I’m undecided when the distillery-exclusive pattern got here to Scotland, however I do know it was properly earlier than we Yanks embraced it stateside. Restricted version competition bottlings have been serving to to drive turnout for years at occasions just like the Feis Ile on Islay and Spirit of Speyside Competition, amongst many others. However lengthy earlier than that, I think about a minimum of just a few distilleries have been providing a particular bottle to their guests, even earlier than the whisky tourism growth occasions. Whereas it’s arduous to say when the pattern took off, I can safely attest, after my go to final 12 months, that devoted drinks vacationers haven’t any scarcity of particular liquid souvenirs to select from right this moment.
These bottlings primarily are available in two types. Pre-bottled distillery exclusives can be found solely on the distillery reward outlets and might be drawn from one thing as small as a single cask as much as a batch of hundreds. Sometimes, even the batch releases stay on the smaller facet, however “small” is in fact relative to the scale of the distillery. The second choice is the made-for-social-media bottle-your-own providing the place a whisky fan will get to attract their very own whisky from a cask, label it, cork it, and smile for many cameras. With the current introduction of horny, barrel-mounted bottle fillers, an increasing number of of those experiences appear to be coming on-line.
I returned residence from Scotland final 12 months with three distillery exclusives, two pre-bottled and one do-it-yourself. I’m 99.9% sure that you just received’t have the ability to discover any of those specific expressions on the cabinets at present, however the critiques beneath ought to give some sense of what to anticipate ought to you end up at a Scotch distillery reward store sooner or later.
Dalwhinnie Distillery Unique Bottling – The Dalwhinnie reward store was the one factor I used to be truly capable of see throughout my go to, as Diageo was in the midst of a significant renovation of the distillery’s Guests Middle (now accomplished). This pre-bottled expression is designated as Batch 01 of a run of seven,500 bottles, so a “restricted version” solely by Diageo requirements. It carries no age assertion and has been matured in first-fill bourbon and crimson wine casks which were “charred and rejuvenated.” Not said, however this one was presumably chill-filtered earlier than bottling. The aroma isn’t as malty or monotone as the usual 15-year expression with shiny, pronounced notes of candied pineapple and lemon bars. Berry compote and grape pores and skin add some good depth. Because it opens extra, honey candies and a little bit of ripe melon develop. On the palate, this can be a spherical, silky single malt with a warming, gingery spice. Early notes of almond cookies and clove give option to buttery berry Danish and orange marmalade earlier than a end of custard and candied citrus. The flagship Dalwhinnie is a bit boring, however this distillery unique is one thing particular. 96 proof. A- / $80
Glenfiddich Distillery Unique Hand-Stuffed – This bottle is a cask energy expression, hand-filled on the Glenfiddich Distillery as a part of their bottle-your-own providing. The bottle label presents few particulars past a small print 15-year age assertion, proof, batch (86), and bottle quantity (206), however I had it on good authority from my tour information that the “cask” on faucet was an expression of Solera Reserve aged in European oak sherry casks and new oak casks earlier than a mellowing interval in Glenfiddich’s Solera vat. It was additionally presumably chill filtered earlier than coming into the reward store. The nostril is quite tame, at first, with tender, ethereal notes of marshmallow, scone bread, and dried crimson fruits. It takes further time to open, however finally issues shift towards the unique with notes of sandalwood, incense, and chocolate-covered cherries. The palate, conversely, takes no time to showcase wealthy, complicated notes of vanilla custard, candy cereal, Honey Grahams, and fig jam. A mixture of spice cupboard and oxidized wine notes are outstanding on the midpalate and threaten to show issues a bit too ester-y earlier than folding elegantly right into a warming, peppered end of Christmas cake and ginger snaps. In like a lamb, out like a lion. 116.4 proof. A- / $150
Auchentoshan Distillery Cask – This hand-bottled (not by me) Auchentoshan was aged in an oloroso sherry cask (No. 9124) for slightly below 10 years (per the distillation and bottling date), all of which I do know due to the again label. Kudos to Auchentoshan for his or her transparency right here. It was additionally bottled at pure cask energy with out chill filtration. The aroma is sultry with darkish spices and a winey, closely sherried character. Preliminary notes of Medjool dates and roasted figs grow to be a bit brighter and sweeter as issues open to indicate darkish cherry and marzipan. The palate is lush and wealthy with a darkish, caramelized sugar sweetness, nearly treacle, and a warming, minty spice. Notes of chocolate-covered blueberry and Oolong tea give option to delicate pipe smoke and overcooked S’mores earlier than returning to darkish fruits on the beneficiant end with lingering notes of cocktail cherry and previous wine. If solely each Auchentoshan might style like this. 118 proof. A / $100
Auchentoshan Distillery Cask
$100
