The Remnant Whisky Company "The Scoundrel"

Aroma: Primarily a cereal and fruit aroma, light and crisp with clearly defined cereal notes. Tropical and stone fruits (pineapple and peach) and dried figs. After an initial taste, some mild spice aromas are detected, and the sherry cask influence becomes apparent after it rests in the glass for a while. A touch of evident alcohol is the only flaw with the aroma, but this disappears with a splash of water. Palate: A well-balanced, measured arrival. It leans slightly sweet with fruit (peaches, pears, coconut) and gentle spices (cinnamon and ginger). The spiciness increases during development but is balanced by the sweet, jammy fortified wine cask influence and some vanilla from bourbon casks. Adding half a teaspoon of water causes no harm – the palate remains essentially the same but is a little more refined. The texture is very good – velvety and luxurious. Finish: Medium. Sweet spices and a slight gingery heat fading into caramel. A delightful whisky that resembles a cereal-forward highland malt – it's quite similar in character to Glencadam. There's an interesting background to this whisky. In the early 2000s, a distillery named Nant was established in Tasmania. The owner, whether intentionally or due to poor management, defrauded numerous investors, tradespeople, creditors, and so on, leading to the distillery's collapse and bankruptcy. He vanished, leaving behind many unpaid debts and disgruntled individuals, along with a few hundred casks of whisky (when thousands were expected). The distillery was acquired, and the new owners evaluated the remaining casks but deemed them of little value. The original investors had resigned themselves to significant losses, but then Peter Bignell of Belgrove Distillery intervened. He formed a group called Remnant (Rem-Nant, get it?) to purchase the old stock at favorable prices, intending further maturation, re-casking, and blending. This release, “The Scoundrel” (named in honor of the original owner), was the first single malt released by Remnant. They have since released “Black Spot,” “Fly by Night,” and others. There's nothing specific to criticize about this whisky, and Peter has done an excellent job of blending several 'challenging' casks to create something greater than the sum of its parts. However, while it is a good whisky, it's not a great one – simply good. 'Good': 84/100 (3.75 stars)