Cù Bòcan Creation #2

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Cù Bòcan Whisky Tasting, 03 February 2022. Hosted by GSC and Cù Bòcan’s Global Brand Ambassador, Scott Adamson). Nose: Iced biscuits, red berries, there's a chemical/hairspray note along with the hints and wisps of smoke Palate: Citrus/lime, light peat, oak, nutty, Amaretto, more wisps of smoke Finish: Short finish. Oak, light peat wisps. More of the lime and a creamy, coconut and tropical fruit note. There's a little chilli spiciness on the aftertaste. Japanese Shochu & European Virgin Oak Casks. 15% European virgin oak to provide body and mouthfeel. Spirit in virgin oak is 4y/o. 85% Japanese Shochu. Spirit is 14y/o. Shochu translates literally as "burned liquor", although colloquially it would (apparently) be the same as "firewater". There are some really interesting milky/creamy notes from the Japanese Shochu (distilled sake) casks, and there is a lot more going on between the fruity and nutty notes. A nicely textured mouthfeel. Tasty and very drinkable. Came 3rd out of the five drams (the new make spirit wasn’t included in the vote), with 13% of the final vote for favourite of the night. 81% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky. This was my vote for favourite of the tasting, although it was very close between Creations 2 and 4 for favourite, and I have unintentionally given all of the Creation series (1-4) the same score. Any separation between them is really just personal taste or what you fancy at that specific moment - they are all very good, well priced whiskies.

Floral and a lil smoke. Smooth and fruity Pear apple

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow Virtual Whisky Tasting 25 June 2020) This is distilled at the Tomatin Distillery but is quite a different drink. It is peated to 41ppm. 84% of the spirit is 12y/o (where the spirit is finished for 5 years in Japanese Shōchū casks after starting in bourbon casks) and the remainder is 4y/o from virgin oak casks. Biscuity on the nose with some light peat and oak. The palate is more of the same light peat and oak, with a hit of lime and some nutty/herbal notes. Quite a short finish with more of the oak and light peat. A really nice light peaty dram, which is much lighter than you’d expect from 41ppm. Came last out of the six whiskies, with 0% of the final vote. I think it suffered from being first, as this was one my favourites of the tasting.