Whisky a Day

Whisky #418 – Berrys’ 1997 Arran 17 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 1)

August 10, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Berrys’ 1997 Arran 17 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 1). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, no idea how much I paid…a jet lag impulse purchase when coming through Dubai airport. Not too outrageous if I recall correctly, maybe around $100.

Colour: Olympic gold.

Nose: Light and delicate; pineapple, freshly lacquered timber furniture. Cereal notes too – like sticking your nose into a new box of muesli, some oats along with some light fruity notes.

Palate: A very crisp entry with a light touch on the palate. It feels like it effortlessly glides over your tongue, teasing you with some sweet lemon sherbet and tangy passionfruit notes.

Finish: Medium length with a light salty lemon tang, followed by some honey and white pepper notes to finish.

Comments: I picked up this bottle as I’m a huge fan of Arran whiskies and I thought I’d not tried a Berrys’ bottling of Arran before. As it turns out, quite some time ago with Whisky #284 I had tried a very similar bottling, the Berrys’ 1997 Arran 16 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 2). The night in question where I tried Whisky #284 turned out to be a rather large one at Whisky & Alement whilst visiting one of my best mates AB in Melbourne, so it’s not a surprise my memory was a little sketchy.

Despite this expression having one more year’s maturation, the brief tasting notes we made that night seem to suggest some similarities between the two releases, hardly surprising given both releases had similar barrel maturations…transferred from bourbon casks to ex Marsala casks during the latter stages of their life in the warehouse.

A nice easy drinking drop that allows some of the Arran house style to shine through whilst also offering something different to the distillery bottled releases.

Whiskies #416 & #417: Glendalough 7 Year Old & 13 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskies

July 30, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

A taste-off between two single malts from Irish new kid on the block, Glendalough. Founded in 2011 by a group of mates, this craft distillery has been able to release a 7 year old and 13 year old courtesy of private label whiskey produced by Cooley Distillery for independent bottlers. A fantastic way to get a unique product to market whilst producing and maturing their own craft whisky (amongst other spirits). Both were aged in first fill ex-bourbon casks, I thought it would be interesting to do a side by side comparison.

Whisky #416: Glendalough 7 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Ireland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $110 (bottle).

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Light and citrusy, fresh baked biscuits and a hint of dusty leather. Sounds like a weird combo, but it works.

Palate: Rich honey and a hint of pepper. Intense fruit driven sweet flavours, like sucking on a boiled lolly – think lemon, raspberry and lime.

Finish: A punchy oak and sweet finish, driving straight down the mid palate. Cigar notes in the fade. Medium length for the flavours, but a very subtle warmth lingers longer.

Whisky #417: Glendalough 13 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Ireland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $135 (bottle).

Colour: Slightly darker gold than the 7 year old. Not as big a difference as I was expecting given it has spent almost twice as long in casks.

Nose: A more fragrant, floral nose than the 7. It’s now more syrupy; with toffee and golden syrup notes.

Palate: Toffee and intense fruit syrup – think raspberry coulis and passionfruit syrup, laced with hints of oak and warm vanilla spice. Richer and creamier and than the 7.

Finish: Some soft but tangy raspberry and citrus notes. The oak is much softer than the 7 year old, allowing other flavours come to the fore.

Overall comments: The 13 year old Glendalough was another one of the whiskies I selected as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back. I selected it as my Irish malt for the collection and had heard great reviews. Having had both bottles on my shelf for some time, I found myself naturally gravitating to the 7 year old more often than the 13. I find the 7 year old a supremely easy whisky to drink; it’s smooth, bags of flavour and is certainly not one dimensional. However, the 13 year old expression is richer and more refined, bold yet elegant. I’d recommend both, though I’m keen to try some of Glendalough’s own distilled single malt when it eventually gets released. It will be interesting to see how similar their single malt is compared to these that they’ve matured but acquired from another distillery.

