlivet 15-year-old French Oak Reserve is a Speyside whisky and Speyside is in the northern part of Scotland within the Highlands region. Although a small area within the Highlands, Speyside does account for about half of Scotland’s distilleries.


I consider the 15 a very inexpensive whisky bottle at around $40. It has an alcohol content of 40% proof and has a nice golden color.


If you are an inexperienced whisky drinker and are looking to start whisky drinking, you may be wooed by the price of this bottle. I can certainly understand that but would hope that you consider tasting other whisky’s after trying this one. I will state that The Glenlivet 15-year-old is a cut above The Glenlivet 12. If you are going to try it, go for the 15-year-old.


After the pour I smell sweetness and caramel. It does have a nice rich creamy almost buttery taste. This whiskey is very light and nutty. One of the biggest things I don’t love about this whisky is the after taste. The after taste is what keeps me from wanting more. It has a great start but lacks in the finish. If that were ever fixed, this would actually be a good whisky.


It is a very inexpensive whisky that has potential but disappoints in the end.  That is why it is under my list of whisky’s I don’t love. You can try and judge it for yourself.


Cheers!

Green Spot

I have enjoyed Irish whiskey, but before this year I had not found an Irish whiskey that I truly loved and could rave about. It was this past March when my friend Melissa and I headed to Dublin, Ireland for a little vacation. It was while out on one of our nights that we came upon the Parnell Heritage Pub, located on Parnell St. in Dublin. That’s where we met their very friendly bartenders who gave us a few good suggestions for Irish whiskey.

One of the suggested whiskies was Green Spot. If you are wondering why you may not have heard of Green Spot before it could be because it is not sold in the United States. With me back to the US, I brought back a bottle as a gift to my boyfriend. The bottle I bought was priced at about 55 Euros, roughly around 71 US dollars.

Green spot is tripled distilled in cooper pot stills and is considered to be a Single Pot Still whiskey, which is why it is very unique to Ireland. Green Spot by far is one of the smoothest Irish whiskies I have ever tasted. The smell is full of spice and fruitiness. At first I tasted cloves and that is followed by sweetness and the finish is barley. This is truly an amazing Irish whiskey! If you are ever in Ireland please be sure to pick this little bottle up.

I have always said I don’t love Irish whiskey till I tasted Green Spot!  My one regret during my trip to Ireland was not realizing that Green Spot had a mate, Yellow Spot. Unlike Green spot that has an alcohol content of 40%; Yellow Spot is 46% alcohol proof and is 12 years old. The upside, I have a very good reason now to go back to Ireland.

While I dream of future travel plans, I wish all those here in the US, a very happy and safe 4th of July!

Happy Drinking and Cheers!

Neat, a splash of water, or on the rocks?

How do you prefer your whisky, do you like it neat, with a splash of water, or on the rocks? For years there has been the debate of what is the right way to drink it. Believe it or not I still have this argument with other whisky drinkers.  Whatever your preference is, there is no rulebook that says you have to drink it one way or the other. 

Neat
I am a neat whisky drinker, for non-whisky drinkers that means I drink it without diluting (no ice or water) the whisky. The first time I drank whisky I drank it on the rocks, then with a splash of water before I started to enjoy it neat. I am what people would call a purist and that to me is a matter of personal preference.

Purist will argue that this is the correct way to drink whisky. After many years of whisky tasting and drinking I have come to believe that with a neat dram you can truly taste and appreciate the whisky in its pure form. That is not to say that you have to drink it this way. Whisky is to be enjoyed and all drinkers should enjoy it whichever way they prefer.

A Splash of Water
Every whisky drinker is different. A splash of water helps cut down on the alcohol content. This is especially true if you are drinking a cask strength whisky which runs about 60% alcohol proof as opposed to the non-cask strength which are roughly around 40% or so alcohol proof. 

A splash of water is also recommended by some whisky brands. An example of this is a Laphroaig 10, which recommends you drink this range with water. It’s supposed to bring out the aromas and the flavor in this whisky. I have tasted a Laphroaig 10 neat and on the rocks. I can guarantee you that there was a difference in taste. 

On the Rocks
A whisky on the rocks does tend to bring out the tastes in certain brands, my one problem with ice is that it tends to melt fast and if you add too much of it, it takes away from the enjoyment and flavor of the whisky. It isn’t wrong to drink whisky this way but if you put too much ice you will water it down.

A solution for too much watering down came with the creation of a whisky ball. A whisky ball is a perfectly round ice ball that cools the whisky but is also very slow to melt, letting you enjoy the whisky before it ever waters down.

At the end of the day a whisky drinker should drink their whisky as best they see fit and drink it in a way they get the most enjoyment from. Now that we got that out of the way, join me on Wednesday as I taste and write about a neat glass of the Irish whiskey Green Spot!

Cheers!