Wemyss have really impressed me over the past 12 months. At last year’s TWE Whisky Show, their single cask bottling of Caol Ila was sublime – far better than any other bottling I tried.
Up here in this tasting is their range of delicious blended malts, showcasing particularly the brand new release: Kiln Embers.
Let’s get started!
The Hive
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Nose: Sweet straw, treacle, herbs, sea salt, boiled sweets
Palate: Lemon throat sweets leading to runny honey – like someone melted a Locket. Barley mixed with salt and pepper.
Body: Quite light and soft, drying at the end.
Finish: Long, oaky and lip smackingly sweet.
More coastal than expected! An easy sipping sweet dram with a good savoury side for balance.
Spice King
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Nose: Nail polish, pear drops, dark sugar, ginger, sandy earth.
Palate: Cinnamon sticks, apple strüdel, golden syrup, chilli peppers
Body: Light and tangy.
Finish: Peppery with mixed nuts
Does what it says on the tin! Lots of barrel spice, like a very fragrant Bourbon.
Peat Chimney
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Nose: Vacuum-packed ham, oatcakes, sea salt, sherbet.
Palate: Fruit and salty smoke. Pears, apples, lemons mixed with coastal spray and charcoal ash.
Body: Thick with beady legs.
Finish: Very oaky and dry with a sherbet tingle and chewy, nutty peat.
Very warming and comforting. Great meaty notes with coastal smoke. A beach BBQ dram. I feel like there’s Caol Ila in it.
Kiln Embers
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Nose: Medicinal TCP and bandages. Burnt bacon. Sweet shop aromas of boiled sweets and sticky lollipops. After a while, a strong smell of sticky peanut butter.
Palate: Starts sweet and fragrant and builds to bonfire and gunpowder. Oranges, peaches and cream briefly before hot smoke and a deep, numbing chilli pepper burn.
Body: Viscous and mouthcoating.
Finish: When the fire calms down to embers, it leaves hot salted peanuts and peppery oak with buttery, burnt fried cabbage (nicer than it sounds!). Very long and moreish.
Reminds me very much of Big Peat. I think there’s some Ardbeg in this. Very nice stuff indeed. I think a bottle is in order for the Winter months.
Thanks to Steve Rush and the folks at Wemyss Malts for another great selection of whisky!
