Review: Wild Clay Collective Flamingo Edition and Pelican Edition Whiskeys

Glass is out. The new hotness: Ceramic decanters shaped like animals.

Aiko Importers, best known for the World Whiskey Society releases, has launched a new line called the Wild Clay Collective, which “merges premium craftsmanship with creative designs.” Those creative designs get started with decanters shaped in the forms of Pelican, Flamingo, and Rainbow Trout.

Flamingo is a blend of Japanese whiskies, no further details provided.

Pelican is a blend of Japanese whiskies aged in Mizunara oak barrels — but no additional details offered.

Rainbow Trout, “for those who swim against the current,” is an Indiana straight bourbon whiskey, no age statement.

All three are $90, which seems like a solid deal for the decanter alone. But what do I know about fine art?

“Wild Clay Collective is where craftsmanship meets creativity,” said Feliks Shekhtman, Managing Partner of Aiko Brands. “These bottles invite collectors and whiskey lovers alike to savor exceptional spirits while celebrating art, humor, and individuality. This first collection is just the beginning, more wild creations are already in the works.”

We received both Flamingo and Pelican to review, to which we now turn our attention.

Both are 80 proof.

Wild Clay Collective Flamingo Edition Japanese Whisky Fine Reserve Blend Review

Soft, innocuous nose, with overtones of fresh cereal, a bit of lemon, and understated oak elements. Toasted sesame seed and a light touch of dried mushroom evoke a Japanese spirit, at least in an abstract way, but the overall construction feels indistinct and unclear — a mystery blend, for sure.

The palate is equally soft and quiet, a light sweetness quickly rolling over the experience. Toasted sesame oil, toasted coconut, and crushed almonds are all lively and present, though the sum total of these flavors is mostly to add a layer of nuttiness into the mix. They make a natural complement to the grainy underbelly of the whisky, finishing clean but not adding a whole lot of nuance, the coconut element perhaps the most expressive piece of the puzzle. Clean on the finish but a little boozy, it’s clearly composed of young spirits — all of which keeps things fresh and easygoing but not exactly earth-shattering. My best advice is to make highballs for your guests from the whisky, using a particular flourish as your pour the whisky out of a flamingo’s ass. 80 proof. B / $90

Wild Clay Collective Pelican Edition Japanese Whisky Fine Reserve Blend Review

Also quite mild, though with a somewhat more savory nose that features notes of smoked bacon and charred oak barrels, touched with a hint of racy gunpowder. Increasingly meaty as it develops in glass, this whisky eventually wanders its way into the herb garden, with dried sage and rosemary notes adding some herbal punch.

The palate is sweeter than the aromatics would suggest, with a distinct orgeat quality and citrus building behind. Lemon and lime are both in the mix, but sesame notes give the midpalate a cookie-like character that eventually meanders into toasted coconut — shades of the Flamingo expression rearing their head here. The finish is toasty and almost bready, but otherwise fairly short, with nothing at all reminiscent of pelican (meat or otherwise). B / $90

The post Review: Wild Clay Collective Flamingo Edition and Pelican Edition Whiskeys appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.