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Dwelling
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| Hello, that is one in every of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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February 18, 2025
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Some whiskies from all over the world, as soon as once more |
As normal, we begin in France, then transfer overseas, heading into the unknown with an open thoughts, fearless and freed from preconceptions (no matter you say, S.) …
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Trésor Légendaire (44%, OB, Marcel Cabelier, France, Vin Jaune end, +/-2024) 
A French Jura home presenting right here a single malt that’s possible nicely sourced, matured in Cognac and Sauternes casks, then completed in a Vin Jaune cask from Jura. Color: gentle gold. Nostril: extremely fragrant, curiously not vinous as such however somewhat very mineral and chalky, with a portion of that character possible coming from the Vin Jaune. Pretty ripe apples, medlars, then toasted brioche and pancake with honey, with a really faint smoky edge. A very charming nostril, fantastically balanced. Mouth: the Vin Jaune is extra distinguished right here, with the duo of inexperienced walnuts and delicate mustard upfront, a profile we additionally adore in finos and manzanillas, whereas right here it additionally brings that saline contact. Additionally barely peppery, which is at all times a pleasure, all set in opposition to a base of well-ripened apples. Pretty texture, little doubt partially imparted by the casks. End: of medium size, with a contact of paraffin, then honeyed apple and pepper. Walnuts lingering within the aftertaste. Feedback: I had no concept what to anticipate, however I’m most pleasantly stunned—Vin Jaune casks should not the simplest to deal with. One would additionally like to sip this very superb malt with some well-aged Comté.
SGP:561 – 85 factors. |
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Starward ‘Left-Subject’ (40%, OB, Australia, French pink wine barrels, +/-2024) 
A bottling at 40% ABV is considerably stunning right here. It’s unclear which French pink wine was used. We tasted this Left-Subject 5 years in the past, however the bottle itself was fully totally different—undecided it’s the identical whisky. Color: apricot. Nostril: very singular, certainly filled with pink fruits alongside a contact of rubber and candle wax. In essence, it’s like a large bag of Haribo sweets of all types, plus some raspberry Jell-O and some soapy and varnishy touches—by no means bothersome. Mouth: a bit odd now, with that blend of rubber and pink fruit sweets making a slight dissonance, however it recovers due to inexperienced pepper and bitter orange. End: curiously lengthy and far spicier, with fairly a little bit of bell pepper—Cabernet Sauvignon? Cabernet Franc? Feedback: nicely, a barely offbeat allure this time, however I get the impression that was the entire concept. Very amusing!
SGP:661 – 79 factors. |
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Sign Hill (40%, OB, mix, Canada, +/-2024) 
A Canadian mix from Newfoundland, composed of maize and barley, matured in ex-1st fill bourbon, ex-Canadian whisky, and virgin oak. One factor is definite—the bottle is elegant. Color: gold. Nostril: shy at first, principally oak and a touch of icing sugar. Then a contact of very smooth honey and marshmallows. Very gentle on the nostril, however not disagreeable. Mouth: extraordinarily gentle, with grain alcohol, vanilla sugar, and caramel. Feels very very similar to corn alcohol (Korn Schnapps) and even vodka this time filtered by means of oak chips. End: very quick. A touch of coconut milk. Feedback: I don’t assume this infant was designed to be sipped neat. That stated, apart from its excessive lightness, there aren’t actually any flaws, which finally is sensible.
SGP:330 – 65 factors. |
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Paul John ‘Roulette’ (40%, OB, mix, India, +/-2024) 
I hope this isn’t Russian roulette (now that’s intelligent, S.). In any case, it’s one other mix—let’s take a look… Color: gentle gold. Nostril: there’s a touch of toasted sesame oil, recent concrete, fir smoke, bitter almonds, and soot, with fairly a sooty total character. Reasonably intriguing—I’m fairly curious in regards to the palate… Mouth: feels a bit like 5% younger Ardbeg blended with 95% younger Girvan. It really works moderately nicely, however it’s considerably irritating as a result of near-total lack of physique—very removed from Paul John’s most interesting malts. Then again, it’s somewhat soothing. End: quick, with the peat now a little bit extra current. Some smoky wooden. Feedback: first rate. Finest over ice.
