Frazzle Dazzle (Heresy)

Description

For this experimental batch, the Society teamed up with our friends at Tempest Brewery in the Scottish Borders. We commissioned Speyside Cooperage to create some new American oak hogsheads, with a heavy toast and a medium char. These hogsheads were then sent to Tempest, where they were filled with an off-the-wall smoked barley wine (think 12.5% ABV smoked stout!). After five months, the beer was bottled and the casks were filled with selected un-peated Speyside malts. These whiskies underwent a period of additional maturation for just under three years, before being blended together to create this unique whisky. This is a whisky we’ve featured a handful of times over the last eight months to some great feedback from members; it’s time to release this fun and exciting bottling as May’s Malt of the Month. $169 per bottle for May only, then $179, so get in quick! An exciting instalment in the Society’s experimental Heresy range.

The initial aroma was dark like toffee, chocolate, ginger cake, black pepper, liquorice, and char. In time, an oily, slightly buttery note developed like in beurre noisette roasted potatoes. On the palate, there was a chocolate tart with blackcurrant compote and hazelnut praline as well as strawberry rhubarb Turkish delight and a slightly frazzling herbal and hoppy note in the finish. After reduction, we charred pineapple and mango slices, roasted peaches with thyme and baked homemade scones to serve with clotted cream. To taste, vanilla cheesecake, salted caramel butterscotch ice cream. In the finish we were frazzled by a whisper of maple cured bacon.