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Recently I reviewed the Jim McEwan Signature Collection 7.1. An awesome dram I just could not stop thinking about.
So I reached out to Colin from Dramfool, the bottler, to get more information on their projects. And during that communication, he mentioned the launch of their next series. And for this launch, they would have an online tasting. That was something I just had to do.
A small fortnight later a package with 6 cylinder tubes was delivered from Scotland and I could not resist taking a look.
6 drams in a different color range were numbered 1-6. No names. So every one of them would be a surprise. Now all I had to do was wait for the online tasting.
Let’s use this short intermezzo for some extra information: Of every sold tasting pack, £2 is being donated to the Brain Tumor Research charity. And if I understood correctly during the tasting, this is something they do more often. Now, the only problem I have with this, is that there should be a button or option to add extra so you can donate more than £2.
The day of the tasting arrived. Being an excited little boy, I started prepare around 18:00. To show you how excited I was, the tasting would start 19:30 London time, so that is 20:30 for me. Yes. 2,5 hours of “prep time”. I charged my laptop. (Not needed because it was plugged in the whole session.) I charged my phone. (Not needed because I used my laptop.) I put some water ready with a water dropper and then I waited.
It is almost 20:30 when I place myself behind my laptop, open the Zoom link and notice everything doesn’t work. Camera, audio and mic. So rummaging with my laptop, I already pour dram number one in case I’m too late. My camera works, I can hear the other people, but my mic stays down. Don’t care, they don’t need to hear me. Then I focus on the people on screen.
From my perspective, upper right corner: Jim McEwan. ( I lied earlier, my phone was used. Right there and then, when I Whatsapp my wife: “Jim McEwan!”)
Bruce from Dramfool starts the session, but I’m a bit starstruck and don’t get everything. Jim takes over and actually starts hosting the tasting. A bit stunned I turn towards dram number one of this evening.
Only to be stunned again.
So, I tried to describe this in many ways, but let’s just say that the guys from Dramfool might be a little bit insane: The starting dram was a 32 year old Bruichladdich. If you are a follower on Instagram, or read my blogs more often, you know that is my favourite distillery.
I was truly mesmerised. I think Jim said multiple times that it was one of the best whiskies he ever had. I know it is in my top 3. Distilled in 1992, aged on a 1st fill Bourbon cask and bottled at 49,6%, this dram completely wiped the floor with me. Winner by technical knock-out.
I tried to listen to Jim’s tasting notes, while trying to pen down my own.
This dram is something special. If you ever encounter it: Try it or buy it. Yes, a 32 year old cask strength, single cask Bruichladdich will not be cheap. However, if you know that Bruichladdich is asking around £1500 for their 30 year old (not cask strength) and then turn to this one that costs way, way less, it’s a no brainer if you can spend that kind of money on a bottle. My advice: Go for the one from Dramfool.
While drowning in my first dram, Jim was speeding up and already describing the second dram. So I placed my first dram aside, slightly angry at myself for pouring the whole dram. So the second dram, I poured half the tube.
The second dram turned out to be a Bruichladdich again. A 10 year old, aged on Madeira barrique. Only 8 bottles left at that time, 15 minutes later sold out. I missed out on that one. This dram makes me want to go to Islay in September. The reason for this, is that Jim described the color as being “a September sunset on Islay”. And if those sunsets look like this, I have to see it for myself. Distilled in 2006, bottled at 46% at ten years of age. Then stored and found as a “barn find”. For sale in 2022 and resampled in 2024.
Even with half a dram in my glass, I was not fast enough and I had to pour dram three too keep up with the tasting.
Still a bit impressed by the previous two drams. The third one was surprising again. A 12 year old Bruichladdich aged on Banyuls Barrique. Distilled in 2011 and bottled at cask strength (57,3%), this dram marched all over the Madeira one, but did not beat number 1. Still for sale, this is a bottle I will try to get as soon as the Dutch distributor will put them on the shelves.
Now a short water break was announced and a special shop link shared. This is where I missed out on the Madeira, but was able to have some water and revisit dram number 1. I also used the time to try and get my microphone fixed, which did not work out immediately, but an hour after this I made it work.
After the break, we started at the final three. The Jim McEwan Signature Collection, series 8. So just like previous series, it consists of a Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and an Octomore, numbered 8.1, 8.2 & 8.3. Now the difference with these casks, is that they come from Jim McEwans private collection. Hence the name for the series. I will not discuss these three drams here, but in their own review.
So while I was sipping on the 8.3, the Octomore, Jim checked himself out and the tasting was officially over. The recording was stopped. And then, then more fun started. I did not know it, but apparently Dramfool has a tight knit fanbase since online tastings during the COVID lockdown, with people from all over the world.
And I felt that it was a truly warm and great group to join the discussions and random whisky nerdery that was going on.
Drams were poured, missing members called in and bottles killed. I had my mic turning on while I was mid-burping, but the discussions were so continuous, I think no one noticed.
I would like to end this blog with a special thanks to Colin and Bruce, for hosting the launch and inviting me. I hope to join again soon!
Photos are not mine but can be found on the Dramfool website. Go check out their shop when you are there. Or, if you're on the EU mainland, check out their bottles available at Masterofmalt. The Dramfool Gold and the Series 8 will be available from March 7th, 2024.
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