24/08/2024 UK Banksy Holiday

This is the one thousandth entry on this blog. Quite the milestone. It took twelve years and a bit, but it is still sobering to think of the numbers ingurgitated in that time. I wondered what would be fitting to mark the occasion. And, really, what would be more fitting than celebrating with friends? Especially friends who always deliver the goods? JS, BA, CB, PS and I meet for this tasting, with a last-minute theme courtesy of JS. It proves a struggle for some (CB, PS), and a pun-y bonanza for others (JS, BA).

The soundtrack: Ruptured World - Shore Rituals

Since he is the first to arrive, PS gets Glen Albyn 20yo 1969/1989 (55%, Signatory Vintage, Oak Casks, C#483-484, 1000b, b#195) (notes here)

Then, BA arrives and offers a long shoehorn

JS presents: Rosebanksy-ngle malt of Scotland

Rosebank 17yo 1991/2009 (46%, Speciality Drinks The Single Malts of Scotland, Barrel C#2206, 259b): nose: lemon zest (PS), some rubber and citrus peels. Mouth: creamy, with a nice bitterness: citrus peel again. Finish: nice and minty, it also has ivy. I am busier socialising than tasting, and have tried this before. It remains excellent, perhaps better than I remembered. 9/10

PS: "Is your schnozz too big for your glass?"

The soundtrack: Svartsinn / Mortiis / Letum / Desiderii Marginis / Skadi / Dahlia's Tear / Inner Vision Laboratory / New Risen Throne - Tomb Of Primordials

PS presents: something for which he could not find a link to the theme, but hoped we would be able to shoehorn it in anyway.

...and shoehorn it into the theme we do!

It turns out we had this a couple of years ago, but who is complaining. I venture that it has 'clean' in the name. A stencil (what Banksy paints) is a clean graffito. PS adds that, to get rid of a Banksy, one cleans it.

97.9 17yo 1990/2007 Clean spirit in a quality cask (56%, SMWS Society Cask): nose: plasticine (BA), Play-Doh (BA), dirty (BA), an old-fashioned grocer's (PS) selling greengages and plums in a paper bag (PS). It does have hardening plasticine indeed, hot yellow tulips (mostly the petals), unripe plum (BA), lychee (PS), tarte Tatin (BA). Mouth: warm, mint-y custard. Smashed nectarines, pouring custard again augmented with crushed Aspirin. Squashed peach in a custard texture. Chewy, unctuous. Finish: yes, the crushed Aspirin is obvious, quinine, evaporated Schweppes. That peppers a yoghurt-y, custard-y, peachy structure. Love this. 9/10

BA adds a layer of geekery by asking ChatGPT for a connection between Banksy and Littlemill:

Connecting Banksy, the anonymous street artist to Littlemill, a historic Scottish distillery, might seem unrelated, but we can draw a line through themes of rarity value and cultural impact.

1. Rarity and Value

Both Banksy's art and Littlemill whisky are known for their rarity and high value. Banksy's works often sell for millions, and because of his elusive nature, each piece is highly coveted. Similarly, Littlemill, which closed in 1994, is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and its remaining bottles are now fetching high prices at auctions.

2. Cultural Impact

Banksy's art is influential, challenging, societal norms and stirring conversations about politics, identity, and capitalism. Littlemill,though in a different sphere, has a strong cultural impact on the whisky world. As one of the first distilleries, its history and legacy represent a significant part of Scotland's whisky heritage.

3. Legacy

Both Banksy and Littlemill represent legacies that transcen their primary forms. Banksy's art challenges and influeneces contemporary culture, while Littlemill represents the historic legacy of Scottish whisky, a cultural touchstone in Scotland and around the world.

In essence, both Banksy and Littlemill, through their rarity and cultural impact, connect in their contribution to their respective fields--art and whisky--as symbols of what is lost, cherished, and celebrated.

The soundtrack: The Unity Mixers - The Full Unity Megamix

PS reminds the group that Banksy's latest series in London, nicknamed the London Animals, had to do with cars and bridges. Indeed, one piece was a rhinoceros humping an abandoned car (since towed away), while another depicted monkeys crossing a rail bridge.

