The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Enjoying a taste of something different
One of the real pleasures for me when researching and writing this column is sampling different whiskies, especially if they come from the same range. Recently, Glen Grant launched its latest expression, a 21-YearOld, which I was fortunate enough to sample – joining the 10, 12, 15 and 18-YearOld in the Speyside Distillery’s range.
Taking direct inspiration from the unique flora, James Grant, “The Major”, discovered on his travels, this remarkable 21-Year-Old whisky captures the aromas and flavours of tropical fruits and plants he brought back – something not found in any other whisky distillery in Scotland.
Bottled at 46%, natural in colour and non-chill filtered, the 21-Year-Old is married in small batches on site at the distillery to preserve the integrity of the refined flavours and to ensure quality.
For me, on the nose it was very clean and refreshing, with spiced fruit notes of raisins and peaches – which come from the maturation in Oloroso sherry butts, hogshead and ex-Bourbon barrels.
Tasting, it was lovely and the whisky was very fruity. I got notes of banana, vanilla, pears and maybe some fruitcake.
The finish was long, spicy and very pleasant indeed, with some of your granny’s boiled sweets in there.
Adding a little water to the liquid really opened it up, with tropical fruits, bananas and sherbet on the nose.
On the palate, it was very tropical with baked fruits, while the wood again was a big influence in providing spicy cinnamon notes, caramel and brown sugar.
This was a super dram, but retailing at £275 for a 70cl bottle I realised it certainly wasn’t going to fit everyone’s pocket.
Therefore I also sampled the 15-YearOld Batch Strength – not to be confused with cask strength – expression which is much more affordable at around £64 for 70cl. It is bottled at 50% ABV.
Again I picked up tropical and spicy notes on the nose, with hints of pineapple.
On the palate it was fruity, with notes of honey, marmalade and lots of lovely vanilla, which will have come from its 15 years in the ex-sherry and bourbon casks.
The finish was again long and perhaps a little oily, which I didn’t mind.
Adding a few drops of water softened the spice a little, but the palate was much creamier and the vanilla note really came through. There was a lot of sweetness and maybe some caramel or honeycomb.
I enjoyed both – the 21-Year-Old is available in limited quantities from milroys.co.uk and thewhiskyexchange. com, while the 15 is widely available.
Two others that are in a similar category that I have sampled recently are the Loch Lomond Open releases – Loch Lomond Open Special Edition and Loch Lomond Open Course.
Again, both are excellent drams, but at vastly different price points – with the Course Edition retailing at £240 for 70cl, while the Special Edition is £45. Available from lochlomondwhiskies.com and specialist whisky retailers.
I am a big fan of Loch Lomond expressions, with the 12-Year-Old and 12-Year-Old Inchmurrin big favourites of mine. These did not disappoint, either – being very enjoyable, despite being at vastly different price points.
I think what I’m trying to say is that if you see a release that’s out of your price range, shop around for a cheaper expression from the same distillery – it may surprise you and become a favourite.
Choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables is a good way to bring variety into your diet – and if it’s grown closer to home then it’ll be healthier, better-tasting, and you’ll be supporting local farmers and growers. Opies – opiesfoods.com – have a selection of tried and tested recipes celebrating spring seasonal ingredients, including this one for vegetable spring pot pie, ideal for a midweek treat.
o ice-cream maker? No problem. “I don’t own an ice cream maker as I have no space in my kitchen to store one,” admits Maunika Gowardhan, author of Tandoori Home Cooking.
“It’s probably the reason why I have always aimed to come up with a no-churn ice cream recipe that really works. This cheat’s ice cream is made with double cream and condensed milk, flavoured by green cardamom, rose water, dried rose petals and pistachios. Easy to mix, freeze and serve, and delicious to eat.”