Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 59%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon barrel first fill
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Atom Brands
Average price: € 90.00
Official website: www.thatboutiqueywhiskycompany.com
Vote: 87/100
Today’s whisky is celebrating a special occasion, the 10th anniversary of That Boutique-y Whisky Company, the most pop independent bottler on the market (starting with the labels!), and is a selection from the historic Italian importer, Beija-Flor: a single cask ex-Bourbon first fill from Glenburgie, a distillery that deserves more credit and consideration, offered in its natural colour and without chillfiltration, at 59% ABV in just 233 50cl bottles.
Tasting notes
The colour is light gold.
On the nose, the first impression is of shortcrust pastry that someone has decided to enrich, because after a few moments, it switches to apple and pear tart, with a dash of cinnamon. We perceive a floral undertone of jasmine and primrose, as if we were tasting the tart outside on a fine spring day. Spices (oregano and marjoram) answer the call, before vanilla enters the scene, with admirable grace, growing in intensity over time. We are faced with an aroma that naturally slides from a more restrained sweetness to a more declared sweetness.
On the palate immediately pepper and chilli (which bring joy) before white-fleshed fruit (apple and pear), slightly ahead of vanilla cream, yellow peach, shortcrust pastry and, following this, the apple and pear tart we had encountered on the nose. It is an ensemble that definitely brings us back to the fragrant notes for which Glenburgie is known, with an enviable balance between the different aromas.
The long, fruity finish, with a hint of pepper, leaves a nice memory and invites us to proceed with the next sip.
A ‘primary’ whisky in the best sense of the word, celebrating the elegant contribution of the ex-bourbon cask with excellent results. The starting distillate is certainly high profile, but the care in selection is all down to the guys at Beija-Flor. Congratulations!