Carsebridge 45yo 1965/2011 (44.7%, Hunter Hamilton The Clan Denny, Bourbon Barrel, C#HH7500): we tried this in 2012, when it was released. Fond memories. Nose: fresh rosemary, creamy lemon tart, and a pinch of dry earth. Mouth: pineapple juice, perhaps a sprinkle of herbs for fun. It is every bit as juicy and delicious as I remembered it. Finish: long and comforting, it has chicory infusion, toffee-coated waffle, fudge, happiness. 9/10

PS [about Robert Scott's Lochside]: "It's missing a hook. It's like ambient music."

PS presents another one with no connection to the theme. Good thing he had a killer for the Carsebridge! I tell him I call 21:27 Glenglasso'clock.

PS: "You should get that graffitied on the wall."
tOMoH: "I'll call Banksy for a commissioned piece."

21.28 37yo 1974 Relaxing in a tropical garden (48.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 188b): nose: flowery and a half, bursting with carnations and irises, honey-glazed peach, confectionary sugar dusted on cut Conference pears, apple turnovers. Mouth: sweetened mint water, as in: crushed mint crumbles with water poured onto them. The second sip has calamansi and unripe tangerine segments, and orange in a paste format. Finish: a small explosion of mint liqueur, and grapefruit yoghurt. It sticks to the palate for a long time too, refreshing the whole gob. Outstanding drop that we had not had since it came out. It takes 21.27 to beat this. 9/10

The soundtrack: Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith

CB tells us that his first encounter with Banksy's work was an article about Santa's Ghetto, in an exhibition that also featured a picture by Peter Kennard, in which Tony Blair is taking a selfie in front of a Mideast explosion. CB therefore brought a Tony Balblair.

Balblair 1990/2017 2nd Edition (46%, OB, ex-Bourbon Casks and ex-Sherry Butts, L17/232 R17/5288): nose: it is a nutty, raisin-y Sherry-casked whisky with prunes, rancio (BA), umami (CB), charred wood (CB and PS), crispy leather and a whisper of smoke. The second nose has a fleeting slap of milk, swiftly reverting to citrus and a dollop of butter. Attentive nosing gives wood oil too. Mouth: it has got more of that leather-and-dates touch, but also a lick of citrus peel (grapefruit, pomelo), and also melon skin. Chewing reveals more fruit: grapefruit segments, if less acidic, and dragon fruit. Finish: sparkly as a(n evaporated) fruit soda, meaning this has a little bitterness. Then, it is red-apple compote, acidic, tart. This is lovely! 8/10

PS: "Collecting Glengoyne is like collecting Ford Sierra."

CB presents a duo of Springbanksy.

Springbank 16yo 1999/2016 (54.3%, OB Local Barley, 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry Casks, 9000b, 16/22): nose: dusty roasted barley, ashes -- oh! yes, ashes. It has an ashy, smoky whiff, though that is very much in the back seat. Deeper nosing gives strawberries trampled in mud. Coming back to it after its sparring partner's, this nose has red wine, which is unexpected. Mud and earth, grilled pineapple, heated plastic containers. Mouth: roasted barley again, and we find embers and soot-y dust, charcoal gratings and scorched earth, as well as hay bales left to dry in the field for weeks. The second sip is softer; perhaps it has smoked plasticine dusted with soot? Finish: more soot, charcoal, and dusty hay, yet also a lick of fruit. The second gulp is just as big and characterful, dusty, soot-y, teeming with embers. Very good. 8/10

vs.

Springbank 16yo 1991/2007 Rum Wood (54.2%, OB Wood Expressions, 8 years in Refill Bourbon / 8 years in Fresh Rum, 5100b, 07/176): nose: creamy, woody, rum-y. It has spent matches and crystallised sugar. It is easy to spot the trademark mineral note of the distillery, as well as plasticine. BA calls it crisp and mineral. Mouth: mellower than its sibling, more marzipan-y, ripe with hot pear turnovers, and a few mint-crumble shavings. The second sip is sweeter and more chewy, if robust. Some wood, coconut shavings, a dash of Rhum Arrangé. Finish: another long one, comfy and mellow-ish, with calamansi, yuzu, and a softly-bitter note of either cucumber skin, or melon peel. 8/10

The soundtrack: Subskan - Drawback

CB: "Should we have had a trio of Springbanks?"
tOMoH: "It's actually a quartet."

