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MAY 18, 2024 FLIGHT –

KAVALAN – CLASSIC SINGLE MALT

by the numbers

PRICE

$91.99

AVERAGE SCORE

80.37

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

Kavalan distillery is located in Taiwan, just south of Taipei. It was founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Tien Tsai Lee and since that time, grown to be one of the top ten largest distilleries in the world. Before starting his distillery, Lee spent some time in Scotland and enlisted the help of Dr. Jim Swan. Swan is one of the foremost experts in whisky maturation and techniques to make a good whisky in shorter amount of time. Dr. Swan created the process that Kavalan uses to maximize the climate of Taiwan to speed up the time the whisky spends in the barrel. Believe it or not, the “Angel Share” experienced at Kavalan is a whopping 10-20% due to the hot and humid conditions.

Kavalan is a bit of a rebel in the respect that they don’t seem to follow conventional “rules” of whisky. They use the traditional Scottish spelling for whisky (without the “e”) and use the “Single Malt” classification even though their whisky is matured in less than 4 years.

The Classic has a mash bill of 100% malted barley.

Nose: Super malty and buttery, caramel, dark chocolate, pencil box, black walnut, perhaps something slightly “off.”

Palate: multi-grain bread, butterscotch, herbal, honey, all spice, maybe a hint of a jalepeno?

Finish: rather short finish, waxy, dark chocolate and super spicy.

KAVALAN EX-BOURBON OAK

by the numbers

PRICE

$159.99

AVERAGE SCORE

83.5

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

The Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak is also a mash bill of 100% malted barley. This particular expression is a vatted version of their single cask “Soloist” expression. Matured, as the name indicates, in ex-bourbon oak from their on-site cooperage.

Nose: Home-made peach cobbler, ripe banana, something floral like a grandma’s perfume, Milky Way candy bar sprinkled in cumin, Crackerjacks, raisins, pears and peanut shells.

Palate: Honey, lemon-lime, Jack Daniels lemonade, caramel and raisins.

Finish: medium long, lime zest without the pulp and buttercream frosting.

KAVALAN SHERRY OAK

by the numbers

PRICE

146.99

AVERAGE SCORE

85.25

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

The Kavalan Sherry Oak is also a mash bill of 100% malted barley as well as a vatted version of a single cask “Soloist” sherry finish. Matured, as the name indicates, in sherry oak casks from their on-site cooperage.

Nose: Plum, banana bread, nutmeg, grape jelly, dark chocolate, and Caramello candy bar.

Palate: Super sherry, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, anise, grape jelly and caramel taffy

Finish: Long finish, leathery, grape Jolly Rancher, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and ginger spice.

THE DEACON

by the numbers

PRICE

39.99

AVERAGE SCORE

83.43

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

This was a bonus bottle for the evening, where a member can provide me with a blind tasting.

The Deacon is a blend of smokey Speyside malts and Islay Malts. The stunning bottle is made to match the traditional copper stills used to make this malt. It’s owned by New York based Sovereign Brands with a minority-stake held by Pernod Ricard.

Sovereign is better known for Luc Belaire sparkling wine, Bumbu Rum, and the Violet Frog gin. This first whiskey follows a 2021 investment in the company from Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard’s labels include Aberlour, Glenlivet, Chivas Regal, Jameson’s, Powers, Rabbit Hole, Red Breast, plus Absolut, Kahlua, Beefeater Gin, and Malibu Rum.

Nose: Peat smoke, summer sausage, strawberry, BBQ, peach and super salty.

Palate: Shrimp scampi, strawberries (again!), buttered corn and sugared kettlecorn.

Finish: Medium finish, campfire smoke, 7-up soda and the bottom dregs of a kettlecorn bag.

APRIL 13, 2024 FLIGHT-

HIGHLAND PARK 12

by the numbers

PRICE

$59.99

AVERAGE SCORE

86.8

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

The Highland Park distillery is located on Orkney and is one of five Scottish distilleries who still employ their own malting floor. Technically, it’s a Highland Single Malt, but it flirts with the flavors reminiscent of Islay whiskies. In the malting process Highland Park uses a totally unique peat, even from other Orkney whiskies, from the nearby Hobbister Moor. The in-house maltings account for about 30% of the mash supplemented with unpeated malt from the mainland. And while the levels don’t even approach the levels of say a Lagavulin or Laphroaig, the phenol content at roughly 30-40ppm still presents a smokey vibe. The Highland Park 12 is predominantly matured in ex-American Oak and European Sherry casks and bottled at a 43% ABV in the states.

