Ardbeg 10 Year Old

Ardbeg 10 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

One of the three famous distilleries on the south coast of Islay, Ardbeg is renowned among peat enthusiasts in the whisky community. Most of its whiskies share a heavily peated characteristic with those from the other two South Islay distilleries: Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Ardbeg was originally founded in 1815 but, along with fellow Islay distillery Port Ellen, ceased production in the early eighties. Ardbeg, however, was revived in 1997 and has become an appreciated brand with a diverse series of offerings. The people at Ardbeg seem to have a tendency to experiment as well, releasing many diverse bottlings including the lightly peated "Blasda" and the cask-strength "Uigeadail," a very well-reviewed whisky.

The bottle I have is the standard 10 Year Old, bottled at 46% and not chill-filtered. Like most Ardbegs, and many Islay whiskies in general, it is aged in bourbon casks. It has a very pale color and looks like a light white wine in the glass.

Nose: Peat. Obviously. Almost no alcohol burn. A bit vegetal, wet grass. I'm having some trouble describing this one. Light sweetness.

Taste: Lots of peat. Very smooth with a lightly smoky finish, different from the darker, oaky, campfire-smoke of Highland Park or Talisker. Sweet and fresh-tasting while still being heavy on the peat.

Tasty, but not my favorite. This whisky has little oak influence. This makes sense, as the bourbon casks impart less flavor than sherry butts, and this whisky is only 10 years old. A very fresh and pastoral-tasting whisky (is that even a taste description?)
I tend to like my peat smoke enriched by a darker, rounder spirit. This is pleasant, but I find it one-dimensional.

Aberlour 12 Year Old

Aberlour 12 Year Old
Double Cask Matured
$: Gift

As I sit by the window watching the heaviest snowfall we've had in the area for many years, I'm enjoying a 12 year old single malt whisky from the Aberlour distillery in Speyside, the region where over half of Scotland's single malt distilleries are located. This bottle was given to me by a friend at a holiday party we held a week ago. I'm not entirely sure where he found it, as it appears only in the "Duty-Free" section on the distillery's website. This whisky spends its 12 years of age in both bourbon and sherry casks. Unlike many whiskies which are matured in bourbon first, then finished with a few years in sherry, the Aberlour 12 year old expression is a blend of bourbon-aged and sherry-aged spirits which are combined only when both are fully matured. The bourbon casks traditionally yield a softer, lighter flavor and the sherry casks produce a richer, spicier spirit. Aberlour 12 year old, then, should contain a bit of both.

Nose: Pear and honey. Caramel apples. Well-aged with no hint of peat presence in the aroma. Deeper, there are the best scents of Famous Grouse without the less pleasant alcohol aroma associated with cheaper whisky.

Taste: Fall fruits like apples and pears, no citrus. Sherry influence is definitely present with spice on the finish: pepper, nutmeg, clove?

A rich and delicious unpeated whisky. Perfect for a snowy afternoon after a lunch of barley soup and cheese.

Bulleit Bourbon

Bulleit Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$24

After a late summer hiatus from whisk(e)y drinking, the weather is starting to cool down a bit and I'm sampling more whiskies again. I also recently got a bargain on a couple bottles of Islay malt that I will review before too long. In the meantime I will write a bit about a bottle of bourbon that has been on the shelf for a while. Haven't sampled a bourbon like this before, as I usually drink these on the rocks without too much consideration (or occasionally with vermouth in a Manhattan).

The original formula for Bulleit bourbon whiskey was supposedly concocted by an Augustus Bulleit around 1800. He disappeared while transporting a batch of his bourbon to market. The current brand was began by Augustus' great-great-grandson, Tom Bulleit, who had always wanted to "revive the family's bourbon legacy, started more than 150 years ago" (bulleitbourbon.com). Became available in the United States in 1999 and is the only bourbon owned by the holding company Diageo, a giant in the Scotch world which owns 28 single malt distilleries.