We decide against lining up the next one with the previous two. CB has to leave, and, when asked if he wants one for the road, considers the Rundlets & Kilderkins. He follows BA and PS's recommendation and has the final dram of the line-up instead.

BA presents another Springbanksy.

Springbank 10yo 2001/2012 2003/2014 (49.4%, OB Rundlets & Kilderkins, 9000b): we may have had this one when it came out, though there is no evidence on this blog. On the other hand, we had the Hazelburn in the same series, erm, nine years ago. Woah! Nose: very different again, this one has wallpaper glue, a smoked-bacon quality (JS), and shoe glue. At a push, one may find ink of indistinct colour. A bit later on, we have a wave of umami: vegetable broth or mushroom cooking juice. Mouth: oh! this is so mellow, at this point in the line-up. Lots of dried dates and figs. It is tickling dried apricots, even, though not quite as sweet. There is an underlying earthiness, without ever giving the impression one is chewing on a mud patty. Further sipping bursts with berries, or a berry jelly, to be accurate. Finish: purple-brownish, with chewy blueberry sweets, a berry-flavoured paste coming out of a tube. It is a long finish, soft and mellow, fruity, and supremely pleasant. 8/10

CB brought a Bowmore, but, since he has now left, we will never know the connection to the theme, if any.

Bowmore 16yo 1990/2006 (53.8%, OB Limited Edition, Sherry Casks): nose: burnt wood and smoked mussels or cockles. It is not a strongly-maritime one, but it has a faint seaside aspect. Smoked dried fruits, raisins, and distant pickled pearl onions. Perhaps we detect some rubber too, very tame. Mouth: chewy, teeming with rancio and pressed elderberry, punctuated by burnt-wood shavings. The second sip has a dash of maple syrup, as clear as day. Finish: big, not intimidating, it has smoked berries (elderberries, blackcurrants), a drop of diesel, and lavender at the death (PS). PS is right: over time, a clear note of lavender, or violet boiled sweets comes out, which will make this untenable for some. 8/10

The soundtrack: Tindersticks - Can Our Love

BA introduces the first Cut Your Wolf Loose bottling adorned with a graffiti label.

On a Saw Mill10yo 2011/2021 (54.7%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, ex-Vino de Color Butt, C#323, 305b, b#027): a blended malt that is likely a Williamson (if you have to ask...) The SWA forbids the use of Paxarette, but Vino de Color is okay. Go figure. They are the same. This is a pure Paxarette cask, and probably the first whisky I knowingly try matured in such a cask. Nose: modern, all about the cask (BA). It is punchy in a way, yet it has watery wine in the middle. Further on, we find a dollop of black shoe polish, then some smoke at last, subtle, but present. Cigarette smoke, the interior of a smoker's car, and diluted earthy grape juice. Mouth: soft and... Oh! Leathery (PS), sour (PS), it has tar (BA). It is really, really mellow, creamy, close to melted chocolate ice cream, which is totally unexpected and out of character. It takes a lot of chewing for charcoal and smoked bread to come out, accompanied by smoked blueberries and milk-chocolate coulis. The finish is smoky too, albeit subtly. E150a bitterness at the back (BA). A smidge of earth and lots of earthy dried dates, old prunes, and burnt bacon rashers. It does warm you up, after all. This is very, very interesting, and unlike most things we get to try. 7/10

PS tells a story about his work. He recounts a conversation between his boss and him, after an office move.

Boss: "Did you have whisky in the old building?"
PS: "That's all I ever had in my drawer, boss. Whisky, Glencairns, and an invoice from Asda..."
tOMoH: "Classing it up."
PS: "...and I shredded the Asda invoice."
tOMoH: "...Banksy style!"

The soundtrack: Peter Murphy - Love Hysteria

PS tells us that a lot of Banksy's older work involved pictures of the police. He brought an Old Porkney as a tribute. Groan.

