Behind the fourteenth window of That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s 2019 Advent Calendar we will be reviewing each day until the 24th of December was hidden a psychedelic looking Irish Single Malt 13yo batch 2, bottled at 48.4% abv by that Boutique-y Whisky Company. The psychedelic label for this undisclosed Irish single malt is a no subtle at all reference to the Lovely Horse from Father Ted, and I absolutely love it. Though the distillery is undisclosed, there is probably very little choice as it’s a single malt and not a single pot still: it’s very probably either Bushmills or Cooley. This Irish Single Malt 13yo batch 2 TBWC is sold for the quite modest price of £59.95 on Master of Malt.
Colour:
Eiswein.
Nose:
Coldorak: Apple and honey at first, quickly followed by soft oak spices, then a grassy and floral side. It’s slightly pepperish as it’s tingling in your nostrils. With water, the nose seems a bit tone down.
Ainulindalë: Vanilla, even toffee and a grassy or leafy side to it, a good kind of vegetal nose. Malt behind it and a slight spiciness. Pepper mostly. Behind all of that, a bit of orange and stone fruits (peach and apricot, my usual culprits)
Palate:
Coldorak: Very sweet arrival before spices (cinnamon and ginger) gently kick in. The mouthfeel is quite thick, good coverage. It’s fruity with melon, cherry, banana and lemon peel. Reduction brings out some tropical fruits and tones down the spices a bit, but just a wee bit.
Ainulindalë: The leafy side is very present at first, overlapping with some toffee and is closely followed by stone fruits. It peaks on fruit and then goes down on spices namely grey pepper and star anise. It feels pleasantly waxy in the mouth.
Finish:
Coldorak: Medium with fruits fading away slowly, leaving a very slight touch of oak.
Ainulindalë: Medium length on star anise and slight oakiness, very pleasant.
Comments:
Coldorak: Lovely dram, very fruity, a nice mouthfeel, spices clearly there but not overpowering and a good finish. Pretty good value for £60.
Ainulindalë: This one is a pleasant dram, reminiscing of Irish green pastures with its grassy and leafy side. Quite good as an appetite opener (says the guy who’s about to eat melted cheese).
Rating:
Coldorak: 87/100
Ainulindalë: 85/100
