THE CREATORS COLLECTION
WHERE THE HEART IS
The Creators Collection is a new series from the Society that showcases the liquid art of whisky making and the visual art of illustration. We have curated some of our oldest and rarest whiskies and collaborated to design beautiful labels to create the ultimate in whisky flights. This month we’re launching the Homecoming collection in celebration of our 40-year-heritage and spiritual home, The Vaults, with Leith-based artist Shona Hardie bringing these whiskies to life through four special labels. Mads Schmoll caught up with Shona to find out more about The Vaults, Leith’s whisky history and the inspiration behind her artwork
Cask No. 64.153
VERY SATISFYING
£85.00
PROFILE Juicy, Oak & Vanilla REGION Speyside AGE 16 years ABV 54.2% CASK TYPE 1st fill HTMC hogshead
A complex set of aromas. On the one hand, we found plenty of antique furniture, waxed jackets, moss and wet bark. On the other, a delicate light and floral perfumed scent from a cashmere ruana. The taste was as complex with mulled cider, cinnamon-baked apples, roasted macadamia nuts and blackcurrant fudge.
Water turned the nose very chic, elegant, sweet and floral, evoking a suit pocket square. On the palate now, we sipped a cocktail called Bonnie Prince Charlie: St-Germain, orange bitters and sparkling wine mixed with a whisky, heather honey, herb and spice liqueur, and garnished with a lemon twist.
Cask No. 112.129
BREAKFAST COCKTAIL
£84.00
PROFILE Sweet, Fruity & Mellow REGION Highland AGE 15 years ABV 54.5% CASK TYPE Hybrid oak hogshead
The mixologist tickled our noses’ fancy with a fun breakfast cocktail, expertly blending toasted rye bread, marmalade and alpine butter, followed by pain au raisin with apricot jam and lychees. The palate had a soft and creamy mouth feel, with bright notes of grape, plums, Thai basil and crème caramel.
Water transformed things, serving us a dessert menu of cheesecake, chablis, cherries and baked orange on the nose, and cola, macadamia nuts and honey on the palate. After 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this to a second-fill hybrid American and European oak hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.
CASK No. 138.28
THRILLS, GILLS AND SKILLS WITH GRILLS
£79.50
PROFILE Lightly Peated REGION Taiwan AGE 6 years ABV 57.6% CASK TYPE 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
With sea views as our backdrop, we encouraged the barbecue with a little high-strength Barbados rum. The flames engulfed our Mediterranean vegetables, singeing the fennel, and charcoaling the pineapple rings and cherries on cinnamon sticks. Lamb chops danced amid the flames next, their sticky glaze of rosemary and redcurrant jelly sizzling in the heat.
After a dash of water, we found sandalwood to add to the embers. The fragrant aromas wafted over beech-smoked salmon, lavishly coated with a honey and mustard sauce, and served with slivers of charred lime skin. Then it was time for dessert – creamy rice pudding topped with mango jam, a dollop of custard, and sweet vanilla sponge cake.
WHISKY HISTORY
BURNS'S DRAMSCAPE
January in Scotland and around the world means the celebration of the country’s national poet, Robert Burns.
Gavin D Smith reports on how Burns experienced huge changes in the production of whisky during his comparatively short life, and how he used it as a subject in his poetry.
'HERESY' SMALL BATCH DELIGHTS
SKOOSHY STROOPWAFEL
We’re starting the year with a new release from our ‘Heresy’ small-batch series, Batch 30: Skooshy stroopwafel.
As Julien Willems reports, it’s a beautiful marriage of ex-bourbon hogsheads and European oak sherry butts that brings to mind a squirt of whipped cream on a Dutch (or even Belgian) caramel waffle.
