Kornog - French Whisky

Kornog is the peated version of malt whisky made at the french distillery Glann Ar Mor.

Glann Ar Mor is located in Brittany. Brittany, like Scotland has Celtic heritage. More than 250000 is reckoned to speak Breton in and around Brittany, which is actually more than speaks Gaelic in Scotland.

Glann Ar Mor ("By the sea") is a very oldfashioned distillery. Direct flamed, slow distilling, wooden washbacks, wormtubs. Kornog is around 35ppm peat level. None of these bottlings has an age statement or vintage, but they are pretty young as the distillery started official production in 2005

Kornog

1. Kornog Taouarc'h Pevared 10 SC 46%

A sauternes casked Kornog

The nose is peaty, sweet and fruity. If you can talk about a nose being full-bodies, this is an example. The sweet woody fragrances fills your nose with a very warming experience. The palate is sweet, the sauternes has really made a nice impact on this malt, giving a good balance between malt, peat and sweetness. Fruity, like canned pears, a tiny hint of coconut. Tastewise this whisky is as peaty if not more than the Kildalton Islay Malts. The peat is a classic peat. Good long finish

Rating 87

2. Kornog Saint Ivy 2012 59.9%

A single cask (ex-bourbon)

A much more clean and simple whisky. At least on the nose. It is replaced by an unexpected flavourful and more fullbodied palate. It's dry, peaty with notable wood influence, hint of vanilla. A classic peated whisky. The finish is remarkable long and you can taste this whisky for a looong time. Wow

Rating 89

A remarkable set of whiskies. Is it the traditional (old fashioned) production method that gives this fullbodied delightful whiskies which excellences allready at this young age ?. It's unknow how old these whiskies are but  an age of 5-7 years is my estimate based on when the distillery started production. Blind, I would have guessed these to be at least 10 years old. What impresses me mostly is the fantastic long and flavourful finishes

I can't wait to see what this remarkable distillery will be able to put out when the whisky reaches ages of 10-12. Right now it is serious competition to Islay's and I have to say I prefer Kornog to similar new projects on Islay like Kilchoman and Port Charlotte

World Whiskies - Happy New Year

As the new year is rolling in over the globe over the next 24 hours lets have a look at whisky from around the globe

Whisky is a popular dram. Distilleries are popping up all over the world, Personally I have always regarded Scotland, USA, Ireland and Japan for the classic 4 whisky countries which have a long tradition of making whisky of all kinds. Many would argue that Canada belongs to this list, and I don't really have an opinion if it does or not, I simply lack experience in canadian whiskies

But the world is coming. Amrut from India has already made it to the stars of whisky

World whiskies doesn't have the same reputation as whisky from the countries mentioned above, and there's a couple of reasons for that.

Some world distilleries simply make crap whisky and/or

Some distilleries bottle whisky that's too young

But that's not something particular for world whiskies. I could say the same about some whiskies from Scotland. But let's leave the bad ones.

This blog post is my personal recommendations of whiskies from around the world worth having a look at. The list isn't complete as I haven't tasted everything out there.

Let's start in America!

McCarthy's Oregon single malt whiskey

Single malt whiskey from Portland in Oregon, made at Clear Creek Distillery
This is a peated malt made on Holstein still's one a one-run distillation (with a twist)
Read more here : http://www.clearcreekdistillery.com/whiskey.html
A delicious peaty dram, well worth a look

Charbay

Charbay is a winery and multidistillery in the hills between Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley just north of San Francisco in California. Marko Karakasevic is a somewhat excentric distiller who decided if he had to dsitll beer, it has to be the best beers, so Charbay whiskeys is made from bottle ready IPA's, stouts and the likes. This isn't the cheapest whiskeys on the market and its not easy to find either as the releases has been few over the years

Read more here : http://www.charbay.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=WHISKII7

Moving over to Europe now :

France:

Glann ar Mor

Still

A Bretagne distillery in France keeps the celtic connection up, and with a double distillation, live flame heated, onion shaped pot stills, worm tubs and wooden wash backs this is as traditional as it can be.

Lars reviewed the peated version, Kornog here:
http://danishwhiskyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/kornog-glann-ar-mor-distillery-france.html

Distillery home page here : www.glannarmor.com 

Czech Republic:

Hammerhead

A Czech distillery in Pradlo decided to make some whisky in 1989, right before the velvet revolution. The casks were forgotten in the mild turmoil that created the czech republic and the whisky was "rediscovered" in 2010 and bottled as a 21yo. The new owners , The Stock Spirit Group, were really surprised by the quality of this spirit, and it has been availbale for bargain prices in duty frees

Taiwan:


Kavalan

Kavalan is a Taiwanese whisky, the distillery was started in 2006. Several expressions has been released, Kavalan, Concertmaster (port finish), Solist (single casks of various types) and King Car (un-chill filtered, 46%). The whisky is sold mainly on the chinese markets and is really hard to get in Europe (and the US)

Last, I believe that Australia is an up and coming whisky producing country, but I simply haven't tasted anything under proper circumstances recently, but I did try Lark whisky at Glasgow Whisky Festival and it's for sure something to keep an eye on as well

Canada : Look out for Forty Creek whisky from the Kittling Ridge Distillery

Kornog, Glann ar Mor Distillery, France

Thanks to Steffen for inviting me on board. The wonderful and neverending world of whisky is a great place to share experiences and point of views and, first and foremost, enjoy a dram with new and old friends. Please take my reviews and ratings with a pinch of salt - they're just one man's personal opinion :-)

Now, let's get to it. Summer has arrived and Tour de France is underway. Recently the riders went through Brittany. Let us see what this area has to offer when it comes to whisky. Kornog is the peated version from Glann ar Mor Distillery, located on the northern coast of Brittany.

Kornog, Glann ar Mor Distillery, France, 46%:

Nose: Young and silky. Wine gums, grass and exotic fruits. Quite interesting and good.

Taste: Grass and exotic fruits such as mango and pineapple. Grape also comes out to dance. Although this one should be around 35 ppm the peat is at first delicate, then makes some twists and turns and remains in the warming finish. I like it!

This whisky is like a flat stage in Tour de France. Not too demanding but with interesting turns along the way including a nice finish for the sprinters.

Rating: 83