Field Briefs: February Weekends and Tastings Part III
Whisky Details: Stranahan’s Blue Peak Colorado Single Malt
Nose: Big and woody with coconut and vanilla, brown sugar and chicory with hints of clove, brown sugar buns and pecan pie, sticky buns.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, mild with brown sugar, leather, very woody and vanillic, pecan buns and sticky buns, subtle orange rind and some sarsaparilla with time.
Finish: Medium to long with brown sugar and vanilla, plenty of wood, hints of orange and clove.
Score: 5 (76)
Mental Image: Beaver Bakery Back to School Rush
Narrative & Notes: Wood took the wheel on this American single malt from Stranahan’s in Colorado. I do not share the same fondness as the American Single Malt producers who love new oak and replicating the big wood-driven flavors of bourbon. The US produces so much excellent barley, yet rarely lets it shine on its single malt whiskies. While the overall woodiness of this was a bit overdone to my taste, I thought this was wonderfully approachable and mild. The flavors were balanced and alcohol well-integrated, even if it was not a particularly varied profile. There was some nice development with fruitier notions of orange Fanta and root beer gradually appearing around the edges and on the finish. Overall, not my favorite profile, but I will never turn down a chance to try another American single malt.
Whisky Details: Tamnavulin 28 Year (1988), AD Rattray for Shinanoya Tokyo Cask 10025
Nose: Autumn-vibes in the vapors; this was all fallen leaves and orchard fruits, piles of dry vegetation, old newspapers, brown paper bags, orange rinds, tangerine candies.
Palate: Medium-bodied and oily, old newspaper and fallen leaves, autumn again, tangerines and oranges, hints of peach and stone fruits with time; orange blossom appeared with white tea for a slightly floral turn toward the end; occasionally woody with resins and sandalwood.
Finish: Medium to long with fruit rinds, citrus, paper, and woody resins.
Score: 7-8 (85)
Mental Image: Spring Tea and Autumn Headlines
Narrative & Notes: My first review of a Tamnavulin! This was a cracking introduction to the distillery and not at all the dram I intended as my first one— I picked up a sample of a similar mature example while at Cadenhead’s in Campbeltown with the intention of using it as my first, or, you know, actually opening the Tamnvaulin I won at auction a few years back. Yet, here we are and I doubt I could have arranged a better first impression. This had far more than just the boring old orchard fruits I expected. The autumn and old newspaper notes were a real delight, giving the whisky a bit of dirtiness and mustiness that contrasted nicely with the sweeter citrus. Hints of floral notes, mostly along the lines of a white tea, provided additional complexity near the end as the whisky continued to evolve. Overall, a great introduction— I hope the others I had set aside can live up to this.
Whisky Details: Yamazakura 6 Year (2018) Cask 6222 for Aloha Whisky Bar
Nose: Fruity and spirited, pineapple and coconut, youthful with peppery spirit, orange cream candies, cinnamon sticks, citrusy creamy hard candies, buttery poundcake at times.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, youthful and spirited, peppery, tangerine and orange candies, lime zest, subtle licorice and cinnamon, hints of kaya jam, citrusy-creamy curd, hibiscus and berry syrup.
Finish: Medium to long with dried fruits, citrusy candies, and subtle herbal tea.
Score: 6 (78)
Mental Image: Pre-Homework Snack Time
Narrative & Notes: Another strong showing from Asaka! I was impressed by the big sherry bomb I tried last year, truly remarkable considering that is not a style I enjoy. Yet, that whisky did not tell me much about the malt itself, it was seemingly all cask. This was a more subtle affair— insofar as a fiery and spirited youngster can be subtle. The tropical and spicy elements of the malt stood out and I loved how the creamier aspects of the whisky came together with some bright citrus. Overall, a delight from Asaka— I cannot wait to try something a bit older and more well-rounded.
Whisky Details: Blair Athol 11 Year (2008), SMWS 68.47 “Riveting”
Nose: Dried plums, li hing mui, cola and strawberry syrups, hints of medicinal herbs and Chinese medicine shops, touch of youthful spirit and pepper.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, syrupy fruits with a kiss of salt, tannic and drying, licorice and cola candies, pickled plums, li hing mui, brown sugar cakes, dried coconut.
Finish: Medium-length and drying, woody astringency, medicinal herbs, brown sugar syrup, and hints of vanilla.
Score: 6 (77)
Mental Image: Crackseed Store Snack Run
Narrative & Notes: This had just about all the Crackseed store notes of dried, salted, and pickled fruits that I expected to find with an additional layer of medicinal herbs lingering around the edges— it was all old-fashioned Chinese candy and medicine stores. Despite the big sherry finish on the malt, there was still plenty of Blair Athol character to be found, and I often find the malt stands up well to these sorts of maturations. This was a big and brash whisky though— the sort of thing that can make it hard to enjoy the nuances of anything you pour afterwards, unless it turns up the volume even louder. It was also youthful and spirited, which gave the whisky a liveliness, but also a peppery quality that was never entirely integrated in with everything else. Overall, not bad at all— an unsubtle whisky for an evening in which full volume malts are a virtue.
