When Game of Thrones concludes this year, it brings to an end eight years of murder, betrayal, incest, war, familial feuding, confusing tree people and castration. Not surprising that those of us invested in the machinations of Westeros feel like we need a good, strong drink.
It's fortuitous, then, the Games of Thrones single-malt scotch whisky collection launches in Australia this week. Seven whisky distilleries across the UK have come together to create a collection of inebriants, each representing one of Westeros's major houses [plus one for the besieged Night's Watch].
Our Scotch-loving, GoT-obsessed reporter Tristan Lutze tested all of the single malts, and miraculously survived the episode.
House Tully: The Singleton of Glendullan Select [Photo: Supplied]
House Tully: The Singleton of Glendullan Select
In ruins after a series of invasions and the events of the infamous Red Wedding, few are more deserving of a glass of whisky than those in House Tully. Although pleasantly sweet, with softened hints of spiced baked apple, it also seems slightly watery. Fitting, perhaps, for the House that oversaw Westeros's River Lands.
House Greyjoy: Talisker Select Reserve
Like the Greyjoy's Iron Islands, Talisker's dominion is beset by water – it's the only distillery on the Scottish island of Skye. The resulting whisky has notes of Sichuan pepper, a pleasant smokiness and a natural saltiness. In short, it's delicious but it probably won't take your mind off being castrated by the psychotic Ramsay Snow.
House Stark: Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost
There's no season better suited for a dram of whisky than winter, so it's nice to know that it's on its way. This aromatic honey-scented drop leaves a hint of smoke on the palate, perhaps in a nod to this season's upcoming Battle of Winterfell. While I still haven't recovered from Ned Stark losing his head, the whisky is beginning to go to mine.
Our fearless reporter Tristan Lutze [Photo: Supplied]
House Baratheon: Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old
A delicious whisky, this one, with rich cake and butter notes befitting the hedonistic late king. There's a slightly bitter aftertaste, though it's hard to tell if it's separate to the bitterness I still feel toward that whole relationship between Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.
House Lannister: Lagavulin 9 Year Old
Lagavulin is one of the most legendary names in Scottish whisky. And while the Lannisters are, by and large, a group of irredeemably vile monsters that deserve every bad thing that happens to them, the drink that bears their wretched name is delicious. It's tinged with hints of vanilla, caramel, smoke, and not a hint of the poison that blessedly did in Joffrey.
House Targaryen: Cardhu Gold Reserve [Photo: Supplied]
House Targaryen: Cardhu Gold Reserve
There are two types of people: those who believe Daenerys Targaryen deserves to sit on the Iron Throne, and those who are wrong. Made by a distillery founded by Helen Cumming in the 1800s, this gentle and delicious elixir is more reminiscent of a spiced rum than a traditional Scotch whisky. Nevertheless, even Viserys Targaryen would be happy to have this golden liquid go to his head.
The Night's Watch: Oban Bay Reserve
The double-charred barrels used to make this oaky single malt lend it a rich smokiness and vanilla-infused sweetness, as though a crème caramel had been set alight by an angry dragon. It's just the thing to take the edge off a lifetime's indebted servitude to a lonely battalion of frozen outcasts.
The Game of Thrones whisky collection is on sale at liquor stores nationwide.
Viking-themed restaurant Mjølner will also be hosting tasting nights at its Melbourne and Sydney locations on Sydney 14 April, mjolner.com.au
Comments: Let this one sit in your glass a while before approaching. It dispels some of the medicinal elements.
Adam – There are elements here that really intrigue. The Clynelish Reserve has some nice light citrus and mint dancing on the nose with a fruit undertone. And a whisper of peat that comes out more the longer you let it sit in the glass. The citrus really comes out on the palate, almost too much citrus in a way, as the spices kind of give the citrus elements an extra tang. A little peat peeks in on the palate if you let it sit in your glass a good while! Unfortunately, there’s this other medicinal element throughout that disrupts the experience right out of the bottle, enough to really disrupt the journey. Thankfully, some of that element lessens on the palate if you let it oxidize a great deal of time but I’m a little sad I’ve got to let a scotch sit out a day or two before it becomes anywhere near approaching enjoyable. Overall, the youth is showing and the good elements I associate with the distillery are too subtle and too easily tarnished by the off parts.
Meghan – With some water, there is an element of wet wool.
With water, it’s almost juicy fruit gum.
Ben – The finish reminds of when you’re sick and maybe you’ve had some soup, and you’re doing some healing, and how your tongue feels like when you’re eating something when you’re healing. With water, it’s almost juicy fruit gum. The water makes it so much fruitier.
Kate – The nose hit me right away as cinnamon roasted apples. There’s apples, cinnamon, a little lemon [like you sprinkle over the apples so they don’t turn]. It’s hot on the nose. There’s also a hint of oak and a medicinal/menthol flavours. The finish is long and reminds me of oranges with cloves in them. The Clynelish Reserve reminds me of being in a horse barn with the smells of sweet hay, oak, horse sweat.
Henry – Baked apple, candied tangerine peel, and Meyer lemon on the nose. There’s fresh earthy peat in there, but it blends really well with the brighter fruit elements. A tannic punch right in the middle along with some heat surprises on the tongue, but the spiced citrus returns for a pleasant sweet finish. Just a little water tones down the heat.
Kristin – I like Clynelish Reserve with the water. It has strong flavors. It’s robust. The menthol really stuck out to me. I taste the mint more with water.
Are the Game of Thrones whiskeys good?
Lagavulin 9 Year OldA whisky as rich as the Lannisters, this is a fantastic Lagavulin full of all the thick peat smoke and sweet, chewy, citrus-fruit notes you'd expect from the distillery. Golden caramel and vanilla join the fray, alongside a flash of vibrant greenery.
Is Game of Thrones whisky collectable?
In collaboration with Diageo, 9 iconic, limited release single malts have been paired with the 7 kingdoms of Westeros and the Night's Watch, to create a truly unique collection that's a must for series fans and serious collectors alike.
What is the world's best single malt whisky?
best single malt whisky.
Balvenie Caribbean Cask. 267 Reviews. A terrific single malt from The Balvenie. ... .
Staff Pick. Glenfarclas 15 Year Old. 140 Reviews. ... .
Price Drop. Yamazaki 12 Year Old. 132 Reviews..
How many Game of Thrones scotches are there?
A big range of bottles from the legendary Game of Thrones series, 8 Single Malt Scotch whisky's and 3 Scotch Blended Whisky's.