Whisky #415: Aberlour 2005 White Oak Single Malt

July 14, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Aberlour 2005 White Oak Single Malt (bottled 2015). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at my friend Corey’s place in Montpellier, France, €29 (bottle).

Colour: Golden amber.

Nose: Orange peel and burnt butter. My mate Brett got mainly citrus notes.

Palate: Unlike Brett’s last Tinder date, it’s not very big bodied. Quite light on the palate, there’s some soft toffee notes along with lots of white pepper and oak.

Finish: Peppery spice and biscuit flavours, medium length. A warm tingle lingers longer.

Comments: It’s quite pleasant but definitely not as rich, creamy or fruit driven as many other Aberlours I’ve tried before. Certainly very drinkable, but not as satisfying as some other higher ABV Aberlours. Cracking value for money though, I wish we could get whisky this cheaply in Australia.

But this is a perfect mid afternoon dram, a nice little warm up before heading up to watch the finish of today’s stage of the Tour de France. Not a bad way to enjoy a sunny afternoon in the south of France.

Whisky #414: Glengrant 5 Year Old Single Malt

July 5, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengrant 5 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at a ridiculously amazing villa in Tuscany, €14 (bottle).

Colour: Like a summer Tuscan sunset…*slap* – no more Tuscan clichés trying to make people jealous that I’m on holiday. Did I mention I’m in Tuscany right now?

Nose: As my good mate Giles remarked, paraphrasing Blackadder – it started badly, tailed off a bit in the middle, and the less said about the end the better. I’m a little more positive, but it’s not outstanding.

Palate: Hairs have risen on Brett’s arms. A little brash upon entry, but not as much as one might expect from such a young whisky. Straw and hay notes, quite light and thin.

Finish: Short to medium length. Gentle lemon, straw and some soft salty tangy notes.

Comments: Exceeds expectations, but to be fair they weren’t high for a 5 year old €14 whisky. A middling, accessible dram that never scales great heights but doesn’t promise to do so.

It’s enjoyable more so for the company that I’m sharing it with, a bunch of 20 good friends out from Australia, America and Germany eating and drinking Tuscany dry for my very good mates Campbell and Giles’ 40th birthdays. Happy birthday you magnificent bastardos!

Whisky #413: Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old Single Malt

June 24, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 51%. Tasted at home, $135 (bottle).

Colour: Dirty gold.

Nose: Fresh strawberries, sherbet coated soft serve ice-cream cones, soft vanilla and sweet oak.

Palate: Cool entry, closely followed by a warmth that fills the mouth. Oily mouthfeel. Creamy with a hint of sweet lemon tanginess. Full flavoured – think golden syrup rather than honey; lots of vanilla too.

Finish: A long gentle tingle all around the palate, roof of the mouth as the whisky gently finds its way to warm the chest. This is a winter warmer without being too intense. Honey on hot buttered toast flavours in the fade.

Comments: It’s a bloody cold night here in Sydney, so a whisky with more oomph was required. This one definitely ticks the boxes – bucketloads of flavour, a full mouthfeel and a satisfying warmth that convinces you that you’ve made the right choice to stay inside. Recommended for those without log fireplaces to curl up beside. Actually, recommended for those that do as well – this is good stuff! Keep drinking to ensure you remain warm at all times.

Whisky #412: Signatory 1997 Single Grain Collection North British 18 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky

June 14, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Signatory 1997 Single Grain Collection North British 18 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky. Lowlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Faded apple juice.

Nose: Like walking through a forest on a crisp, cool morning. Geez that sounded a bit wanky. Fresh hay and sawn timber (ok, it’s not a national park), lemon peel, a hint of coconut.

Palate: Light, cool and savoury on the palate. Like biting into a water cracker with a finely balanced piece of cheese – you’re so focused on the texture at first that you’re not quite sure what flavours are dancing around on your tastebuds. Better have another sip…this time there are indeed water cracker notes, along with honey, creamy apricots and some residual husky cereal notes. There’s no malted barley in this, but if you’ve ever been on a distillery tour and been given a few grains of malted barley to bite into…this whisky shares some of those notes and sweetness.

