New from Kilchoman and Arran; A Win for Raasay; Whisky & Gastro Pub Awards

Hello everyone

I‘m reasonably fresh ( yes, it was a late night) from the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards banquet this past Thursday in Glasgow. I was privileged to judge two awards this summer – Whisky Bar of the Year and Gastro Pub of the Year. As ever, it‘s been tough keeping winners and finalists a secret till Thursday night so I can breathe now and not worry about letting any word slip. Winner of Whisky Bar of the Year for second year in a row was The Tipsy Midgie in Edinburgh. Based near Holyrood Distillery, owner Colin was a worthy winner again, having expanded his offering and ways of marketing the bar even more since last year. The other two finalists were Seumas Bar at the Sligachan Hotel on Skye (where staff attend courses from the very same Whisky Ambassador whose website you are on now) and Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar where they also have their own distillery which they use for staff training. I‘d like to see those two entering again once plans to be realised over the next little while have come to fruition. There were seven finalists in all to be whittled down to the final three and it was hard to decide which ones to leave out.

Winner of Gastropub of the Year was The Boar‘s Head in Auchtermuchty in Fife, also for second year running. The food, drinks offering, including a not extensive but beautifully chosen wine list, and staff were all terrific. It was really busy and buzzy on the lunchtime we judges visited. It does indeed have a pub vibe too as locals with their dogs came in just to have a drink at the bar. The two other finalists, highly commended, were Kirkmichael Arms in Ayrshire and The Clarence in Glasgow. A pair of gems – both excellent venues that I‘d happily visit for food – and drinks – again. All are keen to promote local produce including, at Kirkmichael, potatoes grown by local schoolchildren. At The Boar‘s Head they‘re even rearing their own pigs.

A last word on these awards is to mention that Bartender of the Year went to Sally Law at the renowned Pot Still whisky bar in Glasgow.

Back to the whiskies, though. A recent sample which came flying my way from Islay is the new Kilchoman 100% Islay Sherry Cask Matured. It comes at 50% abv.

Appearance: Rich amber with dark copper highlights. Initial swift tears then sticky and slow but not too widely spaced.

Nose: Peaty and smoky but mellow. Not in your face. Some citrus fruit and barbecued citrus too. A note of rich char despite the fact that it‘s sherry casks – it‘s the peaty bonfire smoke in the throat. Spicy oak and an enticing undercurrent of dried vine fruits and balckberries. With water, it‘s softer with caramel and honeycomb hints and chocolate.

Palate: Slightly viscous. Smoky, peaty with tar and heather smoke bonfire embers catching the throat; rich and quite mellow. Also slightly antiseptic. Coffee grounds and high cocoa content chocolate. A little citrus zest bitterness.

Finish: Long, heathery smoke, dry and a touch medicinal. It‘s a tasty one.

This one was created using Publican barley from the 2011,12 and 13 harvests with the spirit matured in 16 first fill oloroso butts and with 20ppm of phenols.

An even more recent sample to reach me is from the Isle of Arran – Arran Barley Single Malt Batch 001. I haven‘t had an Arran to taste for some time so really looked forward to this. It‘s also at 50% abv, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and second fill sherry hogsheads; no chill-filtration and no added colour. This is a ten year project for the distillery working with local farmers, Bellevue Farm in this case and using Optic barley.

Appearance: Old gold and pale brass highlights. Tears slow to form and clingy in the glass. Quite close together.

Nose: Fresh and clean. Some banana and apple notes; ground ginger. A touch of vanilla, rich sweet oak and cool stones. With water, softer with a tiny touch of wax and lightly honeyed fruit. Oak and ginger more to the fore with a waft of soft candy, sugary notes.

Palate: Medium mouth weight with a little viscosity; sweet digestive biscuit maltiness and ginger warmth. Some citrus zest bitterness.

Finish: Medium length, citrus zest, herbal and dry.

It‘s one of those where I got more from the nose than the palate in a quick tasting so one to take longer over another time. A distinctly enjoyable dram. Their notes say aniseed too which I didn‘t get but each to their own olfactory system. If you‘re an Arran fan, move fast as there are only 18,000 bottles for global sale. However, it will be an annual release going forward though, „with variations reflecting the crop type, cask selection and volumes available each year”.

Since I did my write-up on Isle of Raasay a few weeks ago they have won World‘s Best Scotch Whisky award at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards (LVGSA) for their Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky, earning a Platinum Medal with a near perfect score of 99/100. Some achievement and they‘ve made a celebratory reel you can see on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reel/4115108502039289 .

Till later in the month, happy dramming.

Slainte mhath,

Caroline