4.260 12yo 2008/2020 Old Porkney (61.3%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 258b): nose: dry ice and cigar boxes, a drop of Tiger Balm, and, when breathing very deeply, (purple) plasticine of a flowery kind. At some point, it produces a blend of thick custard and plasters, as odd as that may read. Mouth: an interesting combination of pine tree and vanilla. It is really a fight between mint crumbles, pine-bark sweets, and custard. The custard is big, minty, vanillaed, unexpected, but excellent. Finish: a lot of vanilla again (in a good way). This is thick, custard-y, with a lick of pine freshness, and some twigs, or wood shavings. A good, unusual Highland Park. 8/10

PS: "My mate R really wanted to crowd-surf, but there really weren't enough people for that..."
tOMoH: "...so you did a Dirty Dancing with him!"

tOMoH presents another Springbanksy, this time a Springbanksy-gnatory Vintage.

Springbank 40yo 1969/2009 (54.4%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection Rare Reserve, Refill Sherry Butt, C#263, 356b, b#244, 09/471): "We shift gears," CB said before leaving. My detailed notes are here. For today, this unmistakable masterpiece lives up to expectation. Life does not suck. 10/10

The soundtrack: Roy Orbison - Live at the BBC

What a day! What a flight! What a way to mark one thousand blog articles!

29/04/2023 Cut Your Wolf Loose

Back in Brighton, at last. It was more than a decade since tOMoH last graced the streets of the Queen of Watering Places. Local WhiskyLovingPianist has been inviting us for a while, but, now he is soon to become an expat, the clock is-a ticking. In fact, today is more or less the final chance to meet him. Phew. JS and I make it to the coast, then, and meet our favourite keyboard player in his local: Cut Your Wolf Loose.

Seconds after coming in, a member of staff asks us if we need help; another tells the first that we are with WhiskyLovingPianist: the first immediately backs down with an air of deference, as if to say: "There is nothing I can help you with, Ye of Greater Knowledge." It is, of course, incorrect, but amusing.

We quickly find something to drink. Something we have never seen before.

Tormore 28yo 1992/2021 (42.4%, Chorlton Whisky, Hogshead, 253b): nose: lemon drops, crystallised pears, and white-wood shavings (birch is my guess). This is stunningly fresh, in a white-wine sort of way, and turns sugary, over time. The mouth is a strong mix of forsythia wood, white wine and milk chocolate. The second sip gets rid of the forsythia-related bitterness, and pushes up a flowery sweetness. Finish: thin and close to white wine, it is dry and slightly herbaceous. The second sip brings back a soft bitterness of unripe grapes, but also cotton candy, and custard-y grape turnovers. Coming back to it later, it is so much sweeter that it may just as well be a different dram. 8/10

Tullibardine 29yo 1993/2022 (47.5%, Chorlton Whisky, ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 181b): WhiskyLovingPianist reckons the nose is close to a Balblair's, but it is more cereal-y, and less herbaceous than a Balblair, in my opinion. Minutes in, it turns fragrant (cornflowers) and butyric. It is not exactly Parmesan -- closer to baby sick, actually. Mouth: butyric here too, and, thankfully, cured pineapple. Finish: big, lactic, this finish offers an unexpected meaty nuance. 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "That point where you tap into... genius. I am a genius. You can write that down."

Glentauchers 31yo 1989/2021 (47.5%, Chorlton Whisky, Bourbon Barrel, 153b): nose: rubbed citrus peel, loud and clear, limoncello, bits of tarragon, lemon mint... Phwoar! It develops mandarin peels, after a while, which is to say it becomes softer and less acidic. Mouth: potent and minty, with a dose of chalk, cucumber peel, quinine, and a hefty pour of limoncello. The second sip is mellower, velvety, flirting with milk chocolate. Finish: long, more assertive than the Tormore, but mellow, still. Here are sponge cake and marmalade. Lovely. 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "JS, do you score whisky?"
JS: "No, it's too variable. I'd score something 81 one day, and 93 the following day."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "It's amazing how good I am [at scoring consistently]."

The next round is more difficult to choose. So many options; how to seize the best? Ah! This, perhaps...

