Tastes

(Glenlossie) Very smooth and surprisingly mild for a cask strength - you can barely feel it’s 52.9%. This distillery’s output is apparently mostly used in blends (Haig and JW), which does seem a shame for such a smooth dram. A fresh spicy ginger taste upfront, moderately sweet but mainly spicy. The finish has some citrus, more of the ginger and oak with a long finish descending into pepper, ginger and chilli.

(Clynelish) This is an intensely floral and peppery dram. Waxy, and ginger as it develops and spicy on the finish. Water opens it up and mellows it out more than you would expect. There’s some honey and salt with a citrus long aftertaste.

Sample from their Virtual Whisky Tasting on 11th June 2020. The tasting introduced the 6 spirit styles they intend to use for their first release from the distillery due in 2021. The 6 styles are peated and unpeated versions using three distinct cask types - Rye whiskey, Chinkapin oak, and Bordeaux red wine. The While We Wait has been produced in an unnamed Highland distillery “in the West Highlands near a very big loch”, but is designed to be the flavour profile of the whisky they will be producing from their own distillery. Upfront, the whisky does taste young, but it has a very smooth, creamy (almost buttery) character. There are light, smooth smoke and dark fruit notes, which mellows into a dry, tannic (slightly citrus) finish. This is quite an interesting whisky that has a quality feel to it for such a young spirit. It’s not quite there yet for my palate, but I’m looking forward to seeing what their own production is like next year.

It’s hard not to be taken in by the story of this whisky. I know it’s all about the marketing, but it’s a nice little conceit to think you’re drinking something with a similar flavour profile to one that Shackleton himself may have enjoyed. Almost definitely a load of bollocks, but still fun! The first taste is quite alcohol heavy. It then mellows into a caramel and citrus sweetness. The finish is long, sharp and honeyed, with a light buttery aftertaste. It’s not a refined whisky, but there are a few layers of flavour and it’s certainly an easy dram to drink. Overall, it’s not a bad dram, but the story is definitely more interesting than the whisky.

This is a real nostalgia trip for me. My grandfather used to drink this as a ‘special’ treat back in the late ‘70s / early ‘80s. He passed away before I was of drinking age, but it has stuck with me as his ‘special’ dram. I’ve had it often since then in its various rebrands and updated formulas, and I’ve enjoyed it often. First off, this is an extremely easy whisky to drink. The first taste is spicy and quite oaky, but it builds in sweetness (apple and golden syrup) as you take a few more sips. The finish is spicy and a little ashy, although still sweet. There isn’t the same alcohol hit you get from a lot of blended whiskies. It’s not a complex dram, it doesn’t have a lot of layers to it, but it’s a pleasant and easy to drink whisky that I’m very happy to revisit - and not just for the nostalgia! I’d have this before a lot of malts that are lauded by many!

As an entry level NAS to the Jura range, I think the best I can say is that it’s decidedly OK. There’s an upfront light alcohol hit, reminiscent of an average blend more than a decent Highland malt. It is light overall, with some hinted flavours of vanilla, caramel, fruit and a little spicy smoke. The finish is short with some residual spice and a hint of smoke. None of these flavours are very much at the forefront of the flavour, but rather they all hover around in the background. This is a perfectly drinkable dram. It’s reasonable at the typical discounted supermarket price point of c£22-25ish, but at the RRP at around £10 more there are other, more characterful whiskies that I’d choose over this expression.

Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival sample. First off, this is an extremely easy whisky to drink. There’s a little peat in there (10ppm) and some coastal saltiness. It doesn’t have the wilder tastes of some of the Islay heavy hitters, but they have used some ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks and you can certainly taste it throughout. The finish on this one brings out more smoke, some spiciness and an aftertaste of ginger and chilli that stays for ages. Another delicious dram from Wolfburn.

Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival sample. Smoky, oily and a little spicy upfront. There are some nice peaty flavours that hide the fact that this is only a 3-year old whisky. They have used some ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks and it certainly comes through on the flavour profile. It’s well balanced and easy to drink. It’s quite a light smoke and earthiness that comes through to the finish, but alongside the honey sweetness. I could spend a good evening on this. Nice!

Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival sample. This is a more interesting dram than many of the Mackmyra range. First off, there’s notes of cherry Bakewell tart and a strange pear sweetness. It reminds me more of a cherry brandy than a whisky. It has a finish of spice and dried fruit that lingers for ages. All in, a very nice dram, I’m just not sure it’s a whisky.

Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival sample. This is unlike most Scotch and has its own character. Upfront, it’s quite vegetal, with some damp, green notes. It develops into sweet oak, vanilla and some dried fruit. It has a long, slightly spicy finish that sours as it fades. It tastes quite young (although they say it contains 8-30y/o spirits) and has some funky, mushroomy, salty back notes. It’s unusual in character. I’m not sure it’s one for me, but I’ll need to try a few more times before I decide.