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The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve Scotch Review

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The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve

A couple of days ago I stopped by Warehouse Spirits near NYU and picked up this bottle of The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve. I’ve been excited to finally sit down and give this spirit a proper review since I’ve enjoyed the few sips I’ve had of it up until now.

This is a no age statement bottling from The Glenrothes, and clocks in at about $40 per bottle. There aren’t many details available on the Glenrothes website, save a bit of flowery text that reads:

The combination of different Vintages aged in a variety of casks creates a balance of mature experience and vibrant youth. The oldest constituent brings mellow oak and dried fruits; the greatest proportion adds soft, mature, sweet vanilla; the more youthful add exuberance and lemon citrus, creating a sharp and uplifting taste.

Sounds great, but I think we can all agree that this kind of language is pretty common and doesn’t tell us a ton. So what we’ve got to go on at this point is experience, so let’s get to the review, shall we?

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve Label

Product Specifics

  • Distiller: The Glenrothes
  • Age: No Age Statement
  • ABV: 40% (80 proof)

Appearance

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve is light and corn colored. The bottle itself is, depending on your tastes, either squat and humble or elegant and reserved. For myself, I’m a big fan and always enjoy having a bottle of this brand on my shelf. But appearances aren’t everything.

Nose

A fairly simple nose, with floral notes along with fresh fruits and breadiness.

Palate

Approachable, light, and fruity, with a dominant banana note. Just sweet enough to be a great after-dinner scotch that’s easy on the palate and on the wallet.

Finish

A fairly short, smooth finish, reminiscent of cinnamon sugar toast.

Conclusion

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve is not a stand-out whisky. BUT, for the price, I think it’s a good value, especially if you can find it in the $35 – $39 range. While some reviewers have slammed this scotch—Scotch Noob compared it to floor cleaner (totally unfair)—I think it really does deserve a place on many shelves, particularly for beginner scotch sippers who enjoy other entry-level Speyside whiskies.

For the value and quality of this scotch, I give it an 86 rating.

Final Rating: 86

Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso Review

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Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso
The other day I stopped by Barclay Rex on Pearl St. and saw a number of boxes of Sans Pareil and La Instructora cigars (La Instructora reviewed here) set up on a few corner shelves. La Instructora cigars are marked by their seemingly modern-art inspired bands, with Sans Pareil marked by simple, mono-colored bands.

Anyone familiar with Sans Pareil will know that they are aimed at the high end of the cigar market. Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso cigars for example, are $48 a piece, landing them at a price range occupied by few other cigars (the Davidoff Royal Robusto being one of them).

Sans Pareil is French for “without equal”–a gutsy claim. Let’s see how the cigar stacks up to it.

Blend Specifics

Size: Belicoso (6 1/8 x 52)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is moderately springy when squeezed. There are two large veins running the length of the cigar which protrude significantly. The pre light draw features touches of wood, sweet milk chocolate, caramel, and hints of spice.

Now for the branding. I get what Saide is doing with the band being the logo. There is a certain argument to be made for elegance in simplicity. At the same time, I’m a firm believer that to attract a luxury consumer, a brand needs to present itself accordingly. I’m not convinced the somewhat flashy branding on this cigar will convince many smokers to take such a large risk, both in terms of money, time and potential disappointment.

Smoke & Flavor Characteristics

The Sans Pareil Purple opens with tons of medium bodied smoke. Flavors up front include spice, wood, and chocolate. On the back end of the Smoke is salted caramel and touches of butter.

At about an inch in, the spice has drawn way down, leaving chocolate, salted caramel, and peanuts as the predominant notes. Very enjoyable. The retrohale is medium bodied and carries the spice note.

Moving into the second third, the body is still at a solid medium, but the flavor builds quickly to full strength. It’s always great to have a cigar that tells a story – and a cigar at a $48 price point needs to tell a story to justify the cost.

The burn has deviated significantly, requiring two touch ups.

Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso

At halfway in, the flavors have remained constant, but the strength and body have fluctuated considerably.

Moving into the final third, the strength and body has increased significantly. Flavors include cedar, cracked black pepper, and espresso. The sweetness of the chocolate note has faded, leaving a dark chocolate in its place. Very good.

Final Thoughts

The Sans Pareil Purple Belicoso is a complex, harmonious, and enjoyable cigar that tells a satisfying story. Does it justify the $48 price tag? For myself, I don’t think so–there are too many quality options at lower price ranges that I think compare well to this cigar. But the Sans Pareil Purple definitely hangs in there with other high-priced options from Davidoff, Padron, and Fuente. If you have the cash, give it a try and decide for yourself. I’ll look forward to trying the Red and Blue blends.

