Thoughts on a "multicultural" whisk(e)y tasting selection

[tanstaafl2]

I was trying to come up with some thoughts on how to have an interesting whisk(e)y tasting that compared spirits from a variety of different countries. For example I can currently come up with a representative from each of these countries to include the US (bourbon, rye, other), Canada, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Netherlands, France, Japan and Australia.

Albeit the options are limited for some places far more than others. There are many other limitations of course such as the broad spectrum of styles just from Scotland alone but what might one select to include in a multicultural whisk(e)y tasting?

I was thinking I would try to select things that might be good middle of the road choices without including something that was really hard to find. Would it be better to highlight the differences or try to look for the similarities?

What would be an interesting selection for a multicultural tasting? Would even be a practical to try? Suggestions for general ideas or specific bottles welcome!

[ChainWhip]

Not on your list, but Taiwan's Kavalan is producing some good Single Malts - I have a Solist Sherry Cask that is delicious.

[MtnDew]

Another one to consider is Sweden, there are something like 10+ distilleries there now with the first one, and the most available, being Mackmyra. I found my bottle of their single malt at a duty free in Sweden but I've heard you can find them stateside if you look.

I personally have hosted a very small multicultural tasting with scotch, bourbon, irish, canadian, welsh, swedish, and japanese. It was a lot of fun but we found it hard to do since the whiskeys varied so much in character, mash bill, etc... Next time we are going to do a malt tasting focusing on just whiskies made from malted barely to try and keep the character somewhat similar between the different countries.

Good luck!

[Gillman]

I would limit it to four or five countries, more than that in one tasting is too much. (Save the B countries like Netherlands for the second tasting).

I would do:

1) Ireland

2) Scotland

3)America

4) Canada

with Japan an optional fifth.

For the U.S., choose any good mid-price bourbon, Buffalo Trace, say, or EWSB.

Scotland: any decent highland malt.

Ireland: Powers or Jameson. Even though blended, there is plenty of pot still character in these especially Powers. Or perhaps Redbreast which is 100% single pot still.

Canada: Canadian Club or VO (Seagram) or Crown Royal.

Japan as applicable: Any Nikka or Yamazaki, or any other good quality malt from there.

The object should be to identify the main national characteristics, and contrast.

Gary

[portwood]

Canada: Canadian Club or VO (Seagram) or Crown Royal.

The object should be to identify the main national characteristics, and contrast.

Gary

[HighInTheMtns]

I'd like to try the Amrut whiskies from India.

Edit to add: Bruce, your willingness/eagerness to try new and different spirits, be they foreign-distilled, craft-distilled, "non-whiskey alcohol" or whatever else, is something I really admire. Cheers!

Edited October 3, 2013 by HighInTheMtns

[Gillman]

Far be it for me to contradict someone with MUCH more experience than I ... but .... why offer those choices and perpetuate the myth that all Canada can produce is bottom shelf mixing-whisky?

You can contradict, any time! We all have our own views.

My take on the question was, he wants to compare spirits from different countries. To do this, I would take the most typical spirits, what developed the national tradition even if not the "best". If you took Masterson rye, say, for Canada, that wouldn't be a fair estimation of what the classic Canadian taste is. That is why I suggested a good blend from Ireland, a Highland malt from Scotland (not an Islay or cheap blend, say), etc.

Gary

[tanstaafl2]

Not on your list, but Taiwan's Kavalan is producing some good Single Malts - I have a Solist Sherry Cask that is delicious.

But is that more in the hard to find category? Or is it more available than I thought?

Maybe I could divide it out and have Japan, Taiwan and Australia in an Far East tasting! Hmm, what other country is out there that I could add? Kiwi whisky maybe if I can find any. Or add India to the Asia/Far East group.

[tanstaafl2]

Another one to consider is Sweden, there are something like 10+ distilleries there now with the first one, and the most available, being Mackmyra. I found my bottle of their single malt at a duty free in Sweden but I've heard you can find them stateside if you look.

I personally have hosted a very small multicultural tasting with scotch, bourbon, irish, canadian, welsh, swedish, and japanese. It was a lot of fun but we found it hard to do since the whiskeys varied so much in character, mash bill, etc... Next time we are going to do a malt tasting focusing on just whiskies made from malted barely to try and keep the character somewhat similar between the different countries.

Good luck!

Good point! I have been meaning to track down some Mackmyra but haven't done so yet.

Your point about trying to focus on a similar profile is something I have wrestled with as well. Not many good quality American malt whiskeys to choose from that I know of. Balcones perhaps. Stranahan's and Westward Oregon whiskey and a few others in the "craft" category are malt but very young.

[tanstaafl2]

I would limit it to four or five countries, more than that in one tasting is too much. (Save the B countries like Netherlands for the second tasting).

I would do:

1) Ireland

2) Scotland

3)America

4) Canada

with Japan an optional fifth.

For the U.S., choose any good mid-price bourbon, Buffalo Trace, say, or EWSB.

Scotland: any decent highland malt.

Ireland: Powers or Jameson. Even though blended, there is plenty of pot still character in these especially Powers. Or perhaps Redbreast which is 100% single pot still.

Canada: Canadian Club or VO (Seagram) or Crown Royal.

Japan as applicable: Any Nikka or Yamazaki, or any other good quality malt from there.

The object should be to identify the main national characteristics, and contrast.

Gary

Yes, this is probably a good framework and you are right that I probably need to keep it a bit more simple. I was thinking a little more mature for the bourbon. Maybe Elijah Craig and/or Weller 12. Or maybe a nice Four Roses selection.

