So time to catch up a bit. About 3 weeks back, wife, sprog and I headed to Dullstroom to celebrate 10th wedding anniversary. On the Saturday, late afternoon, we arrived at Wild about Whisky. I must admit that I was expected by the owners and staff who made the afternoon as enjoyable for my non-whisky drinking wife and 8 year old daughter, as it was for me.
WaW owed me a 2020 Diageo Talisker special release that they were unable to deliver thanks to Diageo SA ineptitude, so I was wanting to take something else and the decision was to be between these two:
Wonderful sherry on the Glendronach, just the right amount of cask influence. The Glen Scotia is so interesting and inviting on the nose with a rather different approach to the sherry from the Glendronach that I was rther undecided, however leaning towards Campeltown. Then the lovely Juliette suggested this:
And I was hooked. Blew the first two out the water and this is what I ended up taking home. I think it's a steal at circa 1300 and at that ABV.
Next came the Waterford Knockroe, of which I also now have a bottle and which is whisky nerd goodness. My Waterford collection is growing. This is such a fine example of what whisky provenance is all about.
And then I was treated to something rather rare and rather special...
I cannot describe what I had above, there are no words (especially as an Ardbeg fanboi and a fan of new make spirit)...
Next up was whisky nerd time (and I need to get a bottle of this in my collection). The use of the barley comes through so prominently in this expression. It's difficult to describe but I pondered (and wondered) over this one for some time. This is an example of the art the whisky maker is capable of - and what Waterford is up to.
Next was a dram
@BartSimpson had asked me via WhatsApp to try and give feed back on....:
Oh my, what a rye. This is like rye for grown ups. Smooth, rye spice, no bitterness. It's rye whisky that went to Woolworth's High School. Needless to say I took a bottle home (especially at <R700 and 1 litre bottle size).
And to end the afternoon, I decided on this...
What a magical afternoon spent at Wild about Whisky. In between, I had a few other drams brought to me by the Gunns and our wonderful host, Juliette. I was made to feel like royalty and it was evident that this level of customer service was not localised to me but was dished out to all patrons in droves. I cannot wait for my next visit to this establishment. I will definitely be supporting them via their online shop during this lockdown.
As I said, a truly magical afternoon.