The highlight of the evening was the Benrinnes 21 Year Old from Diageo’s Casks of Distinction.
What is “Diageo’s Casks of Distinction”? It is a limited program where customers can purchase the entire casks from selected distilleries, and then choose to either bottle it or continue ageing it for bottling at a later date.
So the whiskies a mention about its official tasting notes and other info :
Clynelish 14 Year Old: The Highland malt with sugary and faint floral fragrance with a creamy mouthfeel when it is served neat.
Fun fact: Clynelish is said to be the successor to the now-silent Brora, built opposite the original distillery. At 46% ABV, selling price starts at RM 350.
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old: This Speyside has a honey sweetness and vanilla followed by citrus.
Fun fact: This was awarded 95 points by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible. Bottled at 43% ABV, selling price starts at RM300
Oban 14 Year Old: Another Highland with a combination of oranges, lemons and pears, dried figs with a smoky dryness and spices.
Fun fact: Oban is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with only 2 pot stills. Even the town the distillery in is is actually named and thrived from the existence of the distillery and not the other way round. Bottled at 43% ABV, starts at RM310.
Benrinnes 21 Year Old ‘Cask of Distinction’: This Speyside has nose of strawberries, toasted caramel, a little melon. On the palate, melons with raisins and hints of molasses, fruitiness along with a slightly musty funk (??). Briefly salty and savoury. A little water cuts down on the astringency.
Fun fact: Distilled in 1992 before being aged for a full 21 years in a sherry butt. At 56.9% ABV, it is at cask strength. Its sulphur-y and "meatiness", can be attributed to the use of old cast iron worm tubs in the condensation process rather than the use of the more modern copper condensation column seen in most distilleries today.There are only 550 bottles worldwide, and only 262 bottles are available in Malaysia starting from RM 3,000.
 |
| The exclusive food menu prepared by La Carretas especially for the whisky tasting session. |
If you’d like to own one these babies, contact diageoinfo@mhdm.com.my for purchase & queries.
And once you get it, don't forget to jio me for a dram.
- Jon