Nose: Honeyed citrus, Kraft caramel square, lily or honeysuckle.

Palate: Werther’s candies, dates, caramel creme chew, bit-o-honey and charred marshmallow.

Finish: Pepper, soft peat rose water and honeycomb.

HIGHLAND PARK 18

by the numbers

PRICE

$174.99

AVERAGE SCORE

86.8

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

The 18 year expression is the same new make as the 12, but spends more time in the casks. The extra maturation was evident as the peat and oak had extra time to mingle. The Highland Park 18 is also botteld at 43% ABV.

What was super interesting about this flight was that the 18 scored EXACTLY the same as the 12. It had a higher high score and a lower low score, so it was a bit more polarizing. But the average was identical. So when measured against the price, the entire room agreed that the 12 would be a dram that could be enjoyed all the time.

Nose: The same honey notes as the 12, the peat smoke was more pronounced and the additional time in the oak was definitely noticed

Palate: Tobacco smoke, salty, Oreo cookies and spicy. One member noted a powerful caramel apple note

Finish: Salted caramel, bitterness, dark stone fruit like a cherry or plum

HIGHLAND PARK CASK STRENGTH, BATCH #4

by the numbers

PRICE

$201.99

AVERAGE SCORE

87.2

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

The Highland Park Cask Strength, Batch Number 4 was a 2023 release of the Orkney Single Malt. It made the Whisky Advocate Top Twenty Whiskies of 2023, coming in at a whopping #2!

This expression was bottled at 64.3% ABV and was pleasant on the nose. On the palate, the Batch #4 comes in real hot and spicy, but I found, that overtime it warmed and opened up, presenting delicate flavors in a harmonious balance. It was riveting how this whisky evolved over the course of my wee dram.

Nose: Kraft caramel squares, super creamy, orange zest or marmalade with shredded wheat.

Palate: Vegetal and peat to start, then toasted marshmallows, cinnamon, caramel apples, smoked almonds and candied cigarettes or even the stick from a Fundip packet.

Finish: Grape jelly and cream soda.

MARCH 16, 2024 FLIGHT-

DINGLE – SAMHAIN

by the numbers

PRICE

$127.25

AVERAGE SCORE

82.75

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

Dingle Samhain is an Irish Single Malt that comes in at a 50.5% ABV. It is part of Dingle’s limited edition “Wheel of the Year” series that commemorates seasons of the Celtic year. Samhain is the holiday that marks the beginning of Winter and the Celtic New Year. Here in the states we are more familiar with the American counterpart, Halloween. There were only 10,000 bottles of Samhain released. This expression begins with Dingle’s single malt matured four years in first fill bourbon casks. Then the spirit is transferred to Muscatel casks for an additional three years.

Nose: Big fruit, strawberry quik, fruit loops, or crunchberries; nutmeg and wheaties.

Palate: Grape jelly, nutmeg, shredded wheat and lemon zest

Finish: Fairly short, grape jelly on an english muffin and candied lemon drop

DINGLE – GRIANSTAD AN GHEIMHRIDH

by the numbers

PRICE

$114.52

AVERAGE SCORE

84.4

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

This Dingle expression is another in the “Wheel of The Year” series. The name Grianstad An Gheimhridh (pronounced GREE-an-stad An GEEV-rig with my limited Gaelic knowledge) literally translates to “The Stopping Of The Sun,” referring to the longest day of the year, the Winter Solstice.

This is a 50.5% ABV Irish Single Malt that only produced 7,800 bottles. It was finished in first fill bourbon casks and then further finished in Tawny Port casks.

Nose: Blueberries, roses, Golden Grahams, Tootsie Rolls and cola.

Palate: Cloves, dark cherries, cinnamon, sarsaparilla. The flavor punches above it’s weight-class in comparison to the ABV.

Finish: Medium long, Chex mix, grapefruit and Big Red gum.

