Does dimension matter?
A few years in the past, the discourse began round whisky bottle sizes associated to 50cl (500ml) bottles of whisky being retailed at near the identical worth as 70cl (700ml) bottles. Then we had the whisky miniatures at 5cl (50ml) which have had a cult following for years, with many collectors investing a fortune in enormous collections usually simply to sit down again and watch them slowly evaporate earlier than their eyes. Occasional half bottle releases have impressed me together with each Whisky Meets Sherry, which I usually evangelise about, and Contrasts – each from Tomatin – which delivered half bottle units for near single bottle costs. Nevertheless, these kind of releases are few and much between.
Over the previous couple of years whisky costs have continued to skyrocket (traders, flippers, and many others.) Luckily we’ve seen whisky golf equipment based and others rising. Bottle sharing, pattern swaps, and on-line tastings have turn into normal. These two separate elements have prompted a change in behaviour. Many extra whisky lovers are turning to whisky auctions to supply miniatures. Excellent Nineteen Sixties whisky will be picked up for £20 to £30 for 5cl, a lot decrease than the value of shopping for a 2.5cl measure in a top quality whisky bar, and considerably higher worth than attempting to win a full bottle at public sale.
The opposite format that is rising in popularity is the 20cl bottle. This 12 months I’ve truly purchased 5 bottles of this dimension; previous to this I’ve solely purchased one or two a 12 months, such because the Eden Mill hipflask sequence. Two of this 12 months’s purchases had been the Springbank Society releases, and two had been non-public bottlings of Springbank for my whisky membership. These bottles weren’t low cost, however they permit me to entry whisky at a worth at which I’d not have thought of a full bottle. The opposite 20cl bottle was an outdated launch of Tomatin 1987 by Càrn Mòr, which was very low cost at public sale, maybe as a result of the 20cl format is much less well-liked with traders and collectors.
My favorite dimension of whisky samples would in all probability be 10cl, as you get two normal measures for sampling and evaluate writing, plus a big measure simply to get pleasure from out of the identical bottle. Nevertheless, the 5cl pattern dimension popularised by whisky miniatures is by far essentially the most often seen sharing measure. I’m very grateful to all these whisky lovers who go to the difficulty of splitting bottles and sharing these, and applaud those that proceed to supply this at price worth slightly than for revenue.
Dunkeld Primary Avenue
A brand new improvement – the topic of this text – is whisky retailers promoting 5cl samples. I just lately got here throughout this association in Dunkeld, on the Dunkeld Whisky Field. Dunkeld itself is an enthralling city of miniature proportions simply off the A9 highway that leads from central Scotland to Speyside and the Highlands. Dunkeld is commonly neglected by the tour bus firms who plough on in direction of Pitlochry for the customary consolation break. Nevertheless, it’s totally really helpful for personal travellers, as it’s doesn’t undergo fairly the identical commercialisation as the principle honeypot cities on the route.
Dunkeld sports activities a slew of high quality eating places; I just lately had some unbelievable leek and wild garlic soup as a part of my meal on the Taybank Lodge, which additionally has a beer backyard that opens onto the river Tay itself. Dunkeld additionally affords tapas, delicatessens, a standard chippy for sustenance. Close by there the incredible Hermitage woodland walks; the Land Rover Expertise permits you to drive the newest luxurious 4x4s within the surroundings they had been supposed for.
View from the Taybank Lodge
Let’s flip again to the aptly named Whisky Field, a dinky however thoughtfully designed store simply of the principle avenue. The homeowners, former whisky tour guides, actually know their whisky. Focussing on impartial bottlings, you gained’t see many core vary official bottles on their cabinets. Actually, it’s a store for looking as, regardless of having a web site many treats are retained for store-only clients. I used to be served by the charming and educated Alan, who, sensing my baby was not eager for hanging about as I shopped, produced a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer bar for him, shopping for me one other 10 minutes of whisky looking and chatting.
