AGED RYE WHISKY RELEASED
Tasting notes by Nicks Wine Merchants
Belgrove Distillery 100% Rye Whisky (500ml). ABV: 42.00%
Peter’s rye whisky has now spent several years in barrels ranging in size from 50 litres to 200 litres. This is his inaugural release, along with a cask strength version. The whiskies have not been chill filtered.
Tasting note: [Batch bottled 2.9.2013] Bright gold appearance. Immediately appealing and distinctive with its dill / pickle opening scents. Second pass offers chamomile tea, hints of boiled lolly, cedary oak and peppermint. A light, silky entry follows through to a super smooth and quite delicate profile featuring medium dry flavours of chamomile tea, sour dough bread and unusual notes of dill and caraway. Dry, mildly tannic finish. Aftertaste is subtle but shows good length. 42% Alc./Vol. ”
Belgrove Distillery 100% Rye Cask Strength Whisky (500ml)
ABV: 59.00%
Tasting note: [Batch bottled 14.8.2013] Bright gold appearance is flawless and pure. Subdued at first. Subsequent sniffs build the aromatic intensity revealing semi sweet scents of honeycomb and peppermint. Second pass finds unusual ‘green’ notes (dill / sweet mustard pickle?) then the honeycomb / peppermint returns. What a sensational mouthfeel – the balance is quite something. A gently bittersweet delivery opens before filling out with flavours of sponge cake, followed by more intense, mildly bitter mustard seed-like notes. The sponge cake sweetness recovers and closes the profile, finishing intense, warming and mildly tannic at the fade. Rye seems to have a remarkably diverse repertoire – this is one of its more unorthodox expressions, though none the worse for that. 59% Alc./Vol.
Winespider Evaluation: Spirit
Nose:Aroma 9 , Intensity 9
Palate: Concentration 9 ,Complexity 9 ,Length 9
Alcohol: Mouthfeel 10 ,Reduction 8
Finish: Balance 10, Aftertaste 9
Faults 10
Score: 94 points