A tasty 28-year whisky from North British, one of few dedicated grain distilleries in Scotland. It’s a big place, located right in the City of Edinburgh and established in 1885. I don’t think it can be classified as a mind-blowing bottle, but I am very appreciative of the chance to try something off the beaten track, a sherry-aged grain whisky! (FYI that means a whisky made with at least some grain other than malted barley). I think it works. 46.2% ABV and one of 461 bottles. $250, sourced from The Whisky Barrel.
For only 5 Years old, this was a very pleasing taster, and went over well with most of the Club. A great add-on to our annual Halloween Party. It is sold at the LCBO for $78.45, but it was difficult to get your hands on when it was first released in 2020 (and still can be). It is a permanent expression for Ardbeg, so watch for it. Young, smoky and herbal, a feisty one for sure! 47.4% ABV.
In September, ETKW hit the road and attended KW Oktoberfest at Bingeman’s, but not before sampling another unique Speysider – again a new distillery to the Club. Tormore 26 was distilled in 1988 and aged until 2015 in a sherry butt. Vanilla, oranges, butterscotch and malty flavours. Only 183 bottles were produced. 50% ABV. $280, sourced from Alberta.
What a damn fine whisky! Tun 1509 Batch No. 4 was acquired by the club after a few members “unofficially” enjoyed a bottle of Tun 1509 Batch No. 5 on vacation. Batch No. 5 hit the spot with a heavy sweet sherry and bourbon influence, while Batch No. 4 backs off on the spirit influence and highlights more American oak aged whisky. There were mixed feelings among those lucky enough to sample both as to which was preferred (I am hands down team No. 5!). An excellent tasting experience all around, the Tun series offerings (the previous run being 1401) have been around for quite some time, a style that involves marrying numerous casks of specially selected whisky in a large vessel, “the Tun”. 51.7% ABV. Acquired for $650 on the secondary market. One of those rare finds where you’d easily spend the money again.
July highlighted a double-header Deanston tasting, a Highland Distillery. Cream Sherry was another interesting offering, with a little heat from the high alcohol content, big legs, lots of dried fruit, all sorts of caramel and all the lovely sweetness you’d expect from Oloroso Sherry. Overall, the Cream Sherry finish definitely had the edge over the Pinot Noir for the club. 54.2% ABV.
July highlighted a double-header Deanston tasting, a Highland Distillery. The Pinot Noir finish is part of Deanston’s 2020 Limited Edition Series. An interesting offering, somewhat acidic with a red fruit character from the wine cask. Overall, the Cream Sherry finish definitely had the edge over the Pinot Noir for the club. 50% ABV.
Glen Keith is another Speyside distillery that is new to us, and what a treat at 28 years old! Such a lovely presentation and an even lovelier bourbon barrel aged whisky inside, offered as part of the Carn Mor “Celebration of the Cask” series. Vanilla, caramel, apples and peaches, oh my! Thoroughly enjoyable and one I wish I could find again. Cask Strength at 55.6%. Sourced from Alberta and long sold out.
Inchgower is another first-time distillery for the Club from the Speyside region. One of 255 bottles. 51.5% ABV. As the bottle suggests, “21 Glorious Years Old”, with an earthy honeyed sweetness. Sourced from Alberta. A nice, pleasing sampler.
May’s second global offering was from Amrut, India’s premiere whisky distillery. This single cask was initially matured in charred American virgin oak casks, followed by a port pipe, a generally hard-to-find variety of cask in the whisky world, which are usually only used to “finish” whisky in its final few years. 1 of 660 bottles at a whopping 59% cask strength.
In May, the club had the unique opportunity to sample a Swedish single malt, one of Spirit of Hven’s long-running Seven Stars series. Each of the whiskies in this series is named after a star in the Ursa Major constellation. We had the 5th release, Alioth, which was finished in dry Oloroso Sherry casks. The whisky is slightly peated, sweet and nutty. 45% ABV. Interesting bottle presentation. Sourced from Alberta.
