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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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February 10, 2022
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Extra touring all over the world |
| What’s somewhat unimaginable isn’t the sheer variety of new distilleries which might be beginning manufacturing in every single place on the earth, it is the truth that many make good, and even excellent whisky. And guess what, they don’t even all use ‘Pedro’s wooden’! As standard, we’ll begin this new little journey from France. I nearly wrote bonnie France. |
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Artesia ‘Restricted Version Sherry’ (45%, OB, T.O.S. Distillerie, France, LMDW Conquête, 1300 bottles) 
This new wee distillery is positioned within the Pas-de-Calais, within the far north of France. It is the primary time I am making an attempt their whisky. Moderately funnily, they title it ‘pur malt’ while it is nicely a single, I suppose good outdated fashions maintain working. Color: deep gold. Nostril: just a few raisins, leaves, cherries and inexperienced walnuts at first, so a somewhat oloroso-y begin, with none rubber (many ex-sherry new cats have a bit rubber in my guide, all around the world). Some flowers then, broom, a pleasant wee sucrosity (muscovado), some oranges, our buddy the panettone, orange blossom, early gray, tarte tatin, milk chocolate… Briefly this works very nicely, it is fairly rounded, straightforward and nicely balanced. Mouth: very shocking, you’ll nearly consider that is some 12-year-old Speysider. This time there’s a wee contact of rubber past the leaves and natural teas, however that is completely not an issue. Good marmalade, chouchous (roasted caramelised peanuts), candy malt, manuka honey, pecan pie, praline… End: medium, candy, with extra muscovado sugar and roasted nuts. Feedback: impeccable whisky, I can not wait to attempt their ‘pure’ expression. Oh and LMDW have at all times been tireless trailblazers, have they not.
SGP:551 – 85 factors. |
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Let’s take our favorite submarine and sail in the direction of Dowmnunda…
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Fleurieu 3 yo (49.5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Firm, Australia, 260 bottles)
One other distillery I had simply by no means heard of earlier than. I am beginning to get frightened… This wee one is positioned on the Fleurieu Peninsula, within the south, not removed from our good buddy Craig’s (who lives in Adelaide). Color: deep gold. Nostril: that is way more fermentary, barely acetic, with some Swiss cheese and bitter soups (miso and suchlike), all issues that I take pleasure in quite a bit. I am nearly about to say umami, additionally fermenting fruits (melon), cow secure, and only a field of cigars. Within the background, the standard panettone, grazie mille. Mouth: the wooden is likely to be a tad too loud, however all of the roasted pecans and sesame, in addition to these glutamate-y, fermentary notes are simply good, in the event you’re not towards trendy whisky. Apart from that, marmalade, caraway, juniper and liquorice. End: lengthy, frankly spicy, peppery, maybe going into overload. A bit an excessive amount of for me, loses a superb two factors right here. Pepper, eggplant and rubber plus overcooked espresso within the aftertaste. Feedback: beloved it, regardless of the end. Agreed, you could possibly at all times have one other sip proper earlier than the end, however that is a harmful observe.
SGP:462 – 86 factors. |
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To Finland (I do know, no logics right here)…
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Teerenpeli ‘Aura’ (43%, OB, Finland, Porter wooden, 426 bottles, +/-2021) 
Aren’t we seeing extra ex-porter beer casks as of late? Any clues why? Color: white wine. Nostril: fairly dry, with some wholegrain bread and a few wooden tar, charcoal, then just a few herbs similar to lovage and sage. Caraway bread and lemon seeds. What I actually take pleasure in is that there can be roasted pistachios and almonds within the background. Strong nostril at 43% vol. Mouth: good, if a tad oaky right here and there. All this breadiness manages to drift, there are additionally touches of fir honey, honeydew, a wee hoppy facet (is that the porter? I do know zilch about beers, I am not even positive they add hops to the porters.) Some bonbons too, pear drops… End: medium, dry, with notes of lime zest and juniper. The aftertaste is a bit bitter however the aftertaste of the aftertaste has good fruit drops. Feedback: somewhat extra to my liking than I remembered from earlier ‘flagship’ Teerenpelis, however my staunch perception is that you just can’t fairly scale back this a lot whiskies which might be fairly oak-driven, that might often convey out cardboard and over-steeped tea. We’ll have many extra Teerenpelis within the close to future, I’ve already taken tiny sips and a number of other appear to be in the next league. So, see you quickly Teerenpeli.
