17/03/2023
Chapter 7
My first Chapter 7
Not a review
As I said in the past: I’m not a professional whisky reviewer (do they even exist?). I’m hopefully humble enough to consider that probably nobody will take buying decisions based on this chapter. And that is totally fine.
What I want to do in this chapter is take you through the unique set of sensations and memories generated by this astonishing set of 10 drams…Yes! 10 juicy cask strength, single cask drams. Do you get completely different notes? That’s no problem at all. I’d be curious to hear yours if you want to share them below.
Let’s crack on…
After a nice rewarding dinner, we poured the first sample. They all came in this nice packaging that reminded me about baby take away meals you can find in supermarkets in the UK. I have 4 boys…and yes…sometimes I tried them: they’re actually good!
1. Tomintoul Amontillado 2010 52.5%
The first dram was a Tomintoul 11 years old single cask matured in Amontillado cask from the Monologue series.
First sensation just staring at the glass: fat, waxy, thick texture. That’s how I like it. It tells you most of the time you have some quality before you. Nose was quite young at first, mainly for the strength.
It only needed a few seconds and a drop of water to start opening up. Vanilla, caramel as if it was a bourbon cask. If you like subtle sherry notes rather than a sherry bomb this is the right one for you. Panettone notes so reminder of Xmas for any Italian.
Palate was a nice resin, maritime pine woods sort of smell. Green, fresh and floral. This reminded me of when I was a kid and I used to go finding pine nuts with my grandad back in Italy.
Finish dry, sweet and sour not very prolonged. A very solid start of the night!
2. Orkney 2014 52.8%
This comes from Whitlaw distillery in Orkney. Distilled in 2014 matured in a red wine barrel and and bottled in 2022 at 52.8% abv.
It really surprised me the cheesiness of the nose. It smelled like Dixi cheese chips from my youth and oh if I love them! As it opened up the cheesy notes evolved to something more of a cheese and cured meat cellar. Notes of camembert and taleggio. This fragrant moldy sensation I adore.
Palate really woody with citric development of lemon and orange peels. Nice summer berries as well. A solid pleasant finish like after a nice picnic in a summer veg garden.
3.. Orkney 2006 54%
Another great dram from Orkney. This time a 16 years old aged in bourbon hogshead and presented at 54%.
Cotton candy. It reminded me of the candy stand in one of the summer fairs and my granny’s village in Abruzzo.
What really struck us all, was its “un-finish”. This is one of those drams that coats your mouth and stays there lingering for ever. Leaving you with that sweet and sour balance coming from the bourbon sweet notes and citrus-y taste cleansing the palate.
“The difference between a good artisan and a good artist” someone said.
4. Teaninich Oloroso 2008 55.1%
Tea time! First sensations were of early grey tea with a touch of rust. Then a lot of dates and dried figs.
In the palate a nice coat of fresh fruits – apple, pear, guava. Cocoa butter.
Finish was poetry. It hugged me, embraced me and carried me away with clove, nutmeg, cinnamon spicy notes. Almost zesty like in mulled wine.
5. Glenrothes 2008 59%
Werther’s original in a dram. Toffee nose switching to marmite with time and water. Almost a shy nose compared to its generous palate took me by surprise.
Another pleasant “un-finish ” which seemed to be a signature of Chapter 7. What an intriguing dram this was. I’m always puzzled (in a good way) when there is a disconnect between nose and palate.
I haven’t got a lot of info about this one. If you’ve tried this please share your thoughts!
6. Prologue Small Batch #2 47.5%
We took a break. Now was time for some peat. This is a blended malt.
Probably from the notes this is one of the best dram between un-peated and peated.
Peat is quite subtle. It has that salty harbour-like smell.
On the palate green apple. Like a sorbet between your main and desserts prepared us for what was coming after.
A nice new-make-y sort of finish, reminding me of grappa. A bit more peat in the back of the throat. Intriguing.
7. Peallach 50.8%
This was quite smoky. An earthy smoke. Like when you melt cheese on the bbq and it drops on the charcoal. Yes we do love our barbecues…and cheese!
In the palate that sensation of a young island peaty malt. Like Kilchoman Machir Bay. A bit of smoky scamorza cheese in the development.
Roasted coffee finish with nutty gingery notes in the back of the throat.
8. Knockdhu 2006 51.6%
You know when you open an old book with yellow pages. This smelled the same. Refined old mossy nose. The smell of coming back home after a rainy winter day in the woods and finding the wood fire on and a nice stew in the oven.
Completely ignoring its strength this needed no water. Smooth rich chocolate palate coating candied oranges finish.
A superior product only by error tasted in the midst of a peat section…Our bad!
9. Legends of the Peativerse 59%
This is a 7 year old blended malt. Peated quite peated. Only 60 bottles have been produced and I had the privilege of trying it twice…lucky boy! First time @ Grain and Glass in Birmingham.
It’s a young special peaty blend. It contains Ledaig, Caol Ila, HP, Williamson and a sherried 14 years old from Speyside. This is quite a pedigree.
Nose was sweet peat, ginger, iodine. It reminded me of Ardbeg wee beastie or the Ardgeg 8 for discussion. Beyond the first slap in the face there are multiple layers of complexity. Fruity notes and spicy oriental notes cumin and coriander. Palate was less aggressive than expected. Really helped some water to get it to a point I really enjoyed it.
10. Tobermory 1994 52%
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- Tomintoul 2010 (Monologue) – 52.5%
- Orkney 2014 (Monologue) – 52.8%
- Orkney 2006 (Monologue) – 54%
- Teaninich 2008 (Monologue) – 55.1%
- Glenrothes 2008 – 59%
- Prologue Small Batch #2 – 47.5%
- Peallach – 50.8%
- Knockdhu 2006 (Monologue) – 51.6%
- Legends of the Peativerse – 59%
- Tobermory 1994 (Monologue) – 52%