Bain’s Symphony Whisky

The other day I reread the blog post I wrote at the end of 2017, where I was lamenting that there is only the standard Bain’s single grain whisky available. Even though Distell had older whisky available in casks, they were reluctant to release more liquid as the brand was still relatively small.

Fast forward four years, and today I have added the Bain’s Symphony 7 year old single grain whisky release to my collection. It is wonderful to see this small grain whisky brand going from strength to strength and finding its feet, in SA but also on the world stage.

The Bain’s Symphony is the 8th bottle of Bain’s release in my collection. They first released the Bain’s 15 yo whisky, and it is probably one of the best drams I have ever tasted. This was followed by the 18 year old series with a Fino Cask, Oloroso and a PX cask. Earlier in 2021, a Shiraz Cask finish landed and then a 21 year old Double Wood whisky.

Also Read: Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky

And then, out of the blue, they dropped the Bain’s Symphony 7 year old whisky. It is a limited release, produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Western Cape. The standard Bain’s is a NAS release that spends about 6 years in bourbon casks; the Symphony is aged for 7 years in bourbon casks before being aged for 3 months in a “sonic cellar” at the distillery.

The Bain’s brand team played South African artist Tellaman’s music into the barrels, which caused the maturing whisky inside to move and constantly interact with the wood. I will not think too deeply about the physics behind this, and John did frown a bit and mumbled something about Brownian motion. We both agree, South African music makes everything better, and in the end, the ultimate test is taste.

JSD released a total of 6,000 bottles. The standard Bain’s is bottled at 43%, the Bain’s Symphony single grain whisky is bottled at a respectable 48.6% ABV.

Bain’s Symphony 7 year old Whisky Review

I have bottle 4 886 / 6 000

COUNTRY: South Africa

ABV: 48.6%

COLOUR: Sunrise gold

NOSE: Rich and bold with tropical fruit, banana, toasted wood, grain sweetness and vanilla. Thick and oily with bits of toffee and freshly baked Hawaiian sweet rolls.

PALATE: Bit of alcohol heat, but it is warming and not overwhelming. The oily spirit coast your mouth with condensed milk, nutmeg, and toasted grains. Hints of vanilla and dark chocolate balances with tropical fruit, banana and freshly milled black pepper. Water makes it even more drinkable and sweet. But it is perfect without water. Just delicious.

FINISH: Toasted oaky goodness with grain sweetness and bits of vanilla. A long and smooth finish.

RATING: DIVINE

It has the classical Bain’s notes of toasted oak, vanilla and banana, but all the notes are elevated. It is basically a Bain’s on steroids! The extra time in the barrel and the higher ABV makes a massive difference between the Bain’s and the Symphony. The Symphony is more complex, with bolder flavours and texture. It is perfect! Just perfect!

I was hesitant to give the Bain’s Symphony whisky a Divine rating. We are always conscious of the fact that we might rate South African whisky more positive because it is a proudly local product and not purely on the merit of the liquid.

I did however look at the level of my bottle about two weeks after buying it and it was nearly empty. That was enough to convince me, it is divine and not a skewed rating based on my love for JSD.

And at a retail price of R360, it is worth drinking over and over. (About $25 or £ 18.50)  The bad part is that there are only 6 000 bottles available. This is only the second Divine rating for this year (the first was the Port Askaig 8 yo) and taking the retail price into account, this will easily rate as my nicest dram for 2021.

Now to stock up on a few more bottles. And then to have the maturity and patience to let a bottle or 2 lie unopened until next year so that I can enjoy the beauty all over again. I was very happy to also pick up some James Sedgwick branded Glencairn style glasses to sip my proudly SA whisky from.

A Bain’s 15 yo Sonically Matured whisky has also been released and I have captured my tasting notes for this release as well.