Style: Smoky and Peaty
Nose:
Started with an intriguing mix of aroma – French dessert wine, vanilla milk, herbal peat, smoke, damp forest wood, spice and raspberries. Scent swirled and entwined together in a rather gentle fashion. Spice a bit sharp fresh from the pour, but it significantly opened up after 15 minutes of breathing.
Palate:
Soft touch on the first palate. Sweet honey, fresh fruits and baked apples quickly balanced by timber and dry smoky notes. A hint of characteristic milkiness embedded within and slowly pushing outwards. Peaty notes condensing at mid, back palate. A dash of salt emerging, I am feeling a bit of maritime influence here? Oaky notes kicking in, combining the sweetness and we are treated with some milk chocolate towards the end.
Finish:
Ashy spice lingering, followed by faint vanilla sugar, slightly fruity, smoke and peat on the finish. Honey running thin, and malt coming into the focus at the very end.
Thoughts:
I admit I was not impressed when I took my first quick dram. Not as neat as 6.3, probably not as complex as the 10 years old, not as ashy as 6.1, probably not as fruity as 7.1… But it performed so differently when I sat down and took it seriously. Sometimes first impression with whiskies can be wrong. Spend time, take tiny sips, savour your whiskies, it might be something different than you first thought and you will be repaid well. I enjoyed the layering of this whisky, the nose when it firing all cylinders, the light palate and you can feel all elements are breathing so well. I wouldn’t mind picking up another bottle next time when I travel.
✓ [Recommended if you like the style/distillery]
[58.5% • 2015 • Original Bottling • No Age Statement • Non Coloured • Non Chill Filtered • Aged 5 Years • Travel Retail Exclusive • t]
-Esmond
WhiskNick 