Tasting Guide Brisbane 2019 WHISKYLIVE & FINE SPIRITS Welcome to Whisky Live. Here you can sample a wonderful range of whiskies and spirits and later make informed decisions when you purchase at a bar or bottleshop. The samples served are small but enough to taste the flavour profile. We provide a good glass for you to take home and enjoy favourites. This Tasting Guide gives description and tasting profile. For whiskies it displays the amount of smoke and the body strength of the whisky. For other spirits it displays the level of sweetness, from dry to sweet and the overall flavour from light to rich. Tasting whiskies and spirits. Unlike wine and beer, spirits are stronger all round. They have stronger flavour and this is because of the stronger or higher alcohol level. So when tasting you only need a small amount in your mouth. Take a small sip and hold it in your mouth. Your saliva will begin to dilute it naturally and the flavour will begin to burst. Move it around your mouth, that way you can taste all the complexities of the spirit. Different parts of your tongue specialise in detecting different types of flavours so it’s best to coat your whole tongue. A whisky has been aging many years, developing complex flavours, so give it at least it 5-10 seconds to sit in your mouth to discover and enjoy the flavours. Don’t be in a rush. If a whisky is a bit hot, add some water. Even if it is not hot, a couple of drops of water will ‘open up’ the whisky by displacing flavour molecules and force them out, increasing and unravelling the flavours that are hidden. Try it at Whisky Live using the pipettes provided on the tables. A few drops of water to any spirit when tasting them straight will help reveal hidden flavours. Finally, food. It’s best to consume some food while tasting, but not eat a whole heap. Your taste buds are naturally more tuned in to tasting food when you are hungry, so a full stomach lessens your sense of taste. Picking at the food during the whole tasting time to keep the alcohol from affecting you too much is the best way. Lots of small serves and pieces of food are better than a big plate of food while tasting. 2 Brisbane 2019 Aberfeldy 12 YO Highland Single Malt The Golden Dram: Valencia orange, morello cherry and freshly buttered toast. Famed for it’s extra long fermentation which delivers rich fruity and honey notes. 40% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Allt-a-Bhainne The lightly peated Speyside single malt. We married smoky and sweet to strike the perfect balance. Speyside is known for its fruity whiskies but Allt-a-Bhainne goes against the grain to combine peat with the Speyside style, creating a single malt whisky with an unconventional flavour. 40% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Robert Burns Single Malt Bottled under the Robert Burns label, the use of mainly American oak ex-Bourbon casks in maturation has accentuated the sweet-fruity notes of Arran whilst a smaller proportion of ex-Sherry hogsheads add depth and richness. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Lochranza Reserve Single Malt Whisky Fresh, light and elegant no-age-statement Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Beautifully balanced citrus fruit and light vanilla sweetness with a burst of apple and delicate marine notes. Sweetness, Spice, Charred Oak. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Aged 10 Years Single Malt Whisky Officially launched in 2006, this 10 year old lies at the heart of the Isle of Arran range and exudes all the honeyed richness we have come to associate with the island distillery. 46% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 whiskylive.com.au 3 WHISKYLIVE & FINE SPIRITS Arran Aged 18 Years Single Malt Whisky Caramelised citrus and tropical notes on a background of toasted oak have created an intense, well rounded dram with charm and personality. Gold Medal Winner at the World Whiskies Awards 2018 and Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2018. 46% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Amarone Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky This has a similar style to the brilliant Sassicaia finish. Amarone is dry Italian red made using partially dried Corvina grapes, Rondinella grapes and Molinara. The end result is a Single Malt with a rich brooding character, full of complexity and quality. 50% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Machrie Moor Peated Single Malt Whisky Arran produced a batch of peated malt whisky at the same time every year. A wonderful balanced dram with sweet-fruit at the front of the palate followed by lingering peat on the finish. Delicious and warming, like the embers of a bonfire. 46% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Single Malt Matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels then transferred for secondary maturation into smaller American oak casks for a minimum of 18 months. Rich vanilla, bold peppery spice and a little more sweetness. Bottled at natural cask strength without chill-filtration. 55.7% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Arran Gold Scotch Whisky Cream Liqueur You’ll happily ditch your usual bland cream liqueur in favour of this deeply delicious treat. Made with a healthy dose of Arran single malt, this is a cream liqueur where you can really taste the quality.. 17% Dry Sweet Light Rich • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 4 Brisbane 2019 Auchentoshan Three Wood On The Eye: Burnt Sienna. Breathe In: Dark chocolate and raisin aromas compliment the classic Bowmore smokiness. Sip: Wonderful cedar wood and rich treacle toffee flavours Savour: Spicy, toffee, sherry and barley. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Basil Hayden The eponymous Basil Hayden’s Bourbon dates back to 1796, when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Snr. created a recipe unlike any other. He used a traditional corn base, but mixed small grains in his mash to bridge the flavour of rye whiskeys and small batch bourbons together. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bati White Rum Master Class Aged for 2 years. Only Fresh citrus aroma with a soft vanilla oak taste 37.5% Dry Sweet Light Rich • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bati Dark Rum Master Class Aged for 2 years. Only Intense Dried fruit aromas finishing with molasses and charred oak flavour. 37.5% Dry Sweet Light Rich • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bati Spiced Rum Master Class Aged for 2 years. Only A subtle, well rounded rum that is lightly spiced with warm vanilla overtones. 37.5% Dry Sweet Light Rich • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 whiskylive.com.au 5 WHISKYLIVE & FINE SPIRITS Benriach- Curiositas An explosion of aromatic peat reek, with Fragrant hints of honey, fruit and mellow oak.An avalanche of peat, followed by an extravagant and complex mix of fruit, heather, nuts, oak wood and spice. 46% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Benriach- 10 years old Crisp,green orchard fruits, stem ginger and hints of tangerine mellows to creamy vanilla with a delicate note of mint and a gentle twist of citrus all held together with a sweet barley back note. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bowmore 12 Master Class • Breathe In: Subtle lemon and honey, balanced Only beautifully by Bowmore’s trademark peaty smokiness. • Sip: Warm and delicious on the palate with subtle dark chocolate flavours. • Savour: Trademark gentle peat smoke, leading to a delicious, long and mellow finish. 40% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bowmore 15 Darkest Master Class • On The Eye: Burnt Sienna. • Breathe In: Dark Only chocolate and raisin aromas compliment the classic Bowmore smokiness. • Sip: Wonderful cedar wood and rich treacle toffee flavours. • Savour: Spicy, toffee, sherry and barley. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Bowmore 18 Master Class • On The Eye: Mellow mahogany Only • Breathe In: Creamy caramel toffee, with ripe fruit and smoke aromas. • Sip: Incredibly complex, with beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with a light smokiness. • Savour: The long and wonderfully balanced finish. 43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brisbane 2019 Bowmore Number 1 • On The Eye: Warm gold • Breathe In: Vanilla fudge, sea air and peat smoke, balanced beautifully by honeycomb and cinnamon spice. • Sip: Citrus, gentle saltiness and vanilla with flakes of coconut. • Savour: Peat smoke, bourbon vanilla and lime43% Smoke Body • • 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey Blend Deep honey-amber hue with warm, pronounced aromas of under-ripe banana and brown sugar, white pepper and toasted sesame. Light body with warm texture and long sweet oak.