Just lately, I undertook somewhat stock of my whisky assortment.
I am not a Whisky Loopy Particular person™ who permits his assortment to spill over into lots of of bottles and a number of cupboards. If it received’t match into my current liquor cupboard, I received’t purchase it till I’ve room. Bottle in, bottle out, because it have been. Plus, I have to share that area with my spouse, so issues get somewhat tight.
This self-discipline is useful for the bank card and a way of some management over my alcohol consumption. The stock did reveal one fascinating discovering: a pointy flip away from single malts in the direction of blends. No Chivas, Johnnie Walker, or Well-known Grouse right here; the blends I appear to be shopping for are from indie bottlers with both a beneficiant age assertion at cheap costs (in comparison with equally aged single malts), or some intriguing, distinctive element that compels me to purchase.
My flip away from single malts is under no circumstances complete – there’s nonetheless a good swag of Signatory Classic single malt bottlings within the cupboard – and nor has it been a acutely aware course of. At this age I like what I like and am more and more drifting in the direction of it.
I’m referring to choices similar to North Star’s Mach, Vega and Spica ranges, Adelphi’s Personal Inventory Blended Scotch Whisky, Cadenheads 7 Stars Blended Scotch Whisky, Signatory Classic’s Hogshead Blended Malt or Claxton’s 19 12 months previous Nice Street West from their Exploration Vary.
A few of these bottlings are ongoing; some are restricted editions to not be repeated. What strikes me relating to these releases is that the indie bottler doesn’t have to launch them until they’re certain they’re good. There is no such thing as a ongoing demand that have to be happy. The general public will solely find out about them when they’re as much as scratch and able to be launched.
With the sheer quantity of inventory a few of these indie bottlers have sitting round there have to be some pleasure in taking part in round with completely different parts to create a satisfying mix.
Based in 2012, Girl of the Glen are a comparatively new – although now nicely established – impartial bottler. They have been just lately recognised because the impartial bottler of the 12 months for 2022 on the Icons of Whisky Awards offered by Whisky Journal.
This 12 months, they launched their first blends, beneath the considerably complicated moniker “St Bridget’s Kirk.” I requested Gregor Hannah, the founding father of Girl of the Glen and Hannah Whisky Retailers, about these releases.
Malt: Girl of the Glen is a well-established model. Why then are these bottles labelled beneath the identify St Bridget’s Kirk? Are you able to clarify the place the identify comes from?
Gregor Hannah: Thanks for compliments relating to Girl of the Glen. Girl of the Glen and the enterprise are 10 years previous now and as a model Girl of the Glen has focussed on single cask releases, so releasing blends beneath that model would most likely confuse it. St Bridget’s Kirk is the identify of an area landmark in Dalgety Bay the place our bottling corridor relies, and that is the place we bottle all our releases by hand with simply our five-person workforce!
Malt: Are you able to reveal the element malts within the two bottling in any additional element than what’s on the labels? It appears batch 1 is Caol Ila and one thing else?
Gregor Hannah: Transparency and authenticity are crucial to me so on the labels for Girl of the Glen I be aware as a lot data as doable from distillation dates, what the unique distillate would style like, what the tasting notes of the discharge at the moment are, and even the precise website of the barrique or ex-sherry cask the place doable. I’ve tried to current as a lot data on the St Bridget’s Kirk label as doable however sadly there are limits and generally you purchase casks and also you don’t know the place the contents have been distilled, so you’ll be able to’t at all times write them down. The place I can I do be aware down the parts on the label, however I don’t be aware down the parts if I’m not 100% certain, or if I’m not allowed, as is the case with sure distillery manufacturers.
Malt: How did Girl of the Glen come to the choice to launch its first blends?
Gregor Hannah: As I discussed in a earlier reply, the enterprise is over 10 years previous and during the last 5 years particularly the portfolio of casks has grown. Inside this portfolio there’s a broad vary of casks and all of them are destined for Girl of the Glen and our manufacturers however, because the enterprise has grown, I’ve additionally acquired casks which have been lower than adequately full, or I’ve carried out re-rackings with 250 litre HHDs into 180 litre Barriques, and the result’s leftover spirit that’s most likely too younger or immature for launch, so it’s been put along with different parts I’ve.
The result’s a separate portfolio of blended malt casks that has grown over time. As well as, as a small enterprise I’ve purchased casks direct from bodegas and generally you may have extra arrive than you realize what to do with, so I’ve re-racked the mix parts into these first fill casks. Additionally, when I’ve bought a parcel of casks, generally you get provided casks which can be blended and it’s simply a part of a deal, so I had been sat on a few of that for some time too.
For these causes St Bridget’s Kirk was a path to marketplace for the mix shares. Protecting in thoughts St Bridget’s Kirk is de facto small batch, so in context we launch about seven casks per outrun for Girl of the Glen and we do 4 outruns a 12 months, however St Bridget’s Kirk is at all times only one cask’s price, so at most St Bridget’s Kirk shall be a butt – so about 500 bottles – however the current releases have been smaller as a result of we weren’t certain how the market would reply.
Malt: These aren’t bottled at cask energy. Had been the ABVs decided for the very best flavour profile and to extend the outturn?
Gregor Hannah: No, St Bridget’s Kirk just isn’t cask energy and that’s as a result of it’s much more of a mirrored image of our operation. Traditionally as impartial single cask bottlers, we simply bottled at cask energy however now with blends we are able to exert a bit extra management over the completed product and, because the mix parts have been put collectively by us ,it’s much more of a designed product whereas impartial single cask bottling, I might say, is much more such as you’re counting on nature or time to design the spirit for you, though you’ll be able to information it with re-rackings and bottle it while you really feel it’s proper.
