So – it’s about that time again – new batches, and replenished batches of some absolute crackers from That Boutique-y Whisky Company.
First up – spoiler alert – we do have a new batch of both the Port Ellen, and Brora. I’ll understand if you want to stop reading for a bit and take care of a small (okay – large) transaction.
We’ve also got some brand spanking new lines though – 2 single malts and a blended malt (which after the editor’s choice award in the most recent edition of Whisky Magazine), should see some interest piqued…
First out of the box, is a new single malt from Blair Athol Distillery, in the Highlands.
If you’ve ever visited this distillery, you’ll know two things – firstly, it’s the spiritual home of Bell’s Blended Whisky. Second – It’s really rather beautiful; the distillery buildings are covered in ivy, and the overall feel of the place couldn’t be further away from the mega-production-runs that are synonymous with the Bell’s Blend.
Blair Athol – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – 48.9% – 35 bottles
Tasting Note for Blair Athol – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company):
Nose: Milk chocolate, toffee brittle, marmalade and a little smoke. Quite meaty at full strength with coffee notes, a hint of dried herbs and praline that all make some room for honey and lemon if just a couple of drops of water are added.
Palate: More milk chocolate and honey nut with wisps of smoke intertwined. More syrupy honey with some juicy orchard fruit coming through with that touch of water.
Finish: Cocoa, pain aux raisins – not too sweet, just right.
Overall: Almost two whiskies in one here, with only a tiny amount of water required to reveal another delicious side to this single malt’s character.
In this label we can see a chap who looks suspiciously like Arthur Bell himself tending some topiary. Yeah – I think you can see where we’re going with this one.
Second – we’ve got Fettercairn. I tried really, really hard not to do this joke, but it haunted my dreams until there was no other way to exorcise the demon. I’m sorry. Truly sorry.
Fettercairn – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – 50.5% – 170 bottles
Tasting Note for Fettercairn – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company):
Nose: Biscuits dunked in coffee, blueberries, peach skin, apple peel, ripe banana and sesame oil. Raw sugar and a hint of nougat.
Palate: Slices of green apple with caramel (Twix bar-style) slowly building quite wonderfully.
Finish: Slightly drying with caramel, custard and perhaps a hint of smoke too.
Overall: A slightly unusual nose soon reveals layers of fruity complexity with heart warming caramel taking the lead from the mid-palate onwards. This rocks.
Last – The second blended malt from TBWC. This one’s materially different to the first batch, which was a Teaspooned Malt this one is a no-foolin’ blended malt, made using measuring cylinders and science and everything. See?
Blended Malt #2 – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – 48.3% – 370 bottles
Tasting Note for Blended Malt #2 – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company):
Nose: Juicy dates and figs, chocolate buttons and orange juice. A little white chocolate too alongside roasted chestnuts and crumble being taken out of the oven
Palate: Increasingly thick with coffee and cocoa beans, a hint of ginger and dark Corinth raisins. Black cherries develop.
Finish: Malty chocolate fruit cake.
Overall: An absolute beast of a blended malt.
Finally – we’ve got new batches of the fabulous Glen Keith (featuring the lads from Edinburgh Whisky Blog), and Aberlour, and, ahem…
Port Ellen and Brora – Batches 5 and 2 respectively. Apologies if they’re already sold out.
Ben
