[46.0%・Distilled in 1970・Bottled in 2008・Simon Brown Traders Bottling・Single Cask Release]
Nose:
The nose is breathtaking, dark cherries and fine mahogany conveying that aged goodness. Aged leather and brown sugar wrapped around and laced over a fascinating rice fragrance. Moist fruit cake brushed with blueberry jam as traces of well seasoned wood sips out.
Palate and Finish:
A balanced acidity on the palate, perfectly juxtaposed by the velvety sweetness. Ripe fruits and sakura combine with blackcurrant jam. Black Forest cake made with a French vanilla sponge layers dressed with dried orange slices. Excellent mouthfeel as the dram shows strength as a 46%. Hint of leather to go with a coconut cream base as ample wood spices set in.
The Sherry inspired fruit cake and dark cocoa notes linger on, the follow through tilts towards the dry side.
Thoughts:
The label may be confusing but make no mistake, this is a very pretty dram. Vibrant and beautifully Sherried without showing signs of being over-oaked. Definitely a cask that benefitted from decades of ageing.
It is interesting how the distillery characters seem to have mostly been mellowed out, and what remains is just a beautifully Sherried Speysider..
☆☆
-Nicholas
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