Not familiar with a name, I ask the staff for an explanation. "A peaty Highland malt. Not sure which, but I reckon it is Benrinnes." I do not agree: firstly, there is a Benrinnes from the same collection right next to it; why would this one hide its provenance? I reckon a Ben Nevis, who are perhaps becoming protective of their brand... until I spot the neck tag that reads: "Peated Benriach." Here we go, then. The lad tells me it is a bit of a Marmite dram.

Faemussach 21yo b.2022 (56%, Chorlton Whisky, Hogshead, 313b): nose: boof! This is so organic. It has cured meat, wine sauce, soft leather bags, moccasins, compost. Next are red-wine casks and sulphur fertiliser in hessian sacks. Lastly, a generous shovelful of earth. Mouth: ooft! That is one wine-y number, sandy, muddy, with more cured meat and game casserole. The second sip has wine-infused caramel and boozy fudge. Finish: huge, meaty, peppered with grated chalk. More of a curiosity than a great drop, as far as my taste is concerned, but it is an experience alright. WhiskyLovingPianist loves it to bits, then is not sure, then hates it, in the space of three sips. 7/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "Is that the Chorlton?"
tOMoH: "Yeah. Chorlton of the dead. Chorlton of the corn. Chorlton of the damned."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Are you being amazing?"

Ardnamurchan 7yo 2015/2022 A Dram for Banksy The Little Brown Dog (61.1%, Little Brown Dog Spirits, Refill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead, 300b): nose: peaty and ashy, this is very dry, like hot black volcanic sands. We have dark wood, sawdust and torn tree bark too. Mouth: yum! Almond liqueur, smoked-almond liqueur, and a lick of distant, mushy peat. We spot lemon-y ash too, and if it starts in the background, it soon grows to prominence. Finish: huge, dishing out loads of tree bark and smoked almonds. It is never-ending, teeming with squashed raspberries and gunpowder, the kind used in an arquebus. Wow. 8/10

Clynelish 12yo 2010/2022 (54.6%, Cut Your Wolf Loose, Moscatel Pipe, 1b): this is essentially a large tasting sample. They have a few of these to try. Nose: wine, meat, and butyric. Knowing the distillery, of course, helps identify a wet cat. This is animal, musky, and not really my style. It is closer to the official 14yo, and far from any Clynelish I actually enjoy drinking. It reminds me why I overlooked that distillery for decades. Some interesting spices come through (sumac, Chinese five spices, or garam masala), as does wet fox. Mouth: wet, muddy plasticine, a pinch of salt, wax (earwax). The second sip is pretty acidic and warming. Finish: strong, warming, but indistinct. Maybe dark grapes and chewy plasticine. The second sip is fruitier, packed with grapes -- green, this time. 6/10

What is this?

Highland Park 28yo  (46.6%, Artful Dodger Whisky Collective, Sherry Hogshead, C#1271, 297b): nose: honey and mint paste, then lozenges and lavender, as well as lemon thyme. There are some wood shavings too, but, all in all, it is a lovely minty thing. More wood shavings, a gentle bitterness, moor-flower stems, dry as bracken. Finish: perfect balance of honey, propolis, beeswax, and faint smoke (heather or lavender). Superb. 9/10

Speyside Blended Malt 30yo  1989/2023 (51.2%%, Artful Dodger Whisky Collective, Refill Bourbon Barrel, C#4555, 317b): a tea-spooned Balvenie, the rumour goes. Nose: yellow flowers and furniture wax, yet, very quickly, it morphs into berries. Mouth: mh. Flowery, but also a bit thin. It grows in power with subsequent sips, with a spoonful of blackcurrant liqueur. Finish: surprisingly long, this is a custard-y finish, in line with what one might expect from this distillery. Still, not a patch on the Highland Park. Sequence mistake. 7/10

Inchfad 15yo (52.3%, Dràm Mòr, First Fill Amontillado Oak Hogshead, C#1076, 205b, b#168): nose: earthy bacon, smoky plasticine, chewy meat balls. Peat becomes more obvious with time, and the nose grows more farm-y and more petrolic -- in fact, it comes pretty close to tarry sands, a beach after a black tide. Mouth: oh! This is nice. Elderberry cordial and blackcurrant jam. Later on, it has the allure of a cheap blend, which is unexpected, to say the least. Happily, the earthy fruit comes back -- phew! Finish: big, full of dark-fruit jams (dark cherries, blackcurrants, elderberries), and a spoonful of muddy peat. This is good! 8/10

A pause, during which we shift to cocktails. I do not even take note of which ones we are having; one is rather bitter with maraschino cherries, the other is sweet as a liqueur, with orange peels. Both are good.