Bourbon whiskey is a uniquely American spirit. It stems from the heritage of mountain farmers converting their crops into alcohol for easier transport through the Appalachians and a greater profit in the eastern cities. American whiskey production plays a role in much of early United States history. To stay true to its roots, bourbon whiskey is subject to a series of requirements:
It must be distilled from a grain mixture of at least 51% corn.
It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. These are freshly blackened and, unlike those used for Scotch, have never been used to age another spirit. This gives bourbon a sweet woody characteristic imparted by the oak.
It must have been aged for at least two years, and no-age-statement bourbons must have been aged for at least four. In practice, most bourbon has been aged for more than this.
Also, it must contain no artificial caramel coloring, meaning the color of a bourbon is imparted by the oak aging alone. The use of caramel color is an often-criticized aspect of much Scotch whisky distillation, with some connoisseurs claiming it adds a subtle bitter chemical aftertaste and removes any meaning from the color of a whisky. Not all Scotches use this, but many do, and many well-known whiskies would be much lighter in color were it not for the caramel.

Finally, to taste this thing. Bulleit contains more rye than many bourbons, approximately 30%. It is bottled at 45% alcohol by volume.

Nose:
Sweet caramel (scent; I just finished typing about how there's no caramel color). A bit of maple syrup. Characteristic bourbon, with the rye element present and noticeable. No smoke on the nose, just a syrupy sweetness and a strong apple aroma. Smells like autumn.

Taste:
Sweet, oaky vanilla and maple. Alcohol. Tastes like bourbon. A touch of smoke on the finish, but nothing like Scottish peat, just the hints of charcoal from the new oak barrel aging.

Not a bad drink at all. Very smooth, especially given its relatively high proof. Sweet and quite tasty, but lacks the complexity of a single malt Scotch.

Bowmore 12 Year Old

Bowmore Single Islay Malt
12 Years Old
$40

This is the second Islay malt I have tried after finishing my bottle of Laphroaig 10 that I wrote about on this site's first entry. Bowmore is a distillery that dates back to 1779 (so claims the brand's marketing). It is one of the oldest in Scotland, and makes a range of bottlings including the 12 that I am going to taste tonight.

Nose: Smoke and citrus. Orange zest is the most noticeable scent in this aside from the expected peat smoke. The whisky has a light and airy nose, with a definite sea character in addition to this lemony-orange smell.

Palate: Dry, not very sweet. Cool and light rather than warming and dark. The oak characteristics are in the background to the peat and malt flavors on this one, and the citrus element is definitely still there. Finish is where the smoke really comes out, with kind of a chocolatey tobacco aftertaste.

The nose and the taste of this whisky are very much aligned. I don't get any elements in the nose that I don't taste in the whisky. The sweetness of spending 12 years in oak casks is not as pronounced as I might expect, but that gives more weight to the citrusy, smoky flavors in this dram. My friend Andrew's favorite whisky, and the one that got him into... bourbon.

I've been really impressed so far with the different nature of every single dram I've tried so far on my foray into the whisky world. This doesn't have any of the sweetness of Talisker or Highland Park, or the medicinal aftertaste of Laphroaig, or the buttery smoothness of the blends I've tried. I'm really beginning to see why people get so into whisky — every sample gives something a little new with different nuances to appreciate. I really like the light, smoky character of this whisky, and it hits the spot with the warm summer weather we're currently having. I think this is a dram to sit outside with on a warm evening with friends. I plan to put this bottle to that use this weekend.

Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow

Selle Italia
Flite Gel Flow Saddle
$200

Selle Italia is one of the classic saddle manufacturers in cycling. Since 1897, they have been making saddles for bike racers and recreational cyclists alike. The Flite was introduced in 1990, setting a new standard for lightweight saddles worldwide. The saddle has since been found on many manufacturers' bikes since then. Denis Menchov, this year's Giro winner, for instance, rides the current Team Edition Flite from Selle Italia.

The company introduced their Gel Flow technology in 2002, incorporating a central cutout and variable-thickness gel pads into the traditional Flite saddle profile. I have ridden one of these since 2004, and when Selle Italia revamped the Flite in 2008, I replaced my original Gel Flow with the new one, and it is still going strong. The current model is now lighter and more sculpted in shape. The spacing on the supportive part of the saddle is the same, but there is now less excess material around the back and sides.

