Words by Colin Hampden-White
There are plenty of spirits companies out there not only producing whisky but gins and vodkas as well. They usually make these white spirits to keep the company afloat until the whisky is ready. There are also very large companies that produce both white and dark spirits by the nature of the size of their business, and they are very good. However, it is not often a company comes along whose business model is to make a range of spirits by blending and creating rather than purely distilling.
The spirits I am talking about are created in Edinburgh by J.G Thomson, they are made in batches and include gin, rum, and whisky. As a whisky lover, naturally, I wanted to try the whiskies and was delighted to find that they have made whiskies that are easy to understand. Before regionality is talked about at all, it is the flavour that headlines the label.
I had bottles of Sweet, Rich, and Smoky. They were all blended malts with the smoky all coming from Islay. They all tasted as the label described, but there was more to them than that simple label. One could tell these had been created with care and attention. The flavours were complex and incredibly well balanced, which has already borne them fruit with several accolades, including a Masters Medal at the spirits awards for Rich, and several gold medals.
To gain medals these days, whiskies need to stand out from the crowd, as well as being balanced and complex, they need something extra, and these whiskies have that extra pizzazz. My favourite was the Rich, which when visiting good friend Charles McLean recently, I got to try again at leisure with more than a small sample, and it reaffirmed my first thoughts, and Charles too was suitably impressed. But don’t just take our word for it. Try them for yourselves and find out which flavour you enjoy most.
J.G. Thomson Sweet
Using whiskies matured in new toasted and heavily toasted casks, and a mix of medium and heavy chars, with even more toasting on the cask heads, gives lots of sweet flavours of toffee and custard and maple syrup balanced with orchard fruits and a little spice. There is a little marzipan and spice on the finish too. If it’s a sweet whisky you are after, then this should hit the mark.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50
J.G. Thomson Rich
This expression used ex bourbon casks as well as Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks all in varying sizes from quarter casks up to sherry butts. The flavours are certainly rich with lots of dried fruits including figs and apricot with a little citrus zest and spice. The spices are complex with ginger and nutmeg and a little chilli heat on the finish. A touch of honey comes through right at the end. A real fireside sipper.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50
J.G. Thomson Smoky
This final whisky of the trilogy I tried was made with casks all from Islay and matured in ex-bourbon casks as well as Pedro Ximénez casks. There is certainly a good amount of smoke in the flavour of this whisky, but it isn’t a smoke bomb. There are lots of sweet flavours from the PX casks giving balance making this very approachable. It has a little bit of everything with sweet, rich smoky flavours and some spice too. If you like a decent dollop of smoke, then this will set you alight.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50