Tasting Reviews

2023-12 Chris J.

by webnoser

Well… it was a dark and stormy evening on Vancouver Island, sandwiched between our Christmas “turkey comas” and the teams rather pathetic, childlike, anticipation of ringing in the New Year. The lads gathered for the final Nosing of 2023. Resulting from exhaustive research, endless investigation but mostly dumb luck I picked three winners. Actually, I only picked one winner as the other two were gifts from very talented whisky aficionados. The first was an Australian Single Malt Whisky … Morris Rutherglen donated to me by son #1 (I like him best but there is still plenty of time for #2 to outbid him). It was much appreciated by the assembled horde.

The second was a suggestion from the local bottle merchant… a very nice Islay, Kilchoman Machir Bay (Machir Bay is a beach on Islay) …. And now you know!  Again, this tasting was followed by a lot of hearty “well dones” and “harrumph, harrumphs” from the assembled masses.

And last but absolutely not least, was a magnificent MACALLAN, Rare Cask Black 2022 gifted to “moi” by a very dear and generous friend. What did we think of this libation? The crew was speechless…. (even Randy). Stunned silence from the lads who just looked at each other with great big grins on their pie holes. It was a unanimous 10 out of 10 (our first in close to 200 tastings) … perfection in a bottle. The word that best describes it is “wow”. After that we all went home happier than when we arrived.

Round 1: Morris Single Malt Signature Blend

Cost: $80 CDNRegion: Australia

Fun Facts:

  • Morris claims that Australia’s climate allows the liquid to mature faster than whiskies aged in cooler climates.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Deep Gold to Mahogany
  • Nose: Delicately aromatic, subtle fruit, carmel
  • Palate: Slight pepper, creamy
  • Finish: Long and smooth
  • Very nice. not complex but completely enjoyable
  • Drinkability: 6.5,8.5,6.0,7.2,6.5,6.7

Round 2: Kilchoman Machir Bay

Cost: $112 CDNRegion: Islay

Fun Facts:

  • Named after Islay’s most spectacular beach.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Straw,
  • Nose: Smoke, Vanilla, Peat
  • Palate: Peaty, Pepper, Sherry, Creamy, Oily
  • Finish: Long, smooth
  • Water improves it, brings up the cream
  • Water releases the taste
  • Drinkability: 6.8,7.2,7.5,7.1,7.2

Bonus Round: Macallan Rare Cask Black

Cost: $650 CDNRegion: Speyside

Fun Facts:

  • Stupidly good.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Doesn’t matter
  • Nose: Doesn’t matter
  • Palate: Indescribable
  • Finish: Perfect
  • Perfection in a bottle
  • Drinkability: 10,10,10,10,10,10,10