Finish: Medium length, with some vanilla and toasted biscuits. A gentle salty fade with a lemon sherbet tang, a hint of liquorice too.

Comments: Grain whiskies are not uncommon, but single grain whiskies certainly are a much rarer beast. This is only the second single grain whisky I’ve tried, though this is the first one that I remember tasting as the Invergorden The Five – Rich & Extremely Rare Single Grain 47 Year Old Whisky that I once tried was the eighth whisky of a very large night out in Glasgow!

This one is from the North British Distillery just outside of Edinburgh, a grain distillery that produces whisky spirit destined to go into blends such as Johnnie Walker, Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse. If the quality and complexity of this whisky is anything to go by, I hope North British bring out a few more single grain releases to introduce themselves to a much wider audience. Top stuff.

Whisky #411: Black Gate Distillery 5 20s Cask Strength Single Malt

June 4, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Black Gate Distillery 5 20s Cask Strength Single Malt. New South Wales, Australia. ABV: 67.00%. Tasted at home, $195 (500mL bottle).

It’s a cold, windy and rainy afternoon here in Sydney today. Today’s sailing race has been abandoned due to dangerous conditions. So…perfect weather for staying indoors with a cask strength whisky! And what a cracker this is…

Colour: Deep treacle.

Nose: A satisfying nose prickle. Very complex, lots of rich sweetness; raisins, treacle, and (somewhat strangely) blackcurrant Soothers. A campfire burns in the distance.

Palate: A rich and full mouthfeel. Imagine a smoked golden syrup, or smokey salted caramel. Caramelised balsamic onions that have been baked with a Sunday roast – a perfect balance of rich savoury and sweet notes.

Finish: Ridiculously long. The syrupy flavours subside leaving a rich, smokey and salty tang in the fade.

Comments: Distilled in September 2013 and bottled in December 2015, this is a very young whisky – but fortunately with Australia’s climate variations whisky tends to mature a lot more quickly than whiskies from other parts of the world where the variation in temperatures are less pronounced. The scientist in me would love to take the same new make spirit, place it in (as near as possible) identical barrels, and then send them to four corners of the earth and see how the whisky matures, both in terms of flavour variations as well as maturation times.

But back to the Black Gate. The “5 20s” in the name refers to the five twenty litre casks that were vatted together to produce the 159 bottles of this release. A limited release, and one that they’ve put out to market as soon as it is legally becomes whisky. However, with the small cask sizes turbo-charging the maturation by increasing the wood-to-whisky ratio, it tastes a lot older.

Amazing complexity and flavour profile, this is a whisky that is perfectly suited for a cold rainy afternoon.

Whisky #410: Ardbeg Perpetuum Single Malt

May 28, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Ardbeg Perpetuum Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 47.40%. Tasted at home, $35 (100mL bottle split, courtesy of the International Beer Shop in Perth).

Happy Ardbeg Day everyone!! Thought it fitting that I dig up this little beauty which I’ve had kicking around in the collection for 12 months now. The Ardbeg Perpetuum was actually the distillery’s Ardbeg Day release from 2015, commemorating their 200th anniversary. I’ve yet to try their 2016 Ardbeg Day release, “Dark Cove” (Sam Dunn hurry up and send it!), looking forward to getting stuck into that too.

Colour: A very pale straw.

Nose: Delightfully contrasting and complex. There’s a hint of char grilled bacon (hmmm, bacon *drool*), interspersed with raspberry sherbet and lemon crumble. Some very faint smoked trout aromas, sawdust from a freshly lopped tree…honestly the more I nose it the more my mind races to some very un-whisky like descriptions. Impressive stuff.

Palate: A cool, crisp entry with a quick build in flavour and a satisfying warm tingle around the lips and entire front of the mouth (not just the palate). Dark honey combines with meaty and woody notes – like a honeyed lamb skewer that’s been flame grilled on the BBQ.

