BAT.13 Tabanco Time

Description

Tabanco Time is something a bit different for our Malt of the Month in August. It’s still a malted whisky, but it’s a blended malt from the mixing desk of our Spirits Manager Euan Campbell. His skills as a blender and craftsman in bringing together a harmonious blend and incredible cacophony of flavours, has been advancing since Exotic Cargo onwards — and Tabanco Time is a testament to that. The casks used in this creation are all ex-sherry casks sourced from our close relationship with Jerez sherry cask producer Miguel Martin. Thick sherry, serrano ham, toasted nuts and rich sweet complexity. An incredible opportunity to taste this creation all the way from Jerez to your glass.

This small batch was drawn from the latest refresh of the SMWS blended malt solera. It saw the addition of whiskies from both Speyside & Highland regions and the cask make-up included a mixture of quarter casks, hogsheads and butts, all seasoned with PX or Oloroso sherries. Don’t forget that there’s Spanish & American oak too! The aromas and flavours reminded us of our trips to Jerez to source these very casks! Imagine you were seated outside a tabanco in Jerez at a polished oak table and the waiter put down a bowl of toasted nuts and thinly sliced Serrano ham. To drink you ordered an Oloroso dulce VORS Sherry, lightly chilled, smooth and unctuous with that typical taste of cinnamon, dried fruits, candied orange peel and a rich sweet finish – it certainly did hit that S-spot (Sweet-spot). After a drop of water, we chose a rich dessert, cherry tart made with fresh blackberries in the buttercream, almonds and plenty of kirsch brandy. On the palate hazelnut chocolate, walnuts, juicy black cherries and chocolate chip acorn truffles, and we were reminded of an old Spanish saying: ‘a meal without a glass of Sherry is like a day without sun’.