The Pogues (40%, Halewood International, d. ca 2019, L91990101): sponsored by the Irish band of the same name (do we call that Poguesploitation?), this is a single malt from West Cork distillery, bottled by the same people who brought out the famous Gelstons. Nose: fresh blotting paper on a new leather desk pad, the velvet coat in a jewelry box, nutty, fluffy cake (almond sponge), some kind of solvents -- I find it rather chemical, with various kinds of artificially-flavoured sweets and mass produced soft cakes, maybe doughnuts (in which kase, it is Krispy Kreme, not Cross Town). A more floral character emerges, with crumpled rose petals, and I guess a touch of wood is present too, with sappy birch and treacle-y fudge, melted marzipan, Brazil-nut oil, cashew-nut oil and plasticine. Oh! yes, it is Play-Doh through and through, even though it took me a while to place it. Mouth: thin and flat, it only wakes up after a few seconds, with primrose petals, groundnut oil, pressed olives and not much else. It is hard to find any plasticine, seeing as it feels so thin! Diluted oil, in texture, it is -- heavily diluted! Finish: the groundnut oil is in the finish too (Brazil and cashew), alongside Play-Doh plasticine. Whole Brazil nuts peek through the mist, marzipan, cocoa butter, body butter and thick-as-fuck chocolate custard. It is better than I expected, in all honesty. It is a little vulgar, perhaps, but for a no-frill dram, it works a treat. And the RRP is ridiculously low. 6/10 (Thanks for the sample, SW)A blind sample from Gaija, next -- but not so blind: I nosed it when he gave it to me and immediately recognised the distillate, which he confirmed.
Glenisla 37yo 1977/2015 (46.1%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Hogshead, C#19602, 266b): nose: unmistakably Glenisla, with a bucketload of seal wax, nearby the open fire in which the stamp was heated red -- which means there is a whiff of delicate smoke, here. Waxy mirabelle plums, greengages, burning candlesticks, fruity bubble gum, Fraises Tagada, ... This is so singular! No other malt I have tasted smells like that; only Glenisla. How cool that Symington managed to procure some casks of it, when he bought Edradour distillery? Imagine it was all blended away as was its purpose! Maraschino cherries, sweet and unnatural, processed raspberry jam (nothing like the killer jelly my aunt makes!), poached plums, melted plastic buckets, perhaps even Irn Bru and seal wax. Loads of seal wax. Mouth: pressed plums, pressed apricots, seal wax, strawberry sweets (Fruit-tella), sticky maraschino cherry, cellophane, red ink, pencil eraser -- scented pencil eraser, no less -- seal wax, tinned pears in syrup (maybe only the syrup, come to think of it), corn syrup, waxy potatoes (Jersey Royals), seal wax, some kind of tea or infusion (rooibos?), thick body butter, seal wax, oilskins, and the most distant fruity incense smoke (apple, if that exists). And seal wax. Finish: a combination of seal wax first, mild gingery, preserved strawberry heat second, and it ends with blotting paper and scented pencil erasers. This is a trip down memory lane, here: wax and scented pencil erasers? Primary school, innit! Ficus leaves bring a (waxy) bitter touch to round off this most unusual drop. This is the waxiest Glenisla I have had. It feels like swallowing seal wax. Last time I had one, I found much more plasticine than in this one, today. But then The Pogues was so Play-Doh-like that nothing can compare. Very entertaining. The nose is amazeballs, whilst the finish is maybe less of an impressive success. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, Gaija)
"The scent of Play-Doh, described as "a sweet, slightly musky, vanilla fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, combined with the smell of a salted, wheat-based dough", is said to have acquired a distinctive scent through long-standing use. A tub of Play-Doh was submitted into evidence alongside significant proof to support this claim of distinctive scent. The Play-Doh scent trade mark is one of 13 active scent registrations in the USPTO, joining a strawberry scented toothbrush and ukuleles which smell like pina colada."
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