Whyte & MacKay cont...

THE AWARD-WINNING WHISKIES

 

Three of Whyte & Mackay’s gold medals were won with single malts in the ‘Stillman’s Dram’ range, described by Richard Paterson as “A selection of aged whiskies from 21 to 35 years, normally related to single casks, selected for quality, between 100 and 200 cases released. Bottled at between 40 and 45 per cent, sometimes at cask strength, but often at 45 per cent. These are whiskies to be sipped and savoured.”

 

The Stillman’s Dram 30-year-old Invergordon is bottled at a cask strength of 55%, and is buttery and malty on the nose. It is slightly herbal, with suggestions of Butterkist. Water releases more vanilla. It boasts substantial body for a grain, with toffee pudding on the palate, and a lingering, rounded aftertaste. An appealing alternative to an aged single malt.

 

The Stillman’s Dram 29-year-old Tamnavulin at 45% has a delicate, floral nose. It is light-bodied, almost fragile, with fresh pears, melon and rose petals. Very inviting, and best drank undiluted. A lovely pre-dinner dram which has aged most gracefully.

 

The Stillman’s Dram 30-year-old Fettercairn at 45% possesses a zesty complex nose, with hints of plasticine, heather and dry sherry. There is more plasticine on the palate, along with Lockets cough lozenges. Sherry comes through subtly in the well-balanced finish to complement the essential Fettercairn character and give this backbone.

 

Whiskies in the Stillman’s Dram range cost around the £70 mark, but more easily affordable and just that bit different is the Isle of Jura Superstition expression.

 

According to Richard Paterson, “The name comes from the fact that it’s considered unlucky to cut peat in May, rather than April, and Supersititon uses 13 per cent heavily-peated Jura single malt, it was first blended on Friday 13^th September, and bottled on Friday 13^th December. It includes 13 and 21-year-old whiskies. It has a lovely character of heavy phenols towards the end.

 

“I’m exceptionally proud of it. Jura is a wonderful whisky, and the heavily-peated element gives it a very attractive, rugged character. It’s light but complex, with hidden depths.”

 

Paterson would be the first person to point out that the award-winning blends deserve just as much attention as the single malts, and he says “The12-year-old is made with 12 to 15-year-old whiskies, mainly from Speyside and the Highlands. There are probably 25 component malts, and we are looking for refinement, elegance and softness.

 

“The 21-year-old probably comprises 12 to 15 individual malts, but sherry wood, not bourbon, is a factor here. Almonds, citrus notes, marmalade. A weighty, elegant blend. It’s the perfect blend to accompany a cigar.

 

“A 21-year-old blend should be treated with the same respect as a Château Lafitte. Savour it with a minimum of water or at bottled strength. Aged blended whiskies like our 21-year-old are the epitome of what blending is all about. They are totally charismatic, and should be exploited much more. I want to see blended malts and aged blends attracting far more attention.”

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

WHYTE & MACKAY MALT WHISKY DISTILLERIES

 

DALMORE

• Location: Alness, Cromarty Firth, Easter Ross
• Established: 1839
• Principal Expressions: 12-year-old, Black Isle 12-year-old, The Dalmore Cigar Malt, The Dalmore 1978 21-year-old
• House Style: Medium-bodied, quite complex in the mouth, with malt, sherry, marmalade and a hint of peat
• Contact: Tel: 01349 882362 www.dalmoredistillery.co.uk
• Visitor centre and distillery tours

FETTERCAIRN

• Location: Fettercairn, Kincardineshire
• Established: 1824
• Principal Expressions: 10-year-old
• House Style: Light bodied, earthy, with toffee, honey and some spiciness on the palate
• Contact: Tel: 01561 340244
• Visitor centre and distillery tours

ISLE OF JURA

• Location: Craighouse, Isle of Jura
• Established: c. 1810
• Principal Expressions: 10-year-old, 16-year-old, 21-year-old, Isle of Jura Superstition, Isle of Jura Legacy 10-year-old
• House Style: A light bodied, aromatic, slightly sweet malt, with notes of pine and nuts, with a developing dryness on the palate
• Contact: Tel: 01496 820240
• Visitor centre and distillery tours

TAMNAVULIN

• Location: Ballindalloch, Banffshire
• Established: 1966
• Principal Expressions: 12-year-old, 22-year-old
• House Style: Notably aromatic, light-bodied, new-mown grass and lemon notes

WHYTE & MACKAY’S IWSC AWARD WINNERS

TROPHIES

GOLD MEDALS

• Liqueurs: Glayva
• Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Special Edition): The Stillman’s Dram Limited Edition 30-year-old Fettercairn Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Gin 37%: London Dry Gin
• Scotch Whisky Deluxe Blend 12-year-old: Whyte & Mackay 12-year-old Premium Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Whisky – Deluxe Blend 21-year-old: Whyte & Mackay 21-year-old Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Whisky – Deluxe Blend Cask Strength 21-year-old: Whyte & Mackay 21- year-old Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Whisky – Grain: The Stillman’s Dram Invergordon 30-year-old Single Highland Grain Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Whisky – Single Malt – Islands: Isle of Jura Superstition Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
• Scotch Whisky – Single Malt – Speyside 25-30-year-old: The Stillman’s Dram Limited Edition 29-year-old Tamnavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky

 

GAVIN D SMITH