SGP:343 – 70 factors. |
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Indri 11 yo ‘Founder’s Reserve’ (58.5%, OB, India, 1,100 decanters, 2024) 
This one comes from Piccadilly’s Indri Distillery in Haryana, in northern India, close to the Himalayas. We’ve already tried their very fruity ‘Trini’ in 2023, which we preferred very a lot (WF 86). Color: pink gold/copper. So, pink wine inside. Nostril: sure, I checked—these have been Bordeaux casks. They’re actually all the fashion in whisky worldwide! That stated, there’s much less of the same old tomato bush and bell pepper from Cabernet blended with French oak right here; as a substitute, we’re getting extra of a mix of orgeat, glue, morello cherries, almond milk, and peony. Thus far, nothing feels misplaced. Merlot, maybe? With water: strawberry tart. Mouth (neat): very kirschy, virtually acidic—this now feels virtually like Pinot Noir. We all know there shouldn’t be any PN in Bordeaux. A great deal of cherries and hints of violets laced with black pepper, with a slight polish word. With water: right here come the pink bell pepper, honey, pepper, cloves, and ginger. End: very lengthy, closely influenced by the spices from each the cask and the wine. Feedback: fairly excessive and ultra-marked by the casks. A brand new tackle the Bordeaux mix, however make no mistake—it’s very nicely executed should you get pleasure from this sort of excessive profile.
SGP:771 – 82 factors. |
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Indri ‘Diwali Collector’s Version 2024’ (58.5%, OB, India, peated sherry cask, cask #90)
We celebrated Diwali 2024 in Edinburgh! Color: wealthy amber. Nostril: one other world, the place honey and stewed mangoes take centre stage, alongside mandarins, a ravishing sherry, figs, caraway, espresso, and, most notably, roasted hazelnuts and peanuts. It even leans in direction of peanut butter, with a chic smokiness that is still pretty discreet for now. With water: the smoke turns into way more pronounced after including water, although it feels extra like resinous wooden smoke. A contact of bacon and a touch of black truffle. Mouth (neat): oh, that is glorious! The roasted peanuts are huge (which is nice, as we love that), as is the Sichuan pepper, dried raisins, chocolate-coated prunes, and really darkish pu-ehr tea, virtually smoky. It’s fairly thunderous, however we actually get pleasure from these daring eccentricities. With water: the black truffle returns, joined by tobacco, candied oranges, and a contact of molasses. End: lengthy, wealthy but well-balanced, carried by dried raisins and that persistent resinous smoke. The aftertaste turns distinctly earthier and liquorice-laced—we like that. Feedback: a somewhat unbelievable bottle.
SGP:664 – 87 factors. |
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Let’s end our little tour in Europe…
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Thy ‘Spelt-Rye’ (48.5%, OB, Denmark, new American oak, 2,900 bottles, 2024)
We liked the ‘single malt’ earlier this 12 months (WF 88), however the mixture of spelt, rye, and new oak might be fairly totally different—let’s see… Color: deep gold. Nostril: that is pretty! Humus and a pack of blond cigarettes, a little bit of bok choy, then the much-anticipated pumpernickel and easily rye bread. The oak feels considerably current, however thus far, so good. Mouth: hmm, it’s fairly particular, however I actually prefer it. Loads of wooden spices, numerous liquorice wooden, quantity of grapefruit peel, then a somewhat huge wooden glue word. In fact, we don’t eat wooden glue each day, however solely learners don’t know that nostril and palate work collectively. Sure, they do! End: lengthy, on bitter orange, nutmeg, rye bread, and at last, a return of the humus-like earthiness. Feedback: I don’t assume it is a crowd-pleasing profile in any respect, however I like this barely mad dram, even when the oak and glue are a bit loud. As for the spelt, I’d battle to recognise it, I humbly admit.
SGP:462 – 86 factors. |
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Come on, one final little quirky factor, rapidly…
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The 9 Springs 7 yo 2017/2024 (59.8%, OB, Germany, acacia cask end, 300 bottles)
Okay, ex-bourbon and ex-Bordeaux, completed for 2 years in acacia casks. Exhausting to see what may go… I imply, go flawed. In any case, acacia wooden is pricey, in order that they actually didn’t do that to save cash… But it surely’s additionally extremely tannic, so be careful… Color: deep gold. Nostril: not immensely fragrant, however with some pretty undergrowth notes regardless of the presence of the Bordeaux. An inevitable sense of damp woodland. Contemporary wooden, recent earth, roasted almonds. With water: a powerful soapy word at first, needing time to calm down. The wooden actually takes the lead. Mouth (neat): very a lot pushed by the casks. Not unhealthy in any respect, however the distillate appears to have thrown within the towel. With water: notes of strawberries and lychee emerge. Might somebody inform me the place that’s coming from? The Bordeaux, maybe? Additionally bay leaf, a touch of grenadine, and a few brioche. End: lengthy, however the wooden is dominant. I reckon that’s the well-known acacia. Feedback: somewhat pleasant, however anecdotal—virtually experimental. What are we presupposed to do with it?
SGP:561 – 78 factors. |
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My goodness, all these barrels of Bordeaux! Might we at the very least be advised roughly what sort of Bordeaux it’s every time? In any case, Bordeaux produces round 900 million bottles per classic.
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