August 2024 - SPEY & Edradour & Sitting
- Mr Dram Man
- Aug 2, 2024
- 2 min read
Welcome back to another month of interesting drams. Firstly, lets review the results from last months drams, and with a surprise here we have the signatory on top with our fist 0% in terms of the Canadian Corn.
Oak & Palomino & Oxidation & Sitting
Starting off this month, we have an intriguing bottling from Atom Labs. It's been a while since we've had a whisky from them that truly delivers on its promises. At first glance, I found myself puzzled by the term "Palomino." After some research, I discovered that Palomino is a type of grape used in sherry making in Jerez, Spain, known for imparting a saline, nutty texture to its sherry. Therefore, it's safe to assume that this whisky has been matured or finished in a sherry cask containing Palomino graped sherry.
On the nose, I'm getting dark chocolate, orange zest, pecan, and dried apricots. While these aromas are pleasant, the strength of the whisky is somewhat off-putting. Upon tasting, it reveals a marmalade-like, slightly salty citrus flavor. The finish is short and over quickly; I could easily consume a lot without realizing it's whisky, as it feels almost too watery. Overall, this whisky would benefit from a higher ABV to give it a bit more —72/100.
Signatory Edradour 10yr
Firstly, take a look at the color: a dark chestnut brown, indicating that the whisky has absorbed a significant amount from the sherried wood of the oak casks. This is a blend of four first-fill Oloroso sherry butts, each matured for ten years, promising a full range of flavors. It looks fruity, and the nose confirms this with a very jammy note, dried mixed fruits, light brown sugar, oak, and a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.
On tasting, the viscosity of this whisky clings to every part of your mouth like a great dessert—think gooey sticky toffee pudding, overcooked jam tart, and the sugary richness of a thick-layered crème brûlée. This is an enjoyable dram for those who love super-sweet, dessert-like whiskies. While it might be perfect for a cold winter's evening, on this hot summer night, it's almost too sticky. Nonetheless, it deserves a strong 84/100.
Spey Tenné
Next, we come to the Spey Tenné, a whisky company notorious for its difficult-to-store bottles, rivaled only by Daftmill. This whisky, with its light color and delicate pink tone, resembles a blush Rosé. Despite being marketed as a "limited edition," there are 18,000 bottles available—limited in the sense that once they're gone, they're gone. This bottle has been initially matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished for six months in Tawny Port casks.
On the nose, it smells fresh, like rain on a humid day, with slight nutty notes, floral tones, and hints of crisp Golden Delicious apples. It feels very summery, but on tasting, it surprises with dark chocolate notes, honey, and vanilla. It's a rollercoaster, presenting summery aromas but delivering a creamy, chocolatey flavor, with only the nutty note from the nose lingering on the palate, leaving a hazelnut tone on the roof of your mouth. The finish is medium and refreshing.
While I appreciate both sets of flavor notes independently, the drastic change from nose to palate leaves me uncertain about my overall impression. 80/100
See you next month!
Which is your Dram of the month?
Spey Tenné
Signatory: Edradour 10yr
Oak& Palomino& Oxidation& Sitting
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