13/03/2023 Bimber

Bimber 2019/2022 The 1st Peated (54.1%, OB Legacy Founder, ex-Bourbon American Oak Cask, 1140b): nose: an interesting mix of black ink, hot volcanic sands, stagnant water, peat embers, and strong alcohol that, despite being virtually odourless (as pure alcohol is), is strong enough to muzzle everything else. A couple of minutes of breathing unlock petrol, tar, earthy wax, and what comes close to wild mushrooms. Next are purple inflatable balloons, heated gum, pencil erasers by the radiator, silt, drained, dried, and pressed into a modelling clay. We also have pine logs and resin loaves, alongside spongy peat bricks, and chewy dried-fruit slices. The second nose has gooey Black Forest gâteau, gooey brownie, with a red-berry coulis on top. Some cassia bark too, and a pinch of ground cloves. The peaty side seems to take a back seat, now, though it is still there. It even turns a little farm-y, in the long run, with farmland and the associated muddy paths. Subdued, though. Water really opens it up: it is borderline shouty and fragrant, in a white-wine way (Silvaner). The thing is: it is not bad, but I am not convinced it is an improvement. Mouth: well, it bites. Considering the robust ABV, it is relatively tame, but yes, it bites a bit. Vase water, a drop of nail varnish, vanilla extract, a dollop of chewy plasticine, and red fruits, crushed in peat, as if trampled with the heel. The second sip is juicier; prunes, fresh dates, blowtorched orange segments and skin, and cordial. Over time, lychees rock up, squashed and blended with nectarine, peach, and grape juices, fruity, earthy, and silky in texture. Unexpectedly, even a tiny amount of water is sufficient to drown this. It carries on with the juicy flavours, yet renders the palate too thin and too obviously diluted (as in: watery). At the same time, it also allows dark, greasy peat to emerge, to some degree. Finish: velvety for a minute, the finish finally lets on just how strong and youthful this is. Oh! there is nothing destructive; just a very obvious heat, and a length that comes with it. This may well be the solution to the energy-price crisis that affects large parts of the world, right now. Humour aside, the flavours are as expected: earthy, clay-like, with sphagnum moss and peat bogs, chewy, with modelling clay and plasticine, mildly hydro-carbonated (tarry). Also, there are silt, lichens, and ground peach stones. All in all, a comforting drop. Repeated quaffing brings about a juicy side, and if it keeps biting, it does so with plenty of orange juice. Once again, the oranges taste as though they were roasted or blowtorched, yet they remain juicy -- a juice that is balanced by a charred note is all. A fleeting earthy-peaty note hops on the tongue, now and again, which is quite amusing. With water, the finish is much shorter, much more forgettable. Perhaps we witness the appearance of mentholated vanilla drops with a backing choir of vase water, and stagnant ponds, but, other than that, it feels thin. This is good, but careful with water. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, GL)