Glen Moray Gets Twisted On The Vine

Speyside whisky producer Glen Moray has released Twisted Vine – a single malt whisky matured in Cognac casks – as an an addition to Glen Moray’s range of whiskies matured in ex-cognac casks. Glen Moray Twisted Vine was bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and is said to offer notes of coffee, nuts, […]

Speyside whisky producer Glen Moray has released Twisted Vine – a single malt whisky matured in Cognac casks – as an an addition to Glen Moray’s range of whiskies matured in ex-cognac casks.

Glen Moray Twisted Vine was bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and is said to offer notes of coffee, nuts, prunes and raisins.

Glen Moray Twisted Vine has a serving recommendation of being presented neat or mixed in a cocktail.

Glen Moray Twisted Vine is being made available for $35 per 700ml bottle.

Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review

On a very technical level, the Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon is not a bourbon. I know, it doesn’t make sense when I say that right? But hang in for a second. The actual technical definition of bourbon does not allow for the use of used cooperage, to be a bourbon it can only ever […]

The post Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

On a very technical level, the Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon is not a bourbon. I know, it doesn’t make sense when I say that right? But hang in for a second. The actual technical definition of bourbon does not allow for the use of used cooperage, to be a bourbon it can only ever employ new charred oak. A beautifully simple requirement that forces transparency.

Redemption Bourbon Finished In Cognac Casks Review

Because, technically, bourbon is no longer bourbon once it touches used cooperage, and is essentially just American whiskey, it has forced cask disclosure so the term Bourbon can still be used in branding and marketing. That’s why every bourbon, or rye, finished in a cask other than new charred oak calls it out in the name. It legally has to because it’s no longer a bourbon. It’s both technically, and legally, a “Bourbon Finished in XXX casks”.

Yes, the liquid itself, the bourbon, doesn’t magically turn into something else; the spirit itself does not change the second it touches used oak. It does change from the cask influence, but it still started out as a bourbon. So it’s logical to still call it bourbon, but it’s not accurate on a technical or legal level. It’s a fun one to think about eh’?

Let’s get to drinkin’!


Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Bourbon (Straight, Finished)
Region: Indiana, USA
Distiller: MGP
Bottler: Redemption

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak, ex-Cognac
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 49.5%

Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review Price: $85*

Related Whiskey

Redemption Bourbon 9 Years Barrel Proof
Redemption High Rye Bourbon 10 Years Barrel Proof
Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon
Redemption High Rye Bourbon Barrel Proof
Redemption Wheated Bourbon

White background tasting shot with the Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review sample and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“To create this unique limited-edition offering, Master Blender Dave Carpenter takes our award-winning High Rye Bourbon and finishes it in complex Cognac casks.” – Redemption

Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review Tasting Notes

EYE
Pinkish amber

NOSE
Blackberry taffy, oak, copper, corn meal, baking spice, leather, and some anise.

Darkly sweet and slightly earthy, it’s a heavy aroma.

PALATE
Caramel corn, oak, blackberry taffy, copper, corn meal, baking spice, waxy vanilla and bits of leather.

Keeps pace with the aroma well and delivers a nice experience as it rolls through the senses.

FINISH
Med-long -> Oak, blackberry taffy, dried fruit and leather fade slowly.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced, medium-full body and a warm velvety feel.


Redemption Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Review – Overall Thoughts and Score

Sometimes finishing works, sometimes it doesn’t; this is a case of does. The finishing delivers a complimentary set of aromas and flavors and they matched the casks to the whiskey well.

It seems, all too often, the cognac is hidden so deep in the background of finished whisky you wonder why they even did it. But here it’s front and center, but balanced and mixing well. I’m a fan of this Redemption Bourbon Finished In Cognac Casks.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

*Disclosure: The sample for this finished bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Redemption Bourbon Finished In Cognac Casks Label

Redemption Bourbon Finished In Cognac Casks Review $85
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Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish

This barrel select Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish is unlike most of the finished whiskies Glenmo puts out because it didn’t start life as the traditional Glenmo 10. Shocking I know, but this whisky only spent 8 years in ex-Bourbon casks before being transferred to ex-Cognac casks to finish it’s maturation. But not just any […]

The post Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

This barrel select Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish is unlike most of the finished whiskies Glenmo puts out because it didn’t start life as the traditional Glenmo 10. Shocking I know, but this whisky only spent 8 years in ex-Bourbon casks before being transferred to ex-Cognac casks to finish it’s maturation. But not just any ex-Cognac casks, well worn ex-Cognac casks.

