The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
Rating: B+
October 2013 sees the largest release of Wemyss single cask whiskeys yet.
(Credit: Wemyss Malts)
October has brought not just autumn, but the largest Wemyss single cask release yet, with a full dozen limited expressions on offer. With so many scotches, Wemyss has managed to cover five separate regions this time around (Islay, Speyside, Highlands, Lowlands and Campbeltown), and I’m sure the people at Wemyss Malts were challenged to come up with names that were new, interesting, and fitting for all those expressions.
Tarte Au Citron is a 15 year old from Auchenostan, and the run for this particular whiskey is limited to 342 bottles. Like all of the Wemyss single casks, Tarte Au Citron is bottled at 46% abv.
The Scotch
In the glass, the whiskey has the pale yellow and translucence of a lighter white wine. The nose is a bold one, lying in a place where smokiness meets hot cinnamon.
In contrast with the nose, the flavor of Tarte Au Citron is strongly woody. The hot cinnamon is there too, joined by pie spices and a bit of a zesty citrus note, plus a whiff of smoke.
Despite that interesting and reasonably sophisticated flavor profile, it’s the finish that is by far the most interesting facet of this scotch. In a departure from the norm, the finish is the most complex part of this whiskey, with its well-balanced aftertaste of lemon, cinnamon, and smoke. Instead of contemplating the nose, a drinker should sit back and quietly enjoy the finish, as those flavors linger and wind down in a melting stream of warmth.
The Price
Tarte Au Citron is priced with online retailers for approximately €90 or $125.
