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Batch 19 – Frazzle Dazzle
50.0% ~ 1st Fill Tempest Smoked Barley Wine Hogshead ~ 13yo ~ Blended Malt ~ £60.00
For this experimental batch, we teamed up with our friends at Tempest Brewery in the Scottish Borders. We commissioned Speyside Cooperage to create some new American oak hogsheads, with a heavy toast and a medium char. These hogsheads were then sent to Tempest, where they were filled with an off-the-wall smoked barley wine (think 12.5% ABV smoked stout!). After five months, the beer was bottled and the casks were filled with selected un-peated Speyside malts. These whiskies underwent a period of additional maturation for just under three years, before being blended together to create this unique whisky… read more
Batch 18 – Marmalade Overdrive
50.0% ~ 1st Fill Bourbon & Shiraz Barrels & Hogsheads ~ 14yo ~ Blended Malt ~ £62.00
On a cold spring morning, we journeyed across the bridge to the Kingdom of Fife. Our mission? To nose and select some freshly imported Australian Shiraz barrels, of course! Alongside the experts from Nebb Whisky Barrels, we made our selections and went about identifying suitable whiskies to fill into the casks. We opted for some 11yo 1st fill bourbon matured Speyside whiskies. They were left to slumber for around three years before being blended to create this unique whisky… read more
5.110 – Citrus Tang On Meringue
56.6% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 19yo ~ Lowlands ~ £106.20
A rich yet balanced wave of rustic cider, apple strudel and honey washed over sticky toffee pudding coated with cinnamon, dried cherries and a dash of tree sap. The spicy palate commenced with ginger before merging with lemon and honey in a hot toddy, while tinned fruit salad joined meringue and black tea leaves. Adding water combined white chocolate, pink wafers and buttery shortbread with lavender, toffee and nectarines on a bed of pine sawdust. Bitter orange, apricots and grapefruit now ran alongside hints of cured ham with salted butter before the finish embraced pink peppercorns, rosemary and grape seed tannins… read more
7.278 – Sweet Shop In A Dunnage Warehouse
56.7% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 12yo ~ Speyside ~ £69.60
The nose pleasantly combined sweet, fruity and earthy elements – chocolate limes, coconut milk, fruity habaneros, chocolate sponge cake and dunnage warehouse floors. The palate was bright, zingy and intriguing, with bubblegum, foamy shrimps, banana liqueur, lemon thyme, parma violets and refreshers. The reduced nose found a mix of honey, yoghurt and granola; banana bread, rhubarb and custard sweets and lovehearts. On the reduced palate, centre stage was occupied by juicy, tangy citrus fruits – kumquat, orange and lemon sherbet sweets, while the finish trailed teasing tingles of tannic black tea and sweet chilli… read more
7.279 – Two Roads Diverged In A Yellow Wood
56.0% ~ 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel ~ 12yo ~ Speyside ~ £69.60
The nose – well, ‘two roads diverged in a yellow wood’ – chocolate Swiss roll, Demerara, parma violets and cherries with crème anglaise to the left – and bran flakes, wicker baskets, mahogany wood and Imperial Leather soap to the right. On the palate, the left road was bourbon biscuits, fudge, sherbet lemons and plum sauce; turn right for chewing twigs, star anise and Fisherman’s Friends. The reduced nose counterpointed waffle cones and pistachio macarons against Weetabix, ladies handbags and antique furniture. The palate now found coffee matchmakers and crystallised orange slices dipped in chocolate, then a finish of clove, nutmeg, chilli and ginger… read more