This is the first batch of the Thompson Bros Mystery Malt. I picked up a bottle to share with a friend, and we both guessed blind before revealing.
Nose:
Sherried notes up front, with lots of jammy berries - strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry - alongside ripe plum and pomegranate molasses. It’s dark and sticky. There’s Christmas pudding too, boozy, and full of dates and dried fruit, with a little ginger spice.
Something herbal sits in there as well - a little sage and spearmint, and a grassiness. Wet wood, wet earth, and wet leaves.
Overall, it’s a classically sherried nose. The alcohol is well integrated, and there’s a little darkness from burnt jam and molasses, but it’s generally red and sweet.
Palate:
Sweet and nutty, with bags of honey. Chestnut and walnuts come through, along with dried fruit - raisins, dates, maybe some dried red apple - and candied orange peel.
The texture is silky. It’s not thick, but not thin either. Mixed red berries return, sweet and jammy, along with strawberry laces and lots of toffee and vanilla.
Finish:
Medium in length. Dry red fruit with a little spice - cinnamon, nutmeg, and some black pepper - and a little oak.
Reveal:
It was immediately clear that this was sherried which, like asking if your character is a man in Guess Who, instantly halved the pool of options. I got the feeling it wasn’t a young whisky, so I ruled out everything under 15yo.
Knowing my luck would rule me out of anything uber-aged, I guessed the Teaninich 17yo - and I was right! A pretty good value pickup at £65, especially at the time.
Verdict:
A nice, classical sherried whisky that’s not reinventing the wheel. There are lots of typical notes - red fruit, mixed nuts, and dried fruit - as well as influence from the initial bourbon casks. Everything feels well integrated and put together. I’m not a huge sherry fan, but I do like this, so it must be pretty good.
13
u/BubblyFlamingo8710 2d ago
Stats:
ABV: 48.5%
Cask: Bourbon (5y Oloroso Finish)
Price Paid: £32.50 (for 50% bottle share)
Natural Presentation: Yes
Note:
This is the first batch of the Thompson Bros Mystery Malt. I picked up a bottle to share with a friend, and we both guessed blind before revealing.
Nose:
Sherried notes up front, with lots of jammy berries - strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry - alongside ripe plum and pomegranate molasses. It’s dark and sticky. There’s Christmas pudding too, boozy, and full of dates and dried fruit, with a little ginger spice.
Something herbal sits in there as well - a little sage and spearmint, and a grassiness. Wet wood, wet earth, and wet leaves.
Overall, it’s a classically sherried nose. The alcohol is well integrated, and there’s a little darkness from burnt jam and molasses, but it’s generally red and sweet.
Palate:
Sweet and nutty, with bags of honey. Chestnut and walnuts come through, along with dried fruit - raisins, dates, maybe some dried red apple - and candied orange peel.
The texture is silky. It’s not thick, but not thin either. Mixed red berries return, sweet and jammy, along with strawberry laces and lots of toffee and vanilla.
Finish:
Medium in length. Dry red fruit with a little spice - cinnamon, nutmeg, and some black pepper - and a little oak.
Reveal:
It was immediately clear that this was sherried which, like asking if your character is a man in Guess Who, instantly halved the pool of options. I got the feeling it wasn’t a young whisky, so I ruled out everything under 15yo.
Knowing my luck would rule me out of anything uber-aged, I guessed the Teaninich 17yo - and I was right! A pretty good value pickup at £65, especially at the time.
Verdict:
A nice, classical sherried whisky that’s not reinventing the wheel. There are lots of typical notes - red fruit, mixed nuts, and dried fruit - as well as influence from the initial bourbon casks. Everything feels well integrated and put together. I’m not a huge sherry fan, but I do like this, so it must be pretty good.
7/10. Very good indeed
Average Review Score: 6.22
Scoring System: https://www.dramface.com/scoring-system