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WhiskyEDU is a Whiskies of the World spinoff — a nonprofit, truly — that’s centered on, you guessed it, whisky schooling. Its newest trick is an bold tasting sequence whose objective is singular: To pattern product from 162 Scottish distilleries — almost each single distillery within the nation in existence after World Battle II. That doesn’t simply embody lively ones, however silent stills as nicely. Somebody nudge me when Brora comes up.
The tastings are achieved nearly over Zoom, held each two weeks, the place six samples are poured and shared with a dozen or so whisky fanatics {and professional} management. The total vary of whisky types is roofed, and the bottles are pretty luxe, as you’ll see in my tasting notes from a current session to which I used to be fortunate sufficient to garner an invite. The sequence simply wrapped its sixteenth installment, so whereas it’s over midway by the checklist, there’s nonetheless loads of room left if you wish to attempt to hop on. Tastings kits embody six 1-ounce pours and price $140 — a fairly nice deal while you see the costs of the bottles included.
Tasting notes from my current spherical with WhiskyEDU comply with. Costs mirror precise costs paid for the pattern bottle, together with transport (usually from abroad).
William Cadenhead Caledonian Single Grain 33 Years Outdated – Very candy, nougat, plenty of cereal on the nostril, making for a really basic single grain providing, with a bitter apple observe on the nostril. Clear on the palate, not almost as candy because the nostril would point out, with a wholesome layer of fruit that lingers nicely into the end. A decadent breakfast cereal, with a mild, enduring end. Quiet and nuanced, making for a high single grain providing from an iconic silent nonetheless. 87.8 proof. A- / $284
Douglas Laing’s XOP Garnheath Single Grain 44 Years Outdated – One other single grain from a distillery I’d by no means heard of, distilled in 1974. Radically completely different and much more austere, a lot woodier and toastier than the Caledonian, each on the nostril and the palate. It’s rather less nuanced, however far more flavorful, with a powerful chocolate and heavy toast aspect. Finishes with attention-grabbing notes of black fruit. One to maintain going again to. 95.6 proof. A- / $481
Samaroli Tormore 21 Years Outdated – A Speyside single malt that primarily goes into Ballantine’s, although not at 21 years of age. Unknown cask sorts are used. Fairly uncommon, bursting with fruit on the nostril — stone fruit, tropical fruit, some mint notes — which all double down on the palate, the place these tropical notes go into overdrive. Toffee notes linger, plus some barrel char. These searching for a fragile Speyside received’t discover it right here. 100 proof. A- / $546
Loch Lomond 20 Years Outdated “The Open Course” Royal St. George – Matured in a number of kinds of American oak casks, then (bizarrely) partially completed in virgin oak. A golf-themed launch. Quiet nostril, that includes gentle fruit and light-weight cereal, with some camphor astringency. The palate is heavy with oak, with plenty of char, that virgin oak actually doing a little harm to what might in any other case have been a fragile spirit. Any of the fruity notes from the nostril are washed away right here, sadly. The end is DOA. Not terrible, however forgettable. 92 proof. B- / $240
Balblair 1991 27 Years Outdated third Launch – Aged in bourbon and sherry casks, an outdated launch from when Balblair was doing classic courting. Virtually a basic sherry bomb (although it’s not all aged in sherry casks). Massive citrus peel, berries, and glazed nuts on the nostril. The palate stays sharp, lemon peel and orange giving method, ever so barely, to notes of toasted nuts, a slight licorice observe, and possibly a grind of white pepper. My favourite whisky on this lineup. 92 proof. A / $261
Isle of Raasay 3 Years Outdated – Isle of Raasay is a brand new distillery and the one distillery on this tiny island (and possibly one of many solely companies, because the inhabitants of the island is 161 folks). That is the primary official distillery launch from Raasay — now legally “Scotch” after 3 years in barrel — a mixture of peated and unpeated whisky, aged in a mixture of rye whiskey, Chinkapin oak, and Bordeaux crimson wine casks (whaaaat?). These things is loopy. Peat is powerful on the nostril, together with black pepper — nothing placing at first. The palate, nonetheless, is weird. Peppery and natural, it hits with a definite tequila observe, its closely natural notes lingering nicely into the end. I initially hated this, however got here round to understand the factor, fitfully, after a while with it. 92.8 proof. B- / $115
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