Finish: The renowned Ardbeg peatiness finally emerges, though it’s more organic flavours rather smokey. The salty tang lingers long, along with some straw and lemon tanginess too.

Comments: It’s more subtle than your typical Ardbeg, and that’s a good thing. I’m a big fan of Ardbeg, but in the past I’ve felt some of their expressions are a little too similar. The Ardbeg Perpetuum is refreshingly different, and it’s a cracking dram. With only 12,000 bottles produced, I wish I’d had the foresight to grab more than just a 100mL bottle split.

Whisky #409: GlenDronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt

May 22, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glendronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 54.90%. Tasted at home, $162 (bottle).

Seeing as Saturday was World Whisky Day, I decided that was a good a reason as any to lash out on a new whisky. I got home and cracked it open with intentions of doing my review, but I was enjoying it so much I dared not ruin the moment by over-analysing it. So I sat back, poured a second dram (ok…and a third), and here I am two days later, doing a belated World Whisky Day review.

Colour: Brilliant bronze.

Nose: Buttery toffee, strawberries & cream, raspberry sticks of rock. A tangy raspberry note too; it’s not all sweetness.

Palate: Creamy orange liqueur, sweet oak and hints of chocolate. It’s not the syrupy sherry bomb that one might expect from Glendronach (especially a cask strength release), it’s far more nuanced yet still recognisable.

Finish: A gentle long, warm finish with hints of muscatels, dark chocolate and dried raspberries.

Comments: This really is a whisky you can pour, sit back in a comfy chair, put on some background music and let the cask strength flavours ease your troubles and take your mind off all life’s worries. It’s effortlessly drinkable; full flavoured yet smooth. It’s not a dram for those taking their first steps into the wonderful world of whisky as it’s possibly a little intense. But for those who love the house style of Glendronach or who appreciate a cask strength dram that gradually reveals layers of flavour and aroma with each sip, this is a ripper. Recommended.

Whisky #408: Limeburners Directors Cut M134 Barrel Strength Single Malt

May 14, 2016 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Limeburners Directors Cut M134 Barrel Strength Single Malt (bottle 072 / 101). Great Southern Distilling Company. Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 61%. Tasted at home, $280 (bottle).

Colour: Deep copper.

Nose: Creamy treacle, burnt caramel (think creme brûlée), cloves, dates.

Palate: A melting pot of lusciousness…tingly caramelised pineapple fried on a BBQ. Sweet moist fruitcake. Dark chocolate truffles with rich caramel oozing out as you bite in. It’s a big burst of flavour with a lovely oily mouthfeel, like you’ve bitten into one of those Starburst lollies with the liquid centre. This is amazing stuff.

Finish: Long and slow in the fade. Buttery white toast with golden syrup…flavours I’ve enjoyed from other Limeburners whiskies matured in ex Australian Muscat barrels like this one.

Comments: Arriving home after working a weekend on what’s shaping up to be a 70 hour week, a cask strength whisky was definitely order of the day. The neighbours for some reason were playing Michael Bolton loudly, which only served to cause further irritation. Returning serve with some vintage Pendulum cranked up really loud, I was inspired to pair some West Australian music (Pendulum) with some fine cask strength West Australian whisky. What a glorious combination to take the edge off what has been an insane week.

Limeburners have long been one of my favourite distilleries, not just amongst the many fine Australian distilleries but globally. They really punch above their weight and produce some fantastic whisky, so it’s no surprise to see them take out the trophy for the 2016 Champion Distiller at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards earlier this month. Here’s to founder Cameron Syme and distiller Ben Kagi, another sterling effort gents.

Whisky #407: Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt

April 16, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $70 (100mL bottle split from Copper & Oak in Perth).

Thought I’d review the Glenfarclas 30 in honour of my old mate Peakey who is soon to be married. Given we’ve known each other for almost 30 years and he’s known to say “thirty” more like “firrrrty”, I thought it appropriate to bust out the Glenfarclas 30 Year Old. Here’s to you Peakey, wishing you & Roxy a happy future together mate!

