Springbank 21 Batch 9 (That Boutique-y Whisky Co.)

Bottled in 2018 Batch #9. Bottle 77 of 398. Unless you're deeply interested in sex, enthusiasts of any other subject will discover something superior. As someone who appreciates fine spirits, I constantly risk finding a drink that surpasses sex. I'm regularly tempted with offers of sex, potentially leading me to tell my spouse, “Could we perhaps have that Springbank from That Boutique-y Whisky Company instead?” When you combine one of the world's finest distilleries with one of the premier independent bottlers, you're playing with fire! Can any individual possess the allure of a late 70s Brora; a rustic funk alongside fresh roses; a farmyard aroma mingling with freshly picked berries; a sooty smoke from a linseed oil mill beside candied oranges and papayas? Can anyone taste as captivating, being rich, leathery, and complex? Porridge with walnut oil and honey. Marmalade with orange peels, cocoa, and grass. Every element is perfectly placed. Is this a divine creation? Eve's creation. Or a diabolical deception? Forbidden fruits aged in staves from the tree of knowledge? To argue for the latter: there will be more opportunities for sex than for tasting this whiskey. This is particularly true in the U.S. market, where bottles from TBWC are limited to 375 mL instead of 500 mL. If you manage to get your hands, nose, lips, and tongue on this liquid, sex can wait. And after the experience, you can tell your partner, “Please elevate your sexual performance. This whiskey sets the new benchmark.” Score: **** (better than sex) Bottle cost: $250-300 for 375 mL (half bottle) My valuation of a bottle: $300 for a half bottle

Experienced two distinct batches at a tasting event. One batch was matured in Madeira Casks, presenting vibrant and bold notes of vanilla, raisins, sultanas, floral elements, fruit, pepper, and toffee. The other batch, aged in Port Casks, offered a dark and rich profile with hints of raisins, sultanas, chocolate, berries, toffee, vanilla, pepper, and a subtle smoky finish.