Brave New Spirits - More WhiskyHeroes

 Indie bottler Brave New Spirits @BNS_Whisky keep coming out with new releases!

Here's my thoughts on four recent ones from the new WhiskyHeroes series!

Brave New Spirits have 5 ranges:

Cask Noir : Carefully curated bottlings with some unusual wood finishes - Starting life in some of Scotland’s finest studios (aka “distilleries”) each release takes inspiration from classic movies and novels from a bygone era.  From thrilling and adventurous to dark, romantic and mysterious, these whiskies embark on a journey of discovery, into an exceptional world of exotic flavours and interesting & unusual casks.

Whisky Of Voodoo : Small batches of whisky selected by the Master of Ceremony - Whisky of Voodoo is a range of special, small-batch single malt and single grain whiskies. Designed to entice and enchant, these carefully selected whiskies are matured and finished using the finest casks, often sourced from exotic, far-flung locations.

 

Whisky Heroes : A range of spectacular single-cask whiskies and exclusive small batches, matured only in classic bourbon and sherry casks. Each bottle is infused with a dash of mischief and a pinch of heroism. These casks are the heroes of the whisky world, so the whiskies and the presentation of the range reflect this. Each bottle is designed to be bold. Each whisky is full of character and adventure, every release chosen for its ability to take the whisky fan on an adventure of flavours and history. 

Cask Masters : This series honours the centuries of ancient traditions and craftsmanship that have made single malt Scotch whisky one of the world’s finest products. Each unique label pays tribute to the art of whisky making, with each individual bottle in the series highlighting a different element of the many processes involved in creating landmark Scotch whiskies.

The Yellow Edition : Carefully selected single cask bottlings - Brave New Spirits proudly present their Yellow Edition range. A selection of whiskies, specially chosen to reflect the character and diversity of their country of origin. With The Yellow Edition, we aim to present whiskies to delight connoisseurs all over the world. Whiskies with a focus on provenance, individuality, quality, class and of course, flavour.

BNS sent me these samples, here's my honest thoughts:

Paul Dempsey said

"The WhiskyHeroes collection offers a spectacular selection of single-cask whiskies and small-batch releases, each carefully matured in classic bourbon and sherry casks. Every bottle carries a hint of mischief and a touch of heroism, with these exceptional casks truly standing out in the whisky world.

The whiskies and their presentation reflect this, with bold designs that mirror the unique character and adventure within each bottle. Every release has been selected for its ability to take whisky lovers on a journey through flavours and history. Whether you are enjoying a quiet moment by the fire or swapping stories with fellow whisky enthusiasts, these whiskies will transport you to new and unexpected places. Perhaps you'll even find a deeper appreciation for the craft of whisky along the way."

Agent Ivy – Chronicles in Cadiz

Blair Athol spirit finished in a 1st fill Palo Cortado Sherry Casks.

Matured for 12 years giving 358 bottles at 55.9% ABV, NCF, Natural colour

Dried bananas, white grapes, baklava, orange tart, apricot sweets, coffee

My thoughts:

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

Nose: Orange zest, stewed pears and red & black berries. There's sweet syrupy and dry icing sugar notes. 

Palate: thick sweet arrival, very juicy, loads of cherry and berry notes, Ripe banana and blood orange. There's a little dry apricot note, peppery spice and a hint of smoke left on the tongue as the liquid disappears.

Finish: lingering dry spice, orchard fruit and a hint of berries.

Overall: A yummy dram, I always like a good single cask or small batch Bells! The Palo Cortado finish has added some lovely berry notes to the Blair Athol spirit, it's a little dryer and nuttier too.

The Lure Of The Sirens

Tamdhu finished in a 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Quarter Casks

Matured for 17 years giving 280 bottles at 50.1% ABV, NCF, Natural colour.

Banoffee pie, hazelnut syrup, pancetta, clootie dumplings, Turkish delight

My thoughts:

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

Nose: typical sherry bomb notes: honey, toffee, dried fruit, dates, figs and prunes. There's a lovely blueberry jam note and a hint of balsamic vinegar.

Palate: thick jammy arrival, exactly what you'd expect from the nose: berries, cherries, apples. There's a little honey sweetness and a nice bite of spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish: Lingering dry spice, berries and honey.

Overall: Another love dram, who doesn't like a Tamdhu sherry bomb? Not sure what the BNS team were doing with their tasting notes on this one - mine are completely different!

Echoes from Below

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin spirit finished 1st fill PX Sherry Quarter Cask

Matured for 10 years giving 163 bottles at 55.5% ABV, NCF, Natural colour.

Caramel sauce, chocolate strawberries, cola cubes, dark chocolate gateau, roasted chestnuts

My thoughts:

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

Nose: this one is a little weird, musty but not in a nice way. Lots of orchard fruit, toffee and some marzipan notes.

Palate: a little nicer on the palate: orchard fruit and berries combine with honey sweetness and some dry icing sugar. There's a little musty note, dry spice and some marzipan.

Finish: lingering spice, honey and berries.

Overall: I wasn't keen on this one, a little musty and just wasn't sure whether it was sherried or not - maybe needed a little more time on the finish?

Blazing Mystery

North British spirit matured 2nd fill Islay Hogshead

Matured for 13 years giving 236 bottles at 58.6% ABV, NCF, Natural colour.

Peppermint, menthol, burnt butter/caramel, tobacco ashes, lemongrass, peppercorns/mustard

My thoughts:

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

Nose: gentle smoke to start, some salinity, citrus and orchard fruit. The vanilla and buttered popcorn notes from the grain shine through.

Palate: thick sweet arrival, immediately smoky - much more than the nose suggested. There's honey, dry icing sugar and toffee sweetness. Some gentle spice, buttered popcorn and a little salinity. The smoke blankets everything after every sip.

Finish: Lingering smoke, spice and orchard fruit.

Overall: I really enjoyed this, typical buttered popcorn North British grain with a lovely smoke note - very atypical, but very tasty!