Whisky Tasting : Thomson whisky

 In the last 20 years New Zealand has undergone a beer revolution, and in the last 5-10 years the spirits industry has decided to kick on. There's a lot of new(ish) gins on the NZ market, and many of these makers are using gin to subsidise their longer term plans of producing a NZ whisky. 

NZ whisky doesn't have an illustrious reputation. Historically all of the stuff I've had has been rough, immature, and apparently aged in poor quality casks. To an extent that's understandable, as the cost of good port/sherry/bourbon casks to NZ was prohibitive. 

But recently things appear to be improving, with Cardrona producing (apparently, I haven't tried it yet) excellent 3yo. And some distillers realising they've got gold on their footsteps with NZ Pinot Noir barrels, ageing has started in them... 

Thomson ran a tasting a Regional, and so Rich, Nabila and I popped along. I had low expectations.

Thomson Two Tone 40%

N: plain, hint pinot? bourbon/vanila
P: wine, light, peppery, pinot noir
F: short

It's not going to set the world on light, but it's drinkable. 5.5/10

Thomson Rye & Barley 2yo, 46% french oak casks

N: sweet, marshmallow, light, vanilla

P: sweet, astringent, vanilla

F: med, hot

6/10 again I think it's too young, the oak gave a lot of vanila, and that smoothed it a bit but no complexity

Thomson South Island Peat 46% [ex bourbon casks]

N: salt, bacon, rubber, medicinal

P: sweet, weak peat

F: med smoke

6/10 the peat is light, and it was emphasised to us that it was inland, not coastal, peat. I think this could benefit from a sherry finish, making it more like a Benriach - and more ageing.

Thomson Manuka smoke 46%

N: medicinal, sweet, oats, lemonade, smoke

P: warm, honey, manuka, smoke, sweet

F: sweet, medium

I liked this, interesting and could develop really nicely. 7/10. Again young, and lacking complexity

Thomson Five 46% 5yo

N: plain whisky, citrus

P: bland lemonade, sweet, very smooth

F:  medium

7/10 not sure why i rated this, maybe it had a bit of complexity coming through?

Thomson White Smoke 46% manuka, smoked, aged in Chardonnay casks

N: wine, citrus, melons, hint smoke

P: honey, bland

F: short, bland

5/10 disappointing.

Didn't make me change my mind about NZ whisky, but there is hope. I think the realisation we should stick to what's close (wine casks) is a good plan. And smoking barley with manuka is brilliant. 

-B

Whisky Tasting : Springbank Local Barley

Catching up on a couple of tasting notes before the Best of the Best later this week. As a fan of Springbank I was looking forward to this one...

Couple of weeks ago we had a Springbank Local Barley tasting, these are quite distinctive yellow and black bottles from specific barley farms who supply Springbank. 

Springbank LB 11yo 02.2006-02.2017 53.1% 26 Bourbon casks 9000 bottles Bere barley Aros Farm

N: sweet, fruity, apples, limes, bourbon, oaky
P: very sweet, sticky, lemon, salt
F: long, citrus, tequila.

I liked this one, came 4th (8.39) but got an 8/10 from me.

Bruichladdich The Organic 2009 50% (mystery1)

N: bourbon, sweet, leathery, no sherry at all, solvent

P: sweet, warm, light

F: medium, tingly, peppery

Came 6th (7.57) wasn't very interesting - so a 6.5/10 from me.

S LB 10yo 07.2009 - 10.2019 56.2% 9000 bottles, 20 bourbon, 5 sherry 1 port casks, High Cattadale Farm Optic Barley

N: ozone, sweet, estuarine, smoke, oak

P: sherry, warm, rubber, salty bacon

F: medium, manuka honey, salty, warm

I liked this 8/10 (came 5th, 7.89), I liked the mix of salt and the warmth of the port in the background

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 50% 2020 (?) Mystery2

N: sweet, apples, pears, fruit, sherbert

P: dry, dishwater, parma violets

F: none. really short, hot

Definitely not a fan of this, really dull. Came 7th (7.17) and I gave it a 5/10. 

S LB 10yo 57.3% 06.2007-11.2017 9000 bottles, 18 bourbon, 8 sherry casks. West Backs far Belgravia Barley

N: sherry, nice, smooth, caramel, salted, starchy

P: wine, parma violets

F: med-long, hot

Meh, not a winner for me either, interesting nose, but after that a bit one dimensional. (3rd, 8.5 - so what do I know!), I gave it 6/10

S LB 9yo 07.2009-10.2018 57.7% 9700 bottles, 22 bourbon 6 sherry casks, high Cattadale Farm Optic Barley

N: vigorous, vegemite, buttery, salt, charred earth, damp cellar

P: lemonade, parma violets

F: medium, tingly, smokey

Came 1st overall (8.64), and I did like it a bit more 7/10, but I don't think it delivered on the promise of the nose.

S LB 16yo 09.1999 - 01.2016 54.3% 9000 bottles 24 bourbon 6 sherry casks, Low Machramore Farm Prisma barley (roughly NZD 1200 a bottle)

N: bandages, salt, medicinal, peat

P: old, smooth, old leather, savoury, bitter, cloves

F: long, salty, complex

Yeah I really liked this one, ticks a lot of Springbank boxes for me, 9/10 [came 2nd with 8.54].

I found this interesting, I'm not sure I picked up much variation in the barley, probably as the ages and casks types were mixed, but there was a lot of variation from one distillery. I don't know where the parma violets came from, but they were in a number of the samples. 

I think the 16yo was th eonly one which was 'Springbank' for me, but sadly as $1200 a bottle I'm unlikely to get one.

-B