Colour: Deep copper.

Nose: A smooth, sweet nose – dried fruits and toffee. Honey on hot buttered toast. Sweet lemon sherbet. Every time I take a new sniff it reveals different flavours. Amazing.

Palate: A smooth entry; an oily mouthfeel with flavours that slowly build. The initial mouthful surprises – maybe a burst of blueberries and syrupy charcoal. That might sound a little weird, but it’s actually great. Subsequent mouthfuls have a velvety sweetness with a bold undertone, like some bush honey.

Finish: Buttery toffee, grassy cheesy notes – think honey smothered on grilled haloumi cheese with some fresh herbs. It’s a medium to long finish, such a gradual fade of flavours.

Comments: I really wanted to review this whisky very tongue in cheek, making subtle references to all the crazy “fings” all our mates have gotten up to with Peakey over the past “firrrrty” years or so. But when it came down to it, this is a fantastic whisky that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable, one that could be enjoyed in any situation – a damn fine companion to have by your side for a great night full of good times.

Much like our mate Peakey really.

Whisky #406: Balcones Brimstone Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whiskey

April 16, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Balcones Brimstone Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whiskey (batch BRM14.4). Waco, Texas, United States. ABV: 53%. Tasted at home, $165 (bottle).

A Texas whiskey review in honour of my Texan friend Casey who once worked in Sydney at my local, The Point Hotel. Your Pyrmont Point family miss you Slats, come back for a visit already!

Colour: A deep flame.

Nose: Fresh sweet smoke, like you’ve placed some wet green branches on a campfire. With time in the glass there’s hints of molasses, leather and char-grilled meat too.

Palate: Bam! The smokiness really kicks you in the teeth. After the initial hit, there’s a taste of black jelly beans, treacle and slow cooked pork ribs. Maybe I feel like some ribs tonight…

Finish: The flavours hang around longer than that weird guy at a music festival who crashes your campsite on the first night and is still wanting to party with you two days later. Stop dancing around the campfire buddy, it’s time to go home! There’s a gentle heat that tingles on the tongue and front half of the mouth, like you’ve eaten a fresh yet somewhat sweet chilli. Some subtle smoked trout and salted caramel flavours in the fade.

Comments: This was another one of the whiskies from my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back. It is incredibly smokey, but not peaty like many Scottish Islay malts for example. In fact it’s a very unusual wood smoked whiskey made using sun-baked Texas scrub oak. I chose it as it promised to be a unique drop whilst also ticking the American and smokey whisk(e)y boxes for my challenge.

I loved the Balcones True Blue 100 Proof Corn Whisky, however their Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whiskey couldn’t quite live up to those lofty expectations. There’s some savoury and sweet subtleties on show here, but these are overshadowed by the smokiness. Time in the glass reveals some more aromas and allows the palate to get accustomed to the whiskey, but if the smokiness was able to be dialled back a notch or two this would be a really good drop. A very unique and interesting proposition nonetheless.

Whisky #405: Suntory Crest 12 Year Old Blended Whisky

April 2, 2016 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Suntory Crest 12 Year Old Blended Whisky. Osaka, Japan. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Tokyo Bird, $22.

Colour: My good mate Damo (his dram with the ball of ice) described it as topaz. When asked if he would say a lustrous, sparkling topaz, his response was “Only if you blow bubbles in it.”

Nose: Buttery; caramelised figs, some creamy sherry notes. Very soft and velvety.

Palate: Burnt caramel, quite meaty. Savoury almost but counterbalanced with sweetness, like caramelised onions cooked on the BBQ with balsamic. Smooth entry, medium bodied.

Finish: A drying finish with gentle spice and cinnamon sugar; a long, slow gradual fade.

Comments: It’s Suntory time, and I like it! A lot more depth of character than other blends, particularly some Japanese blends. I’d be keen to get my hands on a bottle of this to add to the collection. It was my first time checking out Tokyo Bird in Surry Hills, very impressed with their range of Japanese whisky.

