Sheep Dip Revival

A few years back we carried a 1990 Sheep Dip "Herbridean" Vatted Malt Whisky for about $75 that was part Old Fettercairn, part Dalmore, and part 25 year old Ardbeg.  It was delicious.  I didn't see much more from Alex Nicol and his crazy selection of vatted whiskies until yesterday, when he walked back into K&L and presented me with some familiar names and a couple of fresh faces.  He's got new importation, new distribution, and the prices are more competitive than ever.  I loved all four products and they're all coming into stock today.  We've got plenty of interesting, exciting, expensive whisky.  What about in the under $50 range?  Feast your eyes on these:

Pig's Nose 5 Year Old Blended Whisky $28.99 - Made with 40% single malt, the Pig's Nose drinks like a really tasty, value-priced single malt.  The proportion of grain whisky is almost unnoticeable next to the incredible balance of the Lowland, Speyside, and Islay single malts.  We hope to make this a unique, interesting alternative to the big brand blends we don't currently offer.  I'd choose this over many single malts, let alone inexpensive blended whiskies. Rich, sherry-aged flavors on the entry that last clear until the finish. Yes, please!

Sheep Dip Blended Malt Scotch $39.99 - Created by blending 16 single malt whiskies to create an outstanding blended malt whisky.  Surprising finesse and elegance give way to a majestic and complex pure malty flavor representing all distilling regions of Scotland.  There's all kinds of goodness going on inside this value-priced whisky.

1999 Sheep Dip Amaroso Oloroso Scotch Whisky $46.99 (1 bottle limit) - This didn’t arrive today as scheduled, but it should be arriving in the next week or so.  Keep your eyes peeled.

The mystery malt finally arrives! When the owners of Sheep Dip discovered that some unnamed, yet fully-certified Highland Scotch whisky distilled in 1999 had been sitting in the Oloroso sherry butts of a Spanish Bodega unclaimed, they immediately made an offer to take all of it.  Apparently, a Scottish producer had filled the casks with fresh white dog, but had never returned to collect on his investment.  The bodega owners weren't sure if anyone would even want the whisky at that point.  The sherry really took to this malt, penetrating so deep into the core of the spirit that it's almost unrecognizable as Scotch.  To me, this tastes more like sherry-aged rum, Ron Zacapa or Zaya, but not as overtly sweet.  The vanilla and burnt sugar aromas are supple and inviting, but never over the top.  Anyone who likes Balvenie Doublewood would love this.  One bottle limit per customer because there is a finite amount of this stuff and we can't get very much of it.

Edinburgh Gin $35.99 - Distilled in England on a 200 year old copper pot still called "Jenny," the Edinburgh Gin uses juniper, coriander, citrus peel, angelica and orris root to create a classic, yet decidedly lighter style of gin, perfect for martinis or more subdued, delicate cocktails. After distillation, it's sent back up to Scotland pine heather and milk thistle are then added in an additional maceration.  The result is a tasty dichotomy that harkens back to both old London and old Edinburgh styles of gin production.

-David Driscoll

David Driscoll