One evening, not paying much attention, I grabbed a half-empty sample bottle off the shelf to refill the half I had poured after realizing I did not have time to sit and enjoy it. Carelessly, what I actually did was grab the remaining sample I had of an 11-year-old Talisker and poured a half ounce of Mars Komagatake into it.  The abomination I created was roughly half malt from the Mars Shinshu distillery and half Talisker… I was shocked.  That Talisker was lovely, and I did not mean to blend away the little portion I still had by my desk.  I was tempted to pour the whole thing down the drain in disgust, but a voice in the back of my head suggested I hold off a little bit.

I enjoy creating my own little blends occasionally and sometimes even sharing them with friends. I learned early on that the best way to make a homemade blend is to approach the project intentionally, looking for flavors that overlap and being wary of how peated malts can override the experience or sometimes turn a bit bitter when paired with lighter flavors. There have been some great successes and some drain pours, but more than anything, it has given me a greater appreciation for the work of blenders.

So here is a weird review for the monster I inadvertently created. You will not find this on the master list of reviews on my archival spreadsheet, and if you stumbled across it, I hope the knowledge serves you well!

Whisky: An Accidental Abomination Komagatake 6 Year (2014) Cask 1790 X Talisker 11 Year (2010), Douglas Laing

Nose: Maritime brine and candy with old wooden planks, saltwater taffy with banana, bubblegum, and mint; hints of green apple and matcha pastries.

Palate: Medium-bodied and oily, coastal candy store, maritime brine, saltwater taffy, banana and bubblegum, old wood, a touch of orange and black pepper.

Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with saltwater taffy, citrus rinds, and a kiss of salt.

Mental Image: Candyland Boardwalk Empire

A boardwalk candy shop appeared before me— a red, white, and blue barber pole twirled outside in the salty maritime air, while the interior was filled with sugary delights— bubblegum flavored saltwater taffy and Runts banana stood out. Spearmint and green apple beckoned with cotton candy and hints of medicinal herbs that occasionally moved toward earthy matcha.  Medium-bodied and oily, the palate reprised familiar themes with ample salty-metallic maritime air, dried wood, and artificial fruit candies.  A paper bag full of saltwater taffies— mint, bubblegum, green apple, and burnt orange peel.  Black pepper and driftwood tingled at the end.  The finish was medium-length and maritime with saltwater taffy, citrus rind, and a kiss of salt.

Okay, so not a total disaster.  This was loaded with boardwalk and midway fair candies.  If anything, the Talisker saved the Komagatake, but unfortunately, the combination of the two ran roughshod over some of the finer complexities.  Still, the dominant elements were generally nice; the mouthfeel had a lovely balance and oily quality, and the finish was decent and not too sweet.  I actually think I would have really enjoyed this if I liked cotton candy and bubble gum notes.  Those elements pushed this in a direction that I found unpleasantly sweet sometimes.

Overall, an abomination, but not bad at all— I have some buddies who love these bubblegum and boardwalk notes, so I will save the rest for them.

Image Credit: DisneyStyle Image Generation Bot with prompt “mad scientist cat mixing Scotch and Japanese whiskies to create an unholy bubblegum abomination.”

Excuse the lame art! The typical art I use comes from my wife, but this review was unworthy of any of her excellent paintings or drawings.