Kingsbarns Dream to Dram

Note: I am participating in the Really Good Whisky Company Advent Calendar. I've also chosen to pour these whiskies "blind" (or as close to it as possible), providing notes on the nose, palate, and finish. I will then examine the label, proof, cask type, etc., before writing my other observations. I'll offer some estimations regarding proof and cask type, and then see how inaccurate they are. Cheers! Nose: Back to standard cask territory – ex-bourbon, perhaps? Not heavily oaked. Definitely malt whisky. There's a subtle funk, but I don't dislike it. I'm detecting Cheerios with sugar and bananas, along with apples and honey. It's slightly herbal, with hints of mint and flowers. Lowland? Just a guess, no credit for this one. I'm estimating around 10 years of age, though it could be younger. Syrupy canned peaches. Nutmeg and anise – softer baking spices, plus a slight white pepper tingle. Now I'm getting strawberries. Palate: Is that smoke? Strawberries, apricots, bananas. Toasted malt. Lightly sweet, with a possible hint of salt or minerality. Perhaps coastal? The flavor profile makes me suspect either some charred new oak, a type of smoke, or something I can't quite identify. The proof seems to be around 47%. With not much oak character, the heat is likely from ethanol. Bitter chocolate. Persimmon and pear. Hot cinnamon and clover, along with a touch of nutmeg. This is bright and vibrant, hitting the entire tongue – effervescent. It has a medium-light but oily mouthfeel. Finish: A gentle wave of tropical fruits, coconuts, grains, and ethanol. Banana, honey, and cream gradually emerge, followed by a hint of vanilla. It lingers for a considerable time – medium-long duration, likely due to the oiliness. Other notes: It lacks an age statement, but the color suggests it's relatively young. There's certainly no new-make funk detected, at least not overtly, though it might be present. The ABV is 46%, so my guess was close. I won't claim credit for the region as it wasn't an informed deduction beyond what it didn't resemble; that was a complete shot in the dark, mostly driven by my own hopes of progressing in the calendar. Regarding casks, this is a combination of ex-bourbon and first-fill STR (shaved, toasted, and re-charred ex-Portuguese red wine casks). That new charred oak explains the smoke I detected on the palate. Without the extensive aging and climate found in Kentucky bourbons, I imagine this layer of char is where most of the barrel character from the STR comes through. Without more time, other oak characteristics wouldn't have as much impact. This was a decent dram. An enjoyable exploration of the Lowlands, and those STR casks impart some nice character. It's not something I'd necessarily purchase a full bottle of, though I could see myself enjoying a glass at a bar occasionally. Cheers!

Introducing a new whisky from a new Lowland distillery: Kingsbarns. Dream To Dram is their initial, regular offering and I believe it contains whisky blended from stocks aged 3-4 years, making it technically a single malt Scotch. The malts were sourced from first fill, ex-bourbon casks and first fill, toasted & re-charred wine casks, with the ex-bourbon casks providing the majority of the liquid. It's bottled at 46% ABV and I purchased this bottle online for $46. It's a very pale yellow color (entirely natural and non-chill filtered) and produces sparse, thin legs and very tiny drops when swirled in the glass. The nose features lots of biscuity grain and banana bread with nice hints of vanilla, orchard fruits, and lemon zest. Fresh cut oak also appears, along with some ground white pepper if you investigate deeply. The palate shines with apples, pears, and honey sweetness. More vanilla and oak emerge mid-sip, shifting this towards a heavily bourbon-influenced dram. A youthful zip and a slight harshness, much like a young American bourbon (without the corn), keeps this pretty well-rounded—though the higher ABV doesn't create as much heat as I expected. The finish was medium in length and generally dry, with some harsh abrasiveness that's a little difficult to handle. I did notice this aspect faded somewhat as I consumed the bottle and some oxidation helped smooth it a bit more, but it also dulled the orchard fruit flavors negatively. Overall, there's significant promise with Kingsbarns in my honest opinion. Seven or eight years in the barrel will likely do wonders, as would some sherry cask finishing, I believe. This initial release is still solid, especially if you prefer your Scotch whisky to resemble bourbon. This could make some nice, fruity cocktails and even hold up with an ice cube or two. 3.25 stars with a quarter star bonus for the elevated ABV and reasonable price. I'll definitely be watching for future releases from this distillery. Cheers.

