Laird of Fintry Single Malt Cask Strength

Really nice. Not too hot, I like drinking this neat. The pallette is a flood of fruit and honey. Very good.

This limited single malt release from Okanagan Spirits craft distillery in British Columbia is bottled at 56% and is a rich dark amber in colour. Initially aged in American white oak and then finished in local fortified Foch wine barrels. Initially nosed and tasted at cask strength subsequently diluted to approximately 47%. Nose: Over-ripe fruits like plums and grapes are really forefront at the beginning. Images of the concentrated flavours of sun-dried raisins and apricots also come to life. Wine tannins are present as a result of the Foch barrel finishing with a subtle hint of vanilla custard. The combination of this makes something reminiscent of a spiced raisin bread pudding. Despite the relatively high proof, the ethanol odours are mellowed by everything else going on. The addition of water doesn't seem to adjust the nose much with the wine and raisin notes still being forward. It does seem to subtlety highlight the background caramel and vanilla notes however. Palate: The first sip is very hot with ethanol with the fruit flavors wanting to come out. Proceeding sips allow the tannic wine flavours to predominate and play with the slightly bitter malt. This is a very nice marriage between the two. Unlike with the nose, the addition of water significantly alters the palate. The tannic wine flavours are mellowed and it allows the wonderful malt to spring into action. Other spices start to come out now as well with hints of cinnamon and something reminiscent of cardamom. Really a complex assortment of flavours here now. Finish: Medium length with the tannins being what sticks around mostly. I could use just a little longer finish with this. The addition of water doesn't help this and thins it out slightly. I'm left with a little numbing and tingling of the sides of my tongue and my hard palate. Overall, this is a really nice and interesting whisky. The Foch finish really adds a complexity that sets this apart from some other single malts and is a welcome change. Unfortunately with its limited release, even in British Columbia, there may not be much of an opportunity for many to try, but I would recommend people exploring future releases.

Laird of Fintry is the flagship offering from the Okanagan distillery in Canada’s premier wine growing region. (That’s not a windup. Canadian wine is really a thing!) I’m writing this from my home in Kelowna, so this award-winning whisky is from the home team. It’s a luscious deep orange in colour, with a nose of dried apricots that recalls the other big crop of the region. It’s poky, at 56%, and quite viscous on the glass. The first taste, unwatered, is vivid, sweet, and fruity-a veritable avalanche of honey and stone fruit, with a lovely long almond finish-but perhaps a little cloying. A splash of water eases the sweetness down a notch, bringing out red licorice, marmalade and beeswax notes. This whisky recalls Glenmorangie’s Nectar D’Or, but even more dessert orientated. It’s completely different from most Canadian drams, which are spicy and rye-heavy, leaning more towards a sweet, high-corn American whisky like JD. If you enjoy a Gewürztraminer or an ice wine, you’ll love this-and I do!

Sharp and strong, which overwhelms some of the regular Laird flavour.