Origin: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 49%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon hogshead refill
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Chapter 7 Whisky
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: chapter7whisky.com
Vote: 81/100
Chapter 7 is an independent bottler of Swiss origin founded by Selim Evin, in 2014.
The name was inspired by a monologue from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, in which Jacques explains the seven ages of man: “And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satche and shining morning face, creeping like snail, unwillingly to school. And then the lover, sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lined, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, […] The sixth age shifts into the lean and slippered pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side. […] Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”.
There is a clear parallel with whisky in the arc of its maturation, seen as a living, changing matter, which Selim tries to capture in his single cask bottlings refined between Scotland and Ireland: “Literature inspired our whisky. The best whisky is like a character in a novel – the best ones tug at your heart and stay with you. We find whisky that has a heart and soul, whisky that you’ll remember long after you finish your glass.”
With labels inspired by British road signs, Chapter 7 has produced several series: Monologue (which recalls the uniqueness of a single cask), Chronicle (undisclosed distillery whiskies made in small batches, produced continuously), Anecdote (unique and limited editions) and this Prologue, which is the only large-production release (8,000 bottles) to date,
Released in 2021, it’s a blended malt of young whiskies (aged between five and seven years) from two Highland distilleries and one from the Speyside, designed as an ongoing component of the portfolio and choosing its parts young enough to ensure longterm supply.
Tasting notes
Very pale yellow in the glass.
The nose is very youthful, with new make aromas of yeast, rusks, lavender, rosehip, freshly cut grass. Very fresh and acidic, with notes of pineapple and grapefruit, lychees, gooseberries.
The palate is cheerful and lively, with ginger and pepper sprinkled copiously over a still very young profile of malt, yellow fruit (apple, pear, pineapple, plum), grapefruit, vanilla, a drop of honey, almonds. Softer than on the nose, its length shows hints of fresh bread and sugar icing, with a small salty note.
Fairly short finish of ginger, dried fruit, pear, malt.
A blended that combines the lightness of youth with the delicacy of the areas of origin, creating an all in all pleasant and well constructed dram but not leaving many memories behind.