for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
if there's one thing about Whisky Journey 2020 that surprised me, it was that some of the stops left such a lasting impression that i found myself going back again multiple times within the span of a few days. given that my schedule was already jam-packed with more than one stop per day, there was no way i had even considered the possibility of returning to a completed stop to get another round of the same stuff.
and yet that was how much i thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to SLATE on Purvis Street, that i found myself back again just a couple of days later, with another reservation lined up before the end of the week.
for Whisky Journey 2020, SLATE has a truly stunning selection of whiskies from Bunnahabhain distillery - their Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair is the free 10ml pour for this location, alongside esteemed bottlings such as the 12-year-old, the Toiteach A Dhà, the 18-year-old and 25-year-old. it was such a pity that the 1997 PX Limited Edition and 2008 Manzanilla Limited Edition were unavailable from the start of the Whisky Journey, due to a holdup at customs.
i redeemed my free pour of the Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair (46.3% abv) which was a lovely opening to what would prove to be a fantastic flight experience. the sherry influence comes across strongly on the nosing with sweet red fruits, decadent vanilla caramel, and interestingly, a hint of Talisker-esque saltiness. on the palate, this would prove to be a well-blended combination of the same notes together with leather and dark chocolate undertones. the leather persisted through into a medium finish, accompanied by the sweet sherry and dark chocolate. a great dram at both Whisky Journey and non-discounted prices.
next came the 12-year-old (46.3% abv) which was a glass i could literally nose for an entire afternoon, sitting by SLATE's clear glass window and people-watching to my heart's content. each sniff revealed a complex combination of sticky sweet salted caramel over a strong sherry base of fresh apples, cherries and raisins, that over time gradually developed an underlying woodiness mixed with a soft vanilla. the woody vanillas translate beautifully onto the palate and the other notes also surface in different proportions, with the salted caramel being content to move to the backseat and allowing the sherry to take the lead. after a while in the glass, a smooth leather also emerges on the palate, blending beautifully with the sherry. the woodiness becomes more pronounced and ends on an amazing bittersweet note with the moderately long finish. this is definitely a no-brainer to pick up even at regular prices.
with such a great experience thus far, i decided to take a leap of faith and go for the 25-year-old (46.3% abv), and oh boy, this blew me away. this is the refined older sibling of the 12-year-old, with the same lovely salted caramel but considerably less forward on the sweetness. this oozes confidence, a subtle sweetness blended with black cherries and raisins, and anchored on a foundation of dark wood and soft supple leather. the balance here is spot-on in its complexity, and if i could find a perfume that smells like this, i would make it my signature scent.
the first sip blew me away completely, living up to the considerable expectations built up from the nosing. the sweet dark fruits open the act hand-in-hand with the salted caramel and a decadent vanilla, together building and gradually rising in a soaring crescendo of full-bodied taste. at its peak, the leather and wood make their appearance with a strong oakiness that is slightly bittersweet, a truly amazing symphony of perfect harmonies in the mouth. the finish is particularly long, holding that gorgeous woodiness in place with accompaniments of caramel and raisins. if my taste buds ever wanted to grow hands it would be now, to hold on to every molecule of that 25-year-old and never let go. the transition on the palate is so well-choreographed, a masterpiece that you can't help but want to savour over and over and over again. i'm so so happy to have discovered this, a steal at Whisky Journey prices and still worth non-discounted prices.
after the glorious experience that was the 25-year-old, i was pretty sure that it would be a very hard act to follow and was already beginning to recalibrate my expectations and brace myself for a disappointing end to the tasting. i couldn't have been happier to have been wrong.
where the 25-year-old had courted me slowly and gently to steal my heart, the Toiteach A Dhà (46.3% abv) came out of nowhere and completely swept me off my feet in a surprise whirlwind romance. the nosing was absolutely stunning with a whole new level of intensity - right off the bat, this is marked by a strong untamable smokiness and concentrated bursts of sweet raisins interwoven with a golden salted caramel. taste-wise, the peat completely fills the mouth without being overwhelming, while the raisins and salted caramel temper the harsh edges of the smoke. with some time in the glass, this matures and blossoms into a full-bodied complex harmony with the addition of dark chocolate, woodiness and a gentle dusting of cinnamon over the top. the finish is moderately long, showcasing the smoke beautifully with the oak and dark chocolate. this is a prime balance of strong and sweet, a dram that i am not only happy to purchase again at both Whisky Journey and regular prices, but that i took the plunge on and purchased (quite literally) the last full bottle that SLATE had in stock for the time being, so that i could bring this one home to enjoy.
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, SLATE or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
SLATE is at 24 Purvis Street, #01-00, Singapore 188601.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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