for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
while most of the stops along my Whisky Journey were a fulfilling social experience just connecting with the bartenders and meeting fellow travellers, there was one standout which offered a no-frills, no fuss experience that was great for those who wanted to just be left alone with their dram(s) of choice.
tucked away in a little corner just off the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, Cable Car 1890's Saloon was a surprisingly quiet little nook all the way at the end of the row of restaurants and bars along Cuppage Road. stepping into the bar in the middle of the afternoon felt like a trip back in time to an old western saloon in a hostile part of town - empty wooden tables, soft music in the background, and a bartender who looked up with moderate disinterest before returning to whatever he was doing prior to my appearance at the entryway. i wouldn't have been the least surprised if he had remarked, "you ain't from around here, are you... we don't take kindly to strangers around these parts."
for Whisky Journey 2020, Cable Car 1890's Saloon offers a selection of whiskies from Inchmurrin and Inchmoan, part of the Islands Collection from the Loch Lomond distillery. the free 10ml pour for this location is the Inchmurrin 12-year-old, and they also have the Whisky Journey exclusive Inchmurrin 2008 available here.
i redeemed my free pour of the Inchmurrin 12-year-old (46% abv) which was a relatively light and straightforward whisky - the nosing reveals a soft blend of florals over fresh apples and peaches, and on the palate these notes translate into a subtle sweetness with a hint of wood. this doesn't develop much complexity with the finish, which is on the relatively shorter side as well. a very simple and easy entry-level dram for newcomers to the whisky world, worth trying at Whisky Journey prices though not something i would go for again at non-discounted prices.
after traveling all the way here, it would be a shame if i didn't try the Whisky Journey exclusive Inchmurrin 2008. at 56.1% abv, the alcohol definitely made itself known on the nosing, which comprised a pleasantly complex blend of fresh apples, woody pears, and a honeyed caramel to smooth it out. on the palate, this packs an interesting variable bitterness from a rather fickle-hearted wood that appears and disappears as its pleases; the finish has some degree of pepperiness that accentuates the bitter bite from the wood. with a few drops of water, the nosing mellows a bit more with a slight peachiness, but the palate grows harsher, with the bitter wood and pepper joining forces in an assault on the tongue. another interesting pour that i was glad to have tried at Whisky Journey prices though i probably wouldn't go for this one again either.
to complete my adventure within this fortress of solitude, i tried the Inchmoan 12-year-old (46% abv) which was a really lovely nosing experience. the first sniffs vividly reminded me of a good hearty breakfast - sizzling bacon and pancakes laden with fresh berries, with a timid smear of maple syrup on the side. the smell of this was all levels of savoury and mildly smoky goodness, which promised more than it could deliver on the palate - the taste of this was weaker than i had expected, a slightly-smoky woodiness that overpowers the fruits before disappearing silently like a ghost in the night. the finish is brief, almost indistinguishable from the palate; with some time in the glass, there's more spice that comes through with the pepper, but the tasting comes nowhere near the lovely breakfast aromas which had tempted me at the beginning. a decent experience at Whisky Journey prices, but not something i would go for again at non-discounted prices.
slàinte!
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this review is of a product that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i wasn’t asked to review this as a condition of purchase and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with The Whisky Store, Cable Car 1890's Saloon or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
Cable Car 1890's Saloon is at 49 Cuppage Road, Singapore 229466.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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