Cù Bòcan Signature - 46%
From the Cù Bòcan website
A celebration of the subtleties of smoke and perfectly balanced sweetness, Cù Bòcan is an experimental Highland Single Malt that explores innovative finishes to create whiskies full of intrigue and surprise.
Made with lightly peated Scottish barley, distilled every winter in limited batches. Matured in a variety of casks to unlock unusual flavours, creating a subtly smoky and surprisingly sweet spirit.
Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry + North American Virgin Oak Casks. In the whisky that made our name, light smoke intertwines with rich citrus and exotic spices. Subtly smoky, surprisingly sweet, it opens up the world of lightly peated whisky.
Cù Bòcan takes it’s name from the legend of a mysterious hellhound said to stalk the residents of the remote Highland village of Tomatin for centuries. One of the most well known stories of this beast involves a distillery worker who was out walking late at night. All at once, he caught sight of a large black beast with bared teeth and steam spiralling from flared nostrils. Abandoning all reason, he felt the urge to reach out and touch the creature’s dense fur, and as he reached out a trembling hand, he watched in disbelief as the beast dissolved into a cloud of smoke in front of him, leaving nothing but deathly silence.
It’s little wonder then, that when the Tomatin distillery decided to launch a range of lightly peated whiskies, evoking the name of the spectral beast who roams their peat moorlands was an obvious choice.
Appearance: Honey gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling as slow, thick legs.
Nose: Citrus fruit, lemon and orange zest, baked apple stuffed with booze soaked raisins covered in vanilla custard, heather honey and a gentle hint of smoke.
Palate: Light entrance, followed by creaminess which builds in the mouth. Poached pears, orange, gentle sweet smoke, black liquorice, cloves and pepper provide spice. With time in the glass a little worn leather and mocha notes appear.
Finish: Sweet, soft smoke with lightly roasted coffee beans.
Summary: Despite the use of Oloroso casks this is no sherry bomb, the influence being a lot more subtle. This is an elegant well-balanced whisky with more than enough to occupy the palate. Addition of a little water is unnecessary and, for me anyway, detracts from the overall experience.
Currently priced under £40, this is a great value for money whisky which could easily fall into the everyday sipper category for a lot of people. Personally though, I think I’d spend just a little extra and get the Creation #2.
If you would like more information on the range of Cù Bòcan whiskies, please visit the company website.