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Review

Dr. Bill didn’t want the cognac to overshadow the Glenmo spirit so he used ex-Cognac casks that had been used multiple times before to age whisky so they’d have less of a dominant influence. Though we all know that too much use and the casks give very little. So where did this land? Only one way to find out.

Let’s get to drinkin’


Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Cognac
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 46%

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Price: $87

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie Malaga 12 Years
Glenmorangie Cadbol Estate 15 Years
Glenmorangie Lasanta 12
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or 12
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Glenmorangie’s head of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden had experimented with Cognac casks before, but found they would overshadow the spirit’s character. For this expression, however, Dr. Bill used Cognac casks that had been filled several times, resulting in a more subtle wood influence on the whisky.” – Glenmorangie

 

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Waxy vanilla, nutty malt, graham, cocoa, baking spice and a touch of bubblegum and raisins.

Not very deep, but what’s there is warm and inviting.

PALATE
Cognac, cinnamon-heavy baking spice, malty graham, nuts, cocoa, raisiny fruit and a touch of bubblegum.

Richer than the aroma, but feels rather dead mid-palate, like it’s missing something.

FINISH
Medium -> Raisiny fruit and graham fade to baking spice.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft easy feel.


Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish – Overall Thoughts and Score

There is nothing to dislike about it, but it feels a bit off, a bit not right, a bit incomplete. I don’t know how better to describe the oddness that is this whisky except that it doesn’t feel done. I also don’t get much of a cognac note, it seems like maybe the casks were a bit too tired, a bit too used to impart so little character after spending nearly 5 years in them.

I’m incredibly happy to have tried this Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish, I’ve been very curious about a cognac finished Glenmo and while this is the only one I’ve had so far, I’m not convinced they’re a good match. But then again, they did purposely use tired casks. I’d love to try this with first and second-fill casks only and see what it can do to the spirit. If this Glenmo mega vertical has shown us anything, it’s that the spirit can easily mesh with bigger flavors and come out awesome.

SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82) – Thanks to Travis for the sample.

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Label

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Review $87
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The Whisky Exchange Last-Minute Gift Guide

Need inspiration for that special bottle? Looking for a last minute stocking filler? Absolutely no idea what to get for secret Santa? Well fear not, because the always publishable Whisky Exchange Christmas gift guide is…

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – The Whisky Exchange Last-Minute Gift Guide

Need inspiration for that special bottle? Looking for a last minute stocking filler? Absolutely no idea what to get for secret Santa? Well fear not, because the always publishable Whisky Exchange Christmas gift guide is here. Our 12 drinks of Christmas has perfect presents for gin lovers, whisky botherers and cocktail fanciers. Just scroll away and let us take the hassle out of the seasonal mega-shopping.

Tanqueray No 10 Coupette Glass Pack

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A great gift for the aspiring mixologist in the family. Just tell them that the best way to judge a bartender is by how good their Martini is and that practice makes perfect – you’ll be kept in cocktails all Christmas. The iconic No 10 reinforces the classic Tanqueray botanicals with extra citrus fruit and chamomile. It’s a sure-fire way to upgrade any gin cocktail and is also very nice with light tonic and a wedge of grapefruit.

Monkey Shoulder Ginger Monkey Set

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This handsomely presented gift pack contains a bottle of the classic Monkey Shoulder blended malt and a supply of ginger ale to pair it with. Scotch whisky served long with ginger, ice and a slice of lime is a great highball with Christmassy notes of biscuits and dried fruit. As an added bonus, this gift set opens up a world of primate related humour you can deploy. We won’t ruin the fun by providing jokes for you, but punchlines you may want to use include: ‘the monkey bar’, ‘gorilla style’ and ‘merry chimpsmass’.

