Welcome to the Schwabian Alps! My explorations of German distilleries continue with Finch distillery… For those not familiar, the Schwabian Apls are found to the east of the Black Forrest, north of the Bavarian Alps, the Swabian Alps (Schwäbische Alb in German) are sometimes overlooked.
“Ulm, where the Danube swiftly flows, forms the boundary in the south, while the Neckar runs past half-timbered towns, limestone crags, beech woods, juniper-cloaked heaths, hilltop ducal castles, and robber-knight ruins further north.” (Lonely Planet)
As for Finch distillery, like several continental European distilleries, there is quite a lot of experimentation with various grains and casks. And what better way to explore these possibilities than with a set of miniatures – from barley to a variety of relatively obscure kinds of wheat to rye. As for casks? A mix of red wine, port, sherry and American Oak.
In this case, the set was a compact gift-wrapped treat!
Fun to open…
Even more fun to explore…
So what is contained in this Finch octet tasting set?
- Finch Fine Selection 6 year Single Malt 42%
- Finch Cask Strength 8 year Emmer Edition 3, 54.6%
- Finch Special Grain 8 year Spelt Port 42%
- Finch Distillers Choice 8 year Barrique Cask 42%
- Finch Special Edition 8 year WOA Bullhead Single Malt 46%
- Finch Distillers Choice 8 year Single Malt Sherry Cask 46%
- Finch Special Grain 6 year Rye Edition 46%
- Finch Distillers Choice 10 year Single Malt Smoky 46%
So now… on to the most fun part – tasting!
Where to start? We initially opened the 1st listed on the guide – the Emmer Edition 3 Cask Strength – however, we realised immediately the folly of this approach and switched instead to the Finch Single Malt.
Finch Fine Selection 6 year Single Malt 42% (est. Eur 40 for 500ml)
The folks at Finch share that the barley for this Single Malt comes from their own cultivation, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and wine casks.
- Nose – Initially quite fruity, then rubber took over – as in really quite rubbery – like childhood-flavoured erasers. As it settled in the glass, the aroma became sweeter with cereals. Over time it also shifted into roasted barley with honey, some green apples or green grapes
- Palate – The first sip was a bit brash, full of hay sweetness, waxy chocolate, more of the cereals
- Finish – Reminded us more of a simple single grain than single malt – there for but a moment and then disappeared
Overall this wasn’t the best beginning. It was compared with a breakfast cereal – Smacks – made of puffed wheat and honey. Whilst nothing was “off”, we just weren’t yet excited.
Finch Cask Strength 8 year Emmer Edition 3, Re Wine Barrels 54.6% (est. Eur 59 for 500ml)
Next up, we returned to the cask strength we initially cracked open. Rather than barley, this whisky uses a grain – black emmer – from the Finch farm on the plateau of the Swabian Alb. What is Emmer you may ask? Otherwise known as Triticum decoction is a plant species from the wheat genus. It is one of the oldest cultivated grains, yet hardly grown today. This type of wheat with long-awned, usually two-flowered spikelets is hardly grown in Europe today – if it is, it is essentially black emmer.
- Nose – Initially very shy, then spirity, slowly opening into marzipan, caramel, biscuits, hint of red wine or raisins
- Palate – Started like a sour calvados, then from tart apples to pears, giving way to clear red wine influence
- Finish – Light
- Revisit – What a lovely perfume, silky smooth on the palate, closing with a light spice finish
Could clearly tell this is a grain rather than a single malt, yet we enjoyed it much more than the 6 year Single Malt expression. Whilst it came across as young, once the nose opened up, it was quite inviting…
Finch 8 year Dinkel Port 42% (est. Eur 49 for 500ml)
This expression uses another lesser-known grain for whiskies – spelt – this time, combined with an ex-Port cask.
- Nose – The first whiff was very promising. Light yet very sweet. It was a bit like cotton candy or the powder on a marshmallow.
- Palate – Sparkling grape juice, sweet spices, smooth and surprisingly light for a port-matured whisky.
- Finish – Honey and raisins
Our overall impression was that it makes a nice starter whisky. The aromas were appealing and the palate enjoyable.
