TBWC Home Nations Series MMXXI

That Boutique-y Whisky have now switched to quarterly themed releases for their whisky. Led by their brand ambassador Dave Worthington @BoutiqueyDave you are taken through some amazing whiskies this time from the UK!

This Home Nations Series is a release of 12 bottles - 9 whiskies and 3 rums.

For those that don't know That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC) @BoutiqueyWhisky is an indie bottler owned by Atom Brands - owners of Master Of Malt, Drinks by the Dram and a few other well know whisky companies! They specialise in small batch whiskies from around the world - including from some distilleries you might not of heard of yet!

Each 50cl bottle has it's own unique graphic-novel-style label by Emily Chappell. You can read an amusing account of how she came to create whisky labels here!

For this Home Nations Series @BoutiqueyWhisky say :

"“Not long ago, just mentioning single malt whisky from anywhere but Scotland would attract puzzled looks, ‘They make Scotch in Japan now?’ Sure, Scotland’s greatest gift to the world is now practiced across the globe, and Boutique-y has endeavoured to showcase that from the very beginning, but the fact is the whole world is making whisky today but the art has been active on these isles, NOT JUST SCOTLAND, for a long time. We want to tell a part of that story."

Boutique-y send me a set giving me the chance to try their new releases - my thoughts:.

White Peak Batch 1 2yo Malt Spirit @ 50% Our label story has a lot going on, but is set in the beautiful Derwent Valley in Derbyshire. There’s a general Victorian theme, except for that helicopter and parachutist that is reminiscent of the 2012 Olympics.
	My thoughts: Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as slow thin legs. Nose: Berry fruit and a hint of peat smoke? Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. There smoke sweet orange notes here too - yummy! Palate: Sweet creamy arrival, the berries from the nose are here, as is the orange - in zest form and a nice bite of peppery spice. A few more sips offer some toffee and dried fruit - slightly drying as the liquid disappears. Finish: dry, berry fruit and a peppery spice - yummy!

Cotswolds Batch 1 3yo Single Malt @ 50.4% The Cotswolds Distillery has been creating fine spirits in the great English countryside with locally grown barley since 2014 and this delightful young whisky should prove no exception. The label art features the quaint and picturesque distillery on a beautifully sunny day – and look – a familiar, friendly face is waving to you! Although, it does look like there might be something sinister under that hedge…
	My thoughts: Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls leave a thick line which beads up and falls as slow thick legs. Nose: Spirit forward but get past that and you can find fruit and spice - berries, apples, pears, pineapple and cinnamon. Palate: Loads of tropical fruit to start - pineapple, banana, kiwi, some apricot and red berries join in too. There is some citrus marmalade funk going on here too. The spice takes a little time to make itself known but its more gentle than the nose suggested. A few more sips offer vanilla custard and stewed pears - nice. Finish: lingering tropical fruit and a gentle ginger spice.

Nc'Nean Batch 2 3yo Single Malt @ 59.8% The label is a play on ‘The Birth of Venus.’ Instead of Venus on the shell, founder Annabel Thomas is riding a white swan. The Drimmin peninsula is behind her, and the distillery employees are the cherubs around her. Nc’nean is an abbreviation of Neachneohain, the Gaelic goddess of spirits. The white swan is a respectful nod to the late Dr. Jim Swan who was instrumental in the distillery design, house style, and maturation. Brand Ambassador Matt Hastings has a set of bunny ears - it’s his nickname apparently.
	My thoughts: Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as slow thick legs. Nose: Orchard fruit, forest floor and a little buttery fudge - pears, apples, apricots and pine needles. Palate: Smooth sweet arrival, loads of fruit from the nose and a little butter then the ABV hits as a big kick of peppery spice. A few more sips offer toffee, honey and chocolate notes. Finish: warming peppery spice and a hint of pear. This is a much more balanced dram than the Batch 1 which for me was very new makey without the addition of water.

Oxford Artisan Batch 1 3yo Single Grain @ 50% A Double Matured Single Grain Distilled from a mash bill of Ancient Heritage Grains 51% corn, 35% rye, 10% wheat and 5% malted barley. Starting life in a new charred 225L virgin American Oak Cask for 19 months before transferring to a French Oak 100 Litre Sauternes cask for the remainder of it’s maturation - 21 months Our label looks over Oxford from the organic fields of grains, with their stills in the skyline. Their Head distiller is in the foreground inspecting their grains being harvested, while Oxford-based archaeobotanist, grain expert, and farming partner, John Letts is working hard in the background, Recognise that scarecrow from somewhere?
	My thoughts: Appearance: Dark gold, almost bronze in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as slow thick legs. Nose: Huge floral notes - reminds me of a Dà Mhìle - Parma Violets, Turkish Delight, bread yeast - it's just not nice... A little time and air offers popcorn and vanilla. Palate: The floral notes from the nose follow to the palate - and it's just not nice - a little sweetness and spice try to get in but it's just too floral - too odd - not really whisky? Finish: Lingering Turkish Delight and bread yeast.

