Review: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Offerings, Summer 2020
Our latest go-round with the indie bottlers at That Boutique-y Whisky Company took place over a live Zoom webinar, where four single malts were on offer — not just to whisky writers but to the general public. (It helped if you bought the inexpensive tasting kit so you could play along.)
This collection of whiskies — all relative rarities in the U.S. — all hit the bottle between 10 and 12 years of age. Thoughts on each of the drams follow. (Some of these also appeared in last year’s Countdown to Christmas.) All prices are N/A, unfortunately.
TBWC Dufftown 10 Years Old Batch 4 – A straightforward Speyside to kick things off, a nicely honeyed breakfast cereal aroma wafting from in the glass. There’s more of a grassy, toasted grain note as the palate builds, with a light mushroom and a gentle forest floor element as the finish builds. Just the lightest touch of apple. Refreshing, cleansing, and light on its feet, it’s a perfect entry point to (unsherried) single malt. 95.6 proof. A-
TBWC Linkwood 10 Years Old Batch 7 – A much-beloved Speyside, this is a bright and sunny whisky that pops with notes of lemon and ground pepper — making for a surprisingly enticing combination. The palate follows closely in line, folding in ample vanilla and some almond notes to sweeten up the citrus-forward experience and give the finish an almost cookie-like character. Delightful stuff worth seeking out. 97.4 proof. A
TBWC Teaninich 11 Years Old Batch 2 – A unique Highland malt (next door to Dalmore) made without a mash tun (they use a filter press instead), it’s a burlier and more pungent whisky, offering a somewhat aggressive note of cooked vegetables and peanut shells — the Scottish answer to “frontier style,” perhaps. A light sweetness gives the otherwise bready finish a lift, but it remains quite brooding through to the finish. 95.8 proof. B-
TBWC Auchroisk 12 Years Old Batch 7 – A fairly obscure Speyside whisky, it’s probably the most unique dram in this lineup, with notes of ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. It makes me think of Christmas, which is sad because it’s only June as I write this. A strong vein of syrupy malt and a hint of chocolate push through to the rounded, fulfilling finish. 95.8 proof. A-
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