Hunter's Choice Finest
Blended Whisky*
40% abv
500-/ KES (£3.95)
No, not that Hunter... at least, I don't think so.
Today we will be trying a third Kenyan 'whisky'. A classy way to start the third century of Malt Missions. Monday and Tuesday's drops were from the London Distillers Group and this one is from KWAL.
I put the word whisky in inverted commas because the producers of this spirit call it "whisky" even though it probably has more in common with rum. I am of the belief that whisky should only refer to spirits made from grains, and I am not the only one. The SWA(Scotch Whisky Association) has gone to great lengths to protect the terms surrounding Scotch Whisky, especially in foreign markets, and they continue to do so.
As the top earner in the food and beverage sector of the UK economy and an enormous tax revenue for the state, the governement takes the issue of protecting the product quite seriously (see THIS or THIS). This whisky protection is welcomed by the industry and the SWA. The next frontier is to get international community to agree on similar legal definitions, but producers of molasses-based spirits sold as 'whisky' in countries in the middle east, China, and
India, may not be so keen to play along. Keep your eyes on news HERE.
Tomorrow we will venture into the world of a genuine single malt whisky from India. For now, let's get this over with...
TASTING NOTES:
Definite grain whisky presence, which I guess is a good sign. Raw sweet potato, tea, baking soda, medicine gelcaps, electronics packaging, airport washrooms.
Toasty with a vegetal element mixed with the bready sweetness of malted granary loaves. Quite grainy with fried plantains, and a bit of apple cider.
SUMMARY:
By far the best... or most whisky-like... of the bunch. Could use a touch of the synthetic sweetness that overloaded the Safari (Malt Mission #201). Whatever game he was after, the Hunter made a reasonably good Choice. Still, worth avoiding if you can afford to, but safe to accept if dining with friends or colleagues in Nairobi.
Malt Mission #201
Malt Mission #202
Malt Mission #204
Malt Mission #205
Malt Mission HOME
1 comment:
This is really a fascinating and impressive series of reviews. I don't know that I've ever seen a review of any Kenyan whisky, not to mention three of them. Great job Doc.
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