for the rest of my Whisky Journey 2020 posts, do check out the collection label here.
contrary to what it seemed like on the surface, i felt that Whisky Journey 2020 was more than just a glorified pub crawl - apart from being able to visit the fifteen different participating bars during this period, it provided a great opportunity to sample and learn more about the wonderfully-curated collections from the selected distilleries, in an environment that was conducive for both the whisky newbie and veteran alike.
the final stop on my Whisky Journey was one that i had been looking forward to for a while - with its wide range of single cask whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), Quaich Bar could truly boast an impressive and unique collection that one would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
for Whisky Journey 2020, they offered a fantastic selection of nine whiskies from SMWS (inclusive of the free pour), spanning a good number of different distilleries.
an interesting fact about SMWS' independent bottlings - unlike conventional whisky bottles, these ones are curiously silent on the distillery of origin. instead, each bottle label has a beautifully lyrical name to describe its contents, and a unique number code that seems innocuous at first glance but reveals much more than the casual layperson would realise.
this special numbering system serves more than one purpose - apart from creating a truly 'blind' tasting experience unaffected by the knowledge of the distillery of origin, it also allows SMWS to offer whiskies from a greater variety of distilleries, including those which are more protective over releasing their naming rights.
i had only been able to visit Quaich Bar closer to the end of the official Whisky Journey period, so it didn't come as too much of a surprise to find that some of the whiskies listed in my passport weren't available any more - they had already been enjoyed by others, down to their last drop. while there was no shortage of available substitutes, it was also somewhat bittersweet to not to have been able to try those that had run out.
one of the bottlings that was no longer available was the one originally intended to be the free pour, 48.93 Teasing Tango of Fruits and Flowers (57.3% abv); instead, Quaich Bar provided a different bottle as an alternative.
true to its name, the nosing of 7.189 Waxing Lyrical (59.5% abv) was sweet and beeswaxy with the slightest touch of smoke. interestingly there's also an aroma of lightly fried sweet dough which instantly reminded me of (and made me crave) the addictively-tasty youtiao-like butterfly fritters that one can find in any heartland hawker centre. on the palate, this is a thick, sticky treacle syrup with macadamia nuts, a delectably sweet treat that fades beautifully into a kiss of smoke on the finish. some sleuthing revealed this to very likely be a Longmorn 2004; i really enjoyed this one and would repurchase it at Whisky Journey prices.
i decided to try an entire flight of all the whiskies, save for two others which were also unavailable at the time of my visit - the 37.94 An Aromatherapy Massage and 46.56 A Cheerful Chatterbox.
next up was 9.134 Making A Hazel Bow (57.1% abv), a whisky that aficionados would find themselves going nuts for, literally. the first sniffs from the glass reveal a sweet party mix of roasted hazelnuts, toasted walnuts and all the cashew nuts you can shake your fists at. the same nuttiness comes through on the palate, with the addition of some lovely fruits and a hint of spice to balance it out. the finish is of medium length, ramping up the spiciness without becoming too unbearable. this is probably a Glen Grant 2005; a nice whisky that i enjoyed and would repurchase at Whisky Journey prices.
after that was 35.191 Jam Today! (60.1% abv) which lived up to its name both on the nosing and tasting - this is a lovely jam bursting with ripe berries and fresh red fruits, layered beautifully over a base of smooth wood and accompanied by a sliver of dark chocolate. there's a subtle smokiness to it as well which gives a nice contrast to the sweet jam, and a hint of leather comes through as well to add some depth to the sweetness. the whisky dries out significantly and gains a sharp kick of pepperiness as it moves towards the finish, accentuating the tart flavour and sweetness of the next sip that follows. this is likely to be a Glen Moray 2005; another dram that i would repurchase at Whisky Journey prices though more on the fence about non-discounted prices.
(the interior decorations of rows and rows of whisky bottles really lent themselves well to indulging my more artistic side in between tastings, and made for an enjoyable afternoon.)
photos aside, 7.179 Opens Like a Flower (59% abv) was a great change of pace from the fruitiness of the previous pour; this literally opened like a flower with sweet juicy apricots and a zesty citrus, which quickly blossomed into a feisty caramel-wood-vanilla combination on the palate. a touch of smoke completed the experience, with a relatively short but spicy finish. subsequent sips breathed more life into the already-bold palate, bringing the spices from the finish in and building up the strength of the wood element. it appears that this one is potentially a Longmorn 2003; an interesting experience though not really along the lines of my personal preferences.
there was one whisky quite unlike any others i had tried before, and that was 135.2 Hessian Wood and Incense (52.3% abv). it completely blew my mind with the nosing - a rich smoky combination of frankincense, joss stick incense, some myrhh and a strong woodiness over a subtle spread of dried fruits. i couldn't believe that it was possible for whisky to have such an otherworldly smokiness to it, not just the sort you find in peat but literal incense burning (not unlike what you would smell outside a Taoist temple on a warm day). the same notes come through on the palate as well, a powerful burst of resinous smoke that swells and commands your attention before gradually fading to a mere sliver, a wisp of grey on the wind. this whisky is likely to be a Loch Lomond 2001, a phenomenal experience i would go for again at Whisky Journey prices.
next came 36.129 Sweetmeats in a Bedouin Tent (57.2%) which proved to be a whisky as exotic as its name. on the nose, this evoked Middle Eastern fruits with dates, dried fruits and dry wood, but smoothed over with a mild candy-like influence. the same notes came through on the palate in a burst of sweetness and smoothness combined, with a good deal of pepperiness to give it an edge. the finish and aftertaste were very pleasant, a combination of sweet dried fruits and mildly-peppery wood that segued neatly into the next sip. this whisky is likely a Benrinnes 2002; a nice pour that i was happy to have appreciated at Whisky Journey prices though would probably not repurchase even at discounted rates.
last but not least was 73.92 Spiced Quince Apple Compote (56.3%) which, true to its name, was a veritable smorgasbord of fresh apples and cooked apple slices over fluffy pancakes. there's a lovely mix of cloves, cinnamon and brown sugar that is reminiscent of an apple pie straight from the oven, though this proved to be less apple-y on the palate than expected. taste-wise there's something evocative of coffee and dark chocolate giving the apples some contrast, and a peppery spice kick builds up moving into the finish to end on a strong note. it seems that this one is potentially an Aultmore 2002; a lovely dram that was a nice experience at Whisky Journey prices though i probably would not go for this again 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, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Quaich Bar or any of the other participating bars / distilleries, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
Quaich Bar is at 30 Beach Road, #01-16 South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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