Elsburn 3 yo Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company

Volume: 0.5 litres | Alcohol content: 48.8% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A former Marsala cask shapes this young single malt from the Harz region. Elsburn Batch 2 matured in it for three years before That Boutique-y Whisky Company bottled it for the Wine Cask Series. Marsala is a fortified Italian dessert wine; its cask influence brings pronounced fruity and nutty aromas to this whisky.

The Wine Cask Series brings together whiskies from different countries that have undergone either full maturation or a finishing period in wine casks. The illustrated label also tells a local story: Anna and Martina play music above the distillery while a dragon keeps watch below. The artwork draws on the legend of the wingless Hazelworm from the mountains near Zorge.

The whisky is bottled at 48.8% without chill filtration or added colouring. The bottle contains 0.5 litres and comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, dark chocolate and black cherries mingle with sweet pipe tobacco and walnut oil. A delicate smoky note recalls charred wood.
• Palate: The whisky is full-bodied and balanced on the palate. Black cherries and juicy dates meet dark, bitter chocolate.
• Finish: Coffee, crunchy toffee, freshly baked bread and raisins linger on the medium-length finish, accompanied by a hint of orange peel.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hercynian Distilling Co. / Hammerschmiede is based in Zorge in the Harz region. Spirits have been produced there since 1985; the first casks of spirit destined to become whisky were filled in 2002, and the first Harz single malt was released in 2005. Production involves French oak washbacks and double distillation in wood-fired pot stills. During the second distillation, Anna Buchholz or an experienced distiller determines the cuts between heads, heart and tails. The heart is reduced to 60% with spring water before cask maturation.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company is an independent bottler that selects whiskies from distilleries around the world and also creates its own blends. Its range includes small releases and bottlings whose character differs from a distillery’s usual style. The hand-drawn labels tell stories about each whisky’s origins and the people behind it.

Facts: