Scotland Win The World Cup!

 

The full line-up

For our May tasting there was an opportunity for a whisky-sport crossover, with six drams representing six of the competing countries in the World Cup.

The Portuguese

Getting in ahead of the football itself meant there was time to show off a Scottish bottle before the inevitable group stage exit, but more of that later.

First up, we visited Portugal, a nation better known for its on the pitch exploits rather than dramming, so all the more reason to see what they had to offer. Venakki describes itself as the pioneer of Portuguese whisky and says its access to top quality wine casks helps set it apart from other producers. It has a range of other spirits as well as single malts, but we had a bottle of their blended expression The Portuguese, kindly brought across by club member Pedro.

This particular blend was from a mix of medium-rich Madeira, Muscatel and Douro wine casks. On the nose there was a sweet, citrussy vibe, and there was more fruit and spice on the palate. No great surprise that there was also vanilla and oak in there, given the likely youth of the liquid. Not a bad start to the evening. It was £47 and came in at 48% ABV.

Dunrobin Pear Wood

Next to World Cup co-hosts Canada, and a bottle of Pear Wood from the Dunrobin distillery, that I picked up at Toronto Airport last year. We haven't often dipped into Canadian whisky at the club over the years, even though it is one of the nations most associated with whisky its reputation for new and interesting drams probably hasn't kept pace with other, trendier producing countries, from Japan to Ireland. All the more reason to see what this newer producer had for us.

As with Vennaki, Dunrobin produces a range of spirits as well as whisky expressions. Pear wood, the stuff you get from wild pear trees, is more commonly used in furniture making. That pear certainly came through on the nose of this dram, which was matured in ex-bourbon casks. There was some spiciness around again, although the vanilla, oakiness was strong too, and it was if anything fairly undistinguished unfortunately. It was 43% and I paid £60 for a 75cl bottle.

SMWS Armorik

France is another nation with a strong football pedigree, but the produce of Brittany-based distillery Armorik has won warm praise at the club in the past. It has quite a Celtic vibe, and the climate means the whisky is made in a Scottish or Irish style. We went back here for an indie bottling courtesy of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Called Cinnamon Chili Chocolate Cupcakes, this was officially the SMWS bottling 157.2. Matured in a first-fill ex-oloroso sherry butt, I bought this seven-year-old back in 2023 for £85.

Once again this was very good, definitely the pick of the first half. Pear drops and sherbet on the nose, a mix of chocolate and spice on the palate, and some definite toffee and and creamy notes around as well. As with all SMWS bottlings it was a hefty cask strength, a healthy 61.5%.

The English 14yo

Following a half-time break for some oranges, or more typically another pint from the downstairs bar at the Seven Oaks, we were back for the next trio.

England were represented by whisky number four, and indeed it was a trip to the first 'modern' English distillery, St George's in Norfolk which now goes by the brand name The English. It started a full two decades ago now, back when the WAGs were all hanging around Baden Baden, This particular bottle was a 14-year-old, triple distilled in 2011 and bottled last November. Listed as number B2/0159 it was an event exclusive (although memories are slightly blurred as to exactly which event we picked this one up at).

G&M Inchgower

The English do a range of styles, but in general their core offerings are known for being quite creamy and fruity. There were no tasting notes for this on the bottle and I was hosting the event, I forgot to take any notes of what everyone thought! But I'm assuming it was pretty decent as it did attract a few votes in the dram of the night voting. It was 57.4% and we paid £75.

I was keen for the Scottish bottle to date from the last time Scotland were in the World Cup, back in 1998 (I remember coming home from school to watch the opening game against Brazil, truly we are going back a fair old while). I was able to track down a 26-year-old Inchgower, bottled by Gordon and MacPahil as part of their Connoisseur's Choice range, that was fully matured in a refill sherry butt. Inchgower itself is a Diageo distillery in Speyside, up near the coast, and most of it goes into Bell's.

SMWS Balcones

I paid £204 for this from the Aberdeen Whisky Shop, thanks to a sale price and a discount code, because the RRP was £265. A rich chocolate and coffee on the nose, giving way to stewed fruit and marmalade on the palate. Hints of spice and pepper too. Really great stuff all round, although you'd expect that given the pedigree of the bottle. It was 54.8%.

Back to another of the co-hosts for the final dram, and the all-American Balcones distillery from Waco in Texas. Another SMWS bottling, numbered 140.19, this three-year-old was dubbed Maple Syrup on a Leather Stirrup. This was distilled in 2019, so after the departure of the distillery's founder Chip Tate but before its later purchase by Diageo, and was matured in a charred new oak barrel.

And there was definitely barbecue flavour to be had here, especially on the palate. Sweet, sticky ribs and some dried fruit too. Very nice indeed. It was 63.3%, but was a much easier drinker than that implies, and cost £85, again back in 2023.

Which brought us to the dram of the night voting, and Scotland came out on top with no fewer than 14. The runner-up was France with seven, while England the USA tied for third on four.

Thank you to all club members and those on the waiting list for coming along, and to all at the Seven Oaks for hosting us.