Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch No. 003 (59.4%): Now this is a special dram to taste on Labour Day. It is the third release of Glengoyne's distillery only Teapot Dram expression. I purchased this beauty past June when I visited the distillery. By the way I think it is a good time to mention here that it was one hell of a distillery visit. I spent almost the entire day at the distillery with my tour guide Bill Gallacher who personally took care of my schedule there. We tasted, nosed, blended and geeked out about whisky non-stop... I pretty much couldn't ask more. If you happen to be in Glasgow area it is a great day trip and the distillery is very easy to reach with public transportation. Let me also tell you the story behind the Teapot Dram very quick: I have been told that in earlier days the distillery workers at Glengoyne were allowed three drams on duty throughout the day from different casks. The drams were measured as "three fingers". Since it is a quite decent quantity at cask strength some workers were not able to finish their shares and the leftovers were collected in a copper teapot to be enjoyed later. So, the term "teapot" refers to this tradition in the distillery. After the huge success of the first batch they decided to continue to release other batches and here we are with the third release. The spirit in the bottle is distilled between the years of 2002 and 2006. It is a vat of first fill sherry casks which yielded together 3484 bottles and the whisky is un-chillfiltered. Color: Mahogany and chestnut shells. Dark brown color with a nice red shine when hold to the light. Crystal clear, flawless. Nose: Pedro Ximenez, black mission figs paste and dark muscovado sugar. Ginger powder and molasses. Water shaves the edges a little. I am getting now some thick old wool sweaters, dried flowers potpourri and warm chocolate cake. Palate: Wowza..! We will spend a lot of time here: Brown sugar, ginger molasses cookies and dried dates. Unbelievably drinkable at this abv. Not hot at all, just muted... With water it opens up: Dark chocolate truffles, Christmas cake spices and raspberry jam. Time in the glass allows some citrusy notes: candied orange peel and limoncello. Finish: Forever... Mostly like the burn on your throat from the very sweet syrup of Turkish baklava. Fig jam and sweet, sweet Pedro Ximenez. Overall: This is a jackpot for sherry butt heads... I am not the biggest fan of heavily sherry finished whiskies but it sure does stand out. I dig it... Juicy, weighty and full of depth but for now it will wait for the cold and snowy days of New England winter in my cabinet. It will be a great example of its kind and a big hit during my wee tastings...
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