February 2012 Outturn Offerings
Dichotomy of sweet and savoury
Cask No. 16.31
Highlands, Eastern Highlands
Sweet and savoury aromas greeted the Panel – tinned fruit, cinder toffee, honeycomb, Rumtopf peaches, grapes, tomato vines, Vosene shampoo and roast pork & cranberry; although there was a slight butyric whiff. The palate was more of the same although nutty with cinnamon, slightly burnt caramel and strawberry cider with added pineapple sherbet fizz. Water introduces strawberry strudel, sandalwood church pews, rum-soaked-oranges and grease paint, while to taste it was sickly sweet with liquorice rolling papers, over-ripe plums and incense but a bitter dry finish reminiscent of peanut skins balanced it out. From Scotland’s oldest distillery that is home to the Famous Grouse.
Drinking tip: For reflection of fruity memories
Colour: Strawberry syrup
Cask: Refill gorda
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: March 2001
Alcohol: 55.7%
$95
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Gentle Giant
Cask No. 33.111
Islay, South Shore
Although this was an initial blast of peat smoke, smoked bacon, vegetable oil, brine (from hot dogs) it was sweet and delicate. There was toffee dust (the stuff you find at the bottom of a big jar from the sweet shop), white bonbons, all interlaced with a mineral character. Big, salty, smoky, and earthy to taste but a delicate perfumed herbal note gave the impression of lightness. Water stabilised this gentle impression; now it was nutty, grassy, herbal and more perfumed although the smoky bacon was still there. Liquorice, walnuts, pine resin and salty ash were added to on the palate.
Drinking tip: On your way to Islay or for an education in the art of smoky whiskies
Colour: 9 carat gold
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 9 years
Date distilled: October 2001
Alcohol: 57.6%
$90
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Gesundheit!
Cask No. 50.45
Lowlands, Borders
The nose was gentle, sweet and fruity – chocolate raisins, red apples, red cherries and jif lemon, but also sneeze-inducing with dusty hay, woven baskets and quarry dust. We thought the palate unusual – dark chocolate, toffee and Butterkist popcorn and sliced apples sprinkled with salt, paprika and chilli powder. The reduced nose remained invigorating and inviting – fresh fruit salad, 7UP, marzipan, pear and frangipani tart and worn leather. The reduced palate became an attractive balance between sharp and sweet, like bitter lemon; the mouth-feel resembled pandrops on the tongue, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. The distillery lies close to Scotland’s ‘book town’.
Drinking tip: To get your juices flowing
Colour: Tarnished brass
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 20 years
Date distilled: July 1990
Alcohol: 49.2%
$145
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Cockle-warming citric crush
Cask No. 73.46
Highlands, Speyside (Isla)
The head-clearing nose offered peach schnapps, fruity white wine, lemon grass, marzipan, barley sugars and summer fruit salad, served with ice-cream and mint Matchmakers. The palate was an easy-drinking, cockle-warming melange of sherbet, gewürztraminer and lime sorbet with a creamy toffee, dulce de leche mouth-feel. The reduced nose was gloriously fresh – a citric crush of orange and lime (fruit, rind, leaves – everything) along with brown sugar, hints of leather and crunchy pea-pods. Swizzle double lollies, mushy strawberries and flying saucers floated on the reduced palate, held in place by a slightly tannic, minty after-taste. The distillery name means ‘big stream’.
Drinking tip: After a session of berry picking, or with dessert
Colour: Spring barley gold
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 12 years
Date distilled: May 1999
Alcohol: 57.6%
$105
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