Whisky from the GDR


July 21, 2017

Whisky from the GDR!

After all those crazy Kavalans, this is going to be a solo session, as I haven’t found anything ‘smart’ enough to stack up against this strange, intriguing whisky…

Whisky of GDR 24 yo before 1989/2013 (59.8%, Regensburger Whisky Club, single cask, 85 bottles)

The exact year when this whisky from the German Democratic Republic was distilled is unknown, but history tells us that that couldn’t have been after 1989. If I understand everything it probably stemmed from a long forgotten cask from the Falckenthal Söhne Distillery, where they used to make Der Falckner, an East-German brand that I’ve already tasted in the past (it was not horrible at all, WF 70). Colour: full amber. Nose: hey, this is surprisingly nice! Starts with peonies, ripe raspberries, marmalade and Vicks’ best, goes on with more vanilla, brioche and butterscotch, and goes more towards a blend of lighter grain whisky (maize) with sweet rum. Very nice tarry/honeyed background, behind more and more buttered popcorn.

With water: lovely, really lovely. More buttered popcorn, kugelhopf, Macadamia nuts, halva… They must have used a very good cask. Mouth (neat): very strong, a bit harsh. Kirschenwasser and more popcorn, with a few raisins and something varnishy/bitter in the back. But it’s still surprisingly good… With water: much better. Excellent tobacco notes, thyme tea, gritty liquorice, and old walnuts. A little bitter oak as well, but that’s fine. Also very dried raisins.

Finish: long, rather more tea-ish, and that’s the oak speaking out. Earthier and rootier aftertaste, while the raisins are back. Comments: exactly not a Trabant of the whisky world. I’m very surprised, and thoroughly impressed. But I guess this very rare bottling has become ‘unfindable’, Donnerwetter! SGP:462 - 88 points.

(And danke schön, Phil!)