Wu Dram Clan lately launched a brand new collection which options watercolour paintings of lighthouses on the label. There are two youngish Islay single malts (Caol Ila and one undisclosed distillery), in addition to two very previous single grain whiskies (Cameronbridge and Invergordon – the oldest expression from this distillery to date). Every of them is offered by means of a unique channel.
Invergordon 55 yo 1965 (40%, Wu Dram Clan & Kirsch Import 2021, single barrel, 228 btl.)
Nostril: very vibrant and delicate. The generic coconut notes appear to have evaporated in any case these years, right here I discover extra ripe bananas, tinned pineapples and guavas, with marzipan and contemporary citrus. Minty notes. Pure vanilla. Hints of cellulose varnish, properly built-in. Hints of aromatic sandalwood and caramelized nuts. There’s an excellent rummy facet to it as effectively.
Mouth: missing the thick, creamy facet that you simply usually get in grains, however not weak. Recent citrus, dried ginger, nonetheless some pineapple notes. Nice bitter notes which make it brighter. Hints of ‘pencil liqueur’ (let’s hope it doesn’t exist), which suggests you get an oaky contact however in a candy and rounded manner. Almonds and a touch of white pepper ultimately.
End: surprisingly lengthy, with bananas, nutmeg and a pinch of pepper.
This can be a suprisingly contemporary senior, form of a rum and grain mix-up. The underlying sweetness retains the wooden at bay and brings alongside a Caribbean character. Exceeds my expectations. Out there quickly from totally different retailers through Kirsch Import.
Cameronbridge 46 yo 1974 (40,2%, Wu Dram Clan & Flickenschild 2021, single hogshead, 218 btl.)
Nostril: totally different, maybe barely fruitier and nearer to an previous Speysider, on tangerines and pineapples. Hints of maracuya and honey. Mint. Wooden? Merely. Much less rummy notes and fewer of the (nice) varnish that we discovered within the Invergordon. Barely much less complicated perhaps, however glorious.
Mouth: now nearer to an previous Irish whiskey maybe, opening up on pink grapefruit, mango and fervour fruits. Lime. Pineapple. Gentle peppery notes too. Similar to the Boogieman bottling we tried final 12 months.
End: medium lengthy, with the tropical notes protecting sturdy, alongside vanilla and lightweight oak spice.
What do you like, Irish fruitiness or rummy fruitiness? I like the tropical fruits right here, particularly the brilliant ardour fruits on the palate. It feels thinner than the Invergordon, but additionally much less ‘grainy’ and the worth for cash is superior. Out there from Whizita. Rating: 91/100
A Secret Islay 8 yo 2013 (53,3%, Wu Dram Clan 2021, single PX hogshead, 264 btl.)
Nostril: roots and leafy notes, heat smoked ham, with mild Nescafé, yeast and herbs. Hints of bread with berry jams within the background – the sherry stays on the backplane. A light-weight coastal breeze. Rubber too. There’s a heat facet hinting at Lagavulin but it surely might be one other distillery as effectively.
Mouth: nonetheless this heat profile with ashes and coal, smoked meat, tobacco and a caramel sweetness. Mid-palate it features spicy notes (nutmeg, pepper), tart orange and a extra winey and rubbery facet. Not dangerous however not completely built-in for my part. Extra herbs and liquorice in the direction of the tip.
End: medium, ashy, with a touch of cocoa and herbs.
A superb each day Islay dram, effectively fitted to wintertime. Perhaps extra of a hipflask whisky although, which is way beneath our expectations for the clan. Out there from the same old Wu Dram sellers. Rating: 83/100
Caol Ila 12 yo 2008 (54,2%, Wu Dram Clan & Whiskyjace 2021, single hogshead, 121 btl.)
Nostril: completely clear, vibrant and pretty light. Lemons and brine, with mineral notes and seashells, gorse flowers, mown garden, oysters and inexperienced banana. Smoky notes all through. Hints of a margarita. Caol Ila might be austere at this age however that is actually seductive.
Mouth: identical ideas. Shiny and sharp, with a lemony acidity, candy grapefruit, chalk, seawater. When you swallow the smokiness comes out, with echoes of roasted espresso beans and hints of tar. A number of drops of fruit eau-de-vie.
End: lengthy, warming and smoky, with a sweet-and-sour fruity word shining by means of.
High quality spirit, very chisseled however with none extreme sharpness. Sensible choice and a superb instance of the excessive Wu Dram requirements, albeit with a reasonably excessive worth. Out there from Whiskyjace. Rating: 89/100
