In moving on from the Whisky Sponge era, Decadent Drinks launched a new range for all sorts of spirits, including “all the various whiskies we can source from £00.01, all the way up to £350.00 (ish).” This series is called Decadent Drams, and today we’re going to be trying some of the first releases from it.
Three whiskies in total. There’s a Glen Garioch 2003 21 Years, just a straight up single cask from a first-fill hogshead. I loved a similar release, Edition No. 91 from the Whisky Sponge series. This should very much be a high-quality whisky as well. Just as good? We’ll see.
There’s more to the Loch Lomond 2009 15 Years than you might think initially. It is made by combining a refill hogshead of 2009 Loch Lomond single malt with a first-fill hogshead of 2009 Inchmurrin single malt. As you may know, both distillates are made at the Loch Lomond distillery, but they have very different characteristics.
And finally a Blended Malt 2001 23 Years also. Finished for a year in an ex-Ardbeg refill butt. The result is quite mesmerising.
Blended Malt 2001 23 Years (45.1%, Decadent Drams, 587 bts.)
Nose: Wait, what’s this? Right, it was finished in an ex-Ardbeg refill butt! That certainly adds an interesting layer. It’s full of dark fruits, tobacco, cocoa powder and even a touch of charcoal. Smoked strawberries too, a pinch of pepper and finally some rich dates.
Taste: A moderately syrupy mouthfeel. Slightly more ashy than the nose, but still plenty of earthy goodness. More tobacco, more dried fruits, but also Maraschino cherries and a hint of damp, dunnage-y oak.
Finish: Medium length. And honestly? It’s more of the above.
Loch Lomond 2009 15 Years (53%, Decadent Drams, 2024)
Nose: There’s a sliver of copper, which is quickly followed by jammy apricots, just a touch of sultanas, a whisper of brioche and then more exotic fruits (although a light floral hit too). Think papaya, some lychee and mango.
Taste: A nice oiliness is what initially stands out, but that’s quickly overtaken by all kinds of luscious fruits. Like, really superbly fruity. Citrus fruits, stone fruits, tropical fruits. I could go into detail, but I don’t even feel like I need to.
Finish: It’s long. It’s fruity. It’s utterly delicious.
Glen Garioch 2003 23 Years (55%, Decadent Drams, 248 bts.)
Nose: Immediately a touch of buttery croissant, but maybe one with a some peach marmalade filling. Does that exist? Also a whiff of lemon drizzle cake, slivers of lawn clippings and some Acacia honey. Yeah, it’s good.
Taste: Lovely velvety mouthfeel. Another exquisitely tropical malt. Not to the extend of the above Loch Lomond, but that also means this has maybe a little more depth. There’s tinned pineapple, a hint of mint, some mango and an assortment of waxes. Also something slightly herbaceous and classic.
Finish: Medium length. Slivers of citrus, some gentle oak spices and also a hint of banana.
Samples provided by Decadent Drinks
