Chapter 14
My first DS Tayman Whisky
It was a rainy Sunday of April. Leo and Guy came over for a bbq…one of those British barbies when you plan for it, you buy the stuff, you light the fire and…it starts raining. And then, you simply don’t care and carry on. And so we did.
Leo’s already talked about DS Tayman in his Chapter 13. This is us going through four of their latest drams and sharing our honest opinion about them. My very first sip of DS Tayman was a Linkwood 2nd edition Edition at Grain and Glass (Chapter 5) and I fell quite in love with their products.
Let’s go…my first DS Tayman whisky
Glen Elgin 12 YO Tulip finish
This is a single cask whisky distilled at Glen Elgin in Speyside in 2010, matured in a hogshead first, then finished in kosher ex-syrah wine barrel,. It’s bottled, un-chill filtered and natural colour, at 46% abv. All written on the label as we like it.
Colour: Old bordeaux/sauternes
On the Nose: baked apple, frankincense and church-y like candle wax.Also honey and mustard glazing. With a bit of water kumquat zest. A bit of tropical fruits like papaya and pineapple but also fresh juicy berries.
On the Palate: sulfury wine notes, grapes.
Finish: sweet, honey lingering there and staying there. Vermentino finish, like when you go out for a nice pasta alle vongole in Ostia Beach (if you’re based in Rome of course).
Overall: Bang for buck, a very decent dram. Probably perfect at 46%
Blair Athol 12 YO Tulip finish
Same structure. This time spirit from Blair Athol, matured in virgin oak hogshead first then finished in first fill syrah barrel. Again 46% abv.
Colour: Old madeira – nice waxy legs in the glass…that’s always a good sign for me
On the Nose: Complex and subtle. Barley sugars, rose water, candied oranges. Caramel, Freshly cut woody notes. Pralines.With a bit of water and time, spicy layers of cinnamon and clove. Leftover cold coffee moka, sandalwood…Really a lot going on here.
On the Palate: Nice thick liquid. Sweet and sour are well balanced. Red wine (of course).
Finish: Red winey finish, almost sangria or mulled wine.
Overall: another bang for buck absolutely spot on.
Linkwood 12 YO Tulip finish
I have a soft spot for Linkwood. This is again a virgin oak hogshead finished in Syrah and presented at 46%…and it gets the badge my friends!
Colour: old sauternes
On the Nose: cardamom and coconut. We’re back on an amazing tropical beach, drinking coconut water. A hint of licorice and banana.
On the Palate: it really opens up with a bit of water. Amazing texture. Citrusy, tangerine zest, caramel.
Finish: fresh. Some people would say ‘happy ending’, we just say ‘happy finish’. Sweet.
Overall: I’d definitely buy one of these. It takes the SGS badge no doubt.
Caol Ila 12 YO Tulip finish
Hogshead from Caol Ila, same finish and presentation as the other chaps.
Colour: coppery
On the Nose: wood smoke. Wine finish seems to be less effective here. Thai basil, hearty and rooty notes.
On the Palate: cilantro and lemongrass.
Finish: morositas liquorice.
Overall: Not my style, needs a bit more water than the other ones. Probably benefiting less from the wine finish than others. Of course this is a personal opinion, taste is fully subjective.
Overall
Great products at reasonable prices (at least in the UK). Of course limited availability but hey-ho…you can’t have everything. Definitely worth trying!
The wine finish works better with some than with other spirits of course and the Linkwood here steals my heart and the badge.
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- Glen Elgin 12 YO Tulip finish – 46%
- Blair Athol 12 YO Tulip finish – 46%
- Linkwood 12 YO Tulip finish – 46%
- Caol Ila 12 YO Tulip finish – 46%