Today we’re taking a look at monthly subscription service from The Whisky Nest, and reviewing two of their recent offerings.
We spoke to The Whisky Nest and they told us the site aims to provide its members with access to a range of whisky-related experiences, including the opportunity to taste new and varied whiskies, experiment with different drinking options, cocktails, and food pairings, and purchase whisky-related gifts.
Their monthly subscription service features distilleries and producers who they feel are innovating in the industry, offering members a 100ml sample of new world whisky each month, along with information about the distillery's story, their production processes, and their spirits. Members also receive e-Tasting cards with serving and pairing suggestions, access to tasting videos, and virtual calls to chat about all things whisky.
The Whisky Nest subscription provides you with a 100ml sample size that they believe allows for a proper exploration of each spirit, giving members the freedom to experiment and find their favourite serve. The monthly subscription service costs £18.95 per month or less if you take a six month or yearly subscription.
So what did we think?
We really liked the idea of a 100ml pours, but for us that’s because there’s two of us and it gave us the opportunity to get a good size sample each. If you’re one person buying a subscription this will still work for you as Whisky Nest give you some cocktails you can try with any excess whisky you have. The videos taking about the whisky were also a nice touch, but we’re guessing these have been taken from elsewhere and aren’t official Whisky Nest videos. However the content is still good if you want to learn more about these distilleries.
To give you an idea of what you’ll receive, a few of the distilleries featured so far include Lindores, Mackmyra, Kyro, and Cardona.
Price wise, the subscription price is in line with there competitors. Really we can’t fault The Whisky Nest at all and if this sounds like something you’d be interested in get yourself over to:
But of course none of the above perks matter if the whisky is not up to scratch. So let’s see what they sent us...
Starward Fortis
Region: Australia
ABV: 50.0%
Price: £18.95 / 100ml
Fortis is a NAS whisky that was matured in American Oak Red Wine Barrels.
Nose
Not as aggressive as we were expecting, in fact it’s actually quite restrained. There’s light red fruits or more specifically strawberries, and raspberries. There’s also a hint of vinegar, chocolate ganache, and liquorice.
Palate
Like the nose there’s plenty of red fruits, along with toffee brittle, aniseed and cloves. Air reveals liquorice and treacle. It’s got a syrupy mouthfeel and we feel the ABV here is just right. It’s also got a decent length finish, but it’s a little bitter and tannic for us.
Nose (with water)
Reduction brings out more chocolate and now we’re reminded of chip shop vinegar. There’s also a little must, Bombay mix, crème brûlée and disappointedly less red fruits.
Palate (with water)
Water has brought out gingerbread, along with burnt brown sugar. This is now less bitter, but has become far more tannic. The mouthfeel has held up to the water, but the finish is a touch spicier. Personally we’d avoid water.
Conclusion
It’s a little too tannic for us, but another interesting dram to try, and we’d have paid the asking fee for a sample.
Mackmyra Mando Diao - I Solnedgången
Region: Sweden
ABV: 50.7%
Price: £18.95 / 100ml
This collector's edition from Mackmyra was produced in conjunction with the Swedish band Mando Diao, and is named 'I solnedgången' after one of their latest albums. It’s a peated release matured in a single 200-litre ex-bourbon cask that yielded 396 bottles.
Nose
On the nose we’re initially getting charred oak, toffee nut bars, passion fruit, earth and rice crackers. Giving it time in the glass reveals apricot, lychee and tobacco. It’s at a good ABV and you can get your nose right in the glass without the alcohol bothering you.
Palate
The charred notes from the nose carries through to the palate, but the sweetness doesn’t carry through to the same degree, with the sweetness being quite synthetic. There’s a little honey, salted caramel, and ash. Mouthfeel is a little watery. There’s also a little pink grapefruit bitterness on the finish. The finish itself is medium length.
Nose (with water)
Water brings out a salt, agave and lime and we’re reminded of doing tequila shots. Honey has appeared on the nose and we’re also getting lots of beetroot. Some dry roasted peanuts appear with time in the glass.
Palate (with water)
Water has dimmed the fruit and brought out a nuttiness on the palate along with ash. Unfortunately it’s not long before the finish leaves a bitter note on our tongue. The mouthfeel remains thin.
Conclusion
Again this is another dram we’d suggest not adding water to. It’s also another interesting dram that’s an easy sipper and we’d happily pay £17 to try this.
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