DINGLE – BEALTAINE

by the numbers

PRICE

$114.39

AVERAGE SCORE

84.0

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

Dingle’s Bealtaine was released in April 2023 as part of their limited “Wheel Of Time” series. This expression honors the “fire” festival that marks the end of Spring and beginning of Summer.

Bealtaine is a single pot still expression that was bottled at a 52.5% ABV. This one had mashbill information available and it was comprised of 60% malted barley and 40% raw barley. After the four and a half years in first fill bourbon casks, Bealtaine spent 2 and half years in Shiraz casks.

Nose: Meaty, raisins, crayon box, baker’s chocolate, malted milk balls and fennel..

Palate: Root beer barrel, anise, Twix, caramel, coffee, pears, fresh oregano and amaretto.

Finish: Medium long, cloves and the root beer again, with maybe burnt cherry.

BONUS BOTTLE-

ALTERED STATE AMERICAN SINGLE MALT

by the numbers

PRICE

$59.99

AVERAGE SCORE

82.5

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

This Erie, Pennsylvania distillery boasts a 600-gallon mash tun, 500-gallon copper hybrid still with a 6 plate column, a 500-gallon pot still, two 600-gallon fermenters, a 25-gallon copper hybrid still with a 6-plate column and two 75-gallon holding tanks. Now, that said the bottle only said bottled in Eire, PA which makes me wonder if it was entirely distilled on-site.

This American Single Malt is 100% malted barley, aged for 4 years in new American Oak barrels and finished in Spanish PX Sherry casks.

Nose: Definitely get the oak, but also, caramel, bubble gum, something vegetal like steamed broccoli and leather.

Palate: malty and vegetal, caramel and a musty book.

Finish: Short and fruity, with a pronounced note of cantaloupe melon.

FEBRUARY 17, 2024 FLIGHT-

BARRELL – VANTAGE

by the numbers

PRICE

$79.99

AVERAGE SCORE

82.8

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

This Barrell expression was distilled in three different locations, Indian (MGP) Tennessee and Kentucky. It’s also a blend of bourbons that were finished in three different styles, Mizunara, French oak and toasted American Oak.

The Vantage is a cask strength bourbon that was bottled at a 57.22% ABV.

Nose: Vanilla, Double Bubble gum, whole wheat bread and caramel.

Palate: Sugar toasted pecans, raisins, orange zest, Twix and cinnamon.

Finish: Fairly long finish with raw cinnamon stick, grape Jolly Ranchers and pepper.

BARRELL – SEAGRASS

by the numbers

PRICE

$79.99

AVERAGE SCORE

81.5

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

Barrell’s Seagrass is a distinctive whiskey combining American and Canadian Rye distilled in Indiana, Tennessee, and Canada. It has a primary composition of 51% rye along with corn and malted barley in undisclosed ratios. Its uniqueness lies in its unconventional presentation and blend, featuring three different finishes that compliment the rye whiskey really well. The casks used for Seasgrass inlcude; apricot brandy barrels, Madeira casks and Martinique Rhum casks. Rhum refers to rhum agricole, a type of rum specific to Martinique that is made with pressed sugar cane instead of molasses.

The Seagrass is a cask strength bourbon that was bottled at a 59.65% ABV.

Nose: Medjool dates, molasses, pencil shavings, begonia blooms.

Palate: We definitely got the dried apricots and the spearmint of the rye. There was something one member said “granny perfume,” as well as pine wood and slat caramels.

Finish: Cola and pancakes with spearmint and macadamia nuts.

BARRELL – DOVETAIL

by the numbers

PRICE

$79.99

AVERAGE SCORE

87.3

HIGH SCORE

LOW SCORE

NOTES

Barrel’s Dovetail continues to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors from this flight. This bourbon blend features whiskey that was distilled in Indiana (MGP) and Tennessee (likely George Dickel) that has also been finished in three different casks; rum, Black STrap Molasses port and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels.

The Seagrass is a cask strength bourbon that features a mash bill of undisclosed amounts of corn, rye and malted barley. This expression is also considered cask strength, bottled at a potent 61.72% ABV.

Nose: Big Red gum, sourdough bread, roses, dark chocolate and maybe a hint of eggnog.

Palate: A musty book, peonies, rose water, molasses ad melted butter.

Finish: Winey, Queen Anne’s cherries, soil and meaty.