And what better dram to introduce him with than Ardbeg Uigeadail . . .
Freddie: ‘Definitely a strong bourbon cask influence on the nose, with all the usual that entails. Very sweet and spicy. In fact, it reminds me of one of my colognes, Penhaligon’s Elixir as a matter of fact. And then there’s the peat!’
Topper: ‘Smoked ham? Just on the edge of the nose – Not the meat exactly, but the style of smokiness if that makes sense?’
Freddie: ‘They’ve hung the casks out on hooks and filled the warehouse full of woodsmoke?’
Topper: ‘Not exactly, no. But perhaps the distillery workers have been curing ham in there on the fly, while wearing Penhaligon’s Elixir, whatever that is!’
Freddie: ‘I’m wearing it today actually! This whisky does remind me of it though – Soft vanilla, but spicy cardamom and cinnamon. A nice woodiness. Sweet, spicy and musky. Top stuff. Although a 50ml bottle of it is probably about the same price as 700ml of Uigeadail!’
Topper: ‘Perfumed ponce!’
A very nice scent, but unlikely to taste quite as good as Uigeadail...
Freddie: ‘The palate is smoky and almost chewy, like navy tobacco. There’s also tar in there, without being bitter. None of the dark berries found in the Corryvreckan. Perhaps a tiny amount of powdered ginger.’
Topper: ‘I can feel the pepper on my tongue as it hits it. A really nice warm mouthfeel, you can sense it crawling over your tongue. Almost like drinking a hot coffee (it doesn’t taste like coffee, it just has that pleasing feeling of drinking a good espresso). Strong smoke coats the mouth, but it doesn’t hit the back of the throat. Almost as if you’ve had a Honduran cigar with a little vanilla’
Freddie: ‘A very sweet finish. Maybe a cigar, but if so, one which has been preserved in a light honey or golden syrup.’
A honeyed cigar. Proof.
Topper: ‘You can get honeyed cigars don’t you know old chap. Something about drying the leaves with it. I have one here if you fancy?’
Freddie: ‘Well, there’s nothing Mrs. Freddie likes more than when I meet her reeking of whisky and tobacco…’
- G.M. & F.R.
