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| Hello, that is one among our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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Might 30, 2022
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Around the globe with malts that actually want water |
| Let’s kick-start this from France, as we love to do. That is extra environment-friendly anyway, is it not, subsequent time we could even begin our journey from Alsace. |
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Alfred Giraud ‘Intrigue’ (51.7%, OB, France, 2021) 
This lavishly offered and costly bottle (simply south of 400€) shelters sourced malt whisky matured in ex-cognac and ex-Bordeaux blanc. Apparently, the Distillerie de Saint-Palais, situated kind of between Cognac and Bordeaux, is supplying at the least a number of the malts. The latter began making whisky in 2016, so this must be younger and most definitely cask-driven. Having stated that, all Alfred Giraud I may strive have been just about to my liking. Color: gold. Nostril: some contemporary oak, some natural teas (chamomile) and positively a vinosity that might have slightly imparted notes round blood oranges and citrons. Touches of eucalyptus. With water: it simply loves water, will get rounder, much less vinous, extra on truffles (some barely burnt) and tiny herbs. Mouth (neat): much more citric vinosity than on the nostril. A sémillon-less Pessac? It isn’t usually that desk wine and malt would go this nicely collectively. With water: as soon as once more, water would offset a big a part of the vinosity and make this clear and vivid, and much more citrusy. And now I am discovering touches of sémillon, go determine! Pure sémillons aren’t simple to search out, however some are actually value each effort. End: medium, completely nicely adjusted, citrusy and caky. Contact of clove and cinnamon within the aftertaste. Feedback: it was nonetheless a tad tough (and vinous) across the edges when unreduced, however just a few drops of water simply fastened all of it. Wonderful.
SGP:551 – 85 factors. |
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Bimber 2018/2022 (59.5%, C. Dully Choice, England, virgin oak barrel, cask #320, 141 bottles) 
You realize what to anticipate with these loopy un-wined Bimbers, solely pure, candy, fruity, unquestionable goodness. Color: gold. Nostril: as anticipated, it’s a little sizzling and ethanoly at first sniffs, whereas as anticipated, it might then attain mango, coconut, lemon balm and vanilla territory. With water (the viscimetry is immense): subtler parts chiming in, stewed damsons, contemporary mushrooms, grapefruits, wormwood (or absinth), IPA, Szechuan pepper, vanilla cake… Mouth (neat): complete limoncello aged in candy oak, with just a bit inexperienced pepper. However we have not added any water but… With water: good, if not immensely complicated this time. Extra limoncello, lemon curd, a little bit icing sugar (we might have a tendency so as to add marc de gewurz to the combination), orange zests… I consider these ex-barrel Bimbers, whether or not virgin or not, are at all times unstoppable. End: medium, on lemon tarte with meringue and bits of zests. Feedback: forgot to say angelica.
SGP:741 – 88 factors. |
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Penderyn 9 yo 2012 (59%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Wales, ex-bourbon hogshead, #128.18, ‘Dragon’s Lipstick’, 271 bottles) 
Very fascinating, though slightly sadly completed in a 1st fill ex-ruby Port barrique, lipstick certainly. Color: suspiciously salmony. Nostril: weird. Litres of rosehip tea, a faint sulphur, strawberry jam, peonies, additionally pumpernickel and different moist breads… With water: water works. Strawberries have been toned down and varied truffles are taking on. Mouth (neat): wild-strawberry liqueur, cherry liqueur and blood oranges over some malt whisky. Kriek beer. Having stated that, there’s some sort of steadiness and I would not say it’s too winey… With water: as soon as once more, water makes wonders, decreasing the Port’s impression and permitting some gristy barleyness to come back to the entrance. No sulphur in any way. End: slightly lengthy. As soon as once more, too candy when neat, properly fruity and cakey when rigorously (yeah, after all) introduced all the way down to approx. 45% vol. Feedback: I have been very afraid for some time…
SGP:751 – 84 factors. |
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Filey Bay 2017/2021 ‘Sherry Cask Reserve #2’ (46%, OB, England, 2000 bottles, 2021)
This child was totally matured in first-fill Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. I consider I’ve solely tried Filey Bay as soon as, however thought it was superb. Now, PX, you understand… Color: deep gold with copper hues. Nostril: good enjoyable, with loads of shoe polish, plasticine, even metallic polish, after which the same old PX tones, with baggage of raisins, prunes, heavy honeys, pipe tobacco and a tiny drop of very previous balsamico. Mouth: very candy, extraordinarily PXed, I would even say a little bit Malaga-y, if I’ll. Virtually dessert whisky, with some sides that might remind us of some slightly extremely obscured rums. Some El Dorados spring to thoughts, Diplomaticos… You realize what, we’ll strive the water trick as soon as extra. With water: I knew this is able to work, even at +/-40% vol. Espresso popping out, chocolate, previous armagnac, extra prunes… Excellent. End (lowered): balanced and Jerezian, no matter meaning. Walnut wine and espresso within the aftertaste. Feedback: at Château Whiskyfun it’s unusual so as to add water to a spirit that was bottled at 46% vol. I am glad we did.
SGP: 651- 84 factors. |
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And now, drumroll and rejoicings please, there’s a new whisky nation on little Whiskyfun, Korea!…
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Kimchangsoo 2021/2022 (54.1%, OB, Korea, PX sherry, 336 bottles)
This child whisky is stemming from town of Gimpo, which lies southwest of Seoul. It is correctly Korean, not sourced elsewhere (kss-kss, Japan). They’re utilizing two tiny pot stills (800l and 500l) and native elements, though this very batch would have been made with closely peated Scottish barley. Apparently, the ABV is slightly low given the very younger age (it is not whisky but in Europe), however it’s to be identified that in accordance with Korean legal guidelines, you can not fill a cask with spirits above 60% vol. This pretty bottle was launched simply final month in Korea. Anyway, after Okay-pop, this is Okay-malt! Color: deep gold. Nostril: a big teapot filled with lapsang souchong, some previous walnuts (that is the PX), some metallic polish, a big bag of cloves and caraway, plus whiffs of fresh-sawn hardwoods. Maybe cherrywood? Superior tarry oils within the background. With water: will get far more fermentary, yeasty, bready, with even whiffs of cheese. Ointments, then dried apricots. Actually totally different and slightly sensible. Mouth (neat): very candy, very spicy, fairly smoky. What’s nice right here is that it does really feel ‘Korean’ (so far as I can inform after many meals and drinks at Korean eating places, which I like, together with their plum wine ;-)). There is a slightly excessive focus, I’d say plums and pomegranates, lapsang souchong as soon as extra, slightly loads of thyme liqueur, and fairly presumably some spicy European oak. Water ought to loosen it a wee bit… With water: pretty, water brings out very particular spices and a few apparent notes of fats mezcal. This comes surprising. End: very lengthy spicy. Candy peppers, cinnamon mint, smoke… Bell pepper within the aftertaste. Feedback: what’s a little bit troubling is that the closest whisky I may consider could be a number of the St Kilians aus Germany. Bah, it is slightly a brand new fashion, most likely a little bit avantgarde, even perhaps a little bit artsy. Very glad it exists, it is nice and it widens our horizon.
SGP:566 – 87 factors. |
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