Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Wemyss Malts "Smoky Nectar"

1983 - 35 Year Old Caol Ila

Single Cask Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky
46% ABV

 

Nose: Tenacious teases of peat smoke - waves of sea spray – dusty old books - damp limestone - ripe banana skin – grilled pineapple rings – poached pears – lemon sherbet - sugared almonds – raspberry ripple ice cream - heather honey – wood spice - ground white pepper and a kiss of anise.

Palate: Pleasurable protrusions of peat smoke – brine – lemon Dib Dabs – pineapple cubes - Edinburgh rock – baked spiced apples – blackberry jam – gooseberry yoghurt - strawberries dusted with black pepper - shortbread - gingernut biscuits – cinnamon sticks – wood spice and a finishing sprig of mint.

Finish: A long, lush, lingering feisty finish, that unfolds as excitingly and exceedingly well as it did on the nose and palate.

Summary: If I’m being completely honest, the majority of indie Caol Ila’s I’ve sampled over the last few years, have been rather unexciting, predictable, one dimensional and quite boring. This latest Wemyss release as part of their new Cask Club, is not only one of the best independent Caol Ila’s I’ve ever sampled, but it’s now also one of my favourites from the distillery full-stop! A drop of real liquid history, with all the right notes in all the right places!

 

Gin Insiders Interview - Ian Puddick

Company:
Old Bakery Gin Ltd

Job:
Distiller and Tea Boy

Website:
oldbakerygin.com



How long have you been working in the gin industry?
I got my licence in the last week of Nov 2016. We missed the Christmas trade rush and I had no contacts in the industry, apart from my favourite shop Gerry’s of Soho, were I was a customer.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Well, there have been quite a few so far: Receiving such amazing and positive feedback from both the trade and public - Being surprised to see Harvey Nichols write about our gin - Getting invited to Lancaster House for a tasting - Having Michael Portillo kindly offer to come and film at the distillery - Members the Royal Family trying Old Bakery Gin - Having directors of Pernod Ricard come and visit and show an interest in our brand. These are just a few.

 

Can you remember your first gin, and indeed what it was?

I tried a sip of my dad’s gin and tonic as a child…not good, bitter and sour.

 

What does gin mean to you?

It’s starting to change my life, not because I drink more of it (I don’t), but it’s started to change all my habits, I have been in the routine of managing a leak detection business and managing people, now most of time is spent on sales and marketing, making appointments and having meeting to try taste and sell my gin. It’s a very social business!

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
Selling 12,000 cases of gin a year. A case of gin in industry language, equates to 18 litres.

What was your last gin?
Old Bakery Gin, last night at Ally Pally Kaleidoscope Festival, we had exclusivity at the Festival Bars.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a gin?
When relaxing, preferably in the sun, this rarely happens!

What are your favourite gin based cocktails and serves?
Our own 'Mums Gin Fizz':

- 50ml Old Bakery Gin on ice

- 10ml Fresh lemon juice

- 20ml Elderflower cordial

- Large splash of Prosecco

 

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the gin horizon?

Market consolidation. There are up to 40+ new gins a month coming out.

 

What’s the one gin you couldn’t live without?

Old Bakery Gin and Beefeater 24.

 

Many thanks to Ian Puddick. Who will be our next gin insider? Click back soon to find out!

 

Mackmyra Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that on March 20th, we’ll be pouring and exploring some sensational Swedish sips from the mighty Mackmyra Distillery.

 

Full details to follow, but if you fancy sharing, sipping and savouring some stunning Swedish single malts click here to register your details by emailing your name, postal address, Twitter handle and age confirmation. Please also remember to mark the subject line: #MackmyraWhisky

 

The closing date to register is February 26th, and if you are registering please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of March 20th to take part!!!

 

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evening’s dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter, on March 20th at 19:00 GMT via #MackmyraWhisky

 

Registration open to over 21's only!

 

For more info on Mackmyra, visit: mackmyra.com

 

@TheWhiskyWire

@mackmyra

#MackmyraWhisky

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram Competition

To help celebrate the launch of their first flagship single malt Scotch whisky, we’ve teamed up with our very good friends at the Kingsbarns Distillery, to give away not one, but two bottles of their dramspankingly new Dream to Dram bottling.

 

Named to mark the Wemyss Family’s vision to bring malt whisky distilling to their Fife home, the new Dream to Dram release, which is the Kingsbarns Distillery first general release, is a truly local whisky, having been slowly crafted with barley harvested exclusively from the golden fields of East Fife.

 

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram (46% ABV) has been matured in both first fill bourbon casks from Heaven Hill in Kentucky, and shaved, toasted and re-charred wine casks.

 

To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of the new Kingsbarns Dream to Dram click here to email us your contact details along with the phrase that dramming pays:

 

“I’d love to pour and explore the

first flagship finery from the Fife

based Kingsbarns Distillery"

 

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Kingsbarns Comp

 

If you’re on Twitter, you can also follow us via @TheWhiskyWire and RT one of our related competition tweets for another chance to win!

 

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram, will be available this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £44.99.

For more info on the Kingsbarns Distillery, visit: kingsbarnsdistillery.com

 

#KingsbarnsComp

@TheWhiskyWire

@KingsbarnsDist

 

Competition closes at 23:59 on Feb 28th 2019. You have to be aged 21 years or over to enter!

 

Good Luck!