Penderyn Batch 2 6yo Single Malt @ 50% Our label shows the blueprint of Penderyn's unique still setup, a red ‘dragon scaled’ pencil, and the gold signet ring with a swan, as a nod to the late Dr. Jim Swan. STR on the pencil indicated the cask type.
	My thoughts: Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thick line which beads up quickly and falls as fast thick legs. Nose: Berry and orchard fruit vi for attention, the ABV makes itself known tickling the nasal hairs! A little creamy vanilla and some herbal notes. Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, sweet berries and that herbal note from the nose. Honey and syrup notes offer loads of sweetness, there's some peppery spice and dry apricot notes. Nice! Finish: Honey, pine and a warming peppery spice.

Adnams Batch 1 7yo Single Malt @ 50% The label plays on the ghost stories surrounding the brewery, with a modern twist through text messages - being ghosted.
	My thoughts: Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as slow thick legs. Nose: Tropical fruit and faint musty dunnage notes. There's some sweet honey and bitter orange notes too. Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, the bitter orange and honey from the nose are here along with a little herbal note - menthol even. Orchard fruit follow  - stewed and drizzled in honey. There's some Aldi chilli chocolate as the liquid disappears. Finish: Lingering spice and sweet honey.

English Batch 3 12yo Single Malt @ 63.4% A familiar St George and the Dragon label - depicted from inside the helmet of St George
	My thoughts: Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as very slow thick legs. Nose: Dunnage warehouse and dry peat smoke notes to start then a little stewed orchard fruit and vanilla custard. Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, a lovely honey note and then the ABV hits with a huge warming effect in the throat. After a few sips the orchard fruit from the nose is back and the ABV hides away - this doesn't need water. There's a lot of gingery spice, a hint of smoke and barley & oat notes giving a cereal edge - lovely! Finish: Warming spice, orchard fruit and a return of the smoke from the nose.

Irish No.2 (Bushmills?) Batch 7 29yo Malt Spirit @ 50.2% Our label tells the story of Coffey Still pioneer Aeneas Coffey, and Irishman, taking his new approach to the Irish Distillers board, and being told to ‘jog on’
	My thoughts: Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which beads up and falls as slow thin legs. Nose: Musty old bookshop, lemon drizzle cake and hints of tropical fruit - banana, pineapple and mango. Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, more of the lemon and a hint of sour grapefruit. The tropical fruit then takes over - mango and pineapple with a little banana and kiwi. There's a little cereal and drying icing sugar before the ginger adds a little tropical spice - Yummy! Finish: Lingering honey, tropical fruit and spice.

Circumstance Batch 1 40 day old Wheat Whisky @ 59.8% Our label plays on the Psychopomp Micro Distillery sister distillery where it all started.
	My thoughts: Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls leave a thin line which slowly beads up and falls as slow thick legs. It looks like whisky! Nose: New make nose if not colour, some meaty notes, tropical fruit and grain. The ABV prickles your nasal hair! Palate: Smooth sweet arrival, but again very new makey. There's some tropical fruit and honey notes. A little time and air offers some herbs and lime zest.  The ABV just doesn't come through on the palate. Finish: Short herbal and citrus notes. Just too young and raw for me.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Home Nations Series Lineup:

Adnams 7YO Single Malt - £49.95

Circumstance 40 Day Old Wheat Spirit - £64.95

Oxford Artisan Distillery 3YO Single Malt - £134.95

Penderyn Batch 2 6YO Single Malt - £64.95

Nc’Nean Batch 2 3YO Single Malt - £69.95

The English Whisky Company Batch 3 12YO - £78.95

White Peak 2YO Single Malt Spirit - £49.95

Cotswolds 3YO Single Malt - £58.95

Irish Single Malt #2 Batch 7 29YO - £284.95

That Boutique-y Rum Company Home Nations Series Lineup:

J Gow Distillery 2YO Pot Still - £44.95

Greensand Ridge Distillery 18 Month Old Pot Still - £49.95

Ninefold Distillery 17 Month Old Pot Still - £54.95