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Single Cask Nation
Single Cask Nation is a US-based independent bottler of whisky, whiskey and other spirits. The company has expanded in recent years, bringing their bottlings to markets beyond their Stateside home. Somewhere in the region of 60 casks are bottled each year and split between the US, UK, EU, Japan, Israeli and South African markets.
As the name suggests, the whiskies in question are single casks, and therefore won’t hang around for long but lucky for me, Single Cask Nation sent me samples of some recent offerings…
*Full disclosure: the samples featured in this review were sent to me free of charge. As always, I will strive to give an honest opinion on the quality of the dram and the value for money it represents.
Dailuaine 2010 13-year-old
Dailuaine is a lesser-spotted Speyside distilery that falls under the ownership of Diageo. Most of the spirit produced here goes into blends like Johnnie Walker and Bell’s but some casks occasionally make their way to indie bottlers. A speedy distillation regime, which includes condensation in stainless steel condensers, produces a meaty spirit, one that tends to do well in active sherry casks. Dailuaine is a good example of the sort of dram that really benefits from the existence of independent bottlers like SCN. Without the indies, opportunities to taste this spirit would be limited to a single Flora & Fauna bottling.
The 13 year old malt was finished for 27 months in a first fill sherry hogshead. It’s bottled at 54.3% abv and retails around £72.
Smell: There’s loads of sherry here. Dark chocolate, walnuts, new leather. Old balsamic. Conkers and dry, Autumn leaves. Orange zest. Orange liqueur. Water brought out some runny honey with baked apples.
Taste: Big, sherried arrival. Raisins and currants with light spices, pepper, aniseed, ginger. Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Touch of salted caramel. Loads of oak and a wee touch of espresso coffee at the back.
Thoughts: We’re in proper festive sherry bomb territory here. I said Dailuaine does well in sherry but in truth, this one is maybe a wee bit over the top for me. There’s just a bit too much oak dominance. I’ve no doubt at all that it’ll find plenty of fans though and the lovely auburn colour will undoubtedly sell a few bottles on appearance alone! On the plus side, I like the abv, its cask strength without being huge and the lack of any overpowering spice adds to the dram’s sippable nature. I also thought a wee splash of water brought a bit more balance to the experience but it still felt a bit too oak heavy to me. Just a matter of personal taste. You know what they say about too much of a good thing.
Price: £72. There’s no issues here. Most OB 15 year olds will set you back in the region of £80 these days, so a single cask 13 for less is doing fine.
Ardnamurchan 2016 6-year-old
The original Adelphi Distillery was based in Glasgow, on the southern bank of the River Clyde. It operated there for more than a century before closing in the 1930s. The distillery was demolished in the 1970s but the name was later revived as an independent bottler. The company was sold and the new owners decided to create a new Adelphi distillery in the Glenbeg Estate on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. The first fully-fledged Ardnamurchan single malt launched in 2020 and the distillery has built up something of a following in its wake. Despite its relative newness, there have been a few independently bottled versions and that’s exactly what we have here from Single Cask Nation.
This is a 6 year old Highland malt from one of the most impressive new distilleries to have appeared in Scotland in years. The whisky was matured in a single first fill bourbon barrel and bottled at 58.9%. Just 240 bottles available.
Smell: This one almost feels like nosing the raw ingredients of whisky. It’s grassy and malty with nots of grist and muesli and biscuit. There’s also some subtle oaky notes and some vanilla fudge. I’m fairly sure I’m picking up some pineapple as well. There’s some caramel and cinnamon and buttered scones with apricot jam!
Taste: Arrives with lots of honey and toffee. There’s biscuits too, digestives and ginger snaps. Baked apple pie. Creamy vanilla and a wee touch of salted caramel. There’s some citrus oils and more of that pineapple vibe. Lovely mouthfeel.
Thoughts: A good example of cask and spirit working in harmony. The bourbon barrel has given plenty to the experience but the Ardnamurchan spirit has enough character of its own and it hasn’t been lost in the marriage. The end result is a dram that’s more complex than it has any right to be at 6 years old. Despite the youth of the distillery and the whisky, it manages to feel somehow old fashioned – in a good way. Good spirit, in a good cask, bottled when it’s ready. The team at Ardnamurchan seem to be getting a lot of things very right and fair play to Single Cask Nation for capturing the lightning in their bottle.
Price: £85. The price feels a wee bit steep given the age of the dram but sadly, it’s very much in keeping with the industry norm for single cask Ardnamurchan. In fairness, I’ve had drams twice the age with less depth and less complexity. Probably worth it.
Westland 2014 9-year-old
Westland is an American Whiskey distillery owned by Remy Cointrea. Like sister distillery, Bruichladdich, it specialises in creating whiskies that reflect their place of origin. Based in Seattle in the Pacific Northwest, Westland is surrounded by exceptional barley-growing land and places an emphasis on sustainable distilling. Westland was created in 2010 by Matt Hofmann, who continues to serve as Master Blender to this day.
This American Single Malt was matured for a total of 9 years, with half of that time spent in a first fill Banyuls wine barrique. It’s bottled at 49.8% with just 198 available.
Smell: Rich. Smells sticky – is that possible? – like cough syrup. Buckfast (don’t judge me)!!! Wood varnish. Glacé cherries. Plums. Oak and slightly burnt caramel. Burnt toast as well, for that matter. Some fresh coffee beans and seasonal, wintery spices.
Taste: Forget the buckfast, I’m getting Jäegermeister now. Wonder how it tastes with Red Bull? Or maybe in a glass of mulled wine?! More cherries and dried fruits. Prune juice, grape juice… Coffee and tobacco leaf. Riesen chocolate chews! Little blast of some cereals on the finish.
Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this dram and loved the thick, syrupy feel on the palate, which makes it such a luxurious experience. Rich, luxurious… you almost get lost in it. It’s like a classic, fireside, after-dinner brandy. I like the relatively low abv too, it doesn’t need any water and still has some spice as flavouring, rather than heat. A massive big comfort blanket of a dram and for me, the pick of the bunch.
Price: £86. Good enough to justify the price and it’s not the kind of thing we see in Scotland very often so there’s an element of rarity to it. Great stuff.
For more on Single Cask Nation click here
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