Yes, Black Friday was last week. But due to a cold, I wasn’t able to review The Whisky Exchange‘s offering in time – for the second year in a row. And so, today you’ll just have to put up with my review of the 2023 Edition AND the 2022 Edition. Lucky for you, and surprisingly, both are still available.
This year’s Black Friday whisky from The Whisky Exchange is a 15-year-old from the Lowlands region. It’s the first time this region has been featured in the Black Friday series. There’s not many distilleries in the region capable of releasing a 15-year-old.
Daftmill is one, but that’s absolutely not what this Black Friday whisky is. Wouldn’t that be a surprise? Bladnoch and Auchentoshan would too have 15-year-old whisky. But instead, this is a Glenkinchie vatted from ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Independent Glenkinchie is rare – I’ve tasted less than a handful – and thus makes for a suitable choice by The Whisky Exchange.
And then finally, one year and one week too late, I’ll also take a closer look at the 2022 release for Black Friday. This single malt is from the Islay region. Distilled at Caol Ila, to be exact.
Lowlands Single Malt 15 Years ‘Black Friday’ (54.2%, The Whisky Exchange, 2023)
Nose: It’s fruity. Candy-esque almost. Very elegant and approachable. Hints of sweet, tinned stone fruits alongside lawn clippings and stewed apples, as well as some marmalade. There’s a soft herbaceous touch there at the end, as well as a whiff of furniture polish.
Taste: A pinch of white pepper followed by hints of meringue and cotton candy, while vibrant fruits provide a strong backbone. There’s some orange zest, jammy apricots and nectarines. Finally some spicier and nutty notes. Think ginger, almonds and cloves.
Finish: Medium length. Oak spices linger, but given time sultanas appear, as well as lemon pith, floral touches and freshly cut grass.
Islay Single Malt 16 Years ‘Black Friday’ (53.2%, The Whisky Exchange, 2022)
Nose: Quite a dense Islay whisky. There’s plenty of charred oak, alongside kippers, rock pools and wet asphalt. Then whispers of orchard fruits, such as stewed apples, but also some preserved lemons, lime zest and white peaches. Nice balanced, well done.
Taste: Big, vigorous whisky with maritime influences. A good amount of creosote, tar, diesel, and even a few drops of iodine. Also some barbecue-grilled meat, salted caramel and cracked black peppercorns. Smoked mackerel with a few drops of lemon juice too.
Finish: Long. Dark embers, intense espresso and tar.
Samples provided by The Whisky Exchange
A bit of a beast, this 16-year-old Caol Ila. On the palate that is. The nose is more civilised, but it all works wonderfully well. It’s coastal, there are fruits, and the peat sits at centre stage. Also, it’s still available together with the 2023 release.
