An 'Exclusives' Tasting

 

The full line-up

For our tasting in April, committee member Martin took us into the club's stocks and through some auction finds, to showcase a selection of 'exclusive' bottlings of one kind or another.

Auchentoshan port finish

It was Auchentoshan first, for a 'bottle your own' dram from the distillery itself. This was a port finish dating from 2022, at just over nine-years-old.

This had a beautiful mouthfeel. Raisins with a very fruity nose, turned into something heavier and oilier when tasted. Very porty, and not the usual lighter style often associated with Auchentoshan. On this occasion the water didn't really help, some drinkers felt, and it was fine as it came at 57.9%. This set us back £90 at the time.

Glencadam single cask

A rare single cask from Glencadam was whisky number two. This madeira finish was bottled for the former Manchester ship Tipples which closed recently, hence the bargain price of £75.

This was definitely very punchy, as you might have expected with an ABV of 63.5%. Some in the room went straight for a drop of water. "Strong tasting" and "it needs a drop" was a rough consensus. We got a sharp aniseed or liquorice from it. It burned a little bit on the way down, with further notes of almond or Bakewell tart. Plenty of folks enjoyed this one.

Aberlour 13yo

Another distillery exclusive for dram three, a 2021 bottling from Aberlour. This was a 13-year-old aged in American oak.

The nose was impressive here. Bits of cereal, light and floral, and tropical fruits such as pineapples all to the fore. It was powerful on the palate too, and tasted a little stronger than the 51.3% on the label. Punchy again, with more of a dried fruit taste, along with a buttery and creamy aftertaste. It was good value at £80, we felt.

Glenburgie 23yo

Half-time meant a trip downstairs at the Seven Oaks to refill our beer glasses, before it was back for another trio of drams.

Martin's scouring of the auction sites brought us number four, a 2018 bottling from The Whisky Exchange. It was a 23-year-old Glenburgie aged in bourbon cask, produced to mark what was the 20th anniversary of TWE, under its in-house Signatory brand.

This was 57% so very strong for the age. It tasted delicious, with green apples and a generally fresh and refreshing feel on the palate. A "classic bourbon" for many in the room, this was a real favourite so far. It was £160 when released and we paid the same.

Braeval 16yo

The Artisan Spirits Company is a holding company for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and related concerns, and from there came a 16-year-old Braeval available only to its shareholders. Most of the liquid from this distillery ends up in Chivas blends so it's relatively seldom seen under its own name.

We had a 16-year-old sherry cask to try. This was "smoky but not" with charcoal and the dying embers of a fire on the nose. When tasting it, we got lots of slightly sweet but mostly savoury notes, including leather, treacle, toffee and a brothy quality. This was 60.4% and cost us £70 with the discount available at the time of purchase. As often the case with the SMWS, a quality dram.

Ben Nevis 6yo

The last one of the night took us back to The Whisky Exchange for a Ben Nevis, but unusually, a peated expression. A young one at 6yo only, this was a refill sherry cask coming in at 55%.

Funky and a bit strange we felt, but then Ben Nevis often is. Big on the nose with Frazzles and barbecue notes, certainly not subtle to start with. Things mellowed out a bit on the palate. Perhaps a few more years might have done it more of a favour, but good all the same. It cost us £65.

The Ben Nevis was the only one of the bottles not to attract a vote during the dram of the night poll. But the winner was whisky four, the 23yo Glenburgie, which got 11 votes, three ahead of the Braeval with the opening Auchentoshan third.

Thanks to Martin for picking out such a grand selection for us, and to all club members and those on the waiting list for attending, as well as to all at the Seven Oaks for hosting us once again.