One minor issue with the seat is that the structure in the central section of the saddle is not as stiff with the cutout. For this reason, I have seen some riders' saddles where the central part has deformed over time, bowing down toward the seatpost and potentially creating an uncomfortable shape to ride on. This only seems to happen over several thousands of miles, however. It's also a problem I have noticed only in the slightest on my own saddle, now 2 years old. Presumably heavier riders, and riders who tend to slide their weight from the back to the middle of the saddle, will eventually experience this problem more.

Personally, I expect my Flite to remain in good shape for years to come. I also recommend it, especially if you have tried less-expensive saddles in the past without finding one that is really comfortable. Made in Italy, with a full-grain real leather cover, the Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow is a comfortable, lightweight and stylish saddle for any road bike.

Talisker 10

Talisker 10 Year Old
Island Single Malt Whisky
$52

I bought this bottle for myself after completing the 30 consecutive days of bike riding that we did back in April. I had a little bit of it at the time but haven't touched it since; time to break it open again and see what my impressions are.

Talisker, dating back to 1830, is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye. The island is the northernmost of the Inner Hebrides and is known for its picturesque scenery and long heritage, which incorporates some of the history of Norse and Gaelic cultures. It is considered a Highland whisky, though it is not distilled on the mainland.

Nose: Peaty with a spicy character not exactly found in Laphroaig or Highland Park. Apple cider vinegar, lemon rind and sea salt. At a distance, bracing mountain air like a crisp autumn morning.

Palate: Real sweetness initially, oaky, brown sugar, with a strong peat kick through the finish. The stronger-than-average % abv is noticeable, but doesn't detract from the whisky's malt character or smoothness.

I bought this whisky after reading innumerable glowing reviews across the Internet. It is quite good. It really manages to be two things: extremely sweet and then very peated and salty. Each subsequent sip I have had just now reinforces that the whisky tastes first sweet, like an old bourbon (almost like rum?) and then, upon swallowing, very peaty and a little bitter, like a Laphroaig without the medicinal characteristic.
It is the most two-toned whisky I have tasted to date. It really doesn't blend the flavors at all, it presents them in succession. Very interesting... but after this one's gone, I plan to keep an Islay on hand for peat. If it is to be a peated night, I'd just as soon commit to it. If I want a malt that blends its sweet and smoky flavors to perfection, I think Highland Park will be the choice... at least so far.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Johnnie Walker Black Label
Blended Scotch Whisky
12 Years Old
$32

The Johnnie Walker series of blended whiskies are ubiquitous on shelves and in bars throughout much of the world. The brand of choice of Winston Churchill, it is regarded by many as the classic "Scotch." Today I am tasting the Black Label, which signifies a blend of single malts and grain whiskies, all of which are at least 12 years old. It is a smoother and older whisky than the Red Label, which is blended with mixed drinks in mind. However, it is more affordable than the Green Label vatted malt or the Gold Label or Blue Label premium blends.

Johnnie Walker is named for a grocer who sold whisky in Ayrshire, Scotland. The brand was really begun by John Walker's son Alexander. The company's first blended whisky was made in 1865, and the characteristic square bottle was introduced in 1870. The whisky is blended today in Kilmarnock, and exported around the world.

Nose:
Wonderful maple syrup and honey aroma. Citrus undertones like orange zest. Green apples and brown sugar.

Palate:
Smooth flavor of malt with oaky bourbon flavor apparent as well. Sweet, balanced and easy to drink, with a light peat smoke on the finish which does not linger long.

The commercials for Black Label always show it being served over ice, but I think it's better neat. Ice brings out the buttery smoothness in a blend like Famous Grouse, but it really kills the rich maltiness of this one. Johnnie Walker Black Label is warming and sweet, with a rich flavor from the barrel aging, and a light smoky finish. The smoothness of well-chosen and well-aged grain whiskies is really clear in the flavors of this drink.

If one had to choose only one Scotch whisky for the shelf, I am inclined to think this may be the one to pick. A standard by which to measure other whiskies, blended and single malt alike. Inexpensive enough to drink and share with friends, and good enough to really impress.

