Western Son Distillery
Spiriti del Bosco
Vermut S. Spirito
Neethlingshof Estate
Stellenbosch Pinotage 2017
Gift bottle from my son. Dark fruit and tobacco. Solid tannins. Excellent! — 4 years ago
Leeuwin Estate
Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2011
See previous 2 notes. Showing ripe grapefruit on nose and palate with high quality French Oak as a component and not dominating. Good palate concentration and just an outstanding Chardonnay in any company. Welcoming our son Hugh home temporarily from NYC and Georgie from Copenhagen. Hadn’t seen either of them for 3 years. Went well with a kilo of Mooloolaba Prawns. As in a previous note I will have the 2 remaining bottles in 2023 and 2024. — 5 years ago
Kanonkop Estate
Simonsberg Stellenbosch Pinotage
Virtual joint tasting with daughter and son in law, full, great nose of blackberry, plum, and smmootthh. — 6 years ago
Oban
Little Bay of Caves 14 Years West Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Tonight’s nightcap 🥃
During our stay at the hospital for the birth of our son some dear friends of ours brought my wife & I a care package. In it were all manner of goodies and treats, as well as a bottle of champagne and this scotch. They know us all too well 🤫🤷🏻♂️
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Caramel, creme brûlée, charred orange peels, and Christmas spice cake on the nose. Mild notes of moss on the palate with a pronounced but welcome warmth on the way down. Smooth and perfectly suitable for ending the day with. — 8 years ago
Krug
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
There are certain occasions that call for Krug Rosé. So, HBTM! The bottle was corked in the summer of 2014. It’s a blend of 45 reserve wines with the oldest being from 2007 and the youngest 2002. This is why I think Champagne Makers are some of the most talented people making wine. They are constantly blending up to 100 plus wines to bring that bottle to bottle and year to year branded flavor of consistency. On the nose; red & pink spring flowers, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, black cherry, black raspberries, notes of blood orange citrus, baked bread, soft volcanic mineral and elegant chalkiness. The palate is always ridiculously delicate. Micro bubbles, silky rich texture with beautiful soft acidity. The palate fruits are similar to the nose; rich & ripe cherries, strawberries watermelon, black cherry, black raspberries, notes of blood orange citrus with hints of marmalade. Red & pink spring flowers, baguette crust, soft powdery minerals that give the palate a slight sting and super powdery chalkiness done just right. The finish is beautifully rich, textured, revealing itself in layers and lasts minutes. Photos of; Founder Joseph Krug, House of Krug, Winemaker Eric Lebel, Krug’s Clos du Mesnil, a small plot of 1.85 hectares of Chardonnay...one of the world’s greatest vineyards and their salon tasting room. Producer history & notes...Krug was founded by Joseph Krug in 1853. They are based in Reims, the main city in France’s Champagne region. It is one of the famous Champagne houses that formed part of the Grande Marques. Today the house is majority owned by the multinational conglomerate LVMH, which owns Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton S.A. and who’s wine producer portfolio includes other well known wine brands such as; Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Château d'Yquem, Ruinart & Cheval Blanc, Dom Perignon and many others. Despite LVMH's majority ownership, the family is still actively involved in all the key decisions of the house but does not manage the day-to-day operations. Joseph Krug was born Johann-Joseph Krug, a butcher’s son, in Mainz, on the Rhine in 1800 when the city was part of the Napoleonic Empire. Having dispensed with the name Johann, he left Mainz in 1824 and in 1834 moved on to Paris. Germans were in demand in France as accountants and bookkeepers. So, Joseph joined Champagne Jacquesson in Châlons-sur-Marne. He spent eight years with Jacquesson. His work took him beyond accountancy. He went around Europe testing the market and assessing criticism from wine sellers and customers. He learned about composition and taste so that by 1840 he already seemed to have been blending Champagne for at least one other house. In 1841, he married Emma-Anne Jaunay. The daughter of a French hotelier based in London’s Leicester Square. The following year their son Paul Krug was born. In 1842 he moved to Reims and following a year later, Krug et Cie was founded with his partner, Hyppolite de Vivès. Joseph was fluent in French, English and German and even spoke some Russian, putting the