Malt: What can we count on from the following bottles on this collection?
Gregor Hannah: St Bridget’s Kirk needs to be getting launched in keeping with the Girl of the Glen outturns, so each quarter. The following St Bridget’s kirk shall be bottled shortly after the twentieth of August and it is going to be a peated model of the St Bridget’s Kirk batch #2, as a result of we cut up the butt that made up Batch #2. Sadly, it is going to imply that Batch #3 will lose a little bit of its age as we’re utilizing a youthful Islay element, however we’re excited by the outcomes and are hopeful the market will reply as favourably because it has for Batches #1 and #2.
My honest because of Gregor for taking the time to answer my queries. To make clear then: Hannah Whisky Retailers will launch single casks beneath the Girl of the Glen model and blends beneath St Bridget’s Kirk. I might’ve thought that leaning into the well-regarded Girl of the Glen model was doable for the blends, but when it sells out so rapidly, does it matter?
Though I couldn’t discover any availability by means of UK shops, Australian readers can head to Nicks the place batch one remains to be out there for $110 and batch two is promoting for $150. A small batch 20 12 months previous blended malt for $150? That’s some critical worth for cash.
St Bridget’s Kirk Blended Malt Batch One – Overview
6 years previous. Bottled 11 January 2022. 48.5% ABV. Parts are 1 x 2015 Caol Ila sherry hogshead, 1 x 2013 Caol Ila refill hogshead, and 1 x 2009 Unnamed Islay refill barrel.
Color: Deep gold in a shady place.
On the nostril: The sherry affect right here is pronounced. Stewed rhubarb, musk sticks, oily leather-based, and copper cash. Barely waxy with raisins, and crimson grapes, different stewed crimson fruits. I really feel the restrained ABV permits this to open up on the nostril satisfyingly. Pleasingly there’s no trace of sulphur. I additionally get darkish honey and cinnamon. In a while within the session, some chopped limes.
Within the mouth: Surprisingly candy notes, this isn’t heavy in any respect. Extra honey, caramelised sugar and heat mashed strawberries. Some caramel and I believe mascarpone. Then apricots, dates and sticky toffee.
Conclusions:
That is remarkably drinkable and easy across the edges, as you’d count on from a intelligent mix. Sure, I really feel the youth is clear on the again palate and end, however within the meantime there’s loads of enjoyable available. Even contemplating Malt’s demanding scoring system, I’m leaning in the direction of a beneficiant ranking.
Rating 7/10
St Bridget’s Kirk Blended Malt Batch Two – Overview
20 years previous. Bottled 21 March 2022. 45.1% ABV. Parts are 3 x unpeated malts from Speyside, Highland and Islay joined in an Oloroso butt. 281 bottles.
Color: Deep gold in twilight.
On the nostril: nicely, I can see what an additional 15 years of ageing can get you. That is definitely stuffier, extra austere. The primary scent I extract is definitely vanilla, then pencil shavings, hair styling wax, dried and pressed flowers and previous volumes of leatherbound novels on a shelf. Leathery, previous beef jerky. Because it goes on extra basic sherry notes unveil and there’s toffee and caramel, after dinner mints.
Within the mouth: Darkish chocolate, and the smoky haze on a freezing chilly night in a Scottish village. I’m wondering what the malts on this mix might have misplaced and gained over time within the cask. Greasy skillets and previous water-proof anoraks. There’s faint incense and potpourri, and fruit Skittles? Languorous polished oak furnishings in a stately drawing room.
Conclusions:
Simply nearly as good as Batch One, however very completely different in fashion. This ticks packing containers {that a} single malt received’t; it appears somewhat on edge as if the parts have been taken so far as they might earlier than reaching a tipping level. Who cares – take pleasure in it now, when you have one of many different 280 bottles. As Gregor famous above, there’ll be a peated model of this for Batch 3 – one to look out for.
Rating: 7/10
St Bridget’s Kirk Blended Malt Batch One and Two Mark P. Residence Mix
One of many advantages of shopping for my very own bottles to evaluate for Malt is that I’m not restricted to a pattern supplied by the bottler; I’ve a full 700ml to take pleasure in. Due to this fact, I blended 25mls from the neck pour of every bottle for somewhat house experimentation.
I received’t present a rating, however total ideas. On the palate, there’s barbeque crisps, smoky dukkha, garlic salt, and a few contemporary fruits that battles out of the mix, presumably from Batch One. Additionally glazed ham and darkish bread. With the strain off to provide a rating, I chill out and loved this as a lot as both Batch individually.
Conclusions:
It seems we’ve got one other shark within the ocean. These blends are superb certainly, and I belief Gregor and his workforce to proceed to refine their mixing expertise and supply strong worth for cash. Finally, the costs ought to keep interesting if certainly Hannah and co. are utilizing the chance to complete up butt ends or not-quite-there single casks within the blends.
Until there are already in your assortment, you most likely received’t get a possibility to attempt Batches 1 and a pair of now, until an intrepid Australian reader jumps on the possibility through Nicks. Batch 3 is nearly upon us, although, and Gregor has assured us St Bridget’s Kirk is round for the lengthy haul. I’m eager to proceed to observe the evolution of those releases.
