Well what a way to start 2021, I was lucky enough to be gifted (by the other half of The Dram Duo) a subscription to the Pour and Sip tasting boxes! Five drams of whisk(e)y delivered every month and access to two live tasting sessions with other enthusiasts….perfect.
Having only had a couple of tasting sessions before; I’m excited to properly begin my journey into the deep, dark world of whisky. There can be no better way to broaden the horizons than tasting whiskies and bourbons from around the world.
First week of January …
The box arrives and in it are five drams, two Glencairn whisky glasses and tasting note cards – it feels like Christmas has come again!! Now given the strength of some of these (more of that later) I was glad to find out that the tastings were over two fortnightly sessions.
Tasting session one:
| Name | Distillery | Origin | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Riff – Straight Bourbon | New Riff | Kentucky, USA | 50% |
| Ledaig Sinclair Series – Single Malt | Tobermory | Isle of Mull, Scotland | 46.3% |
| The Cardrona – Just Hatched | Cardrona | Wanaka, New Zealand | 64.4% |
New Riff – Straight Bourbon
Nose: Freshly baked Cinnamon swirls, followed by buttery popcorn and rye toast.
Palate: Fragrant Rye with a hint of mint, moving towards an orangey peel and creamy vanilla.
Finish: Peppery oak alongside buttery caramel and more rye toast.
Now this whisky is right up my street I love peaty whisky and the peatier the better in my eyes! This one was distilled in an old Rioja cask and you can tell the undeniable undertones of red wine throughout this as well as the colour really give this whisky character. Despite some peaty whiskies having an overbearing smoked flavour, the Ledaig was perfectly balanced for my taste. The smokey cigar box notes follow you from the nose, through to the spices and creamy dark chocolate on the palate, with the wonderful red fruit finish.
Ledaig Sinclair Series – Single Malt
Nose: Black pepper and cocoa with a smoky cigar box.
Palate: Peppery warmth moving to baking spice (cinnamon, ginger and allspice), followed by a creamy dark chocolate.
Finish: Salted dark chocolate, touch of smoke and red fruity notes from the cask.
Now this whisky is right up my street I love peaty whisky and the peatier the better in my eyes! This one was distilled in an old Rioja cask and you can tell the undeniable undertones of red wine throughout this as well as the colour really give this whisky character. Despite some peaty whiskies having an overbearing smoked flavour, the Ledaig was perfectly balanced for my taste. The smokey cigar box notes follow you from the nose, through to the spices and creamy dark chocolate on the palate, with the wonderful red fruit finish.
The Cardrona – Just Hatched
Nose: Waxy lemon and a nutty cake with hints of a really rich creamy pudding, think rice pudding.
Palate: Buttery ginger biscuit with a touch of oily nuts and an orangey citrus.
Finish: Lemon and malty biscuit.
Let’s not beat around the bush here, this is my favourite whisky of all time now and I think it will be that way for a long time! So much so I immediately ordered a bottle from the Pour and Sip shop (another member perk!). We were lucky enough to be joined by a member of the Cardrona team who took us through the history of the distillery and how it came about. New Zealand isn’t known for its whisky however I think that is about to change if Cardrona keep producing whisky of this calibre. It’s only three years old but packs a bag full of character. Don’t be put off by its high alcohol content, it’s not overbearing and very enjoyable. The citrus runs throughout and ensures you journey with it from the nutty cake on the nose to the buttery ginger biscuit on the palate and finishing with lemon blossom.
We finished our first tasting session in high spirits, having immensely enjoyed listening to the other participants taste notes, and looking forward to what the other two drams had to offer.
Tasting session two:
| Name | Distillery | Origin | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drumshanbo – Single Pot Still | The Shed Distillery | Connacht, Ireland | 43% |
| Old Pulteney – 12 Year Old | Old Pulteney | Highlands, Scotland | 40% |
Drumshanbo – Single Pot Still
Nose: Freshly cut grass, vanilla caramel and warming milky porridge with a hints of cinnamon and fresh berries.
Palate: (R) Spikey, fiery start moving to a very creamy finish. (M) Creamy, buttery feel like a werther’s original, lots of sticky toffee pudding and creamy caramel cinnamon/allspice sauce followed by a warming spice.
Finish: (R) Really round and creamy, smooth honey with a long lasting finish. (M) Creamy pudding with honey and a finish of chilli heat and the smokiness of the last dying embers of a fire.
Again like the Cardrona we were lucky enough to have a member of The Shed Distillery on the live stream to talk us through the distillery and whisky. Using a combination of Kentucky bourbon and sherry casks the cream and spices are very evident. Overall (R) found it a really good middle ground between a sweet bourbon and a fiery single malt scotch. (M) A really nice tipple, and a great way to be introduced to Irish whisky.
Old Pulteney – 12 Year Old
Nose: Dark chocolate fruit and nut, hint of rum and raisin moving to fresh sea air.
Palate: Slightly spicy (peppery), earthy undertones with a hint of rich orange marmalade.
Finish: Honeycomb and the return of the fresh sea air which brings a hint of brine.
A single malt scotch matured exclusively in old bourbon casks balanced between the creamy sweetness of a bourbon combined with the saltiness of the sea. (R) really enjoyed the freshness of this whisky with the hint of sea air and earthy undertones brought together by the unmistakable flavours of a tangy orange marmalade.
Over the course of the two tasting sessions, we felt that it was a great introduction to the world of whisky, and provided us with plenty of opportunites to try different drams. February’s box has already arrived, and we are excitedly waiting our first tasting session next week.
We will be sure to share our thoughts, but in the meantime please let us know your tasting notes on the above whiskies, or if there are any must adds to the drinks table!
The Dram Duo 
6 thoughts