Around 9 years ago, I visited Busselton, a windy coastal beach town, blessed by the longest jetty in the Southern hemisphere. It was on one such train ride to the edge of the jetty, that I noticed a lovely black dialled constellation neatly sitting on a fellow passenger’s wrist. That was my motivation, and the drive that brought realisation to one of my bucket list items. Omegas do hold a special place, and I have my dad to thank, a modest, humble person who had saved up for a Constellation and wore it proudly for over three decades. Fast forward to the present, here I was sitting on the very same train… I had a black dial too, not the Constellation though but a Speedmaster.
By noon we headed further south from Busselton to Karri Valley, a family friendly resort, not too far from Pemberton. The resort is home to farm animals, archery ranges, kayaking and several cottages built on stilts placed in and around the vicinity. Surrounding the cottages were trekking trails and nature reserves, with ours, in specific, overlooking the lake.
Joining me on this trip was not only family but also a bottle from the house of Talisker, the Port Ruigie (spelt as Port Ree). The expression was launched in 2013 and comes with a no age statement on the bottling. Matured in a combination of European and Ex bourbon refill casks, the whisky is further finished in Ruby Port Wine casks. The labelling also takes a port red shade, different from the original but keeps with the original curves and contours of the traditional Talisker.
ABV : 45.8%
Eye: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry | Caramel Colouring , Non Chill filtered
Nose : Vanilla with a pinch of herbal, earthy nuances. There’s brine and dried fruits, raisins and dark chocolate. Tad fruity, but woody with spiced notes such as cinnamon, white pepper and hints of nutmeg, followed by mild char.
Taste : The sweetness of vanilla, infused with the richness of dried fruits, red apples, plums, and raisins. There’s maritime, smoke and wood; ginger peels with possibly a whisper of cinnamon sticks.
Finish : Medium | Smoke infused with dried fruits, some sweetness and a bit of dryness from the red wine.
The Talisker Port Ruighe is interesting; its smooth, crisp and light but still holds good breadth with decent complexity. It does however fall a bit short of the maritime, coastal nuances with a layer of dried fruits from the Port wine influence – not so much of a show off though.
At AUD $129 (on offer), it seems a bit pricey and misses the mark. The 10 and even some of the distiller’s other expressions seem more multifaceted that the Port Ruighe. It dwells in the realm just above mediocrity, lacking flare, shine and shimmer from the added finishing. A colleague, an acquaintance, but not one that is too bothered to keep a long standing relationship.
Preference : Quite smooth and straightforward, that it does not need any H2O infusion. Having it just as is or with a cube should be A-Ok!!
Slainte!
