The world over, Whisky is well enjoyed & appreciated, with friends or close family, with water or ice, as Scotch, Japanese, Indian or Bourbon, premium aged or younger whiskies and in may more ways and formats. Over the last 20 years, I too have appreciated Whisky across many continents, countries & cultures. Though enjoying & appreciating a whisky, in its naked form, just drinking from the cask in the Distillery Warehouse, is an altogether different experience. The first time was in 2004, the last a few days back and many a time in between. The purity, the ambience, drawing your own dram and sipping it drop by drop, letting the liquid cover your mouth, awakening all taste buds, then feel it gently slip down the throat to leave a warm, spicy and loong finish !! When the nosing is with an expert, the expereince is far more gratifying.
The recent experiences, when I visited distilleries in Islay, Scotland left me craving or more evne though immersive expereubces in 8 distilleries. The Bowmore Whisky Distillery in Islay Scotland hosted one such experience. I drew, nosed & tasted the Bowmore Sherry Cask, a 19 YO and a Wine Cask, all equally awesome though the Sherry took my breath away. It was warm, elegant and spicy even at 54% ABV. Or another Cask that I tried at Laphroaig Distilery the next day, which was a 2013 ex-bourbon, which meant pure Laphroaig as it should be except it too was 53%. The interesting observation was that both casks despite high ABV, offered a whisky which was elegant, soft noses and a deep rich taste. The whisky is also in its purest natural form and in the possibly the most relevant environment. The Distillery temperatures are naturally a good ally to tasting whiskies. There is “Spirit in the Air” and one can perch themselves on stools, casks ior even a bench and enjoy the cask strength whiskies. Whiskies are drawn from the cask, poured in tonteh glass and allowed to breathe, before taking a good nose and understanding the tasting notes. Not all whiskies are top line, in fact some need, more time in the worrd, lik a Lagavulin I tasted in 2009 or have a high ABV, as a Glenfiddich I tasted way back in 2007. Some others turn ouit quite sublime, spakling and doen even need water as I disciovver whilst nosing a Laphroaig 1993 Cask, way back in 2009.
Its also quite a rewarding experience to taste a new make spirit, whch has only been placed in the casks, a few months back. It carries a high strenth, maybe even 60*, the notes are distintive of cereal, barley, soft oak and often pungent. Not the best whisky as yet but surely on its way to become one.
Drinking Whisky in the Warehouse, is a sublime experience, which cannot be replicated. The cold walls of the warehouse, surrounded by hundreds of casks which have been lying since years & decades, sleeeeeeping !! as you tip toe and in hushed tones try and discover a new expression, a distinctive whisky, which will speak with you, engage you & have a conversation. I have had many such one on one conversations as I romanced one cask after the other, as the whisky smiled wickedly & teased me to guess its age. My many many moments with Malts have been one of finest experiences that I have ever collected. I recollect that one such in 2015, when I had tasted Ardbeg from the cask with Mickey Head, Distillery Manager of Ardbeg. We tasted 12 whiskies and I had to walk out, on a cold winter day, to clear my head and reawaken my senses. I sipped, rolled, tasted the splendid Ardbeg`s, some with raw untamed energy & high ABV. I simple loved the experience even though, I must admit that I was tasting the whisky later all day ! Though not all casks are kind & gentle and some loose very early in age, as I discovered nosing a 13 year old Lagavulin in 2009, it was just raw spirit and the wood had take over. Later I learnt it was removed to be used in blending.
Often times the whiskies are strong, intense and spicy, since they are cask strength and need to open up with time. Adding water makes sense, though I prefer them in their raw naked form.
Whisky drawn just out from the cask, as it twinkles & sparkles & strides into the glass is one of the life`s finest moments.
