After kicking off our evening with the classic Lagavulin 16 year, the Whisky Ladies of Mumbai turned to an independent bottler with their Finlaggan entry level expression.
Owned by the Vintage Malt Co based on Glasgow, their Finlaggan trio covers increasing strength from their Old Reserve at 40% to their Eileen Mor at 46% to their Cask Strength at 58%.
We just so happened to have two out of three to sample, of which the Old Reserve was an unopened bottle and the Cask Strength had alas oxidized rather considerably since it was 1st opened in May 2017.
The distillery(ies) shrouded in mystery, the only thing clearly admitted is these are single malts from Islay.
So what did the Whisky Ladies think?
Finlaggan Old Reserve 40%
- Nose – Not quite so much bacon as the Lagavulin 16, more ripe pears, wood, some kaccha guava, fresh grass, honey sweet, cured meats, taking on a faintly metallic quality with brass or copper, then coriander
- Palate – Raw, light, pleasant, goes down deceptively well, woody, bit spicy, the peat is there but nicely balanced and restrained, that metallic element gave way almost to a medicinal quality yet with a very light touch
- Finish – Cinnamon spice, buttery coconut oil, star anise, cognac honey
There is a lighter touch to the peat in this Islay – while not complex it is an easy drinking dram – pronounced a good Bombay summer whisky.
Just to compare, here is what the Vintage Malt Co folks have to say:
- Nose: Earthy smoky peat and salty ocean Breeze
- Palate: Pungent peat smoke, chewy sweet malt, pepper, tar and a touch of iodine
- Finish: Long and warming. Smoky ashes of the peat fire
In our tasting progression, we moved on to the Ileach – also from Vintage Malt Co – then the open Finlaggan Cask Strength. Here is where tragedy struck… where once upon a time this was a marvellous malt, spending nearly a year in the bottle in the heat of Mumbai did it no favours. A not so gentle reminder that for enjoyable whiskies… just share and enjoy!
Finlaggan Cask Strength 58%
- Nose – Very sweet, salty, grassy, milk
- Palate – Spicy smoke
- Finish – Cinnamon spice, burnt coconut
It had lost so many elements that made it both interesting and appealing. You can read what I’d thought from a few previous tastings here or check out what the Vintage Malt Co folks have to say:
- Nose: Lovely pungent peat smoke. Smoky bacon with a touch of old leather
- Palate: Rich sweet smoke. Iodine, lemon zest with a beautiful mouth coating oiliness. Waves of tarry peat
- Finish: Peppery peat. Soot and ash. Long and warming
I couldn’t help but wonder if the Eileen Mor 46% might just be the “sweet spot” in the middle – bottled at what some call the “connoisseurs” strength – enough to bring out the full character yet balanced with sufficient water to make it eminently shippable. Perhaps one of these days I’ll have the opportunity to try it.
What else did we explore in our “Islay Iterations” evening?
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