WHISKY NOTES

I used to drink a lot of whisky, not with regard to volume, but to variety. In fact, there was a time when I had no less than twenty bottles of different iterations on the go. This is typical for me - if I’m going to get into something, I go in at the deep end and fully immerse myself.

I scaled back and then stopped drinking the water of life altogether a number of years ago, but recently I’m back, finding a daily evening dram to be most efficacious for quelling the collywobbles and taking the edge of things.

Recently, due to a poor exchange rate and the miserable state of the world in general, I’ve found that there are far fewer options available here in Japan. My beloved Islay faves, Ardbeg and Lagavulin are scarce and beyond the reach of my slim wallet, so I’ve been forced to experiment a bit.

Here are my thoughts on three recent purchases.

BENRIACH - THE SMOKY TEN

Way back I’d had a bottle of Benriach Curiositas, an excellent peaty dram, and last month I noticed their refreshed range prominently displayed in the imported goods store I frequent. I wondered if the Smoky Ten was a new name for the Curiositas, but apparently not. Anyhow, it’s excellent. A Speyside brew which is creamy and full-bodied with just the right amount of smoky bite on the top. This is exactly the kind of whisky I love. Could this be a new standard? 5/5

BOWMORE 12

Being an afficinado of Islay whisky (the astringent peaty stuff), I’d known about Bowmore but had eschewed it in favour of the aforementioned Ardbeg and Lagavulin. I thought that Bowmore was a crappier, weaker Islay a bit like Caol Ila (not a bad drink by any means, but why settle for mild when you can have your oesophagus burned out by some a charming combination of iodine, silage and seaweed?).

Bowmore is everywhere here, and still reasonably affordable, so in light of the current scarcity I thoought I’d finally give it a go.

What a pleasant surprise! It’s a very drinkable dram indeed, with that peaty whiff you’d expect from an Islay. It’s somewhat thinner than the Benriach Smoky Ten, but it gets a 4/5. People often call this, somewhat disparagingly, an entry Islay, and that might be right, but that doesn’t make it a poor drink in any way. I would definitely buy this again.

BUSHMILLS 10 SINGLE MALT

I’ve never tried an Irish whisky before, and noted that they do a single malt among their various blends, so I grabbed it. Reviews seem to be in favour of its smoothness…but I suppose one person’s smooth is another’s bland. I regret this purchase. It’s not that Bushmills is bad, it’s just nothing special. It’s light, fruity and aromatic but with an annoying touch of waxy pear about it, if you can imagine what that tastes like. A big disappointment. 2.5/5.

Trying new whiskies is all part of the fun, but we have to accept that sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

Never mind, if the Russians invade, I can imagine me attaching a rag, igniting it and throwing this onto the top of a T-72. Slainte!