for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
some of the stops along Whisky Journey 2020 featured very unique offerings that were unlike any other whiskies i had tried before. it was really an amazing opportunity to gain more experience with the huge diversity of smell and taste profiles of this water of life, something i would not have been able to do as conveniently (and affordably) if not for my passport.
enter FOC with a lovely selection of spirits (not just whisky) from Origin Spirits Ireland - their Currach Single Malt Irish Whiskey is the free 10ml pour for this location, sharing the same 'single malt' DNA with its 'mother' spirit the Kalak Single Malt Vodka and close cousins the Kalak Peated Cask Single Malt Vodka and Ornabrak Single Malt Gin.
Nathan from FOC really played a huge part in delivering an impressive experience as well. his deep knowledge of the history and alcohol of Origin Spirits Ireland was very interesting and informative, and i greatly valued his expert guidance with the step-by-step walkthrough of the nosing and tasting experience. his attention to detail was a great reminder that it's the bar and the people behind it who contribute so much to the whiskey experience - a good bartender can make a great experience out of even an average daily dram, and even the best whiskeys can be enjoyed so much more with a great bartender.
i redeemed my free pour of the Currach Single Malt Irish Whiskey (46% abv) which was a very interesting experience full of asian aromas and flavours. the nosing yielded a strong umami blend of soy sauce, toasted sesame, and briney seaweed evocative of the kombu cask used in its finishing. these notes translated well onto the palate, with the toasted sesame being most prominent, a light umami sweetness that contrasted well with the stronger soy. with subsequent sips, a rich buttery goodness also emerges, making this a smooth and full-bodied experience. the finish is of medium length, a soft sesame kiss of umami with salted caramel. this pour really expanded my perspective and is a fantastic experience at both Whisky Journey and non-discounted prices.
as someone less familiar with the other stronger spirits like vodka and gin, but given my recent propensity for a good smoky dram, i decided to try the Kalak Peated Cask Single Malt Vodka (40% abv) and had absolutely no regrets. on the nose, this was exactly like a sweet bak kwa (the asian equivalent of jerky, only sweeter and with more char). the caramelisation was quite exquisite and i loved the interplay between the umami and smokiness in the foreground. taste-wise, this still reminded me of bak kwa, albeit in a form that was smooth and so easy to drink i couldn't believe it was vodka. the finish was on the relatively shorter side, sweet and featuring a great smoky char evocative of wok hei (the signature charred aroma that comes from skilful use of a cast iron wok at high temperatures). another amazing spirit and one that i'll definitely be on the lookout for even 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, FOC or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
FOC is at 40 Hongkong Street, Singapore 059679.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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