A Scot on Scotch

Fib Whisky Pictish Boar

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From Pictish Beast to Pictish Boar

Fib Whisky is a Fife-based independent bottler of Scotch whisky and other spirits. While many of their releases take the form of single cask, or very small batch expressions, Fib has experimented of late, by creating its own blends. First came the Pictish Beastie, volumes I and II, and now, we have the Pictish Boar.

Pictish history and mythology is the inspiration behind much of Fib’s branding and imagery. Even the name, Fib, comes from the Pictish kingdom that would become known as Fife. An image carved into stones centuries ago was the basis for the Pictish Beastie blend. No-one really knows what the image is supposed to represent, but that only adds to its mystery and intrigue.

Following the Beastie, is the Boar. Once again, the name is inspired by ancient carvings, like that of the Knocknaegal Boar Stone found near Inverness in the north-east of Scotland. The stone likely dates from somewhere around 400 – 600 AD and is one of four known Pictish carvings of boars.

Fib Whisky Pictish Boar Review

Fib Whisky Pictish Boar Sample and Whisky Glass. Whisky Reviews Blog. A Scot on Scotch.

The Fib Whisky Pictish Boar Blended Scotch Whisky is a combination of two casks. The first is a 15-year-old Strathclyde Single Grain which was finished for two and a half months in a Banyuls cask. The second is a 15-year-old Ardmore finished in a Mourvedre (French red wine) cask. The whisky is bottled at 56.8% ABV.

Tasting notes: On the nose: Lots of red berries and fruitiness. Cranberry and raspberry juice. Blackcurrant. Elderberries. Brambles. Also a wee touch of toffee and a bit of oak under all the fruit. Not picking up a lot of spirit character. On the palate, the wine very much leads the way though there’s a wee bit of spirit heat in there too. There’s something a bit medicinal about it. Not in an Islay, germolene & iodine sort of way, more in a cough syrup sort of way. Lots of red wine and summer berries, followed by oak tannins and peppery heat throughout.

Thoughts: Not exactly my favourite release from Fib. I often enjoy their creative and playful approach to cask finishing but in this case, it really hasn’t worked for me. It’s a matter of personal taste, of course, but the wine has totally dominated the spirit and I wasn’t able to get past it. Maybe a weightier malt element would have stood up to the finishing casks a bit better but the lightness of the spirit has just been swamped. Even with a splash of water, I couldn’t get to the whisky underneath.

Some people will enjoy its uniqueness, I’m sure, but sadly it’s a pass from me. That doesn’t happen very often – usually I can find something to enjoy in most drams but this was a tough one. Still, fair play to Fib for trying new things. What’s that expression? If you never make mistakes, it means you’re not taking enough risks.

Price: £64. I don’t think it’s a bad price for a 15-year-old blend of two casks but it won’t be one I’ll be rushing out to acquire.

For more about Fib Whisky visit here