Bourbon barrel #907, 235 bottles, bottled 2020.
A measure of whisky is a story. It speaks of the distillery that produced it, the cask that matured it and the experience of the people who selected it.
A whisky can have the youthful exuberance of a Jane Austin character, the absolute power of an Alfred Tennyson poem and the surprise finish of an Agatha Christy novel. We’re using whisky to write an anthology, and every edition is a new chapter.
Chapter 7 is an Independent Bottler. We don’t make whisky, we discover it. We find exceptional casks that mature extraordinary whiskies.
A cask of whisky is a living, breathing, thing. Air moves in and out of the cask. The whisky’s flavour evolves and changes as it matures in the oak. Ageing builds character. And we find the best characters to bottle.
Chapter 7 Whisky
Appearance
Light gold/damp straw in colour, with a very thick syrupy thick swirl line and legs, that turn into beaded teardrops.
Nose
We have a whisky from Islay here, and yes there’s plenty of peat, but it’s not the only aroma here, and it’s not a medicinal peat slap either. Cereals and biscuits, lemon puffs, along with a little pickle juice. There is a note of germoline with this for sure, but it isn’t overwhelming.
More time in the glass brings red cherries, and it’s also quite herbaceous along with a little perfume. I’m sure I’m getting banana too, like a mashed banana for youngsters to eat. With even more time I’m getting tropical fruits and white pepper spiciness.
Palate
We’re straight off with a lovely mouthfeel, it’s quite oily, and along with a more herbaceous tasting peat there’s toasted bread, almonds, and almost a bubble gum flavour. It’s a lovely full palate that’s becoming spicier with time. Lots of white pepper, cinnamon, and some salinity too, even some seaweed, and a faint trace of iodine.
Ginger root and more cinnamon really kick in late on the palate, the peat is still available but the spiciness really takes charge now.
Finish
Quite long and lingering, warming and spicy, a touch of chilli, milky coffee, chocolate, a little tannins, some smoke, and red berry sweetness.
My thoughts
I have asked around on whisky social media for info on this bottle, from respected and trusted whisky folk, and there is a consensus as to where the vast majority of the whisky in this bottle comes from. The distillery mentioned most often is not one iv’e really got to know well, but is one i am slowly really beginning to enjoy and understand.
I really enjoyed trying this bottle, and a whisky from Islay can be one of a few different styles to be honest, this one isn’t your usual Islay peated face slap, though there’s plenty of peat in it, but it’s also much more than that, greater than the sum of it’s parts in my opinion.
Would i buy a bottle?
For me personally i do really like this whisky, it has a lot of character, and if i had the money available i would buy a bottle. It comes in at just over £100 or so.
Thanks to -Geoff-@GeoffGilmore1
Follow @GeoffGilmore1 Follow @thewhiskeychapsimage credit – topwhiskies.com
And now for something completely different
Continuing my whisk(e)y and music thing, songs iv’e listened to either during my tasting or review. I hope you enjoy this one.
