Aerstone @TweetTastings

When @TheWhiskyWire announced an @AerstoneWhisky @TweetTastings I didn't bother applying - not because I didn't fancy trying the whiskies but because I had full size bottles of each already! I'll start this review by saying if you haven't - go and get a pair - they are currently Tesco exclusive and normally retail at £30 each but you can regularly get them on offer for £20.

There are two 10yo drams from Aerstone named simply Sea Cask and Land Cask. The packaging is really nice with wrap-around pictures joining across the boxes showing the sea and land.

So where is the Aerstone distillery you ask and what's all this Sea and Land Cask stuff all about? Aerstone is distilled by William Grant and Sons' at their Girvan distillery complex in Ayrshire, I've previously blogged about this here. Aerstone means Air & Earth in Gaelic and the range is made up of a Sea Cask and Land Cask. Grants have released the pair of 10yo malts to "simplify messaging in the single malt category” by using “clear taste descriptors on pack” because they are suggesting "Whisky is becoming over-complicated".

The Sea cask bottle being unpeated (the first single malt release from the Ailsa Bay distillery which is) and matured in a warehouse by the sea, is 40% ABV, coloured and chill filtered for uniformity. The Land cask bottle is peated (highland peat) and matured in a warehouse 'further away' from the sea! It shares it's brother's strength, sun tan and filtering.

Let's see what we all thought of them:

My thoughts:
Appearance: Sea Cask 10yo nice swirls lead to thin slow legs, initial nose: honey and citrus
Nose: Honey and vanilla with an overlay of citrus. After a while in the glass the orchard fruit notes come through - apples and pears with a hint of icing sugar. The whole thing wrapped in a blanket of maritime breeze.
Palate: Thick arrival and an immediate pepper spice on the tongue - you can't detect that on the nose. Lovely sweetness follows with honey, chocolate and more orchard fruit. #Bargain 10yo for £20
Finish: Medium length - initially spice driven then the maritime and sweet notes take over.

Other tweeter's thoughts:

My thoughts:
Appearance: Again lovely slow legs from swirls, initial nose seaside bonfire.
Nose: Bonfire on a beach, the smoke and the sea breeze mingle nicely in the glass. There's some orchard fruit, a little citrus and some icing sugar - the same DNA as the Sea Cask. Underneath is a gentle sweetness - honey and brown sugar. Yummy!
Palate: Creamy arrival, gentle smoke and salt - I think this one is more maritime than the Sea Cask. More of the orchard fruit from the nose. This one doesn't have the spice of the Sea Cask - but does have the drying icing sugar notes. Yummy!
Finish: Gentle heathery smoke and that maritime salt again - a little fruit but no spice.

Other tweeter's thoughts:

Many thanks to @TheWhiskyWire for organising!