In fact, I used to be not out there for brand new whisky. We’ve all been within the scenario the place whisky budgets are low inside days of the brand new month; with upcoming holidays, prudence is required. What Dunkeld whisky field supplied me was a chance to purchase a pattern or two to remove. There was a chalkboard of choices, each peated and unpeated, at a wide range of worth factors. Alan duly bottled up the duo I evaluate beneath and I promptly left, chocolate lined baby in tow, with my whisky buying itch scratched and the vacation price range largely intact. Win-win. Now, I hasten so as to add that the whisky scores beneath aren’t a mirrored image on the shop, however could also be a mirrored image on the samples I chosen.
Wanting previous the Dunkeld Whisky Field
I selected two samples from the Càrn Mòr Strictly Restricted vary. That is the entry degree single malts vary from Morrison Distillers that went by way of a small rebrand in 2019 and a full overhaul in 2020, with heavy new customized glass bottles and stylish fashionable labels. It has been a sensible transfer by Morrisons as whisky lovers have taken a renewed curiosity within the vary.
On some events I’ve been lucky to purchase into a complete outturn of bottle splits. The Strictly Restricted vary has carried out strongly for the reason that rebrand however, previous to that, it was rather more hit or miss. The hits usually got here from sudden locations, with the misses usually essentially the most extremely anticipated. I recall a incredible younger 5 12 months outdated Fettercairn which was fantastically buttery and custardy, and rumoured to have been completed in a candy wine cask regardless of being labelled as a bourbon hogshead. Peter was much less beneficial a few 10 12 months outdated bottling of Fettercairn. Adam scored a Ruadh Mhor extremely. Mark additionally encountered a cask end labelled as a bourbon from Dufftown. I’ve not heard of any of the mislabelling creeping into the facelifted vary.
The samples I chosen from Dunkeld Whisky field had been a 13 12 months outdated Longmorn, a distillery whose status is rising amongst lovers for its fruity Speyside fashion. I additionally picked a Ruadh Mhor, which is a peated Glenturret. This a distillery that has undergone a big premiumisation, however seems to be extra well-known for the Michelin-starred distillery restaurant than the standard of the spirit. These each appeared like excellent drams to pattern slightly than commit to purchasing a full bottle, although each had been fairly priced.
Càrn Mòr Strictly Restricted Longmorn 13 Years Previous – Evaluation
First fill Bourbon Barrels. 47.5% ABV. £61.
Color: Pale gold.
On the nostril: Mild fragrant white fruit, boiled sweets sherbet lemons, estery, pear drops, vanilla, confectioners’ sugar.
Within the mouth: Sherbet lemons, vanilla caster sugar, fragrant white fruit, oaky baking spices, nonetheless just a little bit spirity and malty, the end lingers for a very long time which saves the general expertise.
Conclusions:
Just a bit bit uninspiring for the value as of late. This sort of bottle a number of years in the past within the pre-facelift vary would in all probability have been about £40 to £45.
Rating: 4/10
Càrn Mòr Strictly Restricted Ruadh Mhor 11 Years Previous (Glenturret)
Refill sherry casks. 47.5% ABV. £63.
Color: Gold.
On the nostril: Charred cask and smoky peat, barely medicinal, some burnt sugar, creamy, just a little flamed lemon peel, candy. Not an excessive amount of sherry. Some TCP.
Within the mouth: Instantly just like the nostril, the smoke is oily and acrid, burnt tyres and considerably vegetal, then fairly spicy, with an odd smoky fruit end that’s fairly brief.
Conclusion:
Rejuvenated casks I’d guess, a little bit of a toast and char. The peat is a bit too ahead virtually Islay-like within the medicinal twang. Not a whisky I significantly loved and poor Morrison distillers have 2,243 bottles to shift.
Rating: 3/10
Bottle images courtesy of Dunkeld Whisky Store.