company in position to exploit key overseas markets. Joseph died in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Paul Krug, who had been trained by his father to takeover. Joseph under the supervision of Paul, Krug was established as a Grande Marque. By the 1880s the prestige of Krug was acknowledged in the United Kingdom and became the primary overseas market for Champagne. In 1866, the House moved into Rue Coquebert, in Reims as it remains. After Paul’s death in 1910, he was succeeded by his son, Joseph Krug II. However, during World War I Joseph II was taken prisoner and his wife Jeanne played a key role in the House at a time when the Western Front divided the region between the Allies and the Germans. After the war, Joseph II’s slow recovery led to his nephew Jean Seydoux becoming joint manager in 1924. In that decade, the Krug 1926 and 1928 vintages were created, which have been considered by critics to be amongst the greatest Champagnes. Lawyer and wine writer Maurice Healey declared “Krug” the king of all Champagnes. Further, “that the 1928 Krug was the best wine made in the present century.” By the mid-1930s, Paul Krug II, the son of Joseph II, was active in the business and would become head of the House from 1959 to 1977. His father died in 1967, by which time he was, according to Patrick Forbes, “one of the most popular and respected figures in the Champagne district.” In 1962 Henri Krug, the son of Paul II, joined the management, as did his brother Remi three years later. Their arrival was followed by a series of innovations, including extensions in the range of Champagnes. In 1979, for the first time, a graduate winemaker joined the House. In January 1999, the House became part of LVMH and by 2007, the brothers, while remaining on the tasting committee, had stepped down from day-to-day responsibilities. In 2009 Olivier Krug, the son of Henri, became House Director. At harvest, Krug grapes are pressed close to their plots with the first juice kept for 24 hours in a vat prepared for the fermentation stage. The pressing from each plot is vinified separately. A pressing contains 4,000 kilos of grapes and yields 20.5 hectolitres of first juice (cuvée), which is poured into twelve oak casks chosen at random. Once fermentation is complete, the eleventh and twelfth casks are used to top up the other ten casks in order to protect the new wines from oxidation. For fifteen days, each cask is topped up with wine from the same plot. Krug uses small 205 liter oak casks tailor-made from trees that are more than two centuries old in the forests of Hautes Futaies in Central France. The average age of Krug oak casks is 20 years. They are retired after approximately 40 years of use. The wines remain in the casks for several weeks. During this period, clarification occurs naturally from the cool temperature of the cellar given the coming winter, as does a micro-oxygenation process from the use of natural containers, making the wine more resistant to oxygen over time. Finally, between December and January, the wine is drawn off into small stainless-steel vats. From here, depending on the decisions of Krug’s tasting committee, the wines will either contribute to that year’s assemblage or be stored in steel vats in the House’s library of 150 reserve wines to be used in the blend of a future Krug Grande Cuvée and or Krug Rosé. — 9 years ago
Akkeshi Distillery
The Akkeshi Whisky Bottled 2021 USUI Season 2023
I bought this at a large bottle shop in the Ginza in Tokyo in mid February, which specialised in Japanese Whisky. Quite expensive at $450 AUD but certainly of high quality. I was looking for something I thought would not be available in Australia but it turns out it is available for the same money!! A note of orange peel. The 55% ABV is a trifle hot but not overly so. The impact of the peat is not as pronounced as western isles heroes like Lagavulin and Laphroig. Smoky as expected and thoroughly satisfying. Had the last nip a few days ago. — a year ago
Talisker
Aged 10 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Smoky with brief notes from me. Not as peaty as you would expect from the western isles. Had a tour of this distillery some years ago on the Isle of Skye which is the spiritual home of the Clan Donald ie McDonald. Probably prefer the peaty styles of Lagavulin and Laphroig. — 4 years ago
Thierry Thibault
T des Thibault Brut Champagne Blend
Thought we’d try something new. Recommendation from the the Champange Buyer at K&L, Gary Westby.
The nose reveals; green & golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, soft; chalkiness, sea fossils, grey minerals, yellow lilies, lilacs and spring flowers.
