MEET OUR WHISKY MOODS

Let's go bold...

Big ‘Sherry Bomb’ drams. Powerful peated single malts. And spicy west coast whiskies. The excitement of such powerful flavours is the allure that attracts so many to scotch whisky, and to single cask whiskies in particular. So when you are in the mood for a big whisky, you will feel right at home searching through our latest bottlings in our Bold category. Discover all about our Bold Whiskies here, and how your can use our unique categories to find your perfect dram.

What is single cask whisky by mood?

Scotch whisky is famous for its rich and complex flavours. So complex that any attempt to categorise them quickly runs into dilemmas. The obvious starting points are the fruity, spicy, or smoky drams. But how about the fragrant ones, the medicinal ones, and even the meaty ones. The list can quickly get out of hand.

To simplify the process and create a system that is easy for whisky drinkers of all levels of experience to understand, at The Single Cask we categorise our whiskies using five moods, which you can read all about here: An Exciting New Way To Taste Single Cask Whisky. For today, we are taking a close look at one of the most popular categories: Bold Whiskies.

The charisma of Bold Whiskies

For many people, all scotch whiskies may seem Bold. Especially those at cask strength. But once we add a few drops of water and begin to peel back the layers, many subtleties will emerge. However, The Single Cask Bold category of whiskies step outside the realms of subtlety.

As the name suggests, these are whiskies for those who seek big flavours. Whiskies that are confident, assertive, and walk with a determined stride. That’s not to say they will be overpowering, simply that there will be no need to go searching for the flavours. Delicious aromas will come bounding from the glass with an eagerness to say hello.

Do not be fooled that Bold Whiskies are one trick ponies either. All the nuances and complexities that you expect from single malt whisky will be there. The difference is that the volume will be turned up when compared to some other whiskies. But what types of flavours should you expect?

How do bold whiskies taste?

One of the main benefits of The Single Cask flavour moods is the open nature of each category, and the Bold category is a great example. It’s more of an overarching feel that the specifics of individual flavours. However, there are certain characteristics you can expect.

Sherry cask whiskies are often associated with characters that we consider Bold. Big spices with cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Dried fruits and toasted nuts. Even dark chocolate, tobacco and burnt sugar. But heavily peated scotch whiskies such as those commonly associated with Islay single malts are also often Bold.

Peated scotch whisky characters include heavy smoke, sweet smoke, and fragrant burning heather smoke. Then of course there are the medicinal tones that range from antiseptic to iodine. Iodine also dips into maritime characters of seaweed and rockpools, but also salty ship’s rope and thick tar. All flavours that we can consider to be Bold.

Naturally this is not an exhaustive list. In our Bold whiskies you may also discover peppery and spicy whiskies. Whiskies thick and viscous with oils and buttery notes. Plus drams that are tenaciously fruity, floral, or sweet. Anything that goes above and beyond when it comes to the vividness and intensity of character.

Are you in the mood for a Bold Whisky?

If you are in the mood for big and dominant flavours, whatever they may be, then a Bold Whisky could your perfect match. These whiskies are for those times when you want to turn the volume up and tell the world just how much you love whisky. When you feel like indulging in a full flavour experience that stimulates the senses in every way.

For many a whisky fan, however, Bold Whiskies may be the go-to style of whisky. But as our moods change from day-to-day, so too do our preferences for flavours. It’s learning how to match the charisma of each single cask whisky with your own mood that lies at the heart of our whisky mood categories.

For example, we also have a category for Cheerful Whiskies, Playful Whiskies, and whiskies that have more uncommon characters, the ones we call Curious Whiskies. Or perhaps you just want to sit back and relax with an Easy-Going Whisky. Whatever your mood we will have a whisky for you. Take an in-depth read about our Cheerful Whiskies next to see how they compare to the Bold category with our guide: The Single Cask Whisky Moods: Cheerful Whiskies.

Shop and explore our bold whiskies HERE >