Still, it's appealing that these firms can offer something as particular as a 1970 Tamdhu drawn from cask number 3429, which I have in front of me now to ease the terrible pain of writing. Nothing guarantees that independent bottlings are better than those of the major distillers. The major distillers seek continuity, so that the Talisker fan can rely on his Talisker, the Glenmorangie his Glenmorangie. The independent bottlings are by definition variable. In the sea of scotch are many barrels intended only for blending, not worthy of the independents' spotlight.
Nobody knows how a cask is going to turn out.
The independents say they do know, that they offer the truly authentic, interesting and unusual. The color of maple syrup, almost syrupy in texture, it has, taken neat, a fiery, burnt-caramel flavor, and it leaves what I can only describe as gunpowder flavors on the tongue. Imagine firecrackers set off in a maple sugar shack. This is a wild whisky, a true exotic. Weekends Copyright American Express Company.