Louis Garneau Deluxe Gloves

Louis Garneau
Deluxe Gloves
$16

Louis Garneau is a Canadian company specializing in cycling apparel. Founded in the mid-1980s by Louis Garneau, a bicycle racer and Canadian track champion, the company focuses on developing quality apparel at competitive prices. They offer a range of comfortable, fully-featured jerseys, helmets, shorts, and other apparel to fit a range of riders' budgets.

I purchased their least expensive glove, the Deluxe, on a whim several months ago because I liked the style of it. The brown synthetic leather and black (or white) mesh back gives it a slightly retro look. I have some other gloves, but these were inexpensive and, I figured, worth a try.

For the price, it is in fact an extremely comfortable glove. Unlike many higher-end gloves, however, the palms are only slightly ventilated. If buying a glove to use in hot summer weather, one is probably better advised to go with a glove like the higher-end Pilota or Air-Gel. These offer more Ergo-Air palm venting to keep the palms cooler. Also, the Pearl Izumi Elite Gel-Vent gloves use a nice system to vent cool air to the rider's palms. However, all of these have a little more padding than I usually prefer, and on the hottest rides I generally ride gloveless.

In the weather we've been having lately, however, the Deluxe gloves have been great. In weather from 55 to 75 degrees, my hands have stayed very comfortable, and the gloves provide great grip for both road riding and mountain biking, and I have a wide range of grips and handlebar tape on my different bikes. Damp-weather grip has been really good as well, certainly better than riding gloveless in wet conditions.

So far, my criticisms are that the seams and the velcro closure could be of better construction. Also, a real leather palm would fit better with the gloves' style, and probably give them more long-term durability. The material used for the thumb wipe would also be more effective if it were a terry-style fleece material instead of the fine microfiber which is used. However, on the whole the gloves are comfortable, grippy, nice-looking and inexpensive, and are perfectly adequate for regular use, especially in the weather we've been having this spring.

Highland Park 12 Year Old

Highland Park 12yo
Orkney Single Malt Whisky
$42

Today I am returning from blends to the world of single malt scotch whisky. Blended whiskies are made up of a proportion of malt, produced exclusively from barley at smaller distilleries with different formulas and characters, and grain whiskies, which are mass-produced more cheaply, often from several types of grain.
Single malt whiskies, as the name implies, are distilled from 100% malted barley. The barley is allowed to germinate (the malting process) which begins to convert some of the barley's starch into sugar. The malted barley is then smoked over a fire that often uses peat smoke to give the grain a characteristic flavor. This can vary greatly between distilleries, giving the world of single malt scotch the great variety that one can find today.

The Highland Park distillery is located on Orkney, off the northern coast of mainland Scotland. It is the northernmost operating distillery in the country. They continue to malt much of their own barley, a labor-intensive process that creates a unique final product. The Orcadian climate is exceptionally harsh for Scotland, with high winds that scour the island day in and day out, and greatly influence the vegetation that is able to survive there. This makes the peat different in character from that of Islay, for example, and makes this whisky quite different from the Laphroaig I sampled earlier on the blog. Highland Park has been called the "greatest all-rounder in the world of malt whisky" by renowned critic Michael Jackson. The 18 Year Old has been named best spirit in the world by one major reviewer.
It is a component of the Famous Grouse that I tasted last time.

Nose:
Alcohol burn is more present here than in Grouse. On second try, I get honeysuckle and heather. Samuel Adams Honey Porter. Flower nectar and light smoke, like a distant fireplace on a spring morning.

Palate:
Lots of oaky sweetness. Apples, maple syrup and bourbon, with a strong smoky peat finish. Sure enough, though, this peat has none of the medicinal characteristics of the Laphroaig; this smoke is smoother and tastes less like, well, dirt.

I poured myself a bit more than I intended, but that's ok—this stuff is really good. Definitely smoky, a characteristic shared by many island whiskies, apparently. I can taste some of the similarities between this and Grouse. The blend is still a great value for enjoying more regularly, but this is the real thing. It really is a fantastically balanced whisky. Neither the peat smoke nor the sweetness of the barrel are overpowering, and there are a bunch of flavors that come in rapid succession. This is on the cheap side for single malts (compare it to anything from Islay, or most Speyside highlanders). Not a bad bottle at all, especially at the price. This one is worth a try just for a taste of Orkney heritage.