I’ll leave you with this gem, a Suntory Crest ad from 1992. If a whisky gets Sean Connery’s tick of approval, it must be decent…or perhaps the marketing budget had deep pockets. He doesn’t say a word, just a cock of the left eyebrow and a knowing head nod to your Doberman are all that’s required to indicate your enjoyment apparently. Gold.

Whisky #404: Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt

March 27, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 58.20%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

In honour of my crazy Glaswegian friend Shelly who has her birthday today, I thought it appropriate to review a whisky from one of the closest distilleries to Glasgow. Happy birthday Shell!

Colour: Bright molten toffee.

Nose: Creamy caramel and cocoa; honey on hot buttered toast.

Palate: Malty straw notes duke it out with some creamy tangy lemon cheesecake flavours. It’s a big mouthfeel, oily and luscious.

Finish: Long and full, as you’d expect from a cask strength whisky. Creaming soda and sugary lemon sherbet flavours linger long on the front half of the palate.

Comments: Much like my friend Shelly, this whisky is full throttle and hits you at cask strength. After a few drinks it will no doubt cause you to morph into the loudest and most outrageous member of the party, but that’s ok because it’s your birthday!

This was another one of the whiskies I selected as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back, which ticked off the “cask strength” category. It’s been a very enjoyable whisky, with great balance between creamy toffee flavours and some tart citrus notes. This bottle is nearing the end (not in one sitting!), I will definitely be placing an order for another. Recommended.

Whisky #403: Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Single Malt

March 25, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Deep gold.

Nose: Cooked mash, a hint of honey.

Palate: Rich tangy honey; not as sweet as you might expect, almost a bit of salty citrus, reserved lemon.

Finish: A medium length finish with salty cereal notes in the fade. A touch of cracked black pepper spice too.

Comments: I was intrigued to try a whisky from Tullibardine, a small distillery that produced its first spirit back in 1949 but was closed from 1995 to 2003. After changing hands a few times, it’s now producing a small range of whiskies, most of which aren’t available in Australia.

With this expression having a Sauternes finish I had envisaged there to be more sweet notes on the palate, similar to say a Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. It’s more savoury and citrusy than expected, a solid and very easy-drinking whisky but not a world beater.

Whisky #402: Zuidam Distillers Millstone 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt

March 11, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Zuidam Distillers Millstone 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt. The Netherlands. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $165 (bottle).

The Friday night pre-date dram…

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: Rich toffee, dried muscatels, cabernet paste, a musty old bookcase filled with leather-bound books…you just want to inhale it for days. Or watch Anchorman again so you can recite more Ron Burgundy quotes and drink whisky.

Palate: Sherry and juicy stone fruit flavours explode on the palate, like you’ve just taken a bite of the juiciest plum. A cool oily mouthfeel; the oak is delicately balanced with some creamy sweetness and a hint of tartness. It reminds me of a pink sherbet-coated soft serve ice-cream cone. Amazing.

Finish: The fruit and sherry flavours drop off initially, leaving behind the soft oak and caramelised toffee notes that ever so slowly fade. It’s a long and gentle finish, lingering much longer than expected. Which is absolutely fine by me.

Comments: I thought seeing as it’s a first date tonight, I might need some Dutch courage. As it happens, the Zuidam was the only Dutch whisky in my collection! My date this evening is cheeky, confident and more than a little outspoken, so I thought the Zuidam might be appropriate as it shares some of those qualities. If she is as sweet, tasty and lingers long at the end of the palate like the Zuidam then it could be a good match!

This was another one of the whiskies I selected as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back. I selected it as it was unusual (I’d only tried one other Dutch whisky previously), and it also ticked the sherry matured box. It was awarded “World Whisky of the year” by Whisky Advocate Magazine in the USA 2013, as well as 95 points from Jim Murray in his 2015 Whisky Bible. I respect but don’t always agree with a lot that the man in the hat writes about, but on this one I think we’re in agreement – it’s a fantastic drop.