GQ South Africa — May 2017

MAY 2017 GQ.CO.ZA 35

Don’t miss these

Constantia releases

Best of

the valley

1 Glenmorangie

BacaltaR1000

This limited-edition

releaseisthefirst

that’s finished

entirely in Malmsey

Madeira casks. The

ex-bourbon matured

whisky sits in the

Malmseywinecasks

and inherits the

sweet Madeira

wine’s apricot and

almond notes.

2 Glenfiddich IPA

R950

When you’re William

Grant&Sonsand

havethebudgetto

experiment, you can

create great things.

Finishing your

favourite single malt

in IPA craft beer

casks led to this

bottling that picks

up subtle hops and

citrus notes.

3 Jameson

Caskmates R350

Taking a stout and

ageing it in an

ex-whisky barrel is

interesting. Taking

that ex-stout barrel

and fi nishing whisky

in it is pioneering,

and exactly what

Jameson has done,

adding in notes of

cocoa, butterscotch

and coffee.

4 Jack Daniel’s Single

Barrel Select R530

If you want to

add a depth of

fl avour to your Old

Fashioneds that no

amount of practice

will develop, up your

American whiskey

game. Though good

in cocktails, you’ll still

want to sip this clean

to appreciate its

spicy, fruity complexity.

5 Bunnahabhain 12

R765

Pronouncing this

12-year-old Islay malt

is a challenge, but

drinking the non-chill

fi ltered bottling is an

experience. With

unpeated barley you

still get the Islay

smokiness that

balances with

a light, malty

sweetness.

With a little cask experimentation

these big names pull off some

great taste mash-ups

Bubbles

Steenberg 1682

Brut R160

Red varietal

Eagle’s Nest

Shiraz R255

Desert wine
Klein Constantia Vin
de Constance R895

Red blend

Constantia Glen

Five R350

White

Beau Constantia

Pas De Nom R90

This left-fi eld whisky from Japan

proves that being different is worth i

Perhaps the most revered among whisky ai cionad

are those from Japan, the most well-known of whi

is Nikka from the Barrel. h ough Japan had been

distilling grains since the 12th century, no one

anticipated that the outcome would be so great wh

Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, travelled to

Glasgow in 1918 to study chemistry and apprentice

scotch makers. With this blend coming from Nikk

two single malt distilleries – Yoichi and Miyagikyo

• and a single grain whisky, the bourbon and sher
  cask blend is deeply rei ned and complex, with wa
  after wave of fruits, spices and honeysuckle.
  Nikka From the Barrel R650

OFFBEAT

BARRELS