Brave New Spirits - Voodoo

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

Here's my thoughts on two recent ones from the Voodoo 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

"Whisky of Voodoo is our 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."

Mask of Death

Dailuaine spirit filled into Bourbon Barrels

Matured for 10 years, giving 837 bottles at 55% ABV, NCF, Natural colour

Tasting Notes: Candied almonds, rosewater, dried flowers, honey, poppy seeds

My thoughts:

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, bead up quickly and fall as quick thick legs.

Nose: Orchard fruit, peppery spice and a little herbal note. There's a little pine forest floor and a hint of mustiness. There's a lovely Dailuaine maltiness shining through here too.

Palate: a little thin, sweet and sharp. A bowl full of orchard fruit: apples, pears, plums and apricot. The malt from the nose comes through on the palate.The spice dominates here but there is a little honey sweetness left on the tongue as the liquid disappears.

Finish: peppery spice, orchard fruit and gentle herbal notes.

Overall: it's a little young and fresh but also quite spicy, this just isn't my cup of tea. 

High Priest

Highland Park spirit matured in 1st fill Bordeaux Wine Barriques

Matured for 8 years, giving 1,263 bottles at 52.6% ABV, NCF, Natural colour.

Tasting Notes: Crushed cranberries, bouquet garni, heather, sweet mince pies

My thoughts:

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

Nose: gentle heathery peat smoke, hedgerow berries, toffee and some vanilla ice cream. There's a faint mustiness here too.

Palate: thick creamy arrival, gentle smoke, peppery spice and a little bitter dark chocolate. The berry notes take a little time to come through on the palate but they are there: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. A lovely HP orange zest note as the liquid disappears.

Finish: short and sweet with a little spice and smoke.

Overall: an interesting dram, unmistakably Highland Park but with a berry twist thanks to the wine cask. The smoke is evident on the nose and finish but all but hidden on the palate.Very juicy, creamy with some gentle smoke and berries.