Origin: Scotland
Type: Spirit Drink
Strength: 35%ABV
Ageing cask: N/A
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Atom Brands
Average price: € 98.00
Official website: www.thatboutiqueywhiskycompany.com
Vote: 85/100
That Boutique-y Whisky Company never ceases to surprise us, and today’s is really a surprise, because we don’t have a whisky in the glass.
Of course, it was born to be, a single grain precisely, but something during the monstrous ageing process went wrong, let’s say, the distillate fell to a strength below those 40% ABV that the Scottish disciplinary indicates as the minimum to be able to speak of whisky, and so the definition is spirit drink.
The distillery of origin is not declared, nor the cask of maturation, the strength is 35% ABV, the outturn 154 bottles still available.
Tasting notes
The colour is amber.
The very first impression on the nose, not at all welcoming to be honest, is ‘synthetic’, somewhere between nail polish and varnish, and is unfortunately rather lingering. Over time, the situation changes and more pleasant scents emerge: sugared almonds, almond paste and froth, with a touch of cooking spices (marjoram above all). After several minutes, the improvement is further: vanilla, milk chocolate and a distant memory of honey.
On the palate there is immediately a lot of shoe polish (no, we have never licked polished shoes, if you are wondering). Before despair gets the better of us, we are saved by dates, almond infusion, more froth, hazelnut and a novelty for us: rocket. Also unripe apple in spirit. The smoothness is remarkable and the alcohol completely inoffensive.
The finish is much longer than we would have expected and leaves a reassuring warmth and notes of sugared almond in the mouth.
I might as well say it now: I’m not a great fan of grain. But this spirit drink, after a repulsive attack, can, with a little patience, provide pleasant sensations. In any case, the possibility of enjoying such an ageing spirit at a human price is rare, and so the dram recommendation is the least.