At the recent Limburg Whisky Fair I met some Asian friends. At the same time some of them didn’t manage to reach Germany because of the silly war and transport problems. Lucky Choice‘s Rafael was one of them, but some of his samples travelled with others and managed to reach me nonetheless.
Recent bottlings include Imperial, Talisker and Springbank. Check their website for more information.
Imperial 27 yo 1998 (52,6%, Lucky Choice & Anchor 2025, bourbon barrel #119, 175 btl.)
Nose: the expected mix of bananas, green melons, citrus jellybeans and hints of pineapple. Also green tea and dried wildflowers. Natural vanilla too, although it’s probably a bit more lean and grassy then others. Quite oily though, with a nice blossomy edge.
Mouth: more seductive now. The pineapple is met by papaya, tropical fruit jelly, more ripe bananas and a waxy note. Then also a caramelly note, as well as honey and a hint of lemonade. Mild ginger and herbal infusions in the middle, along with lemongrass.
Finish: medium length, back to citrus, a little oak spice and mint.
This is a great profile: some bright tropical notes but also a pleasant green side that keeps it fresh and vibrant. Highly elegant too.
Talisker 12 yo 2011 (56,7%, Lucky Choice & Harmony Whisky 2024, refill hogshead #80018686, 108 btl.)
Nose: ashy campfire notes, a mild sea breeze, hints of oysters and pepper. Plenty of lemons. Then hints of minerals and wet stone, light hay but also echoes of honey sweetness and wax. A light muddy element too. Slightly reserved but I love this restrained style.
Mouth: not that far from Springbank. The sootiness, the leather, the smoked citrus, the fatty edge and minerals. Of course also white pepper, iodine, a pinch of salt, some rooty hints and tiny herbal notes. Then also a honeyed note and sweet pear. Light camphor as well.
Finish: long and rather saline, on seaweed, herbal notes and some sweet citrus underneath.
Very good again. A slightly surprising sweetness appears, but the typical Talisker markers are also present. Score: 90/100
Springbank 22 yo 2003 (53,9%, Lucky Choice & Chinlam Whisky 2025, hogshead #0300017, 105 btl.)
Nose: slightly more narrow and mineral than the Talisker, actually. A nicely sweet waxiness and linseed oil in the background, along with some white fruits (not exactly tropical). Then also vegetal notes, whiffs of oil paint and raw wool. Light leathery notes as well.
Mouth: oily, now showing a slightly more tropical fruitiness. Peaches, tangerines, unripe mango and a little herbal honey. Then cashew nuts, salty sea spray and toasted malty notes. Light hints of vanilla cream and leather. There’s also a hint of fresh laundry in the distance.
Finish: not very long, with light iodine, mild fruity notes and some oak shining through.
Very good, no doubt, but I expected just a little more. Score: 89/100