Having an opportunity to ‘try something different‘ seems to be the hallmark of most whisky aficionados journey. What better way than through bottlers not disclosing the distillery… here follows the tasting notes and speculation from an anonymous Islay whisky flight experienced at The Single Cask in Singapore.
- Nose – Citrus smoke, sweet brine
- Palate – Ash, peat, oily, sense of being a bit sticky, doesn’t travel well
- Finish – Bitter… makes you want water!
Cask Islay is a small batch release from A.D. Rattray and you can read what they have to say here.
- Nose – Softer than the Cask Islay, fresh grass, fruity apples, cereals, barley oat porridge, followed by a nice sweetness
- Palate – While it didn’t have much body, there was a fresh green dimension and actually quite interesting, warming into vanilla custard with smoke, sweet peat, sea salt, eminently enjoyable
- Finish – Very nice finish, surprisingly long
The folks behind this bottle is The Vantage Malt Whisky Company and you can read what they have to say about Islay Storm here.
Dun Bheagan Islay 43%
- Nose – Briney citrus, tannins
- Palate – Bit of spice, some body, the peat was actually quite balanced
- Finish – Sweet spice with cinnamon
IanMacLeod Distillers created the Dun Bheagan collection to feature a range of single casks.
- Nose – Tar, asphalt, leather, grass, flowers, quite sweet yet also oddly quite shy and mute
- Palate – Sharp leather, warm balanced evolution
- Finish – Sweet spice liquor
It may sounds like a contradiction but it was oddly muted and shy – can’t help but suspect the bottle was open too long with oxidation taking its toll.
Again, the folks behind this marvellous dram are The Vantage Malt Whisky Company, with more details about their Finlaggan range available here.
All were interesting. All would be quite affordable in the UK and not pocket destroying in Singapore. I kept coming back to the Islay Storm, whereas my companion was particularly partial to the Finlaggan.
And our guesses?
- Cask Islay 46% Our guess? Caol Ila
- Islay Storm 40%? Zero doubt it was Kilchoman… by a mile! And interesting to try at 40%. Sipping it also sparked my companion’s memories of his 1st visit to the distillery
- Dun Bheagan Islay 43% Most likely a Lagavulin
- Finlaggan Cask Strength 58% Probably a Laphroaig
If anyone can prove or disprove any of our speculations – would love to hear!
So there we have it… a wee whisky flight and a most enjoyable evening in Singapore.
The Single Cask is located at 01-25 Chijmes Caldwell House, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996 / info@thesinglecask.sg / +65 6837 0953.
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