I suppose I have been on a kick lately where I like to sample 'non-filtered' whisky. In keeping with that trend I recently ordered a glass of Chieftain's. The Chieftain range is produced by Ian Macleod distillers, producers of whisky, vodka, rum, and more. There is meaning behind the name Chieftain; according to Ian Macleod's, "each bottling must be fit for a King, a Leader or in the Celtic world, a Chieftain". This, like some other whiskies I have discussed (Black Adder, James MacArthur's), is a non-filtered whisky, straight from the cask, a literal expression of the whisky. The Chieftain bottles are limited which makes them, in my opinion, more exciting. As with most things, the thrill is in the hunt; things are more exciting when they are rare and require effort to obtain. That being said, it is still possible to find this particular bottling available - for a limited time.
This bottling is from Glenrothes, distiller of the 'Select Reserve', which I reviewed recently. The whisky in this bottle was distilled in 1998 and bottled in July of 2011. The color of the whisky was darker than the other unchill-filtered whiskies I have tasted, I attribute that to the cask it was matured in because part of the point of these bottlings is to offer whisky that has not been altered with additional flavors or coloring.
With a soft amber color and medium legs I was off to a good start. The nose was rather smooth; this was a bit of a surprise due to the fact that the whisky is of higher alcohol content - 50.2%. The nose was dominated by a fruity aroma but I couldn't put my finger on the particular fruit. The mouth feel of the whisky was a bit on the dry side. It was smooth to taste but it opened up a bit as I swallowed it giving me a slight burn in my throat. The flavor was nothing incredible; it is best described as just a good, smooth whisky. The aftertaste was strong but temporary and left my mouth feeling a little numb.
Rating: 3.5 out of a possible 5 Casks.
Reason: This came recommended to me by my bartender and I agree that it is palatable and smooth, but it lacked the distinctiveness that would have persuaded me to issue a higher rating. I enjoyed the fruity nose and smooth taste but the absence of definable flavor and aroma proved slightly disappointing. This would be a good whisky for mixed company; it was very smooth for being a higher-proof whisky. I would also recommend this for a less-particular whisky drinker. A glass runs in the range of $10 if you can find it, bottles are available in the $50-$60 range. Overall I would say grab a bottle if you're looking to add something interesting and rare to your shelf.
Cheers,
Charles
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