there's one bar-café which i've found myself stopping by with increasing frequency towards the end of last year, and it's not just for the amazing selection of drinks available, but also because of the unparalleled company in both the owners and fellow patrons alike. it's no understatement that the one watering hole that stands out most to me from 2020 is The Single Cask, with all its special memories.
i still remember when i had first started my whisky learning in 2020 as a complete newbie, with the encouragement of a couple of close friends. The Single Cask had collaborated together with another bar The Swan Song to hold an online Whisky 101 class, conducted over Zoom with four weekly deliveries of whisky tasting samples. it was an invaluable experience in providing a newbie-friendly environment at affordable rates (S$200 for sixteen pours of whiskies over four weeks) and in attempting to safely maintain the camaraderie of friendship at a bar (albeit in a virtual environment).
over the next seven months or so, i found myself growing more comfortable in trying new selections and refining my palate better under the guidance of expert owners Brendan, Yi Xian and Wei De. their events such as their National Day Flight and 5th anniversary tasting proved to be great experiences drinks-wise and in connecting with other likeminded friends.
even though the covid-19 measures had definitely taken a heavy toll on their industry, i really respected how they were never pushy or overbearing in trying to sell their stock, and were genuinely passionate about the state of the local whisky scene.
with all these silver linings to the black cloud that was the year 2020, i decided to start the new year 2021 off by purchasing a membership with The Single Cask to support them going forward. memberships are limited in quantity but worth it in value; for S$500 one can get a bottle of their choice (from a selection of five or so available) to keep at the bar-café, as well as invitations to member-exclusive events and attractive discounts for each visit during the year (and especially for one's birthday).
i chose this 22-year-old Glentauchers 1996 (54% abv) for my membership bottle after having tried a mini-flight of the selection available; it wasn't an easy decision especially weighed against the first runner-up, an 11-year-old Glen Moray 2007 (61.4% abv). both were simply superb selections on the nose and palate, lovely showcases of sweetness and complexity.
it was interesting how the first tasting of the Glentauchers from the mini-flight was different from my first pour of my own bottle; just another of those marvels of how whisky can evolve so magnificently with time.
the well-seasoned Glentauchers was easy to drink yet had a good dose of robust complexity. the sniffs were smooth and reminiscent of bright orange cantaloupe dripping with rich golden honey, intertwined with soft floral notes and a touch of cereal. on the palate, this was gently sweet, predominantly honey and cereal blending beautifully with the contrasting melon to create a unique profile. the balance on this was good, veering neither too acidic nor too sweet, and with enough depth to be the kind of whisky to stop, sip and appreciate over a good half hour or so. i liked the transition into the finish, which was moderately long and which featured a lovely platter of stone fruits to join the cantaloupe.
with my own bottle, the first neck pour was an entrancingly subtle sublimity of sweet honey, smooth beeswax and a touch of florals on the nose and palate. there was a very timid hint of cantaloupe and a slice of dried apricots closer to the finish, but the main impression was a light and sweet whisky that was extremely easy to drink. i actually found myself appreciating and liking the more muted tones on this one, and can't wait to see how it develops over time.
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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 Single Cask or Glentauchers, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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