Plantation XO 20th Anniversary with Two Glasses

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A great alternative to the traditional after-dinner brandy. This well-aged rum began life on the Caribbean island of Barbados before making the long voyage to the Charente. On arrival, it went to rest once again in French oak cask in the cellars of the venerable Cognac house Pierre Ferrand. It’s a sweet and easy-going sipper with lots of marzipan, milk chocolate and vanilla custard. The tasting glasses included are perfect for nosing, sipping and savouring.

Talisker 2012 8 Year Old Special Releases 2021

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A real star of Diageo’s 2021 Special releases, this is the sort of whisky made for cold evenings and warm fireplaces. Talisker has been in business supplying hearty, fortifying drams to the people of Scotland since 1830 and is rightly held up as one of the world’s great distilleries. This limited expression is bold and briny on the palate with white pepper, apple butter, nori and lots of earthy smoke. The label features a Scottish Christmas sea monster – don’t google it or anything but they’re a real and very traditional part of yuletide in the highlands.

Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne Glass Set

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The ideal board game to play on Christmas morning – simply pop the cork, pour the wine into the glasses provided and toast until the bottle is complete. Players must be 18 and up, everyone’s a winner and there’s no actual board or game. What could be better? Each box contains two lovely flutes and a bottle of Taittinger’s elegant, Chardonnay-forward Brut Reserve.

Perfect Measure Christmas sherried Whisky Tasting Set

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Six shots of pure, distilled Christmas presented in a smart gift box. Whiskies aged in sherry casks often take on festive flavours of dried fruit, chocolate, nuts and spice. This selection covers a variety of styles, from the rich and elegant to the robustly peated where smoke meets sherry. A great gift for sherry cask fans and anyone looking to explore the richer, darker side of Scotch.

Personalised London Dry Gin

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An absolutely classic, straight-down-the-line, god-save-the-queen London dry gin. This versatile blend of botanical goodness is produced exclusively for you, our lovely customers. It’s also available with custom labels so you can send someone special a Christmas message wrapped around a bottle of gin. Just select from a range of designs, add a few words of your own and cross another gift off the list. Easy.

Piper Heidsieck Hors-Serie Vintage Brut 1971

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The grapes used to make this Champagne were harvested in September 1971, around the time John Lennon released Imagine and T.Rex dropped Electric Warrior. It’s been aged for an incredible 50 years in Piper Heidsieck’s cellars prior to release. No glasses with this one, just five decades of history in a bottle. It’s a deep gold colour in the glass with an intense nose full of dried fruits, toasted nuts and tropical touches of pineapple and lychee. The palate is citrusy, with dried orange and mature layers of raw chocolate and earthy cep mushrooms.

Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old Glass Set

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After 200 years in the business, Johnnie Walker remains a benchmark for blended whiskies. Fans of the bestselling Black and Red Labels will appreciate this well-aged expression from the striding man. It’s a smooth but layered dram with candied peel, salted caramel and vanilla pastries on the palate and a hint of campfire smoke in the finish. Each gift box comes with two tumblers perfect for sharing a drink-or-two on Christmas day.

Graham’s Port Pack

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Port has been a part of the festive season for centuries – these complex fortified wines offering the perfect accompaniment to cheese and snacks as Christmas Day turns to Christmas Night. This tasting pack from Graham’s offers the opportunity to work through a variety of styles including the light and fresh Fine White Port and the rich, nutty cask aged tawny. World class stocking filler and god-tier mince pie washer downer.

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

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Christmas is a marathon, not a sprint – so a little pick-me-up is always welcome. This superb quality cold brew coffee liqueur from Australia is the ideal base for an Espresso Martini. The perfect gift for anyone who’ll predictably be well stocked with coffee and vodka come the big day. The good people at Mr Black have even thrown in a cocktail glass for serving espresso martinis, swirling around and gesturing with to make a point.

Everything You Need To Know About Whisky
(but are too afraid to ask)

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Does exactly what it says on the cover – this deep dive into the whisky industry is essential reading for anyone who enjoys a dram. The beautifully illustrated volume from drinks writer Nicholas Morgan covers the history, culture and future of the world’s finest spirits. If someone you know wants to learn more about whisky, whether they’re new to the category or a seasoned Scotch drinker, this is the gift for them.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – The Whisky Exchange Last-Minute Gift Guide