Tasting Notes
ABV
52%
Region
Speyside
Bottling
Private Finishing Project at Malts Hamburg
Cask type
Bourbon Cask, finished in a 5l Oloroso Sherry seasoned Limousin Oak Cask
Nose
The nose starts off with pleasant sherry notes. Not big sherry with raisins and dry fruits but more subtle and creamy. Lingering notes of ripe walnuts emerge, nicely mixed with Bourbon cask-derived flavours, such as caramel and vanilla. There's also fruity elements coming through with brandy soaked cherries and red apples. Hints of dark chocolate and oak in the background. The alcohol is very well integrated and not pungent at all.
Palate
Bold and intense, however, on the palate, along with sweet notes of cherries, plums and sherry. Fruity and creamy, accompanied by a fairly warming mix of spices - black pepper, ginger and oak in particular. Sweet with vanilla, caramel and malted barley, followed by hints of acacia honey and dark chocolate towards the finish.
Finish
The finish is long, warm and subtle sweet. This is followed by a lingering nuttiness mixed with dark chocolate, even espresso, and a whiff of dry oak on the tail.
With water
More fruits on the nose when a few drops of water are added. There's also more sherry derived flavours as well as lingering walnut notes while the spiciness and oaky tones are significantly tamed. The warming spiciness on the palate is noticeably tamed, too, while the sherry notes, caramel and barley sweetness as well as the nutty tones remain stable. The finish is slightly shorter and dry with walnuts, oak and espresso notes.
Comments
I thank Nils Felske for the complimentary sample and the photograph!