Kosher whiskies day two.

Another year, another whisky.  I’ve been hearing about the Glenrothes Alba Reserve for some time now.  Actually, I had it last year at WhiskyFest NYC.  However, it was one of the last whiskies of the evening and I have to say that after 25+ different whiskies it’s tough to tell what’s good and what’s not.  Heck, it can be tough to remember what whiskies you had!

Somehow, I’m guessing because I’m a Jew, I’ve had at least 20 people ask me if I’ve had the the Glenrothes Alba Reserve.  It is a kosher certified whisky (by the London Bet Din), matured in refill bourbon casks.  It is also a Double Gold winner at the recent 2010 San Francisco World Spirit Competition.

Kosher & award winning?  I guess I just had to try it.

I sort of like the Glenrothes packaging.  The bottle is often refereed to as being shaped like a hand-grenade.  There’s an odd sexiness to their bottles.

The Alba Reserve carries no age statement.

Let’s see how the fluid is:

On the nose – Initial whiff is that of plum brandy – slivovitz.

Damp wood, old wood.

Vanilla and saw dust (smoldering, smokey).

We’re not going to blow your mind here, just make you want to sip a wee bit.

On the mouth – Cadbury Fruit and nut bar minus the chocolate.

Slight citrus notes.

Watered down honey.

At 40%ABV, this is an easy drinker (upside).

However, it’s not the most challenging whisky (upside and downside).

Some toasted coconut.

Finish – Medium in length with clear vanilla and honey notes.

In sum – An easy everyday drinker.  Nothing super special about it but, that’s not a bad thing.  This may be a great whisky to give to the casual whisky drinker or as a good gateway whisky.

Islands region – 43%ABV – $84

Being that the Jewish New Year began last night (L’Shanah Tovah to all of my Jewish readers — health and happiness to all of my readers), I figured I’d begin a new limited series focusing on kosher certified whiskies.

Loch Chaim whiskies are Single Malt, Single Cask whiskies (not cask strength, all taken down to 43% ABV) specifically bottled for kosher keeping Jews (but happen to be completely delicious for anyone who loves good whisky).

Being single cask, you can imagine that the availability of these whiskies is limited.  You can find this line throughout New York, New Jersey and in pockets of Washington DC & Los Angeles.  You know, the Little Israels of the US.

All of these single cask expressions are matured in ex-bourbon (or, at least non-wine influenced) barrels.

I’ve got five different Loch Chaim whiskies and I thought it’d be good to start with the 13 year old Isle of Arran:

On the nose – Big bourbon fresh nose!

Salted green tomatoes.

Browning lemons (perhaps the largest component here) and pear notes.

Rhubarb preserves.

Light and inviting.

Not the most complex nose but…nice.

Something slightly earthy about this nose too…

On the mouth – Very peppery.

Barbecue sauce and sweet ketchup (where in the blue F did this come from!?).

Fruit jams comprised of slightly more bitter fruits.

Cinnamon, nutmeg and a bit of cardamom.

Finish – The pepperiness continues.

There’s a decent length here.

In sum – So while I was trying to figure this one out (what with the strangeness from the bourbon light fresh nose to the family barbecue pallet), I realized what’s happening here.  This is, after all, a 13yr old whisky AND a kosher whisky.

What happens to Jewish boys & girls at age 13??  You guessed it, the become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  This whisky became an adult!  It became a Bar Mitzvah in my mouth.  Hmmm, that doesn’t sound right…

“Subject: Sneaky peek at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Spirit Cellars whisky selection engine (launches on Friday)

It’ll not be launched until Friday Sep 10, but if you log on to www.smws.com/the-spirit-cellars just now you’ll see how widgets like Moodbot, Flavour Bandit, Phrenology Lab and Palate Equaliser will help users select the right, single cask, single malt whisky for them. It’s just got bottles available to UK members at the moment but will be rolled out across the world in due course.

As you probably know, the Society has an Outturn of around 20 new bottles a month and an ever-changing catalogue of available whiskies. Even the most dedicated malt whisky enthusiast is going to need some help finding their way round this incredibly diverse collection, so The Spirit Cellars was born.

It’s a bit of fun, but it’s got some serious technology and research running it. The complex tasting notes of each of the Society bottles are run through advanced algorithms developed for the computer dating industry and this is the first time the software has been used in the UK. The Spirit Cellars also runs using live stock data so users can buy their matches should they wish.

The Spirit Cellars is an organic beast and will evolve at the suggestion of its users. If users can think of a widget that’ll help them, the Society will look in to developing it.”

Not only am I a whisky dork (and a big fan of the SMWS) but I am a technology geek as well.  I’ve fiddled around with some of these tools (after having visited www.smws.com/the-spirit-cellars) and I was pretty impressed by what they’ve got going on so far.

As you know, I focus in on suggesting malts by mood or season and to have access to cool widgets that do the same thing for the SMWS bottles???  Very cool.

Starting tomorrow I will begin a kosher whisky series (in celebration of the Jewish new year).  Before that series started, I wanted to end this year with one of the better Campbeltown malts out today – Longrow 10yr 100 proof.

Longrow, for those who do not know, is Campbeltown’s heavily peated whisky.  If you’ve not yet tried a whisky from Campbeltown, that needs to change, STAT.  Maybe this can be your first.

On the nose — I initially purchased this whisky because of Dr. Whisky’s notes on it and I have to say that, with regards to the nose on this one, I agree with him — Salt n’ peppa, limes and Thai food (specifically Ming Com – good Thai places will have this dish but most, likely will not have it on their menu).

Lemons.

Salted grapefruits.

Fantastic peat smoke backbone that many may miss.

On the mouth — Vanilla bean ice cream.

Saltier than most Campbeltown malts I’ve had – wow (I can almost feel the salt crystals growing on my teeth – an obvious exaggeration but, damn, this is salty stuff)!

Orange creamsicle minus the orange.

Thick-ooey-and-chewy whisky goodness.

Earthy smokey notes.

Finish — Looonnnggg, this whisky has staying power (the Dirk Diggler of  Scotch whisky).

In sum — Fun and bright.  A great summery aperitif whisky that is unlike most whiskies out there.  If you want something that’s not the hum-drum, seek this out.  This is also one of those great “hey, check this one out” type whisky like, perhaps, the Master of Malt 26yr Bowmore.  Not due to flavor, due to uniqueness.

How to launch The Arran Malt 14 Years Old (both historically and, in style!):

1. Duty pay a 25 litre cask and remove it from the warehouse of the Isle of Arran Distillery

2. Transport the cask by boat from Lochranza to Glasgow (on rough seas of course!)

3. Transport the cask by horse & cart to several famous Glasgow whisky pubs

4. Open the cask in the Oran Mor Whisky Bar at 6.30pm after being piped round the bar

5. Serve free drams to 200 thirsty fans of The Arran Malt

6. Pick up an empty cask the next morning……late the next morning!

Click here see some great film footage of this historic event.