Mark Watt simply completed a small tour round Belgium and he took benefit of this case to ship me a few samples. After Brexit sending samples abroad by way of postal companies remains to be a little bit of a multitude, so bringing bottles accross the border your self is far simpler.
From the newest Watt Whisky releases we attempt a Glen Elgin 2013 and Nc’Nean 2018, in addition to a blended Campbeltown Malt. This bottling celebrates Watt Whisky’s a hundredth cask.
Glen Elgin 11 yo 2013 (55,3%, Watt Whisky 2024)
Nostril: will get the job executed. I imply, inexperienced apples, grapefruits and lemon peels, transferring in the direction of flour and chalky notes. Then heaps of porridge. Some branches and grasses. A inexperienced fruitiness with a slight austerity.
Mouth: extra attention-grabbing now. The fruitiness is much less tight, bringing alongside some peaches and limes, pink grapefruits, apple compote and hints of oranges. Then again to drier chalky notes, a bit varnish. At all times porridge. Again to extra leafy and grassy touches in the long run, together with some white pepper.
End: fairly lengthy. I’m getting inexperienced melon, inexperienced tea and average oak spice.
We might have written these notes earlier than truly making an attempt it – Glen Elgin tends to have this constant greenish and fruity profile. Already out there from Royal Mile Whiskies for example.
The following one is a blended malt utilizing spirit from Campbeltown’s three distilleries. The main focus is on Glen Scotia however apparently a really small quantity of 28 12 months previous Springbank was added to the cask.
Campbeltown Blended Malt 7 yo 2017 (57,1%, Watt Whisky 2024, barrel, 246 btl.)
Nostril: typical oily notes (sunflower) with chalk, seashore pebbles, hints of inexperienced banana skins and yellow apple. Lemons and delicate sourdough. Then some candy spice with very gentle vanilla within the background.
Mouth: candy apples and pears with some vanilla custard. This quick roundness is countered with delicate peat and extra of those pebblestones. The funky notes are noticeable, nevertheless it’s additionally simple to drink. A bit of white pepper, vegetal oils, tea biscuits and a touch of coastal smoke.
End: medium size, nonetheless on candy apples, together with mineral notes and lightweight mint.
You sense the youth, however this presents a great mixture of Campbeltown funk, delicate peat and sufficient roundness to maintain it accessible. Exhausting to fault should you’re searching for a glu-glu whisky from Watt’s dwelling city. Accessible from The Whisky Trade and Tyndrum Whisky for example. Rating: 87/100
Nc’Nean 6 yo 2018 (57,1%, Watt Whisky 2024, STR cask, 282 btl.)
Nostril: a mixture of peaches, hints of cassis, plums and a few vanilla biscuits. Hints of peanuts, ginger and gentle natural components. Then apples, nutmeg and mint. Loads of toffee as properly. It’s a hotchpotch of various components – isn’t that the aim of STR casks in any case?
Mouth: fairly sturdy, with caramel notes and beneficiant quantities of oak spice. Pepper, cinnamon, oranges, extra plums. A little bit of a tough edge, with salty notes and a quick second of alcohol warmth. Candied ginger syrup, drops of clove oil and toasted oak, with a barely tannic edge.
End: medium and candy, balancing citrus and oak spice.
Very trendy and spicy whisky, with a wooden affect that I discover too apparent, too contrived. STR casks are all the time a bit difficult and I feel different distilleries are mastering them higher. Seen at Broekmans and The Whisky Trade, amongst others. Rating: 80/100