Finch Distillers Choice 8 year Red Wine Barrique Cask 42% (est. Eur 49 for 500ml)
We now shifted into “weizen und gersten”, in other words – wheat and barley, matured in a Red Wine Barrique.
- Nose – Oh nice! Juicy red berries. black forest cake
- Palate – Very light, sweet, red cherries and a touch of chocolate
- Finish – Light
Again, like the others, it comes across as young and spirity. Then once it settles in, quite pleasant. What we would consider an ‘entry-level’ whisky – an interesting way to introduce folks new to whisky. Whilst not complex, it has enough interesting going on to engage.
Finch Special Edition 8 year W.O.A. Bullhead Single Malt 46% (est. Eur 49 for 500ml)
For those not familiar, W.O.A. is Wacken Open Air – a massive heavy metal music festival in northern Germany. This particular expression was made for this festival – matured in three casks: American oak, Port and red wine.
- Nose – Wood, honey, bourbon-like, lots of vanilla, fruity and sweet, pleasant
- Palate – Hmm.. a bit peculiar and confused. It had a bit of a grain or bourbon bite with wine. There were different elements – each on their own interesting yet somehow didn’t come together harmoniously.
- Finish – Unremarkable
Our discussion centered around the festival and the conclusion this could be a great festival drinking whisky. On its own, in a festival setting, the combination of elements would just join the cacophony of pounding Heavy Metal music. But in comparison with the other Finch whiskies sampled that cool late November evening? Alas, it fell a bit short.
Finch Distillers Choice 8 year Single Malt Sherry Cask 46% (est. Eur 59 for 500ml)
Next up was a shift into a more classically styled single malt. No rare grains or cask experimentations here. Just barley, and an ex-sherry cask – back to the basics.
- Nose – Our first impression was – this is no heavy sherry, yet still unmistakable. Raisins, creamy sweet spices, cracked black peppercorn
- Palate – Thick and creamy, sweet with more of those raisins and spice,
- Finish – Spicy yet still light
This one simply goes down exceedingly easily. A solid package. For one of us – it was the clear favourite of the evening!
Finch Special Grain 6 year Rye 2nd Edition 46% (est. Eur 49 for 500ml)
We then decided to shift into Rye, again from Schwabian rye, matured fully in red wine barrels.
- Nose – Yup! This is definitely rye, yet also soft and sweet. Almond paste, marzipan
- Palate – Sweet nuts – like pecans, quite atypical
- Finish – One of the few Finch finishes that stays – spirity, dry
Rye but not a typical rye. Also quite different from the other Finch whiskies. Perhaps this is the influence of the red wine cask?
Finch Distillers Choice 10 year Single Malt Smoky 46% (est. Eur 49 for 500ml)
We closed with the peaty expression. They share it is a combination of their local barley and oak smoked malt, then matured in wine barrels plus Islay barrels.
- Nose – Ashy, like cold coal, smoke…. after some time we could finally detect a few additional elements – a bit of caramel nuts, speck
- Palate – Hmm… the tasting notes say marshmallows, but for us it was only the black ash of a burnt marshmallow. Burnt honey nut, burnt toast with a little bit of honey, very dry, granite stone
- Finish – The ash remains, with a hint of caramel
This was a total departure from all the others. The only consistency was that it also came across as youngish despite being matured for 10 years. Also, whilst ash was the single predominant feature, it wasn’t the forceful hit of a Smokehead, instead it was light ash. For us though, ash is ash and not our favoured type of peaty whisky.
Finch isn’t Scottish, it isn’t trying to be. Instead they are celebrating what is available locally for a range of experiments – some more appealing than others for us. The single malt and smoky were not our whisky style, however the Sherry, the Emmer and Dinkel Port stood out. Even the Rye, with its lighter touch, was interesting.
These aren’t the only Finch whiskies in my Germany Whisky Cabinet! I also have the following pair, ready and waiting for the right opportunity!
- Finch 5-year Single Malt Sherry 42%
- Finch 8-year “Barrel Proof” ex-Red wine, Bourbon, and Port Cask 54%
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