In2Spirit is among the new unbiased bottlers in Belgium. Founders Steven Demarez & Tijs Denuwelare each have an extended historical past in whisky golf equipment. Since 2021 they launched 4 bottlings.
They began with Dalmunach 2015. It takes some braveness to select this distillery as your first bottling. Dalmunach is the younger high-tech and high-volume distillery of Chivas Brothers. It began producing in 2014 on the positioning of the defunct Imperial, with stills formed after its predecessor.
After that, in addition they launched a Blair Athol 2009, Caol Ila 2016 and Tomatin 2011. Let’s dive proper in.
Blair Athol 12 yo 2009 (50,2%, In2spirit 2021, refill hogshead #28535, 362 btl.)
Nostril: begins in a barely nondescript malty method. It’s pretty thick although, with oily notes, apples, quinces and a bit vanilla. Additionally minty notes and a refined earthy aspect. Caramel and butter pastry with a touch of latte. Nice.
Mouth: fairly full once more. A giant malty core but additionally woody oils, pepper, touches of coconut. A lightweight raisin and apple sweetness with vanilla and candied ginger. A spicy / natural trace builds up over time. A lot of the fruity notes are gone now although.
End: medium lengthy, nonetheless malty and pretty candy and spicy.
Basically a blender’s whisky in my view. Whereas I’ve had related Blair Athols that had been downright boring, that is entertaining sufficient although. This could work properly as a each day dram. Nonetheless obtainable for round € 85-90.
Tomatin 11 yo 2011 (55,1%, In2spirit 2022, first fill Amontillado barrel end #130, 180 btl.)
Nostril: candy and honeyed. There are yellow berries, tinned peaches and many sultanas. Even some candied slices of mango. Then the nuttiness of the Amontillado comes out, with almonds and hazelnuts. A touch of recent wooden shavings seems within the background, asserting a comparatively new cask?
Mouth: energetic wooden certainly. Pepper, nutmeg and clove. There’s a obscure honey sweetness now, in addition to some marmalade and orange peels. Hints of liquorice and ginger. The greener, grassy notes take the upperhand although, even a bit chlorophyl. Just a bit scorching.
End: fairly lengthy with agency oak spice. Nonetheless a pleasant fruity sweetness within the background although.
The issue with (shortly seasoned) sherry casks is that the start line was all the time a virgin oak cask. So that you’re getting very energetic oak, particularly when the wine didn’t go away a giant mark. This Tomatin is a advantageous each day dram with good flavours but additionally just a few tough edges. Round € 90. Rating: 85/100
Dalmunach 6 yo 2015 (55,2%, In2spirit 2021, PX quarter cask #4205, 146 btl.)
Nostril: a somewhat savoury fashion of sherry. Baking spice, hazelnuts and walnuts. Leafy notes. Then it shifts in direction of peaches and raisins, with caramel and heavy toffee notes. A frivolously vegetal contact within the distance, akin to sulfury cabbage.
Mouth: candy, though the nutty / leafy aspect continues to be current. Extra hazelnuts and walnuts, chocolate notes, burnt sugar and pastry. Citrus seems, nevertheless it by no means turns into actually fruity. Then a lightweight, natural bitterness with cloves and liquorice.
End: medium, with some espresso notes, caramel, chocolate and marmalade.
In my view matching younger spirit to sherry casks is difficult. You simply don’t get the richness you count on from a PX cask, and quarter casks are sometimes barely deviant anyway. Not likely my fashion – I’m wondering how consultant that is for Dalmunach on the entire. Rating: 81/100
Caol Ila 6 yo 2016 (61,2%, In2spirit 2022, bourbon hogshead #3421995, 180 btl.)
Nostril: brined gherkins, salted peanuts, seawater and hints of capers. Additionally brake fluid, new rain coats and hints of moist mud. Lemon and chalk. Hints of pear and vanilla give away its younger age, nevertheless it’s in any other case fairly typical.
Mouth: fairly scorching. It’s candy and spicy, with candy (smoked) lemons and pears, in addition to aniseed and ginger popping out straight away. The tarry and medicinal aspect is sort of robust. Some vegetal and natural notes too. One thing of salted mezcal in direction of the top.
End: medium size, with a number of black peppercorns, brine and mineral notes.
Younger and fairly fierce: this is filled with untamed energy. Maybe the youngest Caol Ila I’ve ever had, barely edgy nevertheless it takes water properly. Round € 90. Subsequent time, why not bottle this at, say, 55% and reduce the value? Rating: 86/100
