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Traditional Whiskies Inspired by Times of Old
However, you needn't fork out hundreds of thousands to get a taste of what whisky tasted like hundreds of years ago. Many distilleries endeavour to use their own traditional methods, with a modern twist, however these six expressions have been purposefully crafted to hark back to times of old. Lets take look.
BenRiach The Smoky Twelve
Inspired by traditional Speyside malts of the 19th century, this smoky 12-year-old is crafted with peated and unpeated spirit, matured in sherry casks, bourbon barrels and Marsala wine casks. A smooth and creamy expression with layers of aromatic peat smoke, the dram is balanced by rich dark chocolate, fruit peel and brown sugar.
Writers' Tears Copper Pot
Walsh Whiskey’s Writers’ Tears is an award-winning recreation of fabled whiskies from the Golden Era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century. Made from both malted and unmalted barely, the marriage of aged single pot still and aged single malt Irish whiskey is inspired by the production methods of the liquid favoured by many of the great Irish writers, such as George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce. They enjoyed it's full-bodied, flavoursome taste and creamy texture so much that it was said that when they cried, their tears were of whiskey.
Glen Scotia Victoriana
An interpretation of 19th century whisky, Victoriana is a classic Campbeltown malt that harks back to the region's reputation as the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’. Bottled at cask strength, the expression is sweet and concentrated with blackcurrant jam, subtle wood and vanilla, while the finish is clean and sweet with cocoa tones.
Dunville's Three Crowns Sherry Finish
Dunville's Three Crowns Sherry Finish is a lovingly blended Irish whiskey, crafted at the recently revived Echlinville distillery in Belfast. The whisky brand was known as the 'spirit of Belfast' back in the day, and was enjoyed around the world after being established in 1808. Today, it's blended expressions are made according to vintage blend recipes from the company's heyday, including this wonderful sherried dram. Featuring a mix of a 4 year old single grain, a 10 year old single malt and a Oloroso finished 15 year old single malt, the whiskey brings notes of fruit and nut, sweet oak and malt.
Yoichi
Yoichi is a bold and distinctive single malt whisky distilled and matured at the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido, birthplace of Nikka Whisky. It's founder Masataka Taketsuru learned to craft whisky at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside, Scotland and took on it's traditional methods when building his distillery. Yoichi continues to adhere to these techniques such as the use of coal-fired pot stills, and otherwise remains loyal to the whisky-making traditions dating back to its foundation. As a result, it is rare as a peated Japanese whisky.
Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae
Although not technically a whisky, this drink hailing from Lindores Abbey distillery was crafted to replicate the earliest known reference to Scotch whisky. It appeared in the 1494 Exchequer Roll, as King James IV requested 'aqua vitae' from Brother John Cor of Lindores Abbey. The new distillery on the ancient site crafts this unique spirit drink in tribute, using pot still spirit infused with herbs and spices grown in the gardens of the Abbey. The drink boasts a rich caramel sweetness alongside peach and pear notes, before a cinnamon and ginger spice in the long and lingering finish.
