It’s time to commence the joy that is the annual Christmas calendar - and this year we’re going full Boutique-y for the next 24 days. The Dramble will be bringing you tasting notes of each and every dram in the lovely looking Boutique-y Whisky Company calendar, posting the following day – to give us time to sample and write our notes, and of course, to not spoil the surprise for those of you who open your doors a little later in the day. So, deep breath, let’s make a start…..innnnn one…..
Door No.1 reveals the Glenlivet 27 year old Batch 1. A whisky that has already received praise from online commentators (see Ruben’s over at Whiskynotes.be). Not yet released at a full 50cl bottle, but expected quite soon, it’s bottled at 48.7%.
Nose: Pronounced polish right from the get go – this baby doesn’t care for hiding its age. Alongside the polish, some lightly tanned leather, fresh golden tobacco and dusty spicing – star anise. There’s are some stewed fruits and berries – particularly raspberries. Light cereal aromas and oodles aromas straight from the beehive – honey, pollen and wax.
Taste: Waxy and full-bodied. Heathery honey sits alongside wood varnish, chippings and a some very sappy and resinous oak. Fruits are quite tropical now, pineapple, guava, peaches and orange peels with a slight touch of foam bananas. There’s squeeze of citrus and some gentle sourness akin to grape juice. It’s got some nuttiness and, whilst spicing is subtle, there’s discernible cinnamon.
Finish: Long with a very nice astringency and cinnamon spicing.
The Boutique-y Glenlivet 27 year old Batch 1 is superbly put together and offers a wonderful balance of aged cask notes alongside some really pronounced tropical fruitiness. I didn’t find it took water particularly well (it dulled some of the wonderful fruits), and frankly it doesn’t need it either – delicious from the get-go. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for this bottling in the future. A wonderful start to the 2017 calendar. Strong work Boutique-y. Strong work.