Belgian bottler (or quite bottling collective) Liquid Artwork is celebrating its tenth anniversary this yr. I consider it began with a Glen Elgin 1995? For this event they launched three bottlings, roughly on the similar time.
There may be Glentauchers, Glen Garioch and Royal Brackla. Possibly not the form of distilleries you impress outsiders with, however those that know Liquid Artwork will agree they’ve an excellent nostril for underdogs.
Glentauchers 2008 (51,7%, Liquid Artwork ’tenth Anniversary’ 2024, sherry cask, 96 btl.)
Nostril: smells like a distillery at first. Ale, buttery malt, draff and mildly dried herbs. Cumbersome notes of caramelized nuts and creamy sweet. Alternatively additionally brighter fruit within the background, like pears and apple blossom. Opens up properly in the event you give it a while.
Mouth: extra of this apple sweetness, evolving in direction of syrupy notes and stewed plums. Honeyed notes combined with gentle herbs and mint. A really gentle nuttiness from the sherry cask, in addition to some liquorice and raisins.
End: medium, on crimson apple, raisins, with a touch of caramel and walnuts.
Malty whisky with modest fruits and modest sherry. Not fully celebratory, I’d say (within the sense that their monitor file is mostly extra spectacular than this) however actually a really strong on a regular basis whisky. Obtainable from Liquid Artwork.
Glen Garioch 2011 (52,1%, Liquid Artwork ’tenth Anniversary’ 2023, bourbon cask, 135 btl.)
Nostril: brilliant and recent, with inexperienced apples and pears, bananas, mirabelles and lightweight honey. Then nice barley notes and barely dusty dough, with a pinch of white pepper. Whiffs of vegetal oils and dandelions too.
Mouth: fairly fruity once more, with extra (crimson) apple, hints of tangerines, pink grapefruits and mead, in addition to some gentle chalk and grassy notes beneath. Properly oily, with a peppery edge. Vanilla and liquorice add some depth.
End: medium lengthy, with hints of inexperienced pear and this vegetal / leafy aspect which grows stronger.
One other tremendous choice, a barely extra austere (or grown-up) profile than the Glentauchers. Obtainable from Liquid Artwork or associate retailers. Rating: 87/100
Royal Brackla 2007 (51,7%, Liquid Artwork & Cask Six 2024, 161 btl.)
Nostril: much more vibrant. Loads of vibrant apples and pears, juicy yellow plums and average bananas, in addition to some vanilla custard and hints of powder sugar. Then some minty freshness. A light-weight varnished word and sourdough add just a little further, in addition to an oily contact. Total very clear and fairly summery.
Mouth: greener now, with a candy and bitter citrusy core, primarily grapefruit. Then just a little pear eau-de-vie or kirschwater, with lemon juice and inexperienced tea. A contact of sucrose sweetness. Then additionally hints of white pepper, peppermint and refined vanilla, with gentle oak.
End: medium, with some creamy components but in addition the zesty citrus together with the eau-de-vie-ish fruits.
On the nostril I anticipated this to rise above the others. Nonetheless on the palate it turns into greener and extra slender. This concludes a pleasant line-up, chosen from distilleries which are typically ignored. Rating: 87/100
