Style: Sweet and Spicy
Nose:
A denser than usual opening of stewed fruits, pineapple tart and plenty of cask waxiness in the aroma. Robust spices forming a powerful pillar, spearmint, a dab of vinegar and minerals building around it. Nice, creamy vanilla following a floral peat trail.
Palate:
Delicate and beautiful baked tropical fruits converging at the front, lime jelly and more pineapple tart serving up. Green peppermint fires through the roof which carries some bitterness. Sweet heather honey intertwined with floral peat. Soft maritime kiss. Sweet, but bitter sweet as the oak chimes in. A layer of vanilla cream spreading over. Buttered barley sugar to finish.
Finish:
Icy peppermint, oak and tropical fruit salad holds on till the end. Finish with chocolate Jaffa cake and golden malt.
Thoughts:
A rather advanced Highland Park by Silver Seal. The bitter and spicy phase might knock some people off, but once you get past them, the combination at work is actually pretty good – floral, fruity, herbal with coastal peat whispering quietly. Improves significantly overtime/multiple pours, definitely a midnight oil survival dram.
☆ [Recommended]
[51.5% • 2015 Bottled • 1991 Distilled • Independent Bottling • Single Cask • Cask Strength • Non Chill Filtered • Non Coloured • Cask Number: 8090 • 203 of 240 Bottles • *]
-Esmond
WhiskNick 