From Scotland to Japan, You Should Be Sipping These 3 Fresh and Vibrant Whiskeys This Spring
Spring has officially sprung, and we want to quickly bust the myth that whiskey is exclusively a cold-weather spirit. Sure, bourbon enthusiasts and scotch lovers rejoice and reach for the good stuff each fall and winter to warm their souls, but what about whiskeys for spring?
Whiskey Raiders personality Dani Malka believes every season is whiskey season, so she selected three whiskeys to sip for some springtime sipping. Each of these whiskeys are fresh, vibrant and bright — exactly what the next few months are going to call for.
3 Whiskeys for Springtime Sipping
A Fruity Scotch Finished in Pinot Barrels: Deanston 17 Year Old 2002 Pinot Noir Cask Finish
This vibrant Highland single malt from Deanston is finished in Pinot Noir casks, which lend the pour a distinctive fruity quality.
With an ABV of 50% and a price point that typically hovers around $190, Deanston 17 Year Old 2002 Pinot Noir Cask Finish can be tricky to find in the U.S. If you can’t manage to score yourself a bottle, rest assured, any Pinot Noir–finished whisky will do the trick. There’s just something about that light red wine cask finish that really sings in the springtime.
Pinot Noir is a Burgundian grape that is often found in France but can be found in Germany, Australia and California as well. Whiskies finished in Pinot Noir casks often possess bright, fruity qualities, and this scotch from Deanston is no exception.
The bright nose on the pour delivers a zingy bouquet of fresh strawberries with beautiful vanilla and integrated tannins throughout. Strawberry season has arrived!
A Rich Bourbon That Tastes Like An Orchard Walk: Legent Bourbon
Legent is the quintessential spring whiskey for bourbon — and Japanese whisky — lovers. This whiskey is the direct result of a collaboration between two legends of the whiskey industry: Fred Noe of Jim Beam and Shinji Fukuyo of the House of Suntory. Noe distilled the bourbon, and Fukuyo blended it.
The Kentucky straight bourbon is finished in red wine and sherry casks, lending it a nutty creaminess.
You can pick up a bottle of Legent Bourbon for around $40-$50, and it hosts a mellow ABV of 47%. Even better news, this bourbon shouldn’t be too tricky to find on the shelves.
The bourbon possesses a nutty nose from the sherry cask aging and a pleasantly rich and creamy palate. There are some notes of baked apples and peaches in the pour, and this bourbon is richly viscous, despite its lighter ABV. Legent finishes with a bit of herbaceous licorice, which keeps it lifted and fresh.
A Japanese Whisky That’s as Light as a Feather: Suntory The Chita Single Grain Whisky
The Chita is a grain whisky from Japan’s House of Suntory, a brand that just celebrated 100 years of whisky-making last year. With its light and ethereal texture, aromas of toast and herbaceous qualities, you’ll want to sip The Chita throughout the spring.
You can find a bottle of The Chita for around $100, and The Chita hosts an ABV of 43%. Malka describes herself as a “longtime fan” of this whisky and is very partial to its “easy breezy nose.”
The Chita will appeal to dram drinkers who like more savory flavors, with its aromas of rosemary, herbs and cereal grain. The gossamer-light palate is pleasantly honeyed, and the whisky hosts a shorter finish which makes it dangerously drinkable.
If you want to watch the video to hear more about Malka’s impressions of these springtime whiskeys, you can view the video below:
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