As we speak we’re having the Winter choice from The Whisky Alternate’s The Seasons sequence. They comply with comparable releases within the Summer time and Autumn.
As winter drams, it’s fairly logical that we’re coping with three sherry cask expressions, every bottled at cask power with pure color. They’re stated to seize the really feel and flavours of a comfortable winter’s night.
Blair Athol 16 yo 2007 (55,1%, The Whisky Alternate ‘Seasons – Winter’ 2024, Oloroso sherry butt #4259, 485 btl.)
Nostril: a warming mixture of purple apples and poached pears with cinnamon and many raisins. Toffee as nicely. Only a trace of umami (soy sauce?) and walnuts within the background. Then there’s a high layer of latest leather-based and polished wooden as nicely, which makes it a really extensive, interesting profile.
Mouth: similar feeling of complexity. Raisins, dates and brown sugar. Beneath we discover a lot of charred notes, cigar bins and a few of these mushrooms from the label. Even a Mortlach-like meaty edge and a few roasted paprika. Extra leathery notes. A little bit of natural bitters too. Then again to cinnamon, with darkish chocolate, walnuts and liquorice.
End: lengthy, nonetheless bittersweet and spicy, with liquorice, charred wooden and hints of ginger.
A really wintery Blair Athol certainly. I’m not the most important fan of meaty whisky, however right here I feel it really works fairly nicely together with the heavy sherry affect. Accessible from The Whisky Alternate.
Orkney 10 yo 2013 (57%, The Whisky Alternate ‘Seasons – Winter’ 2024, sherry hogshead #7, 312 btl.)
Nostril: not that completely different: wealthy raisins, figs and roasted chestnuts, though there are extra orange peels and juicy cherry notes. Cocoa, some cedar and black nougat. Later some purple apples, hints of pepper and a barely bitter and winey observe seems. Only a trace of wooden smoke within the again.
Mouth: the smokiness takes it in a unique course, away from the Blair Athol. Extra orange peels and cedar wooden, with roasted walnuts and loads of darkish chocolate. Hints of leather-based and blackberries, in addition to a agency trace of chilli and black pepper.
End: lengthy, now exhibiting a natural, bitter edge, with liquorice, nutmeg and smoke.
Barely extra winey than the Blair Athol, however then again the ashy smoke is a pleasant asset. Each influenced by an identical type of sherry cask, that makes it very wintery. Accessible from The Whisky Alternate. Rating: 87/100
Laphroaig 8 yo 2015 (66%, The Whisky Alternate ‘Seasons – Winter’ 2024, sherry hogshead #203, 305 btl.)
Nostril: correct smoke now: coal ashes, bacon and creosote. Some mint chocolate and barely floral woody notes. Then salted caramel and hints of coastal breeze, together with moist leaves and hints of roasted nuts. Not loads of fruits, only a little bit of plum.
Mouth: youngish, uncooked peat, filled with tarry notes, burnt seaweed, loads of bonfire notes and creosote. This comes with nutmeg and black pepper, in addition to salted parts. Then extra minty notes, together with roasted espresso beans.
End: lengthy, briny and tarry, with loads of dried seaweed and liquorice.
A properly dry and ashy Laphroaig, with the sherry bringing spices and chocolate, slightly than fruits. Pretty deep smoke although, form of a 10yo CS on steroids. General an ideal expression of the wintery feeling accross the sequence. Accessible from The Whisky Alternate. Rating: 88/100
