Kenfessions: When an aged Hoyo hits one right out of the park!

[Ken Gargett]

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especiale LE 2004 (FJN Feb 05) – Navazos La Bota 88 de Malt Whisky - Navazos La Bota 87 de Gin

By Ken Gargett

 

Sometimes, the stars simply align. Sadly, that might just mean one whopping black hole.

Decided last night, that with the rugby league back and isolation finally on the skids, I needed, nay I deserved, a cracking cigar. Plus, a couple of spirits I have been chasing for a long time, eventually successfully getting a bottle or two of each, that these could be the drinks. All of this was to offset the possible humiliation that the local footy team was likely to cop. And didn’t they get bent over and proverbially… It was almost bad enough to ruin the cigars and drinks matches.

Nuff said on that. We shall move on.

The cigar suggests that dodgy labelling on Limited Edition cigars is not new. An 05 code on a box of LE’s from 2004? No matter. This was a box I picked up many… continue to full article.

[Meklown]

So Equipo Navazos - do they do their own distillation or are they primarily an independent bottler of wines/spirits? 

There are many certainly whisky IBs that branch out to rum, cognac and others, but this is the first I've heard of a sherry IB branching out to whisky (I have next to no knowledge on sherry).

[Kongelunden]

Wow, great review. Will have to look up Equipo Navazos - seems like an interesting concept, and from the look of it, great products as well ?

[SirVantes]

6 hours ago, Meklown said:

There are many certainly whisky IBs that branch out to rum, cognac and others, but this is the first I've heard of a sherry IB branching out to whisky (I have next to no knowledge on sherry).

The possibilities are certainly intriguing.  One of the reasons whisky bores lament that whiskies today aren't as good as in the old days is the lack of quality sherry casks, due to the decline of sherry production in general.  You get enthusiasts hankering for "old style sherry".  The reputation of the Yamazaki Private/Owner's Cask sherried single cask bottlings was built in part on the recognition of Suntory's fastidious, almost maniacal, cask selection process.  If these folks have access to such good sherry casks, their whisky bottlings could well achieve cult status.  I'd certainly be interested in a first fill!

[Ken Gargett]

12 hours ago, Meklown said:

So Equipo Navazos - do they do their own distillation or are they primarily an independent bottler of wines/spirits? 

There are many certainly whisky IBs that branch out to rum, cognac and others, but this is the first I've heard of a sherry IB branching out to whisky (I have next to no knowledge on sherry).

they seek out quality barrels of sherry that do not form part of the bodega's plans and then bottle them. they have some amazing sherries, but small production and have become really expensive. the only one i am not certain of is the gin. the whisky they get from various producers. the rum came from antigua i think?

6 hours ago, SirVantes said:

The possibilities are certainly intriguing.  One of the reasons whisky bores lament that whiskies today aren't as good as in the old days is the lack of quality sherry casks, due to the decline of sherry production in general.  You get enthusiasts hankering for "old style sherry".  The reputation of the Yamazaki Private/Owner's Cask sherried single cask bottlings was built in part on the recognition of Suntory's fastidious, almost maniacal, cask selection process.  If these folks have access to such good sherry casks, their whisky bottlings could well achieve cult status.  I'd certainly be interested in a first fill!

one of the guys is the head maker at the group which includes valdespino sherry. so basically i doubt there is another human on the planet with better access. but they have only released 3-4 whiskies, i think, and normally these are around 500 - 600 bottles only. so they will always be cult but getting them is tough. 

[Meklown]

9 hours ago, SirVantes said:

The possibilities are certainly intriguing.  One of the reasons whisky bores lament that whiskies today aren't as good as in the old days is the lack of quality sherry casks, due to the decline of sherry production in general.  You get enthusiasts hankering for "old style sherry".  The reputation of the Yamazaki Private/Owner's Cask sherried single cask bottlings was built in part on the recognition of Suntory's fastidious, almost maniacal, cask selection process.  If these folks have access to such good sherry casks, their whisky bottlings could well achieve cult status.  I'd certainly be interested in a first fill!

I totally get the "old style sherry" taste - these are not often replicated in modern whiskies. Other than Yamazaki, Macallan and Glenfarclas also became really famous for their sherried whiskies. 

I had a thought that the decline of such barrels were also due to the change in Spain's sherry export laws, to ban the export of entire (filled) sherry casks, etc, and "sherry-seasoned" casks don't produce the same quality. Well, I guess it's a combination of factors. 

2 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

one of the guys is the head maker at the group which includes valdespino sherry. so basically i doubt there is another human on the planet with better access. but they have only released 3-4 whiskies, i think, and normally these are around 500 - 600 bottles only. so they will always be cult but getting them is tough. 

I did not find in their website that they obtain new-born distillate from whisky distilleries and fill directly into their sherry casks. Rather, it sounds like they obtained an entire cask of whisky (presumably bourbon barrel type) and re-racked it for a second maturation in their own sherry casks. The colour of the whisky also does not look like a typical first-fill either. It would be fantastic to try it regardless (always hard to find a specific single cask) and it would be fantastic if they managed to do a direct-first-fill of some type of whisky (and I get to try it ?) 

[SirVantes]

2 hours ago, Meklown said:

I had a thought that the decline of such barrels were also due to the change in Spain's sherry export laws, to ban the export of entire (filled) sherry casks, etc, and "sherry-seasoned" casks don't produce the same quality. Well, I guess it's a combination of factors. 

Very good point - a big factor was the unavailability since the 80s of the "transport casks" that were used to ship mature sherry.  Even though they weren't solera casks that held sherry for many years' ageing, at least there was contact with mature sherry when they were filled for the journey.  A lot of modern "sherry-seasoned" casks are seasoned with wine that won't (can't) be sold as sherry afterwards.  

The website description of the Overseas does suggest that it was re-racked in sherry after 4 years in the original cask - but the sherry cask is described as a solera of very old dry oloroso.  Ageing in an actual old solera cask is exciting stuff.    

[Meklown]

26 minutes ago, SirVantes said:

Ageing in an actual old solera cask is exciting stuff. 

I've tried whiskies from such casks and they have ranged from absolutely delicious to absolutely horrible (to my palate) ?. Always tends to be better if the maker is not commercially-driven, so they will only use those casks that are actually suitable, and not as a gimmick to charge extra $$$$$! Boutique bottlers (such as Navazos, I think) tend to bottle the fantastic ones.

[GVan]

Nice review Ken, @Ken Gargett  I really enjoy reading these.  Since I collect wine as well as CC's I appreciate your tasting skills.  Personally, I seem to be better at detecting feint flavors in wine than cigars. It's taken me half a lifetime to learn about Bordeaux and there still is more out there than one person can process.  This one on rare whiskey's also has me very intrigued -- but, I certainly do not need another expensive and time consuming collecting hobby -- so, I'll just enjoy them through your reviews!