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WHISKY JOURNAL

WHISKY JOURNAL

Top 5 whisky bottles to try this Valentines Day

Top 5 whisky bottles to try this Valentines Day

Whether you’re having someone special, or trying to seduce Cupid into finally aiming his arrow to your secret love. There’s always a reason for gifting whisky. Here’s some inspiration in red and pink to suit the occasion…

Glengoyne – The Legacy Series Chapter One

What’s not to love about Glengoyne, it really is for everyone. This Highland distillery knows how to do a proper sherry maturation. If you don’t know them yet, then let this be a first chapter in a long lovestory:

Nose

The nose is a bit sharp at first, but let it breathe for a while, warm it up in your hands or add a dash of water to release the leather, brown bread, vanilla, cinnamon rolls, sultanas, honey, red fruits and apricots.

Palette

Spicy and a bit peppery (chili peppers) on the tongue. It feels young, but it has enough complexity to keep you entertained. With a little patience some nice flavours of orchard fruits, sultanas, dried cranberries and wood peek around the corner. There’s a hint of candy bananas too.

Finish

The apples and banana make way for a warming finish, which starts spicy and dry, with cinnamon, raisins bread, spicy wood and peppery sherry. After a little break, some aromas of red fruits and raisins develop in the aftertaste.

Arran Amarone Cask Finish

Even the name sounds amorous, and yes, this whisky definitely knows how to seduce someone. Arran is known for their tropical flavours, the Amarone wine casks add another fine layer of sweetness and softness. What are you waiting for? Light up some candles and enjoy this with your loved one:

Nose

Sweet notes of caramelized apple, orange jam, cake, dark chocolate and cherry blossom

Palette

Tropical and salty, fruity with cherry, apple and pineapple

Finish

Spicy wood and citrus, a hint of cherry and other red fruits, tropical, salty, chocolate, a slight hint of nuts and a whiff of pear

Arran

Cù Bòcan Creation #1

This lightly peated whisky from the Tomatin Distillery is like the embodiment of a fusion between a man and women. We’re talking about the atypical use of casks here: masculine stout casks with female elegancy added by moscatel casks. The result is like the perfect love couple having fun:

Nose

Warm and dusty on the nose, a waffle with cherries, some nailpolish remover or hairspray, but also resembling yellow Fruit-Tella in a sense. Orange zest and peated barley.

Palette

A warm and rich palate, it almost feels like a cask strength whisky, but it’s bottled at 46%. Buttered toast, chocolate, oaky notes and red fruits. Whole wheat bread is in there as well.

Finish

Sweet apples and country ham with honey, lychees and old leather boots. Milk chocolate, cinnamon and some oranges. Charcoal, citrus cake and whole wheat bread for a strong finish.

Edradour Ballechin SFTC 12yo Heavily Peated Bordeaux Cask

Say it straight from the heart with this Straight From The Cask Ballechin. A wonderfully rich and peated single malt, enhanced by a wonderful bordeaux cask. If your lover can’t decide between peat and sweet, then why not gift both in one bottle?

Nose

Barley, peat, winegums, slightly dry, with some seaweed and gunpowder, molten chocolate tops it off.

Palette

Dry, but smooth and sweet. Full of plums and spiced Wood, a bit chalky and very mineral.

Finish

Fireworks, toast with French cheese, cherries, apple pie, and forest fruits, a hint of yoghurt.

Finlaggan Red Wine Cask Matured

Do you know that feeling, that you’re both very different but it works out great? Don’t forget to show some appreciation to your partner, because he/she deserves it. And why not say it with a bottle that represents a perfect marriage between two very different kind of styles? Islay’s rough character meets the romantic touch of French red wine casks, and they lived happily ever after:

Nose

Rosé wine, Granny Smith apples, nutty, full and sweet, sauna, wooden rollercoaster, quite misty in the nose, mint, boiled candy and spicy wood.

Palette

Licorice root, watercolour, winegums, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and a pinch of pepper.

Finish

The same spices again, along with licorice root and smokey wood. It’s sweet and citrusy with candy, lime and oranges. Some industrial flavours as well: watercolour and matches. A warming note of vanilla custard makes it a smooth finish.

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