Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Jura Two-One-Two

13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

47.5% ABV

Nose: A baked bounty of banoffee pie, lemon drizzle cake, cinnamon rolls, a bowl of proving hot cross bun dough, Kellogg's crunchy nut cornflakes and a Yazoo chocolate milkshake. Followed by Seville oranges, Granny smith apples, glace cherries, tinned peaches, anise, ground ginger, white pepper, rye spice and a sprig-ette of thyme.

Palate: A right rollicking rye spice led, fruit baked frenzy of peach cobbler, lemon meringue pie and pear tarte tatin, topped with scoops of Häagen-Dazs dulce de leche and pralines and cream ice cream. Along with notes of mixed candied peel, McVitie's gingernut biscuits, sweet oak, mixed spice and a finishing mint chocolate fudge freshness.

Finish: A feisty and fabulous, long welcomed lounger of a lingering finish!

Summary: As per my first reaction to trying this in our recent Whyte & Mackay portfolio Tweet Tasting, I would have to say that this is one of the best and most balanced Jura’s that I’ve had the good fortune to sample. The finishing in Chinkapin oak casks, which is a stroke of dramming genius, has given it a remarkable rye-esque feel and flavour. A truly joyous and jubilant drop of Jura!

The Whisky Wire's 12 Drams of Christmas 2019

For the last nine years we’ve brought you our ’12 Drams of Christmas’ as chosen by you! So we thought it would only be rude not to do the same again this year, and use it as the perfect excuse to quite literally start getting into the festive spirit!

Since November 21st, you’ve been nominating your top three festive favourites in abundance, and after ploughing through and tallying up all the nominations, here are our '12 Drams of Christmas' 2019, in ranking order, as chosen by you!

Also just in case you're thinking of gifting any of this year’s dramspanking festive dozen to yourself or others, we've done all the hard work for you and have included their current and most competitive retail details*

 

 

12. Big Peat Christmas - £48.95 from The Whisky Exchange

 

 

11. Tamdhu 10 Year Old - £35.00 from Tyndrum Whisky

 

 

10. Redbreast 12 Year Old - £38.00 from Ocado

 

 

9. Glengoyne 18 Year Old - £86.95 from The Whisky Exchange

 

 

8. Johnnie Walker Black Label - £23.00 from Amazon

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Glenfiddich Grand Cru

23 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV

Nose: Moscatel and winter spice poached pears, sour apple Chewits, slices of plum jam-based Bakewell tart and warm Stollen, assorted candied peel and blackberry fool. Followed by notes of sugared almonds, Cadbury’s crunchie bar, McVitie's gingernut biscuits, anise, sweet musk, spiced oak, sandalwood and a wandering and weaving floral freshness.

Palate: Mulled apple juice, tinned pears, crystallised ginger covered in dark chocolate, pineapple flavoured fruit jellies, M&S lemon curd whitby buns and egg custard tarts with a good dusting of nutmeg. Followed by baked banana chips, walnuts, wood spice infused Moscatel, white pepper and oodles upon oodles of opulent oak.

Finish: A warm and woody, long winter spiced hug of a finesseful finish.

Summary: This is the first expression in Glenfiddich’s new premium end Grand Series, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Wondrous waves of aged signature ‘fiddich notes, balanced beautifully with French Cuvée wine cask influences.

Quick Fire Rum Tasting Notes

Black Tot Rum

Blended Caribbean Rum

46.2% ABV

Nose: A symphony of slightly overripened bananas, grilled pineapple rings sprinkled with a light dusting of cayenne pepper, Alphonso mangos, Cantaloupe melon and clove studded Ortaniques. Followed by tea stewed prunes, sugar cane syrup, Demerara caramel, freshly baked treacle tart, a hint of something herbal, freshly polished oak, a struck match and an unmistakable Jamaican funk led estery edge.

Palate: All the palatable pleasures of pineapple upside down and Jamaica ginger cake, banoffee pie and spiced baked apples. Followed by sultanas, dried mango strips, ready rolled cake icing, guava jelly, chocolate coffered coffee beans, aniseed twists, mixed spice, ground white and black pepper, sweet oak and the subtlest suggestions of something menthol fresh.

Finish: A sweet, spice and all things nice kind of a finish, that goes on as long as a Caribbean house party!

Summary: An absolute belter of a blend, which showcases, marries and harmonises the three distinct rum styles from Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana. Not only is this one a superb sipper, it’s also a marvel of a mixer and works particularly well as a base in a Rum Old Fashioned.