Wednesday 15th November saw us willing participants gather together (so to speak) for a twitter tasting which saw us being privileged to have a ‘sneak peek at the jolly treats within” Drinks by the Drams Whisky Advent Calendar.
The five we were going to try were as follows:
The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak – SMSW 40% vol.
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky – Single Grain 40% vol.
The Lost Distilleries – Blended Scotch Whisky 51% vol.
Mackmyra Brukswhisky – Swedish Single Malt Whisky 41.4% vol.
Kilchoman Sanaig – SMSW 46% vol.
First up was the Macallan the nose was initially sweet and juicy fruit. Some gentle spices. Fresh on the senses. However the initial burst of senses on the nose then fairly settled down… can’t say this is a good thing. I am perhaps more used to a whisky that I can smell from the table or beside me, just teasing me to have a nose and then a sip. Yes it’s probably because of the strength of it, but that’s a personal preference. The nose then started to give a little hint of cereal. The palate has quite a light mouthfeel (maybe I’m used to my cask strength delights) definitely getting some oats and spices. Slightly bitter. Quite a short finish with a little warmth.
We then moved on to the Bain’s Cape Mountain, it starts off very light on the senses. Soft caramel is there then as it is left to open there’s a slightly nuttiness and vanilla. Very soft. I was getting the scent of those little caramel logs (chocolate covered) circa 1976… maybe you know what I mean if you’re a child of the 70’s… The palate was very smooth. Nice sweetness but not overly so.
Next up was The Lost Distilleries Blend, Batch 10 the nose gave lots of woody notes… some vanilla, perhaps some chocolate sprinkles. This was taking time to open up. But some things do… And that is okay!
I’m (I was) almost getting the scent of fresh earth after a rain shower…Now the palate, initially it evoked the scent of putting a candle out with a snuffer…waxy. Being met with sweetness and spice which seem to fit so well with a hint of heat and wood. There was a delicious dark chocolate and a peppery hit too, it’s waxy and warm and tingling on the tongue. The spice just sits so well with the sweetness… I’m getting pencil shavings. A rather lovely dram. The finish had a hint of warmth and the sweetness just giving itself to your palate to enjoy a little longer.
Then we tried the Mackmyra Brukswhisky (The Swedish Whisky) this gave a gentle mix of smoke and caramel with some gooey sweetness. A quite perfumed fragrant nose with vanilla and some raspberry. The palate was slightly dry. Peppery and with a bit of cereal. Some nice warmth hitting the back of the mouth as you swallow.
Last dram of the evening was the Kilchoman Sanaig (Sanaig, a small rocky inlet located north of the distillery) and the name of this addition it was matured in Oloroso sherry casks. The nose weet smoke and TCP and a lot of it… some salt and leather, smells like a saddle. Must find my crop (was the comment on the night..) On to the palate, there was a big hit of smoke and heat on the mouth. Yet a citrus sweetness to it. Quite smooth on the mouth but a nip of spice, quite drying yet there was something encouraging my mouth to water and it ain’t Opal Fruits.
Thanks to Steve Rush and Drinks by the Dram for the samples an opportunity to take part on the evening.
Slàinte, Sarah 🙂
ilovewhisky 