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.
Our third global sample for May 2021 hails from the Netherlands. This very interesting single cask was acquired by Gilles Dumangin, a champagne producer in France, from farm-to-glass distillery Zuidam located in Holland. Gilles then finished it for 6 months in his own Ratafia Champenois casks. Fascinating stuff. 46% ABV. Bottle 79 of only 369. Sourced from Alberta.
A rare bottle from 1988 from the dusty shelf of our very own Lee Snetsinger. Great presentation! Sweetness from the port finish is apparent, along with vanilla and oak notes. A great opportunity to taste a unique Speysider.
A double-header March Speyside tasting rounded out with another novel distillery to the Club. Tamdhu Single Cask, distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2018, was another great example of a little-known distillery that can pack a punch. This bottle is 1 of only 317. Adding a little water to this dram did change it significantly – thanks to “Ben” for that “magical” post-it note tip, and Club member Lee for sacrificing this one to the cause! A lovely taster with lots of dried fruit, raisins, apricots, jam and of course, toasty sherry.
