Drinks Feature: Whisky Galore

By Warwickshire Life on December 1st 2011

Whisky Galore

Anita Mannion of the Leamington Wine Company, drinks with Jean-Luc Thiebaut, co-founder of Connosr.com, the Social Network for Whisky.

Anita: Hello Jean-Luc and welcome to Leamington.

Jean-Luc: Pleased to be here, and lovely to meet you Anita.

Anita: So, the sun is over the yard arm, I imagine you’re ready for a drink?

Jean-Luc: Good idea, I see there are a few bottles for us to try. How about we start with this Benromach? It’s a 10 year old, so should be quite accessible.

Anita: Yes indeed, though it’s finished in Oloroso Sherry casks which gives it a real depth and warmth beyond initial expectations. The sherry really comes through on the palate too, as well as hints of brambles and a slight peatiness. I’d have to say this is the best sub £30 whisky I have tasted in a long time. What shall we try next?

Jean-Luc: Next I think the Clynelish. It is one I know quite well and think you’ll be impressed. Historically they sent most of their spirit for blending, but in the early 1990s they started bottling and selling it as Single Malt, so in a way it is still quite new.

Anita: It’s got a lovely nose; it’s quite fruity, almost zesty and citrusy.

Jean-Luc: Yes, you’re spot on and there’s a hint of smokiness too. You should find it very light and clean on the palate, with more of that orangey fruitiness coming through, and hints of vanilla and leather.

Anita: It is lovely – a real discovery for me.

Jean-Luc: It’s certainly one of my favourites. This last one I have high expectations of too. It’s 15 year old Springbank, which is a Cambletown Whisky. In its heyday there were 37 distilleries in Cambletown and now there are just three. Springbank is putting in great efforts to revive whisky making in the area. In recent years they bought and re-opened a derelict distillery in the town where they now produce a lovely drop called Kilkerran, but that’s for another day, what do you think of this?

Anita: This one is very special indeed, it’s so rich. There’s sherry and Christmas cake on the nose with dark chocolate, figs and marzipan on the palate and a lovely long finish, it’s delicious.

Jean-Luc: I thought you’d like that one. And it really is great story too, Springbank is the second largest employer in Cambletown and the current owner, Hedley Wright, takes that very seriously. When Mr. Wright dies, part of the company will be put into a trust for the benefit of the town itself and each staff member will have the right to veto any proposed takeover in the future.

Anita: Great product, great story and great ethics... what’s not to like? Thanks for coming to see us Jean-Luc, I’ve really enjoyed it.

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