The Famous Grouse

The Famous Grouse
Blended Scotch Whisky
$22

Today I will post notes on my favorite whisky under $25, one that I think is excellent neat or on ice, and is a great value.

First produced in 1897 by Matthew Gloag & Son, Ltd. in Perth, Scotland, it is named after the Red Grouse, Scotland's national game bird. It combines smooth North British grain whisky with a selection of malt whiskies, notable among which are The Macallan and Highland Park. The bottle advertises its "smoothest possible taste" along with the fact that it is Scotland's most popular whisky.

Nose: Buttery grain scents, like dough baking in the oven. Cinnamon and nutmeg with Cream of Wheat. Smells like drinking whisky in a pastry shop.

Palate: Smooth barley and cream flavor. A touch of pepper and light smoke on the finish, as the other flavors fade.

This really is one of my favorites. Easy to drink and, at $22, easy to replace on the shelf. A great example of why blended whiskies should not be ignored in favor of more expensive stuff.

Giro Ionos Helmet

Giro Ionos Race Helmet
$230

Giro started in 1985 with the development of a new helmet called the Prolight. Designed to offer more ventilation and lighter weight than any helmet had before, it propelled Giro to further success throughout the next decades and continuing today. Giro sponsors Pro Tour teams every year. It has also been Lance Armstrong's brand of choice since his battle with cancer in 1996, when it was one of the few companies that continued to support him after his diagnosis. Since returning to the pro peloton this year, Armstrong has ridden for Astana, who, along with the U.S. team Garmin-Chipotle and the Caisse d'Epargne team, are wearing the Giro Ionos.

This makes this review a bit like when I posted my thoughts on the Chris King NoThreadset. Again, we are talking about top-level pro quality equipment that is readily available to the consumer. In fact, all three team colors are available, if that kind of thing is your preference.

The helmet itself is incredibly well ventilated. Due to the use of carbon fiber in creating an in-molded sub-frame, the designers were able to remove a lot of material from the helmet and create huge vents and exhaust ports designed for maximum airflow. The helmet is also quite comfortable. My previous helmet was the Giro Atmos, top of the line at the time, but I find the Ionos to have a much more comfortable shape. It does not create any pressure points like the Atmos was prone to. It also features anti-microbial padding, and was one of the first helmets to offer this.

For most of the year, it really doesn't matter what helmet you have on your head. If the weather is cool and comfortable, or cold (so you have to bundle up your head under the helmet), they are all about the same, as long as they fit. All helmets sold in good quality bike shops meet the same safety standards. But when the summer months roll around, and stopping at a traffic light feels like visiting a sauna, the Ionos is a welcome piece of equipment. It also comes with a full replacement pad set and a velcro liner for winter riding. Expensive? Yes. Justifiable? I think so.

Dewar's 12 Year Old

Dewar's Special Reserve
Blended Scotch Whisky
12 Years Old
$30

Dewar's Special Reserve is a direct competitor to the excellent and well-reviewed Johnnie Walker Black. Both are relatively famous blends, made up of whiskies at least 12 years of age, and running about 30 dollars. I have had JW Black on several occasions and have been quite impressed with it. This will be my first experience with Dewar's equivalent blend.

The brand was originally created by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. His son Tommy Dewar drove the brand to worldwide success using a combination of aggressive marketing and a quality product. In the 19th century, the first Dewar's master blender, A.J. Cameron, came up with the idea of what Dewar's calls the "marrying process." This refers to a period in which the blend of fully-aged grain and malt whiskies are blended then returned to casks to age together for a further period of time, usually several months.

Nose:
Buttery and creamy. Fruity aroma with a more intense alcohol smell if nosed deeply.

Palate:
Heather honey. Fruity again, perhaps like melon or cantaloupe. Some oak, reminiscent of a bourbon but with a bit less sweetness. Light honey and just the slightest touch of smoke on the finish.

A good, accessible scotch. Not particularly challenging but enjoyable and well-balanced, though it could use more peat, I think. I imagine this to be a good first whisky, Probably very tasty on ice.

