Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 55%ABV
Ageing casks: Finished in ex-Wine
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 150.00
Official website: www.thesingleton.com
Vote: 83/100
And here we come to another of Diageo’s Special Release staples, the one and triune label that has never made overwhelming whiskies but generally maintains an altogether pleasant profile.
This time it has been finished quite briefly in French casks that have contained Chardonnay de Bourgogne, creating (in the intentions) sartorial evocations where silk triumphs rippled by the French coastal breeze, hence the name The Silken Gown: when it comes to wine casks, I really on’t expect much silkiness.
Tasting notes
The nose is an explosion of green apple juice, veering towards cider, accompanied by sugar paste, lime, pear, red fruits and a hint of mustard seeds (from Dijon?). In short, it extracts a buttery, slightly salty shortbread core, with peach and a waxy base note, keeping the two souls in effective balance. Along the length, the fresher, crisper side prevails.
On the palate, there is a lively spiciness of pepper and ginger (and a sprinkling of aniseed), and it is again the wine that draws attention with an important but not excessive acidity, where green citrus fruits, apples, pears and gooseberries dominate the scents. Oily on the palate, it doesn’t completely abandon itself to sour evocations, letting the fatty part still emerge, albeit mutedly, where almond paste and cereals keep their position in the background. The salty note grows, very evident in length.
Quite long and dry finish of anise, ginger, apple, marzipan, lots of salt and a bright mineral note.
It confirms the lack of incisiveness of the malts under this label, that finising in wine deeply affects, leaving little room for personality. All in all, an agile, without infamy or praise dram that, were it not for the ridiculously high price, would prompt the bottle to be quickly emptied.