Breaking Bad
and Scotch whisky; two of the very items which seem to have consumed my life
recently.
It must have
been over a year ago when a chap called Olly Wehring, editor of drinks industry
website Just-Drinks and erstwhile twitter addict (@ollywehring) 'lent' me a
copy of the first season of Breaking Bad on DVD.
Now that the
final season, five, has hit our screens in the UK via Netflix (already making
the idea of having watched season one on DVD seem like a vintage concept) each Monday, it has become
a 'must watch' in my house.
On that
note: when did the word 'season' overtake the word 'series'? I'm not sure I
like it.
But back to
Breaking Bad... It took me a good nine months or so before I even looked at the
DVD which had been lent to me.
I'm one of
those people who, when someone says to me "I think you'll really like
it...", revolts against the idea. It makes me want to really not like
something. Just as when someone says "I think you two would really get
on...". No. No, we won't.
Despite this
unusually pessimistic stance (how can one be a pessimist when supporting Oxford
United?!), it is always a joy to be proven wrong. And this is exactly what
happened with Breaking Bad.
Two episodes
in and I was hooked. A couple of weeks later and I was already on season four.
What had become of me?
As the seasons
develop, main character Walter White is seen imbibing various drinks,
from "Churchill's favourite Champagne", Knob Creek whiskey, cheap Tequila and, of
course, Scotch whisky.
But it was
not until the penultimate episode (shown this week) where, at a bar (I won't
say where, as I've not given a spoiler alert at the start), Walt orders a Scotch- a "Dimple Pinch. Neat."
Dimple Pinch is a blended
Scotch whisky which comes in quite a unique 'pinched' bottle. If you're outside
the US and looking to pick up a bottle of this (to watch alongside your two copies of Mr
Magorium's Wonder Emporium at your Breaking Bad finale party next week) then,
unless you hit specialist retailers such as The Whisky Exchange or Master OfMalt, and pick up a vintage bottle, you won’t find Dimple Pinch here. But you
will find exactly the same drink, in the same bottle, but carrying the title
Haig’s Dimple.
A while back (in 2011) we did
a post on Haig, the man (or men) and the influence the Haig family has had on
both Scottish and Irish distilling, which you can read here.
A fascinating story, it is rightly deserved that Haig’s name remains on a bottle of Scotch whisky and quite
sad that Dimple Pinch’s new found fame doesn’t reference the man himself; for
had Breaking Bad been set in the UK... well, Walter White wouldn’t be in his
predicament to start with (Go, NHS!), but his bar call would have been “Haig’s Dimple.
Neat.”
So here, once again, are our
tasting notes from a vintage bottle of Haig’s Dimple:
Dimple Pinch / Haig's Dimple – Old Blended Scotch
Whisky – NAS - 70pc Proof – 13 1/3 Fl Oz
Nose: The first impression is
of spiced apricots. Almost Bombay Mix but with a tangy, fruity nature behind
it. Over ripe banana notes then peek through, which grow over time. It seem to
me that there is a decent slug of European Oak in here but there is also some
energy from the grain whisky which certainly waves its flag from the medley of
different aromas. As the nose dies off it leaves behind some fresh mint and a
hint of strawberry travel sweet (the ones covered in dusty sugar).
Palate: Banana hits first with a range
of different fruits, from pear drops to red cherry dancing about. But not real
flavours, again the sort you find in boiled travel sweets. No bitterness, but a
touch of sharp, zesty citrus notes which don’t sit brilliantly with the sweetie
notes. However, it makes for a more developing and energetic palate, pulling it
away from “too sweet, sickly” just at the right point.
Finish: Short, slightly spiced with
the lime zest lingering and a hint of liquorice at the death.
Overall: It doesn’t matter when
this blend was put together, it is still a No Age Statement Blended whisky and,
without knowing how ‘exclusive’ it was when it came out, I didn’t hold much
expectation. This more than delivered with a fantastic nose, a suitable palate
which was well balanced if not a little unsubtle in moments and a finish that
leaves you able to refill and go again pretty quickly. All-round, drinkable and
enjoyable.
So if you’re stocking up on Dimple
of any kind, in any country, for the finale of Breaking Bad, then have a go at
seeing how close today’s offerings are from that in the tasting note above.
Enjoy!