for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
as i would soon discover, my Whisky Journey turned out to be an exploration not only of different distilleries, but also of a whole range of bars and restaurants, from the heart of the urban cityscape to places off the beaten track. my next stop Jiu Zhuang is a fine example of the latter, surrounded by greenery and tucked away in a far corner of Dempsey Hill, with naught but a nondescript sign to guide me around the back of the building to its entrance.
for Whisky Journey 2020, Jiu Zhuang is showcasing whiskies from the Tomintoul distillery - their Tomintoul 10-year-old is the free 10ml pour for this location and there's also a generous range of other offerings from the same distillery that left me completely spoilt for choice. as if that wasn't enough, Jiu Zhuang is also one of the two bars carrying the Whisky Journey exclusive Glencadam 2007 13-year-old.
considering that Jiu Zhuang had a surprising total of ten offerings (including the Whisky Journey exclusive), i knew that this was one stop where unfortunately i wouldn't be able to try everything. in the end, i selected a few just to get a general sense of the range of Tomintoul offerings, as well as the Whisky Journey exclusive.
Tomintoul is a new distillery to me, though my Whisky Journey passport helpfully gave me the heads-up that their single malts are lovingly known as the 'gentle dram', and as i would soon discover, for good reason too.
i redeemed my free pour to begin this leg of my trip and was immediately struck by how shy the Tomintoul 10-year-old was in the glass. unsurprisingly for its 40% alcohol by volume, this was coy and almost coquettish on the nose with its lightness and sweetness - a subtle blend of caramel, soft florals and the barest hint of wood beneath. the same notes came into play again on the palate, tiptoeing around in my mouth as if afraid to wake my tongue from its slumber. this 'gentle dram' was truly deserving of its title; it was quite the experience compared to the intensity that i'm used to from most other whiskies, though all things considered it was much too light for my liking.
the shy 10-year-old was not a difficult act to follow; the next Tomintoul 12-year-old Oloroso Sherry Finish (40% abv) was evidently cut from the same 'gentle dram' cloth but revealed itself to be a marked improvement over its younger sibling. this was more complex on the nosing, with the sherry influence taking a place of prominence next to a lovely range of sweet red fruits. the palate was relatively straightforward, showcasing the same notes albeit in different proportions - the woodiness was far more apparent here, taking centre stage from the first sip into the finish. i liked how this one ended, with a very smooth woody caramel and a medium to long lingering woodiness on the finish. all in all, a pour that i wouldn't mind having a second round of at Whisky Journey prices, though probably not at non-discounted prices.
the Glencadam 2007 13-year-old Whisky Journey exclusive bottling (40% abv) could have passed for a second cousin once removed to the Tomintouls; the first sniffs of this one revealed a smooth and subtle blend of vanilla, wood and soft florals that translated well on the palate. the wood element develops on the transition into the finish, which is on the shorter side. this is a very easy to drink whisky, one that showcases the nuances of its cask influence. a lovely exclusive and worth trying at least once.
i would have loved to try a greater selection but considering my limits for the day's adventures, i had to pick two more drams to experience Tomintoul's range, and on recommendation by Vincent from Jiu Zhuang, i went for the Tomintoul 15-year-old Port Wood Finish and 15-year-old Peaty Tang.
the Port Wood Finish (46% abv) is a fine demonstration that Tomintoul's 'gentle drams' are not entirely one-dimensional and still come with many different characters. this one is beautifully complex and the port influence shines on both the nosing and palate with a full-bodied blend of ripe berries and a subtle vanilla caramel. there's a hint of bitterness on the palate that is reminiscent of dry tobacco, and then the finish explodes upwards in a short but punchy pepperiness that fades into a light woodiness. interestingly there's a slightly bitter aftertaste on the tongue that goes well with the introductory sweetness of subsequent sips, but rubs me the wrong way on the final sip with nothing left to drink after that. glad to have tried this and certainly another pour that i would be glad to enjoy again at Whisky Journey prices, though i would be hesitant at non-discounted prices.
last but not least, the 15-year-old Peaty Tang (40% abv) was a feature of gentle peat that ended the tasting experience on a good note. both on the nose and in the mouth, this yielded an extremely smooth peated smoke, a gentle wisp trailing through a field of flowers, soft and strangely comforting like the smell of your grandfather's tobacco pipe on the breeze. the barest hint of fruits makes an appearance towards the finish, with a subtle lingering sweetness. this is a good dram for a "whisky baby's first peat", with a smokiness that is very shy and easy to appreciate. i like this one quite a bit and this is something i wouldn't hesitate to go for again at non-discounted prices, when i find myself in the mood for a straightforward smoky dram, nothing too rough or complex.
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, Jiu Zhuang or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
Jiu Zhuang is at 6D Dempsey Road, Singapore 247664.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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