250 YEARS OF
SIR WALTER SCOTT

Raising a whisky in celebration of the written word

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Great writers are measured by the impact of their words – and the greatest are the ones who change how we communicate. Sir Walter Scott either coined or popularised many iconic phrases in his writing – short, pithy aphorisms that have become indispensable aides to the modern English we use today.

We have chosen four of our favourite ‘Scottisms’ to celebrate 250 years since the birth of this great writer, showcasing them on bottles of single malt Scotch Whisky with four different cask finishes. These phrases have given as rich a colour and flavour to the English language as the casks have given to the whisky!

The four whiskies combine elegant modern design with some of the sensibilities of 19th century style. They are presented on an oak stand that appears like a particularly rare & valuable book from a judiciously stocked private library.

Whisky was very much part of the allure of the Highlands in Sir Walter’s novels. His characters from the Highlands were enthusiastic drammers, and he himself celebrated whisky while entertaining his guests at his home in Abbotsford. His eulogising on the subject may well have changed the Victorian outlook on whisky, setting the stage for the regard in which the spirit is held today.

“I wish for a sheep’s head and a whisky toddy against all the French cookery and Champagne in the world”

In 1822, Sir Walter plied the visiting George IV with a dram of Scotch whisky, which turned out to be very much to the monarch’s tastes. The very next year, an act of parliament overturned the repressive taxes that had driven highland whisky distilling underground. Coincidence? We say: unlikely!

We recognise Sir Walter Scott for the role we are certain he played in letting whisky fly free, by releasing this set of four fine single malts in his honour.

Whisky was very much part of the allure of the Highlands in Sir Walter’s novels. His characters from the Highlands were enthusiastic drammers, and he himself celebrated whisky while entertaining his guests at his home in Abbotsford. His eulogising on the subject may well have changed the Victorian outlook on whisky, setting the stage for the regard in which the spirit is held today.

“I wish for a sheep’s head and a whisky toddy against all the French cookery and Champagne in the world”

In 1822, Sir Walter plied the visiting George IV with a dram of Scotch whisky, which turned out to be very much to the monarch’s tastes. The very next year, an act of parliament overturned the repressive taxes that had driven highland whisky distilling underground. Coincidence? We say: unlikely!

We recognise Sir Walter Scott for the role we are certain he played in letting whisky fly free, by releasing this set of four fine single malts in his honour.

Ben Nevis Distillery

In the year that Sir Walter Scott published ‘The Betrothed’ and ‘The Talisman’, a new Distillery was founded at the foot of Scotland’s tallest mountain. Since 1825, Ben Nevis distillery and the whisky made there have become iconic of the Highlands that Scott loved so well. A relatively short fermentation assisted by brewer’s yeast gives Ben Nevis whisky a robust and chewy feel. This depth of body allows the whisky to cooperate with some of the most robust casks.

We chose an ex-bourbon hogshead of Ben Nevis distilled on the 5th of December 2001 and split the contents into four smaller casks for finishing. These four small casks are wildly different in personality, and have taken the Ben Nevis whisky in four very different directions.

Savoir-Faire

Red Wine Firkin

Mr Gilbert Glossin of Sir Walter Scott’s 1815 novel Guy Mannering may have been a villain, but he was not without cunning or know-how. Sometimes, one has to look to French for the mot juste, and Sir Walter did exactly that, popularising the term savoir-faire in English to describe a kind of competence that also comes with grace and style.

Sometimes a whisky also has to look for the fût juste and in this case, the Ben Nevis malt was crying out for the sophistication of a red wine finish. That’s a whisky with savoir-faire.

Nose:
The first impression is like walking into an upmarket florist; there are many perfumes but it’s hard to initially place them. Analysis gives orange blossom, mild mugwort, eucalyptus and vanilla. The base is seeded brown bread moistened with a little margarine.

Taste:
The brown seeded bread has taken on the identity of banana bread, with an oiliness of salted cashews and peanut butter. There’s a spiciness like mild gingerbread seasoned with nutmeg. Red apple compote follows.

Cask Type Red Wine Firkin
Cask number 1307D
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 55.0%

The Apple of my Eye

Virgin Oak Firkin

Since at least biblical times, people have referred to the iris; the most precious and protected part of the human body, as ‘the apple’. King Aelfred of Wessex did, Shakespeare did, and, in 1816, Sir Walter Scott did, in Old Mortality. This codified the phrase in its modern form – the form we still use today to describe someone of whom we feel particularly proud or protective.

A cask of whisky is a particularly precious thing to us, especially a cask as unusual as a first-fill firkin of virgin oak. We hope you value this whisky as highly – let it be the apple of your eye.

Nose:
There’s a flinty and mineral note sharing airtime with sweetness here. White gummy bears, carbonated grape juice and epsom salts work together. The base finishes with the aromas of hay and wild mushrooms, all stored together in a dunnage warehouse.

Taste:
More robust than the nose advertised. Ripe persimmon, dried dates, plums and apple tarte tatin. The hot wooden aromas of a working sawmill also mingle. Careful when adding water – it disperses the sweetness if not used judiciously.

Cask Type Virgin Oak Firkin
Cask number 1307C
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 53.6%

Lock, Stock and Barrel

Oloroso Octave

In Sir Walter Scott’s letters of 1817 is when this idiom appears. It’s a lovely 3-beat percussive phrase for when you want to express that something is done; completely and to the last detail. Perhaps the ‘barrel’ here is that of a gun, but we whisky folk know a good barrel when we see one, too.

Finished in an octave cask of Oloroso sherry, this Ben Nevis whisky is now rounded out and perfectly matured; Lock, Stock & Barrel.

