Whisky : Nantou 5 Year SMWS 138.5 “Delicate masculinity”

Country/Region : Taiwan

ABV : 55.5%

Cask : Refill Ex-Bourbon

Age : 5 Year (Distilled 31 May 2014)

Nose : Floral, wood, and earthy garden.  Old wooden garden gnomes, musty garden shed, red ginger, pinch of salt, and white pepper offered up a woody-funk at the open.  Brown sugar, mustard seeds, and meaty kalbi marinade took the dram in a sweet-meat direction.

Palate : Medium bodied with crisp flavor profile of spice, wood, and subtle smoke.  White pepper funk, roasted leg of lamb, herbs, and brown sugar.  Subtle notes of minerals, chalk, wooden antiques, and cherry cordials.  Smokey caramelization that tended toward caramelized tomato paste and charred wood.

Finish : Medium length brown sugar fruits and charred wood.

Score : 5

Mental Image : Clay Pot Lamb

Notes : My introduction to Nantou and what a weird one.  I have never had a whisky with quite such a white pepper funk-stink to it.  This was subtle enough that it was nothing like actually nosing a bottle of white pepper, but more like sipping on a pork broth or a roasted lamb that’s been seasoned with it.  There were some interesting things going on here, there were elements of fruit— though they often seemed to get chased away by more woody or almost mineral-like notes.  The smoke on this was quite subtle, though it was present enough that you never really forgot it was there.  

Overall, this was interesting and unique— but I suspect it really is an acquired taste.