for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
the first thing that struck me when i shyly made my way alone into #WLJK was the noise. not in an unpleasant way, mind you - this was a combination of free-spirited laughter, excited sharing of life experiences and the clinking of glasses as people from all walks of life came together to relax, unwind and celebrate with friends and family.
notwithstanding the strict covid safe management measures in force with masks and one-metre distancing and prohibited intermingling, the bar was still a lively place full of chatter (at separate tables), laughter (even behind masks) and good whisky. even sitting alone by the bar, i could already feel myself starting to relax and enjoy myself amidst the liveliness of the patrons and the warm friendliness of one of the owners Keng Ho and his team of bartenders who took great efforts to make sure that i was comfortable and alright on my own.
one only needed to step into this cosy spot to see that it was and is possible to still have fun safely in this new normal.
for Whisky Journey 2020, #WLJK features whiskies from Glen Scotia - their Double Cask is the free 10ml pour for this location, and they also have a nice variety of five other whiskies to choose from the same distillery.
i redeemed my free pour of the Glen Scotia Double Cask (46% abv) to begin the evening - the nosing of this one is quite rummy, smooth red fruits with a discernible alcohol note underneath, though the fruits have some artificial candy element to them which reminds me of a childhood favourite dessert, those little pudding cups that come with the transparent plastic spoon. the taste couldn't be further from the first olfactory impressions though - with the first sip, a sharp pepperiness surfaces on my tongue and all over my mouth, taking me by surprise. it stings, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. as the spice bite fades, a smooth vanilla oak comes up to temper the artificiality of the fruits and bring them back into more realistic territory, before transitioning into a finish dominated by sweet jammy fruits and supported by the peppery oak. this is a lovely showcase of the different tones that fruit notes can take in whisky; quite an interesting pour that i'd be glad to have another of at Whisky Journey prices, though i'm on the fence about non-discounted ones.
next i tried the Glen Scotia 2006 (53.1%) which was a Whisky Journey exclusive that i was glad to have had the opportunity to experience. on the nose, this was spun sugar and candied oranges with honey, vanilla and caramel toffee, a really wonderfully sweet aroma not unlike that of a confectionery kitchen in full production. the oranges become more tart with the tasting, though this remains tempered somewhat by the thick sweetness of the toffee and honey. towards the finish, a warming spice emerges, a fuzzy cinnamon which amplifies the citrus and gives the whisky a bit of a kick that sets the palate up for the next sweet(er) sip. a great whisky that i enjoyed at Whisky Journey prices and would buy again even at non-discounted ones.
i thought that the previous two had already been pretty dessert-like on the nose, but my last pour of the Victoriana Cask Strength (54.8% abv) was the sweetest of the evening. the first sniffs and sips from the glass yielded an extremely strong sweetness - a honeycomb dripping with liquid gold, icing sugar and caramel over fresh red fruits. the finish is on the longer side, drawn-out and complex in allowing each note to return to the stage for a final solo bow before exiting stage right. a nice pour that i would be happy to pick up at Whisky Journey prices but it's a bit too sweet to be a compelling buy at non-discounted rates.
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, #WLJK or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
#WLJK is at 78 Horne Road, Singapore 209078.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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