Nose:
A very dignified nose of oak, perfumed black tea and chrysanthemum flowers overlays a deep note of prunes in armagnac. There’a a middle note of dry tobacco and a soft suggestion of pickled plum to follow.

Taste:
This one combines savouriness and sweetness well. Orange infused milk chocolate joins the armagnac prunes from the nose. A tartness of dried cherries appears and fades to reveal a mineral note of cured meats and light soy.

Cask Type Oloroso Octave
Cask number 1307A
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 51.6%

Tongue in Cheek

Pedro Ximenez Octave

Walter Scott’s 1828 work ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’ may have helped the transformation of this phrase from indication of contempt, to an expression of humorous insincerity – and that usage of it has stuck around to this day. Modern Scottish culture would certainly struggle without the ability to be very tongue in cheek where needed.

We cannot, however, be at all tongue in cheek when we say that we love this whisky, finished in a sweet Pedro Ximenez octave cask. There are still some things that are worth taking seriously.

Nose:
There’s an instant burst of the sweetness of dried figs and a caramel made from demerara sugar. This moves towards the savoury sweetness of grilled cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with pink pepper. The swish of a leather jacket announces the exit of the nose.

Taste:
It’s a dessert whisky, for sure. Oven roasted sweet potato served with demerara caramel and walnut-studded malt loaf. Jujube red dates and infusion of pandan leaf follow.

Cask Type Pedro Ximenez Octave
Cask number 1307B
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 52.7%

Savoir-Faire

Red Wine Firkin

Mr Gilbert Glossin of Sir Walter Scott’s 1815 novel Guy Mannering may have been a villain, but he was not without cunning or know-how. Sometimes, one has to look to French for the mot juste, and Sir Walter did exactly that, popularising the term savoir-faire in English to describe a kind of competence that also comes with grace and style.

Sometimes a whisky also has to look for the fût juste and in this case, the Ben Nevis malt was crying out for the sophistication of a red wine finish. That’s a whisky with savoir-faire.

Nose:
The first impression is like walking into an upmarket florist; there are many perfumes but it’s hard to initially place them. Analysis gives orange blossom, mild mugwort, eucalyptus and vanilla. The base is seeded brown bread moistened with a little margarine.

Taste:
The brown seeded bread has taken on the identity of banana bread, with an oiliness of salted cashews and peanut butter. There’s a spiciness like mild gingerbread seasoned with nutmeg. Red apple compote follows.

Cask Type Red Wine Firkin
Cask number 1307D
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 55.0%

The Apple of my Eye

Virgin Oak Firkin

Since at least biblical times, people have referred to the iris; the most precious and protected part of the human body, as ‘the apple’. King Aelfred of Wessex did, Shakespeare did, and, in 1816, Sir Walter Scott did, in Old Mortality. This codified the phrase in its modern form – the form we still use today to describe someone of whom we feel particularly proud or protective.

A cask of whisky is a particularly precious thing to us, especially a cask as unusual as a first-fill firkin of virgin oak. We hope you value this whisky as highly – let it be the apple of your eye.

Nose:
There’s a flinty and mineral note sharing airtime with sweetness here. White gummy bears, carbonated grape juice and epsom salts work together. The base finishes with the aromas of hay and wild mushrooms, all stored together in a dunnage warehouse.

Taste:
More robust than the nose advertised. Ripe persimmon, dried dates, plums and apple tarte tatin. The hot wooden aromas of a working sawmill also mingle. Careful when adding water – it disperses the sweetness if not used judiciously.

Cask Type Virgin Oak Firkin
Cask number 1307C
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 53.6%

Lock, Stock and Barrel

Oloroso Octave

In Sir Walter Scott’s letters of 1817 is when this idiom appears. It’s a lovely 3-beat percussive phrase for when you want to express that something is done; completely and to the last detail. Perhaps the ‘barrel’ here is that of a gun, but we whisky folk know a good barrel when we see one, too.

Finished in an octave cask of Oloroso sherry, this Ben Nevis whisky is now rounded out and perfectly matured; Lock, Stock & Barrel.

Nose:
A very dignified nose of oak, perfumed black tea and chrysanthemum flowers overlays a deep note of prunes in armagnac. There’a a middle note of dry tobacco and a soft suggestion of pickled plum to follow.

Taste:
This one combines savouriness and sweetness well. Orange infused milk chocolate joins the armagnac prunes from the nose. A tartness of dried cherries appears and fades to reveal a mineral note of cured meats and light soy.

Cask Type Oloroso Octave
Cask number 1307A
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 51.6%

Tongue in Cheek

Pedro Ximenez Octave

Walter Scott’s 1828 work ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’ may have helped the transformation of this phrase from indication of contempt, to an expression of humorous insincerity – and that usage of it has stuck around to this day. Modern Scottish culture would certainly struggle without the ability to be very tongue in cheek where needed.

We cannot, however, be at all tongue in cheek when we say that we love this whisky, finished in a sweet Pedro Ximenez octave cask. There are still some things that are worth taking seriously.

Nose:
There’s an instant burst of the sweetness of dried figs and a caramel made from demerara sugar. This moves towards the savoury sweetness of grilled cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with pink pepper. The swish of a leather jacket announces the exit of the nose.

Taste:
It’s a dessert whisky, for sure. Oven roasted sweet potato served with demerara caramel and walnut-studded malt loaf. Jujube red dates and infusion of pandan leaf follow.

Cask Type Pedro Ximenez Octave
Cask number 1307B
Distillation Date 05/12/2001
Bottling Date 25/11/2021
ABV 52.7%

SCOTTISH CRAFTSMANSHIP

To create this eye-catching set of bottles and the stand they sit upon, we tapped into the knowledge and talents of local artists and craftspeople. We are delighted to work with partners whose workshops we can easily visit, generating skilled work in the local economy.