ABV: 63.7 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and powerful. At first there’s a hefty cloud of high ABV floating around on top of a dark pool of espresso, ripe and dried fruits and cacao. When it starts to settle the fruitiness becomes a bit brighter with some fresh fruits mixed with raisins and overripe plums. A vanilla sweetness starts to rise out towards the edges and a leather note appears in the center. The whole is very rich on the nose. The oak is also detectable and it’s a mild oakiness without any sharp edges. This is a fantastic nose which never seems to stop morphing into something different, yet within the same flavour profile.

Mouth: It starts out with a big hit of the high ABV and it’s almost over the top. Underneath the spicyness it feels very balanced between the dark sherry notes and the fruity distillate. There are dark chocolate, leather and raisins mixed with fresh apples, malt, vanilla, toffee and some dusty wooden shelves. There are some almonds floating around as well. The background has a lemon sourness and a coffee bitterness. It’s not as dark on the palate as on the nose but it feels like a logical and interesting development.

Finish: The powerful spicyness spreads out nicely. It’s certainly making a statement at this point but doesn’t feel like it’s attacking the palate. It’s a dusty and bitter start to the finish but it soon shifts towards a mix of lemon, leather, almonds and oak. A floral note is floating around on top as the oakiness start to take over. It’s a dry oakiness which has a nice mix between new and old. It stays around for a long finish. This is a fantastic whisky which is really fun to explore. (It becomes even better with a splash of water!)

Additional information
This whisky was aged in a single ex-Oloroso sherry butt (No. 900372). It was distilled 2008 and bottled 2022. The bottle tried is no. 487/678. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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