If you’ve always found the notion of whisky to be a little too old school for you, the new Taisteal range of Scottish drams just might change your perceptions on this timeless spirit.
When we think of whisky, we usually conjure up thoughts of comfortable leather chesterfields, roaring fireplaces, wizened distillers accompanied by faithful hounds – things like that. And that’s no surprise; for the longest time, the story of whisky has been one that frequently reaches into the past, lacing the narrative with history, heritage, and tradition.
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Taisteal whisky isn’t like that. With a name taken from the Gaelic for “journey”, the three Taisteal releases promise a much more contemporary whisky drinking experience, one where you make your own rules and create your own rituals, rather than simply following the flock.
A trio of spirits designed to let the sipper create their own whisky experience – indoors or out in the sun, with mixers or on the rocks, tweed jacket and shotgun or thongs and a beach umbrella – the Taisteal range takes all the great things about Scotch whisky and adds a hefty dash of versatility, making these drams your new home bar essentials.
Created with Highland whiskies from some of Scotland’s most historic distillers, Angus Dundee Distillers chosen for their nutty, sweet and aromatic spirits; and Loch Lomond, which produces exceptional whiskies with subtle floral and peat flavours.
The range includes the Explorer’s Malt, a superb single malt whisky produced at the Loch Lomond distillery. Their focus on malt distillation includes a unique pot malt still setup with special distillation trays at the neck to allow for greater contact with the cooling alcohol vapor, creating a distinctive flavour profile. Explorer’s Malt gently matures in oak casks for three years to produce a bold character with a mellow velvety smokiness and distinctive hints of peat.
When sipping the Explorer’s Malt look for leathery dark notes on the nose that build into a heathery character before giving way to a sweeter, malty presence with subtle wood notes arising at the close. On the palate look for a pronounced burst of malt on the tongue with sweet cereal notes complimented by a creamy texture. Mid palate you’ll find a distinct nuttiness followed by a slight astringent citrus finish and a finish with sweet hints of dark molasses and subtle citrus peel that offsets the rich sweet overtones.
For fans of grain whiskies, the Explorer’s Grain is a single grain whisky crafted by the award-winning distillers at Angus Dundee. As an example of their craft, for their Glencadam Malt they’ve set the lye pipes on the two pot stills to run upwards at an angle of 15 degrees, an unusual setup that produces the distillery’s signature style. As suited to highballs and cocktails as it is for sipping over ice, the Explorer’s Grain features toffee sweetness with orange blossom and a rich vein of vanilla on the nose, while the palate boasts sweet and floral touches along with fruity notes. Expect a finish that’s endearingly smooth and features touches of vanilla.
Also produced at the Glencadam distiller, the Explorer’s Blend release is a blend of both single malt and grain whiskies. A sure winner with lovers of blended whiskies, look for soft and inviting aromas of milk chocolate, vanilla fudge and cocoa powder on the nose, followed by sweet and creamy notes with vanilla, apple strudel and spiced cake. The finish is warm and balanced, with blackberry and almond fading into a toasty nutty profile that lingers just long enough.
Affordable, unassuming and approachable, the three whiskies in the Taisteal range are ideal for those new to the whisky scene, or for gents looking to explore new styles without blowing out the bank account. The whiskies also lend themselves to a host of classic whisky cocktails given a modern twist. Here are a few of our favourites:
Taisteal Collins
- 50ml Taisteal Explorer’s Malt whisky
- 10ml yuzu juice
- Top with ginger beer
- Garnish with slice of ginger
Taisteal Sour
- 50ml Taisteal Explorer’s Malt whisky
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 30ml egg white
- 10ml vermouth
- Garnish with a slice of dehydrated lemon
Taisteal Julep
- 60ml Taisteal Explorer’s Blend whisky
- A handful mint & 1 teaspoon of sugar
- Crushed ice
- Garnish with mint and slice ginger orange zest
Taisteal Old Fashioned
- 60ml Taisteal Explorer’s Blend whisky
- 6 drops orange bitters
- Orange zest
- 5ml Frangelico
- Garish with mint, ginger slice and orange zest
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