Will have to figure out a good basic highland malt, maybe Glenmorangie?

For Irish I am leaning towards Redbreast.

Canadian I was thinking more along the lines of Wiser Legacy or Forty Creek. Although i do have plenty of Crown Royal as well.

I can add a Yamazaki 12 for Japan.

That could be interesting!

[tanstaafl2]

I'd like to try the Amrut whiskies from India.

Edit to add: Bruce, your willingness/eagerness to try new and different spirits, be they foreign-distilled, craft-distilled, "non-whiskey alcohol" or whatever else, is something I really admire. Cheers!

I do tend to be all over the map with whiskey! And other types of distilled spirits for that matter. But i do enjoy it.

[Wryguy]

I'd like to try the Amrut whiskies from India.

I think that these would make a good addition to the tasting. Amrut Fusion shouldn't be too hard to find or expensive. I'd put it right after some American craft stuff like Balcones Brimstone, I think it would be an interesting progression from that to a dram of the Fusion.

Edit to add: If you were ever to do a best-of-the-best tasting, world edition, you'd have to throw the Amrut Portanova in there. A bit out of balance but it is a thick-boned, juicy whisky.

Edited October 3, 2013 by Wryguy

[MtnDew]

Yes, this is probably a good framework and you are right that I probably need to keep it a bit more simple. I was thinking a little more mature for the bourbon. Maybe Elijah Craig and/or Weller 12. Or maybe a nice Four Roses selection.

Will have to figure out a good basic highland malt, maybe Glenmorangie?

For Irish I am leaning towards Redbreast.

Canadian I was thinking more along the lines of Wiser Legacy or Forty Creek. Although i do have plenty of Crown Royal as well.

I can add a Yamazaki 12 for Japan.

That could be interesting!

The forty creek whiskies are great, especially if you can find there copper pot or some of their limited releases like the Double Barrel or Portwood releases. They would be much better representation for Canada compared to the likes of Crown.

[tanstaafl2]

The forty creek whiskies are great, especially if you can find there copper pot or some of their limited releases like the Double Barrel or Portwood releases. They would be much better representation for Canada compared to the likes of Crown.

I think I have the Confederation Oak but never got around to trying it.

[tanstaafl2]

I think that these would make a good addition to the tasting. Amrut Fusion shouldn't be too hard to find or expensive. I'd put it right after some American craft stuff like Balcones Brimstone, I think it would be an interesting progression from that to a dram of the Fusion.

Edit to add: If you were ever to do a best-of-the-best tasting, world edition, you'd have to throw the Amrut Portanova in there. A bit out of balance but it is a thick-boned, juicy whisky.

I have the Amrut unpeated single malt and the Fusion. I think the Fusion is the more interesting whisky but I have never tried the Portanova.

[macdeffe]

I happen to host a world tasting for a local IT company next months. This is their agenda

1. Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15yo 51% (Scotland)

2. Kornog Taouarc'h Pevared 10SC 46% (France)

3. Penderyn S46 50% (Wales)

4. Hirsch Canadian 20yo Rye 43% (Canada)

5. Old Charter Proprietors Reserve 13yo 90 proof (Kentucky)

6. High West 12yo Rye 92 proof (Indiana)

7. Suntory Pure Malt Whisky 12yo 43% "Yamazaki" (Japan)

8. Mekong (Thailand)

9. Fary Lochan 1st. release 48% (Denmark)

10. Amrut Sherry Matured 57.1% (India)

11. Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask 58.7% (Taiwan)

No big thoughts from me on the agenda, it's just what I have on my shelf, will have to open a couple of bottles

This should give a very good idea of the different whiskytypes around the world. I've done a bourbon tasting for them before, and they have done several scotch tastings by themself

Steffen

[Guest]

Amrut fusion is a very nice whiskey.

See if you can find Nikka from the barrel from Japan, superb.

[Gillman]

Anything from 40 Creek is good because these don't stray considerably from the standard palate of Canadian whisky but are distinctive still.

I would save India for Part II. Part II could be:

India

France

Netherlands

Taiwan

Sweden/Australia/NZ etc.

Gary

[MtnDew]

I think I have the Confederation Oak but never got around to trying it.

Same here, on my last trip up north I grabbed the confederation oak, portbarrel reserve, double barrel, and copper pot. One of these days I'm going to try them side by side.

[MtnDew]

You got some nice high strength offerings there. I'm particularly jealous of the Penderyn, I've only ever been able to find their standard, madeira cask aged 92 proof offering. I'd love to get my hands on a cask strength...

I may try and copy you somewhat and host my own international tasting. I have many countries represented though I could probably find better examples from most of them.

I happen to host a world tasting for a local IT company next months. This is their agenda

1. Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15yo 51% (Scotland)

2. Kornog Taouarc'h Pevared 10SC 46% (France)

3. Penderyn S46 50% (Wales)

4. Hirsch Canadian 20yo Rye 43% (Canada)

5. Old Charter Proprietors Reserve 13yo 90 proof (Kentucky)

6. High West 12yo Rye 92 proof (Indiana)

7. Suntory Pure Malt Whisky 12yo 43% "Yamazaki" (Japan)

8. Mekong (Thailand)

9. Fary Lochan 1st. release 48% (Denmark)

10. Amrut Sherry Matured 57.1% (India)

11. Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask 58.7% (Taiwan)

No big thoughts from me on the agenda, it's just what I have on my shelf, will have to open a couple of bottles

This should give a very good idea of the different whiskytypes around the world. I've done a bourbon tasting for them before, and they have done several scotch tastings by themself

Steffen