Old Durbar Black Chimney- Nepali Whisky

Old Durbar- A name unknown in the world of whisky lovers. Today,I am proud and excited to showcase this whisky because it is from Nepal, a country not so famous for producing liquor as it is is for its highest peak Mount Everest. I also happen to be in Nepal on vacation so decided to do a blog dedicated to Nepali Whisky. For people who might not know, the reason for my excitement is I am from Nepal and it is an honor to write about my first Nepali Whisky. 

This would also be a good exposure to fellow readers to learn about liquor produced halfway around the world in the Himalayas. Compared to other Whiskies made in Nepal, this whisky is an exception  in terms of quality and packaging. As far as availability is concerned, it is not yet available in the US yet. I will be bringing back a bottle for my fellow whisky lovers to try though 😄

According to the product story in the packaging, this exquisite & rich Old Durbar has been patiently matured & mellowed in American Oak barrels in Scotland for 8 years. Then the imported peated Scotch Malt is blended with English Grain spirit and spring water from the Himalayas and matured for a few months in European Oak Sherry Barrels. This is where the magic happens and how the whisky gets its unique taste.

Vital Stats
Old Durbar Black Chimney Blended Reserve whisky 
Price- NPR 3350( $29.50)
ABV- 42.8%
From -  Nepal ( Matured in both Scotland and Nepal)
Distillery- Yeti Distillery,Nepal
Awards won- None but it has won the hearts and minds of all Nepalese 🙂

Tasting info
Serving glass- Whisky glass

Serving style- On the rocks
Appearance- Light copper
Aroma- Slight hint of smokey peat
Flavor- I identified faint flavor of vanilla spice with overwhelming peat flavor
Finish- Short and smokey. The taste does not linger in mouth for long

SJ's Rating- Second Shelf
It is an export quality whisky and is highly enjoyable. However, it lacks the balance and smoothness required for it to be in my top shelf. I found it way better than the regular Old Durbar which I will review in my future blogs.I used ice to null the strong flavor and to make it a little smoother to drink. In other words it is not a very smooth drink but a reasonable one if you want to try an international brand. Also, If I could change the packaging I would make the bottle translucent and not opaque.This will give clear visibility to the  contents of the bottle. I give it an extra credit for trying to bring quality and maturity to Nepali whisky and giving the Scots and Irish the run for their money 😃

I am sure you enjoyed this one and as always I try to bring something new and exciting. I plan to review more Nepali liquor like Khukuri rum and also international ones that I have tried. Can't wait to share my tasting notes with you. What are you thoughts about this whisky? What international brands have you tried or would like me to review? Please comment below.

Thanks for visiting my blog and Cheers 🥃

Scotch Flight and Monkey Shoulder whisky Review

Left to right Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky,Glenfiddich 12 and The Balvenie 14 Caribbean cask 

Buckle up! it's time to take the ultimate Scotch flight. I recently was out with friends and indulged in a Scotch flight which is a standard One ounce pour of three Scotch whiskies of my choice. The best thing about it is getting to taste many whiskies without having to buy the whole bottle. And of course if you like the flavor you can later pick up a bottle of your choice from your local liquor store. I have already reviewed Balvinie 14 and Glenfiddich 12 in my previous blogs so will be reviewing Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky today.

Vital Stats
Monkey Shoulder Blended Batch 27 Malt Scotch Whisky
Price- $29.99 for 750ml bottle
ABV- 40%
Region-  Speyside (Blended with single malts from three distilleries)
Awards Won- Gold, Blended Malt 2017, International Wine & Spirit competition

Tasting Info-

Serving glass(s)- Whisky Shot glasses (Pictured above,Available in amazon)

Serving style- Neat
Appearance- Burnished copper
Aroma- Zesty orange meets mellow vanilla, spicy wood
Flavor- Mellow vanilla with spicy hints and mulling spices
Finish- Smooth with lingering effect

SJ's Rating- Middle Shelf 
I feel that this whisky  has nothing exciting to offer. It is delicious and easy to drink whisky for beginners however didn't excite me in terms of flavor and aroma. I would have this neat, over ice and also works well with whisky cocktails.

Tasting Venue- Thirsty Lion Gastropub, Euless,TX. $17 for this experience( Very good deal) 

Thanks for reading my blog and whisky flight experience. Please comment and share your experiences as well. Cheers 🥃

Jameson Caskmates- Stout Edition

Jameson Caskmates- Stout Edition is a blended Irish whisky. It has a very pleasant finish of beer which comes from ageing in craft beer barrels. It is the best of both worlds, an excellent blend of fine Irish whisky combined with the aroma and flavor of craft beer. This is an excellent choice for people like me who like beer but whisky is my first choice. This gives me a chance to taste beer with my whisky 😃,if that makes any sense 😇. What more would anyone want in life. Lol.. This is a match made in heaven. I like the regular Jameson as well, this however is an obvious choice for my palette. 

Vital Stats
Jameson Caskmates- Stout Edition
Price- $27.99 for750ml bottle
ABV- 40%
Country- Ireland
Awards won- None

Tasting info
Serving glass- Whisky Glass (Pictured below, available in amazon )

Serving style- Neat ( Without ice)
Appearance- Dark copper color
Aroma- Charred oak, cocoa beans with subtle touch of sweet hops.
Flavor- Fruity notes of orange and soft taste of craft beer
Finish- Long finish, I could savor the taste of beer in my mouth for a while.

SJ's rating- Top Shelf
This is a fine Irish whisky finished in beer barrels. Its mellow flavor of beer is excellent and the marriage between whisky and beer is outstanding.

Hope you enjoyed my review today and looking forward to seeing your comments about this whisky in the section below.
Cheers 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