Apogee XII

 I was sent a bottle of this from Bimber Distillery...

It seemed to raise more questions than answers so I did a little research...

Apogee is defined as the top or climax of something usually associated with space e.g.  the point, in any trajectory of an object in space, where it is furthest from the Earth, so has this dram been to space?

Maybe it's just me but it came across as Japanese to start with - yes I know they are Roman numerals but they just seemed to me to resemble Kanji?

Then there is the use of "Pure Malt Whisky" rather than "Blended Malt Whisky" - it just brings back all them terrible links with Diageo's Cardhu:

"Cardhu were the first distillery to use the term "pure malt" to describe a blended malt. This was something done for marketing reasons, making customers believe the whisky was not a blend. It was done for a brief period in 2002 to ease pressure on its stock, but quickly reverted back to a single malt in 2004 following widespread criticism. Due to this misinformation, the term "pure malt" was banned from being used to describe a blended scotch whisky."

So what is this whisky all about?

Bimber say:

"Bimber Distillery has released “Apogee XII” – a 12-year-old, premium “pure malt” whisky created as a celebration of the fine art of blending, that has been elevated through an additional maturation in ex-Bimber casks. Created as a celebration of the fine art of blending.

Apogee XII whisky offers flawless balance with additional layers of flavour and complexity derived from the vivid, fruit and spice-forward character of the ex-Bimber casks.

We sourced some of the finest single malt whiskies from both the Highlands and Speyside. These whiskies were matured for a minimum of 12 years before being enhanced further through skilful, meticulous blending and an additional maturation in ex-bourbon casks that were previously used to age Bimber’s award-winning London single malt whisky. 

Bottled at 46.3% ABV with no colouring or chill-filtration, Apogee is presented in a striking, custom glass bottle – which features a tactile, hammered glass that has been fashioned to imitate the surfaces of Bimber’s small copper pot stills."

Distillery tasting notes:

NOSE: Spiced pears and oven-baked apricot flans are sweetened by candy necklaces and scented with rosewater, nutmeg and powdered ginger

PALATE: Syrupy orchard and stone fruits provide a bright and fresh mouthfeel supported by lightly charred oak, gentle white pepper and cooling mint    

                                                  

FINISH: Lingering ripe and sweet fruits alongside sympathetic, aromatic oak

But...

Like all things whisky, it doesn't really matter what it looks like, what is says on the box or what people tell you it. It all comes down to the liquid and what it does to your olfactory system and tongue... let's see:

My thoughts:

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.

 

Nose: Stewed orchard fruit and honey to start, apples and pears with a little cinnamon spice - there are hazelnuts and dry icing sugar.

Palate: Thick fruity arrival, a bite of peppery spice, a strange soapy note and then it's back to the orchard fruit, honey and spice. The hazelnuts from the nose have turned a little tropical - into coconut, the spice too with a little ginger. There's a little orange zest as the liquid disappears.

                                                  

Finish: Lingering dry spice, honey and citrus.

Overall: I didn't really understand why Bimber created this and why they are selling it - a couple of thoughts sprung to mind: they need money to relocate / expand the Bimber Distillery in London and/or to finance their new Dunphail Distillery in Scotland? They need a product which they can have on sale all of the time - their single cask and small batch releases usually sell out in hours if not minutes? 

Maybe it's a bit of both and maybe it's so they can get some practice in blending a large quantity of casks (this is a release of 25,000 bottles at 46% ABV so probably came from circa 120 standard barrels) they are going to need to be able to do that when Dunphail's core range comes on line. 

Is this a dram to drink by itself or for use in a long drink or cocktail? I don't care about the last two so reviewed it as a dram. It's OK, it's a nice daily drammer, it won't change the world with it's complexity but it will give you a nice satisfying dram at the end of a long day at work. Give it a try.

Many thanks to Bimber for the 'sample'.