When I was asked by the team to contribute a blog, “around 500 words exploring why Batch Strength?”; I thought: that’s a two-word blog: “why not?”’.
Why make Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength: because we could, we wanted to, we thought our consumers (like us) might be interested in it; so, ‘why not?’.
In one camp a Batch Strength is great news: ‘a whisky drinker’s whisky’ they think; in the other camp there’s the ‘that might be a bit strong for me’ feeling. So, why Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength and why should the latter camp be unafraid to try it?
The key to any good drink is balance and at Torabhaig our confidence in our balance is such that we have produced two Batch Strengths for worldwide release at relatively young ages.
We have this balance this young because in making our ‘elegantly rugged’ whisky, we have considerably ‘tamed the spirit’ in the still room. Lots of copper contact with high cut points has resulted in a well-tempered spirit that readily matures to a harmonious, balanced finesse.
We made Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength (61.1%abv) at very roughly speaking five years old and the difference between it and our 46% abv offering was fascinating. The Whisky Advocate awarded us “95” and it was totally justified. The balance at that strength, at that youth was amazing. It was richer, creamier, fuller of body and I thought that not only were the vanilla / honey notes more pronounced, but it seemed to have an even better balance and complexity at the higher strength.
When Torabhaig Sound of Sleat came out earlier this year there was an immediate view that here was a whisky that was really going to lend itself to a Batch Strength edition, which, given that we had long ago decided there would be one, was very fortunate indeed! It really was a case of “why not”?!
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength offers drinkers a clear difference with lots of similarities (!) from the 46% abv. My first reaction was that the added water in the 46% had rounded things out; there is certainly less ‘fire’, but I thought certain nuances had also become less distinct; what Neil (Whiskymaker) calls “smoky, embery stuff” had gotten a little lost at 46% however its wonderful “well-knit” flavour profile translated very well at Batch Strength.
At Batch Strength I thought the sweet spice notes were more definite and I found a distinct candied fruit note that was not apparent at 46%. On adding a few drops of water, the candy seemed to give way to some unctuous, fresh, ripe, peachy, apricoty, notes that I found very appealing. This embodies the “Smoke with Taste” that we like to talk about on our labels. That and the ‘roundness’ from the American Oak are more evident at the higher strength and the balance is ‘spot on’!
So - to those of you who think ‘might be too strong for me’: give it a go because it really does not taste too strong at all. I don’t think the flavour profiles are hugely different – but the Batch Strength shows greater complexity with more precise, definite notes.
As for “why?”; why not?!
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Thanks Bruce, always a pleasure!
No need to overcomplicate things - just a great whisky, worth sharing.
If you’re curious to discover the latest Batch Strength for yourself, just look below for more details on Sound of Sleat Batch Strength - and order your bottle today.
Welcome to the Torabhaig way.
