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40 <strong>Style</strong> | Drink<br />
It’s on the list<br />
Whisky aficionado Isla McNaught shares inspiration<br />
for those new to the single malt world.<br />
To start<br />
Hailing from one of Scotland’s most<br />
northerly distilleries, Old Pulteney calls<br />
the fishing village of Wick home. Since<br />
its inception in 1826, the distillery has<br />
been intrinsically linked with the sea.<br />
Barley was brought in on the boats and<br />
whisky was dispatched on them.<br />
In terms of the flavour profile, Old<br />
Pulteney 12 is a remarkably smooth<br />
dram rich with gentle honeyed, vanilla<br />
sweetness and a nuttiness reminiscent<br />
of marzipan. There is a distinctive,<br />
slightly salty tang that tells of the<br />
distillery’s home by the sea.<br />
This super-approachable whisky is a<br />
great introductory dram.<br />
Hold the cola<br />
The bourbon and cola relationship is on<br />
the rocks. Small-batch bourbon producers<br />
are trying to align their American brew with<br />
Scotch whisky, producing something to be<br />
sipped and savoured neat. So, we thought<br />
we’d give Basil Hayden’s bourbon whiskey<br />
a whirl.<br />
From the Jim Beam family, this craft<br />
small-batch bourbon certainly holds its<br />
own in the glass. It’s sweet and there’s<br />
no fire, meaning it’s easy to drink – with<br />
unmistakably bourbon lasting notes.<br />
For the purist, it was always going to be a<br />
push, and our dedicated single malt whisky<br />
drinker was not converted. However, for the<br />
unbiased, it is a re-education. Make it super<br />
classy by whipping up a Manhattan and those<br />
old stigmas will soon be forgotten.<br />
– Kate Preece<br />
Into the smoke<br />
The nose of Benromach 10 is enticing,<br />
with sweet green apples and pears<br />
complemented by creamy dark honey<br />
and just a suggestion of smoke. To<br />
taste, it is immediately rich and creamy<br />
with smooth flavours of malted cereal,<br />
stewed fruit and warm toffee. It coats<br />
the palate in a way that feels rather<br />
indulgent and suggests a maturity<br />
beyond its 10 years. There is a gentle<br />
lingering smoke on the finish that is<br />
uncommon in Speyside whiskies, but<br />
it allows for a much broader appeal in<br />
comparison to more heavily peated<br />
whiskies.<br />
A staple in the whisky cabinet, this<br />
dram is the perfect gateway for anyone<br />
looking to try a smoky whisky for the<br />
first time.
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