April 2023 - Macallan, Ardnamurchan & Thompson Bros.

Welcome to our second month and looking forward to opening your sample boxes, here is something to get you excited about what’s to come.

Thompson Brothers SRV5 8Yr Old Blended Malt

This SRV5 is a blended malt Scotch whisky from independent bottlers, Thompson Bros. Crafted from selected single malts aged for over 8 years, then combined and rested in a 1200 litre charred European oak vat. Bottled at a respectable 48.5% vol, without chill-filtration and without any colour added.

This starts off with a strong nose to it, if I were you I would leave it for a few minutes, let it settle and air a bit and it mellows that nose down just right. You then get a tropical note from it in the form of banana and melon. On first tasting you get a note of banana loaf with a waxy almost chewy texture to it, followed by a citrusy sweetness on the finish. For a low priced blended malt, Thompson Bros. have not disappointed with this.

Macallan Rich Cacao

A “limited edition” first release in a series of non-age statemented bottlings (recently followed by intense arabica). I say limited edition like that because at the time it seemed to be never ending, although it now getting it at RRP is impossible.

In homage to its chocolate influence, The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao is presented in a 100% recyclable gift box, made using discarded husks from cacao pods (a by-product in the chocolate-making process, that would have gone to landfill). This is collaboration with renowned pastry chef Jordi Roca of the three Michelin star restaurant El Celler de Can Roca, this release brings the worlds of chocolate and whisky together. Polly Logan worked with Jordi Roca and the youngest of the acclaimed Roca brothers. As part of the exploration, she also spent time with master chocolatier of Casa Cacao, Damien Allsop. But enough of that, lets talk about the liquid…

Upon opening this bottle I got an instant hit of chocolate to the nose – almost overpowering notes of cacao (surprising given the name) it was almost too much. Now there is a travel exclusive version of this (as there is of the recent arabica release) and I have now tried both. Upon opening the fine cacao (the travel exclusive version) I got a more intense nose of cacao compared to the Rich Cacao strangely. There is a slight difference between the two bottlings: the ABV % - 44% for Rich Cacao and 40% for the Fina Cacao. I usually prefer a slightly stronger ABV whisky, with in most cases the 46% mark being the sweet spot for me (there are obviously exceptions but I prefer stronger over weaker). Which is the case in this scenario, that higher abv gives it more of rich taste.

Anyway I got carried away their comparing the two. Back to the Rich Cacao – it is exactly as it says on the box, you get a smooth fondant texture, much like the inside of a Llindt chocolate ball, which lingers all the way through the nose, to the palate and through to the finish. Very much a dessert whisky that could be paired with a fruity or spiced dessert (poached pear or apple pie), and in my personal opinion, if you had a chocolate dessert with this I think they would take the flavours away from each other. A great limited edition dram to say you have tried, as trying to get hold of a bottle now is not cheap (compared to its RRP) and to buy it at secondary market prices to drink, I wouldn’t do myself.

Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask

This limited release from Ardnamurchan is a little different to their usual releases. This single Malt has spent 5 years in first fill bourbon casks, followed by a year long finish in Madeira hogsheads with a limited outturn of 5,781 bottles. I am always intrigued by bottlings that have had a finish in something just a little different, and although Madeira cask finishes aren’t anything new, it is not often found at distilleries like this (the last one I tried was a Cotswolds hand fill from their distillery – which was great but very young), this has a bit more age to it.

This expression starts with a very honeyed, orange nose, almost marmalade hint to it, with the high ABV this instantly hits your nose – it gives it a very autumnal feeling when you give it a good inhale (ironic as we hit spring). But a nice aroma all the same. As you taste it there is a very citrus and oaky vanilla taste that hits the inside of your mouth and side of your tongue, with the traditional hint of spice you expect with and Ardna along with hint of orange peel. The finish is slightly nutty and fruity at the same time. If you add a drop of water to this, it releases that fruitiness just a little more.