Jim McEwan Signature Collection Series 9
The final Jim McEwan Signature Collection?
I had an online tasting again by Dramfool. Another launch tasting.
Six delicious Bruichladdich drams. The first 3 were for warming us up, to end with the final 3: The Series 9.
Since the packaging now actually spells the name of the famous distiller, this is the final series in this range by Dramfool Casks. And they promise they saved the best for last. They were not lying!
But I'm running again on placed where I should walk.
Joining the Zoom call for the online tasting on a Saturday evening, I immediately spot the man that is one of my whisky heroes: Jim McEwan himself joined to share his tasting notes on all the drams. Quite an experience!
After three starters, one by one insane drams in their own place, we stepped up to the final three. Final three of this tasting, final three of the series.
8.1 Bruichladdich
Before I say anything else: This dram silenced me. The nose, the palate, it all made sense right then and there.
This is a 13 year old Bruichladdich, bottled at 63% Vol. and aged on a "Premier cru supérieur Sauternes Barrique".
On the nose very fruity, but at the same time carrying some old Gouda.
Fresh apricots, vanilla and citrus.
These lasts notes continue on the tongue, but are enriched by a fatty, almost creamy feeling. In the tasting the note of cream soda was shared.
All notes feel like sparkles in my mouth and I went silent.
It was just me and my dram.
The finish is medium long and carries still so much fresh fruits!
8.2 Port Charlotte
This dram was actually the final dram of the evening, but I cannot stand numbers not in the right order. So here is the 9.2.
This Port Charlotte aged for 16 years in a first fill Vosne Romanée barrique cask. Bottled at 62,4%, this seems rather high.
On the nose you'll get something I can only describe as smoked jelly.
Dried fruits, sweet dried fruits, some grapes. But all with a nice smokey background.
On the palate I get some warm honey and prunes, with some very dark chocolate. The wine cask is delivering a punch here!
That chocolate returns as smoked coco in the finish, that lingers for some time. A drop of water delivers some salmiak with a warm smoke extra on the palate.
9.3 Octomore
This is a 11 yo Octomore, aged on a first fill Bourbon barrel.
It has been bottled at 63.3%, but you don't notice!
Being an Octomore, there is also a high PPM. In this case 156 PPM.
But forget the formalities: WHAT A DRAM!
It has all you can wish for on the nose: Some petrol, some rubber, some smoke, but all being dominated by fresh fruits, some lemon cake and vanilla.
And all is repeated again on the palate. It carries some spices, but no real heat. I love this one. The color is a light , bright yellow, and the liquid drips from my glass like some oil.
The finish is soft , but long. And leaves a lingering light heather smoke.
Licking my lips get some salty notes in there, like some ocean spray.
Although I'm a big fan of Bruichladdich on a special cask, I prefer the 9.3 in this series.
The Octomore wins for me again in the series. The clash of notes and flavours is just so enjoyable, it keeps triggering me.
These bottles will pop up in the Dramfool store on the 4th of October 2024.
Go check it out on https://dramfool.com/shop
They even have a sample set with all three whiskies available.
Disclaimer: Photos of the bottles are not my own, but loaned from the Dramfool website.