Final Score: 91

Nat Sherman Metropolitan Habano Toro Review

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I have never in all my (albeit limited) years smoked a Nat Sherman I didn’t like, so when Matthias asked me for my thoughts on the Metropolitan Habano, I was psyched, having enjoyed a robusto around the time the line was first released. The Metropolitan Habano is a part of Nat Sherman’s noble endeavor to achieve the perfect middle ground cigar: a medium-strength cigar with as much flavor per puff as your average maduro. Since we’re dealing with a thicker cigar that is more filler and less wrapper here, that’s going to be a challenge…

Blend Specifics

Vitola: Toro
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano, Estelí
Binder: Estelí region, Nicaragua
Filler: Estelí region, Nicaragua
Dimensions: 6’ x 52”
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction

True to its maker, this Metro sports a Nat Sherman’s signature look: the juxtaposition of the gilded gold and brown art deco label against its natural, unpolished body makes for an appealingly unusual look of refined ruggedness. The wrapper has a relatively rough texture with a couple of visible seams and sports a natural, earthy and musky cold note. The body is packed right to the brim with filler tobacco, yet it’s also satisfyingly cushiony, ensuring that the humidity level is just right.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Metro gets an excellent start on its mission of balance by coming in firmly with a note I hadn’t tasted before: dark cedar. It’s flavorful, but it’s not so strong that it knocks me out of my Barclay Rex chair (not in that way, anyway). The draw starts out mildly constricted, it’s texture is quite musky, though again, without being heavy-handed. This makes every single puff all the more wholesome and satisfying. Mind you, I haven’t yet mentioned the thick and silky smoke clouds that every puff produces. This combination is topped off by a tingly spice undertone that resides both in the draw and in the retrohale.

The spicy undertone in the background is joined by a hint if sour wood around the time the second third begins. Not long afterward, the draw is supplemented with a sweet touch of nutmeg that compliments the dark cedar excellently as the spice retreats from the retrohale. The Metro burns with some slight inconsistencies here and throughout but these ultimately require no manual maintenance; the Metro proves itself capable of correcting itself. The ash displays great structural integrity; holding strong and steadily well into the final third.

The final third, or the Point of Convergence, as I like to call it, begins with the spice returning back to the retrohale as the dark cedar that had so consistently dominated the foreground morphs into an even richer note of woody steak, again complimented by the sweet nutmeg and spice that remain in the background. In spite of a draw that remains as mildly constricted at the end as it did in the beginning, the converging flavors still manage to shine through. Finally, after a solid hour and a half, the Metro comes to a satisfyingly flavorful end.

The Final Verdict

I’m the kind of guy who prefers medium gauge cigars because I think they generally have the best flavor profile by achieving the right ratio between filler and wrapper. That being said, I was particularly and pleasantly surprised at just how much dynamic flavor this thick Metro toro had to offer. The constrictive draw did inhibit the Metro from reaching its full potential, but even that could only do so much to keep the flavors at bay. As such, for those who prefer a bigger gauge and long to enjoy an habano filled to the brim with flavor, this cigar is most certainly for you.

Final Grade: A-

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

  • Smoke it inside; within a small group of friends, one on one, or alone. Because of the richness and complexity of the flavor, this high quality cigar is meant to be savored. It’s the linchpin of the time you set aside more than a supplement. Accordingly, this type of stogie is best suited to a closed environment with as few distractions as possible.
  • Supplement it with something light-handed. Even though the flavor is immense, the Metropolitan is still just an habano at the end of the day. Pair it with a lighter spirit and or chocolate to ensure that the flavors are not overshadowed. Contrast is often the key.

Plasencia Cosecha 146 Review

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Earlier this week I stopped by Nat Sherman on 42nd and 5th ave to pick out a new smoke. I was happy to find a new shipment of Plasencia Cosecha 146 cigars in stock. I’ve been a big fan of the Plasencia Alma Fuerte for a while now, so trying another new line was an exciting prospect.

The Cosecha 146 was created to commemorate the Plasencia family’s first-ever tobacco harvest in 1865 in Cuba. Here’s what the Plasencia website says about the 146 Cosecha:

Plasencia Cosecha 146 is an exquisite combination of tobacco leaves from our 146th harvest (2011-2012). The leaves are grown in the best regions of Honduras and Nicaragua to produce a unique flavor profile, resulting from blending the crops of two great tobacco countries.

