5 of the Most Controversial Drams of all Time
Whisky preference, like art, can be highly subjective. While others enjoy a dram on the sweeter side of the scale, others like theirs smoked beyond belief, with so much peat taste to it you’d swear you were tucking into pure earth and bonfire ashes.
While we all like what we like, it has to be said that some whiskies released over the years have been more divisive than Marmite, and more controversial than Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter final. While some have been released to be enjoyed, others have been released purely to grab headlines and stir up controversy.
Whether it’s the taste, the packaging, the marketing campaigns, or the ingredients, there have been plenty of whiskies released over the years which have proved incredibly controversial. It’s these whiskies I’ll be talking about today.
In no particular order, here are 5 of the most controversial drams in history. Full disclosure, not all on the list today are readily available, and I certainly haven’t tried each one.
Starting off with probably the most controversial of all is Gilpin Family Whisky.
If I were to tell you this whisky was created as an art project, as part of an MA designer project for the Royal College of Art, that in itself would be pretty controversial, right? Especially given the rich and storied history of whisky here in the UK. Well, just you wait.
The reason why Gilpin Family Whisky has stirred up so much controversy is down to the fact that it has been made with urine. Yes, you read that right. Specifically, with the urine from people affected by diabetes, as it contains much higher concentrations of sugar.
It sounds gross, and not surprisingly, people weren’t keen on the idea, but it was created with the right intentions, to help raise awareness for diabetes and how it can affect the body, while also looking at sustainability. Talk about taking the p**s.
Apologies to regular readers of the Great Drams blog, as I’ve mentioned Fishky a couple of times over the last couple of years, but come on, how can I write about controversial drams and not include this belter?
Fishky was, not surprisingly, a one-off bottling from the ironically named Stupid Cask. It began its life as a single cask Bruichladdich, which so far sounds perfectly fine. It’s what happened next that really turned heads, not to mention stomachs as well.
The tale goes that, centuries ago, illicit whisky distillers, suffering from a lack of whisky barrels, would distil whisky and store it in casks used by fishermen for storing pickled herrings. You probably know where I’m going with this.
Yes, Fishky whisky was indeed then matured in barrels which had previously contained pickled herrings. A quick search online reveals tasting notes of malt, brine, and heather. Not too bad so far. Other notes include plastic, stomach acid, and butyric baby vomit. Oh, never mind.
A year or so ago, the mainstream media took a break from flooding our screens with depressing headlines to report on a controversial blended scotch whisky with a bottle in the shape of a sub-machine gun, better known perhaps, as a Tommy Gun famously used by mobsters.
Cosa Nostra, which is named after the Sicilian Mafia, drew a lot of headlines and was even pulled from shelves for a while, and investigated by the Scotch Whisky Association for glorifying violence and breaking marketing and advertising codes. It was also condemned by the Italian media and government.
Tasting reviews are also not too favourable, as the spicy, fruity, sweet flavours have been described as generic and incomplete.
While I enjoy a dark coloured whisky now and then, I’m not sure I want my whisky to look like I’m drinking squid ink.
Mannochmore however, decided to try and make black whisky a thing, and released their 10-year-old Loch Dhu whisky. It was not received well.
To achieve the jet-black colour, rather than using squid ink, which I feel would’ve worked better and helped keep things more natural, they used huge amounts of the artificial colouring E150a, which is usually reserved for giving a light caramel colour.
Allegedly, this artificial colouring is flavourless, but reviews suggest otherwise, with many complaining of an artificial, chemical flavour, and virtually no mouthfeel at all.
Finally, we’re finishing this look at the king of the spirits world with the king of rock and roll, as we look at Elvis Midnight Snack whiskey.
It is widely reported that the king’s favourite midnight snack was a sandwich fried in butter, and made from an entire loaf of Hawaiian bread, a jar of peanut butter, ripe bananas, and fried streaky bacon. Guess what this American whiskey is supposed to taste like?
Yes, this is a bacon, banana, and peanut butter flavoured whiskey, and the feedback isn’t great. Some of the main complaints that people have of this whiskey include the fact that it is overly sweet, has a strong artificial taste of banana, and that the bacon flavour isn’t there. That isn’t something I ever thought I’d hear people complaining about when it came to whiskey.
I have to say, even though flavoured whiskies aren’t my favourite, I have tried both Skrewball and Sheep Dog peanut butter flavoured whisky liqueurs and enjoyed them. I’m not sure how I feel about this one, though.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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