It’s not possible to overstate how highly effective tales are to cultures, from speaking historical past to laying out social and ethical norms. They entertain and cement relationships. After we socialise, everybody loves to listen to or re-hear a very good yarn. Markets have lengthy recognized the ability of a very good story to elicit a optimistic emotional response in relation to a product. Whisky entrepreneurs have cottoned on to this through the years, too. In whisky, the flowery tall tales which have been woven into adverts through the years vary from the traditionally correct to finish fantasy. They’ve at instances blurred the strains between what is useful and what’s downright deceptive. These days whisky drinkers hear sceptically to tales that emerge from distilleries’ advertising machines.
That’s to not say there aren’t nice tales on the market, however a lot of them lack authenticity. One of the best tales at all times have authenticity at their coronary heart. Nice tales are sometimes firsthand accounts of people’ experiences, wealthy intimately in a approach that may solely be gained from an intimate data of the topic. These genuine tales have interaction and enthral, whereas the manufactured, made up, false histories to swimsuit a contemporary narrative – or tales that gloss over inconvenient truths – lack the important components to elicit an emotional response. While a very good storyteller could make any story – truth or fiction partaking – these vastly proficient people are uncommon certainly.
After I got here throughout The Balvenie’s Tales sequence of releases, based mostly round tales from the distillery, I used to be considerably sceptical. Every launch is related to a narrative about how the whisky was created. All of it appeared just a little too tacky, a bit too handy. However, throughout a web based whisky tasting with The Balvenie World Model Ambassador Charlie Metcalf, I obtained an perception into this sequence and determined to dig just a little deeper.
What me was accompanying podcasts which have been created to assist every launch. These can be found on the web site and in addition by way of your customary podcast offers similar to Apple Podcasts. The sequence has been round since 2019, each specializing in a few of the extra experimental whiskies created on the distillery.
The podcasts to this point have been narrated by World Model Ambassador Gemma Patterson, whose soothing voice is augmented with ASMR high quality noises from across the distillery, similar to crunching round on gravel or staggering via heather. Doorways creak and tools clangs all through every episode. Most significantly, the tales that accompany every dram are informed in individual by the important thing characters in every.
The general impact of listening to all of those podcasts is a distant however immersive expertise, bringing the folks and the property collectively. I consider these podcasts might be loved by those that have by no means visited the distillery, however will definitely set off joyful reminiscences for many who have had the privilege of one among their excursions. On condition that a few of these interviewed have already retired following lengthy careers, the podcast recordings kind one thing of an oral historical past of those occasions.
One side I significantly take pleasure in in regards to the Tales vary is that the whisky inside it varies from “The Candy Toast of American Oak” (reviewed under) on the cheaper finish (at simply £45), with the costliest being the lately launched “A Uncommon Discovery from a Distant Shore” at £1,120. This makes not less than elements the vary accessible for any finances, quite than being a luxurious. There’s at present no podcast for the “Uncommon Discovery,” however I stay up for studying extra in regards to the Caroni rum barrels it was completed in.
The Candy Toast of American Oak podcast tells the story of the American virgin oak barrels from supply to cooperage. Importantly, it’s informed within the voice of every of the characters which might be concerned within the provide chain, from head cooper Ian McDonald and his apprentice Liam, to Apprentice Malt Grasp Kelsey McKechnie, to Paul McLaughlin from Kelvin Cooperage, the place the casks have been ready. The background noise of the cooperage is especially atmospheric. While the podcast shouldn’t be as concise or chronological because the story on the cardboard tube that comes with the whisky, it is filled with fascinating data and anecdotes that add richness and curiosity.
The second whisky I evaluation under is the 14 12 months outdated Week of Peat, the second version within the Tales vary, the primary being 17 years outdated. The podcast stays related, that includes former Distillery Supervisor Ian Miller, Mashman Brian Webster, and Balvenie Malt Grasp David Stewart. The podcast includes a tour across the property in a Land Rover, which begins to color image of the Balvenie Property in your thoughts’s eye, encouraging one to go to and see for oneself. Brian Webster’s telling of the story of the Week of Peat within the sturdy native dialect provides to the sense of place. This story very a lot jogs my memory of a firsthand account of operating peated barley at Balblair on one event, nonetheless – not like The Balvenie – the powers at Balblair by no means repeated the experiment.
I like to recommend you discover a while to benefit from the podcast both by way of the Balvenie web site itself or, even higher, in case you discover them by way of Apple Podcasts. Yow will discover some tales from earlier Tales editions which have now bought out, together with my private favorite: the “Story of the Canine” that includes the charming Dennis McBain. However, I additionally loved the story of the “Second Pink Rose,” too, and the hyperlinks to Balvenie Fort.
While the authenticity of the tales – and that of the characters within the podcasts – aren’t unsure, in my eyes there’s a slight query in regard to the presentation of the whiskies. The whiskies right here aren’t chill-filtered (a very good factor) however they’re prone to have been tweaked with synthetic colouring. This, to me, appears a disgrace, particularly with these restricted batch releases which don’t must be as constant as a core launch.
The Balvenie “The Candy Toast of American Oak” – Evaluation
12 years outdated. Bourbon barrels completed in double toasted virgin American oak casks. 43% ABV. £46.99.
Color: Heat amber
On the nostril: A extremely fragrant fruit word initially; apple, pear, apricot and grape juice. Sweetness of candyfloss, vanilla fudge, strawberry Starburst, dry sponge cake, citrus rind, icing sugar, heading in direction of Victoria sponge.
Within the mouth: Creamy texture, shiny and recent, strawberry laces, freshly juicy citrus. Sweetness and wooden spice. Gingernut biscuits, toffee, cinnamon dusted recent melon, freshly reduce ginger, toasted coconut, residence popped corn kernels, Tunnock’s Snowball. Lemon Refresher Bar. Medium to lengthy end.
Conclusions:
A giant dram regardless of the low ABV; juicy, recent, and flavoursome, that is beautiful and enhanced by listening to the podcast. Extra subtle than another drams similar to Tomatin Legacy that use virgin oak, nearer in type to Balblair 12. Very tasty
Rating: 6/10
The Balvenie “The Week of Peat” – Evaluation
14 years outdated. Closely peated malt bourbon barrels. 48.3% ABV. £67.99.
Color: Pale gold
On the nostril: Smoky peat, barely medicinal, tar shampoo, mulled cider, toasted coconut, outdated metallic pennies, shortbread biscuit, multi-seed bread.
Within the mouth: Wealthy, heavy smoky peat, peat spices and thick malt. Toasted oats, buttery biscuit, a pinch of curry powder, coriander seed and cardamon, tobacco, recent turmeric, galangal. Haribo Large Strawberries, rubber bands, extra medicinal on the end.
Conclusions:
That is easy and drinkable on the bottling energy. It’s complicated in a approach that some peated drams fall quick. It actually brings one thing completely different to The Balvenie vary, and I’m certain that followers will take pleasure in these peaty excursions. It doesn’t, nonetheless, provide something new within the wider world of peated Scotch, in the best way that one of many different Tales did. “The Fringe of Burnhead Wooden” used heather from the Balvenie property to smoke the barley. Now, that’s an fascinating dram to discover. The “Week of Peat” stays a robust…
