The Dram Team, Cask Magic – June 2021
If you’ve seen our instagram page then you will know that we’re big fans of trying some of the ‘wackier whiskies’. We love it when the SWA relax the rules and distilleries get to play around with different cask finishes and maturations. So The Dram Team’s June box – Cask Magic – felt right up our street.
Self-Led Tasting
For this box, we decided to Tweet our thoughts as we went along! If you’d like to see our initial thoughts and reactions, you can find them here!
Tasting Notes
Fettercairn 12 y/o Single Malt – 40%
Nose: vanilla, pear, red fruit compote, danish pastry, baked apple slices
Palate: tropical fruits, ginger, fresh stone fruits, very tropical
Finish: very short, apples, cream, treacle
Matured in American white-oak, we were initially skeptical of this being ‘cask magic’. However, this is a fantastic example of simple is sometimes best. This gives of vibes of summer beach sun – definitely a sunshine drink!
Jura, Rum Cask – 40%
Nose: almonds, coconut, malty biscuits, coconut sponge, treacle pudding, grilled pineapple, toasted almonds
Palate: banana, vanilla fudge, mango, muscavado sugar
Finish: hints of charcoal, medium length, ginger spice
This expression grew on us over time, but there was a particular flavour that we couldn’t quite put our fingers on. Would be very keen to hear your thoughts on this dram, and what notes you are picking up!
Mackmyra Gruvguld – 46.1%
Nose: orchard fruits, berries, fudge, chocolate, hazelnuts, butterscotch, buttered salty popcorn
Palate: oak spice, berries, creamy fudge, tobacco leaves, blackcurrant compote
Finish: blackcurrant streptils, dry and medium length
A mixture of peated and unpeated spirit, left to mature in a cave 50m underground – it’s definitely something different. A beautiful palate, with lots of depth of flavour. Whiskies like this are the exact reason we subscribe to The Dram Team.
Compass Box, Story of the Spaniard – 43%
Nose: apple pies, vanilla, salted caramel, raspberry
Palate: citrus oil, pears in red wine, rich creamy mouth feel
Finish: full bodied red wine, feelings of being a tapas restaurant
I won’t lie – this dram split us. It wasn’t what I was expecting from red wine and Sherry casks, and didn’t quite hit the mark for me. However, the other-half gives it FULL MARKS. It’s definitely true what they say – there is a whisky for everyone.
Cotswolds Distillery, Peated Cask – 60.2%
Nose: dried pitted fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, apples, light charcoal
Palate: more pitted dry fruit, layers of smoke
Finish: wet stinging nettles, long grass, honey, tree sap
Let’s not beat around the bush. This whisky PACKS a punch! We thought that this was fabulous, bags of flavour; tonnes of fruit, and a lovely damp smokiness.
The Whisky Works, 20 y/o Speyside – 53.9%
Nose: floral, grassy, like spring time, some medicinal notes – very fresh and inviting, sweet with hints of vanilla and orange oil
Palate: porridge smothered in golden syrup and honey, lots of fresh berries, chocolate and caramel digestive biscuits, very creamy and rich
Finishes in a Cognac Cask we had high hopes for this dram, and it did not disappoint. Like liquid desert, this whisky feels very decadent and indulgent. A wonderful texture. Perfect for a special evening around a warm fireplace.
Final Thoughts
It was great to try some of the more experiment cask finishes. For a future rendition of the box we would be keen to see a tequila/mezcal finish, more wine-cask finishes – especially white wine! – and potentially a Port.
All in all, another wonderful box from The Dram Team!
The Dram Duo 