Plasencia Cosecha 146 Review

Blend Specifics

  • Factory: Plasencia Cigars
  • Wrapper: Honduras
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Honduras / Nicaragua
  • Size: Toro (5 3/4 x 54)

Appearance & Construction

The Plasencia Cosecha 146 is a beautifully branded cigar, and right in line with the Alma Fuerte and Alma Del Campo. Like the Alma Fuerte, this cigar actually seems to weigh more than an average cigar of its size. It has a great weight in the hand, which really increases my anticipation to smoke this cigar.

The Honduran wrapper is chocolate brown, smooth with a touch of oil, and completely flawless. The pre light draw is somewhat restrictive, with subtle notes of sweet tobacco and wood.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Right out of the gate, the Plasencia Cosecha 146 opens up with notes of campfire logs, baking spices, and light cocoa. There is also a spiciness that tickles the top of my tongue and I can also sense on the back of my throat. The texture of the smoke, which is voluminous, is soft and fine, almost flour like. So far, a medium to full bodied smoke.

Moving into the second third, the spice has picked up a bit. Construction up to this point has been good, but the burn has been consistently wavy. Notes are savory spiciness, wood, leather, all with some delicate floral notes in the background. Overall, very complex and well balanced.

At halfway, the spice is joined by salt and black pepper, with a touch of sweetness, making for full bodied smoke. At this point, construction issues are starting to get a bit annoying, and seem to be the result of the Honduran wrapper having trouble staying lit.

The final third is mostly the same, with the addition of a bit of heat to the smoke.

Conclusion

The Plasencia Cosecha 146 is an enjoyable and unique offering from Plasencia. I really enjoyed the flavor profile that the cigar offered, as well as the changes in flavor throughout the smoke. Two factors that I didn’t enjoy: first, the flavors at time seemed to be out of balance and at war with each other for dominance. Second, the construction issues were a real inhibition toward free enjoyment of the product.

Overall, this is a cigar I recommend you try at least once to make up your own mind. And, Halfwheel reports that Plasencia plans on more installments in the Cosecha line, so keep your eyes peeled for new releases.

Final Score: 89

The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review

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The Sexton Irish Whiskey

A few months ago, I saw some media announcements about the release of The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey from Proximo Spirits. My guess is, you’re probably interested in reading about The Sexton for the same reason I was interested in trying it: it has a really, really cool bottle design.

That probably sounds pretty shallow, and I’ll admit it is. But branding and aesthetics are important. Unfortunately, as you’ll read below, more important than style is function, and this bottle doesn’t function the way a bottle should.

For a little background on the spirit, here’s what a PR representative of the company told me about The Sexton:

The Sexton Single Malt draws inspiration from the long tradition of whiskey making on the North Coast of Ireland. Made from 100% Irish malted barley, triple distilled for smoothness in copper pot stills and consciously aged for four years in Oloroso Sherry butts to achieve a depth of flavor from the wine-imbued barrel. The Sexton is unexpected for a young single malt offering a perfect balance of rich, dried fruits and subtle oak notes, with a smooth finish that leaves you wanting more.

Crafted by Master Blender Alex Thomas, one of Ireland’s few female whiskey blenders, The Sexton represents the changing face of Ireland, capturing the romance and provenance of the past and the optimism and creativity of the future.

Product Specifics

Producer: Proximo Spirits
Distiller: Bushmills
ABV: 40%
Age: 4 years (in Oloroso Sherry butts)

Appearance

As mentioned before, Sexton Irish Whiskey is packaged in a really beautiful bottle, which includes some fun marketing language on the side. I’ve got to say though, pouring this whiskey is a HUGE pain in the ass. Because of how squat and square the bottle is, the liquid pours out all over the side of the bottle immediately when it is tipped even a little bit.  This will annoy the consumer, and most importantly will annoy any bartender. The management of Proximo Spirits should seriously consider changing the packaging of this whiskey.

Part of me wonders if the packaging was developed by a designer without the help of a product developer who would have known to ask a basic question like “can it be tipped enough to pour without first spilling down the bottle constantly?” That isn’t a question I’ll ever get an answer to

The whiskey itself is golden orange.

Nose

The nose is pleasant with lots of mixed fruits, some of that sherry influence, and toffee.

Palate

A fairly mild whiskey, but with a decent amount of ethanol burn. The sherry finishing is immediately apparent. Tasting notes include citrus fruits, spices, and touches of chocolate.

Finish

The finish is moderate in length with notes of fruit and sweet maltiness.

Conclusion

The Sexton Irish Whiskey is a decent whiskey. But, at $25/bottle, it has a lot of solid competition (Black Bottle Whisky comes to mind here).

It’s main advantage is its beautiful – if seriously compromised – bottle, which makes for a great look on any bar shelf.

Final Rating: 83

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