Here we have three selections by Whisky Picnic Bar in Tainan, Taiwan. These are single malts from Imperial, Tomatin and Loch Lomond distilleries.
Imperial 27 yo 1998 (53%, Whisky Picnic Bar 2025, bourbon barrel #9, 120 btl.)
Nose: not the fruity exuberance you sometimes get, it’s much more on chalky notes, leaven and green leafy notes. Then aromas of green tea, green bananas and unripe greengages. Hints of dried flowers and a touch of menthol.
Mouth: slightly wider now, with some hints of yellow fruit candy and green pear. Then back towards grassy notes, green herbs and more chalk. Light (white) flowers, stem ginger, some peppery notes and a drying oaky note.
Finish: medium length. A mix of citrus zest, oak spice and mint.
Other casks from the final vintage of Imperial seem to lean more on fruitiness than this one. A rather green and herbal profile, with sharp edges. A good score but less seductive than I expected.
Tomatin 15 yo 2008 (54,3%, A.D. Rattray for Whisky Picnic Bar 2023, bourbon hogshead #2200, 266 btl.)
Nose: starts fairly classic with a fruity core, mostly on ripe pear, yellow apple and gooseberries. However it starts shifting quickly, with lots of tiny additions that come and go, like cake dough and butter cream. Also some funky notes like cottage cheese and grape vinegar. Then hints of aniseed, vanilla sauce and a sour grainy note.
Mouth: high acidity again – which I generally like. Green apple, unripe greengages and blueberries. A dash of lemon juice. Later some brown sugar, zesty notes, clove and cardamom. Underneath I’m picking up a raw grainy edge and something quite musty.
Finish: medium, with greener notes, plain malt, along with hints of clove and bay leaf.
Interesting selection again – there’s a pleasant core but it challenges you with plenty of uncommon elements. Score: 86/100
Croftengea 18 yo 2007 (52,3%, Vintage Malt Whisky Co for Whisky Picnic Bar 2025, hogshead #402, 120 btl.)
Nose: potent peat smoke, burning wood logs, just a bit of camphor and hints of smoked almonds. A really nice, rather naked malt, with a drop of limoncello and maybe just a hint of pineapple underneath. Then a few hints of fragrant tobacco and seawater. Slightly Ardbeggian, we’re happy.
Mouth: just spot-on. Big ashy notes, brine and grapefruit, a tarry touch and a wee tropical hint in the background. Pineapple syrup. Then back to earthy and savoury notes, dough and a hint of petrol. Mild herbs (burnt thyme) and wet gravel.
Finish: quite long, with deep smoke, pleasant touches of sweetness and bitterness and vegetal peat.
A very nice cask of Croftengea which is up there with the best Islay distilleries. Big yet balanced, I really like this one. Score: 89/100