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WINTER WARMERS |
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Snuggle up in front of the fire with our Winter Warmers |
The world of whisky is vibrant and diverse. New finishes, boutique distilleries and sexy marketing abound. This is all very well, but sometimes you want a traditional whisky to warm the cockles of your heart: golden brown, full of sherry and fruit flavours and perfect for a cold winter night. Whisky your granddad used to drink.
WTC bring you five winter warmers: the Arran Amarone, possibly the strangest colour whisky you will have seen; Mortlach 16 year old, a Christmas pudding of a whisky; the trifle like Royal Lochnagar; Timontoul 12 year old, a full on sherry treat; and the Glendronach 12, a fruity feast. Tuck in to the alternative Christmas dinner!
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Based in the scenic village of Lochranza, Arran is one of Scotlands newest distillery. It was opened in 1995. Arran have experimented with a huge range of finishes, including port, champagne, sauternes and rum. Like all true experimentation, there have been hits and misses. Amarone della Valpolicella is an Italian full bodied dry red wine and this Arran has definitely benefited from a few months in an Amarone cask. |
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Tasting notes:
Nose: Sour redcurrants, fresh raspberry and meringue, light wood spice.
Palate: Soft, sweet and spicy, rose wine, blackberries, Turkish delight, fresh red fruits, rose petals.
Retails for around £40-£45
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In 1823 Mortlach was the first Dufftown distillery to be licenced. In 1963 it was completely rebuilt and is now owned by whisky giants Diageo. Mortlach is a key component of Johnny Walker Black Label, and the vast majority of the production of upto 2.8 million litres goes into this global mega brand. Because of this, Mortlach has a very low profile as a single malt, it does not even have a website. There are only two official bottlings: this 16 year old which form part of Diageo’s flora and fauna range (so called because of the label) and a very expensive 32 year old. Mortlach is an elegant sherried whisky full of the taste of Christmas cake. Ideal for a cold winters night. |
Tasting notes:
Nose: Coffee, Blackcurrant, Oranges, Big, heavy sherry, butterscotch sauce. Dry and dusty.
Palate: Rich sherry, ripe grape, liquorice, brazil nut. Spices held in check, with a slightly drying and minty finish.
Retails for around £40-£45
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Royal Lochnagar is Diageo’s smallest distillery (capacity 375,000 litres). Situated in the Highlands near Balmoral Castle, Lochnagar gained the royal warrant from Queen Victoria in 1848. Despite its small size, Lochnagar is part of Diageo’s classic malts range, and as such has a higher profile than Mortlach. |
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Tasting notes:
Nose: Big, with some smokiness. Sherry, red fruits, orange cream, fruit cake with a merest wisp of smoke.
Palate: Light smokiness, restrained fruitiness and malty sweetness. Sherry trifle, tangerines, lightly spiced. Slightly doughy at the end.
Retails for around £30-£35
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Tomintoul (pronounced tom-in-TOWEL) distillery was founded relatively recently in 1965. It takes its name from the nearby village, the highest in the Scottish highlands. Initially Tomintoul went mostly into blends, but recently they have released a range of excellent single malts, including this lovely sherried whisky.
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Tasting notes:
Nose: Toffee, hint of citrus peel, glace fruits, fresh sweet mincemeat, lemon sherbet.
Palate: Fresh sherry, effervescent wood spice, chocolate mint biscuit.
Retails for around £30
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Glendronach, in the Deveron area of Speyside, was taken over by BenRiach in 2008 and has since undergone somewhat of a renaissance. The new owners re-launched a core range of sherry cask matured whiskies which capture the classic old flavours. |
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Tasting notes:
Nose: Deep and rich with a startling clarity to the sherry. Almonds. Butterscotch and banana custard.
Palate: Rich and rounded with a tiny hint of oak. Plummy red fruits plus a crisp helping of green apple.
Retails for around £30-£35