Glenglassaugh 40yo 1972/2013 (43.1%, The Scottish Liqueur Centre Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask, Sherry Butt, C#R13/08/01, 200b, b#32): nose: I wonder if my nose is shot: I get mucky peat! Physalis appears, after a moment, but that peaty side sticks. It is also fairly wine-y a nose, which is quite logical, since it is an ex-Sherry cask. Rotten grapes, grape-juice-soaked earth. It opens up with time, and reveals white fruit -- white peach, to be accurate, yet still soaked in wine. Mouth: woah! this is unusual. Lychee-infused sake (if that is a thing), or baiju. It develops into something thicker and coating, akin to orange liqueur (Cointreau). The second sip is rather cloying, with lots of wine-y fruit juice, then a bowl of milk, stained with berries jam. Finish: wide and long, liqueur-like, sweet and heady. Further sips are less wine-y, more fruity and velvety. Over time, we see tame lychee struggling to make itself heard. More mint too. Meh. Disappointment of the day. 7/10

The Cheshire First Release (46%, OB, Shaved Toasted and Re-Charred American Oak Quarter Casks + Finished in European Oak Barrels, b#2448): from the Weetwood Distillery, this is certainly a new one on me. Nose: cut carambola, freshly-cut conkers (WhiskyLovingPianist)... This is very fruity, and full of liquid honey. Mouth: ooh! It tumbles, here, with loads of acrylic paint inadequately supplementing cut fruits (carambola or Korean pear?) The finish is in the same vein as the nose: it is fruity, it has lots of vanilla (white oak, suggests WhiskyLovingPianist), it does the trick, yet it does not do it for me, today. 6/10

Tormore 31yo 1990/2021 (53%, Dekadent Drinks for Whisky Spunge Edition No. 33, 2 x First Fill Barrels, 422b): all in the name of a wee joke at our friend EG's expense, the Sponge has written a bogus bottler name (Dekadent Drinks instead of Decadent) and a bogus bottling commissioner (Whisky Spunge instead of Sponge) on the label. Wonder what HMRC has to say about that. Nose: mint drops, patchouli or incense, crushed cloves, clove ciggies, beedies. Later on, we have papaya, then blonde tobacco. Mouth: odd. Cologne, some fruit, mixed with Virginia tobacco, and strawberry bubble gum, injected with loads of cinnamon and ginger. At second sip, we have lots of sweet furniture polish, propolis and physalis. Finish: minty, long, cinnamon-y. Very good. I am a bit beyond notes, now. 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist [eyeing his next dram from an almost-empty bottle]: "Might go for the Ardnamurchan again."
tOMoH: "You know it's good."
JS: "They'll call you the dregs man."
tOMoH: "What can I drink that is, erm, free?"

We try one more dram for which I take no notes, TB/BSW 6yo (46%, Thompson Bros.) 6/10, before JS and I catch the train that takes us back to the capital.

Very glad we made it before WhiskyLovingPianist departed. Cut Your Wolf Loose is a cool place indeed, lively, with friendly, knowledgeable staff, and with a good selection of things that I do not come across every day elsewhere.

JS and I reflect on how different the vibe was from the previous whisky bar we went to, namely The Golden Promise. There, they play jazz records (yes, vinyl), the place is very quiet, and, we can only imagine, intimidating, for anyone not in the know. Here, the music selection is eclectic (all over the shop, really), with stuff played from a computer, on the piano by the boss, or (later) live in the basement, and many punters come for that, not the whisky. The staff are in streetwear, have to climb on the benches to collect bottles to pour, with their shoes on the upholstery, and graffiti is tolerated, even encouraged.

Both nice places, but very different styles.

Fare well, WhiskyLovingPianist!