The tenth stop on the SDT is Kingsbarns. This Lowland distillery is a recent entrant to the scotch scene, established in 2015. Dream to Dram, their inaugural general release, is a NAS single malt, essentially a 3+ year old. It's aged primarily in first-fill bourbon casks from Heaven Hill, with some heavily charred wine casks also used. Bottled at 46% ABV, it is non-chill filtered and possesses a natural light white wine color. This sample was provided by a friend who joined me in acquiring some nice bottles for this little bonus round of our journey to sample every active (and some inactive) Scottish distillery. Upon nosing, you're immediately greeted by warm, creamy vanilla. It's very fruity, with baked pears and apples, and some green grapes. Green oak, coconut, lemon, and a very perfumed, floral quality are also present. Quite impressive for such a young whisky, with some light barrel char and subtle wine notes. Anise, menthol, herbal, and barley sugar notes, along with pineapple and green bananas, are detected. The palate is intense and spirity. It has a slight roughness but is also smooth. Significant sharp oak, anise, licorice, ginger, and herbal notes are prominent. There are hints of toffee and vanilla, honey, and a slightly malty character. Pears, lemon, and pineapple are also present, with occasional chili spice. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and mouthwatering. The finish is medium length, featuring pears, oak, vanilla, and a dry quality. I recall a few years ago when Ralfy, the esteemed reviewer, visited Kingsbarns and interviewed the young men managing the distillery. I believe one was the master distiller, who mentioned their aim for a lighter style with a pear profile. Well, they achieved it; there are plenty of pears here. It's surprisingly good for a 3-year-old, and I'd love to see its development with another 5-10 years of aging. It's certainly spirity and young, but it also boasts great flavors. It's not overly complex, which is expected at this age. If you're seeking a good, traditional, bourbon-matured scotch, keep an eye on Kingsbarns in the future. 3.75 Cheers

This was shared by a friend a long time ago from a tasting group that's now defunct. I'm a slow taster, sampling perhaps once a week and only drinking on weekends (Friday through Sunday). Well, tonight is a tasting night... A warm lemon vanilla aroma greets you, accompanied by ripe orchard fruits like pears and Gala apples. Toasted coconut, dried pineapples, slices of green bananas, and almond shavings are sprinkled in. As it sits and opens up, a fruity red wine character becomes apparent. It enters the palate bright, clean, and brisk. The flavors are subtle but detectable: ginger root, vanilla extract, lemon juice. This acidity is balanced by the sweetness of apples, malt chocolate, and waxed honey. The finish is medium in length, with slight woody, spicy, and dry notes. Vanilla and lemon oil conclude the flavors on the palate. A decent pour that's still developing. The nose is pleasant, but the palate could be more complex and deeper. With a few more years of aging, this will be exceptional. I look forward to that day. [85/100][Tasted: 5/29/20]

I had the opportunity to sample 10cl from this very new Lowland distillery. If memory serves, their first whiskies appeared on the market around December 2018. The bottle actually reads 'Dream to Dram'. Bottled at 46% ABV, a good strength for a Lowland. On the nose, it's lovely. Oranges. Faint chocolate. Tangerine. A beautiful aroma right from the start. Refined malted barley. Crushed almonds. A citrusy punch. On the palate, it's your typical Lowland whisky: Orange caramel and Chocolate. A very nice taste. The oranges reminded me of Glenmorangie Original. Dulce de leche, and some citrus notes. The finish is well-executed. Cocoa powder, Milk chocolate, Dulce de leche. A hint of ginger spice that envelops the overall sweetness. Overall, a very complex dram for a lowland. Highly enjoyable. Citrusy and sweet. Hints of hay are also present. 88 out of 100; I anticipate great things from this distillery.

Nose: Pears, pineapple, apple, vanilla, oak Palate: Coffee, grainy, light, pears/apples Finish: Coffee, tiramisu, artificial banana candies (the soft, foamy kind that taste intensely fake, yet undeniably like 'fake' banana!) Barrel aging: 1st-fill ex-Bourbon casks from Heaven Hill distillery in Kentucky, and 1st-fill STR barriques Distilled in 2015. Light, grainy, and somewhat fruity. This is a straightforward and modest light dram - simple and refreshing.