New Whiskies

Batch 71

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New whisky tasting notes Batch 71

If Black Bowmore 50 Years Old had to be summed up in one word, ‘immense’ would be quite fitting. But thankfully, Dave Broom has provided a few more descriptors to express his thoughts on this ‘insanely complex’ single malt. Kilchoman then contributes further to the high scoreboard with its ‘lean, spare’ Original Cask Strength expression. But then things get a little confusing with the distillery’s Sauternes Cask Matured, which delivers a phenomenal nose, but a disappointing palate. Scapa Glansa leaves our chief engineer wanting more, while Speyside distillery gives a prime example of how good whisky doesn’t need to be over-complicated – sometimes less is more. This week’s tasting notes end with a second, ‘rather lovely’ Speyside distillery bottling.

Scoring Explained

Overview

  • Black Bowmore 50 Years Old

    Score

    94

    Black Bowmore 50 Years Old
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    40.9%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islay
    Flavour camp
    Rich & Round
    Nose

    Immense concentration of aroma. Tropical fruit from the beginning: all pineapples, mangos and light tayberry. Then there’s dark liquorice, green mango skin and touches of rum-soaked raisin. Massive rancio notes begin to develop and influence the rest of the nose, as all the elements flux and compress. There are moments when you think it’s an ultra-aged Jamaican rum, then Cognac or maybe Armagnac, before smoke drifts you back towards Islay. A nuttiness develops in the background, all hazelnut purée and walnut. Insanely complex.

    Palate

    For a second you think that the wood has taken charge – there’s earthiness, some tannin, dry leather, but then waves of fruit begin to grow and spread across the tongue accompanied by incense and vestigial smoke, which has added its exotic nuances to every element. The sensation is like sunlight slowly creeping into a darkened chamber as all of the elements on the nose brighten into this slow crescendo.

    Finish

    Massively long and complex. Dried fruit, light oak, then cigar ash and a final burst of fruit.

    Conclusion

    It is simultaneously fresh and savoury, bold yet evanescent. The smallest sip is transporting. As it is well beyond the budgets of pretty much everyone, I can only hope that those who buy this open it and share it (or the phial that comes with it), because it would be a crime if this remarkable whisky became little more than a sculpture.

    Right place, right time

    The final movement of Mahler’s 8th.

    Kilchoman Original Cask Strength

    Score

    80

    Kilchoman Original Cask Strength
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    56.9%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islay
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    Immediately smouldering, with more than a touch of herbal, mineral, dusty mezcal-like notes alongside nettle, blackcurrant and light turmeric in the background. Vibrant, but with real sweetness of spirit. With water, some honey on porridge, then burning grasses.

    Palate

    The smoke hits from the off, almost mesquite-like, then a little pear adds some fleshiness. It dries slightly into brick dust, and then the sweetness develops more fully with classic Kilchoman scallop. Water accentuates the agave syrup nature of things along with hot sand. Balanced with some depth. Like it.

    Finish

    Burning sagebrush.

    Conclusion

    The quarter cask has helped to add some weight, but this is Kilchoman in a lean, spare mood. 

    Right place, right time

    Dreaming of the Sonoran desert on Saligo beach.

    Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured

    Score

    65

    Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    50%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islay
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    Rich colour and a vinous note, with sticky barley sugar sweets, dried peach, overripe melon and cooking quince, all of which combine to shunt the smoke back into the mix. This also has the hot sand/turmeric element. Complex, rich and appealing. A drop of water takes things into deep manuka honey with an added savoury element, and then slowly reveals sweet cattle cake and wet leather. Really promising.

    Palate

    Hang on. What’s happened? The boldness and layered element of the nose have now been overtaken by a musty element. Wet wood and more smoke, which only adds to the dryness. Beating an old sofa.

    Finish

    Foosty.

    Conclusion

    Baffling. The nose is magnificent, the palate… flawed. Just a poor cask?

    Right place, right time

    After dessert, Norman took her to meet his mother in the cellar.

    Scapa Glansa

    Score

    74

    Scapa Glansa
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    40%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islands
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    Starts with Scapa’s plump fruits to the fore, apricot jam, a hint of custard and then honey. In time, more oak comes through and begins to take up a dominant position while never drying things – if anything, they get sweeter. Baked fruit then tries to shout from the background. The smoke is almost invisible and needs water to emerge, and when it does it’s char-like. 

    Palate

    A soft start, with touches of juicy fruits, alongside light vanilla. Much lighter than the nose suggests and lacks impact in the centre, where things seem to dissolve before picking up to a toffee-accented back palate. A slight soured note.

    Finish

    Sweet, with blackberries and a suggestion of smoke.

    Conclusion

    A peated cask whisky. It’s a perfectly decent dram, but I just wanted more. Scapa… and smoke. A higher strength might have helped.

    Right place, right time

    Sitting down at the table, she nibbles on an apricot tart while he puffs raffishly on a cigarette.

    Spey Fumare

    Score

    74

    Spey Fumare
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    46%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    An intriguing nose that somehow manages to combine Dolly Mixtures, strawberry, white peach and light wood smoke. It has a little more weight than the Trutine (below), along with a hint of oiliness and cereal. There’s pumpkin with water.

    Palate

    Roasted barley elements add a perception of nutty crunch to what is a pretty energetic palate. Slightly funky on the start, with the smoke in the background.

    Finish

    Sweet and finally opens into smokiness.

    Conclusion

    Fresh, balanced, lightly smoky and, though simple, it is a decent dram. Speyside is finding its feet.

    Right place, right time

    As he was eating an energy bar, his neighbour lit an autumn bonfire.

    Spey Trutina

    Score

    75

    Spey Trutina
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    46%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fragrant & Floral
    Nose

    A pale porcelain young thing. Light from the off, with a slight touch of dry (lemon)grass and cereal, which flits off almost as soon as you’ve noticed it, leaving aromatic, floral touches alongside cool mint, a little chalk, then juicy lemons. There’s no loss of heat with water. 

    Palate

    Sweet, spring-like aromas, white fruits and bouquets of wild flowers, then a sugar sweetness with a slight sticky element reminiscent of Pavlova. Very low cask influence; this is all about the distillate. As on the nose, water has little influence, bar a slight fattening in the centre.

    Finish

    Marzipan and spun sugar.

    Conclusion

    High-toned and rather lovely. It does develop a slight edginess with time, so drink quickly.

    Right place, right time

    Jean Simmons rushes down a staircase and across the lawn. 

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