Origin: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Phil & Simon Thompson
Average price: € 45.00
Official website: www.thompsonbrosdistillers.com
The Thompson brothers’ passion for whiskies of the past is well known, and it is a style that can be found in the whisky produced at their micro distillery in Dornoch (we talked about it with Simon Thompson in this interview).
This search for lost profiles is also embodied in this blended whisky, which draws inspiration from those of the first half of the last century, all matured in ex-sherry casks and with a slightly “dirty” style, as was customary at the time.
Single malts and single grains aged for over six years in ex-sherry casks (first fill and refill), blended and left to rest for some time in the Dornoch warehouses before being bottled as a blended whisky in small batches at a very affordable price. The name is simply an acronym of the producers and the product itself.
The one being tasted is Batch 007, from the end of 2023.
Tasting Notes
There is no doubt that the ageing process took place in sherry casks, with an explosion on the nose of red fruits (blueberries, wild strawberries, currants, raisins), plums, dried figs and various jams (bitter orange, blackberries), with a hint of dust and mould. Second row of cocoa, chestnut honey, marzipan, pecans, spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) and a slight vegetal inflection, between Earl Grey and tobacco leaves. Straightforward.
Peppery on entry into the mouth, ginger and abundant black pepper scattered over the spices of the nose with an oily and compact body. The sherried notes are joined by toffee and candied citrus fruits, with the addition of dried apricots, sponge cake and maple syrup. The powdery sensation increases on drinking, leading to the idea of damp, mouldy dunnage, with the vegetal notes more evident in the length.
The finish is of medium length, with spices, nuts, cocoa, red fruits and amplified vegetal notes.
Review: The choice of casks plays a decisive role, as does the composition of the blend, which probably includes a fairly significant amount of malt, as was once customary. The end result is a simple but satisfying dram, especially for those who love sherry cask ageing, with enough personality to stand out among the many anonymous blends in the same price range.
Vote: 85/100