SGP:451 – 81 factors. |
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Valamo Monastery Distillery 5 yo 2011/2016 (55.1%, OB, Finland, for VYS, 1st fill bourbon hogsheads, 725 bottles) 
One other first on little WF. Extra holy whisky! This appears to be made by true orthodox monks however they appear to be making many different kinds of drinks, together with… wine? I suppose that is not grape wine, is it? Thoughts you, the monastery is positioned just a few hundred kilometres north of Helsinki. Color: white wine. Nostril: good, basic custard, butterscotch, shortbread and cappuccino. With water: few modifications. Pancakes, chicory espresso, whiffs of beetroots… Mouth (neat): certainly, basic younger malt whisky, nicely made, with a spicy spine (caraway, nutmeg, paprika) behind a smoother, oily improvement on extra custard, banana foam, williams pear liqueur (somewhat quite a bit – do our buddies the monks make that too?) and simply Stolle. The spices would are likely to take over. With water: swims nicely, tends to turn out to be citrusy, tighter, additionally more energizing. Just a few jelly infants and beans and bears and crocodiles. We even have jelly Jesuses down right here, thoughts you. End: medium, clear, somewhat recent. No extreme quercus. A piney contact within the aftertaste. Feedback: if I ever discover myself within the neighbourhood, I will go say just a few prayers – and verify these intriguing wines.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
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I insist, larger strengths at all times work higher with these younger whiskies. Let’s attempt discover one other instance in Finland…
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Kyrö x VYS (56.3%, OB, Finland, for VYS, rye malt, 300 bottles, 2020)
‘Full of daring flavours and wild concepts’, they are saying. We can’t not applaud that, however a classic assertion can be even wilder! VYS appears to be an acronym for ‘Viskin Ystävien Seura’, which appears to be some type of entity that is all about whisky. We are saying bravo. Oh, nearly forgot to say, we completely beloved BB&R’s Kyrö final 12 months (WF 87). Color: full gold. Nostril: malted rye has turn out to be the Lamborghini of whisky, has it not. Quick, unlikely, usually fragile, and ridiculously lovable. Breads and breads and breads, plus seeds and seeds and seeds. Poppy, caraway, fennel, sesame, pine nuts, pumpkin seed… Plus some new rubber, scuba go well with, low cost new plastic gadgets straight from Want’s (do not contact that)… Lengthy story brief, love, love, love this nostril. With water: plus butterscotch. A fistful of Werther’s Originals. Mouth (neat): a bit LOL, in a great way. Pinewood mud, chewing new rubber bands, myrtle liqueur, cloves, masala, dried porcini… I consider this one won’t ever allow us to alone. With water: cologne and lavender sweets, plus all what was already in there. End: lengthy, spicier, with a wooden that is beginning to really feel. Bitter oranges and curry within the aftertaste. Feedback: proper up my avenue, however the oak was a tad loud for me in the long run, in any other case we’d have gone even ‘larger’. Loopy Finns.
SGP:372 – 87 factors. |
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Arbutus ‘Double Barrel Batch #1’ (40%, OB, Canada, +/-2021) 
Certainly, we’ve not fairly modified latitude, however we’ve modified continent. That is stated to be 3 yo, together with just a few months in charred virgin oak. They are saying that was ‘char #4’, and naturally, we’re in British Columbia, having stated that I’d say bottling at 40% vol. is a bit daring. Color: gold. Nostril: mellow breads, smooth spices, pumpernickel and all-grain breads, whiffs of leek, gingerbread and speculoos, some vanilla, some sourdough, some maize bread… Mouth: nasi or bami goreng, a bit caramel, Thai basil, goulash, all that on a thinnish base. I consider these very younger whiskies simply can’t be bottled at 40% vol. This one is doing fairly nicely, however we’re on the limits. A curious, and nice saltiness within the background. End: brief to medium, on cinnamon rolls and a few spicy sawdust. Feedback: not my enterprise in fact, however I am lifeless positive this could be structurally fairly sensible at 45/46% vol.
SGP:361 – 79 factors. |
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Lohin McKinnon ‘Central Metropolis’ (43%, OB, Canada, single malt, +/-2021)
We’re in B.C. as soon as extra, which we discover very cool. Color: white wine. Nostril: smooth and simple, on pancakes, a bit maple syrup, prickly pear juice, bubblegum and simply pear juice. This child jogs my memory of earlier batches of Tyrconnell (which weren’t single malts but, if my reminiscence serves me nicely). Mouth: merely excellent, straightforward, smooth, fruity, with an oily mouth really feel, extra marshmallows and bubblegum, sweet floss, sunflower oil, some vanilla from the oak, tiny touches of grated coconut, macaroons (we referred to as them Congolese cookies however that’ll get cancelled quickly, I am positive – hey we’ll name them British Columbians then!)… End: medium, straightforward, fruity, candy, good. Contact of oak within the aftertaste. Feedback: in all probability very younger and positively very sensible. Is that you just, Mr Mike?
SGP:641 – 85 factors. |
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Lohin McKinnon ‘Central Metropolis – Peated’ (43%, OB, Canada, single malt, +/-2021)
Color: straw. Nostril: begins equally, will get then funnily medicinal, with some sorts of smoked embrocations, Diesel oil, outdated boat on Islay (I suppose they’ve the identical in British Columbia), coal tar and simply ‘an outdated British engine’. Some new rubber as nicely. We will not point out new SM outfits, no we shan’t. Mouth: no no no… It isn’t fairly the identical factor on the palate, we’re somewhat reminded of the weaker Ardmores now. In different phrases, both there’s an excessive amount of peat/smoke, or there is not sufficient. The 43%% vol. do not assist both. End: type of lengthy, smoky and rubbery, with some sugar within the aftertaste, which does not fairly assist. Feedback: do not get me improper, it is a wonderful peater, however I choose them with extra oomph.
SGP:455 – 78 factors. |
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Lohin McKinnon ‘Central Metropolis – Chocolate’ (43%, OB, Canada, single malt, +/-2021)
This one’s made out of roasted chocolate malt and was matured in Sauternes wooden. Have they actually shipped empty Sauternes barriques to British Columbia? Through Panama or Suez? Color: white wine. Nostril: maintain on, that is somewhat magnificent. Immensely recent, with honeysuckle and recent williams pears, then fennel and elderflowers. Emphasis on elderflowers! Maybe jujubes, in addition to acacia blossom. Love this nostril. Mouth: I am a fan, it is bought cocoa, gentian, mezcal, beets, celeriac, tapioca, polenta and elderflower syrup once more… A really uncommon drop, extraordinarily good, singular, unseen and pleasurable. Precisely what somebody who’s already tried just a few hundred whiskies (over a few years) wants. End: medium, good, earthy and rooty. I will have to attempt to mix gentian and elderberry – and get the proportions proper! After which discover a title… Feedback: excellent drop, I wasn’t anticipating this.
SGP:461 – 87 factors. |
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(Thanks very a lot, Henrik!)
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