Warehouse Liquors: Single Cask Nation Tasting

December 5, 2024

Liz and I attended a tasting tonight, at Warehouse Liquors for Single Cask Nation.

As far as independent bottlers go, we both have enjoyed a lot from Single Cask Nation – and were curious to try out some of their newer offerings.

A few of the bottles to be sampled.

View of the room, before the event.

In attendance – Gene Charness, owner of Warehouse Liquors.

Josh Hatton, talking about the history and approach of Single Cask Nation.

It was fascinating to hear how they started out, very modestly, and slowly grew to where they are today. It was also interesting to hear how about Josh and Gene knew one another, and how they’ve worked together over the years.

Of the small samples we had, I liked the Royal Brackla 9 year (second fill Bourbon). It had a lot of fruit to it, and reminded me a bit of the Abelour new make I got to taste, at the distillery.

Fun bit of trivia: with independent bottlers, sometimes they are not allowed to mention where they get their casks from. But the Blacksboat Bridge is a small puzzle, for anyone interested in looking.

No small coincidence it was next to a Warehouse Liquors store pick from Glenfarclas. I have to say – on the nose, this whisky was just phenomenal. On the palette though, it wasn’t quite what I was expected. Liz and I were both in love with how it smelled, but not as taken afterwards.

Our favorite of the bunch: Single Cask Nation’s Balmenach 11 year (new charred Oak). Definitely the standout of the bunch tonight.

Interestingly, the crowd tonight was a bit more… I don’t know. Different? This wasn’t a Drammers event, and it had a distinctly different vibe. While people seemed to know one another, it felt stuffier, a little more formal or insider-y. If that makes any sense.

The Society tastings have a bit more of a familiar feel (perhaps because we’re starting to become regulars). And several of the Drammers events feel the same way. But tonight felt a bit stiff. Felt like we were there for the whisky, and it didn’t quite feel like a shared experience.

A small surprise: an additional seventh dram, which ended up being a Lagavulin from another independent bottler.

At the checkout, a lot of upcoming events in December and January.

We liked the SCN Balmenach enough to pick up a bottle. And while we were browsing, we also got a bottle of Old Pulteney that was also a store pick. The Old Pulteney is actually pretty phenomenal, and was a delightful surprise.

All in all, I’m becoming a big fan of the store picks. The Teeling store pick is a standup, so for me… they’ve got a pretty good track record so far.

whisky

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