Quick Fire Vodka Tasting Notes

Puffing Billy Steam Vodka

40% ABV

Nose: A feisty and fruity five-a-day of blackberries, Longley Farm blueberry yoghurt, lychees, passion fruit and mixed citrus peel. Along with icing sugar, Cadbury’s chocolate eclairs, Edinburgh rock, a tease of palma violet infused cream soda, pink grapefruit juice, malted barley, ground almonds, dried grass, rosemary and subtle suggestions throughout of charcoal smoke.

Palate: Sweet smooth swirls of something rather toffee liqueur-esque, along with gooseberry jam, blackberries, blueberries, pink grapefruit, lemon sherbet, aniseed twists, sweet malted barley, white pepper and the tiniest tease of something menthol fresh.

Finish: A fabulous cream led, fresh finish, that makes you double check the bottle to see whether or not you've actually just been sipping a vodka.

Summary: Being completely honest, I have to say that it normally takes a lot for me to get excited and enthused about a vodka, but Puffing Billy (from The Borders Distillery) which has been produced using malted barley and filtered by being steamed through charcoal inside their rare Carterhead still, is a vivacious fully rounded, flavour flooding out kind of a vodka.

It’s a superb solo sipper (ideally served very chilled) but concocted it elegantly elevates everything from a Cosmopolitan to a White Russian (I’m sure the Dude would most definitely abide). Its flavour and feel also works magnificently well in a Martini.

103rd Whisky Insiders Interview - Michael Henry

Company:
Loch Lomond Group

Job:
Master Blender

Website:
lochlomondwhiskies.com



How long have you been working in the whisky industry?
I’ve been in whisky and beer for 25 years now. I started as a student working at The Old Bushmills Distillery when I was studying Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt, before working in beer for ten years with Bass in Belfast and Tennents in Glasgow, before then moving to Loch Lomond in 2007.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
The final day of The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush was an unforgettable experience for me. Being a partner to such a high-profile event is a real statement of intent for us, as we establish our single malts and being able to bring our whiskies home to the north coast of Ireland was very personal to me. The highlight was the Sunday when an Irish golfer was leading, the atmosphere was amazing and most of all my wife and son were there to share it with me.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
It was Bushmills 10 Year Old, when watching the Irish teams play in what was then the Heineken Cup with my dad and his friends. It was always brought out when any of the Irish teams won…. and when they lost!

What does whisky mean to you?
It’s a celebration best shared with family and friends.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years' time?
I see myself continuing what we have started with Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia. It’s been an exciting last five years and I think the next five years will keep going on a similar path, where we look to build our core expressions and continue the success of our special releases, like The Open golf releases for Loch Lomond and the Campbeltown Festival Editions for Glen Scotia.

What was your last dram?
Bains Single Grain. It has a great balance between the refined corn character of the spirit and sweetness from the double bourbon maturation.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
It would be Loch Lomond 18 Year Old and barbequed steak. The 18 Year Old has a sweet and smoky character that compliments the charred flavours from barbequing the steak.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
In my parent’s kitchen back home with my dad, sharing any Loch Lomond expression.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
I think consumers are becoming more aware and interested in distillery character in Scotch whisky. There is growing interest in how the starting grains – malted barley, wheat, rye etc influence spirit character together with younger age statements where the maturation part of the process has had less influence and you can taste more of the individual distillery character. At higher ages there is more understanding of how refill wood and less active casks can allow you to experience more of the distillery character that is unique to each individual distillery.

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
Loch Lomond 12 Year Old is my favourite dram. I love the balance between the different flavours, the fruit character from the yeast and long fermentations, the background sweetness from the American oak and the softer peat character that we get from our straight neck stills.

Many thanks to Michael Henry. Who will be our next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

Rebel Yell & Friends Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, and fittingly just ahead of National Bourbon Day, we’re thrilled to announce that on June 10th we’re teaming up again with that liquid americana brand that well and truly deserves to be shouted and yelled about, Rebel Yell!

In addition to pouring and exploring Rebel Yell’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon and French Barrel Special Finish Bourbon, we’ll also be sharing, sipping and savouring a duo of dramming delights from the Limestone Branch Distillery; Yellowstone Select Bourbon and Minor Case Rye Whiskey.

If you fancy taking part in what promises to be a right Kentucky knees up of a night click here to register your interest by emailing your name, address, phone number (for sample courier), date of birth and Twitter handle. Please remember to mark the subject line of your email: #RebelYellWhiskey

The closing date to register is May 26th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the night!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following the evening’s dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on June 10th from 7pm BST via #RebelYellWhiskey

Registrations open to over 21's only!

For more info on Rebel Yell, visit: rebelyellbourbon.com

For more info on Limstone Branch, visit: limestonebranch.com

@TheWhiskyWire

@RebelYell_UK

#RebelYellWhiskey

#KeepCalmAndDramOn

Be part of the Dramfotainment!