Dumbarton Rock
A salade Périgourdine for lunch
That is what this whisky reminded me about. Back in 2000, when I was a teenager traveling with my parents to France, I ordered a salade Périgourdine. Smoked duck breast, walnuts, raspberry vinegar, walnut oil, all positioned on an arugula/lettuce mix. I was enjoying this lunch while gazing over some wine fields, hearing cicadas chirp. I’ll explain all in the tasting notes, but let us focus on this whisky instead of my lunch 24 years ago.
Somewhere last year, I got a tip through Instagram. “Have you tried this whisky?” I had not. On the image was a bottle with a dark amber coloured liquid in it, and a purple label with silver lettering. Deciding I wanted to try it, I asked my tip giver where I could find it and she was able to mention some local events where this bottle should be available. So, last November on the IWF in The Hague, on a short break of assisting at the stand of the SMWS, I walked by, introduced myself to a mister with a great beard, got a dram, tried it and liked it. During the explanation I noticed the stand I was supposed to be helping, got a bit crowded. I thanked the kind man for the dram and rushed back.
After an intermezzo in this story of a few months, I encountered Kenny (that is the name of this bearded man) again at a stand on the Hielander Festival in Alkmaar. Since my Drambuddy Michiel never tried it, we got two drams of the Dumbarton Rock. And I got to talk to Kenny again. He explained his blended malt consists of 5 different whiskies (4 Speyside and 1 Highland), all blended into this single batch malt. I decided to order a bottle at the festival and then the waiting started.
When the bottle arrived, I opened it, poured myself a dram and sat back. After the nosing and the first sips, I was back eating that lunch as described in the beginning.
This whisky was bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered. No info about colouring could be found on the label, therefore I assume it was not colored. A quick dance in my glass makes the amber liquid twinkle. I Like that! It leaves a thin ring on my glass, not much legs though.
On the nose I get summer citrus, and something warm like walnut shells and something of a fresh red fruit. A second sniff brings some warmer sweet notes like honey and fudge.
Palate: At first a friendly sweet acidity that turns into something of a sugared trailmix: Dried sweet fruits and nuts. It ends with something savoury that I like to think is going towards smoked fowl.
The finish is medium long and has a combination of some tannine notes and weet lingering fruity and honey in between.
All of the above created a memory of my lunch so long ago. Walnuts, fresh acidic raspberry, the smoked duck breast and the arugula as a fresh but friendly bitter note.Now my memory might have triggered some notes others do not get, but I really enjoy this dram. Adding to this, is that this bottle is still available and for a very fair price! With all the price increases on whisky, this is a true gem to add to your selection!
