Tasting three Mystery Malts at 11, 12 and 13 years
We are rapidly working our way through the Thompson Brothers Mystery Malts, and not quick enough, it seems. New batches have already launched. Anyway! The idea is simple. You get a black bottle with a big white question mark on it, and then you just have to unwrap the lead to see what you got. Some friends of my went all in, and bought a whole load of these mystery bottles. In it, there were a lot of interesting distilleries, ages and cask variations. I will slip in this or that sample into the proceedings here on Long Pour Amour. Today we have a special line-up, since I try to find a certain theme to taste these whiskies in. Fact is: I could not find one for these three, other then their ages. So, totally random, we taste an 11, 12 and 13 years old!
Clynelish 11 years old, bottled at 48,5 % abv by Thompson Brothers
First things first: From batch 3 of the Mystery Malts, this Clynelish matured on a refill hogshead and that cask produced 356 bottles.
Upon Sipping: Clynelish from around the vintage 2013/2014 is a bit of a blind spot for me. The colour is extremely light, and the whiff of fruit coming from the glass is still very close to the raw product coming from the stills. Lots of orchard fruit, pear eau-de-vie, very immature to nose, or let’s say that it indeed close to new make. The taste is light and tranquil, and the waxes are there too, with a raw, alcoholic edge, but at the same time very satisfying. This is a very daring bottling, I must say, as the whisky is more naked than I can ever remember tasting. Some lemons on the finish, where the traditional waxes also make an appearance.
Word to the Wise: I am quite charmed by this Clynelish, so unspoiled by cask influence, it might as well could have been a 5 years old. This bottling underlines what a fantastic spirit is produced at this beloved distillery. I found this a daring bottling, well done!
Score: 85 points.
Loch Lomond 12 years old, bottled at 48,5 % abv by Thompson Brothers
First things first: From batch 3 of the Mystery Malts, this Loch Lomond matured on an oloroso hogshead and that cask produced 312 bottles. The question is: which Loch Lomond variant?
Upon Sipping: Well, this is quite a shocking variation after just putting away the Clynelish above! Opens first and foremost with dark bread, only the big, burned crust of it. Like the basket you get at an Italian restaurant. After some breathing it opens up with more floral and fruity notes, due to the sherry cask. Soft caramel, some orange marmalade, a dash of brown sugar. Also some coconut. Very lovely. The taste is more on the nutty side, hazelnut pasta and all, nice chocolate notes. The finish is filled with burned toast notes, which is a weak spot for this Loch Lomond. With water, that improves slightly, and this becomes a very regular, modern example of nuttiness from a sherry cask.
Word to the Wise: Really one for chocolate enthusiasts, a by now classic example of modern sherry maturation. Seems to me, this was the regular Loch Lomond variant.
Score: 81 points.
Dailuaine 13 years old, bottled at 48,5 % abv by Thompson Brothers
First things first: From batch 3 of the Mystery Malts, this Dailuaine matured on a rejuvenated hogshead and that cask produced 199 bottles.
Upon Sipping: Alright, this is the least talkative one on the nose, from the three we tasted in this session. Maybe a slight burned note in the background, but all in all rather mute. We shall return after a drop of water. A very creamy entry on the palate, soft smoke first, before revealing a strong beer note. What is going on here? Very dusty and hoppy, with dry barley on the finish. I fail to understand this whisky completely, even though I am intrigued. Water brings out more live, with honeyed notes to the fore, but overpowering wood pushes it back after a few seconds already. Lots of grain too, dry husk, roasted pine nuts. I am actually missing some of the more challenging elements I normally find in Dailuaine. The taste improves with a little water, becoming more soft on caramel notes and soft oak. The beer element is always there. Good stuff for a crossover!
Word to the Wise: Not really up my alley, but I am sure it will please people with a love for craft beer. We can’t deny that the Mystery Malts are an experimental series and offers a lot.
Score: 81 points.