Green apple leaps onto to the palate followed by; golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon meringue, cream, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, delicate mousse, micro-micro bubbles, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, chalkiness is a little more gritty than the nose, sea fossils, grey minerals, soft, white spice with just a touch palate heat, yellow lilies, mixed greens, lilacs and spring flowers. The acidity is gentle & quite nice. The finish has nice finesse, well balanced, polished & persists minutes.
Smartly priced at $29.99. Buy it while it’s in, doesn’t last more than days.
Photos of; Gary Westby with the father-Daniel Thibault & son winemaking team, Daniel Thibault and a Marne vineyard vista.
Producer notes: Daniel Thibault, the chef-de-cave of Charles and Piper Heidsieck for over two decades. After inheriting two hectares of the family vines over 15 years ago, Thierry decided to produce his own champagne from them.
Champagne note: this is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier from estate-grown fruit in the Western Valley of the Marne. — 7 years ago
Western Son
10x Distilled Gulf Coast Lime Flavored Vodka
This makes a hell of a limeade. — 8 years ago
Great Southern Distillery
Limeburners Single Malt Whisky
Great Australian Whisky with 61% alcohol. Smooth and a little touch of lime flavour in it. It is not strong to get in at all. — 10 years ago
Great Southern Distillery
Limeburners Single Malt Whisky Peated
A great tipple through the cold months of winter. Living proof that unlike wine, you can make good whisky just about anywhere as long as you have a pristine water supply, a good supply of quality barley and in this case Australian peat. In this case Albany in Western Australia. This is a smoke-infused single malt showing wonderful smoky charry, spicy complexity. So good I am going to order another bottle. — 2 years ago
Sadie Family
Palladius Swartland White Blend 2015
What a fantastic wine selection by my son, we wanted a little something to go along with Shrimp and Grits and Biscuits @Callie’sCharleston Biscuits. This wine has beautiful notes of berries, ash, minerals maybe even apricots. So delicious. Big thanks — 6 years ago
Hebei Sanjing
Shilixiang Baijiu
Distillery: Hebei Sanjing
Name: Shilixiang Baijiu
Fun apparent fact - Baijiu is the most consumed spirit in the world. But gosh... How little does the Western society know of this spirit. It's so difficult to find information on these bottles that are not in Mandarin (in English basically).
This distillery has to be king of the Hebei province (right outside Beijing). Signboards and ads are plastered everywhere with this very nicely branded disillery (love the bottle).
That said, this was pretty good. Alcohol on the lower side (40% abv). Sorghum and wheat based. It's on the "sweeter" side, even on the nose. Smells a touch musky, herbal and quite smooth on the mid-palate, finishes sweet and strong, but not necessarily harsh. Still burns unlike the Shandong Baijiu, but heck... It's Baijiu. It should burn. In my mind, this has sort of a richness, but not quite like Maotai's style and density. Still learning, so forgive the botched notes. — 7 years ago
JEM Beverage
Western Son Hill Country Peach Vodka
Peach 🍑 sweet tea w/this one. — 8 years ago
Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
Pappy Van Winkle Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Year 107 Proof
Thank God for cousins with hookups! Cracked this to celebrate my son, Johnny, and his arrival.
A little hot. I suggest one small rock to help release other aromas and flavors that can be overwhelmed by the alcohol. Vanilla, cream, baking spices. Absolutely love it accompanied with a Nicaraguan cigar. Cheers to new life and future endeavors! — 9 years ago
Seth Masterson
Taste this and you will understand what Vermouth/Vermut/Vermutti used to be and why there were bars dedicated to the drink before it became the sad mixer of vodka and gin it is today.
I'm a sucker for back stories and the recipe for this one was found recently written down by another ancient vermouth producer Florence centuries ago. When the son of this distillery took over he decided to try to make it and what an amazing job he did. There are so many components and layers between the florals and bitters and perfect sweet/sour balance of this I need a lot more than one glass to sort it all out. Now I'm on the hunt for a bottle.
Some of the magical ingredients: calamus, holy thistle, juniper, iris and rhubarb — a year ago