The following whiskies were all a bit weird, they were largely what I would call “conversation whiskies.” Probably not so much the sort of dram that you want to relax with, but exactly the kind of whisky you want to pour for someone else just to see their reactions and hear their thoughts.
Edradour 12 Year (2011), Signatory Vintage Cask 413 for The Whisky Exchange
NOTES: Charred sword fish, or maybe white sea bass, offered a meaty-salty hello with a sweet citrus glaze, ponzu perhaps. A mellow vegetal note left me thinking elote and corn husks, though as it grew it took on notions of roasted broccoli, and finally a distinctive asparagus quality. White chocolate and a touch of sulfur, like new shoes, lingered further in. Medium-bodied on the palate, the whisky was vegetal and a touch sulfured with grilled asparagus, a kiss of citrus, and charred ends. More kale and bitter greens developed near the end with nutty olive oil and a pair of new rain boots. The finish was medium-length and a touch bitter.
SCORE: 6 (77)
IMAGE: Asparagus
THOUGHTS: Funky and wild, I hardly knew where to start with this whisky. I thought my palate was broken until others poured it and hit some of the same notes as myself: from charred fish to something vegetal. I never found it exceptionally bitter, but others seemed to run headlong into kale and bitter greens right away. I have not had a ton of Edradour as I am not one for the big wine maturations that the distillery loves, so I have no appreciation for where the cask ended and the influence of the malt started. Overall— a conversation whisky.
Dingle Fifth Small Batch Release
NOTES: Spun sugars and roach spray— the aroma was sweet and chemical with cream horns and bug spray; a bakery roach infestation? Coconut cream and fats appeared, more like a coconut based soap or shampoo than desserts with a grassy freshness that lent itself to an upscale airport lounge. Medium-bodied on the palate, the flavors were austere and chemical with roach spray and urinal cakes providing a hint of fruit. The finish was medium to long and mellow with more fruit and cream ahead of a slight chemical tinge.
SCORE: 4 (70)
IMAGE: Health Department Red Placard
THOUGHTS: This whisky had its moments, but I struggled to get past the chemical quality. It reminded me so much of RAID bug spray that I found it difficult to pick up much else. It was not so bad that I would swear off trying another Dingle, but I certainly will not go out of my way until I serendipitously come across the chance to try something else from the Irish outfit.
Chain Pier 4 Year (2019), Uncharted Whisky Co. Cask 8
NOTES: Initially sweet and chemical with artificial pumpkin, candy corn, wet papier-mâché, and glue. As the whisky settled more caramel and fudge appeared with masa, fried dough, cinnamon, nutmeg, and rich honey— sopapillas for dessert! Medium-bodied on the palate, the whisky was starchy and mildly fruity with tamales, masa, green chilis, and roasted poblano peppers. With time came more macadamia nut honey, or a kiss of Manuka honey, as the sweetness turned richer and deeper. Medium to long, the finish was well honeyed and nutty at times.
SCORE: 5-6 (77)
IMAGE: Tex-Mex Date Night
THOUGHTS: This whisky really deserved its own stand alone review, and maybe at some point I will ask for a sample to sit with it over a few sessions instead of just one. Chain Peer was always going to be a ghost distillery— it was an experimental pilot operation set up in 2018 while Bonnington was under construction and only produced a short run of 39 casks. So this was a whisky oddity, one of those curious relics from the enthusiastic new wave of early twenty first century distillery operations.
The whisky itself was fascinating and bizarre, with a clear evolution as flavors settled in the glass over about a half hour. I was initially ready to chuck my pour, the night had already featured a series of strange drams, but I kept with it. Gradually it shifted and evolved growing on me as more of the starchy elements settled and rich honey came to the fore. While I may not rush out to locate any of the other Chained Pier casks out there, I am curious to try some of the Bonnington releases and see how these early trials evolved.
Whiskery Turnip 
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