For the longest time, I’ve had a suspicion about That Boutique-y Whisky Company being full of powerful wizards, what with the lightning-bolt shaped scars on their heads, their ability to talk to snakes (they’re very boring, all they want to do is sing songs about falling asleep) and how they’re very good at conjuring up delicious drinks. Sha-zam and abracadara!
Seeing as a number of their independently bottled marvels have just won Wizards of Whisky 2014 Awards, we think it’s pretty safe to say that they’re definitely sorcerers of the highest order, up there with Dumbledore, Gandalf and Emperor Palpatine (he shoots lightning from his hands, he totally counts as a wizard).
An accurate representation of everyone behind That Boutique-y Whisky Company
The Wizards of Whisky Awards are tasted blindly and span the whole world of whisky, from Scotland, Ireland, America to the ever expanding realm of New World whiskies which are really coming into their own as a category. Loads of great whiskies won awards and we’re only just a bit jealous (okay, maybe more than just a bit) of the judges who got to taste all of those great expressions.
An inaccurate representation of the Wizards of Whisky judging building
Entries from That Boutique-y Whisky Company seemed to go down a treat with the Wizards of Whisky judges, as they scooped up 6 awards in the Independent Bottlers category!
That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Batch 2 of Springbank proved very popular, as it was awarded a Gold Medal as well as being crowned Independent Single Malt of the Year!
Springbank – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Gold Medal – Independent Whisky
Independent Single Malt of the Year
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
Tasting Note For Springbank – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Nose: A smouldering, oily nose with hints of heather root, allspice and a touch of charred oak. Manuka honey and pepper.
Palate: Peppery, spicy palate with big, creaking oak and a touch of salted caramel. Peat smoke arrives as the palate develops, with a touch of baked apple.
Finish: Baking spices and caramel. A little treacle and mixed herbs.
Overall: An oily, coastal, classic Springbank.
Batch 1 of Highland Park from That Boutique-y Whisky Company snatched up a shiny Silver Medal, as did The Chamber of Secret Distillery Number One Batch 1.
Highland Park – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Silver Medal – Independent Whisky
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
Secret Distillery Number One – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Silver Medal – Independent Whisky
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
And finally, both the Aberlour Batch 2 and Macallan Batch 3 earned a rather handsome Bronze Medal each.
Aberlour – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Bronze Medal – Independent Whisky
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
Macallan – Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Bronze Medal – Independent Whisky
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
So how about that, eh? A whole bunch of awards for That Boutique-y Whisky Company, who are now card-carrying wizards with a license to turn anyone they want into frogs at will. Give them a robe and wizard’s hat and they’ll be on their way to world domination (or maybe just bottling more extraordinary whiskies).
An accurate representation of what happened to the last person who suggested That Boutique-y Whisky Company wasn’t completely staffed by powerful wizards
Along with all the Boutique-y wizardry, massive shout-outs are needed for Balcones, who got their hands on some awesome awards, winning the World Whisky of the Year and World Single Malt of the Year for their Texas Single Malt! However, we already knew they had magical powers, because only wizards have such magnificent beards.
Balcones Texas Single Malt
– World Whisky of The Year –
World Single Malt of the Year
American Single Malt of the Year
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
Balcones Baby Blue also picked up a Gold Medal, with Silvers going to their Brimstone and True Blue expressions. Spirit of Hven’s Single Malt Whisky, meanwhile, picked up a Gold Medal in the European Whisky category!
Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No. 1 Dubhe Single Malt Whisky
Gold Medal – European Whisky
Wizards of Whisky Awards 2014
If you’d like to know who else has become part of the Order of the Whisky Phoenix, full results for this year’s Wizards of Whisky Awards can be found here.
Sam
Yash M Bhamre