Review by: TOModera
Was out doing the little insane Boxing Week shopping I had to the other day, and enjoying time with my wife. Never stop dating your wife fellas. Otherwise her age will get away from you and you’ll have to get out a calculator.
Anyway, we stopped into the Museum Tavern, as they had one of the Top 20 sandwiches in the city. Or least they normally do, the recent power outages due to the Ice Storm in Toronto made it so they were not able to make the Tuna Sandwich. As that’s why we had gone, I had to think quite and get us some booze.
A little bubbly for the wife and then I had to choose amongst their pretty well kept (though downtown priced) whisky list. And what did I see but Rogue Oregon Single Malt. I had seen it in the LCBO a year earlier, and was hesitant to try it, as I’ve heard mixed things about Rogue, it was only 3 years in the barrel, and the fist scared me as a Heterosexual White male who has issues.
Not to mention, as much of a Hipster as I am (it’s true, it’s true), I do get worried about some new things and thus don’t spend my money. But at the bar, I could have a dram, and drink away going through Holiday shopping!
It’s win-win!
This is my first time having an ocean aged malt. meaning it was aged on a ship. Or really anything grown solely in Oregon. All of it is grown by Rogue Ales, and heavily watched. Heck, 12% of the malt is hand smoked (does that mean you set your hands on fire, or you make the smoke… so confused) by a Rogue employee of four decades using Alder and Maple chips.
Maybe I should have bought a bottle…
Distillery: Rogue Spirits Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Region: Oregon.
ABV: 40%.
Age: 3 years. (Thought latter reading said 5 years)
Cask type: Ocean Aged in Oak Barrels for 3 Months (Otherwise Virgin Cask).
Price: $29.95 (CAD), which, I might add, was a heck of a lot higher when I looked at it. Or I’m cheap… Probably just because I’m cheap.
Color: Dull gold.
Nose: Sweet corn, strawberry, earth, vanilla ice cream, caramel
Very faint nose on this one, glad they had a Glencairn glass. Initially it’s closer to a bourbon, however as time goes on it’s closer to an earthy Canadian.
Yes, we Canadians have Rock People, don’t judge, it’s a melting pot. Oh, wait, the Earth People don’t like the term “Melting Pot”… uh, Granite Patch? Indistinct rock quarry? Bloody Political Correctness.
Taste: Sour cream, plum, caramel/butterscotch, pepper, Lemon rind
I originally wrote Lennon Rind, and wondered what that meant for way too long. God shopping takes a lot on me.
It’s very sour and sweet. The earth has paired back now, and you’re left with the sweeter flavours now. Quite nice for something so young.
Finish: Mango, cardamon, smoke, lots of pickled onion, spruce
More fruit, some of the fabled hand smoke, yet there’s a TON of pickled onion at the end, which I was not ready for. Seems almost out of place, yet you get used to it. Like having a gimlet when you’re expecting a piece of candy.
Conclusion: It’s good, yet I think there’s more than they can do with this. Smoke more of the malt, or age it longer to bring out the spice and fruit flavours, or really just work on the nose to get us excited about it. Good start, now do more with it, and up the Abv. a little to give it some more character. If you’re going to do quality, don’t half ass it.
Final Score: 75.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 