Part 1 of Reviews from The Single Cask Singapore
Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit, and I leapt at the chance to finally return again during my summer conference schedule. I resolved to do a bit more whisky tasting while I was in the country and use my extended stay to drop by new places and meet new people.
One of the bars I was recommended a few times was the Single Cask, an antipodean outpost of the UK-based bottler. The cozy bar and shop sit right inside the historic Chjmes complex, the main chapel of which was the filming location for the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians. The owners and staff were amiable, generous, and ready to talk whisky or soccer with anyone.
We visited right when they opened to avoid the evening crowds that show up when the air cools, and people venture out for dinner and fun. We mostly let the knowledgeable crew pick out the flight for us after they asked about what we liked and what we had had before. Hard to argue with their selections— all the whiskies below were quality, and a few were absolute standouts. We will no doubt be back, perhaps taking advantage of their set Happy Hour flights next time!
Distillery: Longmorn
Bottler: The Single Cask Ltd.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt
ABV: 45.5%. Cask strength.
Age: 18 years. Distilled on 4 June 2002. Bottled on 18 Feb. 2021.
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel.
Price: $22/20ml at The Single Cask Singapore.
Nose: Subtle and fruity, refreshing, tropical fruits, Rainier cherries, white peaches, subtle dry champagne, pear, white chocolate, wood spices in the background with pepper and cinnamon, citrus sorbet.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, fruity up front and earthier at the end, subtle nuttiness, slight metallic zinc sunscreen, mellow tropical fruit and citrus, fresh and slightly grassy at times; a few drops of water elevated a muted melon.
Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with citrus, citrus rind and earth.
Mental Image: Citrus Sorbet at the Spa
Conclusion: A lovely Longmorn with a surprisingly low abv after eighteen years in an ex-bourbon barrel. Considering the low bottle count and abv., I asked the excellent people at the Single Cask whether the cask had been a bit leaky. It turns out that half the cask had been bottled by another individual before the Single Cask took the remainder, which had been left in an inert container. That half cask was split in Singapore between the Single Cask’s namesake bar and their friends at the Swan Song.
I thought this was a lovely example of the fresh fruity nature I love about Longmorn, with some of the nuttier and spicier elements remaining in the background. Yet, I also thought this was missing something— the texture or weight of the whisky was just a bit too light and shallow to really be great. We added a few drops of water to see how that might change the flavors or feel of the whisky; besides the elevation of some really subtle melon to a more prominent position, the whisky stayed relatively the same.
The lighter aspect of the whisky was not without its virtues; in a tasting lineup like the one we did, it made for the ideal dram to warm up with and settle down after escaping the tropical heat. It was akin to a palate cleanser at the beginning of a meal or as a transition from one part to another. Nothing wrong with a good opening act to get the audience warmed up!
Final Score: 80.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 