GORE Bike Wear Cross Jacket

GORE Bike Wear
Cross Jacket
$200

W.L. Gore & Associates began in 1958 doing research in plastics. By the 1970s, they had worldwide operations and had developed technologies used in the space program. With the development of GORE-TEX fabric, the company introduced a new standard for the outdoor industry - a fabric that was fully, 100% waterproof but allowed water vapor to evaporate from inside. The GORE Bike Wear brand began in 1985 in Europe. No one else at the time offered a line of waterproof, breathable, cycling-specific clothing. Now GORE Bike Wear is the leading cycling apparel brand in Europe, and in 2003 came to the US. They now offer the whole collection of clothing on this side of the Atlantic, and are renowned for their innovation, high standards, and attention to detail.

The GORE Bike Wear Cross Jacket is made from GORE-TEX Paclite material for absolute waterproofing and minimum bulk. The jacket packs down and is easily stored in a backpack or even a jersey pocket. This is one of my favorite pieces of cycling apparel. I always keep mine in my Camelbak for mountain bike use, and will carry it in my jersey for a road ride if the weather looks like rain. When I rode every day last month, I got rained on a lot and was extremely glad I had the jacket. It also is a great piece of gear to use as a windbreaker; having it in the Camelbak is great for winter mountain biking when it's really cold at first, but you warm up after 15 or 20 minutes.
My only criticism of the jacket is that the fit is quite loose, making it less than perfect for road use. However, GORE Bike Wear actually classifies it as mountain bike apparel. The loose fit does make it more versatile for layering or more relaxed activities like hiking. I ended up choosing it because of this versatility, but if you are going to be doing mostly wet-weather road cycling in it, I recommend a jacket like the Xenon Race Jacket, which is a Paclite shell with a tighter, more aerodynamic and cycling-specific fit.

Chris King NoThreadset

Chris King Components
1-1/8" Threadless Headset
$140

There are few purchases for any cyclist that can be justified as well as the classic Chris King sealed headset. For under $150 one can buy what is arguably the best headset available. This is extremely uncommon; just think how much it costs to buy "the best" shifters, or wheels, or even smaller items like cassettes, stems, or derailleurs. (The best front derailleur, for instance, is perhaps Campagnolo Super Record, or Shimano Dura-Ace 7900? Try $210 and $160, respectively.)

King headsets, on the other hand, are relatively inexpensive. They are almost universally found on high-end custom bikes. Until road bikes moved away from the 1-1/8 standard in favor of integrated bearings for lighter weight, these same headsets were found on pro level race-winning bikes as well. It is made with stainless steel sealed bearings of uncompromising quality while featuring precision machined aluminum cups for light weight. Every headset also comes with a ten year warranty, without limitation.

My experience is that these are great upgrades for almost any bike. Three of my bikes are equipped with them (all installed aftermarket) and all perform perfectly under any conditions. They are easy to service and adjust and, I expect, will outlive my frames. I am extremely glad that I spent the little bit of money on this top-notch, pro level component.

Laphroaig 10 year old

Laphroaig Single Islay Malt
10 years old
$50

I'm going to start this blog off by tasting, and trying to describe, the last dram of Laphroaig 10yo left in a bottle I've been trying to drag out/prolong the life of for about two years. I bought it for myself as a university graduation present in 2007. Time, I think, to finish it off and replace it. I'll put another Islay malt on the shelf sometime, and post tasting notes.

Nose:
Little initial alcohol 'burn.' Very peaty and medicinal, a bit like iodine or antiseptic. Seaweed, like sushi wrappers, and salt air. Some bourbon-like sweetness in the background.

Palate:
I've read descriptions of this as being an "oily" mouth feel, but it actually seems quite light. In feel, though, not flavor! Peat is very strong, combined with the hint of seawater. A bit of black pepper and cucumber flavors along with the earthy, salty smokiness.

Finish:
Still more peat, of course. Also a touch of sweetness. The flavor fades away slowly and continues to remind me that I'm drinking what is called Scotland's "most richly flavored malt whisky," according to the bottle.

This is an excellent whisky (out of the few that I have tried.) It isn't as balanced as some of the Highland malts, or even the other island whiskies like Highland Park or Talisker. It was originally, for me, an acquired taste. However, it is a smooth and unique malt with a powerful flavor, and nothing else I have tried is quite like it.