Whisky: TBWC Birthday Blend 10 Year

Country/Region: Scotland/Blend

ABV: 46%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon, Refill Bourbon

Age: 10 Years (Bottled 2022)

Nose: Cream, butter, citrus, mellow dried grass or hay, touch of spirit, kiss of salt, malty sugars and more dried citrus with time.

Palate: Medium-bodied and mild, dried citrus, honeysuckle, underlying salinity, dry grass and hay, touch of oak and cedar, mild butter and caramel, minerals and pepper.

Finish: Medium-long with salt, citrus, and a touch of powdered sugar.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Janus Throws a Surprise Party

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was mild and friendly with sweet cream, fresh butter, lemon zest, and a mellow dry grass— cottage-core vibes of hay bales and butter making. A touch of spirit cleared the sinuses as subtle salt and more dried citrus slices developed with malty sugars to lend the impression of lavosh. Mild and medium-bodied on the palate, the flavor profile featured an underlying salty minerality that linked everything together, not unlike a mineral water bite. Dried citrus and slightly floral honeysuckle arrived with a touch of pepper. A mild bitterness and lightly salted caramel led to dried grass and the warm woody smell of oak or cedar in a dry sauna. The finish was medium to long and salty and citrusy with mild powdered sugar.

Who in their right mind takes a hefty portion of very mature Laphroaig (albeit casks without naming rights) and decides to mix it with young grain whisky? I guess the people at TBWC. The decision seemed baffling initially, yet this worked remarkably well and allowed TBWC to release a 10th-anniversary whisky at an attractive price. To some extent, it reminded me of the Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare series, which often feature some component of ghost whisky and are structured to highlight the defining characteristic of the lost distillery. Though the price point was painful (perhaps unreasonable), I thought they did a wonderful job. This was similar in that some of the essential components of the older Islay malt come through nicely without a painful price point.

The influence of the first fill bourbon North British grain whisky came through most keenly on the nose, while it played a more subtle role on the palate. After the Butterfinger-esque aroma, I thought the flavor profile would be creamy candy bars, perhaps something along the lines of a Butterfinger milkshake. That is not what happened; the flavor profile featured lovely preserved citrus and an underlying salinity. It was a rather two-faced experience, a Janus whisky. Yet, I thought it created a satisfying balance through contrast, and I enjoyed the blend a good deal.